PCB is a blog providing news, commentary, and analysis on the nerdier side of entertainment and pop culture. We’ve got video game and movie reviews, nerd culture, weekly podcasts, cosplay photography, celebrity interviews, comic-con coverage, and much more. Visit us at popculturebento.com to access…
In Anime Airwaves #19, we review 異種族レビュアーズ (Ishuzoku Reviewers), the controversial series from studio Passione. In a world where many different humanoid species exist and prostitution is legal, there exists various brothels for each kind of species run by “succu-girls”, who have succubus blood running through them. As each species has different opinions on how each […]
In Anime Airwaves #18, we review 僕のヒーローアカデミア THE MOVIE ヒーローズ:ライジング (Boku no Hero Academia the Movie 2: Heroes:Rising), the hyped series from studio Bones. The number one hero anime is back in theaters for a battle beyond anything fans have ever seen! Class 1-A visits Nabu Island where they finally get to do some real hero […]
In Anime Airwaves #17, we review Dumbbell Nan Kilo Moteru?, the hyped series from studio Doga Kobo. During a regular after-school grub crawl, gluttonous high schooler Hibiki Sakura is confronted about her ever-expanding waistline by her best friend, Ayaka Uehara. With her attempts at solitary exercise failing miserably, Hibiki decides to join the newly opened […]
In Anime Airwaves #16, we review Made in Abyss, the hyped series from studio Kinema Citrus. The Abyss—a gaping chasm stretching down into the depths of the earth, filled with mysterious creatures and relics from a time long past. How did it come to be? What lies at the bottom? Countless brave individuals, known as […]
In Anime Airwaves #15, we review Shokugeki no Soma: Shin no Sara, the hit series from studio J.C. Staff. At Tootsuki Culinary Academy, a heated eight-on-eight Shokugeki known as the Régiment de Cuisine rages on between Central and the rebel forces led by Souma Yukihira and Erina Nakiri. Though they won a stunning perfect victory […]
In Anime Airwaves #14, we review Eizouken ni wa Te wo Dasu na!, the show from studio Science Saru. Special guest Sasha Duran from the Spoop Hour podcast joins the discussion. Midori Asakusa sees the world a bit differently. Always having her nose in a sketchbook, Asakusa draws detailed landscapes and backgrounds of both the […]
In Power Creep #14, we talk about Star Wars Jedi: Fallen order, Hearthstone’s Card-Battle-Royale, Battlegrounds, Xbox hardware news, and and what streaming means for the future of gaming. The audio effect “Monster Chuckle” by Domarius is licensed under CC BY 3.0
In Anime Airwaves #13, we review Ni No Kuni, the show from studio OLM. Special guest Terrell Royster from the Around the Geek podcast joins the discussion. High schooler Yuu and his friend Haru get involved in a case involving his childhood friend Kotona, which forces them to go back and forth between another world […]
In Anime Airwaves #12, we review Re:Creators, the show from studio TROYCA. Humans have designed countless worlds—each one born from the unique imagination of its creator. Souta Mizushino is a high school student who aspires to be such a creator by writing and illustrating his own light novel. One day, while watching anime for inspiration, […]
Welcome to Picture Perfect, Pop Culture Bento’s Motion Picture Podcast! In Picture Perfect #13, we review the latest whodunnit murder-mystery, Knives Out. Do we make the case for Knives Out as the best movie of the year? Must we confess our undying love for Rian Johnson? And do any of us even have the slightest […]
In Anime Airwaves #11, we review Fate/Grand Order: Absolute Demonic Front – Babylonia, the show from Cloverworks based on the mobile video game, Fate/Grand Order. A.D. 2016, the foundations of humanity have been incinerated by the Mage King Solomon. Chaldea, a secret mages organization with the mission to preserve humanity’s future, foresaw mankind’s extinction in […]
In Power Creep #13, we talk about the Star Wars Jedi: Fallen order, Hideo Kojima’s original IP, Death Stranding, Pokemon Sword, and Valve’s full-VR installment in the Half Life series, Half-Life: Alyx. Have we fallen for the newest Star Wars single player adventure? Does Death Stranding prove that Kojima was right to burn the Konami […]
Welcome to Picture Perfect, Pop Culture Bento’s Motion Picture Podcast! In Picture Perfect #12, we review the pilot of Star Wars: The Mandalorian, the new series exclusive to Disney Plus. Do the show’s western tropes feel forced? Or must we give credits where credits are due? And why should you never google image search ‘breaking […]
In Anime Airwaves #10, we review Demon Slayer, the critically-acclaimed show from ufotable, the studio behind the Fate and God Eater series. Ever since the death of his father, the burden of supporting the family has fallen upon Tanjirou Kamado’s shoulders. Though living impoverished on a remote mountain, the Kamado family are able to enjoy […]
In Power Creep #12, we’re joined by fellow RPG-lover, Tyler Austria, to talk The Outer Worlds, Greedfall, Kingdom Come: Deliverance, and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare. This live edition of Power Creep is sponsored by Tyler’s home-brewed cyser. Do we find inner peace in The Outer Wilds? Does Kingdom Come deliver? And does the new […]
In Anime Airwaves #9, we review Weathering With You, the highly-anticipated new film from director Makoto Shinkai and producer Genki Kawamura, the creative team behind the critically-acclaimed, global smash hit Your Name. The summer of his high school freshman year, Hodaka runs away from his remote island home to Tokyo, and quickly finds himself pushed […]
Welcome to Picture Perfect, Pop Culture Bento’s Motion Picture Podcast! In Picture Perfect #11, we review Zombieland: Double Tap. Does this sequel successfully resurrect this franchise? Is this comedy worthy of infectious laughter? And why is Zombieland: Double Tap Robby’s first Terminator movie? Listen and find out!
In Power Creep #11, we talk about Code Vein, the Magic Duels card game on mobile, Counter-Strike Global Offensive’s Cache remake, Jack Box Party Pack 6, and Warframe. Should you have a crack at Code Vein? Is CSGO’s Cache remake money in the bank? And why does Warframe look as if Gwyneth Paltrow was the […]
Welcome to Picture Perfect, Pop Culture Bento’s Motion Picture Podcast! In Picture Perfect #10, we review Joker. Can the movie successfully juggle its myriad themes? Or is adapting the iconic villain for the third time a fool’s errand? Is Joaquin Phoenix’s performance the movie’s clowning achievement? Listen and find out!
In Power Creep #10, we welcome special guest Terrell Royster, of the ‘Around the Geek‘ podcast, to talk about Untitled Goose Game, FIFA 20, Astral Chain, The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening, Mario Kart Tour, and Mobile Suit Gundam: Battle Operation 2. Is FIFA’s new Volta game mode on target? Do we heart Chibi Link, […]
Welcome to Picture Perfect, Pop Culture Bento’s Motion Picture Podcast! In Picture Perfect #9, we review the Netflix series reboot of a classic, The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance. How stacked is the voice cast? Can puppets be a commentary on string-pulling politicians? And can Brad, even once, correctly pronounce the word ‘Skeksis’? Listen and […]
In Power Creep #9, we talk about Yakuza Kiwami, Pokémon Masters, finished Remedy Entertainment’s newest action game, Control, and jumped into Borderlands 3. Does Borderlands 3 play it too safe? Do the microtransactions in Pokémon Masters feel suffocating? And is Banjo Kazooie X Yakuza the most ambitious crossover since Knife X Bread? Listen to find […]
In Anime Airwaves #8, we review Fire Force. The show is about young and eager third-generation pyrokinetic Shinra Kusakabe, nicknamed Devil’s Footprints for his explosive ability to ignite his feet at will, becomes a member of the lively Special Fire Force Company 8. Upholding the brigade’s duty to extinguish the blazing Infernals and lay their […]
Welcome to Picture Perfect, Pop Culture Bento’s Motion Picture Podcast! In Picture Perfect #8, we review Ad Astra. How does it compare with other science fiction space movies? Is Brad Pitt a good actor? And why are space blankets so expensive? Listen and find out!
In Anime Airwaves #7, we review Dr. Stone. The show is about high school student Taiju Oki tells his science-loving friend Senku Ishigami that he will confess his feelings to their classmate Yuzuriha Ogawa. He prepares to make his confession to Yuzuriha under a camphor tree on the school grounds, but his attempt is interrupted […]
In Power Creep #8, we talk about the Nintendo Direct, Ubisoft’s Uplay Plus service, and dive into Remedy Entertainment’s newest action game, Control. Are we drinking the kool-aid on the newest Pokemon, Polteageist? Are all Ubisoft games the same? And does Control blow our *REDACTED* minds? Listen to find out! The audio effect “Monster Chuckle” […]
Welcome to Picture Perfect, Pop Culture Bento’s Motion Picture Podcast! In Picture Perfect #6, we review Ready or Not. Is this the cathartic conclusion to the summer movie season we’ve been waiting for? Is the satire rich or poor? And will Brad fulfill his dutiful oath to the satanic deer-blood demon? Listen and find out!
In Power Creep #7, we talk about Outer Wilds, Hearthstone, Xbox Games with Gold for August, and indie rogue-like dice roller Dicey Dungeons. Is procedural game design fun? Do modern content release models encourage competitive gameplay? Does Danny Devito have the chops to play Sweet Tooth in the upcoming Twisted Metal TV show? Listen to […]
Welcome to Picture Perfect, Pop Culture Bento’s Motion Picture Podcast! In Picture Perfect #5, we review Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. Is Quentin’s new film a big hit? And how are DiCaprio and Pitt? Just pull up a chair (we saved you a spare) and listen to Picture Perfect!
In Power Creep #6, we talk about mobile suits on mobile with Gundam Battle: Gunpla Warfare, Fire Emblem: Three Houses, Loot Boxes, and indie card-battle game Nowhere Prophet. And will Robby find love in Gundam Dating Simulator 2019? Listen to find out! The audio effect “Monster Chuckle” by Domarius is licensed under CC BY 3.0
In Anime Airwaves #6, we review Neon Genesis Evangelion. The show is set fifteen years after a worldwide cataclysm, particularly in the futuristic fortified city of Tokyo-3. The protagonist is Shinji, a teenage boy who was recruited by his father to the shadowy organization Nerv to pilot a giant bio-machine mecha called an “Evangelion” into combat with alien beings called “Angels”.
In Power Creep #5, we talk about what we’ve Devil May Cry 5, Far Cry New Dawn, Wargroove, then discuss the surprise PlayStation 5 details and Google Stadia. Does Wargroove scratch that Fire Emblem / Final Fantasy Tactics itch? Is Far Cry’s bright and colorful open world expansion a far cry from the gloomy apocalypses […]
Welcome to Picture Perfect, Pop Culture Bento’s Motion Picture Podcast! In Picture Perfect #4, we review Hellboy! Is this reboot a pearl, man? Or should we harbor bad feelings towards it? And did Baba Yaga awaken something within Brad? Listen to find out!
In Power Creep #4, we are joined by Chris Frakes to review Massive Entertainment’s The Division 2, which was published by Ubisoft. How does the game fare compared to other games in the genre de jour? Is it a massive improvement from the first Division from 3 years ago? And will I ever find enough […]
Welcome to Picture Perfect, Pop Culture Bento’s Motion Picture Podcast! In Picture Perfect #3, we review Shazam! Is this movie pure of heart? Or does it commit one of the 7 deadly sins of superhero movies? Also, who the heck is Shazam? Listen to find out!
In Power Creep #3, we huddle up on Steve’s couch with a microphone and a large pizza to review Team Ninja’s latest installment in the storied fighting-game franchise, Dead or Alive 6. Does the franchise remain relevant in an evolving genre? Is its monetization model fair and sustainable? What does it feel to get your […]
In Anime Airwaves #5, we review That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime, a fantasy/shounen show about thirty-seven-year-old Satoru Mikami is a typical corporate workerin Tokyo. In the midst of a casual encounter with his colleague, he falls victim to a random assailant on the streets and is stabbed. However, while succumbing to his […]
Welcome to Picture Perfect, Pop Culture Bento’s Motion Picture Podcast! In Picture Perfect #2, we review Captain Marvel. Are 90’s references cool yet? And why the heck does everything look like Top Gun and Star Wars: Episode One? Listen to find out!
In Anime Airwaves #4, we review Mob Psycho 100, a supernatural comedy/action show about Eighth-grader Shigeo “Mob” Kageyama, who has tapped into his inner wellspring of psychic prowess at a young age. But the power quickly proves to be a liability when he realizes the potential danger in his skills. Choosing to suppress his power, […]
Introducing Picture Perfect, Pop Culture Bento’s Motion Picture Podcast! In Picture Perfect #1, we review The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part. How does it fare against the original? Did lightning manage to strike twice? Listen to find out!
In Power Creep #2, we review developer BioWare’s new third-person open-world looter-shooter, Anthem. Does it out-Destiny Destiny? Did BioWare learn from the shortcomings of other ‘Games as a Service’ that came before? Listen to find out! The audio effect “Monster Chuckle” by Domarius is licensed under CC BY 3.0
In Anime Airwaves #3, we review My Roommate is a Cat, a slice of life/comedy about Novelist Subaru Mikazuki, who is shy and not good with other people, and Haru, the cat that has been living a severe stray life. This is a story of them suddenly living together and describes the happiness of living […]
In Anime Airwaves #2, we review The Promised Neverland, a mystery/thriller about an orphanage where everything seems fine on the surface, but a few children eventually discover its deep, hidden secrets. **Note: We feel that this story is best by going in blind with as little information as possible. Consider watching the first episode before […]
Introducing the debut of Power Creep – Pop Culture Bento’s new gaming podcast! In Power Creep #1, we review developer Respawn’s new free-to-play battle royale title, Apex Legends. Does it stack up to PUBG or Fortnite? Does EA have a gem or a dud on its hands? Listen to find out!
Introducing the debut of Anime Airwaves – Pop Culture Bento’s new anime podcast! In Anime Airwaves #1, we review The Rising of the Shield Hero, a fresh take on the isekai genre. Running Ranking: #1 Shield Hero Best Waifu/Husbando: #1 Raphtalia Worst Waifu/Husbando: #1 Malty Melromarc Best Anime OP/Endings: #1 Chiai Fujikawa – “Kimi no […]
In Pop Culture Bento #65, we finally review Kingdom Hearts 3! In the news, we discuss rumors of a new Nintendo Switch model, Spongebob VR made in Sony’s Dreams, Groundhog Day VR, Jotaro and Dio in Jump Force, and Ace Combat 7 VR. Enjoy your bento! Intro courtesy of animation, film, and video game voice […]
In Pop Culture Bento #64, we review Alita: Battle Angel, Produced by James Cameron and Jon Landau, directed by Robert Rodriguez, with a screenplay by Cameron and Laeta Kalogridis. We’ve got both spoiler and non-spoiler discussions. Enjoy your bento! Intro courtesy of Jason Aaron, Marvel writer for ‘Thor’ and ‘The Avengers’. Timestamps: Alita Non-spoiler Discussion […]
In Pop Culture Bento #63, we review The Favourite, written and directed by Yorgos Lanthimos (The Lobster). In the news, we discuss the Microsoft’s “Netflix for Games” service and Jon Cryer as Lex Luthor on Supergirl. We recommend Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker HD, Rising of the Shield Hero, Magicians, Lydia Kepinski’s “Premier Juin”, and […]
In Pop Culture Bento #62, we review the first three episodes of Netflix’s animated cartoon, Hilda, based on the series of graphic novels. In the news, the Uncharted movie gets a new director in Dan Trachtenberg, Christopher McQuarrie signs on for two more Mission Impossible movies, Spider-man: Far from Home and John Wick: Chapter 3 […]
In Pop Culture Bento #61, we review Roma, Alfonso Cuarón’s newest movie. In the news, we discuss the Barbie movie in development, Bungie and Destiny’s future, micro-transactions in The Last of Us: Part II, new Anthem gameplay, and more. Enjoy your bento! Intro courtesy of Evin Hodges, Marketing & PR Manager of North Star Games’ […]
In Pop Culture Bento #60, we review Black Mirror: Bandersnatch! We kick off 2019 with our lists of Top 3 things we are looking forward to in the year to come, and we discuss what we would want From Software’s two unannounced games. Enjoy your bento!Intro courtesy of animation, film, and video game voice actor, […]