Anime Roundtable

The head man behind Anime Lockdown, JP joins the Roundtable for an all encompasing chat on the online convention’s aftermath (6:07), the idea of doing the convention and things that happened during it, the merits and quirks of an “online convention” (10:30), and get JP’s thoughts on the other online shows about to happen (58:55). After the break we talked a little bit about the Geek Eire guys’ involvement - aka one of our three listeners - in Lockdown (1:19:40), and then reminiced about the early days of anime podcasting (1:22:40), and how enjoying content has changed (1:34:10), and the ultimate question as to a second Lockdown and what to look forward to in the YouTube channel (1:47:00), and we’ll end with a final thought for the Anime North that won’t happen this year (2:01:55)

All this coming in at a whopping two plus hours (not under two as Mike first thought). We were more likely boring and not brief, but it certainly wasn’t the longest episode we’ve done

Mike, James, Kevin, Mohamed, with special guest JP from Anime Lockdown

Episode Show Notes: https://animeroundtable.wordpress.com/2020/05/15/6ixtalk-anime-roundtable-special-the-lockdown-interview-may-15-2020/

Website: animeroundtable.com

Twitter and IG: @animeroundtable

Email: [email protected]

In a nod to the concept of necessity being the mother of all invention, the Roundtable makes history tonight with it’s first online episode…or at least starts to technologically play catch up…one or the other

After Mike, Kevin, and Moh show some contrition for episode 17 (and James disavows any responsibility for it), Mike updates the story that was on his mind a few weeks back (5:23), then everyone else updates their lives in the pandemic lockdown (7:08), including our thoughts on console video games. Then we talk about how the pandemic has affected the actual Japanese industry (36:15), and the Toronto anime scene (43:45). On the topic of coping in the COVID era, in the second half of the show we talk about Anime Lockdown and give our quick day one impressions (50:45), and other anime streaming options (1:27:22), before ending on other tech ways people have been dealing with COVID (1:36:32)

At least we remembered to hit the unmute buttons on the microphones

Mike Nicolas, James Austin, Kevin Ng, Mohamed Sharmarke

Episode Links: https://animeroundtable.wordpress.com/2020/05/01/6ixtalk-anime-roundtable-v2-0-18-may-1-2020/

Website: animeroundtable.com

Twitter and IG: @animeroundtable

Email: [email protected]

Mike wanted to try and gather the others for a social distancing Roundtable. However he’s just left isolated instead and only has this story to tell about the Roundtable’s return a few years ago and the guy who told him to bring it back to the basics

Producers note: This was taped before the COVID 19 pandemic reached serious levels, and before Anime North got cancelled. So this is even more out of date than usual. But we did want to share our thoughts at the time

Mike encourages people to count how many times he got wrong how many years had passed since the Great East Japan Earthquake as we start the episode by reflecting on it on its anniversary (5:05). Then we give our initial thoughts about COVID 19 as it started to make its mark on society and the anime industry (13:40). Then we talked about the success of the Korean movie Parasite (31:30). And finally we give thoughts on the current crop of movies in theatres (50:55), a Netflix recommendation (1:00:10), and some final convention thoughts (1:03)

It’s amazing how much has changed since then

Mike Nicolas, Kevin Ng, Mohamed Sharmarke

We start our first ramune filled episode of 2020 talking about Bell Let’s Talk Day (the episode was taped on January 29th), and Moh’s appearance in this year’s promotional ad. Then we talk about the North American theatrical run of Weathering with You (7:45), and the interview with Makoto Shinkai (25:05). Then G-Kids in theatres and a tangent on what James and Kevin are buying these days (43:20), and a shout out to a recovering Fred Schodt (52:00). With a final apology for being so long with this episode (54:05). Hopefully the next episode isn’t at Anime North

Mike Nicolas, James Austin, Kevin Ng, Mohamed Sharmarke

Web: animeroundtable.com

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @animeroundtable

Visit our website for more details and links

There’s a lot to catch up on in two months. But we start way off topic with talking about the sports talk shows that were in the inspirations for the Roundtable with a brief history of sports and radio broadcasting in Toronto (4:50). Then we actually start talking anime, and the limited theatrical release of Promare in late September, and the gang’s individual experiences in going out to see it and the extra interviews at the end (31:21), and Mike’s thoughts as to fire being a recent theme in anime especially in light of the Kyoto Animation Fire and the culture of fire fighting and prevention (58:24)

In the Bullets Segment, we talk about more recent thoughts on the Cowboy Bebop live action (1:15:03), Rei Tanaka’s Anime Central Announcement…oh and her upcoming photo book (1:20:38), two shows that caught Mike’s attention on Netflix recently (1:28:00), Overwatch 2 with Toronto mentioned as a map (1:33:26), James and Mike give some thoughts on things worth watching including a Sherlock adaptation and an NHK World music show (1:46:33), and Kevin suggestions one final movie screening (2:02:20). And finally we give our reactions as IFF 2020 announces their first guest (2:04:45)

Hopefully we’re all caught up until December

Mike Nicolas, James Austin, Kevin Ng

Before the Anime North episodes in May, Mike and James tested the microphones and told the story of the convention’s proximity to one of the early Amber Alert cases in 2019

This was in light of another Amber Alert issued in the Toronto Area earlier in the week. So Mike felt this was a good time now to share this story

We begin tonight on a reflective note as we commemorate 18 years since 9/11. Then we get to the episode young Moh wanted to do, but could attend the taping of himself as James and Kevin talk about seeing the North American premier of Weathering with You at the Toronto International Film Festival, with Makoto Shinkai in attendance (6:58). In the aftermath of the discussion, Mike brings up a book he’s been meaning to read that does use the 2011 earthquake as a plot device (43:50). Then he celebrates the end of the KOR Manga Kickstarter Oddesey (45:50)

We begin the bullets segment with further thoughts from the Kyoto Animation Fire (48:37), the latest in the Vic Mignogna saga in hopefully the shortest bullet ever (55:30), and some PR trouble for group for group that runs IFF/AnimeRevolution (58:38). And finally the latest in online buying (1:04:20), and the Community Calendar (1:13:48)

Mike Nicolas, James Austin, Kevin Ng

The Kyoto Animation Studio arson dominates the start of this episode, more than three weeks after. We take a step back and give our thoughts on the coverage and the immediate and long term affects on the industry, and remember some of the victims (22:50)

As we come back from the break we regard James and Neil’s lack of appearance (31:25), then we go into the Toronto Anime Community calendar with the Mississauga Japan Fest (35:50), Weathering with You’s North American premier at TIFF (38:35), screenings at the JCCC, and end off with Kevin talking about his upcoming trip to K-Con in LA (55:10)

Mike Nicolas, Kevin Ng, Mohamed Sharmarke

After more than a month off, and a Wendy’s and Tims run, and a week after this was actually taped, we’re finally back with this quick episode on the hottest day in Toronto yet. We start by looking back on Anime North and the Fred Schodt interview (3:33), and his last panel about his view on manga translation (11:35). Then we talked about our take on the ups and downs of Anime North’s strict fan run angle (24:53). Next we give our take on a few aspects of Neon Genesis Evangelion’s Netflix premier, from the music (31:20), the new English Dub (33:52), and the translation of one specific scene (37:20). Finally we preview digest #3 in hopes of digesting AX, including Kevin’s reaction upon hearing Harmony Gold’s renewal of their Macross license (51:37), and a final We The North moment (58:25)

Mike Nicolas, James Austin, Kevin Ng, Mohamed Sharmarke

Web: animeroundtable.com

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @animeroundtable

Visit our website for more details and links

https://animeroundtable.wordpress.com/2019/07/13/6ixtalk-anime-roundtable-v2-0-12-july-6-2018/