Gateway to Anime

We are now over half way through the 2025 spring anime season and the gateway team have some FEELINGS.  Disappointments, pleasant surprises and some brand new trends emerging - the gateway team go deep on their thoughts of the Spring season.   What's been your favourite show this season?

With the rise of AI and so much of our lives online, our relationship with technology is ever changing. But anime has been exploring these ideas for decades. As machines and technology shaped our world, anime reflected it back. Whether its giant mecha wars in space or philosophical questions about our identity in the digital age, anime has given us an incredible legacy of stories about technology, robots and mecha. Thanks to everyone who joined us for this very special live recording and special thanks to the team at ACMI for making it happen! Learn more at acmi.net.au

Monster isn't at the top of any anime lists. Whether this is due to its unconventional storytelling or darker cerebral tone , it's these very same elements that set Monster apart from more popular anime as a rare masterpiece that doesn't get enough attention. A mature crime thriller from one of the best mangaka's of all time (Naoki Urasawa), Monster offers great storytelling in a grounded setting. This makes it a different kind of gateway anime, appealing to fans of true crime and thriller stories who may otherwise never give anime a shot. Despite being renowned as a masterpiece, Monster is often overlooked by anime fans. Returning guest Gerald Lillywhite is one of them, who joins the discussion fresh after finishing the series to offer his perspective as a writer.

Put your lab coat on and join us for some experimenting with spooky science in anime... which is seemingly always awful?

We're back with our Spring anime season hype-up. Sam is as excited as he's been for an upcoming anime in a long while with Watanabe's Lazarus  as well as Moonrise with character designs from Hiromu Arakawa! Charlie is is keen on a whole a whole bunch of new shows and Graeme gets his Gundam fix. 

With the winter season drawing to a close, Sam, Charlie and Graeme reflect on what has been a.....rather disappointing season! Looking for more? Enjoy what we're doing? Support us on Patreon for exclusive content and early releases! https://www.patreon.com/gatewaytoanime Buy a Gateway to Anime shirt and support our channel! https://merch.gatewaytoanime.com/ Follow us! TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@gateway_to_anime Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gatewaytoanime/ website: https://www.gatewaytoanime.com/

It's time to climb into your giant robot and battle us about what the hell a Newtype actually is. That's right, we're talking about Gundam! We've enlisted the help of Gundam experts Thom and Nina from the great Gundam Podcast:  Mobile Suit Breakdown. We discuss the deep history and enduring appeal of the Gundam franchise, just as an exciting new Gundam anime is about to release!! The creator of Neon Genesis Evangelion, Hideaki Anno, has co-written the brand new Gundam series: "Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX", which has injected fresh excitement for the long running Gundam franchise. On the eve of its release, we dive deep into how Gundam changed anime and the mecha genre forever and how you can get into it yourself! We also discuss the Gunpla model kit phenomenon and how the toy industry helped to establish the mecha genre as a defining part of anime.

With Valentine's Day right around the corner we thought it would be fun to talk through some anime couples. Some good, some bad, some ridiculous and some just plain toxic. The gang go through all different kinds of anime couples and at the end of the episode play a matching game with random anime character's names picked out of a hat, then discussing how symbiotic they'd be as a potential couple. Would Faye Valentine and Vegeta work as a couple? Tune in to find out! Support us on Patreon for exclusive extra content, behind the scenes and early releases! https://www.patreon.com/gatewaytoanime Follow us! website: https://www.gatewaytoanime.com/ instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gatewaytoanime/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@gateway_to_anime

Special guest Dr Alex Henderson returns to the podcast to discuss anime that focuses on hobbies. Anime covers a LOT of hobbies, from camping to cooking to sewing to painting, there is even one for casual motorbike enthusiasts. Does your hobby have an anime companion? Let's get wholesome (mostly) and cosy while we dig into this surprisingly diverse genre. Support us on Patreon for exclusive extra content, behind the scenes and early releases! https://www.patreon.com/gatewaytoanime Follow us! website: https://www.gatewaytoanime.com/ instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gatewaytoanime/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@gateway_to_anime

Alex Williams is back to tear apart our own recommendations! Firstly we go through a list of popular anime that was a disappointment, then we bring it back with some great anime recommendations for anime newbies. There's also a bonus anime quiz at the end!   Support us on Patreon for exclusive extra content, behind the scenes and early releases! https://www.patreon.com/gatewaytoanime   Follow us! website: https://www.gatewaytoanime.com/ instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gatewaytoanime/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@gateway_to_anime

Sam, Charlie and Graeme get together one last time in 2024 to preview the upcoming 2025 winter anime season.    Thanks for an amazing year and we can't wait to join you all again in 2025 for all the best new anime recommendations as well as our deep dives into the classics.   Follow us! website: https://www.gatewaytoanime.com/ instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gatewaytoanime/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@gateway_to_anime

The Gateway to Anime Awards are back! This is the best anime of 2024 voted by you! We put up polls on our Instagram and YouTube for each category. We counted up all of the votes for each poll to find one overall winner for each category! Now the results are in! We don't know what these results are and will be finding them out live on camera. It's time to find out what you voted to be the best anime of 2024!

The gang get together to talk about how incredible the Dandadan adaptation from Science Saru is. Sam goes through the history of Science Saru which covers the incredible career of Masaaki Yuasa (Devilman Crybaby, Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken, Ping Pong The Animation & more). Everyone then goes through the unique nature of the source material and the incredible creativity being employed by the animation studio in bringing this story to life.   Follow us! website: https://www.gatewaytoanime.com/ instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gatewaytoanime/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@gateway_to_anime

Why is nobody talking about Bleach? Since it's return with Thousand Year Blood War, Bleach has been one of the best anime series currently airing. Time for us to give it some well deserved attention! This episode we're joined by Luke from another Australian anime podcast called Sleepy Bloc.

There is a lot of great new anime airing right now! We talk through our favourites of the current season, Fall 2024. While Dandadan steals the spotlight, we've found a mature favourite in Orb: On the Movements of the Earth, while Ranma ½ delivers one of the best remakes we've seen in a long time. The much anticipated Uzumaki and Blue Lock series have both seen some disappointing quality drops in their seconds episodes too. What have you been watching this season?

Why does Boruto exist? We're still not sure. But Alex Williams has joined us to try and convince these old Naruto fans that Boruto is worth our time. Graeme has read the manga, which is somehow even more surprising. So come with us as we learn what Boruto is all about! This weeks episode is brought to you by Mercari. Find unique items directly from Japan at: https://www.mercari.com/  

This week the gang get together to talk about our favorite (and least favorite) anime protagonists. What makes a compelling one and what makes a poor one. Sam goes through shonen protagonists and analyses their tropes and similarities, Charlie explains what makes shojo protagonists so interesting and Graeme loves Kagayama from Mob Psycho. This weeks episode is brought to you by Mercari. Find unique items directly from Japan at:  https://www.mercari.com/ Follow us! website: https://www.gatewaytoanime.com/ instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gatewaytoanime/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@gateway_to_anime

The gang get together to round-up the ultimately disappointing summer anime season and hype up the upcoming fall season. With some huge heavy hitters returning in: Re:Zero, Bleach and Blue Lock, along with some incredibly exciting new shows like Dandadan and Uzumaki this season is looking very promising! This weeks episode is brought to you by Mercari. Find unique items directly from Japan at:  https://www.mercari.com/ Follow us! website: https://www.gatewaytoanime.com/ instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gatewaytoanime/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@gateway_to_anime

On todays episode Sam and Charlie are joined by very special guest Andrew Levins to dive into the fascinating history and legacy of iconic mangaka Osamu Tezuka. Known as the "godfather of manga" Tezuka is the creator for some of the most famous and recognisable characters of all time including Astro Boy. As an avid manga reader, Levins also kicks off a debate that all three feel passionate about: is Manga better than Anime? This weeks episode is brought to you by Mercari. Head on over to https://www.mercari.com/ to find unique items direct from Japan.

This episode is brought to you by Mercari.  This week the gang get together to discuss all things anime villains.  From the misunderstood to the downright evil and dastardly, anime has a veritable smorgasbord of villains to choose from.  Sam, Charlie and Graeme talk through their favorite villains, what makes them interesting and what makes them bland. 

This week the gang discuss one of anime's most iconic tropes - The Tournament (and exam) Arc. Why is this trope so popular? From the Chuunin Exams to the Dark Tournament we cover all of our personal favourites with plenty to debate about. What is your favourite Tournament Arc?

Charlie is out of town so Sam and Gray get together to review the year in anime to date, as well as look ahead at what is coming up. The guys talk through their time at Australia's biggest anime convention, Smash! They then look at some of the biggest developments in the anime industry (including the JJK controversy), the new cannon movie trend, as well as talk through their favorite shows, biggest disappointments, most underrated shows, and best episode of the year so far.

This week Charlie and Sam are once again joined by returning guest and writer Gerald Lillywhite to talk through his favorite film maker, Hayao Miyazaki. The gang deep dive into the unique way Miyazaki tells stories, as well as their favorite Ghibli films and what makes them so special.

Sam and Charlie are back to bring you their top recommendations of the 2024 anime summer season.  Sam is excited for a DC comic book cross over, as well as what sounds like a Harry Potter/Mashle type of hybrid. Charlie is psyched for the second seasons of Tower of God and Oshi No Ko as well as her usual unhinged vampire recommendations.   Tune in to hear all of our top picks for the upcoming season.

The Gateway crew are back from our mini hiatus with our mid season check-in for the ongoing 2024 spring anime season.   The big hitters of Kaiju #8, Demon Slayer & Delicious in Dungeon are discussed, but otherwise Sam is getting his dose of anime silliness with Windbreaker. Graeme is enjoying the subversive Go Go Loser Ranger! While Charlie is bringing the unhinged energy with some left of centre picks.   Tune in to find out our thoughts and opinions on the spring 2024 anime season.

This week we are talking about South Korean Manhwa that has been adapted into anime! Charlie and Graeme give their favourite recommendations and discuss the key differences between Manga and Manhwa.

This week we are chatting about our experiences with anime conventions both in Australia and overseas. We are also so excited to be pairing up with SMASH! to announce one of their very special guests for this years convention.

This week we are so excited to invite editor of Anime Feminist Dr Alex Henderson to talk about LGBTQIA+ representation in anime!

It's time for our spring season 2024 hype up and our winter anime round up! We're talking about all the hits and misses of the shows that are currently wrapping up and going through our picks of the new season!

With the roaring success of Godzilla Minus One and the new release of Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, we wanted to take a look at the Kaiju genre and its impact on anime!

This week on Gateway to Anime the team chat about an iconic animated series, Avatar: The Last Airbender and its recent live action adaption. While this show is technically not an anime, it's inspiration and fanbase share a lot of similarities and the original has been many an anime fans gateway show. With Netflix helming so many animated live action adaptations - how did they fare with this one?

This week on Gateway to Anime the team focus on the incredible performers who are responsible for bringing our favourite anime characters to life. Join us as we talk about our favourite voice actors in anime!

It's time for our Winter 2024 Mid Season Check In. We're talking about all the hits and misses of the shows we're currently watching, with some big hitter in Solo Leveling, (the returning) Frieren and Apothecary Diaries, as well as some hidden gems like Seventh Time Loop and The Wrong Way to Use Healing magic.    Follow us! website: https://www.gatewaytoanime.com/ instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gatewaytoanime/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@gateway_to_anime   Looking for more? Enjoy what we're doing? Support us on Patreon for exclusive content and early releases! https://www.patreon.com/gatewaytoanime

Satoshi Kon was a truly legendary film maker who left behind an incredible legacy. His work has influenced some of the biggest names in Hollywood, demonstrating to the world that anime can truly be considered an art form in and of itself. For this long overdue episode, we're joined by Alexei Toliopoulos for his esteemed film critique. Alexei lives and breathes film, producing his own work and hosting a number of successful film related podcasts.

Nothing more satisfying than a well animated food sequence in anime! This week the gateway team are dishing up their favourite foodie anime! From battle style cook offs and other world Izakaya's this genre has got it all. Caution: Eat before listening.

Anime was hard to find for a lot of us growing up. It began in Australia as a very niche interest till companies like Madman and Crunchyroll stepped in to bring anime to the masses, and our guest Sly Ip has been an instrumental part in that long journey.  Follow us! Website: https://www.gatewaytoanime.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gatewaytoanime/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@gateway_to_anime Looking for more? Enjoy what we're doing? Support us on Patreon for exclusive content and early releases! https://www.patreon.com/gatewaytoanime

The best anime of 2023 voted by you! Welcome to the 2023 Gateway to Anime Awards! This year we nominated 4 shows in 8 different categories and asked our Instagram and YouTube followers to vote the winners. Safe to say the results were not what we expected! Yet again our instagram and youtube polls were vastly different. This episode is a celebration of what has been an absolutely incredible year for anime. Did your favourite win?

The Fall 2023 season is one the strongest in recent memory with some absolutely phenomenal shows. The next season certainly has a lot to live up to! Join us as we send off the amazing season that was, and give you the heads up on what to keep an eye on moving into the new winter anime season and new year!

Music brings people together. With anime, this takes on a whole new aspect. Rather than the power systems and fighting styles popularised in shonen anime, these series use music to tell their story. Whether it's a band coming together or a solo artist finding their voice, characters in music anime explore coming of age and finding community in a way that's uniquely relatable to real life.

In this episode of Gateway to Anime we talk about (in our opinion) underrated anime, that have either been somewhat forgotten through the passage of time, or simply not given the credit they deserve amongst the community.  With an arbitrary criteria implemented (from MAL ranking and popularity scores) the gang go through shows they think are underrated and deserve more credit.  You might just find your next favorite hidden gem! 

One of the biggest Gateway Anime shows of all time has ended! We discuss its huge cultural impact and how it helped anime breach further into the mainstream. 

This is one of the most excited anime seasons in a very long time! With the climactic ending of Attack on Titan, the Shibuya Arc of Jujutsu Kaisen and incredible new shows like Pluto, Fireren & Apothecary Diaries, we are feeling very spoiled as anime fans. In this episode we discuss everything that we've been watching and what's happening in the anime community. Let us know what anime you've been enjoying!

This week we're talking about all things anime power systems. Shonen anime is basically synonymous with intricate and sometimes ridiculous power systems that govern their respective world's. We break down some of our favorite power systems from Naruto, One Piece and Hunter x Hunter as well as some of the more ludicrous ones like Jujutsu kaisen and Fire Force.  We also talk through the connection between power systems and martial arts as well as which power system we'd most like to be apart of. 

YouTube Creator Forgotten Relics joins us to talk about the art and animation of the Dragon Ball series, as well as sakuga and the broader trends of animation currently happening in anime. 

This week we chat with friend Kieran Clancy-Lowe about the ultimate gateway anime; Dragon Ball Z. Kieran is a massive fan of the Dragon Ball series and goes deep on the history, storytelling, impact and overall brilliance of the absolute game changing phenomenon that is the Dragon Ball universe. Kieran re-watched all 291(ish) Dragon Ball Z episodes in preparation  for this podcast, so he really brings the thunder as Sam, Charlie and Graeme get their nostalgia fix. 

We couldn't be more excited to start a whole new season of anime and this fall season is shaping up to be a real hit.  It's a versatile season of huge sequels (JJK, Tokyo Revengers, Attack on Titan and Dr Stone) along with some hugely anticipated smash hit manga adaptations (Frieren & Undead Unluck)  What's your top pick?

This week we have one of the co-hosts of Charlie's other podcast, Supporting Cast, Seamus Quinn on to talk about all things Jujutsu Kaisen.  Seamus is a massive fan of JJK so we talk about why we all love the show, what makes it special, interesting, different and (to all of us except Graeme) the best of the dark trio.  Somewhere along the line we segue into talking about Boruto for way longer than any of us anticipated, plus Seamus shares some of his anime hot-takes.

It's time for our Summer 2023 Mid Season Check In! Join us as we discuss our thoughts and feelings about how this season is shaping up. From old shonen favourites to fresh and exciting new series, this summer season is really heating up! What have you been enjoying this season?  

The gateway team has enlisted the help of special guest star Gerald Lillywhite - will they make it to regionals? What important lessons will they learn along the way? The hype is real in this weeks episode on Sports anime! This genre is so huge that we felt we needed to talk about it again. We cover the classics such as Slam Dunk, Haikyu!! and Hajime No Ippo as well as some absolute wild cards of the genre including Sk8 the Infinity and Birdie Wing Golf Girls' Story. 

What anime are you nostalgic for? This week the team take a trip down memory lane to discuss the anime that makes them most nostalgic. Is nostalgia the death of art? Do we need another remake/reboot of our childhood favourites? Will we ever be able to recreate the highs of Rock Lee dropping his weights? Join the debate and be ready to defend your favourite nostalgic anime! 

This week the gang gets together to talk all things mystery with the wide genre of detective anime.  Sam talks through the history of detective fiction in Japan and the decidedly Sci-Fi flavor that tends to accompany these kinds of stories in Japanese storytelling.  Sam and Charlie then go over some old ground with a couple of classic shows from our earliest episodes in Death Note and Psycho pass (we figured we've improved a bit since we first spoke about those shows in our early days). Graeme talks through Ghost in The Shell: Stand Alone Complex and how influential it was on modern detective/Sci-Fi animanga.  We also learn about the third highest selling manga of all time in Detective Conan, which turned out to be a huge blind spot in all our knowledge.