On this week’s episode, we circle back to our Golden Age of Fantasy series as we finally tackle Witch Hat Atelier! We revisit our original question: Was fantasy better then, or is it better now? Does Witch Hat Atelier live up to all the hype, and what does it tell us about the state of fantasy anime today? We dive into the story, characters, worldbuilding, magic system, and compare it to modern fantasy series of today.

Our journey through Revolutionary Girl Utena concludes as we dive into the Black Rose finale and the Apocalypse Saga. We explore Akio's manipulation, Anthy's hidden role, the series' unforgettable ending, and the symbolism that cements Utena as one of anime's greatest works.

This week, we're revisiting the first 20 episodes of Revolutionary Girl Utena, exploring the Duelists, the Rose Bride, the Black Rose Saga, and the symbolism that transforms a seemingly simple fairy tale into one of anime's most layered psychological dramas.

GKids decided it was the perfect time to bring The Adolescence of Utena back to U.S. theaters, and there was no way we were passing up such a random opportunity. This week, we revisit the film, unpack its relationship to the original TV series, explore its symbolism and LGBTQ+ significance, and ask the big question: nearly three decades later, does The Adolescence of Utena still hold up?

Gigguk proved that anime dreams can become reality with Baan, so naturally we asked ourselves: what anime would we make? This week, the Otaku Hostclub pitches original anime concepts, builds worlds from the ground up, and competes for the most compelling series. No budgets. No limits. Just pure otaku imagination.

How many of us dream of creating our own anime? With enough passion, resources, and dedication, Garnt Maneetapho turned that dream into reality with the 2025 announcement of Baan at Anime Expo. So, just when we thought we were done talking about anime shorts, we decided to discuss Gigguk’s magnum opus, Baan.

From knights to goblins, today we explore what propelled the fantasy genre from its late-80s boom into modern anime like Frieren. We dive into how fantasy anime has evolved — from epic quests and high fantasy worlds to more mature, reflective storytelling. With so many high-quality fantasy series arriving in recent years, we ask the big question: are we living through a second renaissance of fantasy anime?

We conclude our STUDIO4℃ spotlight with a deep dive into Tekkonkinkreet. Even though Geoff and Amelia are both sick, nothing was stopping us from finishing this series strong. Join us as we celebrate the film’s 20th anniversary and explore why this bold, emotional classic still hits just as hard today.

Six years of watching anime, arguing about rankings, and building our taste — now it’s time to put it all on the board. We celebrate our anniversary with our 6x6 anime list, using only shows that aired since 2020!

Figure skating anime is having a moment. With the Winter Olympics and stars like Alysa Liu back in the spotlight, shows like Medalist and Yuri!!! on Ice prove that skating stories are more popular than ever. Join us as we talk about the sport’s peak popularity, the rise of skating anime, and whether Yuri!!! on Ice is still the GOAT. ⛸️