950 Club Anime Podcast

Falls Back Catchup / Horimiya Seasons 1 and 2/ My Home Hero/ Kyle’s Top Favorites

State of Streaming 2023 Fan Expo Live Panel

One of the topics that's been a staple of the 950 Club Anime Podcast is the ever changing landscape of streaming services. As promised, here in a special FanExpo live recording of the 950 Club, we address the current state of streaming. We closed down the Creator Stage on Friday at Fan Expo Chicago (and went a few minutes over time) with our most recent discussion about all things streaming related such as Disney's crackdown on password sharing, questioning what a stream is worth, the future of streaming, and much more! We were joined by special guest and friend of the show Alberto for this lively discussion.

Ultra Catch-Up Part 2 /Surprise Catch-Ups /Top 5 Favorites of Spring 2023/ Summer 2023 Preview

Part 2 of our Ultra Catch-Up Special we focus on Jamaal's Surprise Catch-Ups of Oshi No Ko, Buddy Daddies, and Chilling in My 30s After Getting Fired From the Demon King's Army.  Jack, Edwin and Jamaal also list their Top 5 favorites of Spring 2023 as well as share their most anticipated Summer 2023 releases.  Added commentary on the impressive year of videogames so far.  Perfect for premiere week!  

Ultra Catch-Up Special / Part 1 Spring 2023

Well, another superb Spring season of anime came and went!  Jamaal, Edwin, and Jack caught up with the widest range of movies and shows; some from winter 2023 that Jamaal surprises Jack and Edwin with!  Edwin starts it off with Spring's 2023 Isekai Round-up, and then Jack's Slice of Life Vending Machine Corner for this 2 parter!  Shows we discuss include: Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear Punch, The Aristocrat's Other Worldy Adventure,  Why Raeliana Ended Up in the Duke's Mansion,  Death Mount Death Play, Summoned to Another World for a 2nd Time,  My One Hit Kill Sister, Working for God in a Godless World, A Galaxy Next Door, Insomniacs After School, Kubo Won't Let Me Be Invisible,  Skip and Loafer, My Love Story with Yamada-kun at Lv 999,  My Clueless First Friend, and The Dangers In My Heart.

Spiderman: Across the Spider-Verse Review / After Hours 12

The 950 Club finally reviews Spiderman: Across the Spider-Verse.  Spoiler heavy if you haven't seen the movie yet.  But we will spoil this....Across the Spider-verse is collectively is our favorite Marvel movie yet!  We break down this gem of a movie from the surprise villains, to the top notch writing, and where Across the Spiderverse ranks in comparison to all the Marvel movies!  

After Hours 11: Kuma Bear / Campfire Cooking / KonoSuba Season 3 / Hell’s Paradise

Another After Hours gourmet meal fest as we talk about our current catch-ups with Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear, Campfire Cooking in Another World With My Absurd Skill, KonoSuba: An Explosion on This Wonderful World! and Hell's Paradise.  Jamaal, Edwin and Jack share the treats as they talk about Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear's wholesomeness, Hell's Paradises influences, KonoSuba's season 3 woes and one of the best shows already in 2023: Campfire Cooking in Another World with my Absurd Skill!
 
Campfire Cooking in Another World Tarot Card Art by David Loebman

Black Lagoon / The Anti-Hero Special Part 2

Jack and Edwin conclude the Anti-Hero special with the Grandaddy of action anime: Black Lagoon. Rokurou Okajima is an office worker that is kidnapped by some tough lookin' pirates. During this eventful day: Rokurou helps these pirates, is being chased by a sadistic killer helicopter pilot, and decides to change his name....to Rock. The debut episodes of Black Lagoon set the tone as it dives into the mysterious underbelly of the black market. From its exiled gangster tribe turf wars to its not-so secret love affair to great action flicks. Overall our focus on the anti-hero themes from our main protagonist Rock to the mission first leader Dutch and of course, the unforgettable rabid gun wielding ace: Revy. This episode is freaking rad, you gotta listen! Plus we have Voice Connections, Manga Recommends, and our new feature "Best Girl Battle!".....between our sword Raphtalia and our wildcard, Revy. Really cool battle, indeed!

The Rising of the Shield Hero / The Anti-Hero Special Part 1

Betrayed by powerful royalty, dismissed by your companions, and a religion that bans your status; how does a hero rise to power, prominence and respect? Naofumi finds this out the hard way in The Rising of the Shield Hero. Edwin and Jack discuss the many unique story elements that this epic adventure packs in from its Final Fantasy like battle system to Naofumi's natural gift of trade and craft that makes this isekai extremely fascinating. But ultimately we focus on the anti-hero themes and actions Naofumi does in order to survive and fight off waves of monsters and to ultimately protect his party members and the rest of Melmorac. Episode dedicated to Billy Kametz.

Akame ga Kill! / The Kill Special Part 2

Revolution starts it's first breath in the dusk; rebellion grows into the  darkness of the night and the break of dawn awakens to a changed world. Akame Ga Kill, the manga and show both handle the story in very different routes. The anime, similar to the original Fullmetal Alchemist, takes its liberties and creates a fun and enthralling show in which the stakes are forever high and the action is grand. Jack and Edwin share their love and praise for this show, from its modern day anime design to its extreme "baddie baddie" in Esdeath, and the histories of bloody revolution.  Because this is the Kill Special, we also list our favorite battle and the ultimate anime showdown: Kill La Kill vs Akame Ga Kill! Is one better than the other?  Tune in to find out!

Kill la Kill / The Kill Special Part 1

Battles.....Mayhem......Ridiculousness. Studio Trigger since day one had a goal in mind to stretch their limits past the extremes in animation and art. Kill la Kill is definitely a strong debut.  They went full on with their very ambitious project which paid off a natural cult following and rise as a top Japanese anime studio. Edwin finally checks out one of Jack's top all time favorites as they discuss the show's absurd amount of energy from its very strong stance on anti-conformity and social status to its battle heavy tone and overwhelming amount of epic-ness with the art and music!