Read Right to Left

Join Gee and Ray for this double feature romantasy! From the first ideas of Dawn of the Arcana, to the rich world of The King's Beast, why do all these interesting ingredients keep resulting in lack-lustre recipes? This month we explore why execution is far more important that premise for audience satisfaction.Follow RRtL on ⁠BlueSky⁠!Follow Ray on her channel ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Whimsical Pictures⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BlueSky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠And if you can't get enough of me, Gee, be sure to follow me on my ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube Channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BlueSky

Join Gee and Ray as we explore the cynical character lives of Moyoco Anno! From a harrowing spiral of disordered eating, to the many lives of history's sex workers, Anno's work is fierce with it's criticism -- but does it always hit the mark?Follow RRtL on BlueSky!Follow Ray on her channel ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Whimsical Pictures⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BlueSky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠And if you can't get enough of me, Gee, be sure to follow me on my ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube Channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BlueSky

Welcome to another Season of Romance with Gee and Ray!! This month we spotlight the opposites-attract love story of Everyone's Getting Married. Hear our thoughts as we revisit this josei, which entered the English market at the top of its game.Follow Ray on her channel ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Whimsical Pictures⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠And if you can't get enough of me, Gee, be sure to follow me on my ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube Channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter

Once again this December, Ray and Gee spotlight their favourite new  series for the year! From cozy domestic slice-of-life to the impending climate crisis, and a whole breadth of honourable mentions, come listen  to our picks for the year!! Follow Ray on her channel ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Whimsical Pictures⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠ And if you can't get enough of me, Gee, be sure to follow me on my ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube Channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠ Finally, check out the latest podcast updates out on the ⁠⁠RRTL Bluesky⁠

This month, join Gee and Ray as they talk about a brand new English debut, Colette Decides to Die! After worn-out town apothecary Colette jumps down a well, she finds herself in the underworld - but she's not dead yet! Instead, she's put to task healing Hades, the gruff young man who judges the dead. As this first volume hits shelves, we'll share our thoughts on this newest series from Shojo Beat! Follow Ray on her channel ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Whimsical Pictures⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠ And if you can't get enough of me, Gee, be sure to follow me on my ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube Channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠ Finally, check out the latest podcast updates out on the ⁠RRTL Bluesky⁠

Welcome to another Spooky Season with Gee and Ray!! This month we spotlight the action-packed Hell's Paradise: Jigokuraku. As our motley crew fight for their lives on an island both weird and incoprehensible, will they make it out alive? Follow Ray on her channel ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Whimsical Pictures⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ And if you can't get enough of me, Gee, be sure to follow me on my ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube Channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter

Every so often, a series gets so popular, fans can't help but demand more! This month, we dive into the various pre- and sequels available for some of the largest manga hits available. Join Gee and Ray this month as we dive deep into the series that explore some of your favourites further. Follow Ray on her channel ⁠Whimsical Pictures⁠ and ⁠Twitter⁠ And if you can't get enough of me, Gee, be sure to follow me on my ⁠Youtube Channel⁠ and ⁠Twitter

Welcome to this special double-episode month, as Gee and Ray round out August chatting about pet manga!! This month we spend time with the furry companions many of us share our lives with - spotlighting the ups and downs of living with pets. Join us, as we laugh and cry as we explore the manga featuring our favourite fluffy friends. Follow Ray on her channel ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Whimsical Pictures⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ And if you can't get enough of me, Gee, be sure to follow me on my ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube Channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter

The episode may be late, but Gee and Ray have LOTS to say about the popularly divisive, oft-misunderstood, Tatsuki Fujimoto! From the bleak future of Fire Punch, to the quirky portrait of grief Goodbye Eri, Fujimoto's macabre madness is worth exploring, even for the squeamish in the audience.... Follow Ray on her channel ⁠Whimsical Pictures⁠ and ⁠Twitter⁠ And if you can't get enough of me, Gee, be sure to follow me on my ⁠YouTube Channel⁠ and ⁠Twitter a mangaka spotlight

This month, join Gee and Ray as they finally get to wax poetic over Yuhki Kamatani's choir series, Shonen Note - Boy Soprano! After Yutaka joins the middle school choir as a soprano, his world opens up to completely new things... but is it all going to come crashing down when he hits puberty? And is the Russian prodigy Popo-chan all that he seems? Come along with us as we explore this musical masterpiece! Follow Ray on her channel ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Whimsical Pictures⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ And if you can't get enough of me, Gee, be sure to follow me on my ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube Channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter

This month, join Gee and Ray for the second annual Gee's (Light) Novel Corner as we dive deep into one of the very first popular LNs available in English, Spice and Wolf. As travelling merchant Lawrence and the Wise Wolf Holo embark on their long journey together, will this odd couple stand the test of time? Hear our thoughts this episode! Follow Ray on her channel ⁠⁠⁠⁠Whimsical Pictures⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠ And if you can't get enough of me, Gee, be sure to follow me on my ⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube Channel⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter

This month, join Gee and Ray as they explore the smash-hit, Eisner-winning tale of young witches, Witch Hat Atelier! When Coco accidentally discovers the truth behind magic, she is swept away to a magical new life of witchcraft and wonder, as she searches for a way to correct the horrible mistake she made turning her mother to stone. Come with us as Coco and her friends discover the wonders of art and imagination under the watchful tutelage of her mentor! Follow Ray on her channel ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Whimsical Pictures⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ And if you can't get enough of me, Gee, be sure to follow me on my ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube Channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter

March is the 2 Year Anniversary for manga publishing platform, Manga Plaza! This month Gee and Ray dive into the unexplored oceans of the app, in search for hidden treasures — will we find any? Listen to find out! Follow Ray on her channel ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Whimsical Pictures⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ And if you can't get enough of me, Gee, be sure to follow me on my ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube Channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter

This month, join Gee and Ray as they explore the highs and lows of this comedic romp in love, My Love Mix Up! When teenage boy Aoki gets caught up in a mix-up between his crush and the cool, collected boy who sits in front of him, he decides his feelings are secondary in order to help the one he loves - but maybe a new love is just around the corner for him? Come with us as hearts pound and laughs echo in this fantastically funny modern romcom! Follow Ray on her channel ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Whimsical Pictures⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ And if you can't get enough of me, Gee, be sure to follow me on my ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube Channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter

Start the new year with Gee and Ray as they dive into the twistedly bittersweet works of cult favourite, Usamaru Furuya! From the theatrical madness of Lychee Light Club, to the quirky teen drama Genkaku Picasso, Furuya has carved his unique space in the English-speaking market with only a handful of works! Hear our thoughts on each unique piece in this episode! Follow Ray on her channel ⁠Whimsical Pictures⁠ and ⁠Twitter⁠ And if you can't get enough of me, Gee, be sure to follow me on my ⁠YouTube Channel⁠ and ⁠Twitter a mangaka spotlight

Ray and Gee return in this very special spotlight bonus episode to talk about their top HATED series for the year! Two surprising series have turned our hosts into haters in this relaxed bonus episode - so strap in and enjoy! Follow Ray on her channel ⁠⁠Whimsical Pictures⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠ And if you can't get enough of me, Gee, be sure to follow me on my ⁠⁠YouTube Channel⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠Twitter⁠

Once again this December, Ray and Gee spotlight their favourite new  series for the year! From cozy domestic slice-of-life to gut-twisting suspense and a whole breadth of honourable mentions, come listen  to our picks for the year!! Follow Ray on her channel ⁠Whimsical Pictures⁠ and ⁠Twitter⁠ And if you can't get enough of me, Gee, be sure to follow me on my ⁠YouTube Channel⁠ and ⁠Twitter⁠

This month, join Gee and Ray as they explore the drama and flair of the most iconic of all series (and heroines!), Rose of Versailles! It's a story of tragedy and betrayal, ensconced in the glamour of 70s shojo - come with us as the prelude to the French Revolution is explored through the eyes of Lady Oscar François de Jarjayes, Commander of the Royal Guard and Marie Antoinette's personal guard. Join us, as hearts a-flutter and heads roll! Follow Ray on her channel ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Whimsical Pictures⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ And if you can't get enough of me, Gee, be sure to follow me on my ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube Channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter

Welcome to another Spooky Season with Gee and Ray!! This month we spend time with the creatures of the night -- the royalty of Halloween itself, Vampires! Whether it's psychological horror with a twist, fantasy-filled romance, or the most mundane of everyday life for a (supernatural) creature, vampires dominate the manga scene. Join us, as we bite down on the details and explore all there is in manga featuring vampires. Follow Ray on her channel ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Whimsical Pictures⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ And if you can't get enough of me, Gee, be sure to follow me on my ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube Channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter

Join Gee and Ray this month, as we get to the bottom of the mysterious case of Mystery Manga! From childhood classic Detective Conan to recent delights like My Dear Detective and Don't Call it Mystery. What makes a successful mystery, and how clever does your detective have to be? From crime thrillers to supernatural shenanigans, put your powers of deduction to use and join us for a fun episode! Follow Ray on her channel ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Whimsical Pictures⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ And if you can't get enough of me, Gee, be sure to follow me on my ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube Channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter

This month, Read Right to Left celebrates its fourth birthday by dissecting a favourite of the hosts, The Heart of Thomas. Join Gee and Ray as we unpack this seminal work of manga, which helped shape the comic medium itself and establish the flourishing BL genre. Hear our thoughts on the characters and their interwoven relationships, and how trauma shapes each of them. Discover why this manga has become a classic, and why it continues to be loved so deeply! Follow Ray on her channel ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Whimsical Pictures⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ And if you can't get enough of me, Gee, be sure to follow me on my ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube Channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter

This month, join Gee and Ray for a deep dive into digital manga app Mangamo! With a variety of series across genres and demographics, this subscription service collects manga for all types of readers! Hear our thoughts on the tent pole Mangamo-exclusive series available, and whether we loved or hated it! In a market filled to saturation, will this service provide what readers are looking for? Hear our thoughts this episode! Follow Ray on her channel ⁠⁠⁠⁠Whimsical Pictures⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠ And if you can't get enough of me, Gee, be sure to follow me on my ⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube Channel⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter

This month, join Gee and Ray for the postponed launch of Gee's (Light) Novel Corner as we talk about the smash-hit sensation danmei, Heaven Official's Blessing. As Ray experiences her very first danmei series, we dive into this fast-growing medium and English market, as well as the love story between god and ghost king specific to this tale. Will these star-crossed lovers make it work, and will Chinese novels continue to make their mark for English readers despite the rough start? Hear our thoughts this episode! Follow Ray on her channel ⁠⁠⁠Whimsical Pictures⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠ And if you can't get enough of me, Gee, be sure to follow me on my ⁠⁠⁠Youtube Channel⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠Twitter

This month, join Gee and Ray as we talk about the classic ESPer sci-fi, To Terra... Once again diving into the Year 24 group, this short-but-memorable series about the fight between humanity and the psychic Mu in a far-flung future evokes genre staples of the 70s, whilst feeling relevant to the modern day. As Jomy and Soldier Blue fight for survival against a genocidal algorithm, will Earth be the utopia they long for? Follow Ray on her channel ⁠⁠Whimsical Pictures⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠ And if you can't get enough of me, Gee, be sure to follow me on my ⁠⁠Youtube Channel⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠Twitter

This month, join Gee and Ray as they spotlight CLAMP, the group of mangaka responsible for some of the most popular and influential series of the 90s and 2000s -- from Cardcaptor Sakura, Chobits, xxxHOLIC, Magical Knight Rayearth and Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle. With decade(s) of smash-hit sensations, this group has tackled every demographic and a variety of genres; becoming some of the most well-known, yet divisive manga creators of the era. Whether a new reader, or a nostalgic fan, there's something for everyone here! Follow Ray on her channel ⁠Whimsical Pictures⁠ and ⁠Twitter⁠ And if you can't get enough of me, Gee, be sure to follow me on my ⁠Youtube Channel⁠ and ⁠Twitter

This month Gee and Ray start 2023 with the wonderful seinen romance Sweat & Soap by Kintetsu Yamada, a series built from much more than the (potentially) skeevy premise. This cult favourite stars one of the most healthy and communicative relationships in contemporary romance series, and should be unmissable for those in search of mature love stories. So join us as we start the new year diving into Sweat & Soap. You can purchase the official English H-doujin epilogue here. Follow Ray on her channel Whimsical Pictures and Twitter And if you can't get enough of me, Gee, be sure to follow me on my Youtube Channel and Twitter

Once again this December, Ray and Gee spotlight their favourite new series for the year! From mysterious crime dramas to gut-twisting classic horror, and a whole breadth of honourable mentions, come listen to our picks for the year!! Follow Ray on her channel Whimsical Pictures and Twitter And if you can't get enough of me, Gee, be sure to follow me on my YouTube Channel and Twitter

This month, join us as we discuss Haruko Kumota's fantastic josei drama, Descending Stories: Showa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu! From his childhood up until his death, Yakumo Yurakutei VIII has upheld a very particular expectation of rakugo -- but things start to shift once he accepts his very first apprentice, and as the final years of the Showa Period come to a close. This intimate character study of a prominent rakugo performer asks the audience to reflect on the nature of art and performance, the evolution of entertainment in society, and the multitudes of ways that humans connect. Hear all our thoughts this episode! Follow Ray on her channel Whimsical Pictures and Twitter And if you can't get enough of me, Gee, be sure to follow me on my YouTube Channel and Twitter

This Halloween Season, join Gee and Ray as they dive into (some) of the works from horror titan, Junji Ito! From the spiralling madness of Uzumaki, to the unending space of Remina, to the smelly chase of Gyo, Junji Ito has become the representative of horror manga in the English-speaking market -- but how effective are the many, many series we have available when being read by non-fans? Is there a reason why Ito has become synonymous with creepy? Hear all our thoughts in this episode! Follow Ray on her channel Whimsical Pictures and Twitter And if you can't get enough of me, Gee, be sure to follow me on my YouTube Channel and Twitter

This month, join Gee and Ray as we spotlight our own history with anime and manga, and the experiences that have led us to this point. From the wave of first-gen Pokemon cartoons, to the hodge-podge of manga available from school libraries, the two of us reflect on an adolescence of weebiness and fandom outside of the hyper-trendy, social media-fuelled experience found in the anime and manga community today. From then til now, manga has been the constant -- but not necessarily in the same way. Follow Ray on her channel Whimsical Pictures and Twitter And if you can't get enough of me, Gee, be sure to follow me on my YouTube Channel and Twitter

Welcome back to the grand return of the Read Right to Left podcast, with a very special spotlight episode about one of our favourite mangaka: Moto Hagio!! This phenomenal woman is a part of the legendary Year 24 Group, who helped shape the modern manga industry, practically established the BL genre, and inspired generations of future artists thanks to her notable works, including Heart of Thomas, They Were 11 and The Poe Clan. As more and more of her work has found its way to English in recent years from publishers Fantagraphics and Denpa Books, Hagio has also been inducted to the Eisner Hall of Fame. From Iguana Girl to A Cruel God Reigns, join us to hear our thoughts!! Follow Ray on her channel Whimsical Pictures and Twitter And if you can't get enough of me, Gee, be sure to follow me on my Youtube Channel and Twitter

Human stories bridge the gap between creator and reader, as we see a peek into the lives of strangers. For some, this is a intimate look at some of life's worst struggles, and for others it's the hopeful or joyful celebration of life. Either way, the stories in memoir remind us as readers of the diversity of life and experiences, and help us discover and learn about things we've never lived -- or find support and community in the things we have. Join Gee and Ray this month as we dive deep into the real-life stories of these manga, and the people who create them. Follow Ray on her channel Whimsical Pictures and Twitter And if you can't get enough of me, Gee, be sure to follow me on my Youtube Channel and Twitter

This month Gee and Ray are spotlighting the debut manga series Nabari no Ou from one of the hosts' favourite mangaka, Yuhki Kamatani. This ninja-action shounen stands out from the crowd in Kamatani's signature style, but still remains hidden from most fans' radar. So join the discussion on this outstanding drama, as we dive into this early work and find the strengths (and weaknesses) within. Follow Ray on her channel Whimsical Pictures and Twitter And if you can't get enough of me, Gee, be sure to follow me on my Youtube Channel and Twitter

This month, Gee and Ray are spotlighting some of the series that have disappeared part-way throughout the years. From niche classic shojo, to some of the biggest hits in Jump, the English manga market has seen difficulties from bankruptcy to low sales to legal troubles, all leading to series ending up incomplete in English. Follow Ray on her channel Whimsical Pictures and Twitter And if you can't get enough of me, Gee, be sure to follow me on my Youtube Channel and Twitter

As the seasons change, come join Ray and Gee as we dive into the mysterious and contemplative stories of a traveling Mushi doctor as he helps cure conditions caused by the strange entities known as mushi in Yuki Urushibara's ten volume series, Mushi-shi! From horrific spore children to mischievous rainbows to singing seashells, the manga (and anime adaptation!) is a beautiful collection of folklore-inspired stories about humanity's relationship to the natural world. Hear our thoughts and dive deep into a world not too unlike our own. Follow Ray on her channel Whimsical Pictures and Twitter And if you can't get enough of me, Gee, be sure to follow me on my Youtube Channel and Twitter **TIMESTAMPS**

Kaoru Mori is well known for her lush artwork and brilliant characters, but most of all for the beautiful love stories she crafts. For this Valentine's month, Ray and Gee take a deep-dive into the catalogue of this fantastic seinen mangaka, spotlighting their favourite couples, the perfection of simplicity, and Mori's perfect depiction of the ongoing human craving for love and connection she explores throughout time. In this episode we talk about: Emma A Bride's Story Kaoru Mori's Anything and Something Shirley Follow Ray on her channel Whimsical Pictures and Twitter And if you can't get enough of me, Gee, be sure to follow me on my Youtube Channel and Twitter **TIMESTAMPS**

We're starting 2022 by deep diving into some of Shueisha and Viz's lesser know series available on their simulpub service for English-speaking territories: The Shonen Jump app!! From long-time fan favourites to hidden gems to things that were definitely cancelled for a reason, the catalogue of comics from this foundational publisher on their cutting-edge service has something for everyone to enjoy!! In this episode we talk about: 7thGARDEN, Mitsu Izumi Ayakashi Triangle, Kentaro Yabuki Ayashimon, Yuji Kaku Beast Children, Kento Terasaka Blue Box chapters, Kouji Miura Bone Collection, Jun Kirarazaka Chainsaw Man, Tatsuki Fujimoto Choujin X, Sui Ishida Cross Manage, KAITO Dandadan, Yukinobu Tatsu DC3, Kaiu Shirai and Posuka Demizu Doron Dororon, Gen Oosuka Double Taisei, Kentaro Fukuda Dr. STONE, Riichiro Inagaki and Boichi Fire Punch, Tatsuki Fujimoto Ghost Reaper Girl, by Akihisa Ikeda Guardian of the Witch, Asahi Sakano Hell Warden Higuma, Natsuki Hokami i tell c, Kazusa Inaoka Kaiju No. 8, Naoya Matsumoto Kubo Won't Let Me Be Invisible, Nene Yukimori Look Back, Tatsuki Fujimoto Mitama Security: Spirit Busters, Tsurun Hatomune Moriarty the Patriot, Ryosuke Takeuchi and Hikaru Miyoshi ne0;lation, Tomohide Hirao and Mizuki Yoda Neru: Way of the Martial Artist, Minya Hiraga Our Blood Oath, Kazu Kakazu Phantom Seer, Togo Goto and Kento Matsuura PPPPPP, Mapollo 3 ROBOTxLASERBEAM, Tadatoshi Fujimaki Seraph of the End, Daisuke Furuya, Takaya Kagami, and Yamato Yamamoto Show-ha Shoten!, Akinari Asakura and Takeshi Obata Spirit Photographer Saburo Kono, Kaiu Shirai and Posuka Demizu The Elusive Samurai, Yusei Matsui The Emperor and I, mato The Hunters Guild: Red Hood, Yuki Kawaguchi Time Paradox Ghostwriter, Kenji Ichima and Tsunehiro Date Twin Star Exorcists, Yoshiaki Sukeno Witch Watch, Kento Shinohara Yugen's All-Ghouls Homeroom, Yuto Tsukuda and Shun Saeki Follow Ray on her channel Whimsical Pictures and Twitter And if you can't get enough of me, Gee, be sure to follow me on my Youtube Channel and Twitter **TIMESTAMPS** (0:00) Introduction to the app (9:05) Introduction to Ray's rating system (11:20) One-star titles (no desire to continue) (37:36) Two-star titles (maybe someday, but probably not) (44:05) Three-star titles (promising but not great, will continue) (1:26:09) Four-star titles (loved, will continue) (2:21:49) Five-star titles (excellent, new faves) (2:51:49) Questions (3:24:05) Conclusion/next month's topic

Once again this December, Ray and Gee spotlight their favourite new series for the year! From sweet shojo love stories to action-packed sci-fi horror, and a whole breadth of honourable mentions, come listen to our picks for the year!! Follow Ray on her channel Whimsical Pictures and Twitter And if you can't get enough of me, Gee, be sure to follow me on my Youtube Channel and Twitter

This month, we're joined by the fabulous Ellie from Religiously Nerdy to talk about the good, the bad, and the weird of Manga About Manga. Whether it's poignant autobiographical comics like Blank Canvas: My So-Called Artist Journey, the psychological oddity of Opus, or the shonen 'tournaments' of Bakuman, there are all sorts of manga featuring the creation of manga and the day-to-day of the people making our favourite media. We hope you enjoy this deep-dive into comics about comics, as we all enjoy comics! Find Ellie on her personal Twitter and the Religiously Nerdy website and Twitter! Follow Ray on her channel Whimsical Pictures and Twitter And if you can't get enough of me, Gee, be sure to follow me on my Youtube Channel and Twitter

This month Ray and Gee are joined by the wonderful LumRanmaYasha to talk Fruits Basket!!! From talking about the themes of cycles of abuse, to deep diving into our favourite characters, come join us in our discussion of one of the classic 90s shojo. lumranmayasha website: https://bit.ly/3bvxfyb twitter: https://bit.ly/3juapse podcast: https://bit.ly/3jv9tyg * Follow Ray on her channel Whimsical Pictures and Twitter And if you can't get enough of me, Gee, be sure to follow me on my Youtube Channel and Twitter

This month we've put another of our favourite creators in the spotlight: Taiyo Matsumoto! From the critically-acclaimed sports drama Ping Pong, to the quirky exploration of childhood fears and friendships in Go Go Monster, this mangaka's catalogue is as varied as it is perfected! So whether you're a long-time fan, or have never read Matsumoto's work, join us this month as we praise (and criticise!) Follow Ray on her channel Whimsical Pictures and Twitter And if you can't get enough of me, Gee, be sure to follow me on my Youtube Channel and Twitter

This month, join us as we explore the many genres and styles of music manga! From rock and roll, to smooth jazz, to concert piano, music has been captured and shared in manga for decades--to varying degrees of popularity and success. How exactly is an audial art captured in illustration? How important is familiarity in genre to a series' success? Which music series are our favs? Follow Ray on her channel Whimsical Pictures and Twitter And if you can't get enough of me, Gee, be sure to follow me on my Youtube Channel and Twitter

This month we're joined by two very special guests: Matt from Star Fruit Books, and Emuh from Glacier Bay Books, as we spotlight the small press publishers in the manga community. We talk about their exciting releases, under-represented indie artists, and the nitty-gritty realities of publishing! Find Star Fruit Books on their website and Twitter Find Glacier Bay Books on their website and Twitter Follow Ray on her channel Whimsical Pictures and Twitter And if you can't get enough of me, Gee, be sure to follow me on my Youtube Channel and Twitter

This month we look at one of Ray and Gee's favourite ongoing manga, Yona of the Dawn! Following the adventures of a young princess, her bodyguard and the four dragon warriors fated to help her, she is on a journey of growth and self-actualisation after she's ousted from the throne by her cousin. We jump in discussing both the serious moments and shenanigans that ensue, and hopefully share our love of this series with you all! Follow Ray on her channel Whimsical Pictures and Twitter And if you can't get enough of me, Gee, be sure to follow me on Twitter

Sometimes you just want something short and sweet to read, without flipping through dozens upon dozens of chapters. Enough story to really sink your teeth into, but not so much it outstays its welcome! So for this month, we're spotlight manga that conclude at five volumes or fewer. From spunky Shonen Jump fare, to weighty personal dramas, join us on uncovering a few titles that you might've missed!! Follow Ray on her channel Whimsical Pictures and Twitter And if you can't get enough of me, Gee, be sure to follow me on Twitter

April is for fools, so be sure to join Gee and Ray for this episode as we talk about the huge range of comedy manga! From gag series to 4-panel, sitcoms and the bizarre, humor can come in all types---but some is definitely more effective than others! Are poop jokes the peak of comedy, or overly crass? Just how many times can the same joke be told before it's dead?? We talk about series new and old, popular and forgotten, whilst answering all your questions!! Follow Ray on her channel Whimsical Pictures and Twitter And if you can't get enough of me, Gee, be sure to follow me on Twitter

This month we're spotlighting Gee's favourite mangaka: Fumi Yoshinaga!! From her humble beginnings as a BL artist, to the critically acclaimed Ooku: The Inner Chambers, All My Darling Daughters and What Did You Eat Yesterday?, Yoshinaga has spent her career writing beautifully imperfect characters, struggling, surviving and thriving in their lives. With her adoration of food, love of historical settings, and biting wit, there's a lot to love with her work. So join us as we discuss the many, many wonderful stories Yoshinaga has shared. Follow Ray on her channel Whimsical Pictures and Twitter And if you can't get enough of me, Gee, be sure to follow me on Twitter

February is here, and Ray and I are talking about the josei demographic! We're answering your questions about manga for women, and the many amazing series we've gotten in English over the years. From Princess Jellyfish to Haru's Curse, come discover your favourite new series about women being women (and everything that entails!!) Series mentioned in this episode: Princess Jellyfish, Tokyo Tarareba Girls, Blank Canvas: My So-Called Artist's Journey, Haru's Curse, My Broken Mariko, Ooku, My Darling Daughters, pink, Helter Skelter: Fashion Unforward, In Clothes Called Fat, Sakuran, Buffalo 5 Girls, Memoirs of Amorous Gentlemen, Everybody's Getting Married, Between the Sheets, Descending Stories, Phantom Tales of the Night, Chihayafuru, Maiden Railways, Perfect World & Sweat and Soap Follow Ray on her channel Whimsical Pictures and Twitter And if you can't get enough of me, Gee, be sure to follow me on Twitter

Phosphophyllite is a little ditzy and direct, and wants nothing more to fight against the violent Lunarians who come to Earth to capture them and their friends. Unfortunately, Phos isn't that tough, literally, and can shatter under a strong breeze if not careful. So, under the direction of ever-calm Kongo-sensei, Phos starts writing a natural history of the land, which quickly steers them off course into learning the vast secrets of life for the Lustrous, and the truth behind the never-ending feud with the Lunarians. What happens when rocks have feelings? What truly makes us human? Welcome to this sensational sci-fi seinen series, where Haruko Ichikawa asks the existential, Land of the Lustrous. Joining us this episode is our wonderful guest Tales, to help us start the new year the best we can!! Follow Ray on her channel Whimsical Pictures and Twitter

There were just SO many exciting new books to talk about this year, so we've put together just a few of our favourites that didn't quite make the list. All of these are still wonderful and worth the read! In this podcast we talk about: Blue Flag Perfect World - read AnimeFeminist's article on the series' handling of disability here A Sign of Affection Cherry Magic! 30 Years of Virginity Makes You a Wizard?! Liquor & Cigarettes The Conditions of Paradise Our Teachers Are Dating Wave, Listen to Me Heaven's Design Team Chainsaw Man BL Metamorphosis Love Me For Who I Am And also mention: Maison Ikkoku / Mermaid Saga Blue Giant BECK: Mongolian Chop Squad Kageki Shojo! Soul Eater: The Perfect Edition Toilet-bound Hanako-kun The Apothecary Diaries Follow Ray on her channel Whimsical Pictures and Twitter And if you can't get enough of me, Gee, be sure to follow me on Twitter

It's the end of the year, so that means Ray and I can spotlight some of our favorite new series from the past year!! From an exciting amount of romance manga, to the creepy horror of inhuman monsters, how many of our standout series did you read this year? In this podcast we talk about: Given My Dress-up Darling My Androgynous Boyfriend Hell's Paradise: Jigokuraku SpyxFamily Heterogenia Linguistico Sweat and Soap Ping Pong Not Your Idol The Rose of Versailles Follow Ray on her channel Whimsical Pictures and Twitter And if you can't get enough of me, Gee, be sure to follow me on Twitter