Hey Everyone,
we’ll be on hiatus until further notice due to medical reasons.
We will return as soon as possible.
Hope to talk to you soon!
~ CC
Episode 91: Beast Laid Plans
Before saying goodbye for a while, the hosts wrap things up with an early jam packed season finale. First they discuss the recent Crunchyroll Anime Awards 2020 and highlight some of the winners, snubs and headscratchers from the selection. After a quick visit to the Chop ‘n’ Drop they then review the final series from Fall Season 2019 in the form of the feral high school drama Beastars. Last but not least they give out their own recurring award: Best of the Season.
News:
The Crunchyroll Anime Awards 2020 (1:32)
Chop ‘n’ Drop (1:36:19)
Review:
Beastars (1:46:00)
Best of the Season (3:01:20)
Related Links:
Crunchyroll: Winners of the 2020 Anime Awards
Episode 90: Firestarter
The ABF gang has returned to cool you down and then heat you right back up. First CC follows the investigators from Babylon to unearth the many horrifying secrets that lurk in the shadows of a mayoral election. Then the hosts unleash their burning shonen hearts once again and join the colorful firefighting crew from company 8 to extinguish a plethora of infernal opponents in Fire Force.
Reviews:
Babylon (1:30)
Fire Force (53:02)
Related Links:
ANN – This Week in Anime: Babylon Has a Whore Complex
Mother’s Basement: Babylon – Thriller Anime at its Finest
ANN – This Week in Anime: Is Fire Force Worth Watching?
Crunchyroll: Meet the Staff of the Upcoming Fire Force Anime!
Crunchyroll: Five Highlights of the Fire Force Anime’s Thrilling Debut!
Sakuga Blog: Fire Force – The Backstory Of A Dazzling Production
Episode 89: Sticks & Stone
The hosts take turns on this episode and tackle three widely different shows. CC goes first and explains why the mix of tennis action and family drama in Stars Align is a winning combination. After that, John returns to the world of Granblue Fantasy and highlights some of the ups and downs in the second season of this popular cross media franchise. CC then wraps up the show by travelling 3700 years into the future and witnessing the rebirth of human civilization through the power of science and by the hands of Dr. Stone.
Reviews:
Stars Align (1:32)
Granblue Fantasy the Animation – Season 2 (33:46)
Dr. Stone (1:05:21)
Related Links:
Sakuga Blog: Hoshiai no Sora / Stars Align: A Story About Corporate Betrayal, But Also A Lot More
ANN: Stars Align Director Kazuki Akane Promises Sequel In Some Form
ANN: Stars Align ED Animation Allegedly Copies Dance Choreography Without Permission
Stars Align Production Committee Apologizes For Copying Dance Choreography Without Permission
ANN – This Week in Anime: Could Stars Align Be This Season’s Ace Anime Series?
ANN – This Week in Anime: Stars Align is Here and It’s Hella Queer
ANN – This Week in Anime: Dr. Stone Breaks the Mold of Shonen Jump Adventure
ANN – This Week in Anime: Why Dr. Stone’s Village Arc is The Best Yet
Crunchyroll: Behind the Scenes of Dr. STONE | The Making of an Anime
Crunchyroll – INTERVIEW: How Dr. STONE’s Director Created a World of Science
Crunchyroll: Dr. STONE’s Most Unusual Hero in History
Crunchyroll: Dr. Stone Proves That Every Good Anime Villain Needs A Good Anime Henchman
Crunchyroll – INTERVIEW: Dr. STONE Creators Reveal the Secrets Behind Their Painstaking Research
Mother’s Basement: What’s so Great About Dr. Stone – Bill Nye the Apocalypse Guy
Episode 88: To Valhalla
John and CC kick off the new Anime season as usual, by giving a nod to all the icy fresh premieres from Winter 2020 they did check out. After that they wrap up the episode by discussing one of the most promising manga-to-anime adaptions in recent years: Vinland Saga.
Sneak Peek: (1:52)
Seton Academy: Welcome to the Pack & A Destructive God Sits Next to Me (3:17)
Oda Cinnamon Nobunaga (6:23)
Hatena Illusion (9:14)
Magia Record: Puella Magi Madoka Magica Side Story (11:55)
Dorohedoro (14:48)
Sorcerous Stabber Orphen (15:41)
Somali and the Forest Spirit (17:16)
Darwin’s Game (18:52)
Asteroid in Love (22:59)
Pet (25:09)
A Certain Scientific Railgun T (27:13)
Dorohedoro (29:54)
ID: INVADED (35:09)
In/Spectre (42:54)
Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken! (45:10)
ROOM CAMP (50:20)
Somali and the Forest Spirit (53:10)
Sorcerous Stabber Orphen (57:02)
Haikyu!! To The Top (1:02:42)
Review:
Vinland Saga (1:08:17)
Related Links:
ANN – This Week in Anime: Vinland Saga is the Must-Watch Epic of the Season
ANN – This Week in Anime: The Fog of War Thickens in Vinland Saga
Episode 87: Bonds
The two hosts dish out their last Review for Summer 2019 with Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba and discuss if the stellar presentation can compensate for some of the show’s narrative shortcomings. They also take a quick glance at the shows they didn’t stick with in the Chop ‘n’ Drop and highlight their personal picks for Best of the Season.
Chop ‘n’ Drop: (1:25)
Review:
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba (13:16)
Best of the Season: (1:10:01)
Related Links:
ANN – This Week in Anime: Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba is the Breakout Spectacle of the Season
ANN – This Week in Anime: Demon Slayer Delivers Shonen Action with Seinen Gore
ANN – This Week in Anime: Demon Slayer Weaves a Tangled Web in the Forest Spider Arc
ANN – Interview: Demon Slayer producer Yuma Takahashi
Crunchyroll – Mythology Uncovered: The Oni of Demon Slayer
Crunchyroll: The Digital Arenas of Demon Slayer’s Battles
Crunchyroll: In Demon Slayer, Compassion is the Strongest Weapon
Sakuga Blog: Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Power Of Ufotable’s Harmony
Anime Feminist: [Feature] Who is Allowed to Speak Their Pain? Demon Slayer, empathy, and Nezuko
Mother’s Basement: What’s So Great About Demon Slayer – A Kinder Kind of Shounen
Mother’s Basement: Why Inosuke is Best Boy – What’s in a Waifu? (Demon Slayer)
Mother’s Basement: Tanjiro vs Rui – Animelee (Demon Slayer)
Mother’s Basement: Demon Slayer’s Elegant Storytelling – What’s in an OP?
Episode 86: Decks & Dicks
John takes a deep dive into the entirety of the Yu-Gi-Oh! franchise, leading up to his review of the newest iteration on the popular card battle Anime: Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS.
After that, the two hosts wrap up this episode by talking about the buddy cop fantasy show Cop Craft and elaborate on why its surprisingly forward discussion of topics like immigration, racism and contemporary politics is handled better than they would have expected.
Reviews:
Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS (1:31)
Cop Craft (1:45:55)
Related Links:
Crunchyroll: Remember When Yugioh Was About Murder?
Mother’s Basement: The Problem With Card Game Anime
Episode 85: Cursed Content
John kicks off this episode by taking a look at the isekai comedy series “Do You Love Your Mom and Her Two-Hit Multi-Target Attacks?” and explains why the show might try to follow in Konosuba’s footsteps but ends up being a rather run-of-the-mill offering in that particular genre. After that, the hosts review the newest adaption of the popular manga “Fruits Basket” and reveal why there is more substance to this romantic comedy than the plot summary might suggest. Finally, the team wraps up this round of reviews with “Lord El-Melloi II’s Case Files: Rail Zeppelin Grace note” and discuss if this entry in the Fate universe is a proper continuation of one of their favorite character stories from Fate/Zero.
Reviews:
Do You Love Your Mom and Her Two-Hit Multi-Target Attacks? (1:34)
Fruits Basket [2019] (25:09)
Lord El-Melloi II’s Case Files: Rail Zeppelin Grace note (1:05:42)
Related Links:
ANN – This Week in Anime: Did Masato Complete His Mother-Loving Quest or Is It a Bad-End?
ANN – This Week in Anime: What’s So Great About Fruits Basket?
ANN – This Week in Anime: Break Out the Big Box of Tissues for Fruits Basket
ANN – This Week in Anime: Fruits Basket’s First Season Was an Emotional Rollercoaster
Crunchyroll – Cooking With Anime: Zodiac Mochi from Fruits Basket
Crunchyroll – Cooking With Anime: Leek Onigiri from Fruits Basket
ANN – This Week in Anime: Lord El-Melloi II’s Case Files Bring Whodunnit Fun to the World of Fate
ANN – This Week in Anime: Did Lord El-Melloi II’s Case Files Close Out Capitally?
Crunchyroll – From Failure to Professor: The Growth of Lord El-Melloi II
Episode 84: Deep Space Symphonies
In this episode the hosts unchain the power of SCIENCE! First John takes a stab at the scientific side of the Raildex Cinematic Universe and struggles to find anything interesting in what A Certain Scientific Accelerator says or does. Then the gang joins a bunch of high school kids on their involuntary trip into deep space and discusses why Astra Lost in Space is not only a riveting space adventure, but also an emotionally rewarding character drama. Last but most definitely not least, the two hosts gush about all the epic moments from the assumed series finale of one of their favorite Anime franchises: Senki Zesshō Symphogear XV.
Reviews:
A Certain Scientific Accelerator (1:33)
Astra Lost in Space (21:26)
Senki Zesshō Symphogear XV (51:48)
Related Links:
ANN – This Week in Anime: Astra Lost in Space is Off to a Stellar Start
ANN – This Week in Anime: Astra Lost in Space Takes on Darker Twists and Turns
Lowart: Astra Lost in Space Anime VS Manga | How Good is Kanata no Astra’s Anime Adaptation?
ANN – This Week in Anime: We Love Symphogear
Crunchyroll: The Wild Brilliance of Symphogear
Crunchyroll: 5 Reasons Why You Should Catch Up With Symphogear
Crunchyroll: Why You Just Can’t Hate Symphogear XV’s Villains
Episode 83: Burning Hearts
The hosts unleash their romantic side and talk about three hot blooded Anime to light up the incoming cold winter nights. First CC elaborates on why O Maidens in Your Savage Season‘s surprisingly open and honest take on the pitfalls of five girls’ developing sexuality, is a heartfelt tale worth to be told. Following that, John stays on the high school romance train and reviews Given, a gay love story about music, loss and the importance of opening your heart to the people who care about you the most. Last but not least the gang talks about Promare, the fiery new movie from Studio Trigger’s Hiroyuki Imaishi, and discuss why this face-melting action extravaganza is a must-see experience.
Reviews:
O Maidens in Your Savage Season (1:30)
Given (28:57)
Promare (1:02:52)
Related Links:
ANN – This Week in Anime: Let’s Talk About Sex in O Maidens in Your Savage Season
ANN – This Week in Anime: Love Stinks and Sex Sucks in O Maidens in Your Savage Season
Geek Girl Authority: O MAIDENS IN YOUR SAVAGE SEASON Is What Anime Needs Right Now
The Afictionado: O Maidens in Your Savage Season and “Not Like Other Girls” Syndrome
Mother’s Basement: S*x-Ed: Anime Edition – Go Watch O Maidens in Your Savage Season!
ANN – This Week in Anime: Given Unites Fans’ Love of Music and Romance
Crunchyroll: Why You Should Rock Out With Given, The Best Summer Anime You’re Not Watching
Crunchyroll – Anime vs. Real Life: Where the Boys of given Jam out in Real Life
Crunchyroll: The Rise of Given’s Silent Protagonist
Crunchyroll – Anime vs. Real Life: More Locations for given’s Jam Sessions
Crunchyroll: Given is One of the Best Anime Dramas of the Year
Ani-Gamers: Creating the Kaleidoscopic Visual Style of PROMARE
Crunchyroll – The Road to Promare: TRIGGER Staff Discuss the Anime Studio’s History
Crunchyroll: Talking TRIGGER with the Masterminds Behind PROMARE
Anime Brain Freeze 