4 Best Movies to Watch by Rie Takahashi

1. Oshi No Ko, 2023

Mesmerizing as its idol, Oshi No Ko is a spellbinding adaptation of the original manga hit. Centered around an idol’s secret twin children, this binge-worthy anime brilliantly takes the reincarnation trope to tackle the Japanese entertainment industry. The premise alone is brilliant, but stunning animation and catchy tracks elevate the source material. The show isn’t afraid to go in-depth– as the twins progress through their careers, certain scenes effectively explain quirks in the industry that regular viewers wouldn’t know. However, the show remains mindful of its young characters, ensuring a careful discussion without going too far. Oshi No Ko uncovers what makes stars so captivating, without sacrificing the glitz and glamor in its explanation.

Genre: Animation, Drama

Actor: Kent Ito, Manaka Iwami, Megumi Han, Rie Takahashi, Rumi Okubo, Takeo Otsuka, Yumi Uchiyama, Yurie Igoma

2. GOOD NIGHT WORLD, 2023

With games creating whole virtual worlds, with stunning landscapes, powers, and storylines, it’s easy to escape into the fictional simulations, to the point of being addicted. Good Night World reimagines this idea in the present as a family drama, where video game addict Tachiro Arima struggles to relate with his family because of his addiction. As the show progresses, the game integrates with the real world, with real life-threatening consequences, but the show slowly uncovers how this game unraveled the Arimas’ family bonds, through neglect, depression, and shared trauma. It’s an interesting series about connection and video games, if you can get into the world of the series.

Genre: Animation, Sci-Fi & Fantasy

Actor: Akio Otsuka, Aoi Yuki, Aya Endo, Daisuke Hirose, Hiroki Nanami, Inori Minase, Kenjiro Tsuda, Nobunaga Shimazaki, Rie Takahashi, Ryohei Kimura

Rating: TV-MA

3. Delicious in Dungeon, 2024

When watching fantasy anime, there’s a wonderfully whimsical world that viewers can fully explore. Spectacular magic, brave warriors, and strange creatures are all expected, but every exploring troop needs supplies. Money, weapons, and of course, food are needed to survive the wondrous yet perilous adventures they set out to embark on. Delicious in Dungeon recognizes these practicalities, and creates a whole episodic adventure that focuses more on the possible food ecosystems of a fantasy world rather than the seemingly serious quests they embark upon. It makes for a slightly silly approach poking fun at the fantasy genre, but it’s definitely something unique, especially when it brings about mouthwatering exotic dishes made from monsters.

Genre: Action & Adventure, Animation, Comedy, Sci-Fi & Fantasy

Actor: Asuna Tomari, Hiroshi Naka, Kentaro Kumagai, Miyu Tomita, Rie Takahashi, Saori Hayami, Sayaka Senbongi, Shinji Kawada, Toru Nara, Wataru Katoh, Yuya Hirose

Rating: TV-MA

4. Ishura, 2024

Fantasy shows usually follow one hero into their quest, but the newest isekai anime on Hulu has plenty of them, and instead of straightforward awe, the people they save hold unexpected emotions to the power they wield. Ishura starts with this– its first few episodes are dedicated to introducing each hero, or Shura, that would fight against each other, and possibly take over the world. Through this approach, Ishura has plenty of spectacular action, as each of the heroes have to prove themselves somehow, and has plenty of fantastical powers that look great on-screen, even when the CGI sometimes falters in certain moments. It’s a wild ride, and some deaths can certainly be brutal for some viewers, but it’s an interesting approach in building a fantasy world that values strength above all else. Ishura is a great start to fantasy anime this year, if you can stomach the gore.

Genre: Action & Adventure, Animation, Sci-Fi & Fantasy

Actor: Aoi Yuki, Koichi Yamadera, Mamiko Noto, Reina Ueda, Rie Takahashi, Romi Park, Showtaro Morikubo, Soichiro Hoshi, Sora Amamiya, Yuki Kaji