At the U.S. premiere of GROTESQQQUE at New York’s Japan Society, director Atsushi Nishigori warned the audience it might be hard to connect the different segments of this anthology feature. The one overriding theme, he explained, is “things I like” — whether that’s cute girls, monsters, mecha, any sort of otaku interest, or The Author’s Barely-Disguised Fetish he can fit into one of the shorts. He likened it to a three-course meal, guaranteeing we’d feel “full” when it finished. After two thrillingly overstimulating, action-packed segments and a calmer, more thoughtful closer, I left stuffed.

The first segment, “A(E)liens,” is the most colorful and entertaining of the three, and is narrowly my personal favorite. I loved the main character, Eli: she’s cute, funny, a little creepy with some of her body-horror transformations, but so good-natured you have to cheer her on as she makes friends and proves herself on Earth. The distinctive, appealing art style, plus the different alien characters and their abilities, gives the animators room to indulge in delightfully ridiculous action and creative transformations. The commentary on discrimination and being an outsider might not be the deepest exploration of these themes, but it’s enough substance to give all the candy-colored hyperpop silliness a cohesive, satisfying narrative.

“Yoroshiku Girl,” also written as “4649 Girl” in some graphics, is the one segment without Nishigori as the “episode director” (Takahiro Miura fills that role), and my least favorite. There is a story here, and it turns out to be fairly interesting, but it’s buried beneath a relentless, non-stop orgy of video game violence. To be clear, that violence is really cool! The animation’s incredible, the character designs are stylish, and it’s coherent enough to follow despite the relentless pace, but the reasons to care don’t develop enough until it’s too late. If this were the final act of a full-length movie with more proper character introductions (think Redline), it might be something really special.

The closing segment, “Nocturne: Nuit Grotesque,” marks a major shift in pace, easing concerns that GROTESQQQUE might get too overwhelming. The animation’s just as beautiful as in the other segments, but it loses the hyperactivity; the soundtrack switches gears from J-pop to classical. This is a serious post-apocalyptic vampire yuri drama with intriguing reflections on mortality — imagine Girls’ Last Tour meets the Marceline the Vampire Queen backstory episodes of Adventure Time, if Marceline had a polycule. In this short’s world, vampires can see the residue of death that humans can’t. Vampire souls are immortal even if their body gets killed — and rather than taken as a source of comfort, this idea of an everlasting soul beyond the body is treated as a source of pain. Thought-provoking and emotional, it’s the one part of GROTESQQQUE I can safely recommend to viewers not fully accustomed to Imaishi-esque, extreme, hyperactive anime nonsense.

GROTESQQQUE contains two great segments in very different styles, and its weakest segment is still a stunning piece of animation with enough potential that I can see how it could have been great. Since inconsistency is expected in anthology films, this is one of the better ones. It’s a weird and wild experience, and one can fairly question how the different parts cohere together (the disjointedness feels pronounced seeing the “Nocturne” cast drawn in the cutesy “A(E)liens” style during the peppy closing credits), but if you like any of the stuff Nishigori likes, it’s an experience you’ll want to see for yourself.

Yen Press announced the following licenses at New York Comic Con on Friday:

Title: The Girls Adrift Among the Stars light novels
Authors: Yuiko Agarizaki, Fuwan Sono (illustration)
Summary: AN INTERGALACTIC VOYAGE FOR A PLANET TO CALL HOME

A horse-drawn carriage races across the cosmos. Or rather, a spaceship made to look like
one. At the helm are a pair of refugees who fled Earth after pollution rendered it
uninhabitable: Ridley, a scientist and the designer of this peculiar spacecraft, and Watari,
an accomplished martial artist with debilitating shyness. This eccentric duo has but one
goal—to find a stable planet where they can settle down on!

However, every world the two visit is a little off… A planet with a god that can revive the
dead, a planet where lucky people reign supreme, a planet lined with endless libraries…
Can the girls navigate the unique challenges posed by each bizarre world and live to reach
the next leg of their journey? And is there really a replacement for Earth waiting to be
found among the stars?

Title: Dungeon Master: Creating a Hot Spring Dungeon light novels
Authors: Amahara, Jun (illustration)
Summary: COME ONE, COME ALL, TO THE MOST POPULAR DUNGEON AROUND!

So there I am on my death bed when a literal devil comes to make a deal with me. I get a
second shot at life, and in exchange, I’m on the hook for designing the most enticing
dungeon her world has ever seen. Pretty sweet deal, if you ask me. Let’s see, how do we
get people to explore the dungeon? How about if we offer hot springs capable of
rejuvenating skin, reversing the effects of aging, and granting you crazy strength?
Whoops… Looks like our baths are too popular and are causing some geopolitical strife.
Well, it’s just another day in the life of a dungeon master!

Title: Fate/strange Fake light novels
Authors: Ryohgo Narita, TYPE-MOON (original concept)
Summary: The False Grail War begins…

It has been several years since the conclusion of the Fifth Holy Grail War. Now the stage
has been set for a brand-new battle in Snowfield, a city in the western United States. But
this iteration of the war is built on lies. Mages and Heroic Spirits gather upon a false stage.
And though they grow increasingly aware that something is amiss, they play their roles all
the same. Truth and fiction no longer matter, for these competitors fight not for the Grail, but to see their
personal convictions through to the end. But when the final drop of blood is shed and the battle draws to a close,
what secrets will this enigmatic conflict uncover…?

Title: Kino’s Journey light novels
Authors: Keiichi Sigsawa, Kouhaku Kuroboshi (illustration)
Summary: A young traveler named Kino and a talking motorcycle named Hermes are on the journey
of a lifetime! They visit different countries one after another, experiencing human nature
and society in its many forms. Kino wants to learn everything there is to know about how
other people live. Join their introspective adventure and uncover what it is that makes the
world beautiful.

Title: Spice and Wolf Diner: Gourmet Exploration manga
Authors: Sera Murase, Isuna Hasekura (original creator)
Summary: Following the guidance of a mysterious book, Holo and Lawrence suddenly find
themselves in modern-day Japan. As they wander the unfamiliar streets, something
catches Holo’s nose: the tantalizing scent of delicious food! The gourmand Holo quickly
becomes obsessed with all kinds of never-before-seen delicacies… Read on and even try
some for yourself, with an included series of mouthwatering recipes straight from the
world of Spice & Wolf!

Title: Steam-Pipe Broom Racing manga
Author: Yasuhiro
Summary: Magical coal has revolutionized travel in the 19th century British Empire. Now trains and
boats are hardly the only way to get around—not when you could catch a ride on a pipe!
Like a witch’s broomstick, these sleek iron contraptions have taken the nation by
storm…and made Sheena late for work again. It’s not her fault! Those dumb rich kids
keep closing off the streets to race their fancy-schmancy pipes. It’s so stupid! But after
getting in an accident and challenging a stuck-up rich girl, Sheena may just find her true
calling lies in the high-speed world of pipe racing!

Title: Monstrosities and Me manga
Author: funi-mu9
Summary: “You spirits can see us regular people, but most of us have no idea you are even there. It’d
be pretty mean if even the few people who could talk to you ignored you anyway— You’d
get lonely, right?”

So begins the story of a boy in search of a friend and a clumsy poltergeist in need of a
little human kindness… The best of friendships come from the most unexpected places!

Title: The Ice-Core Meteoria manga
Author: Makoto Tōdō
Summary: In a world where a special fossil fuel known as Meteorian coal has become the number
one source of fuel, steam engines have taken the world by storm. Kanata, a young coal
miner, diligently studies despite his dire circumstances. One day, while breaking into a
new vein of ore, Kanata finds the gears of fate have begun to turn for him—as he learns
the monstrous secret of Meteoria!

Title: Mermaid Observation Diary manga
Author: Umi Ishida
Summary: One summer, two boys living in a small seaside village find something they’d only heard
about in scary stories: a mermaid. The creature they’d fished up looks like a harmless little
girl, but its true nature is a man-eating monster…or so they’re told. The cowardly Ken and
the brash Shun decide to bring her home, agreeing not to breathe a word of this secret to
anyone…but have they found a friend or the beginning of a nightmare?

Title: After Midnight Skin manga
Author: NIMMAHIRO
Summary: Toraya is a serious, modest office worker with one secret he can’t let slip: he’s really,
really horny! After yet another day of exhausting work, his pent-up stress and libido get
the better of him, and he heads to the office bathroom to take matters into his own
hands…only for Saikawa, his least favorite supervisor, to catch him in the act. Toraya
hopes they can both just forget about it, but Saikawa wants something in exchange for his
silence…

Title: Lily: Lost and Found Again ~By the Sweet Lies and Love of a Nobleman Since Their First Night~ manga
Author: tsugumi
Summary: When Lily is abruptly cast out from the house where she was raised and left grieving at
the roadside, she finds an unlikely helping hand in Chris, the proprietor of a beautiful
Victorian café. As he brews a lovely cup of tea that revives Lily, he makes a proposition…
A kiss opens a new chapter for the two as their sweet, hot life comes to a boil!

Title: A Peach Offering for the Imperial Court manga
Author: Yūho Ueji
Summary: Far from the imperial capital stands a village where immortals reside. There, fragrant fruits
grow, filled with divine Qi. But not just anyone may partake—only the most beautiful of
girls are selected to sup daily upon the fruits of life. These “Immortal Peach Maidens” are
the destined brides of imperial princes. Whether they like it or not, it is their role to join a
prince upon his coming of age in heaven-blessed union… But on the White Peach Maiden’s
first night in the palace, her assigned prince, fourth prince Li Zijing, doesn’t show up! Has
her one-track life gone woefully awry, or, against all odds, will this be the start of a tale of
courtly love?!

Source: Email correspondence