Awesome Documentaries

YouTube gaming critic George Weidman aka Super Bunnyhop gives us an overview of Japan’s thriving arcade industry. A combination of cramped homes, pedestrian-friendly streets and abundant coins have kept Japanese arcades alive and evolving.

“I put my very best in every bowl I make.” Meet Kunimoto. He owns a ramen restaurant in Tokyo, Japan. Or, as YouTuber Life Where I’m From puts it, the restaurant owns him. He can’t find full-time employees, so he works from 8:00 am to 11:30pm six days a week.

Made by the NBA, Oculus and Missing Pieces for the Samsung Gear VR, Follow My Lead: The Story of the 2016 NBA Finals is a 25-minute virtual reality documentary that gives you an immersive look at the Cleveland Cavaliers’ road to their first title. More on Polygon.

NOWNESS and photographer Ian Derry visited freediver Johanna Nordblad, the woman who holds a world record for diving under ice. Her fascination with the frigid, yet peaceful conditions came after she was subjected to ice water treatments for a serious leg fracture.

A Netflix documentary about the Syrian Civil Defense, commonly known as White Helmets after their distinctive protective gear. They are unarmed volunteers that rescue civilians caught in bombing strikes. According to the BBC, they have saved 56,000 lives so far. Premieres 9/16.

This month, the scientists who participated in a year-long isolation experiment to simulate life on Mars are going to “return to Earth.”  Red Heaven is a documentary featuring footage of the scientists before, during and after the grueling and mentally exhausting simulation.

Motorcyclist Chris Ganley was in a horrific crash, resulting in the loss of his left hand and arm. But his determination drove him to get back on his steel horse, and Chris hopes to one day race the deadly Isle of Man TT. A brilliantly edited documentary by The Roos Brothers.

This 2011 documentary shows how the Japanese’s diligence and world famous work ethic translates to its moving companies. Aside from transporting your belongings, they will pack and unpack your items as they were, and even clean both your old and new homes.

“I’m right here on the first floor. The doors are open. I’m ready for more.” Meet Ruben Pardo, who has worked for 40 years as an elevator operator at an iconic art deco tower in Los Angeles. Dress Code’s charming look at a man dedicated to his work and supporting his family.

Great Big Story takes us on a trip to Alnwick Castle’s Poison Garden, an oddity which grows only plants which are capable of causing major harm. The garden currently has about 100 varieties of deadly plant life. We’re guessing they don’t have any problems with vermin.

(PG-13: Language) A harrowing documentary about the conflict between Peru’s minorities and its government. In the early 2000s, Peru invited foreign companies to take advantage of the country’s natural resources, most of which lay in constitutionally-protected land.

“Some of my most intimate thoughts and questions were shared, were so common. The Google could anticipate it.” In filmmaker Sol Friedman’s short documentary we meet Razie, a 90-year-old woman who had a change of faith soon after she started using the Internet.

Briar Levit’s Graphic Means is an upcoming documentary that will explore the history of graphic design production and desktop publishing, starting from the meticulous analog processes of the ’50s to the instant gratification and one man operations we have today.

Google employees Nat and Lo visited the Google Doodle design team to find out how they make the interactive Google logos. In particular, Nat and Lo spoke to the members who came up with the Olympic-themed Doodle, the Fruit Games.

When Larry Woods was a millionaire back in the day, he was a self-confessed a-hole. But a single moment set him on the path to discovering true happiness. His new career as a shoeshine man may be humble, but it’s clear that he’s a much better person for it.

While tube amps and turntables have made a big comeback in recent years, vinyl jukeboxes are still relics of days gone by. Great Big Story takes a brief look at Perry Rosen, one of the few guys around who still knows how to fix these mechanical marvels of the past.

Chad Howitt’s profile of Josh Spencer, owner of Los Angeles’ famous used book shop The Last Bookstore. An outdoorsman, Josh was paralyzed from the waist down after an accident. But it led him to create what become a beloved landmark.

In 2003, a failing small town horse track in Japan made a desperate gamble: hype up Haru Urara, a horse with a record of 0-88. The country rallied around her story, “a message about the value of trying hard even when no one’s looking.” Ganbatte kudasai!

Vitaly Mansky wanted to make a documentary about life in Pyongyang through the eyes of a young girl. But authorities’ constant interference turned it into an scripted satire – a more accurate representation of what Mansky was trying to capture anyway. Playdates here.

Dan Perri has created titles and title sequences for Star Wars IV, Taxi Driver, Gangs of New York and more. He spoke with the Oscars about his career, his tools and his penchant for adapting rather than stamping his own style to the movie he’s working on.

“Yeah maybe they don’t take me seriously, umm you know, why would you take somebody seriously that doesn’t know what day it is?” Meet Jeff Dowd, the Coen Brothers’ main inspiration for Jeff Bridges’ character in The Big Lebowski. Props to Redditor th3rp for the title.

“When you’re done driving the car, you’re really happy, because it’s over.” John Campion spoke with Petrolicious about his rally car collection, particularly the Delta S4, which is the first car to have both a turbocharger and a supercharger.

Carfection spoke with employees of both the original and the current DeLorean Motor Company about their founder, the car maker’s troubled and storied history, and their flawed yet futuristic creation.