The Anime Roundtable Podcast

Anime Roundtable #78

Okina — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 05:29:18 +0000

After four months of sitting (and a load of wondering from a few places), here’s the episode taped on May 29th 2010, the second night of Anime North. I am sure plenty is out of date still but some things remain timeless…like issues in the biz, Christopher Handley, our annual appearance by Norm, and the fact that Mike is once again in hiding. Although you may find it interesting when Adam leans on the Lawyer side of his “Hentai Lawyer” title.

Mike Nicolas, James Austin, Adam Grant, Megan Swaine (1:42:10)

*mp3 version currently available. AAC/iPod version to come.

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Anime Roundtable #77

Okina — Sat, 29 May 2010 03:59:30 +0000

So after almost a year, the Roundtable comes out of hiding at Anime North. In the return episode, the group shoots the breeze talking about cosplay as an indicator of what’s still popular, convention going at AN, culture shocks as an anime fan after being in Japan, and how times have passed with the end of clubs and the death of a pioneer. Well that’s what we talk about in terms of relevant stuff…but longtime listeners know how this really goes. All presented in one long take.

Mike Nicolas, James Austin, Geoff Greig, Angela Jordan (1:52:30)

*mp3 version currently available. AAC/iPod version to come.

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Anime North 2010

Okina — Fri, 28 May 2010 05:53:54 +0000

Stay tuned…

Anime Roundtable #76

Okina — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 17:53:43 +0000

In this episode, allergies hit the roundtable so hard that it knocks out one of them. Unfortunately for Mike, he wasn’t one of those hit. Therefore he has no excuse for taking almost two weeks to put this up. In this episode, which was already outdated at the time of taping, we talk about further fallout from the Handley case, Funimation taking One Piece out of streaming, EVA 1.0′s North American Theatrical release, and the great CPM auction. We’ll even go non anime with Apple’s moves at the WWDC and the death of a legendary Japanese Pro Wrestler. Taped on June 16.

Mike Nicolas, James Austin, Adam Grant, Megan Swaine, with James Chow (1:51:30)

Listen to it here or download from the links below. Links and feeds to be added.

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Adam’s appearance on BiteTV and update

Okina — Tue, 26 May 2009 02:57:48 +0000

Since it was brought up extensively in the last few days, here’s Adam’s appearance on BiteTV’s The Surf with The Conventioneers. It was actually really good. It’s actually worth watching the rest of the show too, so check it out.

http://www.bite.ca/video/TheSurfAnimeNorth4AdamGrant/

Also for those of you wondering, Mike will hopefully add the links of interests for the last three episodes within 24 hours…he just needs to find where he put that list…after he’s recovered from his Post Convention Syndrome.

Update: Links of Interest now added for Anime North episodes. Mike is wondering if there’s something he forgot…

Anime Roundtable #75

Okina — Sun, 24 May 2009 03:45:43 +0000

So after Adam takes a few drinks, some impressions of day two as well as Adam’s appearance on Bite TV with The Conventioneers. After we talk about the Christopher Handley guilty plea and what it’ll mean in the future. Anime North organizer Norm McEvoy then sits for the bullets segment, talking about Taro Aso with Miss Japan, some Funimation news from other conventions, and even what Japan likes to drink. All this while Adam has his eye on one of the girls in the audience (and you know what that’s likely to mean). The landmark 75th episode at where else…Anime North.

Mike Nicolas, James Austin, Adam Grant, Enrico Bianco, with appearance by Norm McEvoy (2:01:36)

Listen to it here or download from the links below. Links of interest to be added later.

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Links of Interest

Here’s Taro Aso’s meeting with Miss Universe Japan…the first thing that’ll jump out at you is the camera work.

ANN update on the Christopher Handley guilty plea
Japan’s favourite “soft drinks
The Peanuts Gang as teenaged manga characters
and as an apology for being late…
The most awesome looking flash drive yet…too bad it’s only in 2GB

Anime Roundtable #74

Okina — Sat, 23 May 2009 03:45:00 +0000

Night number one from Anime North, so of course we start off with first day impressions along with wondering how the H1N1 flu and the recession have affected the attendance numbers. Then we talk a little bit more about elitism and fan behaviour in light of recent incidents. Among the bullets, Capcom releases, publishers getting into the used book trade, and even thoughts on an OVA bringing together some of the more beloved characters in history….while Mike braces himself for the Saturday taping.

Mike Nicolas, James Austin, Megan Swaine, Geoff Greig (1:31:20)

Listen to it here or download from the links below. Links of interest to be added.

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Links of Interest

In Search of Number Nine: Why Elitist Arguments Suck
Lupin III vs Detective Conan OVA info
Article on Japanese Students getting H1N1 in Canada
Followup article on Students with H1N1

Final Reminder: Roundtable Live at Anime North Tonight and Tomorrow

Okina — Fri, 22 May 2009 20:22:13 +0000

…and the podcast panel at 9pm.

As for the tapings, don’t forget they happen tonight and tomorrow at 11pm in the New York Room in the Doubletree Hotel. Get a sense for how the show looks live, including the stuff that happens when we turn the recorders off. And yes, there will be Pocky and maybe something for whoever listened to Courteney.

And don’t forget we’re still looking for e-mails to Mike’s iPhone. So if you have a question you would like us to try and read on the air: roundtable@thecomicden.com

And if you miss the show, check back here overnight when we put the episode online, and your feeds in the morning before you go off to enjoy the convention.

See you tonight!!

Final Reminder: Adam Grant on Bite TV Tonight

Okina — Thu, 21 May 2009 21:47:05 +0000

As the header says.

He’ll be on The Surf tonight with The Conventioneers as they do their Anime North kickoff party. And the best part, IT’S LIVE!!!

Bite TV is available on Rogers Digital Cable ch 322. Or check out their website for more details and tape afterwards.

The Roundtable @ Anime North…and email us

Okina — Wed, 20 May 2009 17:23:28 +0000

A final reminder on the tapings of the Roundtable this weekend at Anime North. We’ll be taping two late night shows on the Friday and Saturday at 11pm in the Doubletree Hotel in Video Room #4 (The New York Room), same place as last year. Maybe with free Pocky too, just like last year.

Don’t forget, we’ll be putting up the episodes here on the website within a few hours of taping, and the feeds will hopefully be updated by morning.

And remember, I’ll be looking for the first guy who listens to Courteney’s third and final piece of convention survival advice. Forgot what it is? Listen to the final insults of episode 19 right here (at about the 59 min mark). There might be a prize.

Also we are doing other stuff that might be of interest as the convention approaches.

- Host Mike Nicolas will be doing a podcasting panel along with Enrico Bianco, and Ron Mandziak (aka DJ City) from The Japan Xperience. We’ll give our tips on podcasting along with stories from our experiences. That’ll be on Friday at 9pm in Panel 3 (The Hamilton Room).

- Following up from our friend and TATANS co-host Brent Chittenden’s appearance on Bite TV, our own Adam Grant will be on it LIVE, on Thursday night at 9pm in the run up to the convention. Check out his appearance on The Surf with The Conventioneers. I know I’ll have my DVR set for this. If your have Rogers Cable its channel 322, or you can check out www.bite.ca for more info. Expect another mention of this tomorrow.

- And while we’re at it Megan will be helping out at the gaming area, while James will be helping out the all night track. Gotta give props to every member right?

Oh and one final thing. We are looking for e-mails on the fly, so if you have something for the panel as the tapings are happening, please e-mail Mike’s iPhone at roundtable@thecomicden.com. If your question is interesting, we’ll put it on the air. And we really hope to make a segment out of it.

See ya at AN!!

Anime Roundtable #73

Okina — Tue, 12 May 2009 03:00:05 +0000

So with Anime North about 10 days away, the gang talks about what we’ll be doing there…at the end. But before that, thoughts on the flu (which has now hit the Roundtable), Star Trek, the anime bubble, the vultures around CPM, and Sakura Wars sort of making it to North America. This time sort of in order.

Mike Nicolas, James Austin, Adam Grant, Megan Swaine (2:14:24)

Listen to it here or download from the links below. Links of interest and feeds to be updated.

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Anime Roundtable #72

Okina — Fri, 01 May 2009 03:00:24 +0000

After a week off, Mike is so rusty that everything he talked about this week is really a blur. He does remember Megan returning, and quite a bit of the conversation centering on her ex. Then he recalls some stuff about further eManga prospects, and Pirate Bay. And that’s before the bullets, which he can’t recall as this is being written. Mike realizes he’ll have to listen to that again to find out what they were, and suggests you guys do the same too.

Mike Nicolas, James Austin, Adam Grant, Megan Swaine (2:22:42)

Listen to it here or download from the links below. Links of interest and feeds to be updated soon.

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Links of Interest

Brent Chittenden’s Appearance on Explore Music on Bite TV (click on episode 15 under “ExploreMusicTV”)
ComicZeal
Interview about ComicZeal’s prospects on Wired.com
Lexcycle
Gutenberg Website
Deadliest Warrior Official Website
Pirate Bay Trial Judge in Conflict of Interest?

Anime Roundtable #71

Okina — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 03:00:12 +0000

This week, after complaining about the Toronto transit system and a brief history about SNK (while playing various Samurai Shodown games), we start with two items, one about Amazon and its treatment of mature material, the other about the Philippines and its version of a loli porn ban. In the bullets, James singles out a few shows in the new anime season, comment on Viz finally acting on long awaited anime properties, and Viz acting on a new manga property from an old favourite.

Mike Nicolas, James Austin, Adam Grant (1:53:36)

Listen to it here or download from the links below. Links of interest and feeds to be updated.

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Links of Interest

Retroware TV episode 11: SNK Retrospective
Sankaku Complex on proposed Philippine ban on loli porn (NSFW)
Official release from Philippine Congress on the ban

Promos
TATANS
Anime Genesis

Anime Roundtable #70

Okina — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 03:00:00 +0000

Mike decides to take a week off from taping, and returns after dragging James and Adam to see Dog Sees God, and spends the entire first segment reviewing it and talking about fan fiction in the process. Then we tape the bullets twice because of technical difficulties with Mike’s MacBook, where we talk about Taro Aso’s economic stimulus plan for Japan (built on straw pillars), threats to mangaka, manga re-releases, and perhaps some High School Panic. Also some further Apple thoughts, and an Easter Carol Mike said he had been searching for.

Mike Nicolas, James Austin, Adam Grant (1:54:06)

Listen to it here or download from the links below.

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Links of Interest

Dog Sees God in Toronto (Running until April 18)
Aso’s economic plan and vow to create 500000 jobs
The announcement on the Japanese National Anime Shrine
Website of Matthew Shultz (the Easter Carol guy)

Promo
Anime World Order

Anime Roundtable #69

Okina — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 03:00:00 +0000

Mike rationalizes this episode as something to nicely prepare him for the headache that’ll be taping at Anime North. The episode takes many different tangents as there is no real topic this week. Mike does remember talking quite a bit about the mini convention that passed last weekend in Toronto, the end of yet another Anime magazine and the coverage of it, and something about one of Adam’s favourite hentai game titles getting an official english release (nicely in line with it being episode 69). Also some thoughts on the play “Dog Sees God” which was mentioned last episode, a quick overview of the MacBook now recording this show, and the results of the contest with answers and the winner. Of course not necessarily in that order.

Mike Nicolas, James Austin, Adam Grant, Brent Chittenden (2:22:18)

Listen to it here or download from the links below. Links of interest, and feeds to be updated.

Producer’s Note: We used a feature on the latest edition of Garageband called “Auto Normalize”. The idea being two fold, first to bring up to acceptable levels sounds that might be too low, and second (which often applies here) to reduce clipping if the levels are too high. The trade off is that it may reduce the max volume of the final file. Please let us know what your preferences are, and whether or not we should continue to use this feature.

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Links of Interest

Last Blood Trailer
Da Capo on Mangagamer.com

And on the topic of the contest, here’s some videos to show you who these wrestlers are.

A video featuring Kenta Kobashi, Mitsuharu Misawa, and Jun Akiyama in their heyday in the 90s. Set to “Invoke” the first opening to Gundam SEED by TM Revolution

The 2003 match between Kobashi and Misawa for the NOAH GHC Heavyweight Championship. Considered by many to be the match of the year and amongst the greatest in the last 10 years, mainly for its atmosphere and status of the two wrestlers.

A 1996 match between Jushin Thunder Liger and Great Muta. Famous because for the first time, Liger lost his cool.

A 2006 match between KENTA and Naomichi Marufuji for the NOAH GHC Junior Heavyweight Championship. These two were long time tag team partners, but seem to be pretty easy rivals too.

Kenta Kobashi making his first public appearance since announcing he had Cancer at the end of 2006. Notable for the cheers he got, something Japanese fans rarely do in such a way.

Anime Roundtable #68: Back to York U

Okina — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 03:00:21 +0000

The return to York University, and the likely retirement episode for the iBook that had recorded the show over the past three years. After talk about the York strike aftermath, James’ latest adventures with the exchange student from Osaka, and a tangent about anime DVD re-releases, we’ll take on the second part of the Ryerson lectures and Jaqueline Berndt’s talk about Japanese aesthetics and identity in anime. Bullets wise, we’ll chime in on the latest on a teen who went off with a “family friend” convention hopping, and the Curse of the Colonel Sanders statue. Then we end off on suggestions on where and when to listen to this show, and some recommendations for stuff going on in Toronto.

Mike Nicolas, James Austin, Adam Grant, Geoff Greig (1:54)

Listen to it here or download from the links below. Feeds to be updated.

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Links of Interest

Jaqueline Berndt’s Website (Mainly German)
Missing Oklahoma teen found in Washington State
Women’s soccer friendly at BMO Field, Canada vs. Japan
Dog Sees God Toronto Production

Promos
Ninja Consultant
Geeknights

Anime Roundtable #67

Okina — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 03:00:02 +0000

So after Mike does a final check of the equipment, James begins this week with stories about the Japanese exchange student currently at his place. Then we get to the Japan Foundation lectures at Ryerson and talk about Kaichiro Morikawa’s discussion about the Otaku communities making their own space and how Akihabara changed to accommodate, and comparisons with other social spaces. In the bullets, French and English being French and English, and a not so novel stress relief idea in Akihabara getting a novel twist.

If you listen closely to the intro, you might here Mike giving off something that sounds like a burp in between sentences.

Mike Nicolas, James Austin, Adam Grant, Geoff Greig (2:14:37)

Listen to it here or download from the links below.

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Links of Interest

Kaichiro Morikawa’s Website (Mainly Japanese)
Morikawa’s Paper on Akihabara’s changes
Article on Morikawa’s Venice Exhibit
French teens arrested for stealing video games
Akiba form of stress relief
UK looking to ban all forms of loli

Promos
R5 Central
The Japan Xperience

BONUS – Anime Roundtable #50: Minna no motome o kotaeru ga….

Okina — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 03:51:37 +0000

Mike dropped his jaw and had to pick it up while listening to this again. But here it is, as good as it’ll get, all of what was recorded for the now infamous episode #50. Along with an intro and further thoughts from Mike nine months later. We didn’t get all of it, but you’ll know quickly that Neil and Adam were sooooo on that night, and gave the audience there what they were hoping for, and nearly gave Mike a stroke. Mike figures he’ll be stocking up on the Pocky for this year’s Anime North episodes.

“We are answering your request but…”

Intro by Mike Nicolas (1:16:31)

Listen to it here or download from the links below.

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Final Reminder: Japan Foundation Anime Lectures

Okina — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 18:15:14 +0000

Just a quick reminder that the lectures entitled, Anime and Contemporary Japanese Society goes on tomorrow evening at Ryerson University in downtown Toronto. This is being put on by the Japan Foundation Toronto. RSVP is recommended to guarantee a seat.

Once again information can be seen here, and on Facebook here.

Both Austin Brothers and myself are set to go and you can be sure this will come up on a future episode of the show (hey it rhymed). If you’re in the area, we hope to see you there.

Happy Third Anniversary!!

Okina — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 12:00:29 +0000

It dawned upon me over the weekend that the actual anniversary of the show is today. It was three years ago tonight when myself, Neil, and James sat in a classroom in the Bethune building at York University, across from the school’s anime club hosting their weekly screening, and started to talk about stuff going on in the anime world, with our Canadian sense.

I’ll say a little bit more about it this later this week. But I thought I’d regard it since it is today. Needless to say though, I am happy to have gotten to three years. Some say it’s been a waste of time, others say it’s been AN INCREDIBLE waste of time. Thank you to everyone for listening and wasting some of that time with us.

On that note, we’re actually leaning against doing an episode this week. However I may have a surprise for everyone by the end of the week for your listening pleasure or otherwise.