The Anime Nostalgia Podcast - ep 82: 2019 Year In Review with Zee

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

2019 is just about over! So you know what that means–that’s right, it’s the Year in Review! And much like Krampus, Zee is here in her usual once-a-year appearance 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 (sometimes again) this year, and what titles are you looking forward to coming out in 2020? We also talk about all the memorable news stories from throughout this long, seemingly never-ending year, and titles you wish were back in print (or would get a release, period!). Hear all of this PLUS the winners of the survey giveaway in this extra long episode. Happy Holidays!!


Stream the episode above or [Direct Download]
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Relevant links:
☆ Buy the top 3 (as voted by my listeners) older anime releases from 2019!☆

1. Perfect Blue bluray
2. Giant Robo OVA Series bluray set
3. Millennium Actress bluray

Listen to the full episode for the complete list!

Big thanks to Viz Media, Rightstuf, and Nozomi Entertainment for donating these amazing prizes this year! And congrats to all the winners!

Support the work I do on this podcast by leaving me a tip on Ko-fi! Want to have your name read in the special thanks segment on the next episode? All you need to do is buy me 2 or more “coffees” on Ko-fi!

My opening theme music is done by Kerobit! Find more of his music at InazumaKick.com!
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 and have a happy new year!

Merry Christmas!

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Merry Christmas, everyone! Also a Happy Hanukkah, Yule, Kwanzaa, or whatever winter celebration you observe! ^_^ I hope it’s a good one! Please enjoy a day of Christmas-themed posts I’ve queued up over on the podcast's tumblr for throughout the day, and look forward to my Year In Review episode soon!

Guest Spot: ANNCast!

While you wait for my Year in Review podcast episode, you can hear me on the newest episode of ANNCast talking about Sailor Moon: Sailor Stars! You can find it here.

Head's up!

I've added some minor corrections/updates for the Kaiji episode, so if you see a "new" episode in your feeds today, it's sadly not a new one but last month's episode refreshing. Sorry for any confusion!

It's that time again!

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! In the spirit of the season, several lucky listeners who fill out the survey will be chosen at random to win special prizes, which I’ll post more info about really soon! You have until December 15th to fill out the survey, so hop to it!! Survey is now closed! Thanks to everyone who took the time to fill it out!

I’ll announce the winner on the new episode of the podcast when me & my special guest will discuss the results!

Want to get a special holiday shout out in the last episode of 2019? All you have to do is tip me a coffee at my Ko-Fi account here! Thanks, and look forward to an awesome Year In Review episode this year!!

The Anime Nostalgia Podcast ep 81 - Gambling Apocalypse Kaiji with Tricia

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

It's Thanksgiving time in North America, and what better way to celebrate than talking about a cult classic full of tears and despair?! That's right, returning guest and Fukumoto fan Tricia is back to talk with me all about Denpa's new English release of the infamous fan-favorite manga Gambling Apocalypse Kaiji! Started in the 90s, this title started growing a Western fanbase after it's '07 anime adaptation, and now at long last--a physical edition of the original manga is available! We talk about what we love about this new release, why it's worth picking up even if you've already seen the anime, and how a story with such a seemingly simple premise tackles some surprisingly heavy themes in unexpected ways. Also in this episode: what Kaiji adaptations are worth checking out, which Kaiji gambles terrify us, and why Michael Douglas is now officially Anime.

Minor corrections/updates for this episode: The ebook company that did the original eBook release is actually a company close to Mr. Fukumoto! Also, the sound effect ZAWA wasn't quite invented by Fukumoto, but popularized by him. It's derived from the Japanese ZAWATSUKU or ZAWAMEKU. And while the bubble bursting in Japan & debt has a lot to do with the themes of the story, there's also the fact that Japan went through about 15-20 years of stagflation, which lead to many being disillusioned and feeling they had no future since many jobs available were just "dead end" ones. Denpa currently has two full-time staff members, and currently only has the rights to the first arc (13 vols) of Kaiji....though that may change in the future! Thanks Denpa for reaching out and letting me know!

Stream the episode above or [Direct Download]
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Relevant Links:

• Buy Gambling Apocalypse Kaiji vol 1 at Rightstuf, Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, Amazon
• PRE-ORDER Gambling Apocalypse Kaiji vol 2 at Rightstuf, Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, Amazon
• PRE-ORDER Gambling Apocalypse Kaiji vol 3 at Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, Amazon
• PRE-ORDER Gambling Apocalypse Kaiji vol 4 at Book Depository, Amazon
• Check out season 1 and 2 of the 2007 Kaiji anime adaptation on Crunchyroll!
• Check out the comedy spin-off Mr Tonegawa: Middle Management Blues on Crunchyroll
• Check out the 2018 Chinese live-action adaptation called Animal World on Netflix
• Follow Kaiji publisher Denpa on Twitter for updates on more Kaiji (and other great titles) releases!
• My theme song is performed by Kerobit! Find more of Kerobit’s music on InazumaKick.com!

Support the work I do on this podcast by leaving me a tip on Ko-fi! Want to have your name read in the special thanks segment on the next episode? All you need to do is buy me 2 or more “coffees” on Ko-fi!

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!

Happy Halloween!

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Happy Halloween, everyone! And for those who don’t celebrate, happy Discount Candy Day-Eve! 🎃

The Anime Nostalgia Podcast - ep 80: ReView: The Drifting Classroom manga & BONUS Violence Voyager

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) name for episodes where I go back and revisit 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. This month, I’m switching it up a little for Halloween and re-READING a title! That’s right, it’s my very first Manga ReView! This month I'll be revisiting the 70s horror manga classic The Drifting Classroom. And to make this a true science fiction double feature, I’m giving listeners a little bonus: a short review of the new retro-inspired horror anime movie Violence Voyager. Trick or treat!


Stream the episode above or [Direct Download]
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The first half of the podcast is all on The Drifting Classroom Perfect Edition vol 1, with the Violence Voyager review starting at around 19:00!

Relevant Links:

• Read a free preview of The Drifting Classroom Perfect Edition vol 1 on Viz’s website!
• Buy The Drifting Classroom on Rightstuf, Amazon, or digitally on Comixology & Kindle!
• Read an English interview with Kazuo Umezz from 2009 on TSB
• Check out the official trailer for Violence Voyager from DarkCoast!
• Rent or buy Violence Voyager digitally on Vimeo on Demand, Amazon Video, or your VOD provider of choice!
• My theme song is performed by Kerobit! Find more of Kerobit’s music on InazumaKick.com!

Support the work I do on this podcast by leaving me a tip on Ko-fi! Want to have your name read in the special thanks segment on the next episode? All you need to do is buy me 2 or more “coffees” on Ko-fi!

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!

The Anime Nostalgia Podcast - ep 79: They Were Eleven with Rachel

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

Returning guest Rachel is back to chat with me about all things related to the anime adaptation of Moto Hagio’s sci-fi shoujo, They Were Eleven! Listen as we discuss why this 80s anime (and the original 70s manga it’s based on) still resonates with us today, and how Hagio’s work was an early introduction to things like classism & gender roles to young anime fans back in the day. All this wrapped up in a cool sci-fi mystery! Since this title is a bit more obscure, we discuss the work relatively spoiler-free up until around the 41:05 mark...after that, plenty of spoiler-filled discussion for those who are already familiar with the work as we dive a bit deeper. Enjoy!


Stream the episode above or [Direct Download]
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Relevant Links:

• Buy the (sadly out of print) CPM DVD release of They Were Eleven!
• Buy the Japanese, Spanish or French Editions of the They Were Eleven collected manga!
• Check out Moto Hagio’s other manga on Fantagraphics, Amazon, and Rightstuf!
• Watch the first 5 minutes of the Japanese live-action TV movie from 1977 on Nico Video
• Clip of one of the recent productions of the Japanese live-action They Were Eleven stage musicals
• Hakutaku: The Magnificent, Revolutionary Year 24 Group
• Video of Moto Hagio herself briefly explaining who the Year 24 Group is!
• Women in Comics wiki entry on The Year 24 Group
• An interesting essay on Gender Identity through linguistic markers in relation to They Were Eleven (major spoilers!!)
• Follow Rachel on Twitter, Tumblr, and Twitch!
• Find more of Kerobit’s music on InazumaKick.com!

Support the work I do on this podcast by leaving me a tip on Ko-fi! Want to have your name read in the special thanks segment on the next episode? All you need to do is buy me 2 or more “coffees” on Ko-fi!

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!

Guest Spot: Ani-Gamers

If you want something to listen to while you wait for the next episode of my podcast, I was recently a guest on the latest Ani-gamers where we talk about Evangelion! This is part 1, part 2 will be up in a couple of weeks. Enjoy!

Just a note:

Hey, all! Just a head's up, sorry if any of you haven't seen the new podcast episode in Apple Podcasts/itunes. Not sure why it doesn't seem to be showing up on their website (but seems to have shown up in some people's apps, at least?), so I'm basically "bumping" the episode again to see if I can get it to work. So if you see the Akira episode twice, sorry for any confusion! Hopefully it's just a weird glitch and not an ongoing problem. Fingers crossed!

The Anime Nostalgia Podcast - ep 78: Akira Talk with Vrai

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

The Saturday Anime series continues with one of the most iconic anime (and manga) to ever be made: AKIRA! And with me to talk a bit about this massively influential franchise is new guest to the show Vrai Kaiser (they/them). Even with 2 hours to chat about Akira, we only manage to touch the tip of the iceberg on what makes this Katsuhiro Otomo classic so special. Listen as we discuss how we first saw this film far too young, how it appealed to more folks than just your typical anime fans, and why this 80s creation is a little too prophetic on how life in 2019 ended up being. Also in this episode: the premiere of my brand new opening theme!.....that you don’t hear until the end. (Whoops.)

Stream the episode above or [Direct Download]
Subscribe on itunes | Stitcher | Google Play | Spotify 

Relevant links: 

• Watch Akira (dubbed) legally, free with ads in the US on Tubi!
• Watch Akira dubbed and/or subbed, legally & free with ads in the US on Anime Planet (via Hulu)!
• Buy the Akira bluray/DVD combo pack on Rightstuf or Amazon
• Buy the regular edition Akira manga on Rightstuf or Amazon
• Buy the limited edition 35th Anniversary Akira manga hardcover box set on Rightstuf or Amazon
• An Incomplete History of the Akira Bike Slide
• Mentioned in the episode: the essay “You Called for Me: Masculine Pain and Isolation in Akira” on the VRV blog
• Also mentioned on the episode: The Awaken Akira fan film, and the Project Akira fan film
• Follow Vrai on Twitter
• Listen to Vrai’s podcast, Trash & Treasures
• Find more of Kerobit’s music on InazumaKick.com!

Support the work I do on this podcast by leaving me a tip on Ko-fi! Want to have your name read in the special thanks segment on the next episode? All you need to do is buy me 2 or more “coffees” on Ko-fi!

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! 

The Anime Nostalgia Podcast - ep 77: Kimagure Orange Road OVAs 1 & 2

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. This month, take some time to chill out in the Summer heat with a trip to the mountains (and uh....Hawaii??) with the first 2 Kimagure Orange Road OVAs!


Stream the episode above or [Direct Download]
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Relevant Links:

• Watch the Kimagure Orange Road TV series and OVA series on Crunchyroll
• Buy the Kimagure Orange Road OVA bluray set on Rightstuf and Amazon
• Check out Animeigo’s liner note archive for their Kimagure Orange Road OVA notes from back in the 90s!

Please note: Around the 28 minute mark, I briefly talk about the recent tragedy at Kyoto Animation. I put it at the very end so that if listening to such things might cause you distress, you can stop listening there. If you would like to send a message of support to Kyoani, visit here. It also includes links to other ways you can help.

Support the work I do on this podcast by leaving me a tip on Ko-fi! Want to have your name read in the special thanks segment on the next episode? All you need to do is buy me 2 or more “coffees” on Ko-fi!

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!

The Anime Nostalgia Podcast - ep 76: El-Hazard The Magnificent World with Chris

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

Oh no, we’re talking about one of those dreaded “isekai” shows?! Never fear, this is the 1995 fantasy OAV El-Hazard: The Magnificent World! Join me and Taiiku podcast’s Chris as we try to explain why it’s a tricky series to describe, how somehow an anime released in the 90s has one of the best dubs we’ve ever heard, and lament the fact that it’s been out of print for a decade, because it deserves more love. Also in this episode: Maniacal Laughter! Tangents about the creative process! Shopping at Sam Goody! All with very minimal spoilers! Wow!

Stream the episode above or [Direct Download]
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Relevant links:

• The out of print El-Hazard: The Magnificent World DVD box on Amazon
• The out of print El-Hazard: The Magnificent World single DVDs on Amazon
• Japanese-release Limited Edition El-Hazard: The Magnificent World Bluray Box (with English dub!) on CDJapan
• Japanese-release Regular El-Hazard: The Magnificent World bluray box (with English dub!) on CDJapan
• El-Hazard: The Wanderers TV series on Crunchyroll
• The original Jinnai & The Bugrom (aka Hubba Hubba Zoot Zoot) AMV, as well as the 2008 “Remastered” Version (there’s even a karaoke version!)
• Visit El-Hazard Online, one of the last fansites still standing
• Visit Chris at Taiiku Podcast

Support the work I do on this podcast by leaving me a tip on Ko-fi! Want to have your name read in the special thanks segment on the next episode? All you need to do is buy me 2 or more “coffees” on Ko-fi!

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!

Update: Episode 61 transcription

Hello listeners! After over a year, I'm happy to say I now have a transcript of the Miami Mike episode available for download! A HUGE thanks to the very generous Eleanor who volunteered her time to make one for my podcast. I've added a link to download the document on the original post here for anyone who wants to save it for reference.

I hope that in the future, I can possibly get more episodes transcribed, but for now this was the single most requested episode to have one, and I'm happy that it's now available for those who will find it useful.

Edit: Also, sorry that adding the transcript to ep 61's post seems to have made my RSS feed think it was a new episode! 😅 Sorry for any confusion that might have caused.

The Anime Nostalgia Podcast - ep 75: Creative Conversations with DJ Kirkland

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

Welcome to the first in a new ongoing series I’ll be doing from time to time here on The Anime Nostalgia Podcast called “Creative Conversations”! In these episodes, I’ll be talking to people in various creative fields making things today who were greatly inspired by anime & manga, and are using that inspiration today to make cool things! To kick off this series is DJ Kirkland: gamer, podcaster, and comic artist extraordinaire. Listen as DJ shares how he got into anime & manga, and how he’s now using those inspirations to make the kind of comics he would have loved to read growing up. Also in this episode: remembering Geocities, swooning over Haruka Tenoh, and advice for newer artists who also want to share their stories with the world.


Stream the episode above or [Direct Download]
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DJ’s older anime & manga recommendations:

• Sailor Moon (Stream the anime, buy the manga)
• Ranma 1/2 (Stream the anime, buy the manga)
• Magic User’s Club (Stream the anime)
• Samurai Troopers, aka Ronin Warriors (Stream the anime)
• His & Her Circumstances (Buy the anime)
• Yu Yu Hakusho (Stream the anime, buy the manga)
• Tenchi Muyo (Buy the original OVA collection)

Follow DJ & his work online!

• @OhHeyDJ on Twitter & on instagram
• Listen to DJ’s podcast, The Magical Boys
• Pre-order The Black Mage on Amazon, B&N, BAM!, or your local comic shop!

Support the work I do on this podcast by leaving me a tip on Ko-fi! Want to have your name read in the special thanks segment on the next episode? All you need to do is buy me 2 or more “coffees” on Ko-fi!

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!

Guest Spot: Zannen, Canada

While you’re waiting for the new episode of my podcast, you can hear me talking about Cat’s Eye with Canadian anime podcast Zannen, Canada! We discuss the French dub that aired in Canada, City Hunter, and…..City Pop music?? Listen to it here.