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A few anime heads from the Datfeelin Podcast Network and the Saturday Night Nerds figured it was time to get together and put out a show for not only the hardcore anime watchers, but also the casual ones as well. Join Mac aka YaBoy, Deante the Giant, and Kenpachi Zaraki as they dedicate each episode to breaking down some of the most beloved anime. From discussing the creator of the story/manga, to exploring the animation studios behind their anime adaptations, we do what we can to grow a community of anime fans! Whether you're a sucker for the classics, or new to the game, this is a spot for everyone!
We're out to. Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to episode 4 of eat the cake anime. It's I, the homie Mac aka your boy. And, of course, I am joined by the homie Jackie. And, after our conversation last week, we decided this week we are going to talk about, Kaiju number 8.
Mac:And, she had no objection. She was super excited to do that. So, without further ado, we'll get into the opening and then, we shall partake in dissecting this beautifully done manga and anime. Man, you know, some of those clips in the opening, like I've seen them before and they're like, man, you know, I wouldn't mind going back watching that that episode or that scene one more time. But, appreciate you guys tuning in, 10 o'clock East, 7 o'clock, West.
Mac:Thanks for tuning in. Episode 8, Kaiju number 8. Now, I know Jackie is very high on this one. I think this is one of the ones you you kinda like talking about. Like, if you haven't seen it, get on it.
Mac:So just just real briefly, tell them kinda your
Jacci:general synopsis of how you're feeling about this, this IP here. So it's like about an older guy, I guess. You know, it's all like, finally, the main character isn't about a, you know, a young kid, you know, peaking in high school. It's about someone who peaked in their thirties much like the rest of us. But, basically, yeah, he he eats a weird, demon looking thing and obtains its powers, and he kinda goes through, like, the first season really is all about how he's dealing with that and trying to learn how to control it while hiding it.
Jacci:Mhmm. And, I I to me, it's a breath of fresh air type of anime like he's not autumn like he's kinda o p, but his character design as a person is really relatable. It's funny, but the action scenes are sick. The soundtrack's great. So, overall, like, it's just a really great action anime about a dude just that just wants to be, like, next to someone that was, like, his childhood friend and just kinda got the lowball
Mac:Yeah.
Jacci:Or lowball. And that that is the The short end of
Mac:the stick?
Jacci:Short end of the stick. Yeah. Basically. And then you just see how he does with that.
Mac:Yeah. Yeah. So, the I guess, the setting, you could say it takes place, like, in a world where, you know, it's modern day Japan. They've been dealing with, Kaijus, for so long that they created a, defense force, Kaiju defense force. And, there's a whole process of, you know, the aptitude test, all of that stuff.
Mac:Kinda like the
Jacci:It's like chainsaw man merged with kinda j j k, kinda merged with fire force, kinda merged with I don't know. Like, that's what I when I first watched it, I was like, this reminds me of Chainsaw Man.
Mac:Yeah. So like Jackie said, follows, the main character, Kafka Hibino. And, so he's a member of the cleanup crew after the defense force kills these huge Kaijus, guts, blood, all that stuff, organs everywhere. The defense force, you know, gets to parade. The, hey.
Mac:Thanks for saving us. And then they call in the cleanup crew, which, our guy, Kafka, who I think is 34, which Jackie said is, like, one of the reasons I feel this is being celebrated or or or, you know, being widely accepted is because the older generation of anime heads are watching it like, oh, it's not a fucking, you know, high school kid that's, like, super powerful and dope. You know, it's like a a working class dude who is all about, you know, doing everything he can to try to join the defense force because he tried to take the test multiple times, failed, couldn't get in. So the closest thing he can do is is, be a member of this cleanup crew, and they get no love. So he's in the middle of a cleanup.
Mac:A Kaiju shows up. He gets injured, and he's in the hospital. And, like, you know, I think it's, like, the first episode. Like, he's It's
Jacci:so disgusting.
Mac:Up, and then he just wakes up in the hospital, and there's this huge, like, Kaiju bug just forces itself into like, it's just that scene, I'm just like, I I I tensed up a bit. But him doing it.
Jacci:I was like, oh my god.
Mac:It gives him powers that he doesn't know yet until, like, all of a sudden, he just turns into a Kaiju and and, the adventure starts from there. Him trying to hide the fact that he can turn into a Kaiju because the world does not like Kaiju's. But, he's able to kind of disguise it and and and activate it as needed. So, it's it's a it's an awesome premise. I like it.
Mac:Some people, I had a I have a coworker who's watching it, and they're just, you know what, Kaiju? It reminds me of attack on Titan. Like, it's a poor man's attack on Titan, and I I sat and thought about it. And I'm just, like, I can see their point. You know, like, how Eren can, like, transform into a titan and and take care
Jacci:of some things, how, Kafka can turn into the Kaiju and take care of things. Eren was a really frustrating character kind of in, like, the first few seasons.
Mac:Yeah. But, I mean, like, on a shallow, like, I guess, general thing, if you're trying to explain it to somebody, like, kaijus are a thing. We have a guy that can turn into a kaiju to fight back just like titans were a thing, and Aaron can turn into a titan and and fight back. But the overall aspect, like, it it the the premise of it is not as dark and as grimy as Attack on Titan was, but, you know, I I think it's a great thing. And, so with that out of the way, let's, start talking, the manga and the creation of that.
Mac:Alright. So, you know, I've been working on my, my, Japanese a little bit. Not really. Oh. No.
Mac:I have not. So like these names so these names, again, you know, I'm doing my best, so, don't murder me. But, of course, creator, Naoya Matsumoto.
Jacci:Matsumoto.
Mac:Matsumoto. He's the creator of this. He began his career in 06, creating a, a story, necroromancer, that was published in a, a jump, kind of a, collection of of of, stories and stuff. A lesser known one than Shonen Jump. But then he got picked up to do the shonen jump when he started creating the, Kaiju number 8.
Mac:The biggest thing, obviously, he was influenced by a lot of the the, I think the genre is called, tokusatsu media, like Ultraman, like the Power Rangers. Like, they get together, form, grow big, fight other big monsters, and things like that. A really big influence he said was, Shin Godzilla, which was in 2016, Pacific Rim, things like that. So he was thinking how to incorporate the kaiju, genre, with, with anime and try to put a a a, I guess, a shonen twist to it, which, led to the creation of kaiju number 8, which I feel is, super dope. I think, the biggest thing he said, he aimed to create a story that follows a protagonist who has to achieve their goal while hiding their identity from a hostile organization that they're also a part of, seeing it as an entertaining concept.
Mac:So, with that, yeah, we kinda already described it. But, the biggest thing about it is the choice of protagonist. I think that is the biggest the biggest difference between, our current, shonen that are out there and, super popular. And you kinda elaborated on that. So I know I don't know if you, you know, kinda dabbled in a little bit of it or you did a little bit of research on on a little bit more of the, the manga, but, what are your thoughts on that?
Jacci:I can definitely see the, like, Power Rangers themes a little bit with, like, the gigantic, monsters. I did not read the manga. I'm a huge, like I like to watch first, and then I'll go back and read afterwards because it's like I'm experiencing it again
Mac:Yeah.
Jacci:Differently because they always go in more detail in the manga, and there's things that are never included in the anime. Whereas, sometimes if you read the manga first, then you watch the anime, it's like, you you'll see some things that are missing, and sometimes you can get disappointed. Yeah. But, I mean, I think the cool thing too that he decided to do with that being the protagonist that, like, has to hide his identity and everything Uh-huh. It's it's like him and this other guy that kinda, like, work together and are trying to go to the defense force.
Jacci:And it's clear that the other guy who is younger, you know, is going to make it, but they, like, choose Kafka as the the primary. And I think his choice to do that instead and, like, center around him was probably the best choice, he could've done, which kinda helps with the success of so where the manga went and now the fact that it's an anime.
Mac:Yeah. So the the second I guess, you could call him the sidekick as of now, Reno, Reno Ichikawa. So he's an 18 year old. So I think that's the the dynamic that I like about it is the fact that, you know, Kafka's 34 year old, you know, blue collar. You kinda get his backstory, him, and, we'll talk about the the captain of, the defense force team that he's on.
Mac:Super OP. Again, it's one of those things where they take this test as kids or whatever to kinda test their aptitude, and, she's just naturally gifted like a prodigy at this thing. So, she is able to excel through the ranks to the rank of captain while he is, number 3 on the cleanup crew or whatever. You know? So, and the fact that, Reno, the 18 year old was also a member of the cleanup team.
Mac:He sees during the, the attack, that that springs up on him while they're cleaning up one of the, the kaiju that have been defeated. He sees the selflessness and the the determination of, Kafka trying to save him, from the Kaiju and all of that stuff. So he kinda starts looking at, Kafka as, you know, the big brother. I don't wanna say father figure, but, you know, calls him senpai, you know, all that good. The all the terms of endearment for that.
Mac:So you start seeing that relationship build to the point where even after Kafka finds out that he's been turned into a Kaiju, Reno could easily, you know, turn him in and all that stuff, but, he remembers all of the stuff that Kafka did in the short time that they've known each other. Like, you saved my life. You know, let's you know, I'll keep your secret. Let's go do this, this defense force test again. You know, I'm I'm rooting for you, but,
Jacci:he
Mac:he's kinda hesitant because he knows Kafka is trying to figure out how to maintain hiding the Kaiju stuff, and he doesn't want anything bad to happen to him. So, that dynamic in and of itself between those characters, I think that's endearing too because you're not getting the the standard protagonist, and then they're kind of, you know, anti protagonist, or they're they're kinda rival at that point?
Jacci:Yeah. There's no rival. It's more like a not even a peer to peer. It's like role model to, like, his not subordinate, but regardless of the fact that he's not really that strong or anything as Kafka, like, Reno looks, like, up to him and wants to be more like him. And it more centers around Reno wanting to compete with other people and then just, like, helping out his senpai overall.
Mac:Yep. So when it comes to that, quick rundown of the plot, so childhood friends, Kafka, that's the, the main character. Amina, who is the, the the childhood friend, where they make that vow, like, you know, because a Kaiju destroyed their town. They're like, you know what? We'll never let this happen again.
Mac:Let's join forces, and we'll swear to rid the world of Kaijus. And they did this cool little handshake thing. And then, you find out that she has left him in the dust as far as, fulfilling that, and he is just always determined now to get up there. So Mina is 27, and, no, Kafka is 32. So the 34 thing.
Jacci:I'm just trying to make
Mac:him older than what he is so I can relate to him. But so, yeah, he's failed the examination numerous times in his in the in the on the cleanup crew. So, they keep testing, and they finally take another test to join the 3rd division, which is, where, I guess, the the region that they're in where, Mina is the the captain. So there's that working on. There's that working the whole, you know, childhood promise.
Mac:I gotta try to stand neck. I wanna be by her side and help rid the world of these things on
Jacci:top of it. The childhood promise.
Mac:Yeah. It it's it gets me every time. You know? I promise we'll be there together. You know?
Mac:Come come let me join you. And and, like, when you see some of the the episodes or if you read the manga, you start really rooting for this guy, to get to where he needs to get to be next to, to be able to fight by our side on the battlefield and stuff. So, a lot of the things that I read when I was, looking at this is the the most of these that we've covered, you know, it's just one person. The creator is also the illustrator, does all of the work for the things. But, the thing with, Matsumoto is he has 3 assistants to help him out.
Mac:So he has Asamu, Kawaii who is responsible for the background art. So he has somebody doing the the settings in the background. He has Jiro Sakura who does the finishing work, so kinda cleans up the art the rough artwork. And then, Mantohiti Mantohi, I guess. I'm sorry.
Mac:Binta, who is credited for the weapon design. So the fact that and and I thought that was kinda kinda cool that you're trusting somebody to come in and kinda add to your story to that part. Because some people were like they have a vision, and they're like, I'm a draw it, and and you guys just do what I do. But for him to do the characters, somebody else to do the the the environment, the background work, and then someone to create these weapons, because the weapons in this show are are incredible. Mhmm.
Mac:You start seeing, like, the basic rifles and stuff that they use, but the stronger the member is in the defense force or the higher the rank is, the more outlandish and fucking overpowered these weapons get. So, I don't wanna lead too much into the anime, you know, the whole thing, but, the weapons in there, same weapons in the in the manga. So, tell us what you think about, like, the weapon designs. And, I guess, actually, your thoughts on, like, the the, I guess, the combat, because you have the Kaiju who obviously are physically more dominate and, like, evolved way past the the capabilities of humans. But the things that the humans have been able to create to combat those, Like, how are you feeling about, their weapons and their ways that they can, defend themselves against the Kaijus?
Jacci:I thought it was interesting that they created, like, this because everyone has, like, a suit that's a part of that defense force. And then that suit is going to amplify their, like, strength, their speed, their defense based off of, like, what their already known physical capacity is as, like, humans, which is dependent upon, like, their training or whatever the case is. So I thought that was a really interesting, concept. I know it's probably been done in, like, other animes where a suit is gonna do that. But Mhmm.
Jacci:I never seen it where, like, there's different percentages, and then depending on the percentage was dependent upon what weapons or things you can do. I also liked that even though you could have an output power of, like, I don't know, we'll say, like, 80%. There are still other weapons you cannot handle. So, like, the captain, for example, she specializes in massive freaking cannons. Whereas the other the vice captain, who's personally one of my favorite characters
Mac:Well, he is cool.
Jacci:Yeah. He's a cold dude. I can see this is where, like, I can see someone talking about some poor man's, attack on Titan because he reminds me of Levi 100%. A little bit. And if anyone's seen the anime, they probably know one specific instance of where that could be a factor.
Jacci:But he cannot do, like, guns that well. He cannot also do, like, you know, long range weaponry. He has to do, like, close-up combat. And then, and then also, I like how some of the weapons, it just fits the personalities too of the people. It's not even just like, I'm really strong, so I can just do all this stuff.
Jacci:It's like, I the way that I am built and the way that my mindset is is, like, this specific type of weapon is what's gonna be effective. And I can't just pick up, like, this large weapon and also do the same thing.
Mac:Yeah. And that even goes to the, the basic weaponry that they start out with. Right? So, along with the suit that kinda pulls your innate, powers and ability out, which is is crazy because the suits and the weapons, they're made from, previously destroyed Kaijus. Right?
Mac:They use pieces and and organic things from the Kaiju to create the armor and the weapon. So it pulls out, your innate abilities and stuff. So when you first see it, right, when, Kafka ends up joining by the skin of his teeth, the defense force at the lowest level, they give him this suit, and you're thinking, oh, if it pulls out your inner power, like, because he's already, like, the viewer and the reader knows he's a kaiju. You're thinking, like, when the suit gets on him, the readings will be off the chart. Right?
Mac:The wild thing is, of all the people that put the suits on, his is the lowest. I think it was, like, at a one.
Jacci:And I thought it was, like, 0 0 at first. Percent. And then it, like, got to 0.1.
Mac:When he was, like, like, trying to power up like a saiid. And it went to 0. It so the funniest
Jacci:thing is doesn't just go based off your own physical power. I think it also goes based off of, like, mindset where for him, his physical power is so low. I think the only reason why he's able to get something out of it is because, like, his mindset. I also wonder and again, I haven't read the manga, but I wonder if, like, him absorbing that kaiju is also inhibiting a little bit of what he's able to put out, but I don't know. Because they, like, throughout the show, like, you you would think, and even through the manga, like, what if he powers up while he has the suit on?
Jacci:Like, that has to show something, maybe. But when he's not changing at his normalness, it's it's dormant, essentially. So you cannot sense anything except that he's a normal human being that literally can't do anything other than, you know, normal human stuff, walk to the grocery store and talk. One thing, I've I read though, I wanna talk about a little bit about the, the design too that besides just the weaponry is that I read, is that when the artist was creating it, I guess, he struggled in creating manga in general. Like, he was not good at it.
Jacci:He didn't understand, like, the whole concept of what manga should look like, which is why all these this team of people Oh, okay. Were coming in to kinda help him. And not only was the storyline influenced by what you said, but the designs was influenced for him mainly by Oni, specifically. Oh. And then in the, art of the, like, manga, you'll see on the covers that the Kaiju has his specific Kaiju has, like, a, like, a blue glow.
Jacci:And I guess that was inspired by Tron, the 19 eighties film Tron.
Mac:I could see that because, yeah, like, during certain moments, they're the the little, I guess, gaps in between, like, his armor plates will get that, like, neon blue glow. And, that's kinda it never amazes me. Like, you can just draw inspirations. You're just the smallest inspiration from something. Because, like, you hear somebody be, like, inspired by Tron.
Mac:You're thinking, like, futuristic cyber bikes and stuff. He's like, no. I just like the neon glow, so I just I just do that in here. Yeah. But yeah.
Mac:I mean, it it adds so much because when we'd start talking about the anime and the actual production and the animation and and the the actual visuals, when these combats and when the power ups start, it's it's super dope. But, like you were talking about the vice captain, Hoshina, So so Mina, obviously, we talked about her super skilled, the strongest one, hence why she's the captain of the 3rd division. Her abilities allow her to, like, create these supercharged cannon shots. So when it comes to, like, taking out the gigantic, and there's different shot. There's different levels.
Mac:Yeah. She takes guys out 1 or 2 shots. And the way they displayed in the manga is, like, the the kickback from this cannon is no joke. So when she braces herself, like, these bracers come out, lock herself down, and she's, like, on top of this this building. And it's, like, 1 or 2 shots, and this dude is done.
Mac:The minute they find out where the core is at, she could just take that thing out.
Jacci:Yeah. And there's and there's 3 different kinds too. There's, like, the Youju, just like the smaller ones, which is you could just take them out with regular
Mac:The rifles.
Jacci:Guns or, you know, front or face to face combat. Then you have the honju, which are the biggest and most powerful Kaiju. So those are the ones that she'll sometimes she'll get called upon. Or other people, it takes, like, the whole team
Mac:Yeah.
Jacci:To do that. And then the big ones, which is the the worst ones, is the Daikaiju. Yep. And then I think those are the ones that will get numbers as well. And if they're identified, it's because, like, they had like, either it was a huge disaster, like, you know, cities got wiped off the the face of the earth essentially.
Jacci:A lot of casualties. Oh, that was the other anime I forgot to say that it reminded me of or manga was, One Punch Man.
Mac:Oh, the different levels of, threats like dragon and all that
Jacci:stuff. Yeah. What it also that that's what the that that was the main thing. It was, like, Chainsaw Man, 1 Punch Man. Like, that was the big 2 that I could see elements of, like Mhmm.
Jacci:That in it.
Mac:I think one of the also, the the other thing I love about this one is he is not one to shy away from comedy in in this, in this story. So as That's hilarious. As serious as the situations is, like saving the world, like, cities being destroyed, people dying, He finds time in between the the fights for, like, human interaction and and letting you know that Kafka isn't just the the the just super dude that is just immune to awkward situations and things like that. So a lot of the jokes come from, his squad mates who are all relatively younger than him, 18, 17, early twenties, and he's out here 32, which to me is is pretty young. But the you know, like, when you're in the military, you know, like, when the younger cats come in, they'd be like, what?
Mac:You're what? 30 something? Like, I Yeah.
Jacci:You know? Which 30 30 is, like, not that I'm in my thirties. I'm like, this is actually not that old.
Mac:It's not.
Jacci:And, like, I even, like, when I as I get older, I'm, like, 50 even when I'm, like, hey. I've been thinking about 50 lately because now I'm in my thirties. I'm, like, 20 years, man.
Mac:Coming down. It's kids coming
Jacci:up. Yeah. It's not that old. I I think maybe once you get in your seventies, that's officially, like, maybe we can start talking about being old.
Mac:To, like, you know, 80 like teenagers, early twenties, they're just like, oh, man. You know, like, you're old. You you you joined when I was in middle school or something like that.
Jacci:Like, y'all shut up. Them the old they all also always call them the old guy, which is, like, my favorite. And I make jokes about it. But even, like, I watched the first episode. Right?
Jacci:Sorry. I know we're kinda dabbing No.
Mac:No. It's cool.
Jacci:A little bit in the anime. But even, like, the second episode, we're, like, now he's, like, this fully transformed Kaiju, and I was laughing. I had I it's been a while since there's an action anime like that that was, like, that hilarious. Like, you never would have seen some of that stuff that they were doing. It was so funny.
Jacci:He had no idea how to control the power, and it was just him. It was 100% him. He just looked completely different, which I think was easier for Reno to, like, you know, be like, chill. I got you. Like, I'm gonna help you out.
Jacci:That's so funny, man.
Mac:Hilarious. And and, like, I know it was good when, because my wife was watching the first episode with me and, you know, when he, does his first transformation in there running, and he's like, man, I feel like I gotta pee. And but he's in the Kaiju form. He doesn't know anything. Yeah.
Mac:And he's like, I'm I'm a I'm a I'm a go. I'm a pee. And Reno's just like, no, bro. Don't do it. That's gross.
Mac:And he turns back and look, and he's like peeing out of his nipples. Because he's like, what are you doing? Yeah. Bro, I was losing it. My wife was laughing.
Mac:She was like, yo. What is this?
Jacci:I told Steven because I had watched it before Steven. Yeah. Because, normally, I'll I'll go through and I'll watch an episode or 2. Before Steven. Yeah.
Jacci:Because normally, I'll I'll go through and I'll watch an episode or 2 to see if it's, like, worth it. And I'm like, hey, Steven. We gotta we gotta watch this. And, before Kaiju was even, like, made a big deal, it Yeah. Came out, I saw it, and I was like, oh, what's this?
Jacci:And and through on the first episode, I was like, oh my god. This is actually really good. And then that episode happened and I told Steve, I was like, just wait wait until this part. And we were dying laughing on the couch. He's like, put on the next episode.
Jacci:I was like, I know. It's not good.
Mac:Yeah. Alright. Let it ride. Yeah. But, the manga obviously was was doing so well.
Mac:And then, you know, you know, Crunchyroll starts backing it a bit because, know, if you've been watching anime on Crunchyroll, like, Crunchyroll was just like, hey. You know, premiering in this on this date, kaiju number 8. So they were kinda amping it up like the the the anime is coming, but they were helping, boost the, the sales and the the popularity of the manga. They were fronting to have billboards put up in Paris, in in, like, a lot of the other bigger cities, promoting this. So, obviously, that kinda helps it.
Mac:So, when you're looking at, you know, the manga sales, the first series, sold, like, over 90,000 the 1st week, like physical copies, 69,000, the 2nd week. And then by December in 2020, because the manga, I believe, came out, I wanna say, 2018. I gotta scroll back up and look. I forgot to write that down.
Jacci:2020, but I could be wrong.
Mac:That might be it. But, yeah, it it it was starting to pick up. Right? It was selling, and people are just like, oh, shit. You know?
Mac:Like, this can be something. And I think right now, I don't know if you have the number. Like, I think it's over 50,000,000, if I'm not mistaken.
Jacci:Sales right now. 15,000,000 copies.
Mac:15,000,000?
Jacci:Yep.
Mac:Yep. And, That
Jacci:had been printed physically and sold digitally as of the release of volume 13 and then 1,000,000 more than the previous check-in last month. So add another
Mac:Yep. So
Jacci:million on there.
Mac:And I don't I haven't heard anything from the creator saying, that it's planning on ending anytime soon. So, you can just expect that number to grow. And even if it does end, as the anime is running, more people will kinda stumble across it later on in the seasons and kinda pick it up, because I think that's how Demon Slayer is in it. Because Demon Slayer is the manga is done. The story is complete.
Mac:But because of the popularity of the the anime, like, people are seeking out and trying to buy the manga or download it digitally and things like that. So that's why their sales are, like, fucking through the roof record breaking type stuff there. So, yeah. So it's it's another another banger where, the manga was popular, over in Japan and stuff and, you know, over in western culture. Very few people are picking up on manga before the the show starts or the anime adaption, begins.
Mac:But after the anime drops, people see it, and they wanna get ahead in the story. So that's when they start getting the manga and start checking it out. So, just, I I I I see this probably being one of those modern anime that end up breaking the sales chart, getting up in there, overtopping some of the longer running anime or the mangas, the just like we were talking about JJK upsurping a lot of these these classic, you know, manga and and and anime titles just because the timing that it came out. You know? And the, I guess, the ease of access to get them digitally, which do count towards the sales, because a lot of these other ones, like, 1 piece back in the day and, you know, Berserk back in the day, things like that.
Mac:Like, we weren't able to get them. Like, you'd be going on eBay or ordering them offline from or online from Japan and paying ridiculous amounts of money for, like, 3 chapters of the stuff. You know?
Jacci:So Yeah. Or, like, what people were doing is putting all, like, translations on language. They still do, but lately, it's been getting cracked out a lot. A lot of those websites now, you can't really read or watch illegally as much as you used to be able to.
Mac:Yep.
Jacci:But I think it's really cool that a lot of these mangas and, like, even webtoons and stuff like this, like Kaiju number 8, that country will is picking up on so fast or, different types of animation studios are, like, finding, like, we need to animate this and, like, because it never used to be like that. And also, I feel like anime is back in the day too. They they would stray a lot from the manga, and they would stray from, because a lot of a lot of animes too. Some of it are not even mangas. They'll be, what's called novels.
Mac:Yep.
Jacci:And they wanna be made into manga. So it might be made into webtoons now, which is a huge thing Yeah. Before it's even made into a manga. It's it's either or. The the way that it usually goes is there's a novel, and then there's the manga and or a webtoon, or it's, like, novel webtoon well, no.
Jacci:It's novel webtoon or anime or novel manga than anime is what I've been seeing lately with some of these. Uh-huh. For some, it's just, like, I think Kaiju was only a manga, but that's the the way it's been going. And, I mean, I think just with how popular manga and anime is becoming now, like, it's really easy now to find these gems that for people who don't really like to read or never did read those things, it's so easily now to find them and animate them.
Mac:Yeah. And I feel the fact that he does have a team helping him out will kind of lessen the burden on trying to produce all of that stuff because you have, beloved stories and and properties like Hunter Hunter where the creator took a hiatus. Right? Like, you know, I'm a chill. And to your point where you're talking about anime straining from, the manga, which lead to filler episodes and stuff.
Mac:Like, when you look at a a property like Bleach where, I actually watched the anime before getting into the manga. Like, the anime, I'm just watching it, and there's all these arcs. And I'm just like, man, this is dope. This is dope. Then I read the manga, and I'm just like, well, where's the fucking the bounce?
Mac:Where's all this other stuff? And then I go, that was fucking like, a whole season. Like, 20, 30 plus episodes were just, in that's kinda where the greed of the the the animation companies and and, you know, production companies and stuff getting, like, make some shit up. And people are like,
Jacci:what the fuck you want me
Mac:to do? There's no source material. Just just roll with it. You know? And
Jacci:Which I and I I know we're, like, straying a little bit from the topic, but to talk about the fillers too and, like, with Bleach or just shows in general that have that. Some of the fillers are actually pretty good. Yeah. And they do describe a portion of the story that the manga never really gets into. Like, Bleach, the one arc that's probably the their only best filler they ever had was when they talked about the zanpak toes and the origins of them and, like, how they all can be.
Jacci:That's not in the manga at all. No. But that's cool. Like, I I kinda wish the manga did, you know, go more in detail about how did everyone get their their thing or how did it come to be, you know, like, how did it how did it start? But they never get there.
Jacci:They only really focus on, like, Ichigo.
Mac:I know. But, it it's like I said, this one so far, every episode of the first season, no filler. It's only 12 episodes, I believe.
Jacci:Right now. Yeah.
Mac:There's been no slow episodes. They all in on a like, there's no way you just watch and be like, okay. I have enough. Especially now that all 12
Jacci:are out. Cliffhanger. Every single episode was a cliffhanger.
Mac:And the fact that all 12 are out, because I was watching it as it was simulcasted. So I'm just waiting till the next week, waiting till the next week. So the fact that you can now, if you haven't checked it out, just hit up Crunchyroll and and watch all 12 or wherever you you stream your, think it's
Jacci:just jealous for the people that do get to do that because
Mac:It it was tough. Like, I I tried to do that, but, you know, there there there's a a small click of anime heads at at at work. So they're just like, you haven't watched it? Like, I did start watching it till it was, like, 4 episodes in, and they're just like, dude, you got I'm like, I can't. You know, I wanna and then they talked me into it, then I was stuck in that fucking wait until the next seed or the next week stuff.
Mac:So, which I don't mind. It's all good. But, like we talked about the or the the manga, super dope. The the the art, the the inspiration, and stuff like that. So, now we can get into the the meat and potatoes and, get into the anime adaptation of this beautiful story.
Mac:So I wanna let you start off with this because, I know last week, you are very into the music, which which I am too, but I feel like the first few episodes we're talking about, my hero and demon slayer. We didn't give the the actual music side of the anime enough love, so we're trying to correct that. And, shout out to Jackie for bringing that to light. So, Jackie, if you wanna talk about, the music that goes along with, the anime.
Jacci:Well, so one thing I thought was really cool is that the opening and ending were both in English, and that was very interesting. I always love, like, I think that the one of the first animes that I don't wanna say first animes, but in a long time, especially with newer animes, the first one that I noticed that started doing some English openings was Fire Force, which has a sick opening. Yes. Whatever. We'll we'll go in that later.
Jacci:But, when Kaiju number 8's opening started when I first watched it, I was, like, okay. This is, like, interesting looking because it's realistic, like, AI. It's CGI. Yeah. It's weird.
Jacci:Really weird looking, but it's, like, kinda cool. And then it's by this, person named Youngblood, and I looked him up. I thought he was an American. He's not. He,
Mac:I think he's British. Right?
Jacci:Sorry. I'm pulling up his name right now. Yeah. He's an ink so he is an yeah. He's an English singer songwriter and actor.
Jacci:I don't know what he's acted on. I really look at that, but he's got a, like, a lot of other, songs, but his the one thing songs that he made was from, Fall Guy, if you ever seen, that movie, but I haven't watched that. But a song is called abyss. It opens up, and it's just, like, kind of a rock rap kind of, like, song. And it's just really interesting with, like it's very trippy, you know, with the opening.
Jacci:And then it goes into this, like, emo ish, like, rock kind of sound, and it's like, okay. I can totally get down with this. And my favorite part every single time in the opening is, like, the second part where he's like, say, hey, Matt Light. And it's just the the kaiju that like has a smile and all the eyes and then wiggling like this. I don't know why it's so like visually pleasing with like that like the music too.
Jacci:It's really good. I play I played the song so many times.
Mac:Yeah.
Jacci:And what surprised me is the ending is by One Republic. Mhmm. Where have those nerds been?
Mac:I have no idea.
Jacci:It came out of nowhere. Right. Or the so a a part of me was, like, this is awesome. One Republic's doing an ending for anatomy. But then another part of me was like, damn.
Jacci:One Republic, did you realize, you know, your music is, like, not as popular anymore. Now you're going towards the anime route, which, I mean, it's not bad either. But but it's a good it's a good ending, and I also loved how the visual of the ending was different than the opening. The opening's very kinda creepy, visually trippy. Like, that would be, like, for people who like to do, you know, drugs.
Jacci:I don't do that, obviously.
Mac:Little Little little psychedelic.
Jacci:They would have a great time watching that opening over and over and over again. But the ending is kinda like, 1 piece had, when they switched their animation style and everything got really great, the and some animes too, their openings, the way their styles would go is very, like, smooth cartoon, if that makes sense. And the colors are, like, pastel, kind of. And it's very, like, chill kinda watching. Like, you feel, like, very, it's another appealing type of animation.
Jacci:Mhmm. And then that song was also amazing too. Like I'm like, oh, this is also a really good song. And I was playing the song for Steven before he even watched it, and he's like, who's this? This is a good song.
Jacci:I was like, oh, it's the ending of the anime that I want you to watch with me Right. By the way. He's like, really? They this is an ending for it? I was like, yes.
Mac:Yeah.
Jacci:One Republic. So, yeah, Youngblood, English singer, songwriter, and actor. He's kinda reminds me of, like, good Charlotte that kinda a kid's got that email look. Like, his hair is, like, red and black, and then he also changes his hairstyle, like, kinda looks like, back in those days, kind of like pop rock. Not pop rock.
Jacci:Sorry. Emo, pop, which is what made me like it even more. But, super good song. I did look up his other music. I wasn't a biggest fan of a lot of the other ones.
Mac:Yeah.
Jacci:But, yeah, what? I don't know. I I'm such a huge, like, when it comes to, like, openings and endings that, like, sometimes will make or break, like, how you're gonna feel about an anime. Mhmm. And then the OSTs in general, which is, like,
Mac:Amazing.
Jacci:The soundtracks are
Mac:just,
Jacci:like, really, really, really sick. And the animation studio that did all of it, production I g, which production has done a lot, been around for a really long time, has, like, done what? Ghost in the Shell, Psycho Pass, Haikyu, which I've never I watched Haikyu. It's like on my it's been on my watch list for years. I just haven't watched it.
Jacci:But either way, like, they've done a lot of, like, oh, Eden of the East, Guilty Crown is, just really really great
Mac:anime too.
Jacci:But what else do they do? Which I'm looking. Oh, Blood the last vampire. Oh, video games wise. Oh, I didn't know they actually did video games too.
Mac:Interesting. I can see that because a lot of the, the lot of the a lot of the, you know, set pieces combat and stuff. Like, you I could see that being kind of inspired by, you know, like, a video game cutscene or something like that. Maybe that's what they they do is they, like, do cutscenes for some of these, like, I would say JRPGs and things like that.
Jacci:Mhmm. Yep.
Mac:But, yeah, the, the I always love it when there there's memes that have gone around, like, you know, the anime opening is, like, the most action packed. Like, the music gets you hyped for the show, then the ending will be some you know, they're just walking, you know, looking up at the star, a little ballad is playing or something like that. The the the the difference in contrast, you get young blood with this Yeah. This opening where you see, like, some DNA gets spliced, and then it evolves into this Kaiju and just starts spreading and all this other stuff. And you hear this man, yo, someone please save my life.
Mac:Like, the the guitars come in. The drums are heavy. You're just like, yo, this shit is
Jacci:and then good.
Mac:Then, like, the the the episode will
Jacci:be ending in a in a big ass cliffhanger, and
Mac:then One Republic comes on with this little, you know, bubbly, nobody love you no more I do.
Jacci:Yeah. It's it's it's like a catchy song. It's good. I nobody.
Mac:I'm just like Good. Yo. How do they the to be
Jacci:able to just find that balance to be like, this fits at the end, and it absolutely does.
Mac:It's like, we were talking about JJK, how you'll have, you know, the opening to that, and then it rolls right into, lost in paradise, and they're just chilling, going shopping and stuff. And you're just like, you know, I I fucks with it. You know? I I love it, and it's very well done. But, Yutta Bando is the one who's in charge of the, original, the OST.
Mac:So if you wanna check that out, I know Apple Music has it. Spotify may have it. I don't know. But I just Google, like, the thing, and once it tells me, hey. Go listen to it here.
Mac:That's where I go listen to it at. But, please make sure to check that out because it it's it's it's amazing. And I feel sometimes, like, you do fall in love quickly with openings and endings, but then, like, when you just take the time to kinda listen to the music in the background because I'm distracted by, obviously, the visuals And, like, every now and then, I'll tap in. But, like, if I'm just, like, you know, working at at my desk or something, I'll just play, like, a OST, and you can just appreciate the music and be like, yo. This is beautifully done.
Mac:Like Yeah. You know, what part of the show was this in? And then you go back and check it out, and you're just like, oh, it fits perfectly to this scene. So
Jacci:Yeah. And I thought maybe, like, did One Republic create the song specifically for kaiju number 8? And that's not true. They came out with a new album called Artificial Paradise, which is their 6th one. Mhmm.
Jacci:I didn't even know they came out with an album. And then I guess, like, from there, the creators were, like, we want this song at the end. Yeah. Whereas, Youngblood did specifically create that opening for, Kaiju number 8, which when you go look it up, it is the same, like, length that it is for the opening. There's no, like, additional chorus or bridge or anything like that for it.
Mac:Yep. So, the anime obviously received hella positively. Right? I I don't think there was a any kind of, you know, I don't know what you would call them, like review agency or or, you know, any of those, any of those properties, like anime news network or, you know, things that cover and be like, hey. This is kind of the rotten tomatoes for for anime.
Mac:Yeah. Yeah. Nobody has said anything bad about this thing. Everybody's praising it. Kind of praising both the animation and the music working well together, for, like, the darker parts where you're dealing with the heavy things, the world building and stuff, to the lighthearted comedy, you know, human interactions when they're not on duty, you know, the the just the the team's kinda building and stuff.
Mac:Nothing but praise for production IG. And then,
Jacci:They did a really good job, especially, like, with the fight scenes. Mhmm. It it's crazy how this anime can be so light hearted, almost like a slice of life kind of vibe. Right. And with, like, the humor and, like, the last 10 minutes of it, it can get so serious.
Jacci:Like, you're watching just a regular action drama, whatever it is, type of, like, fantasy show, and it's like I don't know. It takes you through it it's just such an enjoyable watch.
Mac:Indeed. And, like, every week, you have people breaking down each episode and nothing negative. Like, every episode, they say it is well done as far as how it builds upon itself, the world building. They're not going too fast. They're not taking you know, going too slow.
Mac:And then for some of the the bigger fights, like, between numbered kaiju because, obviously, we have kaiju number 8 who's Kafka. Then we're introduced to, I believe, it's kaiju number 9 who Yeah. Has infiltrated Wild. Infiltrated the, defense cleanup. So learning about, trying to, I guess, evolve to another state to where they can, obliterate.
Mac:You know? Because the Kaiju's are like, we wanna get rid of humans.
Jacci:Yeah. And they kinda go into the the weird the thing about the anime that I like too, and I'm sure the manga does the same thing, has a little bit of a mystery behind it. You don't actually know why all the things are the way they are. They don't really talk about it until later on in the season. They kinda discussed, like, how this came to be, and that there's other, like, bigger things out there too.
Jacci:But obviously, like, as you continue to watch just like any other anime, there's more things that no one realizes. There's a bigger, badder enemy than you realize there is.
Mac:Right.
Jacci:But I I thought that what they also did well with pacing is a lot of times when people, like, get a new power, sometimes you get so focused on, we gotta create a training arc or some type of thing to talk about how people are gonna, like, level up or, you know, get used to whatever. And they did a really good job with Kafka. Like, they it's not that they like you said, they didn't sprint forward too far. They didn't go too slow. It's just, like, maybe a couple months later, like, it's still, like, you didn't miss anything kind of thing.
Jacci:It's just him trying to figure out life and still trying to apply for this defense force. But, like, why spend time on that? Because there was no point, and then I thought they did a really good job at capturing, like, that piece of, like, we don't have to, like, focus so much on on these things because that's not, like, the point of, like, the story, which I think helps keep, keep the audience's attention span, if you will.
Mac:Yep. And, the thing I like about it, and I feel like, you know, my bad for forgetting to mention this. I'm just going back double checking notes. The the world that it's set in, like, there's the main manga storyline with Kafka and stuff, but then there's you know, they got a spin off manga, Kaiju number 8, the b side, which ran from July, January 5th to July 12th this year. It's based off of the light novel like you were talking about.
Mac:A lot of these things are light novels, and then they're just like, you know, we'll we'll kind of take that and and and add to it. But the spin off, the b side, focuses more on the side stories of the defense force members. So instead of it kinda just focusing on
Jacci:Oh, okay.
Mac:On, Kafka and and his main story. And the anime kinda lets you in a little bit on some of his teammates and stuff, but the manga actually gives you, like, the back story for things like that. And it's been rumored that before the season, 2 drops of, Kaiju number 8 following the main, storyline of the manga. There'll be like a, kinda like a side I don't wanna say like a spin off, but, yeah, spin off where you'll start getting more of the back stories of the the team members, which I'm I'm a big fan of that because I love character development, how they're displayed.
Jacci:Yeah. I know some people don't like the back stories, but, yeah, I'm a huge I'm also a huge fan. And sometimes some spin offs and some animes, I don't I'll, like, watch and I'll always be like, yeah, that was kinda boring. I don't know why they had to do that. It's, like, yeah, let's let's just put some stuff out because we're waiting for the next season to come out.
Jacci:I like when they there's intent behind the spin offs. I think that's better than, like, let's just put some I think they're called they're not called OSTs, OSTs, but, slime
Mac:Yeah.
Jacci:Does that a lot where they'll put, like, random, like, OP episodes where there'll be, like, 4 of them, but they're not really pertinent to the story.
Mac:Exactly. So and I love character building, especially, like, if I'm already endeared by these characters from what I've gotten from these 12 episodes so far and and into the manga. Like, I haven't read the the b side. I'm I'm intrigued. I'm trying to get around to doing that, but, it's always hard to just find time to just read through a manga, watch the manga, or watch the anime, and and do adult shit because, you know, we're 30, so we're old and stuff.
Mac:Well, I'm I'm in my forties, so I'm advanced.
Jacci:Which I did also like I also like oh, like you. I like how they did, it's Shinomiya, the the female. Uh-huh. Like, not the captain. Right?
Jacci:But, like, the
Mac:other The superpowers. Yeah.
Jacci:Female. Yes. I like when she first showed up when, like, you guys watched the anime. Right? When you first see her, you're like, oh, it's just gonna be some cranky know it all.
Jacci:Like, you gotta always have one of
Mac:those so I don't know. Yeah.
Jacci:Because she As you go in, like, the it's again, like you said, the character, the relationships, it's she I like her a lot as a character. Like, obviously, the captain I like that with the captain, they don't focus so much on her. Like, she is obviously the top, but that's not who you need to center it on. It's, like, all these relationships and everyone else that he's surrounded with. Mhmm.
Jacci:And even though she's this badass character just like Reno is, like, or Ichikawa, like
Mac:Right.
Jacci:They still, like, look at him as this, like, guy that they just look up to and wanna, like, protect and be a part of, like, this team with. Like, they are this new family that they're creating. And and even the other characters that they started to introduce, they haven't really gone too much in detail with yet. Yep. It's more of like a rivalry that's happening with the lower not the lower, but everyone else that decides Kafka or whatever.
Jacci:I don't know. I I really, really, really like the characters, the personalities that they've chosen to have from, like, the writing and then the animation style. I will say, I guess there is some gripe though from some people who do read the manga, or have read the manga all the way to where it's caught up to
Mac:Right.
Jacci:They this new character that's supposed to be introduced in season 2, they don't like the animation or how he was animated. I can't I think he had, like, showed up in the last episode. So I won't give too much away, but there is that is, like, the only thing I have read or I saw that some people which which happens.
Mac:Right.
Jacci:Right? Like, some animation styles with people, they expect to be one way. Mhmm. But I think it that's just, like, the style of this and, this studio
Mac:Yep.
Jacci:Is compared to, like, the drawing. It's not gonna I don't I don't wanna say translate well. It's just not gonna translate the same. So that's the only negative thing I've seen so far about the animation is just that one character, which I don't really know too much about.
Mac:Yeah. I think, another thing where I think this anime will will be fine and this studio will will continue to produce, like, amazing, pieces of work is, that they're they're doing the whole kind of with the manga, just having a a a team work on different aspects of the the animation. So, they have, the director is doing his thing. Scripts are being kind of worked in tandem with, the creator, by, Ichiro Okuchi. Right?
Mac:Character designs, chief animation by, Tetsu Nishio, and then, art direction by, Shinji Komura, and then monster designs by Mahirio Midea. So it's like different people being able to just focus on creating the monsters, right, instead of trying to draw them on top of trying to draw the the main characters on top of trying to draw. So dividing and conquering instead of having people overworked trying to do everything all themselves Yeah. I think will will lead to the longevity and then the quality not dropping off of the animation as this as this, thing continues. But, not only has it is it big here in the States, worldwide, to the point where there's different languages that it's being adapted into, Portuguese Brazilian Portuguese, English, French, German, Italian.
Mac:And over in Italy, like, it's the best selling manga in history in Italy. So, like yeah. So the fact that, this is kinda spreading the way it is to the point where, you know, the more popular it gets, the more, dialects it's gonna be subbed and dubbed in and things like that. So, it's already off to a good start. But, the character designs, the the voice acting for it, you know, as the show, our show continues, you know, we'll start getting into kinda talk about the voice actors because I think they they deserve to get some shine too because they do amazing work, both subbed and dubbed.
Mac:So I'm starting to go back and watch some of the animes that I have watched, in subbed. Trying to go back and watch them in dub. Because when I go to these anime conventions and comic cons, like, it's mostly the dubbed voice actors that show up, and I hate going up to them and be like, I love the anime you work on, but I haven't heard your voice as this character. You know? Yeah.
Mac:And it sucks, because I I wanna give them shine too, because they do work. And a lot I hear a lot of dubbed anime, which used to get ragdoll for being horribly voice acted. Uh-oh. A visitor. Is that Tucker?
Jacci:It is Tucker.
Mac:What up, Tuck?
Jacci:Yeah. He's getting mad because I'm not giving him attention. He's been meowing.
Mac:Oh, look at you. Look at you. You just not showing love to the kiddo, actually.
Jacci:He originally was fine, and then now he started getting angry. So he's been walking across the other, computer desk we have, and he started making his way over here. And I'm like, he's gonna walk on the
Mac:I know you see me. What up, baby?
Jacci:Hey. Look who it is.
Mac:What up, man? Thanks for tapping in. But, yeah. So the 1st season, like we talked about, it ended. But, to note is after the airing of the final episode, a sequel was announced.
Mac:So in August 2024, it was announced that it will be a second season to premiere in 2025, which is dope. It was also announced that a compilation film of the first season in an original episode entitled Hoshina's Day Off, which is the, the vice captain, We'll screen together in Japan theaters in 2025. Crunchyroll will stream the 2nd season. So Crunchyroll obviously has the, I guess, the exclusive rights to, to keep this, on their on their streaming service, which I am a 100% cool with. So speaking of that, one of your favorite parts of the anime so far or there's been tons of fights, tons of action scenes.
Mac:Give me, like, a cup 2 2 of your favorite fights or action scenes or just scenes in general, from the the first season of this, anime?
Jacci:Yeah. I wanna try and say it without spoiling it too. But I would say one of my the first one I ever think of is with, captain. Sorry. I wanna make sure that I because I'm really bad with names all the time.
Jacci:Yeah. Okay. Captain Hoshina or vice captain Yes. Hoshina, leading up to when he finally decides to come out on the field. He's just making fun of Kafka the whole time.
Jacci:But when he finally, like, gets out there and he shows off, like, his strength and fighting style. That was one of the most insane fight scenes I've seen in a while. It reminded me of the, like, sound Hashira.
Mac:Sam.
Jacci:A little bit. And, and then the freaking, what is it? The the stone Hashira, like, just it's just his and then Levi, like, it it just, like, all of it. Like, just like the animation and just how he just switched. Like, this dude is, like, straight up.
Jacci:He's chill. He's fun. He's a really likable character, and then he just switches. And you're like, oh my god. Yeah.
Jacci:So that's that's one of my most favorite action scenes, if if you will. And I think one of my more, other favorite ones is it's more towards the end, and I won't say too much, but it just kinda shows how loved and I don't wanna say it. What's the word I'm thinking of? How much his Kafka's team appreciates him. It's a scene where it's more, like, they want to back him up and be on his side and help him out as much as possible.
Jacci:And Kafka gets into a situation where we don't know what's gonna happen, and you just realize that, like
Mac:The whole division.
Jacci:The whole division is on his side, and, I think it was, him. I don't know if this if this is a spoiler or not.
Mac:Go ahead
Jacci:and say black watching. So if it is, just say it. But, like, everyone salutes when he's he's going somewhere. And, someone asked him, like, you're saluting the captain. Right?
Jacci:And it was vice captain Hoshina, and he's, like, yeah. Of course.
Mac:Yeah.
Jacci:And you know that's not.
Mac:A 100%.
Jacci:That's one of my most favorite Like, that one and and, like, one that matches is kinda like when Kaffa's fighting someone and, Shinomiya is, like, kinda like there too. And, like, the the emotional aspect of it is was really, really great. So there's funny ones that I really like too, but, like, those things I I really, really, really enjoyed. I really liked the, like, the symbolism behind, like, some of the things that, like, the the division does and what it means with, like, Kafka and everything and yeah.
Mac:Yeah. Yeah. So to tag along to the first part where you're talking about, who is it?
Jacci:The vice captain? Hoshino?
Mac:Hoshino. Yeah. I don't know why. Yeah.
Jacci:I keep saying Hoshino.
Mac:No. It's fine. When he's, when, you know, he he's doing his fight, because, he comes across like they're they're doing a a standard, you know, let's get this kaiju out of here. Kafka obviously, turns into a he he dawns his kaiju form to to help out with the fight, and the vice captain just happens to be in the area in season. So the vice captain does not know it's Kafka.
Mac:So he's just like, oh, you're a numbered Kaiju. You know? And I can get kinda serious. See, he always has to make sure his other squad mates aren't around because when he goes all out, like, he could tend to go a little over the top and harm his his people. So, that's the fight you're talking about where he's, like, joking and laughing because they wanna kick initially Kafka.
Mac:Like, he's not strong enough to do it. And the vice captain's like, I'll keep him around. He could be on my team because I need the comic relief. Right?
Jacci:He's funny. And he's also just he he's funny. I just wanna keep him because he's funny.
Mac:I love the fact that he's like, there's something up with this dude. Like, something else about this dude. I don't know what it is, but I'm a just keep my eye on him. But, he goes from laughing and joking around to, like, fangs out type shit, like Yep. To end this threat.
Mac:But after that fight
Jacci:too. It's scary. Like, this whole you know, how, you know, an anime character is getting to their thing. But it was just, like, sick.
Mac:But after the fight, they're back at the base, and he's training. And Kafka just walks past the training room, and he sees the vice captain reenacting that fight from memory, step by fucking step, and that's when you realize, like, this motherfucker is on a whole another level. Like, he is deadly. So I love that part about it, how this man is, like he's he's the vice like, the fact when you sit and think about, like, he's not the best person on the squad, this guy. And then when you see Mina, you're just like, well, okay.
Mac:Yeah. You know, she's like, she's she's the truth. But, another part and and it's like you're saying and I think this this kinda ties into the character development part. So, Shinomiya, the daughter, Kuroko, she was she ended up being saved by Kafka in in one of these episodes. So
Jacci:Yep.
Mac:She realizes, hey, bro. You're a you're a fucking kaiju. Like, we're supposed to kill these motherf all I see. He's like, you know, I'm just here to try to help you guys defeat kaijus. If I start acting out, if I can't control myself, you gotta kill me.
Mac:She's like, 100%. You don't gotta ask me twice. So, there comes a a a incident because her dad is the the fucking director of the defense force. So her dad is, like, the guy. So, Kafka and him ended up you know, they have to fight in one of these episodes, and she's watching it.
Mac:And she she's torn because she's like, I know Kafka's a good dude, but at the same time, he's a kaiju. And the amazing thing about that is her dad is so powerful. He's able to use weapons that were designed from Kaiju. So he is tapping in to a level
Jacci:of power. Number 2.
Mac:Yep. So when you watch that fight, that is one of the most epic things in this thing. I'm just like, bro, like, like, people are about to like, I'm like, somebody's not making it out of this shit, bro.
Jacci:Like Yeah.
Mac:Somebody's not
Jacci:making it out of this shit. About to end real quick.
Mac:Credits are about to roll real quick for somebody. Like, but, yeah, you gotta tap in and and and check that thing out. But, yeah. So those are, like, 2 of my favorite parts. But, emotionally, the part where, you know, Kafka's walking, he's being escorted by the captain and the vice captain, and his squadmates all salute, and they're just like, the suit's for the captain.
Mac:Right? Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
Mac:Sure. Yeah. And and we all know what it is because I was in my living room saluting the boy, like, you're a g, bro. Like, respect. You knew you were gonna get exposed, but he was willing to do that to save his people, and then it led to that, like the selflessness of it is what I love about it.
Mac:And then they Yeah. They, in turn, repay that respect. But, please make sure to check it out. Like I said, all 12 episodes, 1st season on Crunchyroll, get spun up on it. If you wanna read ahead on the manga, you can feel free to do that.
Mac:I do it. I used the Shonen Jump app, and then there's a couple other apps. But Shonen Jump is, like, $2 a month, and you get, like, all the the all of all of them as they they drop. So, with that being said, it is time to, for us to kinda shed some lights on a few, anime that we feel you should be checking out on on keep this on your radar. Shout out to the homie, Kenpachi.
Mac:I know you're busy. Things are happening in life, but, you know, we haven't forgot about you. So whenever you join back, we we are looking forward to your insightful, anime, input. But, in the meantime, me and Jackie will hold it down. So, I know Jackie had a few that she wanted to put you on.
Mac:So, go ahead.
Jacci:Alright. So some that are already out. And then there's one specific one that's coming up that I just think is interesting. Some that, Sengoku Yoko is what it's called. I heard that it's about a brother and sister Mhmm.
Jacci:Who are demons trying to figure out how to work alongside, humans, essentially. The art looked really good. I haven't watched it, but it's on my watch list. I heard Gogo Loser Ranger is a good one. It's like Power Rangers, but it's not Power Rangers.
Mac:Is it like the the dark Power Rangers or whatnot?
Jacci:Yeah. It's like the, like the guys one. Yeah. Because apparently, it's really funny. The one I watch, it's called my this one, I don't know if it's gonna be good.
Jacci:I just kinda wanna check it out and see, but it's the first new anime I've seen where the whole entire anime is about, like, this girl who wants to get really viral on social media, and she's trying her hardest. And she meets this girl who's supposedly a vampire. It's called maya knock a punch. And one of the scenes I watched is, this girl just decides to just knock this one chick out into the wall. And it's like this comedy relief kinda thing.
Mac:Yeah.
Jacci:And this next one oh, yeah. See, that's that's what I'm saying. I heard that Go Go Loser Ranger is, like, the next thing. Like, you have to watch it. Currently, what I'm watching is I'm trying to catch up on yeah.
Mac:Yeah.
Jacci:I'm trying to catch up on parasite. I just I thought I'm a mold to the game for Parasite right now. I'm I'm on episode, like, 11 right now, so I'm getting there. It's 24 episodes, so I'll be done soon. Mhmm.
Jacci:And then if anyone hasn't watched or heard of Shadow's House, I don't know, like, what you're doing, but you should definitely watch it. It's a mystery, drama kinda thing. It's weird. It's different. And then this one anime, and we're gonna show a clip because it is so ridiculous that I wanna watch it just to see what it's about.
Jacci:It's called my dear friend, Nakoton, but it's deer as in, like, the animal deer. And I just let's just let's just play this scene.
Mac:Yeah. So Jen's asking which parasite in the the one we're talking about, parasite, maximum. So, I know Netflix just put out a 6 episode Parasite the Grey, live action, which, was pretty good. But, here is the the clip that you were telling me about. So I'm a click play.
Mac:Let me know if you guys get audio. But you said it started 10 seconds in and let it ride. So this is my first time seeing it too. Before we went, live, Jackie was telling to be like she was laughing as she was trying to find it. So I I know it's gonna be hilarious.
Mac:So, let's all sit back and check this out.
Jacci:I saw that scene. I was like, what is this anime? Apparently, she also turns into a deer, and the deer is a complete different animation style. It's like hyper realistic compared to everything else.
Mac:Yo, she's she just busted in there. They're just, like, taking fucking shrapnel and fucking debris to the face. Like, yo, this is cool.
Jacci:The funniest part was the background music.
Mac:Yeah. It's like this fucking What? Like a boss level type shit. Like, the boss is coming in, and they're just, like, pow, clapping and shit. Dude, I
Jacci:don't know what it's about. I think it's just this weird slice of life about this chick who's a deer, dude. It's the dumbest thing I've ever seen, and I wanna watch it so bad because it's so stupid.
Mac:Yeah. I guess we got people, looking forward to checking this shit out.
Jacci:It's the dumbest thing. I was like, what is this show right now?
Mac:Yeah. Oh. Seriously, it's funny. So I think last
Jacci:one I would say that's coming up is, apparently, they're making a Rick and Morty anime.
Mac:Does it need an anime?
Jacci:I don't know how I feel about that.
Mac:Is it I would say is it being like, are they working with the I guess, one of the creators of Ricky? Because I know the other dude, like, in in trouble for some some wild ass shit. But
Jacci:So the Rick and Morty anime that, like it's supposed to be on Adult Swim. It's a Japanese language version with English subtitles. So it's supposed to be coming out August 17th. Uh-huh. I don't know why they made it.
Jacci:I didn't do a lot of research on it. I just saw that it was coming out. Like, 2 days ago, I saw it. Yeah. I was like, why is For what?
Jacci:Why are they making an anime? For what? I don't know if it's just because the overall hype that is anime, and they're just deciding to do it to to maybe bring more people back to regular Rick and Morty because it's been going on for so long. And Rick and Morty was, I I think, in my personal opinion, was hyped for a while. And I I don't know if it's just kinda, like, died off a little bit with its fandom.
Jacci:Mhmm. Because a lot of people don't talk about it anymore, at least.
Mac:Yeah. It's kinda taboo because one of the main creator, I think Justin Freeland or whatever, I forget his name, got got caught for for some Chris Hanson type shit.
Jacci:Okay.
Mac:So people are, like, kinda distancing themselves from from it or whatnot or but, I mean, there's still the die hards that are just like, bro, you haven't like, I'm one of the people that have not gotten into it. I'm not a I'm not have no desire to, like, catch up on Rick and Morty, and people are just like, what do you mean you have watched Rick and Morty? I'll bring my mother into this.
Jacci:I like Rick and Morty. I I watched it all the way up until I heard that, and it's kinda hard because, like, I I really did I really do like Rick and Morty. It's really funny.
Mac:I mean, the the Justin dude is is Froylan. Like, he he is being kicked off and all that stuff, so the people still working on
Jacci:it
Mac:have they've distanced themselves that I hey. We don't really agree with this man. We don't really fuck what he's doing, but, people gotta eat. We have, you know, people drawing and animating and stuff. We don't wanna put them out of work.
Jacci:And that's the best thing they can do is get rid of the person that, like, was doing bad stuff so they can still continue to make a good show without, like, a bad person.
Mac:Yeah. For me, I just have the 1, and I and I and I posted it in the, in the in the group page or the, the the show page. It's the Wistoria wand and sword. So this one is kind of it's another anime that takes place in the world where, like, magic is is is normal, it's being practiced, and the people who don't know how to do magic are looked upon as less than. Right?
Mac:Kinda like how we I know you mentioned,
Jacci:Like Mashle.
Mac:Mash Mashle. But this one, like, it's animated by, Bandai Namco. And, if you don't know, Bandai Namco is usually the developers of all these, you know, JRPGs that come over here, like, Tales of, what's the last one they did? Tales of Asteria?
Jacci:Arise. Oh, Tales of Arise.
Mac:That game, man. I put so many hours into that thing. Cut scenes beautifully done. Music is lit. So all of that good stuff, which, which I enjoyed.
Mac:But this one is animated.
Jacci:Tales of sorry. You broke up. Tales
Mac:of Arise? Tales of Arise. Yeah. So, they've done the cut scenes. I think they teamed up with Ufotable.
Mac:Ufotable actually animated the cut scenes for Tales of Arise. So, that whole game is is dope, but they're actually in charge yeah. In charge of the animation for, with Storia. And, like, episode 1 off rip, you're just like, yo. This shit I don't know what what budget is.
Mac:Maybe they're using the JRPG money because they they they go all out for the, the animation for this one. So, it starts off obviously, your protagonist is the guy who can't do magic. Right? You got your bullies in there that are, like, prestigious magic users. They're like, bro, you're bringing down the credibility of the school.
Mac:Get the fuck out. I think the biggest part is the main character. His name is Will, so I'm just like, yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
Mac:He's gotta be he's gotta be that dude. Right? He's gotta be that dude. But, without giving it away, another childhood promise thing, his friend was a magic prodigy, leveled up to the the grandest level of of magic users, and he's like, I'll I'll meet you at the top, and we can, you know, continue to do the. She's like, cool.
Mac:I'll wait for you. So he's on his grind to get there. But, obviously, he can't use magic, but because he couldn't do magic, he just developed, other traits as far as, like, melee combat, things like that. Instead of a wand, he carries the sword, and people are are like, there there's a story behind it, so just check that out. It's simulcasting now, so it's live.
Mac:So if you wanna check it out, there's 4 episodes out now. 3 of them are dubbed. The newest one isn't dubbed yet. So if you don't mind checking out and reading while watching. I know it's an acquired skill, but, make sure to check that out.
Mac:But I'm sure at the end of the when it's all said and done, this is probably gonna be up there, in competition with some of the, the anime of the year, which for a minute, the first, I guess, quarter of this year, I didn't think we'd have a lot of new IPs that'll be challenging, you know, Demon Slayer and My Hero probably for that anime of the year, position, but, with Kaiju and, you know, Shangri La, Frontier,
Jacci:Yep.
Mac:Marshall. I think Other good ones. I think I think these, I think there's some competition out here for the, anime that was kind of dominating for the past few years. So if you have a
Jacci:chance like it that now all these different animes are now gonna be a part of that lineup rather than, like, what's, you know, like I mean, I I love, obviously, Attack on Titan, My Hero. Excuse me. Attack on Titan, all that. But, like, they've always dominated, like, every single almost every single category. I'm excited to see other animes now coming through and seeing a more wide breadth of, like, all the different ones that can take Yeah.
Jacci:The title.
Mac:Yep. So, I mean, yeah, I'm I'm a I'm a fan of these, the sword and sorcery ones. So a lot of them I think the biggest one that came out that a lot of people just say a lot of these new ones like, and and, you know, was copying. It's like, oh, is this a black clover rip off? Like, ladies and gentlemen, I'll let you know.
Mac:Like, magic is involved, but each one of these things is doing something completely different than than black clover did. Right? So I don't like me and Jackie talked about it. We're not the biggest fans of the anime version of of Black Clover. Like, I think if you wanna take in that story, it'll probably be easier on your ears and your soul if you just read it so you can make the voices in your head because Yep.
Mac:Either sub or dubbed, it's the main character.
Jacci:Doesn't matter. I watched both just to see if it would get better. And I Yeah. I even asked people that oh, Eric Johnson just asked, is solo leveling is solo leveling good?
Mac:It is. It's great. It is. And that's another one I was talking about, a new IP coming out that's gonna be Sure. Contending for this top spot for the for the crown of best anime of 2024, solo leveling.
Jacci:Gonna break from me.
Mac:This is
Jacci:an eternity. Come on, dark Arya level 2. Come on.
Mac:Exactly. You gotta check that out. And I will let you guys know. If you guys do not have a a Crunchyroll, I will I will give you my login stuff. You know, everybody in here is fam.
Mac:You gotta check these things out, man, because, like, I I will give Demon Slayer and My Hero or I think demon Ufotable, like, when they blew up with Demon Slayer, other animation companies were like, we we gotta up it. You know, we gotta up it, and we gotta match the quality and have that quality continue and be consistent throughout. So a lot of these guys are stepping up, and I think we, as the fans, are profiting and and benefiting greatly from that. So, unless you got anything else you wanna put them on, we can, go back to our regularly scheduled program and, wrap the show up.
Jacci:Nope. Nothing else.
Mac:Alright. Hell's paradise? Hell's yeah. I watched that. I saw you put that in there.
Mac:See, there's so many, like, it they're just slipping my mind, but Hell's Paradise
Jacci:is amazing. Paradise. It is oh, dude. Right. I'm I'm gonna go pee real quick.
Jacci:I'll be
Mac:right back. Go ahead. While she's gone, I will say I will say, demon slayer good or 1 piece good? So 1 piece, I will say, like, I see clips of the newer episodes, where the animation is is amazing, and everything. A lot of the hardcore fans are saying that the character development, because it's been running so long, you get a lot of the backstory, a lot of character arcs.
Mac:People who you hated end up doing some things. Almost like along the lines of, I wanna say, like, a Game of Thrones. If you're watching Jaime Lannister, you're like, bro, this dude is the absolute worst. He does some hurt, you know, courageous stuff, and you're like, man, Jaime's one of you know, he's a solid dude, and then some other shit will happen. But I think the fact that it's gone for so long and there's very few few few filler episodes, the consistency of 1 piece, I think that is why people swear by it.
Mac:And, you know, as I'm on episode, like, 297 and, like, it's it's hard to, like, catch up. You know, one day it's gonna end, and then everybody will be able to catch up without falling behind one piece. But, I will say I'm I'm looking at some of the clips from the newer episodes and things like that. The animation is is probably that's probably the hardest part people are having when it comes to one pieces. They try to start it from episode 1 after watching things like demon slayer and attack on titan.
Mac:You're just like, oh my god. This Fox Kids Saturday morning animation is tough to watch. But because it run it was, like, early nineties that was going on up until now. So you just gotta you gotta tough through. You gotta tough through.
Jacci:Listen. I I am a huge, huge, huge one piece.
Mac:Tell them tell them how you caught up. COVID is how Jackie caught up, ladies and gentlemen.
Jacci:I am probably this is not the healthiest, like, so maybe all of my fellow true nerds that don't have kids, you know, can understand. I would wake up I'm not kidding when I say this. I woke up, I set an alarm. I would wake up at 6 in the morning. I would make coffee.
Jacci:I would, eat breakfast, and I turn on one piece. And I watched it from, like, 7 o'clock in the morning until 10 o'clock at night. Back to back. 2 weeks straight because I was quarantine, and I didn't stop. I slept on my couch.
Jacci:That was my freaking bed. And then I shower up for debate? But it doesn't matter. Uh-huh. I this is back when, like, it was COVID.
Jacci:Like, what
Mac:Right.
Jacci:It was a and and I was at I was stationed somewhere where, like, we could do things over the computer, but
Mac:Yeah.
Jacci:I was actually sick. I I actually tested positive for COVID. Yeah. So I had but I didn't I wasn't down bad. So, like, I could I did lose my sense of smell, but I was like, I feel okay.
Jacci:So I just binge watch. Click. And I got quarantined again later on in the year, like, I can't remember. It's, like, maybe 8 months later. Mhmm.
Jacci:And I so for 2 weeks again, I went from episode 300 and, like, 48 to, like, 600 something. In 2 weeks, man, like, I caught up so fast, and I just kept watching. I could not stop watching it. I when I first started watching it, this was a long, long time ago.
Mac:Yeah.
Jacci:Yeah. I I didn't know. I didn't know if I liked it. I didn't know if I can get into it. I thought the animation saw it.
Jacci:When I was younger younger, I thought it was weird. Mhmm. And then as I got older, and I was talking to a lot of this one, I started getting more anime instead of just watching, like, some stuff. I was getting into a lot more. Everyone's like, you gotta watch it.
Jacci:It's so good. It's my oh, you know him. It was August.
Mac:Yeah.
Jacci:He was the one who's, like, gotta watch it. So I was like, okay. Fine. And then I just I think I for me, it was up after episode 30. Unfortunately, for some people, it was, like, once they got in the 2 100, then they were, like, oh, wow.
Jacci:This is, like, really sick. And that just I was, like, dude, screw you guys. But also, thank you for the dedication to stay that long. But, it's just one piece is just it's hard because, yeah, it's over. It's very intimidating.
Jacci:It's over a 1000 episodes. Even the manga, if you wanna read the manga, it's it's so much.
Mac:Jesus. Yeah.
Jacci:But the amount of world building that this dude has, like, created and put the amount of effort that he's put into, like, just building, like, how everything just kinda ties back to itself and just, I don't know, man. And now, like, the animation is just insane now.
Mac:Yeah.
Jacci:I do find it now kinda going back to, like, the old days of, like, Shounen Shoujo where, like, sometimes a whole episode is them just talking before they fight sometimes. I started noticing that a little bit in some of the the recent arc that just happened. I was kinda get I was kinda getting pissed
Mac:Yeah.
Jacci:A little bit. But then when the things happened, I was like, okay. This is, like, worth it. It wasn't too bad where, like, Dragon Ball z was, like, absolute awful. Oh my god.
Jacci:Dark look high. But I don't know. What I will swear by 1 piece to this day forever and ever. Like, it it's so good. It's don't watch the English dub.
Jacci:It's awful.
Mac:That's what I and here's the bad part. Like, I'm watching the English dub because, like, it's on, but I'm, like, doing stuff. So I wanna hear like, be able to hear what's going on. So, like, if I go in the kitchen to do something and come back, I'm just not like, yo. What the fuck is going on here?
Mac:You know? I wanna hear if they're about to fight something. I'll be like, oh, shit. Let me run-in here. I tried watching it sub, and then, like, I go turn and do something.
Mac:I go, you know, go check on my kid, and I come back. I'm like, yo, what the fuck is this shit? And I have to go back. So
Jacci:That's different. You have family. It's harder to, like, sit and actually dedicate yourself to, like, the sub.
Mac:Exactly.
Jacci:It's just me and Steven and our cats, man. Cats are easy to take care of your fingers and watch them.
Mac:Be like, hey. Just sit down and watch this with us. But, yeah. Love. I'm I'm a get there because, I mean, I the people that that I trust when it comes to anime, they're like, bro, one piece is it, and they're swearing up and down by it.
Mac:And if it's going on for this long and and like I said, I've seen clips of the the later episodes. The animation has caught up to modern times, so they're able to just do more with the the fights and the animation and stuff. So I'm just like I see that. I'm like, I wanna get there, but I have to get through here. You know?
Jacci:That's how I feel right now with Bleach because I stopped watching Bleach when it it stopped airing at, like, episode it was, like, 220. Uh-huh. 220, it went to a 60 long, like, episode filler arc
Mac:Yep.
Jacci:Before it went into, like
Mac:Back to the wrong car, fucking solid.
Jacci:But even then, then it stopped for a while, and now it picked back up. But I stopped watching it and started watching others, and everyone back into it. So now, me and Steven are trying to, like, catch back up and watch it with the animation. And even if you're you switch it to 7:20 p, it doesn't matter. It's so it's so, like, blurry.
Jacci:It's just it's tough. Like, because back then, I used to think Bleach was, like, top tier animation when I watched it when it came out. And now I'm watching, you know, 10 years later, I'm like, damn, dude.
Mac:And if you've seen the, the 1000 year Blood War, you're just like, this is the animation I needed back then for this story. Like, the bank cards and stuff back then, you're just like, man, this is next level stuff. You watch 1000 Year Blood War, you're just like, Sam, this is bleach. This is what I needed.
Jacci:You know what frustrates me sometimes is sometimes is I will watch Bleach, like, when it came out in 2,000 it was, like, 2,008 or something or 2,010. Yeah. And then I'll watch, like, I don't know. I'll watch, like, Yu Yu Hakusho or I'll watch, Cowboy Bebop. Right?
Jacci:Made in, like, nineties, early 2000 animes. Mhmm. Their anime style is not that blurry. It's not that bad. So I don't understand what happened after, like I just wanna say, like, 2 it's, like, 2,005 to, like, 2010 almost, that in between.
Mac:I would say
Jacci:There's a time it's, like, where they were trying to do good, but it wasn't catching up to whatever TV was supposed trying to display.
Mac:Right. I just think they were just rushing because, like, we talked about, like, the manga story for Bleach was just the Arrancar arc. Right? You know, Aizen did his shit. It should go trains.
Mac:He goes to a spot or whatever, wherever they're at and, and or what is it? I I forget the name.
Jacci:Hueco Muno?
Mac:Yeah. And and goes fights the espadas and all that stuff. So I'm sitting there watching the anime. I'm just like, man, this is dope. So I think the animation company was just like, bro, just put some shit out there.
Mac:Just keep keep this weekly shit coming. So, like, the quality probably wasn't there to the point where they can, you know, do, like, how one piece you can go back. I think they just released, like, the HD, versions of that. Yeah. Now they
Jacci:did it, and now you can actually, like So enjoy. Yeah.
Mac:So I think that that has a lot to play in it. But like I said, I'm never gonna bad mouth 1 piece. The only thing I will say is, like, bro, like, that that like, I'm a have to put a lot of other anime on hold, a lot of other shows that I'm trying to watch on hold and just focus and sit down and watch this thing so I can catch up. But that that's that's
Jacci:a way to do it. You a while. And with the amount of podcasts that
Mac:you
Jacci:do with the animes, you're never
Mac:gonna be like, you're gonna
Jacci:have to watch 1 piece, like, every other day. Yeah. It's gonna take you forever you do that.
Mac:Need to just just catch COVID and sit my ass down somewhere and watch it. That's the secret.
Jacci:You just you just have to have an addictive personality like some of us do, or we could just sit down and, like, not move or shower for 3 days.
Mac:Yeah. But, you know, so that's all we got. Episode 4, kaiju number 8. Final I guess, obviously, I know you you I will tell you I recommend it. I'm assuming Jackie will tell you the same.
Mac:Tap into it.
Jacci:Oh, yeah.
Mac:Get caught up. It's only 12
Jacci:episodes in. Watch the ending. It's sick.
Mac:Yep. But, you know, we'll talk offline. We'll try to figure out what we're gonna talk about, next time, and, we'll keep you guys in the loop. But until then, I'm the homie Mac a k a your boy. This is the awesome anime loving homie, 1 piece connoisseur, a check attack.
Mac:And this has been, eat the cake anime. We'll catch you guys next time.
Jacci:Peace.