I finished the 20-episode live-action Hirayasumi tonight. I loved every minute of it — the story, pacing, and characters all come together to make a really lovely slice-of-life show. Season one only covers up to book four of the manga (or so I’ve read), so I’m really hoping more seasons are on the way. 9/10

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I finished Gimbap and Onigiri today! At 10 episodes, I think the length felt just right, though honestly they probably could have wrapped everything up in 8. It’s a light, slow, and innocent little romance with no shocking twists or dramatic moments. It’s just two people taking their time. That’s not a complaint, just a fair warning. If you’re okay with tame and sweet, I think it’s worth the watch.

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Finally finished Who Rules the World – all 40 episodes. Took me a while to get through it, but totally worth it. There were some slow patches in the middle, mostly political intrigue stuff, but the action scenes kept things moving. Around episode 30 it really hit its stride and didn’t let up.

The costumes were great (though not quite Story of Pearl Girl level, just my opinion), and the battle armor near the end was especially cool. The ending surprised me – the whole story went somewhere I didn’t expect, particularly with Zhao Lusi’s character. Really well done.

Not ready to jump into another long one just yet. A little breather first.

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Bay and I went to the theater today to see The Apartment. Neither of us had seen this 1960 classic before, but we knew it was considered essential viewing for movie buffs, so we were excited to experience it on the big screen.

I found it very entertaining and also fascinating as a glimpse into what life might have been like back then. Of course, it is a movie, so who knows how closely it reflects reality, but it felt believable enough. Some moments were genuinely shocking, like the doctor slapping Fran multiple times to keep her from falling asleep, and the wild office party with drinking, dancing, and making out right there at work. The casual attitude toward cheating on spouses was also surprising.

Aside from those eyebrow raising moments, I thought the movie was excellent. I especially enjoyed seeing actors I recognized from other films all together here, and in their much younger years.

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Tonight I went out to see The Girl Who Leapt Through Time, and wow, what a fantastic movie! It had a little bit of everything – action, comedy, a touch of sci-fi, and just the right amount of romance. The story kept me hooked the whole time, and the animation was gorgeous. I found myself grinning, laughing, and maybe even tearing up a little. It’s one of those movies that makes you wish you could time travel too… or at least relive the joy of watching it for the first time again!

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I just finished watching The Story of Pearl Girl, a 2024 Chinese drama, and wanted to share a few thoughts.

The first thing that stood out to me was the costumes and jewelry. They were stunning and added so much beauty to the show. The story itself was only okay, but I really enjoyed the characters. Zhao Lu Si, who played the title role, completely won me over, and I’ll definitely be looking out for more of her work.

The ending, however, left me a little unsatisfied. The final episode felt awkward and a bit rushed, which was disappointing after investing so much time into the series. Still, it wasn’t terrible. I’d give the drama a 7 out of 10 overall. One highlight I can’t forget is the title and ending sequences. They were stylish, full of energy, and paired with fantastic music.

Even with its flaws, I’m glad I watched it, and now I’m excited to dive into my next C-Drama adventure!

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I just wrapped up the 10-episode Japanese drama The Hot Spot and I loved every minute of it. The humor was subtle and understated, which worked perfectly thanks to the excellent acting. I caught myself laughing out loud so many times!

After posting about it on Threads, I even got a few more recommendations, so I’m excited to dive into those next. If you’re looking for something fun to watch, give The Hot Spot on Netflix a try – I think you’ll really enjoy it!

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Tonight, my buddy and I went to watch Wolf Children at our local theater. I went in knowing almost nothing about the film – just that it had a strong reputation among anime fans. And I’m happy to say, it absolutely lived up to the hype!

Wolf Children, directed by Mamoru Hosoda, is a beautifully animated film that blends fantasy and heartfelt storytelling. While some moments were lighthearted and a little whimsical, the movie also explored deeper emotional themes about family, identity, and growing up.

We usually see anime with subtitles and Japanese audio, but this time we saw the dubbed version and it was very acceptable!

If you’re a fan of anime films or just looking for a touching story with stunning visuals, I highly recommend checking out Wolf Children. Super!

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My son and I are currently watching season 2 of Andor. While we’re enjoying it overall, some of the storylines aren’t holding our attention as much. There seem to be a disproportionate number of dinner parties and wedding scenes. In fact, I joked that someone could probably create a super-cut of Mon Mothma simply fast-walking through these social events, and it would amount to hours of footage.

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I finally got around to seeing Moana 2 this afternoon, and while it has some flaws, I did enjoy it overall. The pacing was a little off, which I suspect is a result of the project’s transition from a TV series to a movie. That said, it was a fun, funny, and visually stunning film.

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