Hey everyone,
due to the usual random IRL stuff we will be postponing episode 73 until Sunday next week, May 12th.
Talk to you then.
Episode 72: Your Life is Your Own
A new Anime season means a new Sneak Peek where John and CC take a quick look at all the fresh spring series premieres. After that, they have a lengthy in-depth discussion about the second season of the Anime featuring their favorite pair of esper and con artist: Mob Psycho 100.
Sneak Peek:
Hitori Bocchi no Marumaru Seikatsu (2:59)
Ultraman (6:19)
Midnight Occult Civil Servants (8:11)
Cinderella Nine (12:08)
Fairy gone (15:26)
The Helpful Fox Senko-san (19:04)
RobiHachi (22:33)
AFTERLOST (24:55)
Sarazanmai (27:00)
One-Punch Man – Season 2 (32:24)
Fruits Basket (39:28)
Carole & Tuesday (44:03)
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba (49:40)
Review:
Mob Psycho 100 II (53:52)
Related Links:
ANN – This Week in Anime: Mob Psycho 100 is a Tour de Force of Animation
ANN – This Week in Anime: Mob Psycho 100’s Greatest Hits
Crunchyroll: The True Nature of Strength in Mob Psycho 100
Crunchyroll: All of Mob’s Explosions In Mob Psycho 100 So Far
Crunchyroll: Mob Psycho 100 II is Over, Long Live #RedrawReigen!
Crunchyroll – Seeing Double: Mob Psycho 100’s Mentors and Mentees
Crunchyroll: A Look Back at the Ways the Mob Psycho 100 Anime Blew Us Away
Sakuga Blog: Mob Psycho 100 II – Production Notes
Mother’s Basement: Mob Psycho 100 – My Favourite Anime
Mother’s Basement: Best. Anime. Opening. Ever. – What’s in an OP? (Mob Psycho 100 II)
Episode 71: True Grid
John and CC kick off this season finale on Anime Brain Freeze as usual, by talking about the shows from Fall 2018 that couldn’t hold their interest in the Chop ‘n’ Drop. Then they climb into their time machine, set the date to 1994 and review the newest iteration on the tokusatsu series Gridman the Hyper Agent, known in the west as Superhuman Samurai Syber-Squad. The hosts discuss why this new series, aptly titled SSSS.Gridman, is not only a visually engaging rollercoaster ride, but can also boast one of the most well realized antagonists in Anime history. Last but not least, they pick their favorites from Fall 2018 in Best of the Season.
Chop ‘n’ Drop (1:19)
Review:
SSSS.Gridman (15:29)
Best of the Season (51:51)
Related Links:
Mike Dent’s SSSS.GRIDMAN Expanded Reference Recap
ANN – This Week in Anime: Does Too Much Fanservice Distract From SSSS.Gridman’s Story?
ANN – This Week in Anime: Akane is the Real Protagonist of SSSS.Gridman
Crunchyroll: The Solemn Beauty of SSSS.Gridman
Crunchyroll – Giant Robots and Absent Friends: The Split Identity of SSSS.Gridman
Sakuga Blog: SSSS.Gridman Production Notes
ThePedanticRomantic – You Don’t Get Gridman If You Don’t Think It’s Gay
Mother’s Basement: On SSSS.Gridman’s “Realistic” Fight Animation
Episode 70: The Spy Who Loved Me
Prepare yourselves for a stealthy attack on your feelings, because in this episode John talks about the complicated relationships in the romance drama Bloom Into You and then both hosts discuss the ups and downs of the Ninja Spy action series Release the Spyce.
Reviews:
Bloom Into You (1:30)
Release the Spyce (27:18)
Related Links:
ANN – This Week in Anime: Why You Should Watch Bloom Into You
The Afictionado: Bloom Into You (and Me), a Story About How Representation is Important
Episode 69: Over the Top
March comes in like a Saiyan on this episode of ABF, as the hosts discuss the movie Dragon Ball Super: Broly. After that they mingle with the undead and talk about the flawed but enjoyable horror/idol crossover Zombie Land Saga.
Reviews:
Dragon Ball Super: Broly (1:31)
Zombie Land Saga (40:10)
Related Links:
Crunchyroll: How Dragon Ball Super Fixed Its Broly Problem
ANN – This Week in Anime: Is Zombie Land Saga Worth Watching?
ANN – This Week in Anime: What Makes Zombie Land Saga Special
Crunchyroll: Anime vs. Real Life – Zombie Land Saga’s Plot to Save Saga Is Ingenious
Crunchyroll: Zombie Land Saga is the Only Idol Anime I Will Ever Watch
Crunchyroll: ZOMBIE LAND SAGA is the Zombieland of Zombie Anime
Crunchyroll: To Zombie Land Saga’s Lily Hoshikawa, The Best Trans Girl I’ve Seen In Anime
Crunchyroll: Why ZOMBIE LAND SAGA is Taking Over the WORLD
Crunchyroll: Is the Saga Over? 5 Burning Questions from the Zombie Land Saga Finale
Mother’s Basement: Zombieland Saga – Idol Anime’s Gateway Drug
Episode 68: Sourced Drama
This time the hosts review two series adapted from a much older source material.
First, John talks about the comedic interpreation of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet called Boarding School Juliet, and why that show did a surprisingly good job at delivering a fun spin on the storied tale. Then he and CC discuss the adaption of 1985’s gritty crime drama Manga Banana Fish, and try to nail down why, after a strong start, that series falls completely apart by the end.
Reviews:
Boarding School Juliet (1:20)
Banana Fish (21:52)
Related Links:
ANN – This Week in Anime: Does the ’80s-tastic Banana Fish Work For Modern Anime Fans?
ANN – This Week in Anime: Is Banana Fish Trying Too Hard To Be Shocking?
Anime Feminist: [Interview] Japanese LGBTQ+ fans talk about the legacy of Banana Fish
Anime Feminist: [History] Banana Fish and the real-world racial politics of 1980s America
Episode 67: Short but Sweet
On this rapid fire review outing of ABF, John and CC discuss three short-form Anime series. First John introduces us to the neurotic crew of Space Battleship Tiramisu. Then both hosts buff up their cooking skills with the Fate/stay night spin-off Today’s menu for (the) Emiya Family. And after that John wraps up the show by talking about the relatable retail misadventures of Skull-face Bookseller Honda-san.
Reviews:
Space Battleship Tiramisu (1:53)
Today’s menu for (the) Emiya Family (16:09)
Skull-face Bookseller Honda-san (33:33)
Related Links:
Crunchyroll: Is “Today’s Menu for the Emiya Family” the Best “Fate” Anime Yet?!
Sakuga Blog – Preparing Ufotable’s Future: Today’s Menu For The Emiya Family
ANN – This Week in Anime: Skull-face Bookseller Honda-san is Too Relatable
Mother’s Basement: Upgrade Your Anime Memes! Watch Skull-face Bookseller Honda-San
New episode postponed
Hey guys,
no new episode this week. We ran into some scheduling conflicts.
We’ll be back next weekend. Until then, stay frosty.
Episode 66: Weird Eastern Tales
John and CC grab their warmest jackets and march into the icy cold wasteland of Anime Premieres from this winter season in the Sneak Peek. After that they gush about the second outing of Golden Kamuy and marvel at how this wacky little show seems to juggle all its many crazy characters, engaging plot threads and different tones with playful ease.
Sneak Peek: (1:30)
W’z (2:26)
The Price of Smiles (4:31)
Kemurikusa (8:40)
The Magnificent Kotobuki (9:53)
Bermuda Triangle: Colorful Pastrale (12:50)
Magical Girl Spec Ops Asuka (16:07)
Girly Air Force (19:06)
Boogiepop and Others (22:06)
Grimms Notes the Animation (24:20)
My Roommate is a Cat (27:43)
The Rising of the Shield Hero (30:14)
Dororo (34:10)
The Promised Neverland (38:37)
Date A Live III (41:56)
Mob Psycho 100 II (45:59)
Review:
Golden Kamuy – Season 2 (52:51)
Related Links:
ANN – This Week in Anime: You Have to Catch Up on Golden Kamuy
Crunchyroll – Festering Wounds: The Nature of Violence in Golden Kamuy
Crunchyroll – The Good, The Bad, and the Shiraishi: Golden Kamuy is a Western?!
Crunchyroll – Transcending Barriers: Food Culture in Golden Kamuy
Crunchyroll – Recreating Yourself Is How You Survive in Golden Kamuy
Crunchyroll – The Many Faces of the Golden Kamuy Anime’s True Heart: Shiraishi!
Episode 65: …And Jackets for All
As 2019 begins, another season for the Anime Brain Freeze team ends. So John and CC steal the new year’s thunder by delivering their final Review from Summer Season 2018 with the 5th installment of the modern day gentleman thief Lupin the Third. They also talk about the shows that didn’t quite make the cut in the Chop ‘n’ Drop and pick their personal winners for best show of the season.
Chop ‘n’ Drop (1:20)
Review:
Lupin the Third – Part 5 (15:39)
Best of the Season (59:06)
Related Links:
ANN – The Mike Toole Show: The Lupin Tapes
Crunchyroll: A Beginner’s Guide to Lupin the 3rd
Polygon: The new Lupin III Part V proves the character will entertain us forever
Anime Brain Freeze 