Tension. Fear. Exhilaration. Atmospheric synthesizers. You're in John Carpenter territory. One of the most iconic directors of American cinema John Carpenter has astonished audiences the world over with his tightly crafted horror, thriller and science-fiction films. Not just a director, Carpenter's[...]

The animations of Japan's Studio Ghibli are amongst the most highly regarded in the movie industry. Their films rank alongside the most popular non-English language films ever made, with each new release a guaranteed box-office smash. Yet this highly profitable studio has remained fiercely independe[...]

Successful in both Japan and the West, Akira had a huge impact on the international growth in popularity of manga and anime. Closely analysing the film and its key themes, Colin O'Dell and Michelle Le Blanc assess its historical importance, its impact on the Western perception of anime, and its infl[...]