22. July 2018

Episode 54: Thug Life

It’s a cruel, cruel summer, so our hosts do their best to battle the unwielding heat wave with a barrage of cool Anime premieres in the Sneak Peek. After that, they dive into the absurd adventures of a Yakuza forced into the role of surrogate father and his telekinetically powered adopted daughter in Hinamatsuri.

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Sneak Peek

Attack on Titan – Season 3 (2:18)

Overlord – Season 3 (3:56)

Free! -Dive to the Future- (4:44)

Cells at Work (7:23)

Music Girls (9:18)

Seven Senses of the Re’Union (12:29)

Island (15:15)

Angels of Death (18:14)

Planet With (21:22)

Chio’s School Road (23:27)

Angolmois: Record of Mongol Invasion (27:14)

Banana Fish (29:32)

Harukana Receive (35:12)

Hanebado! (38:22)

Revue Starlight (42:20)

Sirius the Jaeger (45:45)

Review

Hinamatsuri (49:05)

Related Links:

ANN: Catching Up With Free!

ANN: Homelessness in Japan and Hinamatsuri

ANN – This Week in Anime: Just How Weird is Hinamatsuri?

ANN – This Week in Anime: Why Hinamatsuri Was the Best Comedy of the Season

Crunchyroll: The Three Big Faces of Hinamatsuri

Crunchyroll: Family is What You Make of It in HINAMATSURI!

Crunchyroll: How Anzu Gives HINAMATSURI Its Heart

Sakuga Blog: Production Highlights – Hinamatsuri 01

Sakuga Blog: Production Highlights – Hinamatsuri 02-04

24. June 2018

Episode 53: Hail to the King

It’s finally time for our Kame-Hame-Hosts to talk about one of the most prominent and longest running franchises in Anime history: Dragon Ball. John and CC have a long chat about their experience with the series, which culminates in their Review of the newest iteration in that franchise: Dragon Ball Super. Of course, as it is the Season Finale of Anime Brain Freeze, there is also the Chop ‘n’ Drop and both hosts pick their favorite reviewed show in the Best of the Season segment.

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Chop ‘n’ Drop (1:20)

Review:

Dragon Ball Super (10:49)

Best of the Season (1:37:51)

Crunchyroll: The Heart and Nostalgia of Dragon Ball Super

Crunchyroll: Dragon Ball Super – Character Evolution & The Path Ahead

10. June 2018

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)

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

27. May 2018

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)

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!

12. May 2018

New episode postponed

Dear listeners,

due to scheduling conflicts, the release of our next episode due on the 12th of May will be postponed until the 27th of May. Sorry to make you wait. See you in two weeks!

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.