Gateway to Anime

Sam, Graeme and Charlie get together to discuss all things to do with the 2022 anime winter season.

The undisputed king (AoT) has returned with a challenger for the throne. Some interesting new shows are present but it's mostly the season of the 2nd cours and sequels. There is, of course, a customary serving of bizarre stuff this season, which is probably best avoided. However the heavy hitters are firing on all cylinders. 

Sam and Charlie are joined by Australian actor and Voice over artist Alex Williams for this week's show. Alex has starred in numerous Australian film and TV roles such as: Julian Assange in "Underground: The Julian Assange Story", Kirk Pengilly in "Never Tear Us Apart" and as John 'Slug' Harvey in "Brock".

Alex talks about a 2015 Japanese live-action adaptation of one of the biggest anime in the world right now. Charlotte laments a particularly poor Netflix adaptation of an old favorite, while Sam breaks down a more current Netflix anime remake, with mixed results.

Sam, Charlie and Graeme get back together to talk about western animated shows that are similar to anime.

Graeme talks about one of his all time favorites. Charlie breaks down a Netflix Japanese video game adaptation and Sam extols the virtues of another Netflix video game adaptation, while railing against his favorite game's lack of comparable content. 

Sam and Charlie are joined by first time guest Luis as they talk through Samurai/Ninja Anime.

Though the influence of both these cultural cornerstones are felt throughout so much anime and manga, the gang are surprised to find that there aren't as many shows based in the strict historical sense of the genre as one may think.

Sam gives a brief history of Samurai and Ninja, and the differences between the two, before the gang discuss three different shows: Luis takes on a classic that isn't entirely his cup of tea, Charlie talks about one of her all time favorites and Sam tackles one of the first break-through anime movies from the 90's into the west.

Sam and Charlotte welcome Gerald back to the show to talk about Dark Fantasy anime. This genre is usually pretty heavily entrenched in Isekai but we manage to sidestep those to talk about two classics of the genre and a.... less classic.

Sam actually gives one of his favorite ever shows to Gerald to break down (unheard of), while he speaks about another dark fantasy anime favorite. Meanwhile Charlotte lays into a show she has hated since 2014. 

The gang get together to talk about all things Death Match/Battle Royale anime.

After the phenomenal success of Squid Game all over the world we figured we should provide some recommendations that are similar in the anime world.

We dive into the history of the genre and talk through some older influences like: Lord of the Flies, The Cube and a Japanese novel/manga/movie that basically started this whole craze entitled.... Battle Royale.

It's crossovers all round!

Sam and Charlie reveal their lack of Star Wars knowledge as they speak to Tom Pigott, from the Pixels and Pints Podcast, about the crossover Star Wars/Anime anthology series on Disney+. 

Thankfully Graeme saves the Gateway crew some credibility as he reveals his Star Wars knowledge.

Did someone say Vampire Eurovision? Apparently they did.

Sam, Charlie and Graeme are finally reunited back in the studio as they talk through the good, the bad and the downright outrageous of the Fall 2021 season of anime.

Sam, Charlotte and Graeme explore the phenomenon that is Mecha anime. Sam, once again, gets his research on, Graeme goes back to the future to explore the Gundam franchise, Charlotte gets to talk about one of her all time favorite shows (plus outs herself as an unashamed Tom Cruise fan) and Sam has fun with Gurren lagann.

Sam and Charlotte talk through the shows of the 2021 anime summer season. Charlotte is a little down on the season but finally accepts her steampunk origins and new found favorite 'villainess' genre. Sam is buoyed by an anime original which could be something special.... Or it could fall apart. Time will tell.