The debates heat up as we jump into matches 3 and 4 of Round 1 in the Hands Tournament. First up, it’s a classic Ty vs CJ showdown as Baki the Grappler faces Heihachi Mishima in a brutal, no-powers matchup. Then Maal steps in repping Akaza against Kenichi in a clash of pure martial skill. Find out which two fighters move on to the next round!

In this episode of the Freestyle Anime Podcast, Rico, Ty and CJ are joined by special guest Israel for a wide-ranging anime discussion packed with debates and deep dives. The crew talks character matchups, weekly releases vs. binge-watching, and Who deserved it more between the Uchiha and Zenin clans. Things heat up with Who accomplished more as a group the Akatsuki or the Homunculi, before shifting into a bigger conversation about what truly makes a great anime—storytelling, character growth, and emotional impact over pure animation.The episode also explores how death and tragedy shape protagonists, the role villains play in elevating narratives, and the balance between humor, fan service, and serious storytelling. From old-school anime to modern series, the crew breaks down evolving audience expectations and highlights what defines the best main characters today.

The breakout anime of the year is here. The crew breaks down Sentenced to Be a Hero, sharing what they loved and which anime it reminded them of—sparking a heated debate between Maal and CJ. Then we dive into a full breakdown of the Jujutsu Kaisen Culling Game rules so you can finally make sense of the chaos. Stay tuned for a bonus debate at the end!

We finally kick off the Anime Hands Tournament – Round 1 of the bracket.The night opens with Maal’s team, Onsite, going head-to-head with CJ’s team, Put ’Em in the Dirt, debating Might Guy vs Tokita Ohma. Who made the stronger case and convinced Ty and Rico?Next up, it’s Ty’s team, Dreamland Delivery Service, versus Rico’s team, Uppercut City, in a heated matchup of Yuji Itadori vs Garou. Emotions flare as Ty aggressively attacks the very pick he wanted to draft, turning the debate personal.Who advanced?Whose arguments landed the hardest?Tune in and find out who survives Round 1.#anime #jujutsukaisen #onepunchman #naruto #baki #ohmatokita #garou #mightguy #yujiitadori

Jujutsu Kaisen is BACK with two banger episodes — and Yuta’s return instantly stole the show.We break down Yuji’s struggle to even move after the Shibuya Incident, showing how the trauma from last season is still weighing on him.Then we get into the action:Yuji vs Yuta and Choso vs Naoya — analyzing the fight choreography, animation quality, and brutal combat sequences that made these episodes hit so hard.The crew also dives into the deepening lore of JJK, what these moments mean for the story, and where Season 3 seems to be headed — including the long-awaited meeting with Tengen.

We kick off this jam-packed episode with early Anime of the Year 2026 predictions, breaking down what upcoming releases could take over the anime world next year.Then we switch it up and reminisce on some of the coldest aura moments in anime, laughing and reacting as we bring up iconic scenes from characters like Sung Jinwoo, Piccolo, Escanor, and more — moments where characters didn’t need to say a word to own the room.Ty goes on a legendary hate rant about a character from Avatar: The Last Airbender that you do not want to miss.

The crew is PACKED as Maal and Louma join Rico, CJ, and Ty for one of our wildest episodes yet. We debate who truly cherishes their prized item more—Luffy with his straw hat or Rudo with his gloves—and break down anime characters whose weapons and valuables are more than just tools.

Then Rico drops a NUCLEAR hot take from a fan: My Hero Academia’s ending was BETTER than Naruto’s. Ty stuns everyone by agreeing… and CJ calls it pure recency bias. Things spiral fast.

We also go all in on Kaido vs Escanor, argue over who the weakest Demon Slayer is, and at one point Ty looks at one of the hosts and says: “You ain’t that guy.”

Yeah… it gets personal.
Don’t miss this one 👀🔥

Join the crew for a spirited F$AP White Elephant episode 🎁Gifts are getting sniped, ugly sweaters are in full force, and the jokes are flying. The guys break down Day 1 of Jump Festa weekend, react to the biggest announcements, and vibe through the chaos—while Ty absolutely goes all in with his sweater 😂Holiday energy, anime news, and classic F$AP shenanigans—don’t miss this one.

On this episode, Ty completely loses it as Rico locks in his number-one draft pick. We finally kick off the Anime Hands Tournament Draft, where the crew drafts 22 anime characters known for having the nastiest hands in anime history.

Tension is high, picks are stolen, and emotions run wild—including the moment someone snipes Baki right out from under Rico 😤.

Who drafted the strongest lineup?

Who reached?

And who fumbled their picks?

Tune in and join the draft madness.

In this episode, we sit down with the author behind Tourain to dive deep into the creative world of his storytelling. From the first spark of inspiration to the process of building his characters and universe, he shares what it really takes to bring a novel like Tourain to life. Whether you’re a writer, an anime and fantasy fan, or just love hearing how great stories are made, this conversation gives you a front-row seat to the mind of a creator shaping his own world.#podcast #discovery #author