Wednesday, December 23, 2015

The Anime Nostalgia Podcast - Ep 34

 
 iTunes & Stitcher subscribers! Be sure to go to the blog to read the description easier & check out links for this episode!

2015 is almost over! So you know what that means--that’s right, Zee is back with me to discuss the results of my annual year-end survey, as filled out by you, the listeners! What older anime titles were you excited to buy (again) this year, and what titles are you looking forward to coming out in 2016? We also talk about memorable news stories from throughout the year, and titles you wish were back in print. Hear all of this PLUS the winner of the survey giveaway and how grateful we are that Third Impact hasn’t hit us (yet???)


Stream the episode above or [Direct Download]
You can also now subscribe on itunes!

Relevant links:
Buy the top 3 (as voted by my listeners) older anime releases from 2015!
#1. Robot Carnival
#2. Castle of Cagliostro
#3. Amazon’s exclusive Miyazaki box set

Listen to the full episode for the complete list!


As always, feel free to leave me your thoughts on this episode or ideas for future episodes here—or email me directly at AnimeNostalgiaPodcast@gmail.com! Happy Holidays!

Friday, December 4, 2015

The 1st Annual Anime Nostalgia Holiday Gift guide!


Looking for ideas to get for a friend that enjoys older anime? (Or maybe you're shopping for yourself, hey, I'm not here to judge!) Well, I'm here to help! Here's a sampling of cool things sure to please fans old and new, with options for every budget.

As always, there's nothing better to get someone you care about than something on their respective wish lists. But if you want to really surprise someone with something they might not even realize they want, then read on! (Keep in mind, I'm strictly keeping to licensed products for this list. While fan-made gifts can be fun, there's just SO MANY out there that it's much faster to browse licensed things.)

Onto the list!


 In case you've been living under a rock the past couple of years, Sailor Moon is back (and EVERYWHERE) thanks to being picked back up again in the US. So finding gifts for a Moonie has never been easier! But if you want to give something other than yet another t-shirt, GE Animation has been very good at releasing everything from Winter Hats to Purses & Wallets (and even Belt Buckles!) The best part is that if you know who their favorite character is, they've been great at releasing merchandise for each, giving you plenty of options! Prices range anywhere from $12-25. You can also find other various styles in select Hot Topic brick & mortar stores.

If Sailor Moon isn't your recipient's thing, a Gainax "Cut" Tote bag would be perfect for the fan who's patiently waiting for their Otaku no Video Kickstarter rewards. An Evangelion fan might enjoy a pair of NERV earrings in their favorite color. Or, if you've got some cash to spend, you could pick up a pendant of Parasyte's Migi, or a Berserk Griffith ring. All of these are available at Tokyo Otaku Mode and range in price from $26 for the tote and a whopping $432 for the ring. (Hey, at least you get $5 credit for making an account there.)

But if all else fails, Kei & Yuri buttons or an Arale phone charm always make nice, affordable stocking stuffers.



Today's anime figures are generally MUCH better looking (and more detailed) than ones that came out in the 80s and 90s. Most even come with multiple heads or faceplates nowadays, along with lots of cool little accessories and optional parts, making them even more expressive and fun to pose. So what better gift to give an older anime fan than some cool anime toys? Figma has some beautiful Space Adventure Cobra figures available, perfect for 80s sci-fi anime fans, priced between $50-80 each, depending which ones you want.

For the magical girl fans, a whole line of Sailor Moon Figuarts figures from SH Figuarts have been steadily coming out, making it easy to find anyone's favorite character, generally ranging in price from $25-50. We're also getting petite figures of Sailor Moon VILLAINS for the first time, and they're super cute! (And around $40 for the whole set.) There's been a BUNCH of new Cardcaptor Sakura figures coming out as of late, in different costumes & various sizes (even Nendoroids!) going from anywhere from $20-100.

If you're looking to impress the robot/mecha fan in your life, you could pick them up a Soul of Chogokin GX-34R Gunbuster Buster Gokin...for only $220! Or, for slightly less (around $30), you could settle for the Super Robot Chogokin Gunbuster Figure instead (which is still pretty damn cool.)



I can't praise Dark Horse's release of The Art of Satoshi Kon enough. A beautiful, large hardcover book with amazing artwork of the late Satoshi Kon's various projects, including English translations of all Kon's notes. Anyone who has loved his work from Perfect Blue to Paprika would be thrilled to get it. (And at less than $25 it looks a lot pricer than it actually is!)

Just in time for Christmas, Udon's releasing not one, but TWO different Osamu Tezuka artbooks in English, and both sound like perfect gifts for fans of classic anime and manga. Osamu Tezuka: Anime Character Illustrations will feature artwork from beloved Tezuka anime series and movies; while Osamu Tezuka: Anime & Manga Character Sketchbook collects his rough concept art. Both will be under $30 each.

And if the person you're shopping for loves 80s series and doesn't mind a Japanese-language artbook, Izumi Matsumoto's "Sketches of Madoka: 1st Season" is an artbook featuring all new artwork of Madoka,  Hikaru, & Kyosuke (but mostly Madoka, as the title suggests) from the creator of Kimagure Orange Road. While vintage Kimagure Orange Road artbooks often sell for a hefty price online (since they're out of print), this new book is very affordable at $26. And since it features brand new art, chances are they've never seen them before!



Buying media for an anime fan (esp. ones who're older and/or love older titles) can be tricky because they most likely already own all the old standards from Akira to Sailor Moon. So what to pick up for them if you're dead set on getting them a DVD or blu-ray? Here's a few suggestions.

A fan of Studio Ghibli films might be interested in the documentary The Kingdom of Dreams and Madness, which follows around key members of Studio Ghibli as they were completing the film The Wind Rises. While not anime, it shows a peek behind the curtain that anime fans don't often get to see in the production of things they watch.

Beloved cult favorite Unico was recently re-released on blu-ray by Discotek as a double feature including both films. While not technically "new" (it came out last year), I still come across fans who had NO IDEA these films had finally been re-released after all these years! If you know someone who grew up with Unico that now has children of their own, this an especially fun gift that they'll be able to share with their family (and is a steal at $20 for two movies).

And speaking of Discotek, this year they re-released Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro on blu-ray and it is a MUST own for any older anime fan. Chock full of extras with a beautifully restored picture, this is the definitive release of Cagliostro that would appeal not just to Lupin fans, but to Miyazaki fans too, as this was the first movie he ever directed. Afraid to buy because your gift recipient doesn't know a thing about Lupin III? No worries--this movie can be enjoyed without any prior Lupin knowledge! Bonus: lately you can pick this gem up for under $20 online.

If you really want to go all-out, Animeigo's Bubblegum Crisis: Ultimate Edition blu-ray set is sure to impress any fan of 80s sci-fi and cyberpunk. Released via Kickstarter campaign last year, it's ONLY available to purchase via Animeigo's website--and when it's gone, it's gone! The Premium set will set you back $130, or you can get a basic set with keychain or challenge coin for $70.




Much like anime, many older fans will already have the standards when it comes to older titles. But here's some suggestions they might enjoy if they haven't already!

Ok, so Gundam: The Origin isn't super old, but it IS an amazing retelling of the classic Gundam story as told by the immensely talented Yoshikazu Yasuhiko, the character designer of the original Gundam anime. Fans old and new can read The Origin with fresh eyes and enjoy Gundam in a whole new way. These handsome hardcover books make an EXCELLENT gift and at $30, they are worth every penny.

Viz recently started releasing the classic Jojo's Bizarre Adventure manga, in beautiful hard-cover editions that are more than gift-worthy. But most Jojo's fans had those books on pre-order the second they were announced. So, in celebration of next year's new anime adaptation of the highly anticipated "Diamond is Unbreakable" story arc, why not get the Jojo's fan in your life a copy of Rohan at the Louvre? A stand-alone story featuring Rohan at France's most famous museum, this Jojo's story is printed in full color and will tide fans over while they wait, and is well worth the $20.

Master manga artist Shigeru Mizuki's recent passing reminds us how the Grandfather of Yokai manga is not nearly as well known to the English-speaking world as he should be. And if your gift recipient is a fan of classic manga AND ghost stories (that aren't TOO scary), Kitaro would be a fantastic gift. Or if they're more of a history buff, Showa: A History of Japan is a masterfully crafted look at 20th Century Japan that is sure to please. Both less than $20 a volume, too!

Speaking of manga, Crunchyroll has digital manga alongside their streaming anime service now that includes several older series, including "Doll: The Hotel Detective", by Takao Saito (who did a little series you might've heard of called "Golgo 13").  Why do I bring this up? To segway to our final category, of course, which is...


That's right, streaming services! Lots of people have em, but plenty don't for various reasons. Maybe they don't think they'll find anything they like to watch. Maybe they're just nervous about trying it out. Whatever the reason, it's super easy to gift a month or year of streaming services now!

Crunchyroll has been REALLY stepping up it's game recently. Not only does it have streaming anime and live-action dramas, but as I mentioned earlier you can also read digital manga. Crunchyroll's steadily been adding older titles to their back catalog, too alongside what's new and currently coming out of Japan. A Premium membership also gets your gift recipient a discount in their online store, and is very affordable for a 1 month gift of about $7 (you can also chose 3 or 12 months--12 months giving you the best deal for your money.) A Premium+ membership is just a little more at around $12 for 1 month, but also gets you convention perks (like access to special members-only events & goodie bags, which is handy if your gift-ee is a frequent anime convention goer).

Hulu Plus costs about $8 a month for "limited commercials" service, or $12 for commercial-free. While they're not exclusively targeted towards anime programming like Crunchroll is, they've grown a sizable catalog of anime over time, including a pretty good amount of older titles (along with newer ones, of course). Bonus, you can easily pick up a physical Hulu gift card in some physical stores, making it easy to just pick up while you do your regular Christmas shopping. Hulu stands out much more than Netflix at the moment for older anime fans simply because Netflix carries very little in way of older titles. (Understandably, as Netflix generally wants to focus on newer things to draw in more viewers.)


Hopefully now you have some ideas for what to get that fan of older anime in your life (or maybe even a few ideas for your own wish list!) What do you think, readers? Was this helpful? Anything to add? Feel free to leave a comment!



Monday, November 30, 2015

It's that time again!

Time for the Anime Nostalgia Podcast's Year in Review!


It's become tradition that in December, I do a year in review podcast episode. And once again, I need your help! So please, dear listeners, take a moment to let me know your opinions on older anime titles that were re-released this year (among other things) on the survey HERE! One lucky listener who fills out the survey will be chosen at random to win a special holiday prize (open world-wide!) But hurry--you gotta do it before December 15th. I'll announce the winner on the new episode of the podcast when me & returning guest Zee (from last year's Year in Review episode!) will discuss the results.

Good luck, and thanks again for listening!

EDIT: Survey is now closed! Thanks to everyone who entered! Look for the winner announced during the next podcast episode :D

Sunday, November 22, 2015

The Anime Nostalgia Podcast - ep 33

 
iTunes & Stitcher subscribers! Be sure to go to the blog to read the description easier & check out links for this episode!

Ryan (aka Blacotaku1) started an ambitious project 3 years ago: to scan his entire collection of vintage Japanese Newtype magazines from the 80s to the 90s and share them with other anime fans online via his Tumblr blog, Oldtype/Newtype. Not only that, but to try to share some of the rare old interviews and photos with various creators, artists, and other big industry names that had been lost to the ages. In this episode, I talk to Ryan and find out what got him started on this project, how he got into anime, and what it means to him to be able to share his love of older anime in print media form with the world.

Sidenote: For some reason, this episode got cursed with various technical issues, so there’s a few spots where the audio may sound a little wonky and it sounds like we’re talking over each other--which, I assure you, we didn’t do when we were actually talking! So please excuse these tiny hiccups. ^^;


Stream the episode above or [Direct Download]
You can also now subscribe on itunes & Stitcher!

Relevant links:
Check out some of Ryan’s favorite anime titles, including:
As always, feel free to leave me your thoughts and ideas for future episodes here, in a DM or reblog, or email directly at AnimeNostalgiaPodcast@gmail.com.

Thanks for listening!

Saturday, October 31, 2015

Happy Halloween!


Happy Halloween, everybody! Have a fun & safe holiday, and check out the latest ep of the podcast for some Vampire Hunter D talk to get in the Halloween spirit! ^_~

Friday, October 23, 2015

The Anime Nostalgia Podcast - Ep 32


iTunes & Stitcher subscribers! Be sure to go to the blog to read the description easier & check out links for this episode!

Halloween is just around the corner, so what better time to talk about the world of the longtime fan-favorite Vampire Hunter D? Returning guest MinovskyArticle (aka Casey) and I delve into not just the the Saturday Anime staple, but Kawajiri’s Bloodlust, and the much lesser-known facets of D’s world you might not even know about. All this plus Halloween costumes & strange fanart stories, too! Grab your fanciest Dracula cape and have a listen!


Stream the episode above or [Direct Download]
You can also now subscribe on itunes & Stitcher!

Relevant links:
Follow guest Casey on Twitter, and check out his podcasts Space Opera Satellite and Bloodbath & Beyond!

As always, feel free to leave me your thoughts and ideas for future episodes here, in a DM or reblog, or email directly at AnimeNostalgiaPodcast@gmail.com.

Thanks for listening!

Saturday, September 19, 2015

The Anime Nostalgia Podcast - ep 31

 
  iTunes & Stitcher subscribers! Be sure to go to the blog to read the description easier & check out links for this episode!

This month’s episode is another ReView! What is a “ReView” episode, you might ask? Well, it’s my highly-clever (ok not really) title for episodes where I go back and watch an older title I haven’t seen in a long time, and see if what I remember (and what my opinions on it) are still the same now that some time’s gone by. Now that it’s fall, it’s time to go back to school--so let’s revisit the early 90′s school dorm comedy, Here Is Greenwood!


Stream the episode above or [Direct Download]
You can also now subscribe on itunes & Stitcher!

Relevant links:
As always, feel free to leave me your thoughts and ideas for future episodes here, in a DM or reblog, or email directly at AnimeNostalgiaPodcast@gmail.com.

Thanks for listening!

Sunday, August 23, 2015

The Anime Nostalgia Podcast - ep 30

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 iTunes & Stitcher subscribers! Be sure to go to the blog to read the description easier & check out links for this episode!

Returning guest NewtypeLady is back to talk with me about the 1995 smash-hit, Neon Genesis Evangelion--another Gainax series that takes place in the “distant future of 2015″ (and celebrates it’s 20th anniversary this year!) Even with this extra-long episode, we only touch the tip of the iceberg on what makes this series tick & why it’s considered such an important piece of work. Listen as we discuss why it’s a mecha show that’s not a mecha show, our feelings towards these character’s feelings, and the many reasons why we wish this series was not currently out of print in the US.


Stream the episode above or [Direct Download]
You can also now subscribe on itunes & Stitcher!

Relevant links:
As always, feel free to leave me your thoughts and ideas for future episodes here, in a DM or reblog, or email directly at AnimeNostalgiaPodcast@gmail.com.

Thanks for listening!

Saturday, July 18, 2015

The Anime Nostalgia Podcast - Ep 29


iTunes & Stitcher subscribers! Be sure to go to the blog to read the description easier & check out links for this episode!


Continuing with my ongoing series here at The Anime Nostalgia Podcast: The Saturday Anime series! Every so often, I’ll be highlighting one of the anime titles that we remember from Sci-Fi Channel back in the 90s. This time I’m joined by my friend Candyapplecat to talk about the first Tenchi Muyo thing ever to air on North American TV (a full 4 years before Tenchi ever graced Toonami!), Tenchi Muyo In Love!


Stream the episode above or [Direct Download]
You can also now subscribe on itunes & Stitcher!

Relevant links:
As always, feel free to leave me your thoughts and ideas for future episodes here, or email directly at AnimeNostalgiaPodcast@gmail.com.

Thanks for listening!

Friday, June 19, 2015

The Anime Nostalgia Podcast - Ep 28

 
 iTunes & Stitcher subscribers! Be sure to go to the blog to read the description easier & check out links for this episode!

This month’s episode is another ReView! What is a “ReView” episode, you might ask? Well, it’s my highly-clever (ok not really) title for episodes where I go back and watch an older title I haven’t seen in a long time, and see if what I remember (and what my opinions on it) are still the same now that time’s gone by and I’m a little older. This time it’s one of the most Totally-80s-anime 80s anime films ever made: Ai City!


Stream the episode above or [Direct Download]
You can also now subscribe on itunes & Stitcher!

Relevant links:

Buy Ai City & other titles mentioned:
Other links mentioned:
As always, feel free to leave me your thoughts on this episode or ideas for future episodes here—or email me directly at AnimeNostalgiaPodcast@gmail.com.

Thanks for listening!

Thursday, May 14, 2015

The Anime Nostalgia Podcast - Ep 27

iTunes & Stitcher subscribers! Be sure to go to the blog to read the description easier & check out links for this episode!

Aim For The Top! (most commonly known simply as Gunbuster), has been a fan favorite almost since it's original release in 1988. In this episode, I'm joined by Ashe Blitzen and Tom Aznable to unpack the many, many layers at play in this series. Listen as we discuss robot push-ups, shoujo sports anime references, and how Gainax created one of the most sincere, loving tributes to everything they loved about anime in just a 6 episode OAV in this special, extra-long episode!

Stream the episode above or [Direct Download]
You can also subscribe on itunes!

Relevant links:
Buy Gunbuster!
-The complete original 1988 Gunbuster OAV DVD collection
-The condensed Gunbuster movie version on blu-ray
-Gunbuster 2 complete DVD collection
-The condensed Diebuster (aka Gunbuster 2) movie version on blu-ray
-Gunbuster vs Diebuster movie blu-ray (aka both condensed movie versions together)

More links:
-Watch the condensed Gunbuster movie for free on Hulu
-Read more Gunbuster Trivia here
-The Mike Toole Show, "Son of a Gunbuster"

Guests:
-Follow Ashe on Twitter and her Ashe Blitzen Builds Facebook!
-Follow Tom Aznable on Twitter!

As always, feel free to leave me your thoughts on this episode or ideas for future episodes here—or email me directly at AnimeNostalgiaPodcast@gmail.com.

Thanks for listening!

Monday, April 20, 2015

The Anime Nostalgia Podcast - Ep 26

iTunes & Stitcher subscribers! Be sure to go to the blog to read the description easier & check out links for this episode!

This month's episode is another ReView! What is a “ReView” episode, you might ask? Well, it’s my highly-clever (ok not really) title for episodes where I go back and watch an older title I haven’t seen in a long time, and see if what I remember (and what my opinions on it) are still the same now that time’s gone by and I’m a little older. Before the new TV anime comes out this Summer, let your (magical) hair down & revisit the original 90s Ushio & Tora OVA series!

Stream the episode above or [Direct Download]
You can also subscribe on itunes!

 Relevant links:

Buy Ushio & Tora:

 Info on the new anime airing this summer at ANN (including new character designs!)

As always, feel free to leave me your thoughts on this episode or ideas for future episodes here—or email me directly at AnimeNostalgiaPodcast@gmail.com.

Thanks for listening!

Sunday, April 5, 2015

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter to those who celebrate! If not, Happy Day Before Half-Off Chocolate Bunnies. 🐰

Monday, March 23, 2015

Now available on Stitcher!

Yet another way to enjoy the podcast! You can now listen to me on Stitcher!


The Anime Nostalgia Podcast's Stitcher page is here. Enjoy!

Tuesday, March 17, 2015

The Anime Nostalgia Podcast - Ep 25

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iTunes subscribers! Be sure to go to the blog to read the description easier & check out links for this episode!

Today (March 17, 2015) marks the 18th Anniversary of the original launch of Toonami, which was many anime fan’s gateway to the world of anime & beyond. To navigate through Toonami’s extensive history, I’m joined by Toonami Faithful’s very own Sketch, as well as returning guest MinovskyArticle as we discuss the various incarnations of Toonami, why it was so important, and hear just some of the memories you the listeners shared in this extra long Toonami extravaganza!


Stream the episode above or [Direct Download]
You can also now subscribe on itunes!

Relevant Links:
Buy Toonami Favorites on DVD & blu-ray:
As always, feel free to leave me your thoughts and ideas for future episodes here, or email directly at AnimeNostalgiaPodcast@gmail.com.

Thanks for listening!

Saturday, February 14, 2015

Happy Valentine's!

Castle of Cagliostro Lupin & Fujiko wish you all a Happy Valentine's on behalf of the Anime Nostalgia Podcast! (Though they may steal your chocolate. ^_~)

Friday, February 13, 2015

The Anime Nostalgia Podcast - Ep 24

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iTunes subscribers! Be sure to go to the blog to read the description easier & check out links for this episode!

Presenting the first of an ongoing series here at The Anime Nostalgia Podcast: The Saturday Anime series! Every so often, I'll be highlighting one of the anime titles that we remember from Sci-Fi Channel back in the 90s. And what better way to kick off this pre-Valentine's episode by talking about a movie I love with someone I love! Returning guest Nitro is back to talk about the classic 80s anthology film Robot Carnival.


Stream the episode above or [Direct Download]
You can also now subscribe on itunes!

Relevant links:
* Previous episode with guest Zee on general Saturday Anime talk
* Buy the original Streamline Robot Carnival English VHS on Amazon
* Watch Cartoon Network's promo for "Night of the Vampire Robots"
* Follow Discotek Media on Facebook for updates on their upcoming Robot Carnival re-release
* Follow guest Nitro on Twitter

As always, feel free to leave me your thoughts and ideas for future episodes here, or email directly at AnimeNostalgiaPodcast@gmail.com.

Thanks for listening!

Monday, January 19, 2015

The Anime Nostalgia Podcast - Ep 23

 
 iTunes subscribers! Be sure to go to the blog to read the description easier & check out links for this episode!

The first new episode of 2015 is here! This time, it's a short, ReView episode. What is a “ReView” episode, you might ask? Well, it’s my highly-clever (ok not really) title for episodes where I go back and watch an older title I haven’t seen in a long time, and see if what I remember (and what my opinions on it) are still the same now that time’s gone by and I’m a little older. Take a break from filing paperwork and get your power suits ready--this time, I take a look at the 1996 OVA Special Duty Combat Unit Shinesman!


Stream the episode above or [Direct Download]
You can also subscribe on itunes!

Relevant links:

Buy Shinesman on Amazon!
As always, feel free to leave me your thoughts on this episode or ideas for future episodes here—or email me directly at AnimeNostalgiaPodcast@gmail.com.
Thanks for listening!