We’ll be releasing the season finale of our podcast on September 29.
Until then~
Episode 80: Masters of Puppets
The hosts try to break free from their strings by dismantling the absurd plot machinations and undercooked characters of the clownishly rushed horror action show Karakuri Circus. After that they go back to the very beginning of the Gundam franchise and discuss how Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin expertly chronicles the rise of one of the most iconic characters from that franchise: Char Aznable.
Reviews:
Karakuri Circus (1:20)
Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin (1:18:28)
Related Links:
ANN – This Week in Anime: Is Karakuri Circus a Hidden Classic or Just Dated?
Mother’s Basement: Gundam The Origin – A Gateway to Gundam Obsession
New episode postponed
No new episode this week, guys. We’ll talk to you next weekend.
Until then, stay fresh and frosty.
EDIT: We’ll have to postpone for another week. We should be back in action September 8. Sorry and take care.
Episode 79: A Night at the Edgelord Opera
CC dives back into the Isekai hole, unleashes the full potential of his Hate Skill Tree and tears the rancid Dumpster Fire that is The Rising of the Shield Hero to shreds. Then he and John move on to more golden pastures and discuss the fifth chapter of one of their favorite Anime franchises: JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure.
Reviews:
The Rising of The Shield Hero (2:02)
JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Golden Wind (43:52)
Related Links:
One Peace Books: An interview with Aneko Yusagi
Fantastic Memes: The Rising of the Shield Hero: The Author’s Gender is Officially Not Your Business
Gigguk: Shield Hero – The Rising of the Isekai Genre
Crunchyroll: The Saga of JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure Leading into Golden Wind
Mother’s Basement: Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure Part 5 Primer – Anime Cheat Sheet
ANN – This Week in Anime: Is Golden Wind the Best or Worst Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure Yet?
ANN – This Week in Anime: Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure: Golden Wind is Surprisingly Hardcore
ANN – This Week in Anime: Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure: Golden Wind is Next Level Insanity
ANN – This Week in Anime: Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure: Golden Wind Gets (Even More) Gruesome
ANN – This Week in Anime: Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure: Golden Wind Goes Out With a Bang
Crunchyroll: Golden Wind Is the Same Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure We Know and Love
Episode 78: Lacking a Punch
The hosts begin this episode by talking about the horrible tragedy that befell Kyoto Animation on July 18, 2019. After that CC details the adventures of the three Kappa boys in Sarazanmai, the latest project from the mind of writer/director Kunihiko Ikuhara. Then John wraps up the show by kicking off the discussion of the lackluster sequel to the first series the gang ever reviewed on ABF: One Punch Man.
News:
Kyoto Animation arson attack (1:20)
Reviews:
Sarazanmai (12:03)
One Punch Man – Season 2 (31:48)
Related Links:
RightStuf: $1 Donation to Kyoto Animation
Twitter: How to buy KyoAni Hi-Res Artwork
Twitter: How to donate to KyoAni’s bank account
Mother’s Basement: The Power of Anime
Gigguk: Thank You Kyoto Animation.
ANN: Sarazanmai Episode Reviews
ANN – This Week in Anime: What the Hell is Happening in Sarazanmai?
ANN – This Week in Anime: What is Sarazanmai All About?
Crunchyroll: Why You Should Watch More Of ‘Sarazanmai’ Director Kunihiko Ikuhara
Crunchyroll – Anime vs. Real Life: Sarazanmai
Crunchyroll: Underneath The Butts And The Dancing, Sarazanmai Is Beautiful
Crunchyroll: Wanting To Connect – Sarazanmai on Selfishness and Desire
Crunchyroll: Sarazanmai Has Barely Scratched The Bizarre Surface Of The Kappa
Sakuga Blog: Sarazanmai Production Notes
ANN – This Week in Anime: One Punch Man Ain’t What He Used to Be
Mother’s Basement: What is Happening to One Punch Man?
Mother’s Basement: Does Anime Need Good Animation? (One Punch Man Season 2)
Episode 77: Body & Soul
To battle the hot summer heat, John and CC unleash all the cool Anime premieres they could get their hands on in the Sneak Peek. After that they travel back in time to the Sengoku period and discuss the demon-slaying adventures of the wandering samurai Hyakkimaru and his little sidekick Dororo.
Sneak Peek (1:20)
Granbelm (2:00)
To the Abandoned Sacred Beasts (4:30)
Given (8:57)
Dr. Stone (11:24)
Do You Love Your Mom and Her Two-Hit Multi-Target Attacks? (13:22)
Lord El-Melloi II’s Case Files: Rail Zeppelin Grace note (18:26)
Cop Craft (20:47)
Fire Force (24:04)
A Certain Scientific Accelerator (25:48)
Astra Lost in Space (28:08)
Senki Zesshō Symphogear XV (30:00)
Vinland Saga (34:44)
Review:
Dororo [2019] (40:17)
Related Links:
ANN – This Week in Anime: Is the Reboot of Osamu Tezuka’s Dororo Worth Watching?
ANN – This Week in Anime: Osamu Tezuka’s Dororo Gets Intense
ANN – This Week in Anime: Osamu Tezuka’s Dororo Gets a New Ending
Best of the Season Section
Hey guys & girls!
I added a page that lists our picks for Best of the Season to the site.
Now you can quickly find out which Anime got chosen as our personal favorite each given season and listen to either the episode we reviewed that series on, or the corresponding BotS episode itself.
Bis dann!
– CC
Episode 76: Down the Rabbit Hole
John and CC take a sightseeing tour of the underworld and almost lose their collective minds while tearing apart the trainwreck that is the third season of the iconic light novel adaption Sword Art Online. And since it’s this season’s final Anime Brain Freeze episode, there is also some Chop ‘n’ Drop and Best of the Season entries to discuss.
Chop ‘n Drop (1:51)
Reviews:
Sword Art Online: Alicization (15:34)
Best of the Season (1:37:32)
Related Links:
ANN – Interview: The Staff of Sword Art Online Alicization
Crunchyroll – The Stakes are Higher Than Ever in Sword Art Online: Alicization!
Crunchyroll – Alice in Sword Art Online: A Wonderland of Danger
Mother’s Basement: SAO Alicization – Dumpster Fire Simulator 2019
Episode 75: A slimy Date in Neverland
The hosts dive right back into the light novel hole as CC reviews the fantastical isekai adventures of a businessman turned little JRPG slime in That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime. Then John tackles the first three seasons of the goofy science-fantasy dating sim crossover Date A Live. Last but not least it’s CC’s turn again to wrap up the show with his Review of the long awaited adaption of the thrilling Shonen Jump suspense/horror series The Promised Neverland.
Reviews:
That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime (1:46)
Date A Live III (33:49)
The Promised Neverland (1:04:06)
Related Links:
ANN – This Week in Anime: Is That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime Worth Watching?
ANN – Interview: The Staff of That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime
ANN – Rimuru Tempest and Robinson Crusoe: How to Build a Civilization
ANN – This Week in Anime: Did That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime Peak Too Early?
Mother’s Basement: You Gotta Watch ‘That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime’
Gigguk – Slime Isekai: The Best Kind Of Isekai Anime
ANN – Shelf Life: Date A Live II
Crunchyroll FEATURE: “Date A Live Museum” at Gamers Akihabara Store
ANN – This Week in Anime: Why You Should Be Watching The Promised Neverland
ANN – This Week in Anime: The Promised Neverland is Only Getting More Intense
Crunchyroll: The Promised Neverland’s ‘Mom’ is Already Anime’s Mom of the Year
Crunchyroll: The Promised Neverland’s Escape To-Do List
Crunchyroll: The Adapted Vision of The Promised Neverland
Crunchyroll: How Top Notch Animation Helps The Promised Neverland Succeed In Its Horror
Crunchyroll: The Promised Neverland and the Battle for Hope
Sakuga Blog: The Promised Neverland Production Notes
Mother’s Basement: How to Write a Great Anime Villain – The Promised Neverland
Episode 74: Religious Roadblocks
John takes the lead on this episode and tries his very best to make sense of the convoluted plot, the ridiculous amount of characters and the plethora of story arcs in the third season of the popular light novel adaption A Certain Magical Index. After that, CC tackles yet another sports Anime and explains what makes the laid back character-driven Run with the Wind a surprising standout in that genre.
Reviews:
A Certain Magical Index III (1:30)
Run with the Wind (53:12)
Related Links:
Crunchyroll – FEATURE: Novel vs Anime – “A Certain Magical Index”
Gigguk: The Fascinating World of Index/Railgun and Why You Should Watch It
ANN – This Week in Anime: Run With the Wind is a Breath of Fresh Air
ANN – This Week in Anime: Run With the Wind Reaches Cathartic New Heights
Crunchyroll – Anime vs. Real Life: Run with the Wind – Predicting the Team’s Starting Order
Crunchyroll: Why You Need to Catch Up on the Run with the Wind Anime!
Crunchyroll: We Are Stronger Together in the Anime Run with the Wind!
Crunchyroll: What Does Victory Mean in Run with the Wind?
Mother’s Basement: 5 Great Anime You (Probably) Missed in 2018
Anime Brain Freeze 