Netflix has picked up The Electric State, the upcoming film from Avengers: Endgame directors Joe and Anthony Russo starring Stranger Things star Millie Bobby Brown.
The Electric State will be the third film under the partnership between Netflix and the Russo Brothers’ production company AGBO, their first film being the Chris Hemsworth starrer Extraction, followed by the upcoming movie The Gray Man starring Ryan Gosling and Chris Evans.
The new film starring Brown is based on the illustrated sci-fi book of the same name from Simon Stålenhag. It is set in a retro-futuristic past where an orphaned teenager, played by Brown, travels across the American West with a mysterious robot and an eccentric drifter to find her younger brother.
Deadline also reports that Guardians of the Galaxy and Jurassic World star Chris Pratt is also in talks to join the cast. The Electric State is set to start production this fall, according to Netflix.
Are you always on the lookout for new shows and movies to stream? HBO GO has it covered! From award-winning comedy series and fantasy action dramas to new seasons of existing series, there are many to look forward to this July on the streaming platform.
Till Death
Premieres July 2
Directed by S.K. Dale, it centers on Emma who is stuck in a stale marriage with Mark. He surprises her when he brings her to a secluded lakehouse for a romantic evening on their 10th anniversary. Everything changes the next morning when she finds herself handcuffed to Mark’s dead body. Trapped and isolated in the dead of winter, Emma learns this is only the beginning of Mark’s twisted plan. In order to survive, she must fight the hired killers coming to finish her off. It stars Megan Fox, Eoin Macken, Callan Mulvey, Jack Roth, and Aml Ameen.
Rumble
Premieres July 9
Directed by Hamish Grieve, the film is loosely based on Monster on the Hill, a graphic novel by Rob Harrell. In a world where monsters are tame and monster wrestling is a popular sport, Winnie seeks to follow in her father’s footsteps as a manager by turning an inexperienced monster into a contender. It features the voices of Will Arnett, Geraldine Viswanathan, Terry Crews, Stephen A. Smith, and more.
Paranormal Activity: Next of Kin
Premieres July 16
Directed by William Eubank, it follows Margot, a young woman who was abandoned by her mother as a baby. She then travels to a secluded Amish community with a documentary film crew seeking answers about her mother and extended family. It stars Emily Bader, Roland Buck III, Dan Lippert, and Henry Ayres-Brown.
Rap Sh!t
Premieres July 21
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xxp0Krp0pEg
Created by Issa Rae, the comedy series centers on two Miami-based rappers who try to find success in the music industry. It stars Aida Osman and KaMillion.
Blue Bayou
Premieres July 21
Written and directed by Justin Chon, it tells the story of Antonio LeBlanc, a Korean adoptee raised in a small town in the Louisiana bayou. He is married to the love of his life Kathy and raising his stepdaughter Jessie. Struggling to make a better life for his family, he must soon confront the ghosts of his past after learning that he could be deported from the only country he’s ever called home. It stars Justin Chon with Alicia Vikander, Mark O’Briend, and Linh Dan Pham.
Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin
Premieres July 28
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBTCYk0gfsM
Developed by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, it is the spinoff of the Pretty Little Liars franchise and is loosely based on the parent series written by Sara Shepard. A series of tragic events almost ripped Millwood apart twenty years ago. In the present day, a group of disparate teen girls find themselves tormented by an unknown assailant and made to pay for the secret sin their parents committed years ago. It stars Chandler Kinney, Maia Reficco, Bailee Madison, Zaria, and Malia Pyles.
Panama
Premieres July 30
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_FWx79_GNs
Directed by Mark Neveldine, a defense contractor hires an ex-marine to go to Panama to complete and arms deal. In the process, he becomes involved in the U.S. invasion of Panama. It stars Cole Hauser, Mel Gibson, and Jackie Cruz.
The power of Pride stories is brighter than ever as Cinema One inspires viewers to love out loud with a variety of LGBTQ-themed movies that are available to watch for free on the cable channel’s YouTube page.
From comic relief to more profound themes like discovering one’s identity in the midst of traumatic experiences, struggling to be accepted by one’s own family, exploring a familiar feeling with an unexpected person, and more, Cinema One is shining a light on narratives that seek to open and touch the hearts of viewers.
For fans of good old Filipino comedy flick, catch “Barbi For President,” a 1991 amusing political satire that stars Joey De Leon in the titular role with Mark Gil, Michael De Mesa, and Tessie Tomas.
Meanwhile, Cinemalaya 2010 finalist “Pink Halo-Halo,” inspired by its director Joselito Altarejos’ own childhood, is also available for streaming. It depicts the story of a boy—who is seemingly discovering a preference for femininity—and how his innocence is marred by the war in Mindanao.
Cinema One Originals’ movies will also be streamed on Cinema One’s YouTube, including Benjamin Garcia II’s “Philippino Story,” a 2013 melodramatic film about lovers Philip and Bastian (Junjun Quintana and Mark Gil), who attempt to fight for their relationship despite many hurdles.
Also available to watch are Ara Chawdhury’s 2015 Cinema One Originals film “Miss Bulalacao,” about a young gay drag queen named Dodong who miraculously gets pregnant after an encounter with aliens, as well as Nash Ang’s 2014 Cinema One Originals film “Seoul Mates,” which centers on an unconventional romance story between a Filipina transwoman and a guarded Korean gay man.
Catch all these films, free to stream on Cinema One’s YouTube channel until August 31 (Wednesday). Cinema One is available on Cignal ch. 45, SKYcable ch. 56, and other local cable service providers. For more information, follow Cinema One on Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram.
For updates, follow @abscbnpr on Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, and Instagram or visit www.abs-cbn.com/newsroom.
Isn’t it a bummer when you see your favorite movie already playing halfway through when you turn on the TV? Fret not! From rom-com and action to horror and thriller, we’re giving you a heads up on all the must-watch movies on TV from June 27 to July 3, 2022.
June 27, Monday
The Dark Knight (4:20pm, HBO) With the help of allies Lt. Jim Gordon and DA Harvey Dent, Batman has been able to keep a tight lid on crime in Gotham City. But when a vile young criminal calling himself the Joker suddenly throws the town into chaos, the caped Crusader begins to tread a fine line between heroism and vigilantism.
17 Again (6:35pm, Cinemax) Mike O’Donnell was a high-school basketball star with a bright future, but he threw it all away to marry his girlfriend and raise their child. Almost 20 years later, Mike’s marriage has failed, his kids think he’s a loser, and his job is going nowhere. He gets a chance to correct the mistakes of his past and change his life when he is miraculously transformed into a teenager, but in trying to fix his past, Mike may be jeopardizing his present and future.
A Journey To Love (7pm, Cinema One) The life of a Filipino immigrant changes drastically when he reunites with his estranged son in Alaska.
June 28, Tuesday
Salt (10:25am, Cinemax) When Evelyn Salt became a CIA officer, she swore an oath to duty, honor, and country. But, when a defector accuses her of being a Russian spy, Salt’s oath is put to the test. Now a fugitive, Salt must use every skill gained from years of training and experience to evade capture, but the more she tries to prove her innocence, the more guilty she seems.
How To Be Yours (5pm, Cinema One) A story about two people who meet and fall in love: Niño, a sales agent who’s bent on attaining stability and Anj, a self-taught cook who dreams of working in a high-end restaurant someday.
No Other Woman (9:30pm, PBO) A woman discovers that her husband is having an affair with a customer’s daughter.
June 29, Wednesday
Etiquette For Mistresses (5pm, Cinema One) Five successful women, Charley, Georgia, Ina, Chloe and Stella, share the same secret: they are having an affair with a married man.
Mr. & Mrs. Cruz (6:30pm, PBO) Raffy and Gela find themselves taking off for Palawan to escape the not-so-great realities of their current lives and catch up on their respective me-time. But as fate would have it, they find themselves meeting and enjoying each other’s company.
Spider-Man: Homecoming (6:50pm, HBO) Thrilled by his experience with the Avengers, young Peter Parker returns home to live with his Aunt May. Under the watchful eye of mentor Tony Stark, Parker starts to embrace his newfound identity as Spider-Man. He also tries to return to his normal daily routine — distracted by thoughts of proving himself to be more than just a friendly neighborhood superhero. Peter must soon put his powers to the test when the evil Vulture emerges to threaten everything that he holds dear.
June 30, Thursday
#WalangForever (5pm, Cinema One) A screenwriter’s life is turned upside down when her ex suddenly returns.
Venom (9pm, HBO) Journalist Eddie Brock is trying to take down Carlton Drake, the notorious and brilliant founder of the Life Foundation. While investigating one of Drake’s experiments, Eddie’s body merges with the alien Venom — leaving him with superhuman strength and power. Twisted, dark and fueled by rage, Venom tries to control the new and dangerous abilities that Eddie finds so intoxicating.
July 1, Friday
The Healing (5pm, Cinema One) A faith healer’s power causes paranormal events and a rash of suicides and murders after Seth witnesses a miracle when her wheelchair-bound father Odong is healed by Manang Elsa, a faith healer.
Miss Granny (9:30pm, PBO) An elderly woman finds a second chance at youth after a life-altering experience at a mysterious photo studio.
The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It (10pm, HBO) Paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren take on one of the most sensational cases of their careers after a cop stumbles upon a dazed and bloodied young man walking down the road. Accused of murder, the suspect claims demonic possession as his defense, forcing the Warrens into a supernatural inquiry unlike anything they’ve ever seen before.
Into The Storm (10pm, Cinemax) As a new day begins in the town of Silverton, its residents have little reason to believe it will be anything other than ordinary. Mother Nature, however has other plans. In the span of just a few hours, an unprecedented onslaught of powerful tornadoes ravages Silverton. Storm trackers predict that the worst is still to come, as terrified residents seek shelter, and professional storm-chasers run toward the danger, hoping to study the phenomenon close up and get a once-in-a-lifetime shot.
July 2, Saturday
The Karate Kid (4:50pm, HBO) Daniel moves to Southern California with his mother, Lucille, but quickly finds himself the target of a group of bullies who study karate at the Cobra Kai dojo. Fortunately, Daniel befriends Mr. Miyagi, an unassuming repairman who just happens to be a martial arts master himself. Miyagi takes Daniel under his wing, training him in a more compassionate form of karate and preparing him to compete against the brutal Cobra Kai.
Block Z (7pm, Cinema One) A group of university students must band together in order to survive a deadly viral disease outbreak.
July 3, Sunday
When Love Begins (1pm, Cinema One) Two lovers have strong feelings but are afraid of commitment.
Wonder Woman (6:45pm, HBO) Before she was Wonder Woman, she was Diana, princess of the Amazons, trained to be an unconquerable warrior. Raised on a sheltered island paradise, Diana meets an American pilot who tells her about the massive conflict that’s raging in the outside world. Convinced that she can stop the threat, Diana leaves her home for the first time. Fighting alongside men in a war to end all wars, she finally discovers her full powers and true destiny.
Wonder Woman 1984 (9pm, HBO) Diana Prince lives quietly among mortals in the vibrant, sleek 1980s — an era of excess driven by the pursuit of having it all. Though she’s come into her full powers, she maintains a low profile by curating ancient artifacts, and only performing heroic acts incognito. But soon, Diana will have to muster all of her strength, wisdom and courage as she finds herself squaring off against Maxwell Lord and the Cheetah, a villainess who possesses superhuman strength and agility.
Money Heist: Korea – Joint Economic Area, a crime drama series of 12 episodes, (6 episodes each for Part 1 & Part 2) directed by Kim Hong-Sun (Voice, Black), and starring Yoo Ji-Tae (Old Boy, Healer), Kim Yunjin (Shiri, Lost), Park Hae-Soo (Squid Game, Prison Playbook), Jeon Jong-Seo (Call, Burning) is a korean remake of La Casa De Papel.
North and South Korea are on the verge of peaceful reunification, and make preparations to print a new unified currency.
A genius strategist : the Professor, assembles a gang of top-class thieves from the North and South, to steal the new cash straight from the mint, attempting to pull off an unprecedented heist in the Korean Peninsula.
Production Information
Title: Money Heist: Korea – Joint Economic Area
Original Series: La Casa de Papel
Directed by: Kim Hong-sun
Written by: Ryu Yong-jae, Kim Hwan-chae and Choe Sung-jun
Starring: Yoo Ji-tae (Professor), Kim Yunjin (Seon Woojin), Park Hae-soo (Berlin), Jun Jong-seo (Tokyo), Lee Won-jong (Moscow), Park Myung-hoon (Cho Youngmin), Kim Sung-o (Cha Moohyuk), Kim Ji-hun (Denver), Jang Yoon-ju (Nairobi), Lee Joobeen (Yun Misun), Lee Hyun-woo (Rio), Kim Ji-hoon (Helsinki), Lee Kyu-ho (Oslo) etc.
Planning a Filipino movie marathon soon? Switch your channel to Cinema One this July as they are airing a variety of must-watch movies to add to your binge list!
Starring Kathryn Bernardo, Maricar Reyes, Eugene Domingo, Zanjoe Marudo, Sam Concepcion, Edgar Allan Guzman, Louise delos Reyes July 07
Three tales of terror: a malevolent storm drowns the city; a man brings his family to a remote family ranch, and soon encounters the supernatural; a group of witches brings terror to an unsuspecting populace.
Joko is trying to help his family survive while Zoey is trying to prove herself to the world. The two compete when they find out that Sasha is looking for a new personal assistant.
Two moms are drawn into direct conflict when their children announce their intentions to get married. The mothers have to put aside their differences, however, when they are both marooned on a distant island.
Starring Markki Stroem, Archie Alemania, RK Bagatsing, Sef Cadayona July 31
Three gay men throwing a Miss Universe viewing party find themselves in a strange situation when they manage to knock out and restrain an intruder in their home.
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[Note: Channel schedules and movie lineup are subject to change without prior notice]
Money Heist: Korea – Joint Economic Areais coming to Netflix this Friday! The new show is the K-drama adaptation of the hit series from Spain, which follows a gang of thieves taking over the Mint of a unified Korean Peninsula.
Watch the trailer for Money Heist: Korea – Joint Economic Area below:
Synopsis
Set in a fictional Korea where the borders between the North and the South have been removed, this series follows the criminal mastermind known as the Professor who gathers a group of professionals to pull off the biggest heist in the mint of the unified peninsula.
Clad in red jumpsuits and traditional Hahoe masks, the group must handle their hostages from inside the mint while the authorities surround them from every corner.
The series is directed by Kim Hong-sun and written by Ryu Yong-jae. It is based on the Spanish TV series Money Heist or La Casa de Papel created by Álex Pina.
Cast & Characters
Yoo Ji-tae (When My Love Blooms) as the Professor
Jung Jong-seo (The Call) as Tokyo
Park Hae-soo (Squid Game) as Berlin
Lee Hyun-woo (The Liar and his Lover) as Rio
Lee Won-jong (My Unfamiliar Family)as Moscow
Kim Ji-hun (Flower of Evil) as Denver
Jang Yoon-ju (Citizen Deok Hee) as Nairobi
Kim Ji-hun (Chimera) as Helsinki
Lee Kyu-ho (The Good Detective) as Oslo
Kim Yunjin (Confession) as Seon Woojin
Lee Joobeen (Doctor Lawyer) as Yun Misun
Park Myung-hoon (Parasite) as Cho Youngmin
Kim Seung-o (Graceful Friends) as Cha Moohyuk
On adapting the Spanish series into a Korean Drama
In a recent press conference for the series, writer Ryu Yong-jae and director Kim Hong-sun shared their first impressions on the original series and how they ended up making a Korean adaptation for it.
“When I watched season 1 and 2 of the original Spanish series, I was very much intrigued, and I became a big, big fan,” shares Ryu. “So I was sure I wanted to make a remake of it. And because it’s a Netflix original series, I can’t just buy the copyright for it, they have to offer me the job. And we knew that we could twist this into a Korean tale, and we pondered a lot. And then, we showed our plan to the original creator and we talked a lot with Netflix, and we were able to make it into a Korean tale.”
Director Kim also adds: “I saw the original for the first time in 2018, and I thought that there were so many characters in the show, but what’s amazing is that all of them have their own personalities and charms, and it was just so fun to watch them all. And I knew that the characters would be very intriguing whenever and wherever they would be placed in. So I thought, if we translate the background and characters into something Korean, I thought we could give birth to something novel. And that’s how we started.”
Photo: Jung Jaegu/Netflix
A unique tale set in a unified Korea
Asked what their comments are on the premise of this Korean adaptation, actress Kim Yunjin says: “Well, the original series is so popular, so I was unsure of whether we should actually make it in the start because I felt a lot of pressure. But unfortunately, Korea is the only divided country left on the world and we were able to create something by compressing all the good essence of the original and writer Ryu actually created a really beautiful script. And reading the script, I thought that I would be able to do this because the script is so good.”
The Professor, Yoo Ji-tae also says: “It is a show with great fandom, I know, but a great story would be told well in any situation, any country, I thought. And Korean content is now beloved by so many people around the world, and that is probably because Korean content creators have really clever ideas and smart approaches. And that was of course done on this show as well. I mean, our own charms and our own sense of humor are all infused in the show.”
The meaning behind the Hahoe mask
Money Heist‘s mask based on the Spanish artist Salvador Dali has become iconic since the rise of the show’s popularity around the world. Now, the Korean version of the Money Heist gang will be wearing the traditional Korean mask of Hahoe.
Berlin actor Park Hae-soo explains the meaning behind the new disguise: “In Spain, the Dali mask was used to send the message of freedom, and in Korea, we used the Hahoe mask from the Andong area, and Hahoe mask has some significance to it. It is embodying the criticism of the powerful, and it has the sense of humor in it as well. And when the mask was first brought to me, I actually felt this sense of overwhelming power when the mask is worn by every member of the cast. It has different angles from the center and from the side as well. I mean, the look that the mask is portraying from different angles may seem quite different, so that is something that intrigued me.”
Lee Hyun-woo who plays Rio also shares how the mask gives him confidence during filming.
“When you put on the Hahoe mask, people can’t see your facial expressions. So somehow, I got a little more confident so I could act a little more boldly when I’m behind the mask. And when we’re in the red jumpsuit altogether and when we’re standing together, that kind of uniformity gives that camaraderie. So I felt backed up and I felt more energetic when I was wearing the red jumpsuit,” said Hyun-woo.
The Professor and Seon Woojin
In the original series, we got to see the complex relationship between the Professor and Spanish Police Inspector Raquel Murillo. In the Korean adaptation, the heist’s mastermind will go against Seon Woojin.
“Seon Woojin is a senior inspector at the Gyeonggi Police Crisis Negotiation Team,” explains actress Kim Yunjin. “As a negotiator in the joint task force team, she is really excellent in her own prowess and she is really calm and cold-hearted. And she is looking into the weakness of the robbers to finish the situation as soon as possible.”
“Woojin and the Professor actually have something in common. They do not want any harm on anybody. So Woojin doesn’t want to go for armed repression. She wants to finish things in peace. With ideas and conversations, she wants to address the situation peacefully. So I think in that sense, Woojin and the Professor have something in common. And Woojin is a single mom on the outside of the joint task force and she is having a custody dispute with her ex-husband. And what makes her heart broken is that her mother is suffering from Alzheimer’s, and she has to deal with the big crisis while taking care of her sick mother as well,” Yunjin adds.
Photo: Jung Jaegu/Netflix
A very different Tokyo joins the team
Jun Jong-seo who starred opposite Park Shin-hye in The Call, will be playing Tokyo in the new series. According to the actress, she really wanted to play the role of Misun, but naturally, she got the role of Tokyo. She also shared that the Korean version of Tokyo will be the most different from the original character.
“She is a Gen Z, she’s in her 20s, and the realistic elements of those in her 20s are reflected on the show,” said Jun Jong-seo. “She is the most pure, I would say, and she is so much into the conviction of the Professor so she doesn’t get distracted, she’s very stable, and she is just focusing on one goal. And she is trying to lead everybody to go to that goal, so she is not a troublemaker.”
Moscow and Denver’s tight-knit relationship
Korean actor Lee Won-jong plays Moscow, the dependable father of Denver, who hopes for a better future for his son. According to Won-jong, he also feels father-and-son relationship between the two characters even from behind the scenes.
“In our shooting process, the most difficult actions were played by my son Denver,” says Won-jong. “And there were so many dangerous scenes. He was rescued from the wall, and in that moment, I was really holding onto him really tightly because I didn’t want him to get hurt. So I kind of felt this fatherly love towards Ji-hun naturally.”
Photo: Jung Jaegu/Netflix
Denver’s actor Kim Ji-hun also agrees, saying “I’ve been in many projects, and I’ve acted as a son many times, but he was a dad that really cared for me like I was his real son. I could really feel that love. So I could open up to him really fast, and he was a dad that really pulled at my heartstrings. It was just natural that we felt this love towards each other. He talked about us hugging after a dangerous scene, I think it was the first scene where there was an explosion of the wall. Moscow comes out from the explosion and he almost died, well I wouldn’t say that, but I could feel that in my ears because the explosion was so loud, it looked so realistic. So I just had to go and hug him.”
Will Money Heist: Korea beat Squid Game?
During the global press conference for Money Heist: Korea, Park Hae-soo who played Cho Sang-woo in the hit Netflix series Squid Game and is now playing Berlin in the new series, was asked if he thinks that Money Heist: Korea will beat Squid Game in popularity.
Hae-soo answers: “I’m not quite sure how it will unfold, but what I want to tell you is that there is a really big strength in Money Heist Korea. That is the great ensemble of the great cast. And the show is set against the backdrop of the divided nation and there are some emotional conflict that is inherently embedded in the storyline. And I think the global audience will be able to find joy in watching the show. And we have great artists and creators in Korea, and Squid Game actually followed the path of these creators and I’m sure Money Heist Korea will follow the same path and create more opportunities for the people who are following. So I really hope to see great progress in that regard going forward, and I’m sure that we’ll see that coming.”
Photo: Jung Jaegu/Netflix
Money Heist: Korea – Joint Economic Area starts streaming on Netflix this June 24, 2022.
Based on George R.R. Martin’s “Fire & Blood,” the series, set 200 years before the events of Game of Thrones, tells the story of House Targaryen.
House of the Dragon stars Paddy Considine, Matt Smith, Olivia Cooke, Emma D’Arcy, Steve Toussaint, Eve Best, Fabien Frankel, Sonoya Mizuno, and Rhys Ifans.
Additional cast members include Milly Alcock, Bethany Antonia, Phoebe Campbell, Emily Carey, Harry Collett, Ryan Corr, Tom Glynn-Carney, Jefferson Hall, David Horovitch, Wil Johnson, John Macmillan, Graham McTavish, Ewan Mitchell, Theo Nate, Matthew Needham, Bill Paterson, Phia Saban, Gavin Spokes, Savannah Steyn.
Credits: Co-Creator/Executive Producer, George R.R. Martin; Co-Creator/Co-Showrunner/Executive Producer/Writer, Ryan Condal; Co-Showrunner/Executive Producer/Director, Miguel Sapochnik; Executive Producer/Writer, Sara Hess; Executive Producers, Jocelyn Diaz, Vince Gerardis, Ron Schmidt; Directors Clare Kilner, Geeta V. Patel; Director/Co-Executive Producer, Greg Yaitanes. Based on George R.R. Martin’s “Fire & Blood.”Stream or download House of the Dragon from August 22 on HBO GO. Revisit all eight seasons of Game of Thrones on HBO GO. Subscribe to HBO GO online at https://www.hbogoasia.ph/ or the mobile app via the App Store or Play Store for as low as ₱99.70/month. Or access HBO GO via Cignal, Globe and Skycable. HBO GO is also available on Android TV, Apple TV, LG TV and Samsung Smart TV – and comes with AirPlay and Google Cast functionality.
It is no secret that Japanese anime has a lot of rich stories to offer, from exciting thrillers to epic adventures to just feel-good stories with humorous antics. But aside from these, some anime have also been notorious for their heartwrenching moments that had viewers wiping tears off of their cheeks!
If you’re interested in watching some tearjerker anime that would really give you the feels, look no further, as we’ve listed down 25 titles that you should watch right now if you really need a good cry!
1. Grave of the Fireflies (Film)
Perhaps Studio Ghibli’s most harrowing film, Grave of the Fireflies tells the story of siblings Seita and Setsuko as they try to fend for themselves during the onslaught of World War II. As the American’s firebombs continue to drop on the streets, the siblings’ survival gets slimmer by the minute.
2. Your Lie in April (Series)
Your Lie in April exhibits both the beauty and pain music can evoke. After his mother’s death left him traumatized, piano prodigy Kōse becomes unable to hear the sound of his piano and only sees the world in monochrome. Years later, he meets the lively violinist Kaori who slowly brings back the color to his life. Stream Your Lie in April soon on Netflix.
3. 5 Centimeters Per Second (Film)
A story about growing apart, Makoto Shinkai’s short film 5 Centimeters Per Second follows the encounters of childhood friends Takaki and Akari. When Takaki’s family moves to the other side of the country, the distance slowly chips away at their relationship. Stream 5 Centimeters Per Second on Netflix.
4. Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day (Series)
A tale of friendship and death, Anohana centers on Jinta and his childhood friends who all drifted apart after Menma, the littlest and most innocent of the group, died in an accident. Now a young adult, Jinta is soon acquainted with the ghost of a grown-up Menma, who asks him to grant her mysterious wish.
5. A Silent Voice (Film)
A Silent Voice follows a young man’s search for redemption he may not be worthy of. It tells the story of Shouya, a cruel elementary student who bullies his deaf classmate Shouko until she decides to change schools. Years later, Shouya is still haunted by his wrongdoings as a young boy and decides to find Shouko to make amends.
6. Your Name (Film)
Your Name takes the body swap cliché and turns it into a heartwarming, romantic tale. It follows Mitsuha and Taki– two teens living from different parts of Japan whose bodies suddenly started swapping. The more time they spend with the other person’s body, the deeper the connection between them becomes. A connection that soon turns into romance.
7. I Want to Eat Your Pancreas (Film)
This film follows an aloof boy who seems to avoid social interactions, thus having no friends for most of his life. This changes when he accidentally reads a book in a hospital waiting room, which happens to be the diary of his popular classmate. The two then began to develop a connection after she reveals to him that she’s secretly suffering from a fatal pancreatic illness.
8. Clannad (Series)
In Clannad, the school delinquent Tomoya thinks that life is dull and wastes his time skipping classes. But his life takes a turn when he becomes friends with Nagisa, a girl who was held back a year due to a severe illness. When he learns that her dream is to revive the drama club, Tomoya joins her in her mission, meeting four more girls and helping them overcome their respective life hurdles.
9. Angel Beats! (Series)
Angel Beats! plays on the concept of a high school-like limbo, where the students must overcome the hardships they experienced in life before passing on. After finding himself in this limbo, Yuzuru is recruited into the Afterlife Battlefront, a rebel group fighting against an unseen god as payback for the members’ unfair circumstances in life. As Yuzuru navigates this new world, he regains more of his memories, and ultimately, discovers the afterlife’s true purpose.
Photo: Netflix
10. Violet Evergarden (Series)
Filled with heartbreaking moments, this anime follows the young ex-soldier Violet Evergarden, who is now navigating the post-Great War world. Assigned to a writers’ agency, Violet writes letters to connect people, while suffering from the pains of her own past. Stream Violet Evergarden on Netflix.
11. Orange (Series)
What if you can prevent the things that you will be regretting later in life? This is the premise of Orange, which follows the sophomore student Naho. One day, she receives a letter from herself ten years into the future, telling her of the mistakes and regrets she will be having in the future, including losing a person that she has yet to meet.
12. Elfen Lied (Series)
This sci-fi fantasy series touches on dark and serious themes such as discrimination, abuse, revenge, and jealousy just to name a few. It centers on the mutated species of Diclonius, who have a humanlike appearance but are dangerous killers. It follows the Diclonii Lucy who escapes from an experiment facility and wreaks havoc on the area. After getting injured, Lucy develops a second, childish personality called Nyu.
Photo: Amazon Prime Video
13. Steins; Gate (Series)
Steins; Gate explores the consequences of time travel. It tells the story of Rintaro Okabe who develops a time travel machine using a microwave oven. When the research organization SERN learns about this, they send men to retrieve the technology, killing Rintaro’s friend, Mayuri, in the process. Rintaro then tries to undo everything through his time machine, but saving her would also entail grave consequences. Stream Steins; Gate on Netflix.
Photo: Amazon Prime Video
14. Tokyo Magnitude 8.0 (Series)
This anime bares the horrors of a natural disaster, specifically an earthquake that leaves cities in ruins in its wake. Tokyo Magnitude 8.0 follows the two young siblings, Mirai and Yuki, who were visiting a robot exhibition in Odaiba when a massive earthquake happens in Tokyo. Alongside the motorcycle courier Mari who is trying to get home to her own daughter, the two kids journey to the partly-ruined city to be reunited with their parents.
15. Wolf Children (Film)
Wolf Children tells the story of Hana who falls in love with an enigmatic man that could turn into a wolf. After bearing his two wolf-human children, tragedy struck leaving Hana widowed. The movie then follows Hana’s hardships as she raises the two children on her own, children who want to experience many things in the world but are hindered by their feral callings.
We’re a few days away from seeing the end of Stranger Things season 4, with its second volume slated for release next month.
To keep the excitement among fans, Netflix has dropped the trailer for Stranger Things 4 Vol. 2, which teases a war from all corners, as the divided members of the gang face the monsters spawned by the Upside Down– from the demodogs in Russia to Vecna and his deadly curse.
Watch the trailer below:
In the first volume of season 4, we were introduced to the humanlike monster Vecna, who curses students at Hawkins who suffer from their traumatic pasts. When Max becomes the next target, the gang at Hawkins scrambles to save her. Meanwhile, Mike, Will, and Jonathan are trying to find Eleven, who is trying to reclaim her powers by revisiting her painful memories at the Rainbow Room. Joyce and Murray are reunited with Hopper in Russia, where they discover demodogs that are being held in captivity. Volume 1 ended with the big revelation of who Vecna really is.
The question is, will our heroes prevail against this terrifying monster? Who will fall and who will survive? Find out when the new episodes drop this July 1.
Netflix’s Stranger Things is created by the Duffer Brothers. Its lineup of stars includes Millie Bobby Brown, Finn Wolfhard, Noah Schnapp, Winona Ryder, David Harbour, Sadie Sink, Caleb McLaughlin, Gaten Matarazzo, Joe Keery, Natalia Dyer, Maya Hawke, and Charles Heaton. Also added to the cast this season were Jamie Campbell Bower, Joseph Quinn, and Eduardo Franco.
You can stream the earlier seasons of Stranger Things only on Netflix.
