This week, Nigel and Tazziii set sail into One Piece Season 2 (from 26:11), joined by our crew of guests Dom Shaw, Lao K and Louise Karunwi.

It’s a wide‑ranging discussion with some views you might not expect, as we get into how faithful the live‑action adaptation feels, what changes land (and which ones don’t), and whether a story this big can ever truly make the leap to live action. We also dig into the places we visit, the colourful costume work, and the themes Season 2 brings to life, pulling out what’s working and what still feels like it’s finding its sea legs.

Other stories we're enjoying include: Go For It, Nakamura! (Crunchyroll), The Ramparts of Ice (Crunchyroll), You and I Are Polar Opposites (Crunchyroll), Abbott Elementary (Disney+), Hogwarts Legacy (PlayStation), Invincible (Prime Video), Black Mirror (Netflix), Tales of Arise (Xbox), Bad Sisters (Apple TV+), Prime Target (Apple TV+), Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage (Prime Video), Little Kitty, Big City (Xbox), The Legend of Vox Machina (Prime Video), Daemons of the Shadow Realm (Crunchyroll)

Connect with Dom online:

• Website: https://www.gamesaid.org
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sussex-games

Connect with Lao online:

• Website: https://laokservices.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laokarun

Connect with Louise online:

• Website: https://www.youtube.com/@NoMoreDrafts

Connect with mayamada

mayamada is a manga brand and mission-driven creative agency all about equipping young and aspiring creatives to thrive on the creative journey - whether they're discovering what's possible, developing new skills, or sharing expertise with the next generation.

• Website: https://mayamada.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mayamadatv
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mayamadatv
• Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/mayamada.com
• YouTube: https://youtube.com/mayamadatv
• Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/mayamada

Join our Studio77 community on Discord to connect with other creatives and be part of the journey https://discord.gg/b5fmnuT

This week, Nigel and Tazziii sit down with Mereida Fajardo, a Bristol-based comic and zine-maker, illustrator, and arts facilitator, to explore her journey and deep relationship with the physical medium of comics. Mereida shares how The Dark Knight first got her into comics, and the critical education decision that saw her follow her passion rather than what was expected of her by others.

We also dig into her work as an event organiser and what she is building in Bristol for comic and zine makers through Zinezilla.

Connect with Mereida online:

• Website: https://www.mereida.co.uk
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/m.ereida
• Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/mereida.bsky.social

Connect with mayamada

mayamada is a manga brand and mission-driven creative agency all about equipping young and aspiring creatives to thrive on the creative journey - whether they're discovering what's possible, developing new skills, or sharing expertise with the next generation.

• Website: https://mayamada.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mayamadatv
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mayamadatv
• Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/mayamada.com
• YouTube: https://youtube.com/mayamadatv
• Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/mayamada

Join our Studio77 community on Discord to connect with other creatives and be part of the journey https://discord.gg/b5fmnuT

This week, Nigel and Tazziii dive deep into The Super Mario Galaxy Movie (starting at 25:29) with script editor Sashi Gopalakrishnan and Games Aid chair and member of Games London's Ensemble Sara Veal.

We talk about the franchise’s incredible success in film form, even as the sequel’s narrative can feel loose and under-structured, and what that trade-off means for its different audiences. From a storytelling and fan perspective, we get into what works in the execution, what feels thin, and the value of stories supposedly “for kids” in a TikTok generation.

This week’s storytelling tip is about developing an earned redemption arc.

Other stories we're enjoying include: Frieren: Beyond Journey's End (Netflix), Fullmetal Alchemist (Crunchyroll), Belonging: Remembering Ourselves Home (Book), Paradise (Disney+), Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice (Disney+), The Yakuza's Guide to Babysitting (Crunchyroll), Buddy Daddies (Crunchyroll), I Got a Cheat Skill in Another World and Be (Crunchyroll), Castle in the Air & House of Many Ways (Book), Malcolm in the Middle: Life's Still Unfair (Disney+), Down Cemetery Road (Apple TV), Wonder Man (Disney+), Margot Got Money Troubles (Apple TV), Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man (Netflix), Saga (Comic).

Connect with Sashi online:

- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sashi_sketches

Connect with Sara online:

• Website: https://www.huhbub.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/digitalbruhaha
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/digitalbruhaha

Connect with mayamada:

mayamada is a manga brand and mission-driven creative agency all about equipping young and aspiring creatives to thrive on the creative journey - whether they're discovering what's possible, developing new skills, or sharing expertise with the next generation.

• Website: https://mayamada.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mayamadatv
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mayamadatv
• Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/mayamada.com
• YouTube: https://youtube.com/mayamadatv
• Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/mayamada

Join our Studio77 community on Discord to connect with other creatives and be part of the journey https://discord.gg/b5fmnuT

This week, Nigel and Tazziii are joined by CEO of Kunta Content, Dean Gichukie, for a conversation about video games as a way to explore culture. We get to dig into the legacy of games that take players into worlds inspired by diffeent places, histories, and mythologies beyond our own, and what it looks like when studios get cultural exploration right…as well as the pitfalls that come up when they get it wrong!

We also talk about making games in Africa through Kunta Content’s work on HIRU, the online controversies and backlash cycles that can come with efforts to make games more culturally diverse, and what we want to see from the industry in the future as cultural storytelling in games continues to evolve from early days of Street Fighter to today’s more expansive cultural swings.

Connect with Kunta Content online:

• Website: https://kuntacontent.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/kunta_content

Connect with mayamada:

mayamada is a manga brand and mission-driven creative agency all about equipping young and aspiring creatives to thrive on the creative journey - whether they're discovering what's possible, developing new skills, or sharing expertise with the next generation.

• Website: https://mayamada.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mayamadatv
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mayamadatv
• Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/mayamada.com
• YouTube: https://youtube.com/mayamadatv
• Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/mayamada

Join our Studio77 community on Discord to connect with other creatives and be part of the journey: https://discord.gg/b5fmnuT

In this Rewind episode, we're sharing the audio from a Story Club livestream where Nigel and Tazziii break down a great story with guests live.

This episode sees us revisit the 2025 anime The Last Blossom with guests Lara Callaghan and Rayna Denison, exploring a film that moves with a thoughtful pace and flow.

Even though the narrative is set in the world of the Yakuza, this story is less about crime and more about love and reflection. The conversation unpacks the film as a character study and considers the impact of an elderly yakuza's actions on the people around him.

There are some heavy themes and emotional depth, and we dig into the ways the story balances vulnerability, redemption and masculinity.

Tune in to the mayamada Twitch channel each month for more Studio77 content with our hosts and the mayamada community, including Studio77 Report, Casual Conversations With Comic Creators and Games Night.

Connect with Lara online:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/callag_documentality
• Twitter:

Connect with Rayna online:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rayna.denison
• Story x Story Rewind: The Colors Within - https://open.spotify.com/episode/7aBtL2ho8VBot3GP6n5p4B?si=vL8faSf7Qz-AVuO1AGyV9w

Connect with mayamada:

mayamada is a manga brand and mission-driven creative agency all about equipping young and aspiring creatives to thrive on the creative journey - whether they're discovering what's possible, developing new skills, or sharing expertise with the next generation.

• Website: https://mayamada.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mayamadatv
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mayamadatv
• Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/mayamada.com
• YouTube: https://youtube.com/mayamadatv
• Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/mayamada

Join our Studio77 community on Discord to connect with other creatives and be part of the journey: https://discord.gg/b5fmnuT

This week, Nigel and Tazziii dive deep into GOAT (starting at 29:28), with animator and illustrator Fahim Motahar.

GOAT is a sports animation that feels nearly there with strong individual elements, but they do not always click together into a fully satisfying whole. We get into where the narrative works and doesn’t beyond its impressive look and all star cast.

We also examine the sport itself and how authentic the animation feels to the rhythms of play, then unpack the narrative journey with questions around both the protagonist and antagonist, where the themes land (or fall short), and what it really means to make stories for younger audiences. This week's storytelling tip is about clear skill progression for your protagonist.

Other stories we're enjoying include: Outer Wilds (Xbox), The Anarchy (book), Loot (Apple TV), Severence (Apple TV), Arcana Academy (book), Dan Da Dan (Netflix), Jack of All Trades (Crunchyroll), Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man (Netflix), Project Hail Mary (Cinema), Louis Theroux: Inside The Manosphere (Netflix).

Connect with Fahim online:

• Website: https://fahimation-art.webflow.io
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fahimation_art
• Story x Story #216: Behind The Story With Fahim Motahar (Animation) - https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/mayamada/episodes/Story-x-Story-216-Behind-The-Story-With-Fahim-Motahar-Animation-e33s334

Connect with mayamada:

mayamada is a manga brand and mission-driven creative agency all about equipping young and aspiring creatives to thrive on the creative journey - whether they're discovering what's possible, developing new skills, or sharing expertise with the next generation.

• Website: https://mayamada.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mayamadatv
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mayamadatv
• Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/mayamada.com
• YouTube: https://youtube.com/mayamadatv
• Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/mayamada

Join our Studio77 community on Discord to connect with other creatives and be part of the journey: https://discord.gg/b5fmnuT

This week, Nigel and Tazziii sit down with Alizée Musson to explore her internationally winding path to a career in animation, and the making of her first published book, The Art of Writing Animation: Storytelling Craft for Writers & Animators.

We dig into why she took on the challenge of publishing a book , the amazing range of animation talent she spoke to for it, and what she learned along the way. Alizée shares so much from hr journey and gets to the heart of why sharing your voice matters when telling a story.

This conversations is a must-listen for anyone interested in writing for animation and the craft of storytelling in any form.

Connect with Alizée online:

• Website: https://www.alizeemusson.com
• Buy The Art of Writing Animation: Storytelling Craft for Writers & Animators: https://www.kamerabooks.co.uk/bookpage.php?isbn=9780857306173
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alizeemusson
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alizee_musson

Connect with mayamada:

mayamada is a manga brand and mission-driven creative agency all about equipping young and aspiring creatives to thrive on the creative journey - whether they're discovering what's possible, developing new skills, or sharing expertise with the next generation.

• Website: https://mayamada.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mayamadatv
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mayamadatv
• Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/mayamada.com
• YouTube: https://youtube.com/mayamadatv
• Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/mayamada

Join our Studio77 community on Discord to connect with other creatives and be part of the journey: https://discord.gg/b5fmnuT

This week, Nigel and Tazziii do a retrospective of Fallout Season 2 (from 14:35) with Content Creator Jack Mullen. After an excellent first season, we explore what makes the series so consistently high quality, from its world-building to its craft, and how season 2 adds depth to its protagonists as their motivations and arcs become more complicated and intriguing to follow.

We also unpack the balance the season strikes between tying up key narrative threads and leaving just enough unresolved to set up what we now expect to come next, and talk about how well the show carries over the games’ core themes into this TV adaptation…and which character we would be in the wasteland!

Other stories we're enjoying include: Resident Evil Requiem (PS5), Final Fantasy (Various), Arcana Academy (Book), Dan Da Dan (Netflix), Family Plan (Apple TV+), Extraordinary (Disney+), Better Call Saul (Netflix), Frieren: Beyond Journey's End (Netflix), Gardens of the Moon (Book), Bob's Burger (Disney+), The Simpsons (Disney+)

Connect with Jack online:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jackyboy34
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/jackmullen8

Connect with mayamada:

mayamada is a manga brand and mission-driven creative agency all about equipping young and aspiring creatives to thrive on the creative journey - whether they're discovering what's possible, developing new skills, or sharing expertise with the next generation.

• Website: https://mayamada.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mayamadatv
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mayamadatv
• Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/mayamada.com
• YouTube: https://youtube.com/mayamadatv
• Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/mayamada

Join our Studio77 community on Discord to connect with other creatives and be part of the journey: https://discord.gg/b5fmnuT

This week, Nigel and Tazziii sit down with Raquel Turner, Corporate Strategy Manager at Talkmind, to discuss her journey into mental health work and her passion for creating accessible mental health resources for people across pop culture.

We get to explore her experiences creating the Talkmind zine, its reception at MCM Comic Con, and how she balances her professional work with her own mental health journey. And we also get to talk some anime and manga, revealing the deeper layers in stories that only come with repeat viewings!

Connect with Raquel Turner online:

• Website: https://www.talkmind.com
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/raquel-turner-508831162

Connect with mayamada

mayamada is a manga brand and mission-driven creative agency all about equipping young and aspiring creatives to thrive on the creative journey - whether they're discovering what's possible, developing new skills, or sharing expertise with the next generation.

• Website: https://mayamada.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mayamadatv
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mayamadatv
• Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/mayamada.com
• YouTube: https://youtube.com/mayamadatv
• Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/mayamada

Join our Studio77 community on Discord to connect with other creatives and be part of the journey https://discord.gg/b5fmnuT

This week, Nigel and Tazziii dive deep into Zootopia 2 (starting at 24:05), with writer and producer behind the Write for Animation channel, Pietro Schito.

Disney's sequel to the wildly popular 2016 film returns with Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde facing new challenges. We focused on how the film develops the relationship between the two lead characters, and how much change we expect from a sequel. There are a ton of new characters to explore, as well as visually impressive environments and themes that continue to be relevant in society today.

We consider whether the sequel manages to build on the original's foundation, and debate whether the third act's revelations work to bring the narrative to a satisfying end.

Other stories we're enjoying include: Indiana Jones and the Great Circle (Xbox), Bugonia (Cinema), "Jack-of-All-Trades, Party of None" (Crunchyroll), The Daily Life of the Immortal King (Crunchyroll), Slow Horses (Apple TV+), Arcana Academy (Book), Vinland Saga (Netflix) and God of War Ragnarok: Valhalla (PS5), Better Call Saul (Netflix), The Legend of Vox Machina (Prime Video), Frieren: Beyond Journey's End (Netflix)

Connect with Pietro Schito online:

• Website: https://www.writeforanimation.com
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WriteforAnimation
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/writeforanimation