Anime Roundtable

The crew brave thunderstorms and passing trains to bring you their thoughts on much of the industry happenings in the two months since the last episode, skipping an episode intro to do so. Anime in the first segment, then manga in the second segment. Then during Final Insults, we reveal a very interesting segment of the Visser family tree (one you have to hear to believe).

Mike Nicolas, James Austin, Terry Visser, Anthony Visser

I don’t know if it was us trying to deal with the feedback with the speakers in the room (something we rarely use), or the fact it was 11:30pm and we were all very tired, but it might sound a little faded. Apologies in advance.

In our first episode this year from Anime North, we once again come back to Makoto Shinkai. Then talk about the themes in the Animania documentary taped at AN in 2006. Finally three bullets, Japanese takes on manga with heart, Takeshi Murakami’s 15 million dollar sale, and Jojo’s tension with Islam.

And at the end of it all, we say goodbye to Angela who will be heading for Japan to teach english beginning in August.

Mike Nicolas, James Austin, Angela Jordan, Mohamed Sharmarke

In our first episode in more than a month, and the final one before Anime North, we talk about the licenses that happened around another convention, and the questions that have arisen from them. Then our attention turns to Japan. First what they feel are the best anime features of all time, and then bad behavior in Akihabara.

And we do it with two Austins. Trust me, when you hear them, you’ll know they’re related.

Mike Nicolas, James Austin, Enrico Bianco, Matt Austin

The regular season finale. First some thoughts on reading manga in digital forms. Then after seeing IGN’s elaborate April Fool’s joke, we talk about a few good ones. Then a listener e-mail prompts a discussion on the merits of North American cartoons over the last 20 years. In an extended bullets segment, we talk about Joe Hisashi, X Japan, Gonzo and open pricing, the used book market in Japan, and a kicker you’d have to hear to believe.

And once again, we tried to video tape the show, and technical difficulties prevented it from being available again. Thank god again too, we said waaaay too much during the breaks. Someone up there must like me.

Mike Nicolas, Adam Grant, Mohamed Sharmarke, Geoff Greig

This week, we begin with some thoughts from a fan translator and James’ attempt to see Kite Liberator on the big screen. Then we talk at length about Crunchyroll. Anime Boston’s registration issues, more Someday’s Dreamers anime, and the first Geneon rescue are loaded and shot in the bullets segment. And finally, Mike responds to being called out on the blog…then Adam finishes the job.

Note: We mentioned that we were video taping the episode but due to technical difficulties, we don’t have it available. We apologize…although I am glad, otherwise you would have caught me singing an Easter Carol.

Mike Nicolas, James Austin, Adam Grant, Enrico Bianco. (1:05:55)

This week, some thoughts on St. Patrick’s Day and Easter, the fallout from a quick and painful Artist Alley registration, Tekkon Kinkreet as a “bookend” to the Japanese anime industry (and goes somewhere else), and a lash out on life sized anime dolls.

Mike Nicolas, Neil Sinclair, Angela Jordan, Dean Colak

The second All Girls/White Day episode. Presented in two parts

In part two, Clarissa’s memories of Japan continue with some of her anime adventures, from clubs to the biggest adventure of them all…Comiket. And yes, Genshiken isn’t that far fetched. Also some thoughts on Japanese Kit Kat and Crunchyroll

The second All Girls/White Day episode. Presented in two parts

In part one, Clarissa returns from her year in Japan and starts to recount some of her favourite moments from her year there, from travelling Japan and other parts of Asia, to food, and to life as a university student at Meiji U in Tokyo

With Neil and Adam again at the same time, you can only do so much, just ask the idle talk. But somewhere in the mess we talk about the mix between Death Note, Naruto, Bully, and school violence (and a tasty mix at that), ADV deciding to finally blame downloads, Disney teaming up with Japan, Right Stuf’s first acquisition of 2008, and a successful busty defense (one Adam would certainly use). Plus perhaps the most memorable moment yet in the show’s history. See if you can pick all of that out, maybe there will be a prize…maybe.

Mike Nicolas, Neil Sinclair, James Austin, Adam Grant

We start off with Apple and Oscar talk, then come back to Canada Border Services’ increasing personal library of banned material (of course hentai anime and manga stuff). In short the return of some recent classics, the return of ADV, and Butler Cafes looking to hire (Adam and James may have a chance).

Mike Nicolas, James Austin, Angela Jordan, Adam Grant