29. April 2018

Episode 50: Kuso Podcast

John kicks off this jam session of an episode by talking about a piece of pure art in the form of Pop Team Epic and its creative insanity. After that CC claws his way out of the Trash Stash to deliver his Review of the furry fighting bonanza Killing Bites. Last but not least the hosts discuss the flawed time-stopping adventures of the Yukawa family in Kokkoku and why the series ultimately didn’t deliver on its promised potential.

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Review

Pop Team Epic (2:13)

Trash Stash

Killing Bites (30:23)

Review:

Kokkoku (50:06)

Anime News Network – This Week in Anime: What the Hell is Happening in Pop Team Epic?

Crunchyroll: What the Heck Is “Pop Team Epic”???

Crunchyroll: Meet the Staff and Cast of Pop Team Epic

Anime Feminist: [Feature] Pop Team Epic and the value of letting girls be absurd

15. April 2018

Episode 49: Beasts & Brides

Time for a new season, time for a new Sneak Peek. Wherein John and CC discuss all their potential Tops and Flops from Spring 2018. After that, the hosts dive into the rich fantasy world of The Ancient Magus’ Bride, to explain why this show is much more than a simple The Beauty & The Beast story.

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Sneak Peek

Last Hope (2:27)

Cutie Honey Universe (5:50)

Devils’ Line (8:21)

Caligula (10:09)

Sword Art Online: Alternative Gun Gale Online (14:05)

Tokyo Ghoul:re (21:03)

Dances with the Dragons (23:09)

The Legend of the Galactic Heroes: Die Neue These (24:36)

Otaku ni Koi wa Muzukashii (27:35)

Lupin the Third: Part 5 (31:15)

Hinamatsuri (34:52)

PERSONA 5 the Animation (37:42)

Space Battleship Tiramisu (41:04)

Captain Tsubasa 2018 (43:41)

Gundam Build Divers (46:39)

Megalobox (49:21)

Golden Kamuy (52:18)

Full Metal Panic! Invisible Victory (55:40)

Food Wars! The Third Plate Part 2 (57:58)

My Hero Academia Season 3 (1:00:27)

Review

The Ancient Magus’ Bride (1:03:23)

ANN – This Week in Anime: What Makes The Ancient Magus’ Bride’s World So Magical?

ANN – This Week in Anime: Who’s the Best Boy in The Ancient Magus’ Bride?

ANN – This Week in Anime: The Ancient Magus’ Bride Soars to New Heights

Anime Feminist: Love, power, and safety in The Ancient Magus’ Bride

Crunchyroll: Meet the Woman Behind The Ancient Magus Bride

Crunchyroll: The Art of The Ancient Magus’ Bride

Crunchyroll Wonder and Terror in “The Ancient Magus’ Bride”

Crunchyroll: Meet the Mysterious Creatures of The Ancient Magus’ Bride (Part 1)

Crunchyroll: Meet the Magical Residents of The Ancient Magus’ Bride (Part 2)

Crunchyroll: Meet the Magical Residents of The Ancient Magus’ Bride (Part 3)

25. March 2018

Episode 48: In Love Live and Grail War

All is fair in Love Live and Grail War as the ABF gang wraps up Fall Season 2017 with the final two Reviews. After briefly talking about the shows that didn’t make the cut this time in the Chop ‘n Drop, John dives back into the Idol pool and explains why the second season of Love Live! Sunshine!! was a big upgrade to the first. Then both hosts go to war over one of the newest entries in the Fate series, discuss their differing opinions on what worked and what didn’t in Fate/Apocrypha and talk about this gigantic franchise in general. Last but not least, it’s time to choose the very Best of the Season.

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Chop ‘n Drop (1:45)

Reviews:

Love Live! Sunshine!! Season 2 (6:20)

– Ending Spoilers Start (15:01)

– Ending Spoilers Over (20:28)

Fate/Apocrypha (24:16)

– Ending Spoilers Start (56:33)

– Ending Spoilers Over (59:12)

Best of the Season (1:15:17)

Related Links:

ANN Interview: Aqours

Digiroko2 on Youtube: The Evolution of Love Live! Animation (2010 – 2017)

Crunchyroll: The Real Life Locations of “Love Live! Sunshine!!” – Aqours Ventures North to Hakodate

Crunchyroll: The Real Life Locations of “Love Live! Sunshine!!” – Aqours’ Hometown

ANN – This Week in Anime: How Does Fate/Apocrypha Compare to Other Grail Wars?

ANN: The Stories Behind Fate/Apocrypha’s Servants of Black

ANN: The Stories Behind Fate/Apocrypha’s Servants of Red

ANN – This Week in Anime: Did Fate/Apocrypha’s Great Holy Grail War End Well?

Sakuga Blog: Fate/Apocrypha Production Notes

11. March 2018

Episode 47: Survival of the Littest

Switching things up after the last episode, CC kicks off the show by talking about the colorful Battle Royale slaughterfest Jūni Taisen: Zodiac War and why the series is a lackluster entry in that specific genre. Following that, John focuses on the fractured tale of Kino’s Journey – the Beautiful World- and the gang discusses its many different shortcomings. CC then wraps things up with his Review of Girls’ Last Tour, a sorrowful tale about the end of humanity, that manages to pull you in with its sympathetic, goofy main characters and great world building.

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Reviews:

Jūni Taisen: Zodiac War (1:30)

Kino’s Journey – the Beautiful World- (18:42)

Girls’ Last Tour (38:39)

Crunchyroll: Character Economy in “Juni Taisen” (Part One)

Crunchyroll: Character Economy in “Juni Taisen” (Part Two)

Crunchyroll: “Juni Taisen: Zodiac War” Book Review and Comparison

Crunchyroll: What Your Favorite Juni Taisen Character Says About You

Crunchyroll: The Ugliness of War in “Juni Taisen”

Crunchyroll: Rating the Wishes of Juni Taisen

ANN – This Week in Anime: How Does the Kino’s Journey Remake Compare to the Original Series?

ANN – Interview: Keiichi Sigsawa

Crunchyroll: The Viewtiful World – How is Kino’s Journey a ‘Slice-of-Life’ Anime?

Crunchyroll: How to Watch “Kino’s Journey”

ANN – This Week in Anime: Why is the Post-Apocalypse in Girls’ Last Tour So Comforting?

ANN – This Week in Anime: The Fantastic Final Days of Girls’ Last Tour

Sakuga Blog – Anime’s Future: Mai Toda

25. February 2018

Episode 46: Rom-Com Jewelry

On this episode John takes the helm right out of the gate and delivers his comparison between the two teen romance series Just Because and Our Love has always been 10 centimeters apart. Up next is CC’s Review of Land of the Lustrous, detailing the reasons why this CG show succeeds, where many others have failed. Finally John brings the Rom train back into the Com station and talks about Blend S and how the show turned out to be a disappointment despite its many colorful maid shenanigans.

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Reviews:

Just Because VS Our Love has always been 10 centimeters apart (1:41)

Land of the Lustrous (37:24)

Blend S (55:07)

ANN – This Week in Anime: Is Land of the Lustrous the Best 3DCG Anime?

Sakuga Blog: Land of the Lustrous: Director Takahiko Kyougoku Interview

Sakuga Blog: Land of the Lustrous / Houseki no Kuni Production Notes 1-6

Sakuga Blog: Land of the Lustrous / Houseki no Kuni Production Notes 7-9

Sakuga Blog: Land of the Lustrous / Houseki no Kuni Production Notes 10-11

Sakuga Blog: Land of the Lustrous / Houseki no Kuni Production Notes 12 And Final Impressions

Crunchyroll: The Real World Spots of “BLEND-S”

12. February 2018

Episode 45: Shitty people ruin Everything

On this episode, John talks about Recovery of an MMO Junkie and why the quirky romance story felt satisfying and relatable. The gang also dives into the recent unfortunate buzz generated by the director of that show. Lastly, CC reviews the unconventional hero’s journey of Inuyashiki and explains why the show’s misguided focus on its all too repulsive villain was ultimately its downfall.

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Reviews:

Recovery of an MMO Junkie (1:32)

Inuyashiki (34:37)

ANN – This Week in Anime: Will These MMO Junkies Live Happily Ever After?

ANN: Recovery of an MMO Junkie Director Causes Controversy With Anti-Semitic Tweets

Mother’s Basement: MMO Junkie’s Racist Director – Should We Hate the Work, or the Jerk?

Crunchyroll: How “Recovery of an MMO Junkie” Redefines What It Means to Be an Adult Nerd

Crunchyroll: Managing Misunderstandings in “Recovery of an MMO Junkie”

Crunchyroll: Life After MMO Junkie: Our Top 10 Recommendations for Recovery of an MMO Junkie fans

ANN – This Week in Anime: Was Inuyashiki Worth Watching?

Crunchyroll: Manga Creator Spotlight: Hiroya Oku (Inuyashiki)

22. January 2018

Episode 44: A Bloody Good Time

Kicking off 2018 in style, the gang as usual takes a quick glance at all the new series premiering this Winter in the Sneak Peek. After that they discuss both seasons of Blood Blockade Battlefront and why the Studio Bones show and its plethora of colorful characters captured their hearts and imagination.

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Sneak Peek (1:52)

Record of Grancrest War (2:20)

Hakata Tonkotsu Ramens (3:38)

Junji Ito Collection (8:03)

After the Rain (9:26)

Pop Team Epic (11:06)

Yowamushi Pedal: Glory Line (14:16)

Seven Deadly Sins – Season 2 (15:27)

Overlord – Season 2(18:09)

Katana Maidens (21:12)

Killing Bites (25:31)

Ms. Koizumi Loves Ramen Noodles (28:21)

Hakumei & Mikochi (32:11)

How to keep a mummy (33:36)

A place further than the Universe (35:26)

Devilman Crybaby (39:06)

Violet Evergarden (40:54)

Kokkoku (46:30)

Shinkansen Henkei Robo Shinkalion the Animation (48:37)

Darling in the Frankxx (51:58)

Review (57:57)

Blood Blockade Battlefront – Season 1&2

ANN – This Week in Anime: Why You Should Watch Blood Blockade Battlefront

ANN – This Week in Anime: Who’s the MVP of Libra in Blood Blockade Battlefront & Beyond?

Crunchyroll: Meet the Staff and Cast of Blood Blockade Battlefront & Beyond

1. January 2018

Episode 43: Re:Visited

John and CC wrap up 2017 by bringing you another whopper of an episode. First they reintroduce an old segment with a new name: Chop ‘n’ Drop. In this former sub section of the Trash Stash the gang talks about all the shows from Summer Season 2017 they stopped watching after a few episodes and why. Then John lifts the curtain on another Mystery Review that makes him re-evaluate his opinion on an old nemesis. Finally it’s time for the final Review of the Season with Re:Creators and the hosts list the many reasons why that shows was one of their favorites this year. Of course there is no way for them to wrap up the show without telling you about their pick for Best of Summer Season 2017.

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Chop ‘n’ Drop (1:56)

Mystery Review (14:41)

Review:

Re:Creators – No Spoilers (57:36)

Re:Creators – Spoilers (1:23:49)

Best of the Season (1:30:33)

ANN – This Week in Anime: How Meta Does Re:Creators Get?

ANN – This Week in Anime: The Best and Worst Moments of Re:Creators

Anime NOW! – Re:Creators Shows What Would Happen if Magical Girls Existed in the Real World

Anime NOW! – The Rules of Re:Creators Explained

Anime NOW! – All the Info on Re:Creators‘ Villain You Probably Missed

Anime NOW! – Some of Re:Creators’ Locations in the Real World

Anime NOW! – Re:Creators Shows That in Our World, Even Fictional Heroes Can Be Villains

Anime NOW! – The Titles of Those Re:Creators Songs You Can’t Get out of Your Head

Anime NOW! – A Closer Look at the Reality-twisting Powers of Re:Creators’ Wild Card Villain

Anime NOW! – The Cool Little Re:Creators Short Story You Probably Missed

Anime NOW! – Why Only Alicetelia from Re:CREATORS Can Save Her World

Anime NOW! – Don’t Skip Re:Creators’ Recap Episode

Anime NOW! – A Closer Look at Our Heroes’ Plan in Re:Creators (For Those of You Who Can’t Read Japanese)

Anime NOW! – Why Altair Is Both the Hero and Villain of Re:Creators

Anime NOW! – What Re:Creators is Really About

18. December 2017

Episode 42: Top Gear

Strap in and prepare for an epic ride, kids. In their longest show to date, John and CC take it upon themselves to review all currently existing seasons of the Magical Girl Action Hit Senki Zesshou Symphogear. After dishing out an introduction to the show’s plot setup, universe and main characters, they go through all four seasons to give you their spoiler-free and spoiler-heavy opinions on each of them. Lastly, both hosts discuss their favorite main cast member, piece of armor, villain and song from the entirety of the franchise.

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Review:

Symphogear – No Spoilers (1:41)

Symphogear – Spoilers (46:13)

Symphogear G – No Spoilers (1:01:13)

Symphogear G – Spoilers (1:14:06)

Symphogear GX – No Spoilers (1:29:29)

Symphogear GX – Spoilers (1:43:10)

Symphogear AXZ – No Spoilers (2:02:42)

Symphogear AXZ – Spoilers (2:22:22)

Best Girl (2:31:56)

Best Gear (2:38:10)

Best Villain (2:42:27)

Best Song (2:47:10)

Anime NOW! – What to Know before Starting Symphogear AXZ

Anime NOW! – The Meanings behind the Names in Symphogear

3. December 2017

Episode 41: Mysteries & Misunderstandings

On this episode CC digs into the Trash Stash once again, to talk about Vatican Miracle Examiner and explains why the show succeeds at being so bad that it’s good. Then John introduces the motley crew of Gamers and the gang discusses why the goofy rom-com ultimately didn’t live up to its potential.