Anime World Order Show # 142 – Gay Basketball and Anthrax Are Better Than Kerberos Saga

Is THIS going to mark ten years of our podcast? But we didn’t do anything special like what you’re supposed to! Who’s been listening to us all this time, and how have your lives changed since then? What, if anything, did we have to do with it? For now, we must soldier on. Clarissa reviews THE BASKETBALL WHICH KUROKO PLAYS, or as rational people call it, Kuroko’s Basketball.

Introduction (0:00 – 34:55)
Some emails are deceptively difficult. This time around we tackle the question of “what anime out there is like Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade?” while revealing that we don’t fully comprehend the geography of the very state in which we inhabit. Listen, people from Central and South Florida try not to think about what goes on up North, since that’s when it becomes The South. Also, out West. That’s where the demons reside.

Promo: Right Stuf Anime (34:55 – 36:20)
The Holiday sale is on until December 27th with new items added every day, and several of those are titles we’ve reviewed in the past or happened to mention during the introduction. Each order you place gives you a chance to win a $250 gift card, and shipping is free after you spend $49. With so many things discounted so high, you’ll hit that mark rather quickly if you’re anything like us.

Review: Kuroko’s Basketball (36:20 – 1:20:49)
Fine, we didn’t actually call it The Basketball Which Kuroko Plays, but then again, neither does Crunchyroll or Viz because no native English speaker would bother. Of course, any native English speaker who routinely says “Kuroko no Basuke” or, even weirder, “Kuroko’s Basket” probably reads pirated scans or watches some fansub. Those days are behind us, as it’s all on Crunchyroll now, including the two extra OAVs so GET IN THE ZONE. Note: the zone might possibly be referring to a dude’s butt, if all this fanart is anything to go by.

Anime World Order Show # 129 – Even Robot Unicorns Dance on Rainbows

In this episode we free our souls from the weight of gravity and gain true understanding of one another as you belong to me, I belong to you, we belong to Earth, and Daryl reviews the 7-part OAV series Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn.

Introduction (0:00 – 19:06)
It takes us approximately 20 minutes to answer one email. It covered multiple topics, but unless we’re intentionally jumbling the topics into one mega-topic, it was about whether we remember the love of chemically imbalanced gay teenage boys and marmalade, some of whom may be pregnant, and how this all pertains to the mecha offerings of Shoji Kawamori, Ryousuke Takahashi, and Go Nagai. Or maybe that’s what we turned it into? These things happen. Regardless, the answer to all question is that New Getter Robo is finally on Hulu.

Review: Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn (19:06 – 1:21:10)
Although Daryl still believes there is relatively little utility for anyone, anywhere, to review any portion of Mobile Suit Gundam–everyone already has their set thoughts on Gundam, so they don’t need anyone’s review to decide upon what they’re going to comment–he’s nevertheless decided to revisit the topic since episode 3 was a long time gone. Much has changed in anime fandom in the 8.5 years since that episode, but this probably isn’t one of them. But perhaps you really CAN change your destiny beyond the time after all? Just the possibility is enough, so with that in mind this review does not really contain much as far as plot or character specifics.

  • The New York Times wrote about Harutoshi Fukui in 2005, where he was described as “a Japanese Tom Clancy”
  • Not mentioned on the show but written down as a note: the key indicator that Gundam Unicorn comes from a good place is the fact that the enemy robot is named the “Sinanju” which is the name of the mystical martial art practiced by REMO WILLIAMS from the Destroyer books and REMO WILLIAMS: THE ADVENTURE BEGINS~!, soon to be rebooted by Shane Black.
  • There is no free streaming option for Gundam Unicorn. The least convoluted place to get a list of what Gundam titles are in fact legally streaming online with English translation of some sort isn’t Daisuki or (inexplicably) the Gundam.info website but Gundam.info’s Youtube channel. The reason for why things like Char’s Counterattack and “HD Remasters” of Gundam SEED/SEED Destiny are only uploaded in SD is the same reason for every goofball decision that gets made regarding Gundam releases outside of Japan. Note: as ZZ Gundam fans will attest, these streams will get taken down on short/zero notice.
  • The quality of G-Reco and Origin is unclear at this time, but let it be known that Gundam-san is the jam. WHY ISN’T THAT SIMULCASTING, HUH SUNRISE
  • The HD streaming rentals are a little more affordable, but Gundam Unicorn on Blu-Ray isn’t cheap or easy to come by. Amazon is basically your only real option for the 7 Blu-Rays. Compared to the rest the first episode is a little cheaper, but since the stocks are kept low (made on demand?) later episodes go out of stock resulting in outlandish listings like this one asking for $430 for a single Blu-Ray.
  • Right Stuf is your main source for the DVDs, though all 4 will run you about $90 (Vol 1, Vol 2, Vol 3, Vol 4). Sometimes they stock the Blu-Rays but the price won’t be any different than when Amazon has them in stock.

Closing (1:21:10 – 1:23:43)
Did we forget to record a proper closing? Eh, whatever. Next time, as threatened in Show 128, be grateful to democracy as Gerald will be reviewing the recently (once again) re-released Lupin the Third: The Mystery of Mamo. When that next time will be is to be determined, since now that Daryl’s pushing Blue Blazes on everyone, Honoo’s work ethic is spreading far and wide.