The Human Instrumentality Podcast

At last, The Human Instrumentality Podcast's coverage of the Heisei Gamera trilogy comes to its oh-so-edgy conclusion with 1999's Gamera III: Revenge of Iris. In this film, director Shusuke Kaneko returns to his horror film roots for one of the darkest kaiju films in existence. This time the titular terrapin (now fully in his grimdark phase) meets his match in the vampiric Iris — the kaiju with a psychic link to Ayana Hirasaka, a troubled teen whose parents he squashed in the first film. If Gamera II was the giant monster New Testament, then Gamera III is the genre's Book of Revelation, so expect plenty of morbid spectacles, but no happy endings. While discussing the film, Ian and Joseph gleefully unpack Ayana's story and the intimate small-town setting that is the ironic focus of the unusually apocalyptic film. Of course, talking about Ayana means discussing the tentacle-filled innuendo that is her kaiju counterpart — then again, the hentai-ness of it all does add something to this already unique film. Listeners who've been waiting for a live-action Evangelion take note: this might be as close as we ever get.

The second film in the Heisei Gamera trilogy reunites director Shusuke Kaneko, SFX specialist Shinji Higuchi, and writer Kazunori Ito for an ambitious alien invasion film. This time, the titanic turtle's opponent is the creepy-crawly colony of space bugs, the Symbiotic Legion; a kaiju that brings the biblical barbarism from Neon Genesis Evangelion front-and-center to the Gamera experience. Legion's got Ian asking, “What's up with bugs in the ‘90s?” He and Joseph go on an exciting excursion through the canon of great pre-millennium insect critters – the Zerg from Starcraft, the Arachnids from Paul Verhoeven's now-beloved but then-derided Starship Troopers, and so on. Later, Joseph drops another cortex-crushing take on the psychological subtext to Gamera's triumphant return to the screen. All that plus a solid discussion of post-apocalypses in film and video games and why we could use fewer of them. Notes: ‘Video Games Are Giving Up On The Idea that We Can Save The World' by Michael Lee, via Kotaku (https://kotaku.com/video-games-are-giving-up-on-the-idea-that-we-can-save-1849727976)

Human Instrumentality Podcast listeners are probably familiar with Godzilla, King of the Monsters, the massive atomic dinosaur that remains Japan's foremost Kaiju (giant monster) ambassador to the rest of the world. They may be less familiar with his lesser-known commercial rival, a flying, fire-breathing turtle (seriously) named Gamera, who once upon a time had a little cameo on Mad Men. Gamera sounds silly on paper, but the titanic terrapin's trilogy of 90's films might be the best giant monster movies ever made, thanks in large part to staff members from Neon Genesis Evangelion and Ghost in the Shell. Know this: there is no Shin Godzilla without 1995's Gamera: Guardian of the Universe. Joseph takes Ian on a tour through Gamera's truly bizarre history before both hosts begin their survey of his Heisei trilogy. Along the way, they discuss under-appreciated horror auteur turned wunderkind director Shusuke Kaneko, who mined the vein of 90s anime-cool to give the goofiest monster you could imagine both serious edge, and still-biting environmentalist themes.

This unlocked bonus episode is a conceptual outtake from our second season. After we agreed to focus on Satoshi Kon's filmography for season two we then had to draw lines about exactly what qualified for that discussion. We settled on covering just the projects that Kon directed at the expense of the projects that he merely wrote. The last item that we cut was "Magnetic Rose", a short film written by Kon and directed by Koji Morimoto included in the anthology film Memories. Now ubiquitous on streaming services, Memories was concieved by Katsuhiro Otomo as the follow-up to his ubiquitous debut, Akira. This episode only covers "Magnetic Rose," the first and most well-regarded of its three segments. "Magnetic Rose" features some elements that would appear in Kon's directorial work, but it is also clearly distinct from the rest of his filmography for reasons that we enumerate in the episode. We also talk about "Solaris", "Alien", the A24 grief movie phenomenon, the pros and cons of anthologies, and more!

As promised, here is the now unlocked first bonus episode of our podcast. Building on our conversation earlier in Season 2 about Jojo's Bizarre Adventure and Shonen Anime in general, we decided to cover all of the parts of Stardust Crusaders that we didn't get to touch on in that episode. So if you were anxious to hear us talk about your favorite JoBro or a particular stand battle, now's your chance. At one point Ian starts talking about Moby Dick for a while too. These unlocked bonus episodes are looser and less scripted than our "in season" episodes. We're not going to bother with re-caps at the start of episodes and our research is going to be more off the cuff. We hope that this more laid back approach will show you another side of our friendship and that you'll find the conversations no less stimulating for lack of presentational flair.

Today, we have an update on the future of the podcast. Some of you have already subscribed to our Patreon in the past few months. If you have, thank you. However, Ian and Joseph's obligations outside of the podcast have increased since it launched require their full attention right now. For that reason, we're going to close our Patreon down at the end of this month. The Patreon episodes which we've recorded are going to be uploaded to our main feed, including the follow-up to our episode on JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Stardust Crusaders, and a trio of episodes on the Gamera film trilogy from the 90's. Our third season is in the early stages of development — tune in for a hint at our subject. Thanks! Ian & Joseph

In the sci fi crime thriller Paprika, a dream detective races to save the world from a terrorist attack on the collective subconscious as the lines between fantasy and reality literally collapse. It's both populist and psychedelic, a direct continuation of the themes Satoshi Kon explored in Perfect Blue, as well as his most coherent bid for mainstream success. It's also Satoshi Kon's final film, and that it's so entertaining only makes Ian and Joseph even more frustrated as they imagine a world where Kon's career continued. Along the way, Ian and Joseph talk about the film's unnerving parallels with Christopher Nolan's Inception, make peace with Kon's body image issues, and more. Recap: 00:00 Analysis: 07:02 Links: A 5-Star Review of 'Paranoia Agent' by Alyssa Heflin (https://letterboxd.com/rhefs/film/paranoia-agent/)

At last, Paranoia Agent brings its disparate main characters together to confront their demons in “The Final Episode.” This one has it all: Kaiju fights, meditations on death, menstrual cramps and literal mountains of slime. Satoshi Kon began work on the series finale right after he orchestrated the beginning, and against all odds sticks the landing. This week, Ian and Joseph unpack the emotional (and gooey!) climax to Kon's supernatural detective drama. Along the way they discuss how often anime falters at the end, not to mention how the end of every supernatural series including Paranoia Agent seems to become The End of Evangelion. At the finale, we distil how Kon's unique sensibilities helped him succeed on his first and only television series when so many other show runners fail. Recap: 00:00 Analysis: 07:09

Paranoia Agent winds up for a big finale with a pair of unlikely heroes standing up to Shonen Bat. In “No Entry,” a housewife with a terminal illness and a whole lot of backbone stands up to the Bat while Detective Ikari tries and fails to adapt to modern life without a badge. Joseph and Ian get existential with the overt references to Jean-Paul Sartre's celbrated play No Exit in this episode. Then, in “Radarman,” a disgraced detective Maniwa sees himself as a superhero while the rest of the world sees him as a social outcast – but though he's losing his mind he's finally close to finding the origins of Shonen Bat and Maromi. Joseph and Ian delight in finally getting to the meat of the plot in this essential episode, not to mention some kinetic action sequences. Recap: 00:00 Analysis: 07:14

These are the two strangest episodes of Paranoia Agent (and considering what's already happened, that's saying something). In “ETC,” a gaggle of gossiping neighbors trades tall tales about Shonen Bat. Satoshi Kon assembled a murderer's row of Madhouse employees (including the legendary Rintaro!) to animate the individual segments of this micro-anthology. Then, in “Mellow Maromi,” the series enters its own meta-verse, with an episode depicting a team of overworked people trying to make a single episode of an anime. According to our research, Kon originally wanted this to be a live-action episode about the making of _Paranoia Agent _itself. Joseph and Ian are joined by returning guest Eric Thurm and his colleague Chingy Nea. Together, the two also covered all of Paranoia Agent in their ‘Behind Anime Lines' column on Fanbyte. Read their coverage on ‘Behind Anime Lines' here: https://www.fanbyte.com/tag/behind-anime-lines/ Recap: 00:00 Analysis: 07:14

Paranoia Agent lives up to its name in “MHz,” when Maniwa begins questioning his own perception of reality. While the detective sinks into obsession with analog radios, the hosts talk about mental illness, social isolation, and parallels to ‘Invasion of the Body Snatchers.' Yes, there's ‘mega-hurts' puns. Then, it's time for the most infamous episode of the show, the controversial and often-censored “Happy Family Planning.” If you know one thing about Paranoia Agent, it's probably this jet-black comedy about a suicide pact, and its notorious bungee-cable scene. Ian and Joseph speak candidly about their mixed reactions to this tremendously upsetting episode. It's an inescapable piece of Satoshi Kon's legacy and the most singular episode of Paranoia Agent, but does it misrepresent or overshadow the rest of the series? Answers and more questions await in the episode. CW: Suicide, Self-harm Summary: 00:00 Analysis: 07:11

The Shonen Bat investigation gets goofy in “The Holy Warrior” when its prime suspect turns out to be just as deluded as the Bat's victims. Detectives Maniwa and Ikari find themselves at odds, not to mention adrift in a fantasy world, when they investigate a juvenile delinquent that can't tell the difference between video games and real life. Then, snap back to reality, ‘Paranoia Agent' takes its darkest turn yet in one of its best episodes: “Fear of a Direct Hit.” While the detectives spin their wheels, a typhoon threatens to wash away their best witness – and reveal twisted secrets that Hirukawa and Sagi are still trying to hide. CW: Child abuse. Ian and Joseph are joined by writer and podcaster Langdon Hickman (Death//Sentence, Treblezine, and more outlets than you can shake a stick at), who only leads them further into Kon's labyrinth of madness. Hickman's literary background and singular sense of humor help shine a light into the darker corners of Kon's televised mystery.

'Paranoia Agent' kicks into high gear with a pair of fan-favorite episodes. In "Double Lips," a young woman struggles with disassociation identity disorder whose two personalities couldn't be more different: one is a recently engaged academic, and the other is an enthusiastic sex worker. In "A Man's Path," a crooked cop with comic-fueled delusions of grandeur runs afoul of the mob. Each of their stories takes a dark turn when they find themselves on Shonen Bat's victim list. In this edition of the podcast, Ian and Joseph are joined by YouTuber and animator STEVEM, whose channel (https://www.youtube.com/c/Stevem)is one of The Human Instrumentality Podcast's preferred sources for visual essays related to anime. His video 'The SATOSHI KON PROBLEM' (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9GzZuRMwbW4&t=6s) was an inspiration for this season, and his insights into Kon's career helped illuminate the darkest corners of 'Paranoia Agent.' STEVEM also offers his perspective as an animator, including the back-(or hand-)breaking labor that makes anime possible but so often goes unrecognized by its fans. Recap: 0:00 Introducing STEVEM - 9:50 Ep 03 Analysis - 32:28 Ep 04 Analysis - 1:18:16 Follow STEVEM on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/c/Stevem Support STEVEM on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/stevemmmmm You can also support The Human Instrumentality Podcast by signing up for our BRAND-NEW Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/humaninstrumentalitypod

Like a dream within a dream, this week begins a podcast within the podcast – A full rundown of Satoshi Kon's only television series, Paranoia Agent. It begins with a simple premise: a juvenile delinquent called Shonen Bat (‘Little Slugger' if you're feeling dubby) is assaulting pedestrians across Tokyo, and two detectives need to crack the case. But as always with Kon, all is not as it appears. Those who survive Shonen Bat's attacks come out the other end oddly relieved – or maybe they weren't so innocent to begin with. And what of the bat? He appears and disappears seemingly at random and leaves no evidence behind. Rumor has it he might not be human, at all. And in Paranoia Agent truth is stranger than fiction, and rumors can be even more dangerous than reality, if there's even a difference between the two. Ian and joseph begin their journey into Paranoia Agent with special guest Andrew Osmond, the man who literally wrote the book on Satoshi Kon. His long out-of-print text ‘Satoshi Kon: The Illusionist,' was the main source for this season's research. Recap - 0:00 Introducing Andrew Osmund - 10:04 Ep 01 Analysis - 28:10 Ep 02 Analysis - 1:09:46

Satoshi Kon's idea of a Christmas movie starts with three homeless people who find a baby in the trash and ends with a wacky car chase. Along the way, Toyko Godfathers involves a mob wedding, a drag bar, and various pathological lies. That it works at all is a Christmas Miracle, that Ian and Joseph celebrate. While dashing through the snow and ducking assassination attempts, this episode unpacks Kon's quirky family drama and its sometimes troubling representations of homeless, psychologically ill, LGBTQIA+ and Latino characters. Toyko Godfathers doesn't always succeed in its 'hard look' at social issues in economically depressed Japan, but that Kon was permitted to explore such themes at all was historic when it was released. The film's big success is Hana, Kon's first outwardly trans character. Her face alone is a triumph of animation worth the cost of admission. Analysis: 0:00 Recap: 10:49

In Millennium Actress a starlet on her death bed recalls her lifelong chase to catch up with the love of her life. From this simple premise, Satoshi Kon crafts a kaleidoscopic love letter to Japanese cinema. His heroine, Chiyoko Fujiwara, is the perfect mirror to Mima from Perfect Blue - a hopeless romantic with an astounding career and indomitable spirit. Her journey through the golden age of the Japanese studio system (roughly early WWII to the turn of the century) blurs the line between fantasy and reality. In the process, Kon tries his hand at Kaiju eiga, the samurai epics of Kaira Kurosawa, the understated dramas of Yasujrō Ozu, and everything in-between. It's a stunning achievement and one host's favorite Kon film full-stop. Curiously, Millennium Actress didn't light the world on fire the way its predecessor did - it wasn't even nominated for the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature in 2002 (Miyazaki's Spirited Away did). Masterful though it may be, it sets up Kon's long struggle to craft a commercial successor to his debut film. On the plus side, though, it also sets up Kon's long-standing partnership with composer Susumu Hirasawa, whose arresting New Age bombast became synonymous with Kon's work. Ian and Joseph break down the cornucopia of references and easter eggs ticket into Satoshi Kon's too-overlooked second film - not to mention its absolutely killer soundtrack. Recap: 0:00 Analysis: 8:05

Satoshi Kon's first movie, Perfect Blue is an intricate psychological thriller that earned him international acclaim. Released in 1997, the film cataulted Kon into the international spotlight — but also cast a shadow over the rest of his career. Kon himself once joked that his job was not "film director," but "Director of Perfect Blue." In this episode, Ian and Joseph unpack its revolutionary editing style and the uncanny series of events that led to its creation. Perfect Blue tells the story of Mima, a B-tier pop start turned aspiring actress, who sheds her innocent idol image for a role on a sleazy murder mystery show. Her career change rouses the ire of an obsessive and violent fan, but the greatest threat to Mima's safety may be her own mind as it slowly unravels until neither she nor the audience can tell fantasy from reality. Originally intended to be the live-action adaptation of a paperback novel, Perfect Blue wound up in Kon's hands nearly by accident. Numerous mishaps including a catastrophic earthquake resulted in a cheaper-than-cheap budget but also granted Kon almost total creative control. This situation led directly to the lightning-fast editing style that became his trademark. Often imitated but never bettered, even by Kon himself, it remains a singular gem in the history of anime and cinema in-general.

Shonen is the most popular sub-genre of anime. From One Piece to Naruto, a boy and his friends duking it out for the fate of mankind remains an inexhuastible well of popular storytelling. In this episode, The Human Instrumentality Podcast tracks the genre's meteoric rise in the 80s thanks to Dragonball. But that's just an appetizer. The real meal is a lengthy discussion of the singularly wierd and wonderful shonen masterpeice that is JoJo's Bizarre Adventure. Satoshi Kon's brief but memorable directorial debut in the original 90s JoJo's OVA gets a highlight, but Kon is really a footnote in the series' saga. Ian and Joseph discuss creator Hirohiko Araki's background, then go all in on superpowers named after classic rock bands, the Jungian meaning of tarot cards, and the curious sexiness of incredibly ripped anime boys.

The second season of The Human Instrumentality Podcast follows the career of whose brief-but-brilliant oeuvre is a parade of quirky and beguiling works, including Perfect Blue and Paranoia Agent. By turns dreamlike and nightmarish, Kon's psychedelic and psychological parade of images and characters celebrate the animated film tradition and critique the society that created it – and the fans that enable its existence. But we're not just going to talk about Kon the filmmaker — we're going to use his career to survey the history of anime's golden age, its breakthrough in the west, and the murderer's row of often-unrecognized talent that gave it life. This first episode covers the earliest part of Kon's career, his first published works as a Manga artist, and his time as an assistant to Katushiro Otomo during the creation of maybe the most beloved film in Japanese animation: Arika.

This is the second half of our conversation with the Requiem Metal podcast about the grindcore band Discordance Axis. In this half we dig into the way they incorporate images and concepts from Neon Genesis Evangelion. We also talk about Discordance Axis's spiritual successor Gridlink, who frequently referenced bullet video games, mecha anime, and the War on Terror in their work. Special thanks to Jon Chang for his interview, and to Jason Hudney and Mark Rudolph from Requiem. Requiem is one of the most in-depth and thoroughly researched msuic history shows around. Follow Requiem Metal Podcast here: Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/Requiem-Metal-Podcast-107110074417438 Twitter - @Podcast Requiem Instagram - requiemmetalpodcast Sources Referenced: -Andrew Childers' book-length exploration of The Inalienable Dreamless is necessary reading- http://grindandpunishment.blogspot.com/2012/08/compiling-autumn-part-1-continuity.html Quotation sources- https://www.kerrang.com/features/how-discordance-axis-gave-grindcore-a-unique-new-identity/ https://www.invisibleoranges.com/screaming-bloody-gore-1-jon-chang-gridlink-discordance-axis-hayano-daisuki/ https://www.sleepingvillagereviews.com/interviews/interview-with-jon-eva05-chang https://noisecreep.com/jon-chang-never-said-hayaino-daisuki-was-grind/ https://disposableunderground.com/jon-chang-envisions-the-future-of-urban-warfare/ https://archive.disposableunderground.com/pdfs/DisposableUnderground31.pdf https://archive.disposableunderground.com/pdfs/DisposableUnderground39.pdf https://disposableunderground.com/gridlink-interview-the-final-album/ http://oscillatorzine.blogspot.com/2006/11/interview-discordance-axis.html https://www.metalsucks.net/2010/12/14/dave-witte-of-municipal-waste-discordance-axis-human-remains-and-much-more-the-metalsucks-interview/ This video on "Bullet Hell" games comes up also- http://grindandpunishment.blogspot.com/2012/08/compiling-autumn-part-1-continuity.html

Neon Genesis Evangelion is a key lyrical infleucne on critically acclaimed grindcore band Discordance Axis, especially thier final record The Inalienable Dreamless. Ian and Joseph deep dive through the band's discography (including their spiritual successors Gridlink) with the help of Requiem Metal Podcast. Special thanks to Jon Chang for his interview, and to Jason Hudney and Mark Rudolph from Requiem. Requiem is one of the most in-depth and thoroughly researched msuic history shows around. Follow Requiem Metal Podcast here: Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/Requiem-Metal-Podcast-107110074417438 Twitter - @Podcast Requiem Instagram - requiemmetalpodcast Sources Referenced: -Andrew Childers' book-length exploration of The Inalienable Dreamless is necessary reading- http://grindandpunishment.blogspot.com/2012/08/compiling-autumn-part-1-continuity.html Quotation sources- https://www.kerrang.com/features/how-discordance-axis-gave-grindcore-a-unique-new-identity/ https://www.invisibleoranges.com/screaming-bloody-gore-1-jon-chang-gridlink-discordance-axis-hayano-daisuki/ https://www.sleepingvillagereviews.com/interviews/interview-with-jon-eva05-chang https://noisecreep.com/jon-chang-never-said-hayaino-daisuki-was-grind/ https://disposableunderground.com/jon-chang-envisions-the-future-of-urban-warfare/ https://archive.disposableunderground.com/pdfs/DisposableUnderground31.pdf https://archive.disposableunderground.com/pdfs/DisposableUnderground39.pdf https://disposableunderground.com/gridlink-interview-the-final-album/ http://oscillatorzine.blogspot.com/2006/11/interview-discordance-axis.html https://www.metalsucks.net/2010/12/14/dave-witte-of-municipal-waste-discordance-axis-human-remains-and-much-more-the-metalsucks-interview/ This video on "Bullet Hell" games comes up also- http://grindandpunishment.blogspot.com/2012/08/compiling-autumn-part-1-continuity.html

Nearly ten years in the making, Hideaki Anno's final entry in the Neon Genesis Evangelion franchise is Evangelion: 3.0+ 1.0 Thrice Upon a Time, a prolonged exercise in extreme emotional catharsis. The Human Instrumentality Podcast ends its season on Eva by contrasting its Miyazaki-ish first half with its End of Evangelion-remixing climax. We go deep on the lasting occult and philosophical themes that keep drawing fans old and new into its heart-rending jaws. Other excursions include a long disucssion on the purpose of art and fantasy, with a little environmentalist melancholia along the way. Joining us is filmmaker, screenwriter, critic and podcaster extraordinaire Emily Yoshida, whose work at websites like Grantland, The Vulture and others is among the best anime criticism (and film criticism in general) out there. Yoshida tells the story of how she got into Eva, and in return the hosts discuss how her podcast It's Cool to Like Anime (R.I.P.) became a foundational influence on the Human Instrumentality Podcast. Together we discuss the complicated experience of loving anime as a leftist, and draw paralells between Eva and Phillip Pullman's seminal His Dark Materials books. Yoshida's It's Cool to Like Anime is no longer online, but below is a selected heavy-hitters list ofher published work. Look out for her writing as part of FX's series Shogun in the future. ‘Sailor Moon': The Explainer (https://grantland.com/hollywood-prospectus/sailor-moon-the-explainer/) Ghost in the Shell and anime's troubled history with representation (https://www.theverge.com/2016/5/9/11612530/ghost-in-the-shell-anime-asian-representation-hollywood) An Introduction to Japan's Most Idiosyncratic and Exciting Animation Director, Masaaki Yuasa (https://www.vulture.com/2018/03/an-intro-to-japans-most-idiosyncratic-animation-director.html)

In 2016 Hideaki Anno and Shinji Higuchi of Neon Genesis Evangelion won Picture and Directors of the Year at the Japan Academy Prize - Japan's equivalent of the Academy Awards - for Shin Godzilla (or Shin Gojira, Or Godzilla Resurgence, and so on). It's one of the best and most original films in the Godzilla series. It's also basically a big Eva episode. But is it right-wing propaganda? ...Kinda yes? Kyle Byrd and Matt Parmley of the (excellent) Kaiju Transmissions podcast take Ian and Joseph on a deep dive through the Ultraman-related references in Eva. Together we unpack the super un-comfy political history behind the Godzilla film that comes closest to Doctor Strangelove in tone and prestige. Sources: Master Patrol Podcast 36 - 'Neon Reference Evangelion' (youtube.com/watch?v=uOW05Xpv0ww) Analog Drift - 'The Meaning of Shin Godzilla: Cultural and Linguistic Analysis' (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TqTNLUz9tUQ) Follow the Kaiju Transmissions podcast Facebook - @kaijutransmissionspodcast (https://www.facebook.com/kaijutransmissionspodcast/) Twitter - @KT_podcast (https://twitter.com/kt_podcast) Instagram - @kaijutransmissions (https://www.instagram.com/kaijutransmissions/)

What happens when a monster of the week show becomes an apocalypse of the week film franchise? Ian and Joseph are joined by critic Justin Charity of The Ringer's 'Sound Only' podcast to discuss the third and possibly best Rebuild film, Evangelion 3.0: You Can (Not) Redo. In this, the season One (Point) Five finale, the hosts launch an all-out assault on Mari while praising the film's bold rethinking of the core Neon Genesis Evangelion premise - Maybe Shinji should (not) get in the robot after all! Analysis: 10:49 Follow Justin Charity's work with 'Sound Only' here: https://www.theringer.com/sound-only-podcast

Evangelion Rebuild 2.0: You Can (Not) Advance is the most popular peice of Evangelion-related media according to several polls. But Ian and Joseph cannot stan... So Ian brought Eric Thurm, podcaster at Fanbyte and author of 'Avidly Reads Board Games' to defend it from Joseph's ultimate rejection-type assault. Will Eric's critical acument protect him when his A.T. Field fails? Will Joseph assimilate him and begin the climax too darn early? Will Ian find his plot line replaced by a new character nobody wants? We can't say. The only promise is: More fan service than anyone can handle. Analysis - 7:20 Eric is a lapsed TV and animation critic whose work can be found in, among other places, The New York Times, Vulture, and FanByte. He is also the author of Avidly Reads: Board Games and a member of the National Writers Union's Freelance Solidarity Project. Buy Avidly Reads: Board Games here: https://nyupress.org/9781479826957/avidly-reads-board-games/

Evangelion: 1.0 You Are (Not) Alone kicks off Hideaki Anno's cinematic retelling of the Neon Genesis Evangelion television series by more-or-less recreating the first few episodes of the show shot-for-shot. Ian and Joseph take it as an opportunity to introduce Eva to film critic and festival programmer Logan Taylor. She helps the hosts answer the question "What is Eva like for a grown person who hasn't seen it before?" Her answers may surprise you. Along the way she introduces the hosts to the cocnept of 'generous filmmaking,' while the boys indoctrinate her into the 'screaming geometrically' Ramiel meme fandom. The trio also takes apart auteur theory rather than rebuild Anno's mystique.

Neon Genesis Evangelion is over, but the Human Instrumentality Podcast is not. Joseph and Ian gear-up for a miniature season covering the Rebuild movies by answering an extended round of listener mail. Will we ever cover the Evangelion side-story comics? What do we think of time travel? What other anime has Big Eva Energy? Is Auteur theory B.S.? And how is Shinji like… Tony Soprano!? These questions and more will be answered. PLUS – We announce the long hinted-at mind-bending second season of The Human Instrumentality Podcast. Second season announcement: 25:00 Cocktail hour: 45:57 Q&A: 53: 36

The fans wanted more fan service, so Hideaki Anno gave it to them - with a vengeance. Often remembered as the ‘real’ ending to the series, the first eva film, The End of Evangelion overflows with cool imagery, action, and violence. Not to mention some seriously cool sequences involving Asuka. It also twists the series’ original message into something more sinister, and doesn’t skip any opportunities for sexual improprieties, either. But does it make any sense at all? Ian and Joseph hit the movie with everything they’ve got, and then give an emotional farewell to Neon Genesis Evangelion and the first season of The Human Instrumentality Podcast. Analysis: 15:15

After an ending that controversial you’d expect Neon Genesis Evangelion to be a flop, or a cult hit at best - right? Wrong. The series was a commercial juggernaut by the time it ended, and spawned two immediate follow-ups on the big screen. Ian and Joseph talk about the first of these, Death and Rebirth (Surprise! It’s another clip show!). More importantly, we take a minute to dissect the show’s immediate cultural impact, and how merchandise turned it from a word-of-mouth loss-leader into the enduring franchise it is today. It’s the death of art and its rebirth as content on this episode of The Human Instrumentality Podcast. No recaps in this episode - just love.

After taking a moment of gratitude for the heartwarming response The Human Instrumentality Podcast has received so far, Ian and Joseph share three pieces of news about the podcasts future. First, there will be an “after party” episode on May 19th, and we’re taking open submissions, both audio and text, from our listeners! If you’d like to share your thoughts about Neon Genesis Evangelion or The Human Instrumentality Podcast with us, please email us at humaninstrumentalitypod@gmail.com We’d love to hear from you! Second, we will be covering the Rebuild Quadrilogy, and we’ll be doing so with the help of some secret and special guests! Call it Season One (Point) Five. Stay tuned for more info on that soon. Finally, a teaser for the second season of The Human Instrumentality Podcast, in which we’ll cover an entirely different subject in the world of anime.

At last, we reach the divisive and frustrating climax of Neon Genesis Evangelion. In a pair of avant-garde episodes, the show abandons its sci-fi action premise entirely and leans all the way into the psychedelic clip show mania of its “Angel Interrogation” sequences. Joseph and Ian break this cavalcade of images and references down as best they can, and recap the well-publicized but little-understood production issues that led to these episodes. Sure, they’re odd, but do they abandon the plot and disregard the audience? Either way, it just wouldn’t be Eva without them but according to your hosts, the finale of the show is better than you remember. Analysis: 14:19

We’re in the end game now: David Cronenberg, the Aum Shinrikyo gas attack and more maternity imagery converge in Rei’s big boss fight. Then, Eva introduces its charismatic, queer ringer character, Kaworu Nagisa. Joseph and Ian go to bat for ADV’s more loving translation of Kaworu’s dialog and talk about the importance of LGBTQIA+ representation in anime, especially in America. If that wasn’t enough, the hosts get into the philosophical history of the 20th century after an extended dalliance with Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony. Analysis: 16:54

Prepare yourselves, listeners - this one is a doozy. Evangelion serves up a heaping dollop of back story and indulges in its most sadistic episode, bar none. Joseph pours one out for Asuka and digs into the show’s surrealist sexual assault boss fight from a survivor’s perspective. Ian takes Gendo out back after unpacking his absolute embodiment of the millennial scammer ideal. Plus - What do Eva and Tarkovsky’s Stalker have in common? It all comes down to a very contentious elevator. (CW: Sexual abuse.) Analysis: 13:26 Source: Super Eyepatch Wolf - “In Defense of the Elevator Scene from Evangelion” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNLA_TxBvi8)

Viewers seeking white-knuckle action have reached the promised land with regard to Neon Genesis Evangelion. Zeruel, Shinji’s toughest opponent yet, might just be the most O.P. angel, and in episodes 17 and 18. Ian and Joseph sync at 400% when discussing his winning personality, and how he gets Unit 01 to come out in Beast Mode. Then, Eva’s psychedelic side returns, prompting the hosts to dig in on Shinji’s mommy dearest. Analysis: 15:28

In episodes 15 and 16, Neon Genesis Evangelion raises the bar on brutality, both emotionally and visually. The fight scene in this pair of episodes caused a minor scandal in Japan when they aired thanks to a literal river of blood. After a brief production note, Ian and Joseph go deeper than the gore, to talk about the long hinted-at Dummy Plug system, and the way that Eva makes big drama out of masculinity crises and generation gaps in its main cast. Is it a critique, or just cruelty? Why not both! No discussion of this part of the show is complete without paying tribute to tracksuit bae, Toji Suzahara. Ian takes point on unpacking his transformation from bully to bumbling oaf, to tragic figure. Recap: 03:32 Analysis: 19:37

How is it that a sublime science fiction action series like Neon Genesis Evangelion comes into its full powers with an episode about getting drunk at a wedding? Your hosts double down on the millennial perspective on Evangelion’s most character-driven episode thus far. Then it’s time to one of Eva’s most iconic episodes, its enigmatic angel, and the “Train of Thought” that will become a major motif for the remainder of the series. Joseph does his best to vigorously regurgitate the entirety of his Existentialist Philosophy 101 course, while Ian muses on the mercurial merits of Liliel, a beloved Angel which somehow disappears from most other adaptations of Eva. Analysis: 19:10

The trio of teenagers at the heart of Neon Genesis Evangelion take a back-seat this week, giving your hosts the opportunity to survey one of the show’s most subtle characters: Dr. Ritsuko Akagi. Then, Joseph gives Ian an even more research-heavy run-down of the various occult and religious references at the core of Eva’s lore, including the Dead Sea Scrolls, theosophic names, and other touchstones in pop culture that draw from the same sources, including Norwegian Black Metal, and horror films like Hereditary. And while your hosts are feeling factual, a quick diversion into the often-irritating anime tradition of clip shows episodes. Analysis: 12:12 Discussing The Kabbalah & Mysticism

Neon Genesis Evangelion closes its first half with a pair of tightly edited showdowns, one that gives its secondary cast plenty of moments to shine, and one that foregrounds Misato Katsuragi. Ian and Joseph take this opportunity to re-examine Katsuragi, her backstory, her uncommon resonance with the millennial generation, and the small touches that make her maybe the best-written character in Eva. First, your hosts speculate at the hinted-at daily lives of “the bridge crew,” and evaluate the tight-but-hyperactive editing pace that makes Eva’s humor work - and why it only works in the animated medium. Finally, no breakdown of episodes 11 and 12 would be complete without unpacking the cataclysmic “Second Impact” that defines Eva’s worldbuilding Analysis: 13:38

With Asuka firmly in the pilot’s seat, Neon Genesis Evangelion enters peak action series mode. Ian and Joseph discuss how these episodes constitute a sort-of-soft reboot of the show, recalibrating its dramatic throughlines. They also take a deeper dive into Asuka, and the insecurities that make her such a divisive but beloved character. Later, your hosts - both music journalists - finally take the plunge into Eva’s eclectic and electrifying soundtrack, from its indelible opening theme, “Cruel Angel’s Thesis,” to its interpretation of the Frank Sinatra classic Fly Me to the Moon” - and why Netflix viewers won’t get to hear it. Analysis: 11:03 Music Talk: 38:10

In episodes 7 and 8, Neon Genesis Evangelion hits its low point in your hosts’ shared opinion. At the same time, the series introduces its third lead character, Asuka Langley Soryu, and her mentor Ryoji Kaji, both among the most enduring icons the series has produced. Ian and Joseph take this opportunity to discuss the politics of the show — is it oddly conservative, or hawkish? Maybe! — as well as the first bits of its religious lore. Evangelion’s use of Hebrew and early Christian mythology is also a sticking point for fans; some feel it’s integral to understanding the plot (and the worldview the series expresses) while others feel it’s meaningless set dressing amounting to a red herring. Your hosts look at both sides of the argument. Analysis: 11:53

In a pair of taut, action-packed episodes, Neon Genesis Evangelion earns its reputation as a high-stakes science fiction action show. While your hosts espouse its merits, they also take a critical look at the second Eva pilot, Rei Ayanami. She’s a fan-favorite character, but her role in the series is far from cut and dry. Joseph and Ian also unpack Evangelion’s relationship to Godzilla movies - Hideaki Anno would later direct a Godzilla film. At the same time, your hosts take a quick tour through the various failed efforts at creating an Evangelion movie in America - it’s a convoluted story that involves James Cameron, Peter Jackson’s collaborators at Studio Weta, and possibly Guillermo Del Toro, whose movie Pacific Rim bears more than a passing resemblance to these episodes of Eva. Analysis: 13:02 Discussing Rei Ayanami: 21:28 Discussing Live Action Evangelion Adaptations: 37:53 Sources: * 27 Live Action Weta Produced Designs for Evangelion (http://legacy.aintitcool.com/node/16790) * Show the Monster - Guillermo del Toro’s quest to get amazing creatures onscreen (https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2011/02/07/show-the-monster)

Neon Genesis Evangelion enters its “monster of the week” phase, now that the table has been set. The show also begins to roll out less-central characters and expand on its setting. Joseph and Ian point out the show’s intricate worldbuilding, as well as the first of several philosophers it will openly quote: Arthur Schopenhauer. Your hosts also begin to dive deep into the main character, Shinji Ikari, and the way that the action in the series mirrors his psychological development. Analysis: 8:34

In the action-packed two-part opening to the series, Neon Genesis Evangelion introduces monstrious angels, humanoid robots, and a ton of characters and terminology. Joseph and Ian bushwack through the weeds, highlighting the principle cast and sci-fi stakes that will persist throughout Eva, not to mention it's grumpy and adorable mascott, Pen-Pen the penguin. After the plot recap, your hosts give a little context on how Japan's unqiue history as the only country to ever survive a nuclear attack informs the show. Recap: 00:00 Analysis: 10:05

Your hosts Ian Cory and Joseph Schafer introduce themselves and then answer one burning question: why would two grown men make a podcast about the beguiling and beloved anime Neon Genesis Evangelion? To find the answer, we unpack the history of Japanese animation beginning in the aftermath of World War Two up through the early '90s. We especially focus on "mecha," the anime sub genre focusing on giant robots, from its earliest incarnations like Tetsujin 28-Go though beloved franchises like Mazinger Z, Macross and Mobile Suit Gundam. Along the way we tell the story of Hideaki Anno, a young animator who worked with Hayao Miyazaki at Studio Ghibli before directing Evangelion. We touch on his well-documented strggle with mental illness, and how that informed one of the finest television series of all time.