Night Is Short, Walk On Girl

Night Is Short, Walk On Girl (2017) is a Japanese animated fantasy-comedy you can watch online on iFILM. A nameless student known only as the Girl with Black Hair sets off on one endless night through the bars of Kyoto, while a lovestruck senior spends the whole film engineering "accidental" run-ins to win her over.

A single night stretches to the length of a lifetime. She downs fiery liquor with an eccentric collector of rare drinks, crashes a salaryman drinking contest, lands in an absurd open-air musical, and faces off against the god of colds laying half the city low. Senpai, meanwhile, dreams up ever more ridiculous schemes just to confess. The plot loops, reality bends, and magical creatures keep wandering in. Gen Hoshino and Kana Hanazawa voice the would-be couple.

Director Masaaki Yuasa, working with studio Science SARU, pours on his signature look — acid colors, rubbery motion, and the rhythm of a tipsy dream. Adapted from Tomihiko Morimi's novel, it drew strong reviews and animation prizes. Best for anyone who wants their anime weird and freewheeling rather than tidy. Stream Night Is Short, Walk On Girl (2017) online on iFILM.