24. February 2019

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.

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Reviews:

Boarding School Juliet (1:20)

Banana Fish (21:52)

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.

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Reviews:

Space Battleship Tiramisu (1:53)

Today’s menu for (the) Emiya Family (16:09)

Skull-face Bookseller Honda-san (33:33)

Sakuga Blog – Preparing Ufotable’s Future: Today’s Menu For The Emiya Family

Anime Feminist – [Discourse] Demons at the Dinner Table: How Today’s Menu for the Emiya Family glosses over domestic abuse

ANN – This Week in Anime: Skull-face Bookseller Honda-san is Too Relatable

Crunchyroll – Confessions of a Real Skeleton Bookseller: Working in a Bookstore is a Horror Show Honda-san Gets Right

Mother’s Basement: Upgrade Your Anime Memes! Watch Skull-face Bookseller Honda-San

2. February 2019

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.

20. January 2019

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.

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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)

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!

Crunchyroll – 100 Years of Mastery: Golden Kamuy and Judo

Crunchyroll – Treading Moral Ambiguity With Golden Kamuy

6. January 2019

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.

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Chop ‘n’ Drop (1:20)

Review:

Lupin the Third – Part 5 (15:39)

Best of the Season (59:06)

Crunchyroll: A Beginner’s Guide to Lupin the 3rd

Polygon: The new Lupin III Part V proves the character will entertain us forever

Anime Feminist: [Perspectives] The People’s Hero (Some People Not Included): The exclusion of queer viewers in LUPIN THE 3rd PART 5

24. December 2018

Episode 64: Mechtacular

The gang says goodbye to 2018 with a double dose of rowdy robot rumbles. John kicks off the show by talking about the third iteration in the Gundam Build franchise, Gundam Build Divers. And details the highs and lows of this different spin on one of the most iconic mechs out there. After that CC joins the quirky cast of Planet With in their interstellar war and gushes about the many well written characters, story developments, surprises, themes and layers of this interesting little sci-fi action show.