950 Club Anime Podcast

Tomo-chan is a Girl! /Oshi No Ko / Kaguya-sama: Love is War Movie ”The First Kiss That Never Ends”

Well after his ultra surprise in our last episode...Jamaal has even more surprises!  What do you expect at this point?!   The following surprises include "Tomo-chan is a Girl!" and the Kaguya-sama movie, "The First Kiss That Never Ends!"  After Jack and Edwin's high praise of Tomo-chan, Jamaal has a totally different outlook as he brings on the discussion of why the show doesn't connect with him.  For the 2nd part we give a mostly spoiler free discussion of The First Kiss that Never Ends!  Jamaal and Jack try their darndest to hold their love of the movie and try to convince Edwin to watch it right away!  And for a perfect segway, we finally discuss Oshi no Ko! (from the creator of Kaguya-sama: Love is War)  A semi preview but critical breakdown of the show's strong insinuations with the characters and its deconstructive take on the isekai genre.  So relax and tune in to this very informative episode!  

The Mandalorian Season 3 Review / Another Star Wars Catch-up

May the 4th be with you, and to all as the 950 Club finally reviews Season 3 of the Mandalorian!  Jamaal, Edwin and Jack share their thoughts and feelings about this groundbreaking show that is slowly evolving the Star Wars Universe and its very transitional 3rd season.  We also discuss the ethos of what makes The Mandalorian great, Andor's influence on the new season and all the anticipation of Star Wars in 2023.  Perfect to listen to with the new season of Star Wars Visions!  Also, Jamaal has the ultimate surprise announcement!  Listen in!

Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai

Edwin's birthday special continues on as he shares his love and praise with one of his all-time favorites: Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai with Jack. Adolescent (puberty) syndrome: a strange phenomenon in which a person in their teenage years experience abnormalities as a result of instability. In a way, adolescent syndrome can be considered a paradox. Sakuta Azusagawa discovers his own paradoxes within his "normal life" in a show that searches for these answers....with relationships, friendships and all that good slice of life stuff in anime! These strange adventures include some of the most interesting scientific studies from time travel, to Schrödinger's cat, even Laplace's Demon (oh listen in to that one).  This show may seem like a harmless Rom-Com with wacky scenarios, but the paradoxes are more than meets the eye as they are represented with modern day problems to the characters quest for identity and love. We also include some Voice Connections, Manga Recommends, Wallet Slayers and General Recommends, A must listen!!

Kaguya-sama: Love Is War / Edwin’s Birthday Special Part 1

Love is War, War is Love. Heavy on the artillery are the schemes and charms that the lovers use over who can make the other confess in Kaguya-sama: Love is War. The president and vice president of Shuchi'in Academy: Miyuki Shirogane and Kaguya Shinomiya have their battle of wills and the sexes over table games and overly-strategized traps. However, their subordinates tend to break up their plans no matter how "perfect" they seem to be. This genius of the show is one to really watch and behold as their plans to foil one another and how stubborn these two can be....they are actually slipping their attractions with one another, which gives this high school romance into a true pioneer in comedy. This is Edwin's Birthday special so he and Jack go back and forth on why its one of his all-time favorites!  From "Mother flippin tsunderes," to the top tier writing, art direction, music and the secret tenderness that this zany show packs in. A true gift of a show for Edwin!

My Senpai Is Annoying / Tall Guy Short Girl Special Part 2

Part 2 of our Tall Guy and Short Girl Special includes one of our top favorite animes of 2021 with My Senpai is Annoying!  Futaba Igarashi is a newly hired but very reliable salesperson, thanks to her very tall and gruff senpai, Harumi Takeda. They do indeed make a dynamic team, however Futuba has developed deep feelings for Takeda. Can she overcome her insecurities with her stature, inexperience with romance and overall growth? Edwin and Jack take a deep dive on this office romance that is more than meets the eye. We highlight the very unique supporting characters to the show's themes on maturity and how it contrasts to other live action office comedies. We also discuss one of the all time great "B" couple romances this show sneaks in with the characters Toko Sakurai and Sota Kazama. Plus Jack and Edwin bring more surprises with their Manga Recommends, Wallet Slayers (weeb stuff we buy), Voice Connections (studio and voice actor highlights) and General Recommends.  

Aharen-san wa Hakarenai (Aharen is Indecipherable) / Tall Guy Short Girl Special Part 1

One is big, one is petite, no bollocks in this special!  Part one Edwin and Jack review the most surprising high school romance comedy in 2022 with Aharen-san wa Hakarenai (Aharen is Indecipherable).  The story starts off with Matsuboshi Raido, a tall and big high school boy who easily gets lost in his thoughts.  He promises to make a good impression with any seatmate of his for the school year, and that seatmate happens to be Reina Aharen, a very small and mysterious girl.  Raido tries to make small talk happen but keeps getting the cold shoulder from Aharen.  As Raido becomes more self-conscious he realizes that Aharen is actually talking to him but extremely closely and with barely any sound.  Raido practices his listening skills with Aharan and that begins a most unusual bond in this quirky but charming show.  We further discuss the show's qualities from the character's dynamics to it's comparisons to Komi Can't Communicate and how this simple comedy becomes a very thoughtful and meta experience by the finale.  

ID: Invaded / Future Crime in Future Time Special Part 2

For Part 2 of our Future Crime in Future Time Special we review the severely overlooked ID: Invaded.  Similar to Psycho Pass, it starts off as a traditional procedural / forensics show set in the future, where investigators can solve mysteries by entering a dream like machine called the Mizuhanome.  The show's main character Sakaido, is actually a former detective turned prisoner that can pilot the Mizhanome in order to find the motives and evidence with each crime scene, which in turn processes the Mizuhanome to examine the ID of the victims and murderers.  As the series continues, each crime scene becomes more and more personal for Sakaido, which leads this slow burn of a show to a high octane chase as Sakaido has to deal with his dark past and become partners with a rookie detective and a homicidal prisoner.  Edwin and Jack try their darndest to review this thought provoking show. From the infused homages to Sherlock Holmes and Minority Report to its commentary on mental health and philosophy, and how the final episodes make the movie Inception miniscule according to Jack.  

Psycho-Pass / Future Crime in Future Time Special Part 1

Originally released in March 2022
We are shocking....the system.....as we review 2 popular sci fi/crime drama shows "Psycho Pass" and ID/Invaded. Part 1 is Psycho Pass; a game changing anime that brought back the dystopian genre from the likes of Ghost in the Shell.  On the surface, this mystery/procedural forensic show slowly builds on the characters and their questions with this "perfectly monitored" society. Edwin and Jack use their dominators on the topics of analyzing mental health in the future, who should really analyze people in trouble, and the superb overall arc that makes this anime....stand alone.  

2023 Spring Anime Preview / Jack and Edwin’s Top 5 Favorite Winter Shows

For the First Part of this episode Edwin and Jack share their personal top 5 shows for the Winter Season with the stacked roster that includes The Magical Revolution of the Reincarnated Princess and the Genius Young Lady, In/Spectre Season 2, Tomo-Chan is a Girl!, Kubo Won't Let Me Be Invisible, Trigun: Stampede, Campfire Cooking In Another World, Buddy Daddies, and To Your Eternity Season 2
 
And yes! Spring is here finally!  And what better way to start off the new season of anime by listening in to the 950 Club's Spring Anime Preview!  We of course talk about our hype levels with the upcoming Demon Slayer Swordsmith Village Arc!  Then we list our top most anticipated shows with the likes of KonoSuba Season 3, Ranking of Kings Season 2,Tonikawa: Over The Moon With You Season 2.  We also mention shows that are just under the radar that you have to check out with the likes of Hell's Paradise, Otaku Elf, Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear Season 2, Mashle: Magic and Muscles, Skip and Loafer, Opus Colors, The Dangers In My Heart, Insomniacs After School, My Teen Romantic Comedy Snafu Climax, Oshi No Ko, and My Home Hero.

2023 Winter Catch-Up

Finale season is upon us as Edwin and Jack highlight the very stacked Winter 2023 season of anime with our usual focus on the isekai and slice of life genre shows. Since doing this podcast we agree that it's been the most impressive season we've reviewed so far, which means we strongly recommend to add these shows in your que!
For the first half Edwin shares his Isekai Round Up with these shows:The Reincarnation Of The Strongest Exorcist In Another World
Reborn to Master the Blade: From Hero-King to Extraordinary Squire
Saving 80,000 Gold in Another World for My RetirementGrace of the Gods Season 2Farming life in Another WorldBofuri: I Don't Want to Get Hurt So I'll Max Out My Defense Season 2The Magical Revolution of the Reincarnated Princess and the Genius Young LadyCampfire Cooking in Another World with My Absurd Skill
Then for Jack's Slice of Life Vending Machine Corner:
The Angel Next Door Spoils Me RottenBuddy DaddiesDon't Toy With Me Miss Nagatoro 2nd AttackThe Ice Guy and His Cool Female ColleagueKubo Won't Let Me Be InvisibleOnimai: I'm Now Your Sister!Tomo-chan is a Girl!