Contributions from Michael Leader | Little White Lies

Contributor Michael Leader

A woman wearing a red headband and floral dress stands with her arms raised in an indoor setting with a traditional Japanese sliding door.
Review

One Cut of the Dead

by Michael Leader

This mad­cap meta-hor­ror from Japan’s Shin’ichirô Ueda breathes new life into the zom­bie genre.

3
Anticipation
5
Enjoyment
4
In Retrospect
Anime scene with two young boys, one in white clothes falling through the sky, the other reaching up towards him against a bright blue sky with fluffy white clouds.
Review

Mirai

by Michael Leader

Mamoru Hoso­da returns with a charm­ing time-bend­ing tale about two siblings.

4
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
4
In Retrospect
Two men seated in a sparse room, one man sitting in a chair, the other standing.
Festivals

The Mountain – first look review

by Michael Leader

Jeff Gold­blum plays against type to unset­tling effect in this zany road movie from writer/​director Rick Alverson.
Anime scene with two young boys, one in white clothes falling through the sky, the other reaching up towards him against a bright blue sky with fluffy white clouds.
Festivals

Mirai – first look review

by Michael Leader

This delight­ful Japan­ese ani­mé is one of the high­lights of this year’s Direc­tors’ Fort­night programme.
Animated character with red hair and blue eyes surrounded by blue flowers in a grassy field.
Interviews

How we launched Studio Ponoc by Yoshiaki Nishimura and Hiromasa Yonebayashi

by Michael Leader

The cre­ative minds behind Japan’s newest ani­ma­tion house share their vision for the future.
Anime character with blonde spiky hair wearing a red scarf in a snowy outdoor scene.
Review

Big Fish & Begonia

by Michael Leader

This stun­ning ani­mat­ed fan­ta­sy from Chi­nese pair Liang Xuan and Zhang Chun rivals Stu­dio Ghibli.

3
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
3
In Retrospect
Colourful cartoon figures; woman in yellow, duck-like creature, abstract shapes and patterns.
Review

Lu Over the Wall

by Michael Leader

Masaa­ki Yuasa’s sec­ond film of 2017 proves he’s one to watch in the ani­mé world.

3
Anticipation
3
Enjoyment
3
In Retrospect
Anime character with brown eyes and dark hair, wearing a floral kimono, smiling calmly.
Review

Fireworks

by Michael Leader

Despite some ini­tial promise, this strik­ing look­ing ani­mé from direc­tor Akiyu­ki Shin­bô quick­ly fiz­zles out.

3
Anticipation
2
Enjoyment
2
In Retrospect
Anime-style illustration featuring a young woman in a school uniform, standing with a plush toy. Two male characters, one on a scooter, in the background. Vibrant colours and a suspension bridge in the sky.
Review

Napping Princess

by Michael Leader

This enter­tain­ing ani­mat­ed adven­ture imag­ines a near-future pow­ered by machines.

3
Anticipation
3
Enjoyment
2
In Retrospect
Animated illustration of a young Asian woman in a green polka dot kimono holding a fan in front of urban buildings.
Review

In This Corner of the World

by Michael Leader

This Japan­ese ani­mé from Sunao Katabuchi doesn’t quite reach the dizzy heights of Stu­dio Ghibli.

4
Anticipation
3
Enjoyment
2
In Retrospect