Anime Shmanime

Anime Shmanime

WE DID IT! We've made it to the end of Dragonball Z! It took us longer than we expected and for some (Jordy) it felt like even longer. If you've come along on this journey with us thank you and congratulations. It's a massive undertaking to consume this series in it's entirety without nostalgia behind the wheel... but this is a dead horse that we'v…

This week it's Mashle: Magic and Muscles! This show really lays out its two simple elements in the title. They took two simple ideas and MASHED them together (see what I did there?). Not surprisingly, team Shmanime is split on this show but as always, we had a blast getting into it! grab a fresh cream puff and get into it with us! Support NEVER NOT…

Mikey is in the driver's seat solo this week but he brought an OG Shweeb with him! STFUBaker is a long-time friend and fan of the podcast and let me tell you, he has some SPICY takes on the medium! Perhaps his spiciest of takes is literally the title of our episode so you KNOW this is gonna be good!!! SPOILER ALERT!!! Save this episode for later if…

We're back in full force for an episode on Oshi No Ko! This show is all over the map featuring - mystery, teen pregnancy, revenge, reality television, resurrection, indie film making, and the list goes on. All of this is nestled in a deep dive into the lives of pop idols and idol otaku's. Somehow it sounds stranger than it is, but it definitely giv…

Taking the tiniest of breaks but we will be back very soon! Thanks pals!Anime Shmanime

Welcome back to the Boat House! Jay is still away so today Mikey and Jordy are having some fun with Waifus VS Wifeys! It's a classic Waifu Wars episode with a twist: since Jordy is new to the world of weeb, he's brought to the table 5 non-animated characters to compete with Mikey's otherworldly anime waifus! It's tough competition but we managed to…

Welcome to the Boat House! It's our temporary home and it's pretty cool! Jay is out once again and once again Mikey and Jordy are silly. Mikey has a list of Anime themes and terminology that Jordy has never heard before! Will Jordy guess ANYTHING correct? Likely not... but it wouldn't be as fun if he did! Support NEVER NOT KITTENS and help Lisa sav…

Support NEVER NOT KITTENS and help Lisa save kitty lives! She works tirelessly to take care of her rescues and find them forever homes! There are many ways to help but it all starts by following Never Not Kittens on TikTok! https://www.tiktok.com/@nevernotkittens Come join our inclusive community of anime fans! All levels of fandom are welcome and …

You heard us joke about it time and time again... Mikey and Jordy finally did it - we wrote an Isekai anime off the top of our heads. Somehow this exercise really brought out our childhood brains. It's as if we tapped into that youthful energy of every kid experiencing anime for the first time. Was this a good idea? That remains to be seen, but it …

Mikey and I have always loved Mecha anime so you can only imagine what a TREAT this was for us! Not to say it wasn't super difficult narrowing down a list, because it WAS! And we are pretty positive this list will make some of you very upset but the only way to find out is to sit back, relax and enjoy another killer top 10 from your Shmanime team! …

Ahhh the early 2000's. In a lot of ways, the decade that perfected the art-form, and in other ways, the decade that signalled the beginning of the end! We think this one could end up divisive but thats kind of our whole thing here! Wherever you land on the debate, the early 2000's had some of the most interesting anime movies ever and in our opinio…

We have a big one today with Hell's Paradise! And if you don't know this one GO WATCH IT NOW! There are so many wild twists and surprises in this series and the excitement is palpable in the Shmanime studio. This show really has it all and we leave (almost) no stone un-turned! SPOILER ALERT!!! Save this episode for later if you want to experience t…

We know how much you all loved our Monster Musume episode so we decided to bring back the ecchi! At this point almost everyone who loves anime at least KNOWS about Prison School but what actually lies within those 12 episodes? Is it something deep and introspective? Or it it just a lot of gratuitous nudity and crotch shots? Maybe both? Probably not…

Sadly it's time to move on from the 90's (for now) and onto what may be the SECOND most important decade to anime. This list is absolutely STACKED and thats partially thanks to the literal BIG THREE being in the mix! Tune in this week as Mikey and Jay dish on the best of the best from the early 2000's! SPOILER ALERT!!! Save this episode for later i…

The end is near! Season 8 of Dragon Ball Z really sets off the final arc in this LEGENDARY series. Surely by this point, with hundreds of episodes under his belt, Jordy MUST be a fan right? RIGHT!? Well if you've been following along with our other episodes you might have an idea but best to be safe and just watch this episode! SPOILER ALERT!!! Sav…

Sorry we're late Shweebs! But to make it up to you we have JORDY BACK IN THE BUILDING. And he's back for a huge one! Huge as in legendary, or huge as in a huge pile of garbage remains to be seen so buckle up for our coverage of Hosoda's Summer Wars! SPOILER ALERT!!! Save this episode for later if you want to experience this show without a high-ener…

After our last top 10 list of our favourite 90's shows we HAD to do the movies next. We just couldn't look ourselves in the mirror anymore without taking the time to talk about what may be the best anime has to offer. Like EVER. Don't believe us? Check out our list and tell us how we're wrong! SPOILER ALERT!!! Save this episode for later if you wan…

Well guys, it got dark again! Whether you're seeing the Helghast from Killzone, or power-armour from Fallout, we assure you this movie is sadder and more disturbing than either of those things! But Jin-Roh has stood the test of time as a classic and today we find out why! SPOILER ALERT!!! Save this episode for later if you want to experience this s…

Demon Slayer may very well be the biggest anime on the planet right now! But is that reputation being held up 3 seasons deep? Can any one show possibly maintain these massive levels of popularity? Well this episode certainly holds OUR feelings on it! But what about you? Let us know in the comments below if you're as hype as ever or feeling burnt ou…

Today Mikey and I take the reigns to dig deep on our personal top 90's anime series! Coming up with a list was WAY harder than it seems and we just know some of you will be mad at us but MAYBE some of you have similar (excellent) taste! Dragonball, Evangelion, Berserk, Trigun, Escaflowne and more on today's very special episode of ANIME SHMANIME! S…

Well friends, we struggled with this one. But was that because this movie is simply TOO GOOD TO REVIEW!? Well you can probably guess, but instead of spoiling that here we will let you tune in and listen to our usual top-notch, in-depth, highly-professional review so you can find out for yourself! SPOILER ALERT!!! Save this episode for later if you …

Anime North has come and gone and we are left waiting patiently for next year's festivities! But at Anime Shmanime we promise to fill that gap with the same high quality content you come to expect from us, starting with our full recap of the con! Updating Mikey on everything was a blast and we hope we can inspire all of you to come check out the co…

Art class is officially underway at the Shmanime podcast studio as we tackle the mind-bending, AND mind-numbing, Angel's Egg! Mamoru Oshii's experimental short-film from 1985 is required watching for any self-proclaimed anime historians out there and you may be surprised at Jordy's opinion! OH YEAH JORDY'S BACK! SPOILER ALERT!!! Save this episode f…

Another week without Jordy means Mikey and I are up to our usual shenanigans! This time around we are shining some light on a few of our favourite underrated classics! Everyone has a few shows or movies they wish got talked about more. Tune in and see if your fave made our list! SPOILER ALERT!!! Save this episode for later if you want to experience…

Anime and giant, bad-ass weapons go together like milk and cookies So this week Anime Shmanime is serving up a freshly baked tier list loaded to the brim with some of the most iconic weapons from across anime! Tune in to find out which weapons will come out on top and and which simply don't make the cut! GET IT!? SPOILER ALERT!!! Save this episode …

Well it's finally here! The long awaited second season of what might be, collectively, our favourite anime going! Tokyo Revengers Season 2 is here with the Christmas Showdown Arc! We have all the big players back for more and even some new ones that might be future favourites! But does this season hold a candle to the incredible debut? Check out th…

Satoshi Kon is a legend. There is no way any of us could possibly deny that. But have we stumbled upon his best work? Or is it possible we found his weakest? Twists and turns, tropes, and subverted expectations are just a few of the things we experienced while taking in this mind-melter! OH YEAH AND JORDY IS BACK! SPOILER ALERT!!! Save this episode…

Another week without our precious Jordy means another week of pure chaos with Mikey and Jay! This time we wanted to give some time to a few of the unsung heroes of anime: SIDE CHARACTERS! Thats right we aren't wasting any time on MC's or typical plot-armoured OP nonsense. In fact, we think we may have picked characters that are all better than the …

A bit of a change-up this week as Mikey and Jay decide to dive into some of the more spicy topics within the world of anime! Touching on things like genre over-saturation, or the ethics of waifus, you won't want to miss this week's special edition of Anime Shmanime! SPOILER ALERT!!! Save this episode for later if you want to experience this show wi…

Welcome all edge-lords and neko girls! We have the perfect episode for you today! Extreme violence? Check. Gratuitous nudity? Double check. Neko ears? YOU KNOW IT! Elfen Lied is a classic to many but is the infamy of this show warranted? Or do violence-loving horny-dudes rule the world? Find out this week on Anime Shmanime! SPOILER ALERT!!! Save th…

FINALLY IT’S TIME TO GET FLASHY! The shmanime fellas return to the world of Demon Slayer with the Entertainment District Arc! And what do you know, it looks like it’s just in time for that upcoming Swordsmith Village Arc! Tune in this week as we discuss Tengen’s wives, annoying voice acting, Nezuko’s boobs, and of course some of the most incredible…

Join us this week as we fly through the multi-verse while attempting to review The Tatami Galaxy! It's a bigger challenge than any of us thought and you may be surprised by who loved this one and who didn't! So don't be an Ozu and make sure you check out this insane episode! SPOILER ALERT!!! Save this episode for later if you want to experience thi…

It's Jay's Birthday! Which means we are headed back to the Gundam Universal Century! Stardust Memory is a landmark anime in both animation quality and story-telling and much to Jay and Mikey's surprise, Jordy might actually enjoy this one? Or could Jay just be getting his hopes up? Tune in for this week's episode and celebrate our senpai and this a…

Welcome to Anime Shmanime… The Anime! Just kidding it’s Genshiken this week on the pod! Genshiken is a show about a group of otakus just doing otaku things. It’s a pure slice of life anime with little substance beyond that. The art style leaves something to be desired and there’s not much plot to sink your teeth into but that’s not the point. It’s …

FLCL is a landmark in the anime world. It serves as a launching point for well loved Studio Trigger titles that came after including one we loved in camp Shmanime – Kill La Kill. This show is a roller coaster that is all over the map, but it is clearly a free expression of the unbound imagination and artistry of it's creators. It's a show that does…

Sword of the Stranger is a samurai movie. It's exactly what you'd expect from any samurai movie. In camp Shmanime, we are divided on whether it's a particularly good one or not. There is a fine line between an homage to a genre, and being derivative and we spend a lot of time debating where this film lands. We also talk about cute dogs and how we l…

You know at Anime Shmanime we like giving you every perspective we can. Well we weren't going to cover our top couples without ALSO covering the most toxic! From couples that simply don't make sense, to others that literally make our skin crawl, Mikey and Jay have once again done their best to bring you over an hour of riveting debate covering anim…

Happy Valentines Day Shweebs! Mikey and Jay are back for another ranking episode as Jordy is off sick! We have covered Waifus, Husbandos, and even villains on past episodes but Valentine's Day is for our personal favourite Anime Couples! Some are sweet, some are scary! Some are grounded in reality and some are simply IMPOSSIBLE! Either way the pass…

Belle is a tale as old as time... or at least as old as 1991 when Disney released Beauty and the Beast. This film is an undisputed tribute to the Disney classic even if one of us didn't realize until half-way through, and one of us thinks this version is better! Like Disney, Mamoru Hosoda places music front and center in his rendition of the story …

Bocchi The Rock isn't reinventing anything but somehow it's been topping everyone's lists. It blends comedy and rock and roll in a way that is undeniably fun and charming If you aren't rooting for Kessoku Band by the end, you're certified evil. The band's success is mirrored by Bocchi overcoming her social anxiety in a way that is comforting and up…

Well fuck. Grave of the Fireflies absolutely ruined us. It's sad and now we are sad and you are probably also sad. Despite the heavy subject matter, we managed to have a good time and laugh a little. The film is an undisputed masterpiece as beautiful as it is emotional. Studio Ghibli definitely took an opportunity to present something singular and …

It's the legend Hayao Miyazaki's birthday this month so we're covering two of his most revered films starting with Princess Mononoke. It's a masterpiece and arguably transcends it's origin as an anime. This movie is filled with beautiful artistry and storytelling, deep characters and themes, epic action, and the perfect amount of whimsy. It's hard …

Spy X Family is one of the most popular anime shows out there right now. We had to hit it as soon as the first season ended so here we go! As you may recall from our "Waifu Wars" episode, Yor Forger is Mikey's ultimate waifu so we definitely spend some time talking about that, as well as how cute Anya is, and whether or not Loid is a good family ma…

To kick off a new year we are covering Chainsaw Man! Quite possibly the most anticipated anime we've covered to date. This show has been in the forefront of anime culture for much longer than it's been airing and some say the hype somewhat altered the watching experience. Regardless it's an undisputed modern classic up there with Demon Slayer, Atta…

It's been a whole damn year. That's 52 anime titles covered as well as a few OVA's. Despite not loving every anime, we've loved every second of this journey and could not be more thankful to the people that have followed along with us. In this 2 hour special, we dressed to the nines (from the waist up at least) to cover all the ups and downs of the…

CHESTNUTS ROASTING ON AN OPEN FIRE… it’s Christmas time Shweebs! And we had to cover Tokyo Godfathers. Satoshi Kon is a damn legend and bless him for this film. It’s truly a Christmas miracle. We talk AT LENGTH about Christmas spirit, angels, and Santa - three elements that are represented strongly in Tokyo Godfathers. Between lovable characters, e…

Another Gundam title for episode 53! It's the first OVA in the franchise – War In The Pocket. This 6 episode series is a stand alone story that highlights the effects of the war on a neutral colony. It's part buddy comedy, part family sitcom, and part military drama. War In The Pocket delivers on characters, emotion, action, political and social co…

For a season that can be considered transitional or a set-up for the next, Dragonball Z Season 7 has a lot of shit going on. We get two tournaments one for the world and one for the otherworld. There are also a pile of new characters to meet: Videl, Goten, Pikkon, Multiple Kai's, and even a new big bad for next season Majin Buu (not to mention bibi…