Merry Christmas, everyone! Hope you have an awesome day. Enjoy the latest episode of the podcast, and have a fun & safe holiday!
What was it like being an anime & manga fan before the 2000s? And were some of my favorite anime series really as good as I remember them? Welcome to the Anime Nostalgia Podcast, a mix of anime & manga history, reviews, and talks with other fans on titles and aspects of fandom from everywhere from the 70s to the 90s!
Enjoy what I do?
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Friday, December 25, 2015
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!
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.)
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...
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
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!
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:
- Follow Ryan on Twitter and Tumblr!
- Read the translated article “The 21 Prophets of Anime” on Oldtype/Newtype (Part 1, Part 2, Part 3) OR via the coverage he got on Crunchyroll!
- Bounty Dog
- Angel Cop
- Robot Carnival
- Black Magic M-66
- Crying Freeman
- Vampire Hunter D
- Mobile Suit Gundam
Thanks for listening!
Saturday, October 31, 2015
Happy Halloween!
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:
- Buy the classic Vampire Hunter D 1985 film now on blu-ray
- Buy Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust now on blu-ray
- Read the original novels by Hideyuki Kikuchi (also available in ebook form)
- Read the prequel to the Vampire D series, Noble V: Greylancer
- Read the manga based on the Vampire Hunter D Novels (also available in ebook form)
- Relive the Streamline Dub with the original Vampire Hunter D DVD release
- Check out Kenshiro from Fist of the North Star’s cameo in the 80s film (and D’s cameo in Fist of the North Star!)
- Sci-Fi Channel’s “Global Showcase” introduction for their first TV airing of the 1985 film
- Cartoon Network’s promo for “Night of the Vampire Robots”
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!
Stream the episode above or [Direct Download]
You can also now subscribe on itunes & Stitcher!
Relevant links:
- Buy Here is Greenwood on DVD
- Buy Here is Greenwood on VHS with the old dub
- Buy the original manga (also in ebook format!)
Thanks for listening!
Sunday, August 23, 2015
The Anime Nostalgia Podcast - ep 30
iTunes & Stitcher subscribers! Be
sure to go to the blog to read the description easier & check out
links for this episode!
Stream the episode above or [Direct Download]
You can also now subscribe on itunes & Stitcher!
Relevant links:
- The original Evangelion TV series DVDs
- The Evangelion manga (also available in ebook format on Amazon & Comixology!)
- The Evangelion Rebuild movies
- Insignificant Direction by Moyocco Anno
- Read more theory & analysis on the many layers of Eva at Evageeks
- Also, more detailed Gainax references (& cross-references) in Evangelion
- As well as Tributes to other works found within in Evangelion
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:
- Buy Pioneer’s Tenchi The Movie on DVD
- Buy Funimation’s Tenchi Movie Collection on blu-ray
- Watch the original Tenchi Muyo in Love Sci-fi Channel promo
- Watch the Japanese music video/alternate ending credits of Megumi Hayashibara’s version of “Alchemy of Love”
- Follow guest Candyapplecat on Twitter & Instagram!
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!
Stream the episode above or [Direct Download]
You can also now subscribe on itunes & Stitcher!
Relevant links:
Buy Ai City & other titles mentioned:
- Ai City VHS on Amazon
- Search for Ai City on eBay
- Akira on Blu-ray
- Megazone 23 DVD collections
- Dirty Pair Feature Collection (includes Project Eden)
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:
-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
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!
The Anime Nostalgia Podcast's Stitcher page is here. Enjoy!
Tuesday, March 17, 2015
The Anime Nostalgia Podcast - Ep 25
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:
- Listen to Sketch’s Toonami Anniversary podcast on Toonami Faithful
- Watch Bumpers & Commercials from Toonami’s inaugural broadcast
- Watch even more clips & read more info at Toonami Digital Arsenal
- Nerdybloomers‘ Lady Une Cosplay from the message she submitted--thanks for sharing!
- Sailor Moon
- Dragon Ball Z / Dragon Ball Z Kai / Rock the Dragon Edition
- Yoroiden Samurai Troopers
- Tenchi Muyo!
- Blue Submarine No. 6
- Yu Yu Hakusho
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
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!
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!