Category: Manga

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Anime World Order Show # 202 – I’m Sorry, But I’m a Male Chauvinist

Podcast: Download (Duration: 2:20:04 — 64.2MB)

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In this episode, Daryl reviews one of his favorite titles from the 2010s which is finally readily available for viewing in English: the two-part theatrical film adaptation of the formative shojo classic Haikara-san: Here Comes Miss Modern! (Spoilers: Gerald thought it absolutely sucked and is of appeal to nobody who is watching anime in the 21st century.)

Introduction (0:00 – 57:40)
Despite repeatedly missing months this year, our number of Patreon supporters is steadily approaching the 200 mark. Remember: at 250 total patrons we will be reviewing Hand Shakers, which Gerald purchased on Blu-Ray (because obviously one buys what one cherishes most). We also haven’t read emails in a while, so this time around we’ll read two! With the new Harmony Gold arrangement in place regarding the international rights to Macross and Robotech being distinct entities, is a US release of Macross 7 on the foreseeable horizon? Why is Eternal Wind so memorable when most of Gundam FORMULA NINETY WAN is so not? Who is more petty, Yoshiyuki Tomino for not letting us Americans see the infamous Cucuruz Doan’s Island episode of the original Mobile Suit Gundam television series, or Yoshikazu Yasuhiko for directing a theatrical-length film adaptation of it due for release next year? And why does the AWO continue to LIE AND EXPOSE THEIR SHALLOW IGNORANCE~! regarding the “death” of 2D animation? None of these questions and more will be adequately answered in this approximate hour of chatterbox noise.

Promo: Right Stuf Anime (57:40 – 1:03:27)
In the time between us recording the promo and getting around to posting this writeup, the Dub Dirty Pair TV Into English and Release It On Blu-Ray Kickstarter has been 100% funded. But the campaign lasts until the end of October, and it is the beginning of October, so YOU KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS: stretch goals! Much like what was basically done with the Irresponsible Captain Tylor Blu-Ray set as well as the various Animeigo Kickstarter projects (Otaku no Video, Riding Bean, Gunsmith Cats, Megazone 23), the stretch goals will determine not only how nice the physical extras are for the fancy Collector’s Editions that are exclusive to the Kickstarter, but also the general release! For now, aside from a new interview with Haruka Takachiho, what the stretch goals will be are shrouded in mystery. More will be revealed…within the next 24 hours! Be sure to keep tabs on https://twitter.com/NozomiEnt for details, but given how these things have turned out in the past, we’re pretty certain that you’ll want to back this project. All of us did, anyway.

Review: Haikara-san: Here Comes Miss Modern Parts 1 & 2 (1:03:27 – 2:20:04)
Daryl reviews this 2017-2018 theatrical film adaptation of one of the formative 1970s shojo manga classics that he didn’t even know existed until after having seen these movies. This period comedy/melodrama/romance/liquor adventure from Waki Yamato is one of the most beloved and fondly remembered shojo titles the world over–the non-English speaking world over, anyway–having remained in print and adapted into multiple other media including live-action and Takarazuka plays right up until the COVID-19 pandemic shut everything down. Set in the socially turbulent Taisho era of Japanese history, it’s a tale of modern Western ideals clashing with conservative Japanese traditions wrapped around a Days of Our Lives-caliber soap opera romance.

OBEY BENIO.

Opinions are, as they always seem to be for literally everything Daryl recommends, sharply divided as to the qualities of this cartoon. For now, you can watch both parts streaming free of charge via the oft-forgotten streaming platform Tubi: here’s Part 1 and here’s Part 2. You can buy the Blu-Ray of Part 1 from the film’s distributor, which is–oh, right–our sponsor Right Stuf. But part 2 to date has never been released on physical media in the US, presumably because so much money was lost on dubbing the first part into English and releasing it into theaters that (as far as we can tell/recall) no English dub was produced for the second part.
Maybe the only contemporary interest in classic shojo is when there’s LGBT+ themes. Unfortunately for Haikara-san, it’s not that kind of story.

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Anime World Order Show # 191 – As Fast Karate Said 15 Years Ago…YOU CAN’T DO THAT

Podcast: Download (Duration: 2:00:23 — 55.3MB)

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In what Gerald describes as possibly the greatest episode of AWO ever recorded, we review the 2018 Netflix anime adaptation of Baki. We thought we’d have the Gundam NT episode out before this, but we’re doing that…SOON.

Introduction (0:00 – 38:19)
It’s been a pretty momentous two months as far as anime/manga goings-on, so everyone talks about what they’ve been watching/reading lately. Or have not been watching/reading, as the case may be. We make no guarantees about future episodes being devoted to talking about Time Bokan or Locke the Superman, since depending on how much you want to look at they’re both longer-running than we’ve been alive. We also talk a bit about the trouble with preserving digital media, particularly from the late 1990s through mid 2000s, especially in an era where streaming or otherwise non-downloadable (legally) platforms are the norm.

Promo: Right Stuf Anime (38:19 – 41:45)
While many classic anime fans are abuzz over the recent myriad of Discotek Media licensing announcements which you can preorder at Right Stuf, we figured we’d give the spotlight to some other classics. The aforementioned Locke the Superman Blu-Ray is up for preorder, and based on recent precedent we suspect that may go out of print rather suddenly so you may want to take advantage of the 25% off preorder discount (that stacks with Got Anime? memberships). There’s also the much pricier Irresponsible Captain Tylor Ultra Edition Blu-Ray set with artbook, which clocks in at $200 (or $350 for the autographed edition). The more preorders of that they receive, the more extras they can afford to produce for it.

Review: Baki (41:45 – 2:00:23)
Remember the end of Kingdom of Heaven, where Saladin is walking away and Balian de Ibelin asks of him “hey, what exactly happens in Baki?” upon which Saladin turns around and says “Nothing”? And then he continues to walk away, before stopping, turning around once again, and appending to his response “Everything”? Maybe that was in the secret Final Cut. You know how those Ridley Scott movies go. In any case, we’re talking about Baki here as we pretend like people somehow don’t know what it is. Join us as we speculate on whether in the future, the American fujoshi sector of anime fandom will go wild for Baki bods.

Note: Clarissa was in fact correct. Yujiro Hanma does in fact have the back muscles that form a demon’s face. It’s Baki who has the MRI done that reveals HIS brain is the one with the demon face: