Episode 52: Killers, Dolls and Skeletor

It’s time to go back to the fathomless well of light novel adaptions. First John talks about the city filled with killers in Hakata Tonkotsu Ramens. Then CC pushes the Isekai button and reviews the MMO adventures of Skeletor’s cousin in Overlord. Closing out the show, both hosts muse about KyoAni’s visual feast Violet Evergarden and discuss whether the show has more to offer than its good looks.

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Reviews:

Hakata Tonkotsu Ramens (1:20)

Overlord – Season 1+2 (25:15)

Violet Evergarden (53:17)

Related Links:

Crunchyroll: The Not-So-Deadly Real Life Locations of Hakata Tonkotsu Ramens

ANN – This Week in Anime: Is Violet Evergarden Worth Watching?

Sakuga Blog: Violet Evergarden Interview: Director Taichi Ishidate At Anime Expo

Sakuga Blog: Violet Evergarden Interview – Director Taichi Ishidate, Shin-Q Vol.2 2017

Sakuga Blog: Violet Evergarden Production Notes 1 – 10

Anime Feminist: [Feature] Difference, Not Indifference: Violet Evergarden, autistic representation, and the social model of disability

Episode 51: A cold Day in Hell

Kicking of this episode filled with big emotions and tonal whiplash, CC first talks about the new Netflix hit show DEVILMAN crybaby and why the gruesome horror tale has more to offer than schlocky action, but is not for the faint of heart. Then John goes to a much happier place, together with the four girls from A Place Further Than the Universe and explains why both the journey and destination of the protagonists managed to tug at his heart strings. Last but not least, the hosts discuss the newest iteration in a Tokusatsu-turned-Anime franchise and whether the sympathetic cast and well animated fight scenes could keep the by-the-numbers story of Garo -Vanishing Line- afloat.

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Reviews:

DEVILMAN crybaby (No Spoilers) (1:12)

DEVILMAN crybaby (Spoilers) (12:11)

A Place Further Than the Universe (20:15)

Garo -Vanishing Line- (37:24)

Related Links:

Sakuga Blog: DEVILMAN crybaby – Interview with Director Masaaki Yuasa

ANN – This Week in Anime: Just How Insane is Devilman Crybaby?

ANNCast: Devilman Crybaby’s Day Out

Anime Feminist – [Podcast] Chatty AF 38: DEVILMAN crybaby Retrospective

Anime Feminist: [Feature] DEVILMAN crybaby, legacies of queerness, and diversifying remakes

ANN – This Week in Anime: Is A Place Further Than the Universe Worth Exploring?

ANN – This Week in Anime: A Place Further Than the Universe and Back Again

Crunchyroll: A Place Further Than the Universe Taught Me How to Be Brave

ANN – This Week in Anime: What Does Vanishing Line Have to Offer GARO Fans and Newbies?

ANN – This Week in Anime: GARO -Vanishing Line- Takes a Road Trip Across America!

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)

Related Links:

Sakuga Blog: Pop Team Epic – Interview with Producer Kotaro Sudo

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

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)

Related Links:

ANN: The Legends and Myths Behind The Ancient Magus’ Bride

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)

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

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)

Related Links:

ANN – This Week in Anime: Was the Zodiac War Worth Fighting For?

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

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)

Related Links:

Sakuga Blog: Just Because! And The TV Anime Problem: Living Characters, Dead Production

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”

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)

Related Links:

ANN – This Week in Anime: Why is Recovery of an MMO Junkie So Relatable?

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)

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

Related Links:

ANN: Three Reasons Why Blood Blockade Battlefront is the Best Show of the Spring

 

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