Anime Roundtable

This week, we start with Dean’s thoughts on the TV season thus far in Japan. Then we offer a our thoughts on the end of the Blu-ray, HD-DVD war. In the second half we read a somewhat interesting e-mail and respond in kind, then we express our shock and awe over the latest live action adaptation announcement.

Mike Nicolas, James Austin, Adam Grant, Dean Colak, with cameo by Neil Sinclair

Sorry for the delay since Mike was actually enjoying more than a few post Valentines Day drinks.

This week, after the Gospel according to Neil and Adam, and Mike’s chocolate odyssey, some thoughts on Funimation and Geneon, the closing of the Sakura Wars cafe, some EVA hot coffee, and the latest attempt at lonely otaku money in Akihabara. Then the obligatory Valentines and anime talk. With your predictable spins.

Lordy, lordy, look who’s forty…and this episode is likely to leave more than a few grey hairs.

Mike Nicolas, Neil Sinclair, James Austin, Adam Grant

We start with Mike helping Adam and Angela complete their Geneon libraries, and look back on Angela’s art exhibit at York University. Then in earnest we wonder about Tekkon Kinkreet’s Oscar worthiness. In the bullets, our first news from Anime North, throwing away Japanese porn being illegal, the “House Where Totoro Lives” being saved, and Tommy Lee Jones in Akihabara.

Somewhere in all of this is Adam’s most outrageous comment said (yet). A prize for the first person who can find it.

Mike Nicolas, James Austin, Angela Jordan, Adam Grant

Sorry for the delay as Mike is still in shock after listening to the episode again while preparing it for upload.

We start this week by welcoming Neil back and talking about political discourse in cartoons over the last 30 years. Then a trip to the political and legal pages concerning the death of a 10 year old in Indonesia (with a politician linking Naruto to it), and the latest in the Odex saga in Singapore. And finally the obligatory ADV talk. That’s assuming you can get past the fact that both Neil and Adam are around the table unleashed…you’ve been warned.

Mike Nicolas, Neil Sinclair, Adam Grant, James Austin. (1:03:30)

This week, more on dead and burried anime ventures, and grave digging. First thoughts on Geneon’s library, then the end of Hirameki, Viz and single discs on some titles, and ADV’s latest moves (Newtype USA, Anime Channel linear, UK operations).

Mike Nicolas, James Austin, Adam Grant, Mohamed Sharmarke

We start off the New Year by talking about the Genshiken creator’s impressions of fandom today. Then some words about the changes at Seven Seas and art exhibitions, with a plug for an exhibit by one of our own…assuming you can get through the first 20 minutes of holiday talk.

Remind me to keep the idle chat short next week.

Mike Nicolas, James Austin, Angela Jordan, Adam Grant

We’ll warm up with manga talk about Kodocha, Genshiken and Translucent, and anime talk concerning the Haruhi Dub. Then we’ll talk about Arthur Smith’s response to the open letter to the industry. In the bullets, Marvel manga, Gundam Bars, Busou Renkin on DVD, Futari Ecchi’s limited manga release, and the voluntary pull on My Santa (which really should be permanent).

The real last episode of 2007.

Mike Nicolas, James Austin, Terry Visser, Anthony Visser

Our view of Justin Sevakis’ open letter to the anime industry. In the bullets, the closing of the Toronto maid cafe, celebrity divorces, CSI DeathNote, and an American adaptation of Train Man to come. And finally Adam requests a guest spot on the Happy House of Hentai.

Tell me what doesn’t belong?

Mike Nicolas, James Austin, Adam Grant

The reputation of foreigners in Japan, ADV’s latest moves online, the latest in anime merchandising, and Death Note trully coming to North America.

Mike Nicolas, James Austin, Adam Grant, Angela Jordan (1:06:10)

This week, School Days and its prospects in North America. We’ll also remember Steve Pearl and a bygone era in North American fandom.

Don’t worry, most of this is still not as serious as it sounds.

Mike Nicolas, James Austin, Adam Grant, Mohamed Sharmarke