Show Notes:

Joseph and Benjamin are joined by a large group of Japanese & Korean exchange students and study abroad students, where they discuss what it's like to live in a foreign country, some of the newbie mistakes they made, and share funny stories that happened to them. In the second half of the episode, they also have a Japan versus Korea debate! "Which country is better if you were going to visit for the first time!?" Five questions, only one winner.

Show Notes:

Joseph and Benjamin are joined by Marc and Yumiko, an American-Japanese couple who have lived in Japan for over 30 years and just so happen to also be the brother's parents as well. Together, they discuss the oft-forgotten masterpiece "Laputa: Castle in the Sky," how Sheeta and Pazu compliment each other perfectly, the massive footprint the movie left behind in Japanese culture and cinema, why Colonel Muska is as famous a villain as Darth Vader, some of Dola's wackiest lines, etc., before diving deeper into philosophical questions of why humans are always seeking a "Laputa," the dual nature of love and hate that resides in everyone, and if there will ever come a time where there is no war.

Show Notes:

Joined by Benhardt Christson, together Joseph and Benjamin talk about the first season of the incredibly popular My Hero Academia!  They talk about how Deku wasn't the best person to receive All Might's powers, similarities between Naruto and MHA, Eraser Head expelling an entire classroom, and so much more!

Show Notes:

Hosts Joseph and Benjamin are joined by their guest Joy, as they talk about Howl's Moving Castle. They argue over whether Howl is an a**hole, if Sophie and Howl has a fair and equal relationship, and if the movie's message was really female empowering or not. Other topics they discuss are how the anime movie was different from the books, the inner beauty of Sophie and outer beauty of Howl, some of the plot holes in the movie (like why Sophie destroys the castle and turns around and asks Calcifer to create it again), and how Calcifer was a great comedic foil (unlike Jar Jar Binks, thank god).

Show Notes:

Joseph and Benjamin talk about Your Name (Kimi no Na wa), the highest grossing anime film of all time in Japan. They discuss the themes of fate, destiny, modernity vs tradition, the movie's influence on Japanese culture, how disaster changed the Japanese people's perception, some of the plot holes, "Musubi," "Katawaredoki," and much more!

Show Notes:

Joseph and Benjamin talk about Ajin, a hidden gem that not many know about but should definitely check out! The two discuss whether Ajins should be considered human or not, why all humans are ass-holes, why Nagai Kei is such an unconventional anime/main character, whether Sato is the best villain of all time, the similarities between the Joker and Sato, if the new 3D animation style is weird, and why the opening theme song is so good.

About:

Ajin: Demi-Human is a Japanese manga written and illustrated by Gamon Sakurai. It was also adapted into a two season anime. The story is about a student Nagai Kei who finds out he is an immortal Ajin when he is hit by a truck. He is wanted by the government because the Ajin are considered dangerous inhuman beings, and while the government claims to help Ajin live in a safe environment, they are actually using them as test subjects of inhumane experimentation. As a result, Ajins that have escaped are hellbent on revenge and are lead by mastermind Sato. As Sato's actions become more extreme, Kei is forced to join the fight to stop Sato.

Show Notes:

Joseph and Benjamin pick up where Season 1 of the anime ended and follow what happens in the manga, while previewing Season 2. They talk about the plot summary (1:17), Is Garou really evil? What about other monsters and villains? (9:29), Will any other hero achieve Saitama's strength and challenge him? (20:53), Who is Blast, the mysterious #1 ranked hero? (29:20), Metal Knight, and Is the sacrifice of the few justifiable for the survival of the many? (33:14), Will there ever come a time when Saitama is recognized for the hero that he truly is? (38:52), Will King be discovered as a fraud?(46:41), Do all villains deserve justice without mercy? (51:39), Will Saitama ever hang up his cape and quit being a hero? (59:16), And some of the funniest scenes with Sonic's cuteness and Saitama's pettiness (1:04:38).

Show Notes:

Joseph and Benjamin are joined by their first guest Dominique Jenkins, and they discuss If ultimate strength is worth going bald for (4:30), Who is second strongest character after Saitama (6:15), Why Crablante was the best villain (12:12), How Sonic is the best tsundere character (16:47), The people's hero Saitama and his sacrifice (17:51), Why Genos is the weakest hero (21:25), If King is really a fraud (26:38), Sonic's tsundere love for Saitama (29:27), Are heroes good or bad for society? (34:57), And whether the anime or the manga is better (41:37). Also included: Deleted scenes (50:13)!

About:

One Punch Man tells the story of Saitama, an extremely overpowered superhero who has grown bored from the absence of challenge in his fight against evil and he seeks to find a worthy opponent. One Punch Man is a wildly popular web comic, manga, and anime created by ONE, illustrated by Yusuke Murata, and animated by Madhouse.

Show Notes:

Is Princess Mononoke overrated? (2:40)

Why San is a better protagonist than Ashitaka. (10:01)

The age old battle of humanity vs nature. (16:15)

The problem with Ashitaka as a character. (24:08)

Interpretations of who won in the end. (32:43)

The complexity of the characters: How San is not the hero and Lady Eboshi is not the antagonist. (38:04)

Cold-blooded Ashitaka dumping his fiancée for San. (43:04)

What has or hasn't aged well in the movie. (48:50) 

Finally, who in the movie would you want to go on a date with? (53:58)

About Princess Mononoke もののけ姫:

Princess Mononoke is an anime movie written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki and animated by Studio Ghibli in 1997.  The story follows the young Emishi prince Ashitaka's involvement in a struggle between the gods of a forest led by San and the humans who consume its resources, led by Lady Eboshi. The film was a critical and commercial blockbuster, becoming the highest-grossing film in Japan of 1997, and also held Japan's box office record for Japanese-made films until 2001's Spirited Away, another Miyazaki film.

Wiki:

Show Notes:

Joseph and Benjamin discuss Fullmetal Alchemist, their favorite characters Edward and Scar (11:45), whether Nina or Hugh's daughter was more tragic (18:06), King Bradley's badass-ness and Kimblee as the secret mentor (27:34), the most unforgettable lines (41:19), and finally several themes including science vs religion (47:27).

About Fullmetal Alchemist:

Fullmetal Alchemist was a manga series written and illustrated by Arakawa Hiromu. The story follows two alchemist brothers named Edward and Alphonse Elric, who are searching for the philosopher's stone to restore their bodies after a failed attempt to bring their mother back to life using alchemy. The manga has sold over 70 million volumes worldwide, making it one of the best-selling manga series of all time, and it has also been adapted to two anime series.

Wiki