28. July 2019

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.

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News:

Kyoto Animation arson attack (1:20)

Reviews:

Sarazanmai (12:03)

One Punch Man – Season 2 (31:48)

Related Links:

GoFundMe: Help KyoAni Heal

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)

14. July 2019

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.

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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)

ANN – This Week in Anime: Osamu Tezuka’s Dororo Gets Intense

ANN – This Week in Anime: Osamu Tezuka’s Dororo Gets a New Ending

Saguka Blog: Dororo – A Swordman’s Journey Through History

Mother’s Basement: Reinventing DORORO – Adapt or Die

6. July 2019

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

23. June 2019

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.

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Chop ‘n Drop (1:51)

Reviews:

Sword Art Online: Alicization (15:34)

Best of the Season (1:37:32)

Crunchyroll – The Stakes are Higher Than Ever in Sword Art Online: Alicization!

Crunchyroll – Alice in Sword Art Online: A Wonderland of Danger

Anime Feminist [Feature] – When Creators Strive to Improve Female Representation: The case of Sword Art Online’s Reki Kawahara

Mother’s Basement: SAO Alicization – Dumpster Fire Simulator 2019

9. June 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.

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Reviews:

That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime (1:46)

Date A Live III (33:49)

The Promised Neverland (1:04:06)

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

26. May 2019

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.

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Reviews:

A Certain Magical Index III (1:30)

Run with the Wind (53:12)

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

12. May 2019

Episode 73: Pitch Imperfect

On this episode the two hosts take turns, as CC reviews the emotionally rewarding slice of life series My Roommate is a Cat and explains why he managed to engage with this story on a personal level. Then John discusses the lackluster airplane combat Anime The Magnificent KOTOBUKI and lays out the reasons why, despite its promising start, this show was a big disappointment. Last but not least it’s CC’s turn again, to talk about the newest iteration in one of his favorite Sports Anime franchises and all-time classic: Captain Tsubasa.