The Rotoscopers jump into the world of Japanese animation by reviewing their first ever anime: Studio Ghibli's fantasy-adventure film Spirited Away. Mason also introduces a new super duper anime trivia game and tries to stump Morgan and Chelsea. So join the Rotoscopers for all the news and laughs in the (Japanese) animated world!

Highlights:

■ The Rotoscopers: The Band!

■ News: Epic trailer is epic, DreamWorks theme park, Penguins of Madagascar movie, Kung Fu Panda 3; get more news at our websiteand hypable.com

■ Mason discusses anime music and theme songs

■ New Game! 'Super Awesome Fun Time Anime Synopsis Game Deluxe Bean Burrito Game!' Mason reads a description of an anime and Morgan and Chelsea have to guess if it’s a real show or made up

■ Main discussion: Hayao Miyazaki’s Spirited Away

■ Animes are like awkward conversations: you just can’t jump into them

■ Spirited Away is awesome because it stands out visually from other traditional animes

■ Characteristics of animes that deter Western viewers

■ Thoughts on grotesque character design: Yubabba’s big head, Chihiro’s dull design

■ Chihiro: her transformation throughout the film, “what’s up with that guy?”

■ Shifts away from traditional Western story telling: lowest point at the beginning

■ Story: static characters help move the forward; characters don’t grow up, but discover inner strength inside of them; Chihiro can’t go back, just forward

■ Standout scenes: the beginning is very typical of a scary movie, abandoned amusement parks

■ Mason’s theory alert: Chihiro & her parents died on the car ride & are entering the afterlife

■ Unanswered question: were the parents under a spell when they were eating the food?

■ What’s with the roasted newt?

■ Similarities with Alice in Wonderland and Pinocchio; Crow Yubabba is similar to Maleficent’s crow Diabolo

■ Chihiro’s defining moment, slow character evolvution

■ Susan Egan as Lin; Jason Mardsen as Haku aka a 'voice acting hero'

■ Voice actor tangent: are some voices too recognizable and distracting?

■ No Face: unresolved character, Mason discusses fan theories about who No Face is

■ Morgan’s had a No Face in her life

■ Yubabba: great enjoyable character, stays nasty till the end, motivated by only money and her baby

■ Conundrum: how did Chihiro know that none of the pigs were her parents?

■ Themes: generosity vs. greed, love vs. infatuation

■ Rich with symbolism, lots of moments for reflection

■ Last lines of the film (added for English dub): “I think I can handle it.”

■ What both our listeners and The Rotoscopers rate it! ★★★★★

■ A big ol’ mail in the mail bag!

■ Plug to listen to past episodes! Runtime: 1:19:53, 38.5 MB

Where to Find Us:

■ Find us on the web: therotoscopers.com, twitter, facebook, YouTube, tumblr, hypable & Animated Views

■ Mason Smith: This Animated Life Blog, Twitter

■ Chelsea Robson: Facebook, Twitter

■ Morgan Stradling: Twitter, Instagram

■ Visit our sponsors: Netflix, Audible, Amazon

■ Questions, comments, suggestions? Send us an email at [email protected]

■ Send us a voicemail at therotoscopers.com/voicemail

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