Anime can get pretty campy with its tropes. How many more isekais will we need to get the point across that this life can be more? How many more rom-coms will continue to dangle the “relationship” in a form of sideways glances or hand holding? How many more shounens must be made using the same stock of characters to end with the power of friendship? Not all of it is bad, yet it begs the question: is that all that there is to it now…or ever?

There is a movie that simply stands on its own, unconcerned with the cliches of anime and operates more so an indie film. In this case, its truest sense where most of it - directing, editing, composing, animating, writing to name a few, save for voice acting - is all done by ONE. PERSON. This is Jinsei.

Jinsei premieres in theaters 12 June 2026.

Many thanks to Maddux Brown and Zarahi Alcantar of 42West for the screener.