Chatty AF 199: 2023 Fall Wrap-Up (WITH TRANSCRIPT)

CAITLIN: Hello and welcome to Chatty AF: The Anime Feminist Podcast. We’re wrapping up fall of 2023. I virtually stated “winter of 2023” as a result of it’s now winter. We’ve obtained a lot stuff to speak about, so we’re simply gonna blast by it! I’m Caitlin. I’m the neighborhood supervisor at Anime Feminist. I additionally write opinions for Anime Information Community. I additionally edit every now and then when I’ve the time, which sadly is just not very a lot just lately. And in the present day I’m joined by Toni and Peter.

TONI: Hello, I’m Toni. I’m an editor at AniFem. You could find me on Twitter, Instagram, and different social platforms @poetpedagogue.

PETER: And I’m Peter Fobian. I’m YouTube technique and content material at Crunchyroll, and I’m an editor right here at Anime Feminist. I’m @PeterFobian on Bluesky now.

CAITLIN: Alright. So, we’ve obtained a lot to speak about, as a result of there’s a variety of exhibits this season and all of us watched lots, with not really a ton of overlap, so there will likely be some monologuing. We’re gonna attempt to preserve it quick in the present day. Proper, guys? Gender-neutral “guys”?

PETER: Doing our greatest.

CAITLIN: So, I simply wish to do a fast check-in. We often skip over Pit of Disgrace, however I do wish to point out A Lady and Her Guard Canine. You understand, it ended precisely the way in which you suppose it might. At its coronary heart, it’s a fetish anime! You understand? When you’re not into age hole, don’t watch it. When you’re not into pseudo-incest, don’t watch it. That’s actually all there may be to say about it. The animation melted a lot by the top that it’s really fairly enjoyable for a hate-watch, since you preserve going “the entire off-model faces in these supposedly attractive moments are loopy!” They utterly disintegrate. I do wish to level out actual fast that— If that is one thing you’re into. It’s nonetheless not an excellent present. However I did recognize that they sort of do handle the expertise hole, as a result of, spoilers: they get collectively on the finish!

PETER: (deadpan) Oh, actually? Wow.

CAITLIN: And he’s an grownup man. He has had intercourse earlier than, many occasions. And so, his expectations are “Okay, this woman and I are getting collectively. Let’s have intercourse.” And so they kinda must work by that. So I did recognize that about it. Nevertheless it’s nonetheless not an excellent anime by any stretch of the creativeness!

So let’s transfer on in the direction of Protocol: Rain! So, I’m additionally going to monologue about this one. I haven’t watched the final episode but as a result of I used to be touring across the holidays after which premieres began. It’s not good! It will get fairly wild in the direction of the top. There’s a complete massive melodrama about how this man needs the primary character— God, I can’t consider any of the characters’ names, so… This man needs the primary character to turn out to be knowledgeable esports participant, and to do this he has to solid off every little thing he needs to do. And the little sister, he says, might be psychosomatically disabled, as a result of she actually needs her older brother to maintain her and there’s a variety of screaming “No!” within the rain. 

At one level, she crawls out the door and falls down the steps of their condo constructing and he finds her face down on the backside of the steps, in a puddle, and he takes her into the bathe. And I’m similar to, “No! Don’t do this! She most likely has a spinal damage! If she was solely psychosomatically disabled earlier than, she might very nicely be for-real paralyzed now after you’ve finished this.” Don’t transfer individuals who have fallen down who may need a neck damage, guys. Simply don’t do it. So, yeah, the little sister stuff will get so bizarre. It’s so unusual.

PETER: Actually pulling away from the esports.

CAITLIN: Yeah. The esports is like no matter. All of it goes into drama. The actress woman’s… her supervisor needs her to cease taking part in as a result of what if somebody finds out. It’s a battle together with her picture. And I really feel like you can dig into that, the place she has to surrender issues in her life with the intention to achieve success. And it’s not like a time factor (the place) you possibly can’t have each as a result of they battle with one another. The battle is it’s a must to placed on this public persona of being hyperfeminine and taking part in esports is counter to that. Which… I don’t wish to spend an excessive amount of time on this present, as a result of it’s not an excellent present. I’m not recommending it. However that’s sort of a multitude. (Chuckles) And there’s something that we might unpack lots there if we actually wished to, however I don’t really feel like that’s a very productive dialogue. And so, let’s transfer as much as…

TONI: That is what Vrai has to say about KamiErabi GOD.app, which is Yoko Taro’s anime this season. Vrai says: “I’m fairly positive I’m the one individual on Earth watching this, regardless of it in some way getting a continuation. I wished to shout it out as a result of whereas it’s not getting a proper rec, I actually prefer it. I’d nonetheless primarily suggest it to different individuals with Yoko Taro brainworms, however it’s additionally simply probably the most fascinating take I’ve seen on the dying sport idea in years. It feels prefer it has precise compassion for its characters despite the occasional edgelord-ish aptitude and the sort of hopeful melancholia I affiliate with Yoko Taro’s works. 

Did I roll my eyes when there was a monologue about Schrödinger’s cat delivered by the antagonist to his saintly blind sister? Completely, however in an affectionate means. I did discover myself wishing it had been a sport fairly than an anime. The aesthetic is placing, however it does look unavoidably janky in a means that will really feel extra forgivable in an interactive medium. Additionally, the opening and ending: each jams. Additionally, take this with a grain of salt as a result of my data of Japanese is pretty rudimentary, however it does sort of trouble me that the protagonist’s acquainted, Lall, is known as ‘she’ within the subtitles when, practically as I’ve been capable of hear, the dialogue both avoids pronouns or makes use of oblique language like ‘koitsu’ when speaking about them. Presumably, there was a nuance I missed that the translator caught, however it did stick out.” Alright, these have been Vrai’s notes on KamiErabi GOD.app.

CAITLIN: Now, y’all can discuss The 100 Girlfriends Who Actually, Actually, Actually, Actually, Actually Love You.

TONI: By the point this comes out, it is going to be clear that we’re not placing it on our suggestions web page, and I assume I ought to clarify why, even though I used to be very glowing in my three-episode evaluate. So, I imply, there’s some actually apparent issues. The factor is that this present is fairly nicely written. By way of comedy it is rather humorous. A lot of the ladies are nice. However then, the final two arcs have launched two ladies who’re much less nice. Um… I neglect her identify. Chemistry woman. What’s chemistry woman’s identify? Is it Kutsuri? Kusuri?

PETER: (crosstalk) Yeah, it’s Kusuri, as a joke, yeah.

TONI: Why is {that a} joke, behind “Kusuri”?

PETER: (crosstalk) Yakuzen Kusuri. “Kusuri” means drugs.

TONI: Oh, in fact. She’s drugs woman. Yeah, so, I imply, her entire shtick is that she medication individuals with out their consent, after which they’ve all these bizarre uncomfortable side effects and hate the truth that she drugged them with out their consent after which they abandon her. And he or she’s all scarred from having individuals abandon her for drugging them with out their consent, generally in sexual methods.

CAITLIN: (crosstalk) Maybe she ought to cease doing that!

TONI: Yeah, perhaps!

CAITLIN: Maybe she ought to cease doing that.

TONI: After which Rentaro’s response is to not be like, “Hey! Let’s work out different methods so that you can experiment with this that don’t require human topics or require individuals with out their consent.” No, his response is “I’ll all the time assist you clear up any mess you’re in.” That isn’t an excellent mindset. It virtually jogs my memory of after we have a look at, for instance, conditions like Nicki Minaj, who covers for her abuser boyfriend, or simply all these conditions the place individuals cowl for his or her abuser companions and it’s simply represented as this act of affection when it’s not; it’s enabling! Yeah, I fucking hate her. I despise her as a personality. The one good factor that got here out of her arc is when Hakari imagined what it might be like if she obtained the titty progress juice and it’s simply probably the most absurd eldritch horror you’ve ever seen. And that was very humorous. However, you recognize, that’s like mainly saying one of the best character within the present—Hakari, objectively—salvaged a tiny little grain of gold from the worst character within the present.

After which, the final arc with Hakari’s mother… apparent age-gap downside, apparent pedophilia downside. I’m not even gonna go into that. Not value it. However the different difficulty is simply that a variety of the present is about these horizontal relationships between the women, particularly for Hakari, provided that her and tsundere woman… there’s a working gag that they’re really in love with one another just about as a lot as they’re in love with Rentaro. It’s closely— They kiss, they snuggle up collectively and make out of their sleep… It’s sort of a working gag that they’re each bisexual, which, you recognize… Gag bisexuality, particularly for feminine bisexual characters, is beginning to annoy me like after, I don’t know, seeing it in The Good Place and now on this. However it’s good that they’re bisexual. Don’t get me improper; I like that. 

However then, to have Hakari’s mother turn out to be one of many girlfriends introduces every kind of issues. I don’t know if you have to be within the cuck chair when you watch your mother fuck your boyfriend, to be very vulgar about it. Proper? Conditions like which can be what might come up, proper? And I don’t wish to take into consideration that. That’s bizarre. All types of issues are simply arising from this that I don’t like. Is it nonetheless nicely written? Sure. Did I nonetheless cry at sure factors? Sure. However is it one thing that I might suggest on a feminist anime web site? Completely not. (Chuckles)

PETER: That’s truthful. I’m inquisitive about what you considered the crossdressing gag in… was that the final episode?

TONI: Oh, I believed that was very humorous. I favored that. I favored that. I feel I largely favored that as a result of I obtained to see Nano in that completely superb prince outfit.

PETER: Yeah, I feel it kinda began out the place I used to be like “Uh-oh,” however then I do suppose it wrapped up properly by having the mother go, “Properly, if he’s unconscious, then we have to deliver him again by having Ai Nano costume up like a prince after which kiss him to deliver him again to life.” (Chuckles) I used to be like, “Wow, that’s some superb inside logic. That’s excellent.”

TONI: And it actually fakes you out as a result of it makes you suppose that she’s having intercourse with him.

PETER: Sure. Oh, yeah, earlier than that. Yeah, the scene implies that they’re having intercourse, when she’s dressing him up in a schoolgirl outfit.

TONI: Proper. Which is an fascinating bait-and-switch. Morally impartial. I don’t have any emotions about it apart from being like, “Okay, that occurred.” Wasn’t significantly humorous. After which in fact there’s the entire peeping factor, however, you recognize, it’s like… Yeah, all the women have an arc the place they peep on Rentaro. You understand? Yeah. That’s what occurs within the final episode.

PETER: Yeah. And it does a variety of fascinating stuff with romcom tropes, however on the identical time, it’s utilizing these romcom tropes and finally ends up falling into the pitfall, even when it kinda fakes you out on the finish.

TONI: Yeah. And the factor is that I feel the present is saying some fascinating issues about polyamory, and about polyamory and particularly poisonous monogamy tradition, or how monogamy tradition can— And gosh, I do know I’m utilizing a really discourse-laden time period however… For instance, Hakari’s mother’s arc being that if she began having intercourse with different individuals or relationship different individuals, that’s like betraying the reminiscence of her lifeless boyfriend. Which, I believed it was fascinating to consider how concepts of jealousy and monogamy and “You may solely love one individual” forestall an individual from grieving and mourning and totally transferring on. I believed that was a very fascinating thought. However once more, the present is… As I stated, it’s not a poorly written present; it’s only a present I might not suggest to Anime Feminist individuals.

CAITLIN: Otherwise you wouldn’t suggest it on a feminist degree.

TONI: Precisely. That might be a greater means of placing it, yeah. On a feminist degree, it doesn’t work, no.

CAITLIN: However that doesn’t preclude it from being an excellent present.

TONI: Yeah. And it additionally doesn’t preclude it from sure individuals within the Anime Feminist neighborhood liking it.

CAITLIN: Okay. So let’s transfer ahead to The Yuzuki Household’s 4 Sons, which I’ve additionally… I’m additionally the one one who watched it. This one, I additionally have to nonetheless watch the final episode. Nonetheless a stunning present. Considered one of my better of the 12 months, truthfully. Not lots new to say about it this time round.

So let’s transfer as much as Tearmoon Empire, which I’m in some way the one individual on this present watching it.

PETER: To be truthful, I’ve watched the opening like 300 occasions.

CAITLIN: (Chuckles) I imply, the opening does sort of give the vibe that you just’re in search of.

PETER: It’s an excellent opening.

CAITLIN: Yeah. What can I say about Tearmoon Empire? It’s a very enjoyable present. It continued to be enjoyable to the top. Political revolution and what’s occurring there… It was just a little disappointing to me that, spoilers, it didn’t end up that the revolution was simply because Mia was a crappy empress, as a result of I personally suppose that that could be a completely legitimate cause and if she doesn’t wish to be executed, she ought to study to be a greater empress, which is sort of what the present is about, besides that it was about her selfishly attempting to keep away from dying and simply changing into an empress within the course of and fooling everybody into pondering that she was actually good and canny when she was really simply fairly dopey—which is enjoyable! It’s a enjoyable premise. I don’t really feel like I’ve a complete ton to say about it. You understand? Possibly somebody will disagree. Possibly somebody could have extra to say about it. I’m positive it’ll come up in our suggestions.

PETER: It’s an excellent romp.

CAITLIN: So… Yeah. Yeah, it’s enjoyable! It’s tremendous enjoyable. It’s obtained fairly strong animation. I actually take pleasure in Mia. It’s humorous. It’s not the sort of sequence that I feel goes to stay in my head very nicely. It’s… I don’t wish to say it’s customary, as a result of I prefer it greater than a variety of different sequence. Nevertheless it has the identical sort of tone as a variety of the Regency-ish, villainess-ish sequence which can be out today. Are you aware what I imply? Like MagiRevo, for instance. It’s sort of the identical vibes, the place there’s this massive solid of background characters they usually’re all actually enjoyable however they’ve obtained the shallow characterization. It’s obtained that artwork fashion. You understand, the primary character is a complete doofus, no ideas, head empty, and everybody adores her. You understand?

PETER: Yeah.

CAITLIN: Yeah. It’s an excellent present. I like to recommend it.

So, subsequent up, Peter, do you’ve got something to say about Shangri-La Frontier?

PETER: Not a lot. Possibly I ought to deliver up that it seems that— Promoted within the OP and all the important thing artwork stuff is one man and two ladies, who’re kinda just like the central trio of the sequence. They lastly launched the short-haired, blonde, punchy woman who, it seems… I don’t know if I want to offer… is performed by a boy, and the reveal for that’s very matter of truth. There’s no jokes about it or something. They’re simply saying, like, “Oh, he simply likes to play woman characters,” and even explains it to an NPC like “You shouldn’t decide individuals primarily based on appearances,” which I don’t know if I wish to say is outstanding or simply exceeded what I used to be anticipating to be the reveal if you’re provided that data. So there’s that. In any other case, it’s simply a variety of “Did you want Sword Artwork On-line? Properly, we’re doing that too.”

CAITLIN: Oh, nicely, I didn’t like Sword Artwork On-line, so…

PETER: I gotta give it credit score the place credit score’s due. That’s what I’ll say. The tip.

CAITLIN: So, subsequent up, I’m going to monologue just a little bit extra for a pair extra exhibits, it appears to be like like, about Paradox Stay: The Animation, which isn’t an excellent present.

PETER: Wait, is that this a brand new revelation? I bear in mind you saying it had a variety of good characters.

CAITLIN: (Chuckles) No, it’s not a—

PETER: (crosstalk) Was it… It had a variety of good characters however it wasn’t fascinating, was the issue?

CAITLIN: Yeah, it’s not a brand new revelation. It’s undoubtedly the identical factor that I’ve been saying because the starting. However I did watch the final episode, minutes earlier than recording. And it simply— (Sighs) It’s an ensemble present that doesn’t know the way to juggle its ensemble. If now we have time, I’ll discuss Hypnosis Mic, as a result of I can’t assist evaluating the 2. They’re each about rap battles, literal rap battles! That’s all there may be to— I can not assist the comparisons. Hypnosis Mic is aware of the way to juggle its ensemble lots higher. It nonetheless had the problem the place the primary characters have been probably the most boring group, that truthfully had the least occurring. I don’t perceive why they’re the primary characters. In the long run, the large reveal is about a wholly completely different group. And so they actually simply wander up after which they are saying some platitudes, and every little thing is okay. 

The ending twist comes— There’s an ending twist about Cozmez, the twins, or… Yeah, I feel they’re twins, which I assume is decently foreshadowed. However there’s a complete factor about how this man needs to make use of phantometal to merge everybody’s consciousnesses. Simply… it’s the Instrumentality Mission, slash, it’s Code Geass, slash, no matter. It’s the very same conclusion as, like, each single different sequence that does one thing comparable, the place they are saying, “We’ve got to consider our group and love our buddies. However on the identical time, we’re all people and we don’t wish to turn out to be an precise literal hive thoughts. And thus, we should battle in opposition to it.” Which, I imply, that’s high-quality. That’s just about appropriate. I don’t wish to turn out to be a hive thoughts, regardless of what individuals might say about us at Anime Feminist.

(Chuckling)

CAITLIN: Nevertheless it’s simply… it’s not unique. The characters that I’m desirous about by no means actually get their arcs. My boy Hokusai and Saimon, two characters who’re simply so made for me in numerous methods, their backstories aren’t revealed. Considered one of them’s a widower! I like widowers! They’re so unhappy in such an interesting means! (Chuckles) So, Paradox Stay, not excellent. It’s a fairly present. I’m disillusioned. I wished it to be good.

However you recognize what is sweet? Overtake! However I don’t even have that a lot to speak about almost about this present, with this specific dialogue. I do suppose it’s legitimately a very, actually good present. I didn’t put it in my prime 5 for the season, however it’s undoubtedly the most effective of the season. It’s obtained lots to say about recovering from trauma. Even— It talks a bit— So, the primary character, Kouya, he has trauma. He has a tough time taking photos of human topics as a result of when the large tsunami hit in 2011, he took an image of this woman who was about to get swallowed up, and he obtained a ton of criticism. And it’s the identical stuff that photojournalists all the time get. “Why didn’t you assist them? Why did you simply sit there and take photos when somebody was dying?” although— I personally suppose photojournalists do a very essential job. It’s essential to doc these sorts of issues. And what was he going to do to avoid wasting this little woman from a tsunami? He would have simply gotten swallowed up, too. However individuals don’t suppose that means. They simply suppose, “Why didn’t you save her?” and—

PETER: (crosstalk) “I might’ve saved her.”

CAITLIN: (Chuckles) Yeah. “I would’ve saved her! I might’ve leapt within the path of this enormous wall of water that killed tons of, hundreds, and dodged… and I might’ve finished a roll, I might’ve tucked and rolled, and I might have been okay!” So, a variety of the plot is about him recovering from that in parallel with Haruka transferring ahead from his personal father’s dying and his survivor guilt—as a result of it’s all the time survivor guilt. And it’s only a actually lovely present. I did have a thought as I watched: oh, man, persons are gonna ship these two, aren’t they? Though one’s a full-ass grownup and one is a highschool pupil. Goddammit, persons are gonna ship this. Which, you recognize, shippers are gonna ship.

PETER: I’ve the same criticism in a while on this podcast.

CAITLIN: (Chuckles) To its credit score, it didn’t really feel prefer it was doing the Tiger & Bunny ship-teasing factor. It felt extra like— There’s not only a easy technique to sum up their relationship. It’s two individuals who wanted one another, whose issues labored in such a means the place they have been capable of carry one another up. It’s a friendship, however it’s one thing greater than that, however it’s not romantic. It doesn’t really feel actually familial both. It’s not mentor and… mentee (I’ve been watching 30 Rock). It’s simply, you recognize, they’ve this bond that isn’t actually simply definable, which I feel is de facto fascinating.

PETER: Yeah. Kinda like Sweetness and Lightning.

CAITLIN: Yeah! Kinda like that. I might say, that’s a good… It’s an honest parallel. It’s an honest parallel.

So let’s transfer up in the direction of My New Boss Is Goofy. Toni.

TONI: Boss Is Goofy is… I imply, it’s kinda the identical as the place we have been within the midseason, the place it’s simply very candy, very ship-teasy, however nonetheless queer individuals do exist on this world, as represented by Kinjo. Love him to dying. He’s nonetheless flirty and fruity, which I recognize as a mixture. And the 2 co-protagonists are nonetheless basically a married couple dwelling collectively. The present ends and— I imply, spoiler alert. He strikes out however into the next-door condo, to allow them to nonetheless mainly act like a married couple, solely simply come over at any time when, like they’re a sitcom discovered household. I nonetheless discover the senior boss to be a one-note character who’s annoying, and I kinda want that he would recover from himself, as a result of his entire shtick is any time different persons are having pleasure, he’s like, “However no person will ever love me.” After which another person needs to be like “I’ll love you!” for him to not simply fall right into a void of despair. Which, I don’t know. I don’t wish to blame individuals for their very own psychological sickness, but in addition if that’s your total character, I feel this present must do a greater job of writing that character.

CAITLIN: Do one thing with that self-loathing.

TONI: Proper! As a result of—

CAITLIN: Like, do some— Yeah.

TONI: As a result of I feel on one hand, there does have to be room for characters with psychological sickness in exhibits, that simply sort of exist inside the present and it doesn’t must be fastened for them to be a part of the discovered household within the present, proper? However I want to see some character improvement, goddammit! However in any case, Boss Is Goofy is ok. I prefer it. It’s an excellent present. It made my suggestion checklist. Yeah. I nonetheless stand by my evaluate the place I stated it’s fujoshi bait.

CAITLIN: That’s a scorching take.

TONI: I imply, is it, although, when actually there’s a personality within the first episode who’s like our point-of-view… not a point-of-view character, however mainly an viewers surrogate girl who appears to be like on the two co-protagonists (and is) like, “Oh, my God! Shirosaki’s harassing him!” with a giant smile on her face. Like, it’s not even hiding it. In any case, transferring on.

CAITLIN: Shifting on to Migi & Dali, which I imagine you two each watched and has been really useful to me as a result of apparently it handles the dual factor really very well.

TONI: Yeah. Inform me your perspective, Peter. I’ve been speaking lots.

PETER: Oh, I’ll simply say, yeah, Caitlin, I used to be particularly pondering of you within the later improvement the place… You understand, I do know your emotions towards twins, particularly similar twins, and it appeared just like the final arc was sort of made for you with regard to the way it treats the event of their relationship and each of them as people.

CAITLIN: I imply, is it extra fascinating than “Everybody thinks of those two twins as the identical, however they’re really completely different individuals they usually must forge their very own identities”?

PETER: Properly, everybody does actually consider them as the identical as a result of they’ve been masquerading as a single individual and switching locations. However I feel what it comes all the way down to is it’s them each starting to understand that they’ve been… they’re actually… I imply, clearly they’re very shut, they usually’ve actually been counting on one another as a result of that’s how they’ve survived up till this level, they usually had this singular purpose that’s outlined all of their actions. However because the story develops, I feel they start to need various things in relation to that purpose, and that begins to drag them aside as a result of one among them continues to be bent on revenge and the opposite one sort of decides that revenge isn’t as essential to him, as a result of revenge to them was a way of reaching a brand new happiness, proper? 

And their strategies… They begin to argue lots about their strategies and what they’re keen to do or sacrifice to realize this purpose. And that basically creates a rift between the 2 of them. So, for the primary time they’re preventing. And finally they get to the purpose the place they only go, “Clearly, we are able to’t work collectively. We’re too completely different now. We will’t work collectively on this purpose anymore.” And so they have to return round to appreciating their variations and… I wouldn’t say “treating one another as completely different individuals” however recognizing that there’s worth of their variations, the place beforehand they discovered a lot energy in with the ability to collaborate and sort of obfuscate their completely different identities with different individuals. So I feel what shines by actually strongly is them saying, “Properly, us being brothers, an important factor is that we would like one another to be pleased it doesn’t matter what, and we’re going to be very completely different individuals, so irrespective of how completely different we turn out to be, we nonetheless have that connection.” So, I feel you’ll prefer it, if you happen to watch it.

TONI: I’ll additionally say, I feel the dual factor… That arc of differentiation is a bit more thematically resonant as a result of their entire changing into the identical individual was a coping mechanism and survival technique for surviving the organized abandonment they have been experiencing as, I assume, adoptive youngsters previously within the foster care system. So, it was very… I discovered it actually thematically resonant.

PETER: Yeah, the entire conceit of them even pretending to be one individual is that just one individual goes to get adopted so it’s the one technique to keep collectively. So, I don’t suppose it was like they have been doing it for enjoyable or something. They have been similar to, “That is how we don’t get separated completely.” (Chuckles) Outdoors of that, it’s sort of troublesome to investigate, at the least from the place I’m sitting, simply because the ending… I imply, I cherished it. Nevertheless it simply obtained so on the market and actually leaned into this loopy swap between this ludicrous, virtually humorous, surrealist fashion and this beautiful horrific narrative and occasions, like real individuals getting murdered on display, and going between these two close to the top. I feel it actually balanced out nicely. The ending was actually nice, the final three or 4 episodes, however I don’t know if I’ve a lot to say critically about it, in addition to the truth that it was simply enormous.

TONI: Yeah, I’ll say it was like no different anime I’ve ever seen. And I imply that in the easiest way potential. Completely improbable anime. I feel that the event of Migi and Dali as characters and the way they modify is extremely compelling. I feel Dali is unquestionably trans. There’s a complete factor the place he likes to crossdress.

PETER: Even on the very finish, the epilogue, they only match it in once more. Yeah.

TONI: Yeah, they do. Sally is a part of the household! Yeah, no, I actually love Migi & Dali. It’s making my top-five-of-the-year checklist. Most of my ideas about what’s so superb about it are within the midseason podcast. You may take heed to that. Briefly, it’s only a actually highly effective investigation of how individuals address organized abandonment after which how do individuals come collectively to withstand that and attempt to discover a means out. I like it a lot.

PETER: Oh, it could be value mentioning— I really feel like a number of the— I don’t actually… That is simply one thing I wish to deliver up. I don’t actually really feel very strongly about this. However I do suppose it sort of framed the villain as being like—

TONI: (crosstalk) Oh, yeah. We do have to speak about that.

PETER: —a lady who’s sort of twisted by the truth that she’s “barren” and may’t give beginning to youngsters, which sort of turns her into this monster who brings about all of the occasions within the plot, which is simply, yeah, not too nice, however I don’t suppose it made it a giant a part of the…

TONI: Properly, there’s that, but in addition, I feel what ameliorates {that a} bit is a few issues. I feel, to start with, it’s very clear that she is extraordinarily invested particularly sorts of beliefs of womanhood, proper, and noticed her job as to sort of mentor different individuals in these beliefs of womanhood. Proper? After which finally, that sort of position turns into this, virtually, “I have to make your complete city conform to my thought of the nuclear household.”

PETER: Yeah, yeah. It was sort of half and parcel to her perfectionism.

TONI: Yeah. Migi & Dali is de facto good. Watch it. (Chuckles)

CAITLIN: So, we’re transferring on. Are there something within the notes about I’m Giving the Disgraced Noble Woman I Rescued a Crash Course in Naughtiness?

TONI: No. No.

CAITLIN: Something to say about that? Nope? Alright. So—

TONI: (dreary) Ah, Frieren.

CAITLIN: Let’s transfer as much as Frieren, which I’m nonetheless behind on. Received by the demon arc.

TONI: (Obscured by crosstalk)

CAITLIN: I did get by the demon arc. I really feel like that’s been mentioned lots. I simply wish to say, I feel it’s a probably actually fascinating idea, however they didn’t observe by with it as a lot as they need to have. They let an excessive amount of human society creep into how the demons interacted with one another on the earth, and due to this fact it didn’t come by, I feel, and had a variety of the identical points that each fantasy sequence has with evil races.

TONI: Yep.

CAITLIN: Yep. Peter, do you’ve got something new to say about it so it’s not simply me rehashing what we’ve talked about?

PETER: Properly, bleeding just a little bit into the second cour right here, I do really feel prefer it’s sort of pulled again on… I imply, it nonetheless comes up, this factor— The fundamental system’s sort of simply turn out to be kind of a humorous journey sequence the place there’s sort of goofy interactions between the characters combined with extra critical moments, like there’s this dance scene that everyone’s been speaking about between Fern and Stark, the place clearly they’re doing a little romance between the characters. However I feel it’s sort of sliding backward into extra of an ordinary journey sequence, which if you happen to just like the interactions between the characters and naturally the attractive animation and stuff, and with the occasional reference to Himmel, then, I imply, it’s nonetheless good. Very just lately, they’ve moved into… they’re taking some kind of magical examination to get a certification in order that they will cross some kind of threshold, which simply feels prefer it’s about to enter a shounen-esque match arc, which I’m not too enthused about.

TONI: (Groans)

PETER: However that’s all to say, I feel these themes about temporality and mortality that it was specializing in within the early season—and I imply, it’s kinda onerous to proceed simply making this sequence nearly that—are sort of taking a backseat to simply present-day adventures, the celebration being kinda humorous and offbeat just a little bit and having little battle scenes.

TONI: (crosstalk) So that is no To Your Eternity.

PETER: No. Yeah, yeah. To Your Eternity undoubtedly had a thesis that it was sticking with. Frieren, I feel, is simply kinda like… It’s fantasy journey now. Yeah.

TONI: Yeah. I’m gonna be actually sincere. I’m by the demon arc now, and I simply genuinely don’t suppose that Frieren is as deep as individuals suppose it’s. And that’s all I actually must say.

CAITLIN: No. I prefer it, though my anime membership did determine to drop it. We have been simply too far behind. (Sighs) I’m most likely going to attempt to catch up.

PETER: I imply, it’s enjoyable.

CAITLIN: So let’s— I did drop Firefighter Daigo. It was simply too boring. It was so boring. And nobody’s watching it, so I can’t hear whether or not or not it’s gotten higher.

However let’s discuss Bullbuster for a second. There are a variety of sequence, a variety of tales, a variety of anime and in any other case, the place the primary enemy is a giant evil company. Proper?

TONI: Yeah.

CAITLIN: And the reply is all the time a plucky group of people must take them down in some way. Bullbuster is sort of that fundamental thought, however because the present goes, it delves extra into the structural causes that companies are actually onerous to knock down. Seems when an organization has some huge cash, they’ve a variety of techniques out there to them to keep away from penalties, comparable to shopping for out smaller firms that will oppose them, comparable to denying entry to sources, comparable to having the management and the power to cowl up their actions. And that’s what Bullbuster is about ultimately.

PETER: Okay, so, not a contented ending, I’m gathering?

CAITLIN: It’s on a comparatively small scale. The primary battle is on a comparatively small scale. It’s this one island and this one plant, so they can overcome the enemy by (Inhales sharply), let’s assume, direct motion to some, perhaps ecoterrorism to others.

PETER: Hell yeah. I like Last Fantasy VII.

CAITLIN: (Chuckles) It’s good. It’s actually good. So, it’s not a— The unhealthy guys don’t win, but in addition there’s this sense of “Properly, we took care of this downside, however they’ve managed to weasel their means out of actual penalties nonetheless.”

PETER: Okay. I can respect that.

CAITLIN: Yeah. “And they’re nonetheless an issue.”

PETER: That’s actual.

CAITLIN: Yeah. “However we’re going to take pleasure in this one victory that we’ve gotten.”

PETER: Yeah, so many of those sequence, I feel, don’t know what to do, as a result of they sort of have a recognition of that, the place they wish to discuss an issue they usually don’t have any concepts for an answer. So it simply ends like Deca-Dence, the place they only ask the federal government properly to utterly change itself, they usually’re similar to, “I used to be simply ready for any person to be well mannered.” So, yeah, I feel this sort of ending… I respect that extra, the place you’re like, “I don’t have the solutions however we are able to take small victories.” Yeah.

CAITLIN: Yeah, as a result of these sequence wish to sort out issues that don’t have options! Proper? We haven’t discovered the options in the actual world, so you possibly can’t simply create the answer out of skinny air in fiction if you happen to’re creating one thing that has a variety of parallels to the actual world.

PETER: Or at the least the answer we do have, perhaps they wouldn’t be cool with us broadcasting it on tv! (Chuckles)

CAITLIN: Yeah!

TONI: (crosstalk) Yeah. Was simply pondering that.

PETER: Yeah, yeah. Yeah. Mm-hm.

CAITLIN: Yeah, no, it actually goes into a variety of the instruments that massive firms have of their toolbox. Additionally, charismatic CEOs who’re actually good at saying the best issues.

PETER: I do suppose there’s worth in sort of… I’m referencing a podcast, Citations Wanted… however sort of revealing the instruments that companies use to misinform and manipulate public sentiment or get themselves out of hassle in order that they are often acknowledged in the actual world, too.

CAITLIN: Yeah. I do wish to do a fast replace concerning the factor that I used to be vital of within the midseason, the place the one character who was a giant stickler for the foundations was sort of being written as a ache within the butt. He was proper. Like, he was nonetheless a ache within the butt, however he did a variety of malicious compliance, which is one other device within the activist’s toolbox that you just don’t see a variety of in these sorts of tales. Yeah, no, it was actually cool. It’s not an excellent sequence to observe if you need simply “Grr, preventing mechas.” And the concept that a bipedal robotic is in some way extra helpful than a tank is foolish. Nevertheless it’s nonetheless— I actually, actually ended up liking what it was doing. I can’t consider something I’ve seen prefer it in anime. One factor I feel it might have gone into extra is how governments are additionally complicit if not energetic members in these sorts of issues. Like, the federal government was very fingers off with this, though perhaps that’s the political state of affairs in Japan. I don’t know an excessive amount of about company legislation there. Yeah, no, Bullbuster, actually good present.

One other present that has good concepts is Our Relationship Story: The Skilled You and the Inexperienced Me. Quite a lot of what I really feel about it’s the identical as what I stated within the midseason podcast, which is that it has an excellent coronary heart. It’s candy. It covers a variety of… It talks overtly about consent in relationships—and never simply consent however enthusiastic consent—and the way intercourse interacts with a variety of elements of relationships. It’s simply so boring! Runa and Ryuto are simply such boring characters!

PETER: It’d be cool if this story about consent had leads with chemistry—or fascinating leads.

CAITLIN: Yeah—

TONI: (crosstalk) Yeah, as a result of then— I wish to imagine that these individuals conceivably wish to fuck one another.

(Chuckling)

CAITLIN: There’s a line within the final episode the place somebody’s like, “Yeah, Runa, you and Ryuto actually appear to be the right match.” It’s like, yeah, as a result of they’re the 2 most boring individuals on the earth! (Sighs) There’s a number of different issues thrown in for drama, like there’s the entire drama together with her twin sister. They wish to Mum or dad Lure their mother and father. I would like the character writing of My Love Story, which is one other very, very candy romance however with actually partaking, enjoyable characters, grafted on to the storyline of this. I really feel like that could possibly be an excellent sequence. Additionally, sufficient with the candy, harmless gals, y’all. Come on. Gal subculture is a lot extra fascinating than that. Let’s really do one thing with it.

PETER: Placing out a name?

CAITLIN: Yeah. Shifting ahead, do now we have any notes about I’m in Love with the Villainess?

TONI: We do. I’ll go forward and browse these. So, Vrai says, about I’m in Love with the Villainess: “Functionally I’m on the identical place I used to be at midseason. This can be a massive outdated heartfelt mess by a queer creator feeling issues out, which makes it compelling. I’ll choose up the sunshine novel finally. There’s sadly a bonus warning now for romanticized sibling incest, which is mentioned however not proven. I rolled my eyes fairly onerous and it undoubtedly took me again to ‘80s, ‘90s manga the place artists obtained away with depicting optimistic queer romance by lumping it below the veneer of attractive forbidden love, which often needed to put up with some incest ships, too, due to that. I don’t suppose I’m going to suggest the anime, although. It’s visually stiff, it doesn’t lower something from the supply materials that will clean out the difference and make it stand by itself higher, and it ends when it feels prefer it’s lastly beginning to get into the good things. My understanding is it is because the second gentle novel’s very thick and fairly dense, in order that they actually pored over Guide 1 and barely obtained into Guide 2, however it makes for a irritating viewing expertise. Most likely go for the sunshine novel or manga as an alternative.” That’s Vrai’s ideas on Love with the Villainess. We will transfer on.

CAITLIN: Y’all, we are able to discuss Shy now. Until now we have notes about Stardust Telepath.

TONI: We do?

CAITLIN: Nevertheless it doesn’t seem to be anybody actually— Can we? It doesn’t seem to be anybody actually— I didn’t see anybody discussing that present. (Sighs) Sorry, yuri followers. It looks like this one simply didn’t get individuals’s consideration.

TONI: I wrote the advice for it, so you possibly can learn my suggestion. Simply usually, good present. I prefer it. I’ve written lots about it. You may learn any of my writing if you wish to know my ideas on it. Peter, what have been your ideas on Shy?

PETER: I don’t know. I… (Sighs) I’ve combined emotions concerning the sequence. I undoubtedly suppose a number of the facet character tales are actually good, particularly Pesha’s factor together with her mother and… I imply, the large climactic battle of the primary season took, what was that, like 4 or 5 episodes altogether. I believed that was actually good, though on the identical notice, it had a variety of emotional influence, but in addition once I give it some thought abstractly, I really feel prefer it was very ridiculous and emotionally manipulative together with her mother having probably the most tragic factor that might presumably occur ever taking place to her.

TONI: Do you imply the cake shock second?

PETER: Yeah, yeah. Properly, I imply her entire, like… orphan into single mother that may’t feed her child into being given a cake on Christmas miraculously so she might feed her hungry daughter after which being mainly simply murdered by a homeless man earlier than she can provide her daughter a Christmas cake.

TONI: (crosstalk) That sucks, yeah.

PETER: Yeah. So—

TONI: I’ll say, although, the— Yeah, proceed, proceed with what you have been saying.

PETER: Yeah, it’s similar to… It sort of jogged my memory of… Oh, what’s that sequence about…? There’s a sequence a few psychic woman that the lead in… It was a meme for some time as a result of any person had posted up a video the place it’s simply her backstory, which is the primary half of the primary episode and is probably the most ridiculously tragic sequence of occasions you can presumably think about, the place at a sure level you’re similar to, “I’m being emotionally manipulated proper now.” So, yeah, I imply, it labored, it had a variety of influence, however it’s nonetheless unclear what that is feeding into. 

And… See, I don’t know what to say. I really feel like I would want to observe the remainder of it earlier than I can actually make a dedication on whether or not all that is value it. I can undoubtedly— It labored from the emotional angle. I feel it was very nicely offered, and I used to be like, “Dang, that is actually unhappy. I’m actually unhappy.” And it had the catharsis on the finish when the battle kinda… you recognize, once they clear up her downside and present her that she was cherished and all that. Sadly, Shy, herself, I don’t suppose is a really… I don’t know if there’s lots to her. She’s like, “Sure, I’ve anxiousness,” however I don’t suppose the sequence may be very desirous about exploring that on the finish of the day. So, yeah, I don’t know the place I fall with it. I’m gonna take a look at Season 2. I’m desirous about the entire conceit of the villain, relying upon what the villain’s precise plan is and the way they carry that out. I hate— I really feel like I say this lots, however I kinda want to complete the present earlier than I wish to cross any judgment, you recognize?

TONI: Yeah, I imply, I don’t fully agree by way of the… I’ve very complicated emotions about poverty porn, for instance, as a result of, having labored with a variety of college students who’re in foster care or in these types of conditions, whereas on one hand I do suppose that— I stated this in my suggestion, that the view of foster care and orphanages within the present is extraordinarily rosy within the sense of whereas the children are there. Group properties usually are not a enjoyable place to be in actual life. Actually not enjoyable.

CAITLIN: What? You imply if you get a bunch of youngsters who’ve been by horrible stuff and put all of them in a spot along with inadequate grownup supervision, unhealthy issues can occur?

TONI: Yeah, you don’t say! And so, I feel that that pissed off me, however by way of the concept of after individuals lose even the tiny little help that they did have… as a result of the foster care system does present a slight quantity of help for these children, proper, versus being utterly on their very own, which is what occurs when foster children… typically, once they flip 18, the transitional course of is commonly very nonexistent. I believed that that was sincere, the concept that dropping that may be a devastating second for a younger grownup after which can result in a cycle of poverty. Now, by way of starvation and stuff, I don’t know a lot about Russia, I don’t suppose that is essentially imagined to be consultant of a particular… I imply, theoretically, it’s Russia, proper? I don’t know a lot about Russia’s social security web. I can’t communicate to the verisimilitude of that or no matter. 

However, you recognize… Once more, for this reason I’ve complicated emotions about quote-unquote “poverty porn,” particularly as any person— I’ve by no means been in poverty. I didn’t develop up in poverty, even when I’ve very shut household who did, like my mother, so I really feel unqualified to actually communicate to how poverty is represented on display. In any case, yeah, I… Sophisticated feeling, however total, I just like the present. We will transfer on.

CAITLIN: Okay. Alright, then. None of us watched it, however I imagine now we have some notes about Precure Full Bloom?

TONI: We simply have the advice. If you wish to know extra about Precure Full Bloom, check out Dee’s suggestion. It ought to most likely be up, I’d think about, by the point that this podcast goes up. So, Dee has a suggestion for that.

CAITLIN: Alright, let’s discuss The Apothecary Diaries. (Sighs) I really feel like Apothecary Diaries wants a whole episode to itself to actually totally discuss. Possibly I’m simply saying that as a result of… that’s been true of different stuff we’ve talked about however I’m watching the Apothecary Diaries.

PETER: (Chuckles) Okay.

CAITLIN: I simply… I actually love this present.

PETER: Yeah, that’s nice!

CAITLIN: I like the way it kinda delves into the concept of the facility relationships between these characters, between Jinshi and Maomao and the way Maomao is so conscious of it on a regular basis. However he’s not, as a result of he has the posh of not being conscious of it. His life doesn’t hinge on not offending Maomao, as a lot as she may wish to kill him generally. Maomao’s only a super-duper enjoyable character. I like her. I like Aoi Yuki’s character for it. I’m going to drop a scorching take right here: I’m completely okay with transport Jinshi and Maomao.

PETER: (groaning) Oh!

CAITLIN: No. I genuinely suppose—

TONI: (crosstalk) You’re gonna make so many individuals within the Discord mad.

PETER: I actually foreshadowed I hate their relationship. (Chuckles)

CAITLIN: (crosstalk) I’m okay with it! I’m okay with it. Truthfully, I sincerely suppose they’re the endgame ship.

PETER: Ugh. I don’t prefer it.

CAITLIN: Even if you happen to don’t personally prefer it, I do suppose that on the endgame they’ll get collectively by the top of the present.

TONI: So we higher get used to it?

PETER: Properly, I feel lots of people agree with you.

CAITLIN: Er, not the present; by the top of the story.

PETER: I feel anime trending’s prime romance of the season by fan vote was a tie between Himmel and Frieren, and Jinshi and Maomao, I feel. And I used to be like—

CAITLIN: Wasn’t it Fern and Stark?

PETER: Uh… I don’t know in the event that they’d finished the dance factor by the point the votes have been in. However you can be proper.

CAITLIN: I simply don’t suppose Himmel and Frieren is a very fascinating ship.

PETER: I bear in mind simply seeing the tie and going like, “I don’t like both of those.” (Chuckles) Simply the facility imbalance. I seemed it up. They’re really fairly comparable age though it doesn’t appear that means, trying on the present. She’s like two toes shorter than him or one thing.

CAITLIN: He’s tall and he or she’s quick! You understand, he’s had a lifetime of fine diet and good sleep. She has not.

PETER: (crosstalk) Generally, her measurement in comparison with most characters makes me suppose that she’s very younger in comparison with virtually everybody else within the solid, like they’re adults and he or she is just not.

CAITLIN: She’s simply quick! She’s simply quick! Brief individuals exist.

PETER: That’s true. They do exist.

CAITLIN: I’ve buddies who’re {couples} who’re over a foot aside! You understand? (Chuckles)

TONI: It’s so humorous. As a homosexual Asian individual, I’m all the time shocked at how many individuals who I date who’re really my top, given I’m 5’4”. And I’m like, “Oh, yeah, as a result of I typically date Asians, so…” Quite a lot of us are quick.

PETER: (crosstalk) We take it without any consideration? (Chuckles)

TONI: What’d you say?

PETER: We’re taking it without any consideration over right here, yeah.

CAITLIN: Yeah, yeah, yeah, Mr. Six Ft Tall.

PETER: (Chuckles) Exhibiting my privilege, yeah. (Chuckles)

CAITLIN: Yeah. Toni and I are the identical top.

TONI: Sure, we’re. I really feel like— Okay, we’ll speak extra later, off pod.

(Laughter)

TONI: Alright, we could transfer…? Can we nonetheless wish to preserve speaking about this, or…?

CAITLIN: I’m attempting to consider what there may be to say apart from the dialogue we’ve had concerning the energy relationships. And I do suppose if there may be going to be a cause to not ship them, I feel the facility imbalance between the 2 of them might be probably the most legitimate one.

PETER: Oh, additionally the truth that she doesn’t appear in any respect and he retains approaching to her and he or she simply is attempting to slither out from below him on a regular basis. (Chuckles)

CAITLIN: Hear. Hear, pay attention, pay attention, we might get into that. We might get into that. I’m selecting to not get into that as a result of that may flip into a complete debate. (Chuckles) I imply, there are many causes to not ship them. I feel probably the most concrete one is the facility imbalance, as a result of that can also be such a factor within the present. However yeah, it’s a very improbable present. (Sighs) I’ve stated that so many occasions.

PETER: I really feel like there’s gonna be extra to say concerning the present, as a result of it’s persevering with, within the subsequent midseason wrap-up, primarily based on a number of the new story arcs it’s stepping into, as a result of it appears to be desirous to pay extra consideration to present and new members just like the courtesans that their entire courtroom surrounds. So I feel there will likely be extra thematic insights to look into, most likely, as some new plot developments come up.

CAITLIN: I do must say that—I’m an episode behind—the tall woman with the eyebrows is de facto scorching. (Sighs) 

Anyway, so, (Chuckles) let’s transfer on as a result of there are a few sequels and carryovers that we’re gonna wish to contact on. So, 16bit Sensation: One other Layer.

PETER: I’ve not mainly watched it because the final solid. I feel Alex introduced it up. I feel it was not really within the… What appeared nice about it at first was it was sort of like a celebration of a medium of artwork and wished to delve into an individual’s relationship with that artwork by permitting her to journey to the previous to see it created in actual time. Nevertheless it appears, the way in which issues have developed within the plot, it’s extra of a bizarre… It’s about its personal artifice mainly, like what-ifs primarily based on if the previous modified, so it’s like “What if America was the one creating AAA visible novels?” or one thing like that.

CAITLIN: Mm! I did see American Saber.

PETER: (crosstalk) Yeah, American Destiny? Yeah, yeah, yeah. And her relationship with this dude finally affecting how he developed the video games. So, I really feel like the primary attraction, the place you’ve got this girl who’s a fan of the visible novel style… It’s not about her really attending to work together with and higher recognize this medium or get new insights out of it primarily based on her experiences prior to now. It’s extra like, what if she went into the previous and adjusted the longer term after which, whoa, the longer term’s so bizarre? And likewise, she teaches a man a vital lesson.

TONI: (Chuckles)

PETER: And that causes him to alter the way forward for the visible novel style. So, I’ve not caught up, however I don’t know if I wish to anymore.

CAITLIN: So, I do have a query. What I believed was actually fascinating… as a result of from what I might inform, it was largely targeted on bishoujo video games. Do they do something with the primary character being a woman who loves bishoujo video games? As a result of I do know that could be a kind of individual; they’re simply not the primary viewers. Do they do something particularly with it, like why she is so drawn to those tales which can be about, largely, attending to know ladies in a romantic context and/or fucking them?

PETER: I don’t actually suppose there’s something with regard to— So, her appreciation for the sport— Properly, to start with, she has expertise with the style and that’s why she began working in it. It’s simply that the business has modified. So, the kinds of video games she wished to work on had very formidable plots, and whereas it has lovely ladies, it’s additionally obtained lots occurring with the story and the worldbuilding and funky visuals and stuff. So, it’s like she’s behind the occasions, her personal occasions, and desires to deliver again the way in which issues was. So far as her appreciation for the women, she undoubtedly likes the artwork fashion, they usually do get right into a bit about how, since there was fewer pixels on the display, you’d create the phantasm of curves primarily based on the pixel preparations and the way in which they’d draw the factor after which scan it in black and white after which shade it in on display. So, the artwork type, she has an appreciation for. She undoubtedly likes the woman character designs. She herself likes drawing cute ladies and stuff. However I don’t suppose they actually get into something like… Properly, I don’t know what to…

CAITLIN: Proper, and even simply… not essentially about her being drawn to girls, however simply if there’s any means that her gender interacts together with her love of the sport. Nevertheless it seems like there isn’t.

PETER: A number of the those that she meets within the… I feel they did placed on show the truth that that business does have a variety of girls working in it, particularly feminine artists. So, she’s sort of a part of a… They don’t actually get into it. It’s simply what you see is that a variety of girls wish to draw cute ladies and have been and have been an integral a part of this business. They’re behind a variety of the enduring designs from video games that you just acknowledge as a result of Aniplex owns a variety of these properties, in order that they particularly name out titles that have been produced by Aniplex—or at the least the anime variations have been. So, yeah, you possibly can kinda see that, for positive.

CAITLIN: Alright. Okay, cool. That’s one thing that I used to be questioning about, so thanks for speaking on {that a} bit, Peter.

So, that wraps up our dialogue of the entire one-cour exhibits. Let’s contact in a short time on a number of sequels and carryovers. Toni, I do know that you just wished to speak about Zom 100. I’ll give room so that you can do this on the finish. I simply wish to test in concerning the issues that I used to be watching.

Hypnosis Mic season 2. When you like the primary season, you’ll most likely like this one too. The rapping will get higher total. There are too many characters. There’s simply too many characters now. It’s so many boys! It’s 18 boys, not counting the antagonists. It’s so many boys, not counting the antagonists!

PETER: Can’t imagine I’m saying this, however too many boys.

CAITLIN: It’s too many boys! I like… One of many new teams, their musical fashion could be my favourite. It’s obtained sort of an electro swing vibe to it. I’m not a giant rap individual. So, yeah, Hypnosis Mic continues to be enjoyable. I used to be actually hoping that the world authorities would get an opportunity to rap however they don’t. Oh, nicely. Possibly subsequent time.

Spy × Household, the cruise ship arc is superior. I actually want we had extra time to speak about that, as a result of I feel, from the attitude of the location, the cruise ship arc has probably the most to speak about, about Yor’s relationship together with her work and what she does and the price of elevating a baby on this state of affairs. She will get to have some actually cool fights, which is nice as a result of she doesn’t do this for a lot of the present. And I simply wish to say, they need to animate extra fights the place one of many characters is carrying a fit-and-flare costume as a result of it appears to be like actually cool. There’s a lot movement with these skirts you can do. They exit if you spin, they swoosh… Animators take notice: fit-and-flare clothes, nice for dramatic movement.

And I feel that’s it for me. Peter, did you’ve got something that you just wished to test in with in a short time?

PETER: Agree on Spy × Household. I feel it’s nice that Yor obtained a spotlight arc the place she’s being introspective, as a result of I feel a variety of the time she simply finally ends up being kinda goofy, awkward, or foolish drunk. So, it was an excellent arc.

Historic Magus’ Bride positive took a very long time to get there, however as is typical with Yamazaki tales, it actually nailed the ending. Huge second of catharsis. I’m doing a write-up for 2023 recs the place you possibly can learn a bit extra if you happen to’re . However dammit, this present nonetheless obtained its claws in me. That’s all I’ve obtained. Toni?

CAITLIN: Toni, you actually wished to speak about Zom 100.

TONI: Yeah, the rationale I would like—

PETER: End us off right here. Your soapbox.

CAITLIN: (crosstalk) We’re gonna provide the remainder of the time of the present.

TONI: Which isn’t a lot, however I’ll take it. So, yeah, Zom 100, the rationale I actually wish to discuss it’s as a result of there’s completely no means that I’m recommending it…

PETER: (Chuckles)

TONI: … and so I’m not gonna have another alternatives to speak about it, so I’ve to speak about it now. Now right here’s the factor: I used to be going forwards and backwards about whether or not or not I’d suggest it. I used to be actually going forwards and backwards as a result of I feel that a variety of the issues in the direction of the start of the present are actually ameliorated by way of, like, the feminine solid will get centered much more… The center arc is especially improbable, the place Akira sort of falls again into outdated habits. He will get sort of brainwashed into being again into his outdated boss’s cult, and I feel this concept of office as cult is de facto fascinating within the present. And it is rather desirous about how PTSD could make an individual additional inclined to violence and exploitation within the office and in any other case, which I feel is a really refined evaluation of how capitalism operates, which is to offer us all this sort of collective PTSD round getting fired and make that have such an expertise of struggling that none of us ever battle again. So, I feel that there’s lots that the present does very well.

The issue… Right here’s the issue. The present has such an depth of hatred in the direction of fats characters, and over and over equates being skinny and conventionally engaging with being morally righteous. Each single fats male— Each single predator character within the present, each time a personality is— There’s this fixed sense of sexual menace, particularly, of the boys, in the direction of Shizuka and in the direction of Akira’s love curiosity usually. Like, from Episode 1, Akira’s love curiosity is being sexually harassed by his boss, after which Shizuka will get harassed by— I imply, by the top-of-the-company boss, then Shizuka will get harassed by his outdated boss. After which ultimately, there’s one other character… who I’ll get into. However all of those characters who’re predators are represented as fats. I don’t suppose that’s a coincidence, particularly provided that the entire primary characters within the present are extraordinarily conventionally engaging—and skinny, clearly. 

And then you definitely get to the previous few episodes, and there are some pictures in the previous few episodes that simply actually typify what Da’Shaun Harrison talks about in Stomach of the Beast as being anti-fatness as anti-blackness. The best way that one of many predatory characters lips are animated on this kinda grotesquely swollen means mirrors this sort of blackface imagery and this excessive thought of blackness and fatness as sexual predation. It’s actually grotesque and actually violently anti-fat and arguably drawing upon anti-black imagery, as a result of that character is just a little darker skinned and has braids of their hair, which kinda degenders them. So it’s simply extremely violent in its hatred in the direction of fats characters. And I simply couldn’t in good conscience suggest a present that’s so blatant in such a means. 

Yep, and I simply wanted to say that someplace, as a result of it actually pissed off me as a result of in any other case I actually just like the present! However the extra that I considered it, the extra I believed concerning the picture of those swollen lips which can be symbolic of his sexual menace, the extra it simply turned apparent I couldn’t suggest it.

CAITLIN: (Inhales sharply) Yeah, that’s no good.

TONI: Yeah! I imply, it’s anti-fat, it’s anti-black, it’s every kind of various issues, proper?

PETER: Yeah, particularly when mixed with the dreads story arc, the dreadlocks.

TONI: Oh, my God! Yeah! Precisely! The present— And the factor concerning the dreads story arc is by itself I— You understand, different characters kinda name him out as being like, “You understand, that doesn’t look good on you. It’s not an excellent look.” And he removes it, proper? However if you mix it with a personality who has braids— Now, clearly, they don’t seem like precise Black individual braids, however that character being represented as this predator, it actually simply makes it apparent that the present has an issue. And once more, that is one other present the place I’m like, I’ll most likely preserve watching, however by an intersectional feminist-minded lens, I can not suggest it.

CAITLIN: Okay! Properly, that was a variety of exhibits we simply talked about, guys. Did you take pleasure in our discussions? Agree? Disagree? Watching one thing new as a result of we really useful it? Tell us within the feedback! And even inform your pals! Say, “Hey, I realized about all this nice new anime from this actually cool podcast.” When you achieve this, would you contemplate please donating to our Patreon at patreon.com/animefeminist? We’ve got three tiers, beginning with simply $1 a month, which will get you month-to-month employees updates and employees suggestions. Our $5 tier will get you entry to our Discord and bonus podcasts. We even have a retailer, animefeminist.com/retailer. Our emblem is superb.

And if you wish to study extra on Anime Feminist, you could find hyperlinks to all of our socials. We’re additionally on Tumblr @animefeminist, Mastodon @animefeminist… I imagine now we have a Cohost now @animefeminist or a Bluesky @animefeminist. We now not use Twitter. That web site’s simply turn out to be an excessive amount of of a poisonous waste dump.

So, that’s it. Thanks for having fun with our present. It’s so chilly exterior, guys. Keep heat.