Anime Field Guide

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Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex is a highly ambitious cyberpunk police drama series by Production I.G. and the full directorial debut of Kenji Kamiyama.

And it is my favorite anime! What better way to celebrate my (second) first year of podcasting?!

My review specifically concerns season 1 (2002) as this was originally produced to build up advance hype for Mamoru Oshii's follow-up film, Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence.

But thanks to the popularity of Stand Alone Complex at home and overseas, Production I.G. greenlit a second season for 2004 that has enough of a staff shake-up that I will cover "Second G.I.G." in a later episode.

TIME STAMPS:

0:00 - 1:35 = Welcome and Intros

1:36 - 4:40 = Schedule update

4:40 - 12:09 = Spring 2026 Anime Preview

12:10 - 19:30 = Community Spotlight

- Your Favorite Anime!

20:00 = Main Topic Begins

Musical Credits: Soundtrack composer is Yoko Kanno

"Inner Universe" - lyrics by Shanti Snyder & performed by Origa

"Lithium Flower" lyrics by Tim Jensen & performed by Scott Matthew

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Happy Birthday to me! I am celebrating the first year of the Anime Field Guide podcast with a bit of April tomfoolery!

My good friend, Joe from the Retrotopia podcast, has never seen Ghost in the Shell! Let's fix that!

TIME STAMPS:

Welcome and Intros = 0:00 - 4:20

What Joe Knows (about Ghost in the Shell) = 4:50 - 10:30

Ad Break = 10:30 - 18:30

Main Topic begins at 18:45

Say hello to the puddy tat! = 46:00

Nice = 1:09:00

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linktr.ee/anifieldguide

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The boys are back in town!

Samurai Troopers is an era-defining bishonen classic of the late 80's, created and animated by the fine folks at Sunrise during the height of their popularity as a mecha anime studio.

The English broadcast in the USA and abroad remains a nostalgic classic, and with the recent sequel seasons in 2026 I figured now is a good time to revisit the Troopers' first outing!

TIME STAMPS:

4:45 = Winter 2026 Anime Wrap-up

21:18 = First Year of Anime Field Guide

24:30 = Mecha March Madness: the winner!

30:25 = Community Spotlight

- Assemble a super team of 5 anime characters!

35:30 = Samurai Troopers Review

1 hour 32 minutes = Samurai Troopers OVA review

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- All current events are "current" as of the publishing date of this episode

Theme music is "Lovers' Oasis" by Dark Cat

Music from Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/track/dark-cat/lovers-oasis

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Gunbuster is the directorial debut of Hideaki Anno!

In the distant year of 2023, teenage girl Noriko Takaya enlists at the Okinawa Girl's Space Flight School and grows to be a master mecha pilot alongside her senior and idol, Kazumi Amano, under the guidance of the school's coach.

Together, these girls defend Earth from a looming alien menace by piloting humanity's last hope: the giant robot Gunbuster!This landmark OVA blends classic sports tropes, Top Gun, and tragic space opera in an unforgettable tale of determination, sacrifice, hard work, and GUTS!

0:00-8:30 = Welcome and Intros

- MECHA MARCH MADNESS! Battle of the Polls begins March 1st!

8:30 = Welcome Retro Hangover!

14:12 - 18:44 = Listener Spotlight

18:45 - end = Main Topic

Check out Retro Hangover!

https://linktr.ee/retrohangover

Music Credits:

"Active Heart" - composed by Eiji Nishiki, arr. by Motoki Funayama, sung by Noriko Sakai

"Gunbuster March" - composed by Kouhei Tanaka

"Heavy Duty" - Zoo

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/t/zoo/heavy-duty

License code: MSDARJGG3OWLOIAW

Follow the Anime Field Guide!

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- All current events are "current" as of the publishing date of this episode

Theme music is "Lovers' Oasis" by Dark Cat

Music from Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/track/dark-cat/lovers-oasis

Follow the Anime Field Guide!

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When Chihaya Ayase befriends a lonely boy named Arata, she is introduced to the world of karuta - a competitive card game that tests one's memory and reflexes.

Arata instructs Chihaya and her handsome friend Taichi, and together they form a special bond that is put to the ultimate test when life forces them apart. But the trio believes their shared love of karuta will one day reunite them!

Years later, Chihaya is attending Mizusawa high school and is reunited with Taichi. Together they form the Mizusawa Karuta Club and recruit 3 more members: the poetry fan Kanade Oe, the lapsed competitor Yuusei Nishida, and data-driven Komano Tsutomu.

Just how far can this team go? Will Chihaya become the best karuta player in the world? And how will the love triangle between Chihaya, Taichi and Arata resolve?

Time stamps:

Intro and schedule updates = 0:00 - 6:45

Anime Talks with Tyler! = 6:45 - 23:50

Main topic begins at 23:51

Musical credits:

"Chihayafuru Main Theme" - composed by Kousuke Yamashita

"Youthful" - 99RadioService

Check out the Anime Degens!

linktr.ee/animedegens

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Thank you for your support in 2025! The Anime Field Guide doesn't exist without you!

It's time to celebrate the year with a good ol' list of my Top Ten Favorite Anime!

What was your favorite anime of 2025?

Time stamps

Intro "2025 was a hard year": 0:00 - 5:05

AFG by the numbers: 5:05 - 7:36

My Plans for 2026: 7:37 - 10:04

Honorable Mentions (movies): 10:05 - 12:58

Honorable Mentions (TV): 13:00 - 18:14

THE COUNTDOWN

Number 10 = 18:15

Number 09 = 21:38

Number 08 = 24:17

Number 07 = 26:40

Number 06 = 30:26

Number 05 = 32:12

Number 04 = 34:54

Number 03 = 37:22

Number 02 = 41:13

Number 01 = 44:41

Follow the Anime Field Guide!

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- All current events are "current" as of the publishing date of this episode

Theme music is "Lovers' Oasis" by Dark Cat

Music from Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/track/dark-cat/lovers-oasis

Follow the Anime Field Guide!

https://animefieldguide.carrd.co

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Good girls, bad girls, robots, and explosions!

One splendid morning, A-ko starts her first day at school with her bubbly childhood friend, C-ko, but soon runs afoul of the popular rich girl, B-ko, who has fallen in love with C-ko and wants A-ko out of the picture!

But these are not your ordinary schoolgirls!

There might also be an impending alien invasion but I don't think it's important.

Time stamps:

Intro and schedule updates= 0:00 - 6:45

Welcoming Nate and Anime Talks = 6:45 - 19:11

Main Topic begins at 19:12

Ending song credits - “Jealous Eyes (instrumental)” - composed, arranged, and performed by Richie Zito and Joey Carbone

Check out the Otaku Nate Show!

https://linktr.ee/Otakunateshow

Extra credit:

Paul Chapman wrote an excellent article for Crunchyroll in 2021: “The Fantastic True Story of How Project A-ko Was Lost and Found”

https://www.crunchyroll.com/news/features/2021/5/4/feature-the-fantastic-true-story-of-how-project-a-ko-was-lost-and-found