Gateway To The Aniverse

With the UK release of The Boy and the Heron at cinemas, the boys discuss the newest, and rumoured final, creation of Miyazaki. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sorry for our lack of uploading - life has been getting in the way a lot! This week, we review and get deep over the new Godzilla movie and have a general catch up on what we've been watching recently! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The boys reminisce about their respective Attack on Titan Journeys as they discuss the finale, the absolute climax, to the mammoth of a show that is Attack on Titan. They touch on the big themes of the show and share their own thoughts on how it all came to an end for Eren and the gang. Let us know your thoughts! Did this do the series justice? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As part of our rebrand where we talk about all things anime in the exact same way we did before, we have a mixture for you today! We revisit an absolute favourite of the podcast in Dr Stone; we explore a weird period piece that Sam's brought to us in Undead Murder Farce, and we jump back into Kingdom of Ruin where Sam has to confess his sins as the show moves in a direction he previously refused to admit was possible! Let us know what we should watch next! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Sam and Will explore the fall catalogue as it were, and this includes two we have experienced before along with something brand new! Have a guess which one Sam hates with a passion... Let us know if you enjoy this kind of content and spread the word! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Will's wife bought some lego so the boys geek out on the brick community, plus Will's first ever exploration of the Fate saga is this one... Make of that what you will. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we discuss three recent releases: one that fills us nostalgia, another that mildly frustrates us and the final one that seems like just a good show. Which one's which? Let us know your thoughts on the Autumn Anime! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Wow what a rollercoaster! After reading some of the manga to One Piece, Will had no idea how invested he would become in the live action, and Sam can do nothing but agree! Live vicariously through these two idiots as they gush about Luffy and the crew! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Will visits Sponge Bob the musical live on stage which I'm sure you can imagine was a spectacle, and the boys discuss Hell's Paradise! Obviously... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week Sam and Will reveal how they prefer to consume content! In a very wandering yet reflective discussion, they share their inner thoughts about the different ways to experience their favourite stories, and their revelations may surprise you! Or, the may be very predictable, who knows! Finally, they examine the first three episodes of FIRE FORCE, and it provokes some mixed emotions... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What a week of big hitters! We have our anime of the week represented by a Netflix new release in Black Clover's movie, Sword of the Wizard King. We've also got DC's newest attempt at the DCEU and the long anticipated across the spider-verse! Honestly, the pedigree speaks for itself. If you want to here our views, stick around!  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Will has finally caught up on The Book of Boba Fett and the boys get down and dirty talking about whether an oversized battle droid could actually take on a rancor. This is a fun, if not very law abiding conversation. After that, it's onto the anime of the week in Megalobox and boy is this a fun one that scratches an itch for Will and Sam pretends to have watched the show in preparation for this recording! 

This week, Will has been introduced to the phenomenon that is board games, through specifically board game cafes. Sam shares his endless wisdom on the topics and we have ourselves a good debate on whether they're still relevant or not. From there, they unpick this week's anime, which as it says in the title, is Urusei Yatsura! Honestly one of the oddest shows to describe, but it's supposed to be a slice of life comedy but with a bit of alien invasion and spiritual possession thrown in for good luck. 

This week  we take a look at the MCU Phase 4 releases and whether or not we've seen it will have no impact whatsoever on our judgement! We then take a dive into the world of Gundam for Will's first exposure to the franchise, all because he likes building little model robots. Enjoy! 

This week, both our boys have caught up of Guardians, and decided to jump on the band wagon and review it. Unfortunately, it's taken a long time to upload, so we're like a month over due, but hey, if you're curious, here's our thoughts! We also watch the first Naruto movie, Ninja Clash in the Land of Snow! Which gets us chatting our usual nonsense about anime... 

This week, we discuss the life of a pop idol in Japan, probably too much. We discuss mysterious reincarnations,  suspicious characters, emotional backstories and creative writing. This show tackles deep topics well and has plenty going for it, but we also hold up a mirror to some of it's shortcomings. Is this a good gateway show to a noob? Let us know your thoughts! 

This week, we pull apart the entire first season of Blue Lock. Will, a football fan, comes at it from a footballing perspective, and definitely has some thoughts! Does the show do justice to footballers' skill? Is it realistic to game situations? Are the players too over powered? All of these questions discussed, all the while acknowledging the incredible entertainment value of this genius concept!

Wow, join us on this adventure into the minds of adolescent girls who use mental metaphors to overcome their social anxiety! Confused? Great! We pull this series apart based on the first 3 episodes and as always, become distracted at every turn. Let us know your thoughts of Black★Rock Studio and whether it's a good show to show a noob novices. 

This week, Sam gushes over Gundam and teaches me all about his love of Gunpla! It's interesting... I promise! And yeh, then we watch the first three episodes of The Eminence in Shadow and talk about how that's confusing as shit and weird as hell... Let us know what you thought! 

This week, Sam makes us shatter our rose tinted glasses on the Pokémon gym floor as we revisit the first movie, one we both saw in the cinema at the time it was released and both have fond memories of. Does the film do justice to our nostalgia? Also, after recently playing through Hogwarts Legacy, Will needs some guidance on RPG's as a whole and Sam is there to offer a nurturing hand. 

We prepare for season 3 of Dr Stone by revisiting the second season and special episode, and discuss in ramblings and anecdotes, what we think makes this show an amazing piece of media. A brilliant journey into our fascination with the series and an opportunity to reminisce before the new world begins... 

This week we change it up a bit and have two big discussions! Firstly, we review the newest episode of Attack on Titan after the drop of the one our special this month. We talk favourite moments, predictions, and general love of the franchise. Then we shift over to our usual routine of ruining another anime by over analysing it to death! This time, it's the Seven Deadly Sins! 

This week, Will brings Mushoku tensei back after persevering with the first part of series 1. They discuss a lot of the controversy with Rudeus and whether that adds or detracts from the show; they question what makes this show so popular and finally, Will brings some unpopular opinions about the way the series is heading. Let us know your thoughts about the story so far! 

This week, we look at the classic Fairy Tail and consider two iterations: first, the first three episodes of the original series (classic) and 2, the movie, Phoenix Priestess! In all their sketchy etchy and shonen glory, we pit them against each other to decide which one, if either, deserves the honour of being a gateway into the Aniverse show. 

Another film special for our boys to explore, and this week they are looking at the RomCom cross sci-fi shonen that is, Summer Wars. This unique take on a virtual world, with it's 2010's technology and blend of futurism and everyday reality, there's plenty for people to enjoy. It's got twists and turns, but does it hook our hosts enough to put it in the Aniverse?

This wholesome show has a lot to offer, and has received a lot of praise from Sam in past episodes, but does its low stakes and all female cast have what it takes to hook a newbie? This week, we look at the first three episodes, the jokes, the characters and the plot to decide if it holds up as a quality piece of media, or just a pretty DIY show. 

Despite Will's awful audio this week due to him not checking which microphone he was using, the boys get deep into this weird and fantastical show and manage to come to some pretty big conclusions regarding its quality. Have a listen and let the boys know whether they're talking utter nonsense or they've had the brainwave of the century! 

This week we once again delve into the wacky world of maid cafés and as you're no doubt aware, it's a bit of a niche! Well, add some animal themed outfits, a few boppy soundtracks and the YAKUZA and you get a fresh take on a classic. But the age old question is, could you show this to an anime novice?

This week Sam is in Thailand, so we're continuing to look at One Piece and Will's journey through the manga. This episode covers some huge plot points and Will even reads a chapter live, because he didn't realise the arc hadn't finished at 99...

This week, our boys watch the first three episodes of Gun Gale Online to see if this spin off from the SAO franchise has what it takes to make it into the Aniverse! It's got guns, it's got games, it mentions one or two things from the original series... what more could you want? Well, some quality story telling would be a start... 

This week we talk a lot less about the show than usual as for some reason, we tangent down rabbit hole after rabbit hole, whether that be about the creator of Pokemon being a real life bug catcher or how we may have come up with the best chapter of Blue Lock to date. Get all that, and some actual discussion of Dragon Quest, as we decide whether this game turned manga turned anime revitalisation can get into the Aniverse!

This week we have another special episode where we check back in with Will and his journey into the world of One Piece manga. He has now completed the Syrup Village arc, recruiting Usopp into the team and is ready to unpick the trials and tribulations of this arc, from the battles and villains to the jokes and tears. 

It was hard for the guys to decide whether this one should be put in the Anniverse or not. There's a lot to be said for this depiction of a fantasy anime, but with some controversial themes and downright graphic content, is this show too much to show an anime noob? We discuss Goblin Slayer this week, as well as the progress of the world cup and get festive with Christmas wishes! 

This week Will is confused by this marketing attempt by the Tekken franchise. The boys discuss their affinity to the game, and their expectations for a movie based on said game. This movie of 2 halves has a lot to offer and aims high, but does it reach those lofty expectations? Can it do the job of two movies and build up the hype it wants to for this story arc? 

If you know this show, you can probably guess the challenges we faced talking about this. It gets weird at times, and probably makes little to no sense, but this week we TRY to review the first three episodes of Pop Team Epic, the 4 panel manga comic turned anime. 

This week, our boys revisit the brilliant Dr Stone as Will is working his way through the series and my goodness do they get into it! Character motivations, animations, inventions - all gets brought up in this thorough unpicking, and they also dig deep into the big issues such as the morality dilemma facing the characters of who do they bring back from petrification? 

This week we watch one of the greatest sports no one has ever heard of, in anime form. The rules are simple: knock your opponent off a platform using nothing more than your bum and breasts! No breasts? No entry! Sounds like the criteria of every night club post 1am... This saucy anime has plenty to unpick and our boys have a lot of fun trying to keep this podcast PG13. Enjoy! 

This week is episode 100 of the podcast so we thought we'd bring out the big guns! We've skirted around Pokémon for a long time but now it's time to relive the gateway anime that got us (or at least Sam) into the Aniverse. Experience the nostalgia vicariously through our hosts as they discuss their favourite starters and the ins and outs of the Pokémon universe as they watch the first three episodes of the original Pokémon series!

This week we are looking at the sequel to the original Vampire Hunter D movie from 1985 which we reviewed over a year ago now, so make sure you check that out if you haven't already! In this adaptation of the light novel, D has to chase a vampire across the country, save an attractive woman, fight various monsters along the way and end up in a spooky vampire castle that ends up being destroyed... so pretty much the same as in the original! 

This week we finish our look at the Netflix original, 'Cyberpunk Edgerunners'. Make sure to check out our last episode where we explore the first five episodes and delve into character a little deeper. Today we explore the narrative developments and conclusions of the series so full spoilers obviously! Will has some unique perspectives that as an outsider to the franchise are understandable, but do you agree? 

This Tabletop RPG turn gam role-play video game turn Netflix original... Christ, no wonder Will doesn't know what's going on! Whether you're new to Cyberpunk or a veteran, this episode unpicks the first 5 episodes of the new Netflix series from both angles. Sam is our expertise as always, and Will is the never knowing buffoon. Enjoy and stay tuned for the final 5 episodes next week! 

 If you haven't seen this show and don't like spoilers, we one hundred percent suggest watching at least the first 3 episodes before listening - better yet, don't even read on! GO! NOW! If you have seen this show, or at least know it's premise...This week we visit the very popular shonen anime that is 'The Promised Neverland' and discuss everything from aliens to demons and from hide and seek to eating children's brains. The creepy characters and directorial choices kept us on the edge of our seats for this one and we thoroughly enjoyed picking it apart! 

It's spies! We talk BOND! We talk BOURNE! We talk HUNT! We talk MR AND MRS SMITH! This show got us so hype, and you can probably tell that given it takes us 13 minutes to get onto the actual show. From cute, mind reading children to bad ass assassins and world class spies, this show has a lot to unpack. It's beautiful, it's ridiculous, and it is nothing if not entertaining - but does it have what it takes to get into the Aniverse? 

Firstly, sorry for the audio quality! Sam accidentally used the built-in microphone again. We've tweaked it as much as we are capable of so hopefully it's not too jarring! Secondly, this is another change for the books! We're reviewing the first 25 chapters of the One Piece manga! As Will has just picked this up, we thought we would check in periodically to catch his thoughts and build in some interesting discussion around this huge piece of Weeb culture! Enjoy!

It's Beyblade!!! If you're a 90's kid (is that the most buzzfeed thing ever?), then I don't need to explain. This show has a special place in 2000's primary schools across the UK and rewatching the first three episodes of the original series brings back memories galore for our two wannabe Weebs, Will and Sam. Let it Rip! 

Welcome to the second instalment of Sam and Will talking about what Japan is really like! In this episode we touch on hikikomori, Maid Cafes, Cosplay and the history of Japan and Tokyo. Hopefully you find something interesting in this discussion, and we'll be back with regular anime podcasting next week! Let us know if you enjoy this so we can plan it in in the future! 

This week we're doing something a little different again because Sam is visiting the UK so we've actually got a couple of episodes that were recorded in person! Sorry about the audio, but hopefully you like the content! Over the next few episodes we will be looking at what life in Japan is really like from someone who's moved there and discover what stereotypes are accurate and which are misconceptions. 

This week we look at the nostalgia giving ghost punching hot blooded battle shonen that is Yu Yu Hakusho! Our boys, as usual, watch only the first three episodes and decide whether this is the kind of show you could give a noob to get them hooked on anime. From ghosts and spirits to gang street fights and romance, this show has a lot to offer a noob, and presents it in an easily digestible format... but does the sketchy etchy and drawn out narrative ruin this show?

Explore the first three episodes of this mecha anime that follows the young adventurer Memempu as she tries to go deeper into their underground world to see what she can find... Our boys unpick these initial episodes and go in hard on the clunkiness of this show. Here we have some robot exoskeletons fighting giant lizard like monsters in an underground world of unknown parameters... and yet something doesn't seem to work.

This week we do something a little different! (Please don't hate us.) We wanted to play around a bit and this is what we came up with - it's not very serious, but hopefully you can enjoy the ride as it was fun to record. Please please let us know what you think as we would love feedback on this particular kind of content and we hope you enjoy the episode! 

FINALLY Will gets to see the golf anime Sam's been bringing up for weeks and boy does it land!... Mostly. This underground mafia golf romance is absurd, over the top, funny, self-aware and charming, and best of all... it's about golf!