Osaka, Japan, was the site of Expo ’70, and emblematic of that memorable event is the sculpture/building Tower of the Sun, envisioned and designed by renowned artist Taro Okamoto, “the Japanese Picasso”, a challenger of conventions driven to liberate creative expression for one and all. His works and ideas inspired director Ryo Fujii and the team behind the 2022 TV series TAROMAN, broadcast on the NHK network. Painstakingly recreating the tropes and aesthetics of 1970s tokusatsu superhero shows, ULTRAMAN in particular, the series purported to be an obscure archival find. The result was a sublime mix of public art education, nostalgic invention, and gleeful weirdness for its own sake. With such big ideas, and such a gigantic protagonist, Fujii and friends simply had to revive TAROMAN for the big screen. With its World Premiere at Fantasia, TAROMAN EXPO EXPLOSION has arrived, and with a big bang!
GARO: TAIGA MARKS THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE TOKUSATSU FRANCHISE
Since the 1980s, director, screenwriter, and designer Keita Amemiya (KAMEN RIDER, ZEIRAM) has brought his special touch, full of surprising innovations and peculiar fascinations, to the universe of tokusatsu—Japanese science-fantasy cinema and TV. For the last 20 years, Amemiya’s main focus has been his ever-expanding world of GARO, an ongoing chronicle of otherworldly conflict resplendent with gothic gravitas and gruesome monsters, mystical symbolism and elegant steampunk accents. The latest work reveals the story of Taiga Saejima who, like his descendants after him, assumes the lupine aspect and magical armour of Golden Knight Garo to battle the demonic Horrors. Entirely accessible to newcomers to the franchise, GARO: TAIGA marks its 20th anniversary in grand style, and makes its World Premiere at Fantasia 2025.
FOR STYLISH SCI-FI ANIME THRILLS, ALL YOU NEED IS ALL YOU NEED IS KILL
Yet another great film from STUDIO4°C is among Fantasia’s selections this summer, making its North American Premiere. Innovative in its gameplay-based narrative, the Japanese science-fiction novel ALL YOU NEED IS KILL by Hiroshi Sakurazaka was a landmark in 2004. A decade later, the time-looping alien-invasion tale had been adapted as a manga, and as a Hollywood film with Tom Cruise and Emily Blunt, EDGE OF TOMORROW. It’s taken yet another decade, but the kick-ass anime feature it deserves is finally here. Repetition may be the mechanism of this recurring story, but this anime version keeps the franchise fresh by retracing the events from the POV of the original’s “player two”, sullen, red-haired Rita. It’s a visually striking, dynamic, and intense piece of work, and director Kenichiro Akimoto delivers his vision with panache, with fierce and fluid action, and a look all its own.
MAMORU OSHII’S ANIME CLASSIC ANGEL’S EGG RESTORED AFTER 40 YEARS
Can two broken souls in a broken world keep a mysterious, perhaps divine egg intact? Originally released in 1985, direct to the Japanese home-video market, ANGEL’S EGG has since languished in obscurity, though anime connoisseurs through the years have anointed it a legendary rare gem. It was after all a rare, early work from two of the biggest names in anime, director Mamoru Oshii (GHOST IN THE SHELL) and art director Yoshitaka Amano (FINAL FANTASY). Following its unveiling at Cannes 2025, Fantasia presents the North American Premiere of the 40th Anniversary 4K restoration of ANGEL’S EGG.
ANIME NO BENTO 2025 FOCUSES ON INDIE TALENT
Fantasia’s annual program of short-form anime works, Anime no bento, returns with focus on young, independent anime creators, with student films and crowdfunded productions that are by turns weird, wild, wistful, and whimsical. While all fall within the formal conventions of Japanese anime, each has its own unique style, tone, and character, signalling the arrival of a new generation of anime innovators. Highlights include the International Premieres of LOCA!, from directors Ion Miyamoto and Yuta Uchiya of Studio Car-No.3, and Junchukan Bonta’s DUNGEONS & TELEVISION, and the World Premiere of the science-fiction maxi-short BEYOND THE TRAIL, a truly independent, crowdfunded labour of love from director Vab.png and StudioDOT, a dedicated team of young volunteer animators, each contributing what they could in their spare time.
Previously announced titles at Fantasia 2025 include BLANK CANVAS: MY SO-CALLED ARTIST’S JOURNEY, CHAO, HONEKO AKABANE’S BODYGUARDS, MONONOKE THE MOVIE: CHAPTER II – THE ASHES OF RAGE, TAMALA 2030: A PUNK CAT IN DARK, YA BOY KONGMIN! THE MOVIE, and NYAIGHT OF THE LIVING CAT episodes 1-4.
Source: Press Release
