Back from an extended break (and a trip to Japan) with a shorter-than-usual show for the Thanksgiving week distractions we all could use more often than not, be it from family or football or parade waiting or anything else, and we've got a fine "distraction show" for you all here - some talk about the Chainsaw Man movie and the first Virgin Punk episode, Kodansha establishing a live-action production arm, The Apothecary Diaries coming back next year with a new season and a new movie, and remembering the man responsible for Toei's rebound, along with the usual bits you've all come to expect from this dog-and-pony show.

Have a happy Thanksgiving and we'll see you back in December for... let's call it "at least" one more show before the year is over.

intro - yet another intro

Apple Podcasts – https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/podcastona/id1348141210?mt=2

FAIR WARNING: we're all extensively bitchy on this show, this time, and for very good reason. Feel free to skip to the actual news items from NYCC and elsewhere if you don't want to hear us bitching and yelling about - specifically in this case - Crunchyroll and MAPPA and how they continue to make shortsighted mistakes and decisions within their companies that affect all of us on the outside, but it's recommended to listen to so that there's a clear piece of evidence for our continued and collective frustrations with the industry at large. But after that, there's plenty to get into, like how Crunchyroll... uh... snabbed and swiped Oshi no Ko away from Sentai... may as well add that to the bitching section, honestly, and also some curious anime projects being announced for 2026, the dub cast for Twisted-Wonderland, the incoming return of Dorohedoro at long last, the newest MHA x NBA partnership, and plenty more wild shenanigans afoot all in this show here.

This is also the last show for Andrew for a bit as he will be on his "excursion arc" - aka, a planned vacation trip to Japan for 2 and a half weeks. Wish him and Steph safe travels for their vacation, they've earned it.

intro - setting the tone early

Apple Podcasts – https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/podcastona/id1348141210?mt=2

While the industry front has been pretty slow on things and happenings, the movie and television front has been anything but - it's been preparing for the fall season and beyond, and we've got plenty of excitement for the goods to come, as well as a bit of a theory that the "hot" seasons are shifting to winter and summer as opposed to the fall. We've got talk about all of that to come, as well as a brief rundown of the Aniplex Online Fest stream, all after a rather brief talk about the good and bad of the biggest movie in the country right now, Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle - short version, it's a good movie that can't seem to get in its own way with its production. Tune in for the full talk and a whole bunch more.

intro - take a picture

Apple Podcasts – https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/podcastona/id1348141210?mt=2

Right back at it again with another convention roundup show, the happenings and goings-on at Anime NYC brought about some pleasant treats, some fun in-person experiences, and even some good surprises - as per usual, of course. Convention season is starting to wind down for us, too, so after this and New York Comic-Con we'll be focused on our usual bits of shenaniganry to come - mainly on the movie front with Demon Slayer, Chainsaw Man, Angel's Egg, and Scarlet... you know, eventually. Movie Night comeback? Maybe. And to go along with all of that, we also take a gander at SANDA coming to Prime Video, we lay out the deal with SEKIRO, we wonder at the Naoki Urasawa manga BILLY BAT coming stateside and preparing ourselves for that wonderful world of madness, and we also ask ourselves one important question: what would a 1970s National Geographic special be like if it were an omegaverse manga? The answer will... probably not shock you.

intro - the dichotomy of animation on Amazon

Apple Podcasts – https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/podcastona/id1348141210?mt=2

Fashionably late and with Starbucks in hand, because that's just the run of things around here, another three-hour tour of anime nonsense is at hand, bringing both good surprises and shenanigans as far as the eye can see, from the picturesque sights and sounds of AnimEigo and Discotek at this year's Otakon to the madness of the "new" dub for Tai Chi Chasers (a show that, at most, five people will remember), along with plenty of good tidings from San Diego Comic-Con and a slate of upcoming movies to ponder over and question whether or not we want to be around people for some of these films. It'll make sense in context, don't worry.

PRODUCER'S NOTE: apologies, once again, for the continued tardiness of these shows, this one in particular. Between getting sick, dealing with scheduling issues, and life as a whole being pretty rough as of late, this one had no other choice but to come out as late as can be.

intro - Fist of the North Star make-up segment

Apple Podcasts – https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/podcastona/id1348141210?mt=2

Just sit right back and you'll hear a tale, a tale of a fateful trip - that started from this tropic port aboard this tiny ship. Xander was a mighty sailin' man, and Andrew brave and sure. Jet and Joe set sail that day for a three hour tour, a three hour tour.

Anime Expo happened and that means our adventure to all that happened in Los Angeles that weekend, of which there was plenty of good and even a bit of smoke going off early - don't worry, everyone's fine, it's just one of those mechanical issues that tend to come up. And from this year's AX, we'll be talking about plenty of interesting manga license pickups, some cool new show announcements aside from the BIG news of Cyberpunk Edgerunners 2 which... WILD, and Gigguk is doing a thing too. Cool. But there was other cool things that happened before and after AX that deserve to be talked about, like the new dub initiative for Detective Conan, a really fun world record tying into one character's speech going LUDICROUS SPEED, the return of Rie Matsumoto in the director's chair, a surprise theatrical run for... Tokyo Ghoul... okay... and one more trip to France with a few cool things happening at Japan Expo - and yes, this show IS a three hour tour, once again. Enjoy the fun shenanigans all around.

PRODUCER'S NOTE: This show was a PAIN to put together, from sync issues to trying to cut out a lot of background noise to trying to make this show not be longer than 3 hours, but the biggest issue happened late in the show where Jet's microphone got disconnected while we were talking about the new Fist of the North Star series being announced. The entire segment had to be cut, we'll make up for it next time.

intro - the NEW Panty & Stocking dub situation is crazy

Apple Podcasts – https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/podcastona/id1348141210?mt=2

Yes, yes, another late upload, but that's because it's been A WEEK - as most people know. So do enjoy this glorious distraction from the real world as it continues to get more and more enflamed, as we've got good from the Annecy Festival to get to (GKIDS picking things up, Steven Universe returning, and somehow MORE Ninja Kamui coming soon) plus some pre-Anime Expo announcements for CITY (and another show) heading to Prime Video, Gachiakuta getting a same-day dub and a... postshow podcast... coooooool... also Netflix making some interesting moves, Sunrise announcing a new Samurai Troopers series, Shingo Natsume's new project, and plenty of big home video releases coming out in September for you premium box collectors - Frieren, Eizouken, even The Eminence in Shadow. Like we used to got regularly back in the day.

See you back here for Anime Expo. Stay safe out there.

intro - Rent-a-Girlfriend still sucks (THAT chapter)

Apple Podcasts – https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/podcastona/id1348141210?mt=2

The look on Frieren's face says it all. Another year, another terrible attempt at an "awards show" that's riddled with more corporate schmoozing than your annual Christmas party, and it comes with a whole slate of "awards" that we just can't resist riffing on and yelling at Crunchyroll over - especially since this year's event felt a bit off, even compared to recent years. See you back here next year? Maybe? Anyway, there are good things to talk about here, like REMOW releasing shows both old and new (if you can find them), a small dose of manga and light novel announcements with one (or two) very big titles coming stateside, GKIDS (and Toho) delivering the second shot via the Jujutsu Kaisen season 2 compilation film, the Madhouse shoujo crew cooking something fierce for next year, a bit of a leak for an upcoming dub (hint: it's Yaiba), and the JOEN consortium making a pretty interesting move for some upcoming projects.

Also, apologies once again for the tardiness - a mini-break happened between recording and release that involved seeing Metallica in the city with 75,000 other people.

intro - don’t bet on “Bet” (because it sucks)

Apple Podcasts – https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/podcastona/id1348141210?mt=2

WARNING: This show has a running theme of discussions of oral sex all throughout. Because we're stupid. Don't listen if you're not old enough to buy an explicit album.

Hi, everyone - we're back after what ended up being a VERY long April of... nonsense, to put it in a word. A break was needed and a break was had, and now we're back to our grind of anime... well, nonsense, again. But to come back after some time away, we have to take our time with the inundation of information on display, so this will be a bit of everything: the best and worst of the winter season (a month late), the announcement of STEEL BALL RUN being real, the Tenchi Muyo comic Kickstarter reaching its goal in barely any time at all, some free offerings on Pluto TV, the new Mamoru Hosoda movie getting BIG plans for its theatrical rollout, Toonami getting THINGS this coming weekend, and a good bit of home video releases coming out in the summer - including one very highly demanded release in the form of CHAINSAW MAN, AT LONG LAST, from... VIZ??? Because sure, why not?

Also, yes, we're going to yell about the Crunchyroll Anime Awards nominations. Because it's easy pickings.

intro - real-world kvetching and Sinners gushing

Tenchi Muyo Kickstarter - https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/armigerentertainment/tenchi-muyo-original-omnibus-edition

Apple Podcasts – https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/podcastona/id1348141210?mt=2

AnimeJapan has come and gone... a while ago, with how late this show is, but with it comes a lot of big announcements of a VERY big summer season coming up, and we're going to lay out the details for what's poised to be a rom-com-heavy July along with the usual updates and menageries that the strange and bizarre anime industry has on offer, like a weird pseudo-incestuous corporate offspring, HiDive losing and gaining some shows this month, Netflix viewer data, a new paid 'adult' platform, and most importantly of all: GAY ANGEL TWINKS.

Thanks for your patience with this show. We'll be back in May.

intro - The Day The Earth Blew Up deserves the world

7:57 - Crunchyroll and Aniplex form production venture Hayate Inc.

Apple Podcasts – https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/podcastona/id1348141210?mt=2