Some listeners may be perturbed to learn that much of the discussion on this program about the trends and traditions of anime in our country is built on a foundation of assumptions. Mind you, this is not the same thing as a foundation of lies, because these assumptions are based on the qualified observations and deductions of sensible people, but some out there will not accept anything less than a quantified take. Well, that's what I'm delivering this episode, and I've invited Miles Atherton of Quest for the Best and White Box Entertainment to give us a look at the real numbers underlying audience trends, which shows have been truly impactful and which province has the trashiest taste in anime.

You may assume that the most popular anime to air in Quebec in the 1980s was Captain Harlock or Candy Candy, but that's probably because those are shows you'd find interesting on the surface. If you want to look at what was actually popular with French-Canadian children, you should shift your attention to a surprisingly violent talking beaver cartoon that was actually a repurposed advertisement for a Japanese amusement park put out by the same studio that made Chargeman Ken. Le Petit Castor (known as Don Chuck Monogatari in Japan) was a Quebec dub made for a Quebec audience, and is fondly remembered despite having no English translation in existence. Patricia and Dez join me for this discussion!

It's time for Zannen, Canada to fulfill its mandated 30% yaoi quota by diving into Heated Rivalry. And why SHOULDN'T we talk about the greatest Canadian television show of all time? The fact that we can make numerous connections to anime, such as using innovative budget techniques and its status as an Evangelion-like social phenomenon, is really just a bonus. Ian and Randy are both back to discuss!

Gene Fowler is something of a mythical figure of the Maritime animation scene, having founded two studios (Fatkat Studios and Loogaroo Studios) and keeping up a steady stream of projects despite having a bit of an outsider status in the Canadian animation industry. And hoo-boy does he have some things to say about that industry! Even if you disagree, he'll sure as hell give you something to think about.

Ginban Kaleidoscope is an anime series from 2005. It tells the story of self-absorbed Japanese figure skating champion who becomes possessed by the ghost of Canadian stunt pilot who crashes his plane near one of her qualifying performances in Montreal. The premise is ridiculous, the animation is mediocre at best, and the final episode famously carries an Alan Smithee directing credit. Did we have a good time watching it? Well... we had a good time talking about it, that's for sure. Dawn from The Anime Nostalgia podcast guest stars!

I've finally found the courage to talk about the sometimes tumultuous history of anime fandom in Vancouver, including stores like Anime Jyanai, clubs like VJAS, well-remember cons like Anime Evolution and not-so-well-remembered cons like AKA Con. Hieu Phan joins me for a fun and civil discussion.

K-Pop Demon Hunters, Netflix's most successful movie ever and the seismic cultural force of the summer, was made almost entirely by Canadian creative staff. So why isn't it a Canadian movie? Most of us probably understand that it's because it was made by American producers with American money. However, outside of some media puff pieces about the Canadian creator and co-director Maggie Kang, there isn't a lot of discussion about why we aren't doing anything to move away from being a thankless land of oursourcing. Luckily, Wildbrain animation staffer Kristian Lobb agreed with me that cartoons can be the ultimate "Nation Building project" and the two of us talk about how we could benefit from all of that pop culture soft power if we just only we moved the pieces around a little bit.

There were simply too may conventions going on in August, but we tried our best to keep our bases covered! Chris gives us the lowdown on his last minute trip to Animethon in Edmonton, while Pierre and myself talk about our fun (but very hot!) weekend at Otakuthon in Montreal!

I've likely committed some kind of crime by going an entire decade without devoting an episode to Isao Takahata's 1979 Anne of Green Gables anime series, but here it is at long last. One of the greatest literary adaptations of all time, and maybe one the greatest television shows of all time. Dave Merrill and Patricia Gosselin chat with me about the legacy of Lucy Maude Montgomery's work, the idolatry of Anne Shirley in Japan, the anime's broadcast in French-speaking Canada and why its only English dub was produced in South Africa.

The Zannen, Canada podcast has now been around for 10 years and I'm determined to not make a big deal about it! Sarah/Kittea joins me for the first time in some years to help me work through the headspace that results from dealing with trade wars and challenges to sovereignty day in and day out, and what this means for anime fans! We also chat about Inuyasha: The Final Act which is now available for on-demand streaming in this country for the first time EVER.