Otaku no Podcast (Audio-only Feed)

We begin our Anime Expo 2011 interviews with a chat with webcomic artist Fred Gallagher of MegaTokyo. I recently made a guest appearance on the Nigorimasen podcast. Go listen to it today! Today's Theme: "Stone Cold" by FictionJunction. OP for the Summer 2011 anime Sacred Seven. Get a Crunchyroll Premium Membership!

We conclude our coverage of Anime Expo 2011 with part 2 of our usual panel-style review/wrapup of doom. Anime Expo 2011 coverage will be coming out over the next few weeks, as I have tons and tons of audio, video and photos to go through, not to mention all of the news and announcements that came out at the con! Today's Theme: "Magia," by Kalafina, the ED of the anime Puella Magi Madoka Magica. Links to things we talked about: Stitcher SmartRadio app Otaku no Podcast YouTube channel California Conventions Blog AM2 Con Blog Hacked, Con Still On The Battle of the Cons: Anime Expo vs. AM2 AM2 Sets a Record in 1st Year Convention Attendance and Celebrates the End of Its 2011 Event with the All Girl J-Rock Band Scandal Convention Report: AM2 So How Did AM2 Fare on the Same Weekend as AX 2011? Virgin Mobile MiFi 2200 Mobile Hotspot Pray for Japan (Facebook, Trailer on YouTube, Kickstarter) Japan fundraiser brings kids into the fold PIAPRO Mikubook Mikunopolis Otaku no Podcast YouTube channel with video from Mikunopolis OtakuVerse Zero Culture Japan on Crunchyroll (Get a Crunchyroll Premium Membership!) NicoNico Crunchyroll (Get a Crunchyroll Premium Membership!) Win MsGeek's NicoNico T-shirt Crunchyroll Dance Party Gallery of Fantastic Art (GoFA) Guidebook (get the free app on iTunes or Android Marketplace) SCHED AX Live (view past episodes on YouTube) AMV contest winners Masquerade Winners Our Picks: Donald - K-ON! Volume 1 ( DVD, Blu-ray); Volume 2 ( DVD, Blu-ray); Volume 3 due to be released sometime later this year; Highschool of the Dead (on DVD, Blu-ray and ); Midori Days; Haruhi AniPoke App for iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad (free on the ); Nagato AniPoke app ; Mikuru AniPoke app ; Ramen Fighter Miki on Crunchyroll (Get a Crunchyroll Premium Membership!); Square Avi - Puella Magi Madoka Magica (license announced at Aniplex's AX panel; due out sometime in October) Michelle - Pray for Japan (Facebook, Trailer on YouTube, Kickstarter); Apple iPod touch 8GB MP3 Player (4th Generation - Latest Model) - Black; Otaku USA Magazine Danny - The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya; Trigun: Badlands Rumble K-On!, Vol. 1 When Yui Hirasawa enters high school, she wants to join a club but can't decide which one is right for her. Fortunately, the Light Music Club is desperate to find another member or they'll be disbanded! So, with the enticement of delicious snacks and assu K-On!, Vol. 1 [Blu-ray] Blu-Ray pressing. When Yui Hirasawa enters high school, she wants to join a club but can't decide which one is right for her. Fortunately, the Light Music Club is desperate to find another member or they'll be disbanded! So, with the enticement of delicio K-on! Vol. 2 As the Light Music Club rehearses for their performance at the school festival, they realize that they are not officially registered as a club. They need to quickly find a faculty advisor but that's not something that a little blackmail can't fix. As th K-on! Vol. 2 BLU-RAY. As the Light Music Club rehearses for their performance at the school festival, they realize that they are not officially registered as a club. They need to quickly find a faculty advisor but that's not something that a little blackmail can't Virgin Mobile MiFi 2200 Mobile Hotspot This mobile hotspot connects up to 5 mobile devices at the same time and provides a 3G wireless Internet connection from up to 40' away for convenience. It is PC and Mac compatible for use with your existing computer. Apple iPod touch 8GB MP3 Player (4th Generation - Latest Model) - Black The most popular iPod is now even better. Along with the revolutionary Multi-Touch interface and Wi-Fi Web browsing, the iPod touch now includes HD video recording,

We begin our coverage of Anime Expo 2011 with part 1 of our usual panel-style review/wrapup of doom. Anime Expo 2011 coverage will be coming out over the next few weeks, as I have tons and tons of audio, video and photos to go through, not to mention all of the news and announcements that came out at the con! Today's Theme: "Cagayake! GIRLS," the theme to K-ON! Season 1, as performed by the Vocaloids. Be sure and check out the super-cool VOCA-ON! remake of the K-ON! opening animation with Vocaloid characters instead of the usual K-ON! girls! Links to things we talked about: Stitcher SmartRadio app Otaku no Podcast YouTube channel California Conventions Blog AM2 Con Blog Hacked, Con Still On The Battle of the Cons: Anime Expo vs. AM2 AM2 Sets a Record in 1st Year Convention Attendance and Celebrates the End of Its 2011 Event with the All Girl J-Rock Band Scandal Convention Report: AM2 So How Did AM2 Fare on the Same Weekend as AX 2011? Virgin Mobile MiFi 2200 Mobile Hotspot Pray for Japan (Facebook, Trailer on YouTube, Kickstarter) Japan fundraiser brings kids into the fold PIAPRO Mikubook Mikunopolis Otaku no Podcast YouTube channel with video from Mikunopolis OtakuVerse Zero Culture Japan on Crunchyroll (Get a Crunchyroll Premium Membership!) NicoNico Crunchyroll (Get a Crunchyroll Premium Membership!) Win MsGeek's NicoNico T-shirt Crunchyroll Dance Party Gallery of Fantastic Art (GoFA) Guidebook (get the free app on iTunes or Android Marketplace) SCHED AX Live (view past episodes on YouTube) AMV contest winners Masquerade Winners Our Picks: Donald - K-ON! Volume 1 ( DVD, Blu-ray); Volume 2 ( DVD, Blu-ray); Volume 3 due to be released sometime later this year; Highschool of the Dead (on DVD, Blu-ray and ); Midori Days; Haruhi AniPoke App for iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad (free on the ); Nagato AniPoke app ; Mikuru AniPoke app ; Ramen Fighter Miki on Crunchyroll (Get a Crunchyroll Premium Membership!); Square Avi - Puella Magi Madoka Magica (license announced at Aniplex's AX panel; due out sometime in October) Michelle - Pray for Japan (Facebook, Trailer on YouTube, Kickstarter); Apple iPod touch 8GB MP3 Player (4th Generation - Latest Model) - Black; Otaku USA Magazine Danny - The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya; Trigun: Badlands Rumble K-On!, Vol. 1 When Yui Hirasawa enters high school, she wants to join a club but can't decide which one is right for her. Fortunately, the Light Music Club is desperate to find another member or they'll be disbanded! So, with the enticement of delicious snacks and assu K-On!, Vol. 1 [Blu-ray] Blu-Ray pressing. When Yui Hirasawa enters high school, she wants to join a club but can't decide which one is right for her. Fortunately, the Light Music Club is desperate to find another member or they'll be disbanded! So, with the enticement of delicio K-on! Vol. 2 As the Light Music Club rehearses for their performance at the school festival, they realize that they are not officially registered as a club. They need to quickly find a faculty advisor but that's not something that a little blackmail can't fix. As th K-on! Vol. 2 BLU-RAY. As the Light Music Club rehearses for their performance at the school festival, they realize that they are not officially registered as a club. They need to quickly find a faculty advisor but that's not something that a little blackmail can't Virgin Mobile MiFi 2200 Mobile Hotspot This mobile hotspot connects up to 5 mobile devices at the same time and provides a 3G wireless Internet connection from up to 40' away for convenience. It is PC and Mac compatible for use with your existing computer. Apple iPod touch 8GB MP3 Player (4th Generation - Latest Model) - Black The most popular iPod is now even better.

Random-Updates-a-Gogo J-List is a peaceful island of Japanese pop culture for you

Well, the summer con season is in full swing, and as usual, we're late to the party ;-) This week we give an update to our famous convention survival tips, which should hopefully help you have a more enjoyable con-going experience. And of course we bust out our favorite anime picks as well. Today's Theme Song: "FIGHT OR FLIGHT," by Yū Kobayashi. Second ED to the anime Dragonaut: The Resonance. Our Picks: Michelle: There is a ton of anime available to watch online, completely legally and (oftentimes) for free. Some of our favorites include Crunchyroll, Hulu, and Crackle. Also, many anime distributors run their own streams. Animation Runner Kuromi Me: K-ON! Clannad and Clannad: After Story Royal Space Force - Wings of Honneamise   K-On!, Vol. 1 When Yui Hirasawa enters high school, she wants to join a club but can't decide which one is right for her. Fortunately, the Light Music Club is desperate to find another member or they'll be disbanded! So, with the enticement of delicious snacks and assu K-On!, Vol. 1 [Blu-ray] Blu-Ray pressing. When Yui Hirasawa enters high school, she wants to join a club but can't decide which one is right for her. Fortunately, the Light Music Club is desperate to find another member or they'll be disbanded! So, with the enticement of delicio K-on! Vol. 2 As the Light Music Club rehearses for their performance at the school festival, they realize that they are not officially registered as a club. They need to quickly find a faculty advisor but that's not something that a little blackmail can't fix. As th K-on! Vol. 2 BLU-RAY. As the Light Music Club rehearses for their performance at the school festival, they realize that they are not officially registered as a club. They need to quickly find a faculty advisor but that's not something that a little blackmail can't Clannad Complete Collection Clannad Complete Collection Clannad: After Story - Complete Collection [4 Discs] - Includes:Clannad After Story: Episode 11 (2009) Clannad After Story: Episode 10 (2009) Clannad After Story: Episode 9 (2009) Clannad After Story: Episode 8 (2009) Clannad After Story: Episode 6 (2009) Clannad After Story: Episode 4 (2009) Clannad After Story: Episode 18 (2009) Clannad After Story: Episode 17 (2009) Clannad After Story: Episode 16 (2009) Clannad After Story: Episode 15 (2009) Clannad After Story: Episode 14 (2009) Clannad After Story: Episode 13 (2009) Clannad After Story: Episode 12 (2009) Clannad After Story: Episode 1 (2009) Clannad After Story: Episode 3 (2009) Clannad After Story: Episode 2 (2009) Clannad After Story: Episode 24 (2009) Clannad After Story: Episode 23 (2009) Clannad After Story: Episode 22 (2009) Clannad After Story: Episode 21 (2009) Clannad After Story: Episode 20 (2009) Clannad After Story: Episode 19 (2009) Clannad After Story: Episode 5 (2009) Clannad After Story: Episode 7 (2009) Clannad After Story: Episode 11 No synopsis available. Clannad After Story: Episode 10 No synopsis available. Clannad After Story: Episode 9 No synopsis available. Clannad After Story: Episode 8 No synopsis available. Clannad After Story: Episode 6 No synopsis available. Clannad After Story: Episode 4 No synopsis available. Clannad After Story: Episode 18 No synopsis available. Clannad After Story: Episode 17 No synopsis available. Clannad After Story: Episode 16 No synopsis available. Clannad After Story: Episode 15 No synopsis available. Clannad After Story: Episode 14 No synopsis available. Clannad After Story: Episode 13 No synopsis available. Clannad After Story: Episode 12 No synopsis available. Clannad After Story: Episode 1 No synopsis available. Clannad After Story: Episode 3 No synopsis available. Clannad After Story: Episode 2 No synopsis available.

The between episodes episode J-List is a peaceful island of Japanese pop culture for you

Post server migration test boo J-List is a peaceful island of Japanese pop culture for you

In this episode of Otaku no Podcast, we briefly review and talk about the news surrounding the horrible earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan two weeks ago. Show notes coming soon; please check the Otaku no Podcast website in a day or 2. Today's Theme Song: "M/elody" by Shion Tsuji, ending theme of the anime Tokyo Magnitude 8.0 Help with the recovery effort by donating Errata: I had incorrectly stated that the "We Heart Japan" event raised $75,000 for the relief effort. They actually raised $7,500. I was off by a magnitude of 10. Still, for such a hastily-organized event (3 days!), this is quite an achievement. They have other events planned as well, so keep an eye on the "We Heart Japan" website (as well as Otaku no Podcast) for details as they come out.  

We Heart Japan event TONIGHT to benefit victims of the earthquake and tsunami

8.9 magnitude earthquake in Japan

The Otaku no Podcast crew are back from Anime Los Angeles and give their usual panel-style review of this convention. Music: Main Menu theme from Shira Oka: Second Chances Our Picks: Donald Project Blue Earth SOS Buy it on DVD or Amazon Video-on-Demand Watch it on ANN Shira Oka: Second Chances Official site Download the free demo (both Mac and PC) Buy the game for Windows or Mac Michelle Summer Wars Official site Find showtimes near you Pre-order on DVD or Blu-ray (release date is Feb. 15) Evangelion 2.22 You can (Not) Advance Official site Find showtimes near you Pre-order on DVD or Blu-ray (release date is Apr 5) Danny Nodame Cantabile Dirty Pair: The Original TV Series Part 1 (available now) Part 2 (pre-order, will be released on Feb. 8 ) Our Plugs: Donald Anime-Planet Otaku no Podcast's YouTube channel Michelle Assimilation Media (nothing there yet, coming soon!) Cartoon Geeks Danny ANN Pam The Starving Economist [amazon asin=B003NE8B24&title=Project Blue Earth SOS&template=thumbnail] [amazon asin=B004DMIIVO&title=Summer Wars (DVD)&template=thumbnail] [amazon asin=B004DMIIOG&title=Summer Wars (Blu-ray)&template=thumbnail] [amazon asin=B004EC5IV6&title=Evangelion: 2.22 You Can (Not) Advance (DVD)&template=thumbnail] [amazon asin=B004EC5IUW&title=Evangelion: 2.22 You Can (Not) Advance (Blu-ray)&template=thumbnail] [amazon asin=B003X3BYFG&title=Dirty Pair (Part 1)&template=thumbnail] [amazon asin=B0047HXMT8&title=Dirty Pair (Part 2)&template=thumbnail]

The Otaku no Podcast crew conclude their look back at the year 2010 - anime style. Be sure and listen to Part 1 as well! (Part 2 of 2) Today's Theme: "My Soul, Your Beats!" (GirlsDeMo version), the theme song used in episode 4 of Angel Beats! Stories/products we discussed: Android users – Schedule your Anime-LA day with ConDroyd Satoshi Kon's last words Osaka Bans Boys Love Manga as “Harmful Publications” - Tokyo is Next… K-ON! - Season 1 has been licensed by Bandai and should be coming out sometime in early to mid 2011; you can watch Season 2 now via fansub. OMG! Real Life Ritsuko Tainaka! Eden of the East (on DVD and Blu-ray) Hetalia Axis Powers Summer Wars (on DVD and Blu-ray) Evangelion reboot Evangelion 1.11 - You Are Not Alone (on DVD and Blu-ray) Evangelion 2.22 - You Can (Not) Advance (on DVD and Blu-ray) Strike Witches The War on Pants! Strike Witches - The War on Pants Continues! Strike Witches - Inglorious Pantsters Edition Angel Beats! Kanon Highschool of the Dead Arakawa under the Bridge (season 1, season 2) The Tatami Galaxy Tokyo Magnitude 8.0 House of Five Leaves Shi Ki Kaichou wa Maid-sama! Squid Girl Amagami SS Kimi ni Todoke Bakuman Ore no Imouto ga Konna ni Kawaii Wake ga Nai Star Driver Kagayaki no Takuto The World God Only Knows Panty and Stocking with Garterbelt Tron: Legacy   [amazon asin=B002ZG99QS&title=TRON: Legacy (DVD)&template=thumbnail] [amazon asin=B004K4IZ3G&title=TRON: Legacy (Blu-Ray + DVD Combo)&template=thumbnail]

The Otaku no Podcast crew take a look back at the year 2010 - anime style. (Part 1 of 2) Opening Theme: "Hotaru no Hikari," the Japanese version of the traditional New Years song Auld Lang Syne. Traditionally sung by Japanese students at graduation and the end of the school day, it is also sung as the closing song for Japan's Kohaku Uta Gassen end-of-year singing contest spectacle. Watch it here! Links/stories we discussed: Hellsing Director Umanosuke Iida Passes Away (Updated) Perfect Blue/Paprika Director Satoshi Kon Passes Away (Updated) Satoshi Kon, His Wife, Madhouse Studio Write About His Passing (Update 4) Otakon Launches Satoshi Kon Farewell Project Satoshi Kon's Wikipedia article American Anime Producer Carl Macek Passes Away Carl Macek (Wikipedia article) Streamline Pictures (Wikipedia article) 'Do You Remember Love?' Composer Kazuhiko Katoh Found Hanged (Updated) Yamato Anime Producer Yoshinobu Nishizaki Passes Away (Update 2) Arrivederci Yoshinobu Nishizaki Farewell to Yoshinobu Nishizaki, Tomino Dishes on The Nish Yoshinobu Nishizaki (Wikipedia article) Director: Key Animator Shojuro Yamauchi Passes Away Minky Momo/Pokémon Writer Takeshi Shudo Passes Away Bill 156′s Total Scope Editorial: How Bill 156 Got Passed Monkey Business – Counterattack on Bill 156, Doujin Style Best Buy to Eliminate DVD Inventory & Anime News: Best Buy to Change DVD Strategy News: Navarre Has 6 Interested Buyers for Funimation

The Otaku no Podcast crew are back from Pacific Media Expo (aka PMX) and give their usual panel-style discussion/review of doom, as well as the traditional anime picks - with a twist. Today's Theme Music: "Mirai Mechanism" by vividblaze; the theme song for Danny Choo's TV show Culture: Japan. Be sure and check out the cool time-lapse video shot at various locales in Japan! Our Picks: Me - Squid Girl (aka Shinryaku! Ika Musume) (streaming on Crunchyroll); Zatoichi (stream it, rent it, or buy it on DVD or Blu-ray) Michelle - The Grand Chef and Panty and Stocking with Garterbelt (both streaming on Crunchyroll) Danny and Amy - Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1; Tegami Bachi: Letter Bee (streaming on Crunchyroll) Other Stuff: Otaku no Podcast's YouTube channel (a few PMX videos up already; PMX highlights video coming soon!) Otaku no Podcast's Qik channel (a few PMX videos from our livestreaming test are up here, including CosFest) I'm working on my PMX photos and am uploading them as I process them. Check out the Otaku no Podcast Photo Gallery. My post gathering up links to other peoples' PMX photos and videos Anime Los Angeles 2011 The 12 Days of Kurisumasu [amazon asin=B000296FWQ&title=Zatoichi (DVD)&template=thumbnail] [amazon asin=B002DYKPA6&title=Zatoichi (Blu-ray)&template=thumbnail]

You've probably started seeing them appearing at anime conventions, and were wondering what that's all about.  Well, in this episode of Otaku no Podcast, we talk about this latest trend that's sweeping through American otaku fandom - the world of dolls. Today's theme: "No, Thank You!", K-ON!! (2nd season) ED #2 Different types of dolls Asian fashion dolls http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asian_fashion_doll (This actually includes Pullip and Blythe) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pullip http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blythe_%28doll%29 both Obitsu and Volks, who make vinyl dolls, also make Asian fashion dolls. Asian ball joint dolls (ABJDs)made of resin, has removable/replaceable eyes and removable/replaceable wigs, some have removable/replaceable face plates, are strung with elastic. This is the criteria for on-topic dolls at Den of Angels, the largest site for discussion of ABJDs and Asian Vinyl Armature Dolls. http://www.denofangels.com/forums/showthread.php?42407-Criteria-for-Dolls-quot-On-Topic-quot-for-DoA-%28Updated-7-7-08%29 Asian vinyl armature dolls (My term for Volks Dollfie Dream and Obitsu large scale dolls.) Skinned with soft(ish) vinyl, interior has hard plastic armature. Mini Dollfie Dreams do NOT have a continuous hard plastic armature, the hard plastic joints fit directly into the vinyl pieces one by one. MDD is the only kind of AVAD constructed this way and it's sort of weak. All Obitsus and the Dollfie Dream and Dollfie Dream Dynamite have continuous skeletons where the hard pieces fit into each other and form a solid skeleton underneath the vinyl "skin" pieces. The various companies Volks http://www.volksusa.com/ Obitsu/Parabox http://www.parabox.jp/eng/ Obitsu Company site: http://www.obitsu.co.jp/eng/index.html Junky Spot, an online store that ships to the US and Canada. They carry Obitsu, Bobobie, Resinsoul, Dollzone, Souldoll, and several others. http://www.junkyspot.com/ They aren't figures, they're dolls. Tips and tricks, gotcha's, things to watch out for, etc. like, you mentioned that you can sometimes use clothes/accessories made for other types of dolls (Barbie, etc.), to save a buck where did you get Z's guitar? American Girl Place, The Grove, Los Angeles, CA, US http://www.americangirl.com/index.php American Girl has lots of props that will work for 1/3 scale dolls (big dolls like Dollfie Dream and Obitsu 50cm and 60cm) and some 1/4 scale dolls as well. Much of my dolliez stuff is from eBay...truly your friend. Also once you get Marketplace access at Den of Angels that's an incredible resource. Keep your eye out in toy stores for clothing/accessories for Best Friends Club: clothes fit Mini Dollfie Dream and MSD-size resin dolls Some doll resources where to buy dolls and their accessories The only brick and mortar stores I know of here in LA are American Girl Place and Volks Tenshi no Sumika in LA (actually in Torrance) http://site.volksusa.com/html/files/info.html Sites with other/general info Den of Angels (may or may not be allowing new members, if not, retry a few times a month) http://www.denofangels.com/forums/index.php Dollieh Sanctuary (All dolls allowed! Friendly place!) http://www.dolliehsanctuary.com/sanctuary/ Figure.FM (a real man cave for figure/doll fans, started by Danny Choo) http://www.figure.fm/ Some cool doll peeps to follow Danny Choo http://www.dannychoo.com/ Danny Choo's tour of Volks Japan:http://www.dannychoo.com/post/en/25832/Volks+Store.html Doll.fm Chun http://puppy52dolls.com/ Wolfheinrich http://tcwenterprise.com/wordpress/ (Occasionally gets ecchi, another man cave kind of site) Mr. Postman http://www.cobrora.com/doll_main.html Links: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ball-jointed_doll http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hans_Bellmer http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volks http://www.dannychoo.com/ http://www.figure.fm/ Our Picks: