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Show Notes
Pandemic News
0:00: Justin and Helen return from their break and immediately dive right into what’s been happening since their New Year’s Special recording. Still very much under a pandemic, and Japan recently went under a State of Emergency, so films like Pompo: The Cinéphile and the final Evangelion film have been delayed. The Summer Olympics, delayed due to COVID-19 last year, may have to be cancelled this year. Over in the US, many conventions have to make difficult decisions again this year (like Sakura-con cancelling again), and simply cancelling this year may not be in the cards (As Otakon may have to end forever).
News
9:07: News that’s also weird news too: Shueisha was taking down a number of images and gifs on Twitter back in January, but a few days later, we learn that it’s someone who claimed to be Shueisha, not the actual company themselves. The backstory surrounding this is what makes this even crazy, but it’s this craziness that caused Shueisha the company themselves to release a statement denying they caused it.
13:01: A few companies are proving they’re trying to make sure we get officially localized manga in the poorest way possible: A few translators noted that MediBang was paying 120 yen per page…that’s not a lot! And then INKR one-upped them when someone who was considering working for them revealed they planned to pay them a cent per character.
22:15: Sekai Project a couple years ago licensed GATE: Where the JSDF Fought. And many issues occurred throughout the process to the point where, after two volumes, they’re not releasing anymore of the series.
Trash Section
24:20: The year started out bringing out absolute trash to the forefront. Now former Jujutsu Kaisen translator Stefan Koza (Justin incorrectly said January 6 was when they happened, it was a couple days earlier actually) was arrested and being held without bond on five felony counts of possession and five counts of distribution of child pornography in Virginia.
If you thought that was extra yikes, the yikes ended up continuing a few days later — a report surfaced that he also was arrested while part of the JET Program in 2014 for allegedly trespassing into the elementary girls’ dressing room and secretly taking recordings. This could’ve been known a lot earlier, but the school’s principal and vice principal did a bunch of things to try and hope no one found out — they were all found out.
30:45: According to Yahoo! News in JP, Toei Animation did not want to enter labor negotiations with a union member who identified themselves as X-Gender — this following a situation where that union member is representing a former unit director who claims to have been unfairly stripped of work. The union member is deadnamed, accusations have been alleged, and the culture of Toei is discussed in that report. It doesn’t appear that this will be resolved anytime soon (as Toei is denying they’ve engaged in anything discrimatory)
Licenses
34:36: We’re finally talking about Discotek, and they had their big Twitch stream that revealed they’ve licensed:
- Kodocha (SD-BD)
- KenIchi the Mightiest Disciple
- Video Warrior Laserion (SD-BD)
- Future Robo Daltanias (SD-BD)
- Grimm’s Fairy Tale Classics (SD-BD)
- Mahoraba ~Heartful days~
- Fighting General Daimos (SD-BD)
- Lupin III: Part III & Lupin III: Return of Pycal
- Black Rock Shooter
- Arion
38:47: Sentai Filmworks has rescue licensed Nana, which has been out of print for a while.
41:01: Yen Press did a licensing thread a few weeks ago and announced a simulpub involving a famous voice actress:
- Daisuke Aizawa & Anri SAKANO’s The Eminence in Shadow manga
- Wakame Konbu’s The Maid I Recently Hired is Mysterious
- Nio Nakatani’s Farewell to My Alter
- Hiroki Haruse’s The Whole of Humanity Has Gone Yuri Except for Me
- Yama WAYAMA’s Captivated, By You
- Nagase Sarasa & Yuzu Anko’s I’m the Villainous Daughter, So I’m Keeping the Last Boss
- Nigojuu & Umibouzu’s The Detective is Already Dead
- Takemachi & Tomari’s Spy Classroom
- Megumi Hayashibara’s memoir The Characters Taught Me Everything: Living Life One Episode at a Time
43:08: Kodansha Comics finally took time to announce the titles they’ll be releasing digitally this time:
- Kapparappara’s Araki Won’t Be Tamed (3/2)
- Hiroyuki Takei & Jet Kusamura’s Shaman King: Marcos (3/9)
- Muneyuki Kaneshiro & Yusuke Nomura’s Blue Lock (3/16)
- Tatsuo, Kakeru Kobashiri & Takashi Iwasaki’s The Dawn of the Witch (3/23)
- Saisou’s She’s My Knight (3/30)
- Marimo Ragawa’s Those Snow White Notes (3/30)
44:41: futekiya announced the following BL titles in December but between break and the New Year’s Special, this is the first time the two hosts talk about it:
- Syundei’s Marukido
- sawaco’s Kemuri wa Koi no Yamai
- Tokishiba’s α ga α wo Daku Houhou
- Omayu’s Oazuke no Kiss no Yukue
- Youhe Hino’s Ojisan to Ore no Koiwazurai
- GOmouriki’s Gochisousama, Virgin Cherry
- Ichino Ii’s Sefure to nanka Koi ni Ochinai
- Umako Hareya’s Sono Kao Mitara, Gaman wa Dekinai
- Abuku’s Vampire Itadakimasu
- Kazusa Naruse’s Fuck Night Reversal
- Nonda Noda’s Baby Love Sitter
- Ryotaro’s Minna Hajimete no Kuse ni
- Kayou Amamiya’s Love Sex Show
- Kotaru Kashima’s Kakumei no α
- Coco Aino’s Kimi wa Boku no Koto wo Suuhaishisugiteiru.
- Kei’s Wakadanna no Hiroi Neko
- Noda Matsumoto’s Matenai Inu no Shitsukekata
- Rito Takahira’s Fukigen Itoko ga Kawaisugite Shikatanai
- Arakata’s Maishuu Suiyou Danshi Toire de Matteite
- Senmitsu’s Miren ga Michitara
- Kogamo’s Muchi na Kimi to Shitai Koto
- Sattsu Kida’s Risou no Koibito Himemiya-kun
45:18: Same as futekiya, Manga Planet announced they’ve licensed these five titles last December:
- Kenji Mizuta’s DEATH BALL
- Hiroyuki Kagami, Rika Kamiyoshi, & Goban’s Kouichi desu ga Isekai de Joushu Hajimemashita
- Yukio Hirai’s Ayakashi Convenience
- Tetsuto Uesu, Haiji Nakasone, & Tamago no Kimi’s Hagure Yuusha no Estetika (A.k.a. Aesthetica of a Rogue Hero)
- Shinkuro Houjo, Tsuyoshi Watanabe, & Souichi Itou’s Jouhai Shogun, Mata Yabureru
47:14: Cross Infinite World announced two LN titles: Takumi Otaki & Fshima’s Hey! You’ve Kidnapped the Wrong Royal! & Yu Sakurai & Kasumi Nagi’s Since I Was Abandoned After Reincarnating, I Will Cook With My Fluffy Friends: The Figurehead Queen Is Strongest At Her Own Pace; Seven Seas announced they’ve licensed the Sarazanmai Anthology manga.
During this section Helen threw out a meme she knew that Justin didn’t, so, here it is.
Streaming News
49:02: Some titles got added to HBO Max (like some GKIDS stuff); Retrocrush is gonna add or added all or most of City Hunter; Crunchyroll just added Onihei; Some Anime Strike er Amazon Prime anime (Scum’s Wish, The Great Passage, a few more) can no longer be streamed in the US; Crunchyroll added the original Mobile Suit Gundam to their service.
Weird News
50:46: Helen questions if the CLAMP designs are actually that wild as we learn about them doing the designs for the next Cardfight!! Vanguard entry.
52:18: Cells at Work!! is the first new anime to be broadcasted on Chinese TV in 14 years, and this surprised the hosts.
55:05: Legendary manga creator Mitsuru Adachi has his famous (article says infamous) Touch manga collaborate with McDonalds Japan. There’s totally a theme for this.
56:32: Oh! My Konbu is returning…after 30 years?!?
57:23: So Studio KAI, who took over to do Season 2 for 7Seeds, apparently created an ED sequence that’s eerily similar to the ED sequence to Beyond the Boundary. And they eventually conceded and changed it.
Main Topic: Winter Anime 2021 Season
59:37: Justin and Helen now spend the rest of this episode talking about the Winter anime season…which is huge. Think for most people their lists will be big — and will note a couple of these were pushed to this season due to COVID-19 — is because a lot of what’s airing are sequels!
1:01:19: Justin begins explaining his problem that he has a few long-time running shows (Detective Conan, Black Clover) and Fall continuing shows (Jujutsu Kaisen, Dragon Quest, Higurashi Gou) and the show that started in December (Attack on Titan) he’s watching. Then there’s one show in the Fall he finally picked up: Yashahime. Justin explains why he’s enjoying it, and it may involve finishing Inuyasha: The Final Act last December.
1:05:20: Helen talks about Log Horizon S3, one of the big-time sequels airing this winter, that’s she’s watching this season.
1:08:17: Justin briefly talks about the one anime that took a season off, Re:ZERO S2 Part 2 (also a big-time sequel), that’s returned.
1:09:40: Helen and Justin are extremely concerned about the one big-time sequel that’s airing this season: The Promised Neverland. Justin is holding out some hope, as some elements are still interesting, but Helen just wonders where they’re going with it since they’re rushing through a ton of material.
1:14:30: The next big-time sequel, That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime, is discussed, and both hosts are talking about it.
1:16:20: The next big-time sequel (at this point you sense a theme!) is Laid-Back Camp, where Nadeshiko, Rin, and the Outdoor Activities Club is back, but in TV form!
1:17:49: And finally, Justin explains all the big-time sequels he’s watching:
- Cells at Work!! and its spinoff, Cells at Work: CODE BLACK
- 1:21:30: Dr. Stone: Stone Wars
- 1:22:35: The Quintessential Quintuplets ∬
- 1:23:57: Uma Musume S2 (which is kinda different!)
- 1:25:46: Yatogame-chan Kansatsu Nikki S3 (only new returning short!)
1:26:50: Finally, the hosts talk about NEW Winter anime shows. Both hosts at the time of this recording either watched a couple episodes or up to episodes 3 or 4. Helen talks about SK8 the Infinity.
1:29:43: Justin talks about 2:43: Seiin High School Boys Volleyball Team.
1:33:44: Helen talks about Back Arrow.
1:36:13: Justin & Helen talk about Horimiya.
1:40:45: Helen & Justin talk about Heaven’s Design Team.
1:44:50: Justin talks about Bottom-Tier Character Tomozaki.
1:46:49: Helen talks about Hortensia Saga.
1:48:25: Justin talks about Wonder Egg Priority.
1:50:45: Helen & Justin talk about Kemono Jihen.
1:53:24: Justin & Helen talk about So I’m a Spider, So What?.
1:58:57: Justin talks about Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation.
2:03:55: Justin and Helen talk about Ex-Arm…because the two have to talk about this mess of an anime. Neither of them have actually watched it, but from the screenshots and Canipa Effect’s video, that’s more than enough. This may be a case where Crunchyroll would’ve better off paying as much as possible to hide it out of sight.
2:14:17: Justin talks about the only winter anime he finished — the web short Cute Executive Officer.
2:18:22: And then Justin talks about the one other anime airing now that he plans to watch after he finishes the source material — Otherside Picnic — and two anime that haven not aired yet: Thus Spoke Rohan Kishibe & High-Rise Invasion, which are starting this month.