REVIEW: The Severing Crime Edge (2013)

by Dustin Kramer

The Severing Crime Edge, based on a manga by Tatsuhiko Hikagi and directed by Yuji Yamaguchi, tells the story of Kiri Haimura, a young man with a desire to cut hair so intensely insatiable it would make Raymond Bessone put down his golden shears and take a job at Supercuts. After his family has had enough of his hobby/obsession, Kiri is lucky enough to stumble upon 14-year-old Iwai Mushanokouji. Iwai seems like a normal enough girl until you learn that she is cursed with floor-length hair that can never be cut. As luck would have it, Kiri’s flamboyant scissors are also cursed … with the ability to cut anything. It’s a match made in heaven–that is until psychopathic murderers start coming after poor, innocent Iwai. You see, Iwai is what’s called the “Hair Queen,” and anyone who manages to kill this helplessly hairy teenager will have their heart’s deepest desire granted to them. The would-be murderers are known as Authors, their tools of the trade: Killing Goods. Kiri’s magic blades just so happen to be one of these famed weapons, passed down to him from his ancestor Grayland, a man allegedly responsible for some 200 deaths. The scissors even have a name: The Severing Crime Edge. Can Kiri protect Iwai from the so-called Authors, their Killing Goods, and a lifetime of bad hair days? Let’s find out.

REVIEW: The Eccentric Family (2013)

by Dustin Kramer

As I sit here and try to think about what Masayuki Yoshihara’s The Eccentric Family has to say, I find myself profoundly inept at finding a fitting focal point for this introduction. It would be a disservice to say the 13-episode adaptation of Morimi Tomihiko’s novel is purely about the importance of family, because its scope feels so much wider than that. However, I hesitate to claim that its central themes examine the meaning of life itself, a concept so large and overdone that it implies pretension–something that this story truly has none of. But to denounce both of these examinations is equally dishonest, because this animated drama has plenty to say in each arena and much more.

REVIEW: Gatchaman Crowds (2013)

by Dustin Kramer

Isn’t the Internet great? Think of all the things we can do with it–sharing, communicating, manifesting our digital selves in the physical world to deal with crime and natural disaster recovery. Wait, we can’t do that last one? Well, if we can’t by 2015, we’ve been scammed (I also want my hover board and Mr. Fusion, please and thank you). But imagine if we could actually eliminate the need for central authority by using cyberspace to self-govern. Could it really work? Gatchaman Crowds attempts to answer this question and a few others. Let’s dive in.

GALLERY: AnimeJapan 2014

by Dustin Kramer

Ah, the wonderful weariness of convention fatigue. Having just returned home from my fifth anime-related event in Japan, I realize I’ve come to enjoy the icky self-debriefing process from a day-long sensory overload of sweet, new media. I’ve got 90 pictures to share from the day’s festivities, and the moment I click “publish,” I’ll be off to take the best shower I’ve had all year. (I won’t be sharing pictures of my bathing ritual, however.)

REVIEW: The Sensualist (1991)

by Dustin Kramer

The Sensualist is a 1991 animated film from Studio Grouper based on The Life of an Amorous Man, the 17th century novel by Ihara Saikaku. The movie should presumably tell the story of Yonosuke, a clothing store proprietor and titular amorous man. However, the film’s actual narrative has little to do with Yonosuke but rather a foolish tailor by the name of Juzo. You see, Juzo is in a bit of a pinch. He made a silly bet with some jerk-off that he could sleep with famed courtesan Komurasaki at their premier meeting, so now he’s off toward the capital city of Edo to make good on his wager. Problem is, Komurasaki is a very classy lady and doesn’t just invite any old joker into her futon. In fact, she doesn’t serve working class patrons at all, and even if she did, she doesn’t kiss on the first date. Like I said, a very classy lady. It looks like Juzo’s going to lose his bet, so what’s on the line anyway?

Not much–just his penis.