Anime World Order Show # 185 – Closeup on His Eyeballs Getting Pushed Out From the Other Side of His Skull

In this episode, we technically do but don’t fulfill a Patreon review request as Gerald reviews the greatest OAV of all by Koichi Ohata, the 5-part saga of Genocyber. Yes, there really are five parts and not three. And it’s the greatest because uh, it’s the longest one.

Introduction (0:00 – 31:25)
Since the last episode came out, there have been a fair share of short-run theatrical engagements for a variety of anime films; so many, in fact, that we were only able to see a few! We need to ensure we maintain our foothold within the anime podcast SEO algorithm, and put out the request to listeners to leave us positive reviews on iTunes since we haven’t received any in a few months. In preparation for the review, we also take the opportunity to talk about what Netflix is up to with regards to their anime selections, actual and otherwise.

Promo: Right Stuf Anime (31:25 – 35:52)
We were hoping to have the episode out last week since then we could mention that Beast Fighter: The Apocalypse was on sale for the benefit of all those morbidly curious after our review last episode, but it was not to be. Instead, we note that Vertical, Udon and Dark Horse titles are currently on sale, for everybody interested in deluxe editions of Berserk/Kurosagi Corpse Delivery Service or those hardcover Rose of Versailles volumes. And of course the Street Fighter Swimsuit Special in spooge-resistant hardcover. Note: spooge-resistance is relative to digital screen resistances versus glossy paper.

Review: Genocyber or perhaps it’s Gene O’Saibur (35:52 – 2:01:10)
We considered spending more time talking about the long out of print and never license rescued Genocyber than the actual length of the anime, but unlike the rest of “Mecha Master” Koichi Ohata’s Central Park Media glory trifecta this one runs for a few hours. Gerald takes a trip down memory line to remind the world of Central Park Media and the J. Jonah Jameson of anime, John O’Donnell, so that we might better understand Genocyber and its lasting influence on Blockbuster Video anime rental shelves nationwide, right next to Project A-Ko and copies of My Neighbor Totoro with a “must be 17 to rent” sticker on it. Is this another triumphant work of 1990s OAV glory that we once dismissed as trash in our adolescence only to now realize its brilliance? Or does it still suck now even though multiple luminaries in the anime industry both in America and Japan cite Genocyber as a formative piece of their fandom lives? FIND OUT FOR YOURSELVES. Unless perhaps you are one of the Genocyber faithful, having held on to  your Viz releases of the manga that were released in flipped floppys, one chapter at a time. Then you already know.

Conclusion (2:01:10 – 2:06:41)
For the rest of this month, Gundam Thunderbolt is free to watch streaming on Gundam.info (December Sky is first, then Bandit Flower). And for the spooky scary weekend of Friday the 13th, Gundam Narrative will be streaming for free on there. Perhaps you should watch that for free and then wonder “what would our review of that movie be like” before trekking over to our Patreon page so that we might eventually reach the goal of reviewing that. Note that this is probably the last episode of AWO before Daryl turns 40, and so he may just suddenly die at any moment. In fact, this may be the very last–

Anime World Order Show # 170 – Here Come De Judge! Here Come De Judge!

In what is likely but hopefully not our last episode of the year, thus silently celebrating another podcasting anniversary (12 years!), we partially fulfill the donation goal requests by reviewing the 1991 one-shot OAV that is Judge aka Judge: The Magistrate of Darkness.

Introduction (0:00 – 33:17)

After reading an email espousing the wonders of Angel Cop and the Blockbuster Video “Japanimation” section, we pay our respects to the recently departed Fred Patten, a key founder of anime (and yes, furry) fandom in America whose book Watching Anime, Reading Manga: 25 Years of Essays and Reviews is still readily available both in print as well as digitally. That link is for Kindle but you can also get it on Nook in the event people still use that. Be sure to also read the archives of his Cartoon Research column, which was about all kinds of animation rather than just anime, while you’re at it. Fred died on the same day as Stan Lee, but the world doesn’t need much help remembering Stan and what he did. One of the best write-ups on Fred’s passing was from Jonathan Clements, since he often tends to be a guy doing the best write-ups on things in general.

Promo: Right Stuf Anime (10:12 – 12:39)

The holiday sale is still going strong, and Clarissa already has spent over $500 and change on various otaku-related insanity. That G Gundam Ultra Edition Blu-Ray set starts shipping in mere days, so get your preorders in now and save $100+ from the regular price!

Review: Judge, Magistrate of Darkness (33:17 – 1:22:17)

You asked for it! Or well, one of you asked for it, and that’s good enough for us! This one-shot OAV from 1991 has been posted to Youtube in its entirety, both in the English dub and Japanese subtitled versions, because not even the Japanese care enough to issue a copyright strike on this long out-of-print curiosity, for which we can only scratch our heads over. A great silent pact among all anime fans is being broken by our doing this review, and we can only hope that by mispronouncing it “ne-GHEE-SHEE” instead of saying it properly that the psychic barrier wardings will remain intact.

Closing (1:22:17 – 1:30:19)

We talk a bit about non-anime media stuff and contemplate whether it’s possible to do another episode before the end of the year. Ideally, it’d be something holiday themed but most of the holiday-themed anime are individual episodes of a series rather than standalone titles. Also, can I just say how much I hate this new WordPress 5.0? This episode date is now one day off from the date of the post and the podcast filename because of how dumb everything is, and you can’t revert the UI / functionality.