5 Movies to Watch at the 2024 Fantasia Film Festival

1) Teasing Master Takagi-san

We loved the whimsical, playful trek into the wonders of teasing ‘puppy love’ in the 3-season anime series & film of Teasing Master Takagi-san at The Natural Aristocrat®. It should come as no surprise that we look forward to see the live action offering complete with actress Mei Nagano as Takagi.

We rated Nagano’s prior work ‘My Broken Mariko‘ as our 2022 Fantasia Film of the Year.

The Natural Aristocrat® also will be giving top honors at Japan Cuts 2024 to ‘Blue Period‘ which happens to feature actor Fumiya Takahashi, who plays Nishikita in the Teasing Master Takagi-san film.

Based on the film’s synopsis below, it appears this live action film takes place between the anime series and the epilogue shown at the end of the anime movie, where the pair are already married and have a daughter. Although in the anime series, it certainly wasn’t ‘unrequited love’ on either side.

Synopsis: “On a pretty, placid little island in the Japanese countryside, Nishikita teaches physical education at the high school he himself attended.
 
The man is hardly an agent of change. He knows his place in the order of things and is careful not to rock the boat, perhaps even a little too much. When he receives a call from a former classmate Takagi, announcing her return, a flash of emotion strikes him.
 
Takagi was Nishikita’s best friend and unrequited first love, who had suddenly moved to Paris 10 years earlier to study. At the time, Takagi was constantly teasing him to shake him out of his torpor, and he notices that her attitude hasn’t changed in the slightest when they are reunited.
 
In fact, while in France she has only improved in the art of the retort, and Nishikita is still as bad at it as ever. He’ll have to get used to it, though, as the new teacher he’ll have to train is none other than the beautiful Takagi.”

2) AstroNots

 
Synopsis: “The world is about to end. Mars is humanities only hope. The mission is handed to two astronauts – Collins and Adams. They sit on the launchpad about to launch when suddenly Adams admits to Collins that he’s fluked his way through training and has no idea what he’s doing.
 
The two must grapple with the ide.a of taking off anyway and risking their lives, or delaying their mission and dooming earth forever”

This intriguing sci-fi comedy premise instantly has our attention. It’s a conversational piece if there ever was one and can be applied to any dangerous situation with great reward attached. Do you go through with a job that has you risking life and limb with an unqualified co-pilot at your side?

3) Memory

 
Synopsis: Siwoo misses her father, and brings home a robot replica that looks just like him, with his memories programmed into it.
 
Even if her mother is opposed to the idea, she’ll do whatever it takes to prove her father is still out there, so they can all be a family again.”

In our opinion, Keanu Reeves’ Replicas which had a similar premise to Memory is one of the most underrated films of all time. Memory appears to follow in its footsteps and we’re looking forward to see how they tackle this forward thinking issue of clone androids that might be available in the future.

We already have replica voices of classic Hollywood stars being used with permission from the families of their estates, who’s to stop full-on robotic clones in the future?

4) 98%

 
Synopsis: “Jung-min helps run 98%, a fundraising organization that aims to help the disabled by collecting money from online broadcasting.
 
However, instead of giving it to the people who need it most, he keeps it for himself and viciously mistreats them. When the beautiful and deaf Eunhye becomes involved, resistance against Jung-min’s oppressive control begins.”

At The Natural Aristocrat® we found Netflix film ‘I Care a Lot‘ about the financial exploitation and jail like conditions of retirees to be must see, and a pivotal picture for greater society.

98% appears to follow that social blueprint on corruption and mistreatment of those unable to fight back based on its synopsis. We’ll be on the lookout for it.

5) Don’t Call it Mystery

Mysteries and ‘Whodunits’ are always a ‘guilty pleasure’ for The Natural Aristocrat® since the days of Director Alfred Hitchcock and the Clue board game itself. The trailer and synopsis for this picture looks like a fun time and we’ve yet to be disappointed by a well fashioned mystery film.

“Synopsis: With his distinctive head of luscious curls, college student Totonou Kuno always stands out in a crowd, though he probably wishes he didn’t. A loner at heart, he is considered strange and overly talkative, but his mind is sharp as a knife and his observation skills, unparalleled.
 
Which is why, while on a trip to Hiroshima, he doesn’t take long to notice the girl who’s been following him all day… but can’t hide his bewilderment when Shioji finally reveals her intentions: “Do you want a job? Money and lives are at stake,” she says.
 
Intrigued, Totonou is then swept into a complicated family mystery involving the inheritance of her late grandfather, who left behind a riddle for his heirs to solve.
 
For generations, the reputable Kariatsumari clan has repeatedly feuded over the estate; some members—including Shioji’s father—even dying in odd circumstances. Could this be her fate, too?
 
Based on an award-winning manga by Yumi Tamura, one of Japan’s most celebrated shojo artists and creator of the popular Basara and 7 Seeds franchises, DON’T CALL IT MYSTERY was first adapted into a 13-episode television drama in 2022.”

Bonus Selection: A Legend

Because Jackie Chan is in it and that’s enough reason to watch a movie.