Issue 58 of MyM magazine is out now, featuring Kubo and the Two Strings, Mifune: The Last Samurai and a Beginner’s Guide to Stephen King!

EDITOR’S LETTER

We like to think of ourselves as movie lovers here at MyM and this issue certainly highlights our diverse tastes in cinema. First up, we got to meet the head of animation studio Laika this month to talk about the stop-motion masterpiece Kubo And The Two Strings (see page 16). While we don’t want to suggest it wasn’t a pleasure to meet the director, it was such a thrill to meet the three tiny stars of his movie, as he brought models of Kubo, Monkey and Beetle with him!

There’s a distinctly Asian flavour to our other movie interviews, as the London Korean Film Festival was in town, attracting a visit from the bone fide South Korean acting legend Baek Yoon-sik (see page 26); as well as director Kim Sung-su and actor Jung Woo-sung, who tell us about their brutal new film Asura: The City of Madness (see page 20).

They’re joined by third-generation Japanese-American sansei Steven Okazaki (page 66), who sat down with our American to correspondent talk us through his film history and share his love of the Japanese actor Toshiro Mifune. His feature-length documentary Mifune: The Last Samurai offers an enlightening insight into that country’s cinema and the exceptional life of its most famous actor.

The movie magic doesn’t end there. Screenwriter Barry Keating (page 82) tells stories of sneaking into cinemas underage to watch The Crow as he shares his passions with us; while film composer Fabio Frizzi (page 80) explains how he’s lovingly recut a classic Fulci horror to play its score live at screenings. No doubt you’ve also seen a Stephen King movie or three and we provide a handy guide to the works of this prolific writer (page 22).

Even our top 10 gets a movie theme this month (page 70), as we count down the greatest dystopian films ever to thrill audiences. While we admit that idea came out of a win for – it still feels crazy to say it! – President Trump, we’re leaving all our negative thoughts back in 2016 where they belong. It’s 2017 and we’re here to entertain you once more, as we all embrace the positives going forward. So happy New Year to you and yours!

Matt Chapman, Editor

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MyM ISSUE 58 FULL CONTENTS

KUBO AND THE TWO STRINGS
Laika’s stop-motion masterpiece was one of the best films of 2016. Jayne Nelson talks to director Travis Knight about how much it owes to Hayao Miyazaki, Akira Kurosawa and a creative team from all corners of the globe, as it’s released on DVD and Blu-ray.

ESPORTS
James Pickard explores the current state of competitive gaming – and asks whether we’ll ever see its players at the Olympics.

ASURA: THE CITY OF MADNESS
Roxy Simons talks to director Kim Sung-su and actor Jung Woo-sung about their brutal new film.

STEPHEN KING
He moulded the world of modern horror and inspired some of the best movies and TV ever made. Jayne Nelson brings you a handy guide to his work…

DIGIMON RETURNS
With the first Digimon Adventure Tri movie hitting the UK this March, Alex Jones looks at how a line of virtual pets gave rise to a multimedia empire.

BAEK YOON-SIK
MyM caught up with the legendary South Korean actor during a UK visit.

NAOYOSHI SHIOTANI
Violent, grisly and smart, cyberpunk cop show Psycho-Pass has won a legion of admirers since debuting back in 2012. Andy Hanley chats with the director about his dystopian hit.

MIFUNE: THE LAST SAMURAI
Steven Okazaki’s feature-length documentary is an enlightening insight into Japanese cinema. Scott Snowden chatted with the US-born director, whose work remains heavily influenced by Eastern culture.

REGULARS
NEWS
Including a Super Mario World you can visit and the release date for Final Fantasy XIV: Stormblood.

MY MEDIA: BARRY KEATING
The video games writer and screenwriter on sneaking into cinemas and scouring the channels for horror shows.

TABLETOP
Fancy farming some cardboard fields, but not sure where to start? Dave Axbey’s got a brand new combine harvester and he’ll give you the key.

FILM & TV REVIEWS
This month’s TV and movie haul includes Sing, Dancer, Passengers, Deep Water, Blair Witch, Monster Trucks, Assassin’s Creed, Collateral Beauty, Army of One, Call of Heroes, War On Everyone, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story and Louder Than Love: The Grande Ballroom Story. Plus we chat to actor Matthew McConaughey and producer Miranda Dear.

ANIME REVIEWS
The New Year brings with it a bevy of new UK anime releases, including otherworldly rom-com Invaders of the Rokujyoma!?, magical actioner Absolute Duo, yuri-tinged comedy Mikagura School Suite, bonkers musical Nerima Daikon Brothers and the second half of shojo fantasy Yona of the Dawn. We’ve also got reviews of returning favourites Eden of the East, Fullmetal Alchemist and the blood-splattered Berserk, plus the latest instalments of Fairy Tail and One Piece.

VIDEO GAMES
We look forward to a few of 2017’s brightest prospects, including NieR Automata and Tales of Berseria, and give our verdict on Final Fantasy XV, the first two episodes of Telltale’s The Walking Dead: A New Frontier, Dead Rising 4, The Last Guardian and indie smash Stardew Valley.

COMIC & MANGA REVIEWS
Andy Shaw reads up on sci-fi invaders in Scarlet Traces and The Ring of the Seven Worlds, and finds out what it’s like being a struggling cartoonist in You Might Be An Artist If… Meanwhile, manga landing in Ian Wolf’s in-tray include action mystery Bungo Stray Dogs, Junji Ito horror collection Tomie and cute culture clash comedy Kiniro Mosaic.

MY GOODIES
Including a return for Dan Dare and an epic D&D trophy to hang on your wall.

TOP 10: MOVIE DYSTOPIAS
Jayne Nelson counts down the greatest dystopian thrillers ever to mess with a cinema audience’s noodle.

PLANET JAPAN
Our man on Planet Japan checks out the delights at Tokyo Disneyland.

COSPLAY & FASHION
Katharine Byrne interviews Bloodraven Cosplay about her deadly Overwatch creation; Emily Valentine chats with the Spanish Lolita Alliance’s Jessica Ruiz; and we feature a final four cosplay posters from the EuroCosplay Championships.

MY MUSIC: FABIO FRIZZI
The Italian horror movie composer talks modern cuts and American dreams.