077 – Saikyo Selections 2 – One Piece
On this episode we have a lengthy discussion about Zach Davisson’s article Confessions of a Manga Translator involving what the role of a translator should be and the difference between translating manga compared to other mediums. Then we look at the super popular One Piece for Saikyo Selections! We examine the Arlong Park arc(covers chapters 69-95) to examine the major themes in Eiichiro Oda’s blockbuster mega-hit manga!!!
Continue reading076 – Saikyo Selections 1 – Naruto
Welcome to our new segment Saikyo Selections where we’ll be looking at a single story-arc from a long running popular manga and analyze it’s major themes! The first series we’ll be covering is Naruto and the search for the 5th Hokage arc!(covers chapters 150-171) We also talk about March comes in like a lion(3-gatsu no Lion), Hyakushou Kizoku, and Billy Bat!!!
Continue reading075 – Triple Dip 13 – The Ancient Magus’ Bride, Hyouge Mono, Majin Tantei Nougami Neuro
On this episode Seamus is reading about androgynous Richard III in Requiem of the Rose King(Baraou no Souretsu), dakazu likes the simple shoujo manga Mustard Chocolate, and we find out who’s involved in the Black Bat religion in Billy Bat! Then it’s the return of our Triple Dip section! We check out the beginning of Assassination Classroom author’s prior series Majin Tantei Nougami Neuro, the magical fantasy world of The Ancient Magnus’ Bride, and examine Warring States Japan through glazed pottery in Hyouge Mono!!!
Continue reading074 – Manga in Motion 6 – Night on the Galactic Railroad
Itadakimasu! This week Seamus sees the connections of Ainu to Princess Mononoke from new Golden Kamuy chapters while dakazu loves more childhood tales of Hi Score Girl author Rensuke Oshikiri in Pico-Pico Shounen. Darfox is concerned about LGBT representation in Jisatsutou(Suicide Island) but dakazu appreciates how My Brother’s Husband handles the issues and we look at the newest chapters of Billy Bat. Finally, we discuss the 1985 adaptation of Kenji Miyazawa’s classic fantasy novel Night on the Galactic Railroad!!!
Continue reading073 – Goodnight Punpun part 6
Welcome to our last Goodnight Punpun retrospective! We’ll be covering the final chapters and discussing what happens, talk about our favorite moments from the series, and ponder if the ending leaves Punpun happy or in hell!! GOOD VIBRATIONS!!!(covers chapters 122-147)
Continue reading072 – Goodnight Punpun part 5
After taking a sidetrack talking about wrestling, dakazu loves the Dragon Quest 5 fanfic web comic Katachikubi dashita ossan no ato tsuketara tenkuu no tsurugi wo mitsuketa(How I stalked some dude with an exposed nipple and stumbled upon the Zenithian Sword) and the touching recollection of a mangaka’s recovery from the ICU, Shinde Ikikaerimashita Repo(I died and came back to Life: The Report). Then we dive into Goodnight Punpun and the dark choices that awakens Punpun to whom he always was!!!(covers chapters 100-121)
Continue reading071 – Goodnight Punpun part 4
We kick off this episode with more Billy Bat! Then dakazu learns the true powers of licensed Disney songs in Sexy Joyuu-chan – Girigiri Mosaic while Seamus learns about the final twist in orange. After that we explore more Goodnight Punpun and discuss Sachi and Punpun’s somewhat healthy relationship.(covers chapters 79-99)
Continue reading070 – Goodnight Punpun part 3
Welcome to part 3 of our continued retrospective of Goodnight Punpun! We’ll be discussing the truth behind God and the eccentric Pegasus ensemble!!(covers chapters 57-78) Also, Seamus gets to the twist of orange, we look into the science of ‘shipping’ characters, and we breakdown the next chapter of Billy Bat!!!
Continue reading069 – Goodnight Punpun part 2
On this episode dakazu is in love with a Edo period Japanese astronomer in Tenchi Meisatsu, Billy Bat starts its final arc, we lament the 3D animated BLAME! movie coming out this year, and spend lots of time getting into dark topics for our continuing retrospective of Goodnight Punpun!!!(covers chapters 35-56)
Continue reading068 – Goodnight Punpun part 1
This week we discuss the holiday break for manga magazines, darfox8 explains why he didn’t start Fairy Tail at the beginning, and dakazu talks about popular manga getting bloated. Then darfox8 revisits A Silent Voice, Hajime no Ippo, and Berserk from Triple Dip 9. Finally, we begin our retrospective read-through of Inio Asano’s Goodnight Punpun and discuss everything from the dark plot to the crazy side characters.(covers chapters 1-34)
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