Show #130: Ushio & Tora (2015)

It's a special Halloween episode of a different stripe as we go yokai-busting with the horrifying but heartful Ushio & Tora!

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A more complete version of a previously adapted 90s manga, this series came along at a time when it seemed like its version of storytelling was old hat. To the surprise of many Ushio & Tora proved its classic sense of values and style can resonate with an audience of the modern era with supposedly more sophisticated taste, bringing a potent blend of visceral action, heart-rending drama and one of the most sinister antagonists in any brand of fiction in decades.

THE SHORT VERSION

Soft-hearted heroes

Fearsome yokai

Ultimate evil

Show #121: Jonny Quest (1964)

The warm weather has arrived so you know what that means; a theme we'll actually try and see out to the end as we kick off the Boys of Summer with Jonny Quest!

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Who would have thought Hanna Barbera would be ahead of the curve by producing a primetime animation series that wasn't a straight comedy (now don't that sound familiar?), packaging familiar stories within an appealing and distinctive style. Limited in animation and cultural sensitivity but triumphant in design, atmosphere and soundtrack, the fact it is still both celebrated and satirised to this day is evidence of its impact.

THE SHORT VERSION

Scientific investigations

Cultural portrayals

You said it Bandit!

Show #93: I Was Having A Lovely Time Until My Mind Exploded

We travel to a world light years away in a galaxy of terror to seek new life and new civilisations on a Fantastic Planet, aka La Planete Sauvage!

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Based on the novel "Oms en serie" by Stefan Wul and brought to unsettling life by Rene Laloux and Roland Topor, Fantastic Planet is posited as an allegorical tale but succeeds better as a journey through a realm and a civilisation so incredibly far removed from our own. The brilliant production design and haunting visuals convey this alien nature beautifully, the brutal environment with its bizarre customs only thrown into starker relief by the similarities we can see to our own society.

THE SHORT VERSION

Education

Recreation

Local wildlife

Show #86: Oh No! A Lovely Garden!

It's the most wonderful time of the year; another Hobbit movie means another Hobbit cartoon movie, The Return of the King!

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The live action Hobbit trilogy has finally come to a close and with it we must also round out our experiences with the animated J.R.R. Tolkien works, which we have covered previously. This final chapter brings back Rankin Bass and Topcraft who brought us the quite enjoyable 1977 Hobbit, taking a similar approach from that film which doesn't quite gel with the scale of this saga of war between good and evil. An imbalance of focus, difficulties with compressing the narrative and some non sequitur musical interludes make for a bizarre and frustrating viewing experience.

THE SHORT VERSION

You're late pal.

Skeletor?

"THIS IS THE SONG OF THE THIRD BLOGPOST PICTURE"

Show #83: Put A Hockey Jersey On That Dracula

Our bags are packed for our annual Halloween break, and we have some reservations with Hotel Transylvania!

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Genndy Tartakovsky's directorial debut! Four words that should excite any animation aficionado, however there are a couple of strings attached to that statement. Brought in to revitalise an already lengthy production Tartakovsky brings his distinct visual style and penchant for physical comedy to the CG feature realm, easily the best thing about this film. For what it's worth Adam Sandler and his cohorts aren't nearly as exasperating as they could have been but with such a wealth of characters and setting it's a shame something more fulfilling didn't emerge.

THE SHORT VERSION

Daffy Dracula

Daddy Dracula

DANCIN' DRACULA

Show #78: Turtles Of Mass Destruction

While we venture on and on in search of our lost podcast guests we undertake a small sidequest into the fantastic world of Amon Saga!

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An eighties fantasy OAV with a difference, springing forth from the fertile creative mind of one Yoshitaka Amano with the help of a stable of fine anime talent. Amon Saga has all the makings of a tale of high adventure as we follow our hero's quest for revenge in a realm of bizarre sights and sounds, however much in the tradition of OAVs and eighties fantasy flicks in general it has the distinct sense of being only the first chapter in a longer story that unfortunately has yet to be told.

THE SHORT VERSION

Stoic adventurers

Merry companions

Terror incarnate

Show #75: NIGELLLL!

The gargantuan Greg Driver stomps into our most hallowed vaults. We must flee! But not before we tell the world of Godzilla - The Series!

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Godzilla has returned from the depths to the cinema screens of the West and so our thoughts are cast back to 1998's Roland Emmerich disaster-piece and this spin-off cartoon series. Using the film as a jumping off point Godzilla focuses on what makes the big galoot so much fun to watch; namely giant monster brawls, widespread destruction and aliens bent on world domination via hypnotised kaiju. Adelaide Studios and Fil Barlow are a perfect fit for the series, letting the art department run wild with a menagerie of massive menaces of escalating weirdness that turn the monster-of-the-week formula into a huge selling factor rather than a deterrence.

 (WARNING: Recording was somewhat messed up and has been fixed as best as possible but is still pretty butt. Listener discretion is advised.)

Greg's Twitter

Tekzilla

THE SHORT VERSION

Monster mash

Homages

Hunky CEOs

Show #71: I'll Have To Engage PCP Power

Anthony Askew of Dynamite In The Brain is coming up fast to join us for a few laps of the way out Wacky Races!

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Wacky Races has quite the cultural footprint but besides that it's a pretty okay cartoon. It's a Hanna Barbera show so what do you expect? On this viewing we find ourselves siding with supposed villains Dick Dastardly and Muttley and pondering how they wound up in this silly situation. We spin a yarn of Cold War defection, organised crime and corruption that may not actually be true but is still a lot of fun to talk about!

Anthony's Twitter

THE SHORT VERSION

War heroes

Useful gadgets

Dirty rotten cheaters

Show #68: Les Pamplemousse Est Dans La Fenetre

As storms ravage the country and the flood waters rise we're reminded of historical precedents as documented by A Monster In Paris.

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Courtesy of Bibo Bergeron of The Road To El Dorado and Shark Tale fame comes this whimsical tale of how a mutated flea invented rock and roll. While boasting some sharp design work and catchy tunes it's let down by its pacing along with some jarring visual hiccups but more than makes up for these with sheer heart.

THE SHORT VERSION

Avant Garde

Chic

Le petit pistolet

Show #65: He's A Class Act That Mako

Happy New Year! But before we can continue on our journey we must put to rest the frightful spirit of Avatar: The Legend Of Korra Season 2.

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If you missed out on the previous season then you needn't worry as Legend Of Korra reverts nearly every character back to square one, resulting in some pretty reprehensible behaviour on the part of our alleged heroes. Things pick up midway through and continue to a strong finish but in a frustrating season of pointless plotlines, risible romances and boring bad guys it may have come too late.

THE SHORT VERSION

Our hero!

Just desserts.

THE GUN SHOW

Show #58: Powered By Puns

It's a spine tingly dingly Halloween edition of SOTSM with the cursed comedy and horrifying humour of Count Duckula!

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Springing from Cosgrove Hall's Danger Mouse into his own spin-off series is everybody's favourite vegetarian vampire duck and his gang of gruesome servants. The comedy routines are often a bit stale and the frequent use of cultural stereotypes for cheap laughs do the show no favours either but it's buoyed up by some great voice work, extending to the narrator who does an excellent job selling the supposedly sinister side of the cartoon. Your tolerance of David Jason's American accent as Duckula may make or break it for you so consider yourself forewarned! HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

THE SHORT VERSION

Cultural insensitivity

Old jokes

True terror

Show #48: Oh No! Not The Bakery!

Niall and Dwayne explore the terrifying prospects of a world where magic is real in 2007 OVA Strait Jacket!

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Based on the novels of the same name by Ichiro Sakaki this OVA adaptation excels in world building and illustrating the mechanics of it's magical industries with great economy of cinema. The story manages a bit of pathos for the characters but ultimately falls flat and leaves the viewer wanting, which on the other hand could entice some to delve into the source material and learn more about the series' quite interesting setting. Listen in to find out just how interesting it all is, along with some discussion of Boy's Love adaptations of Micheal Collins

THE SHORT VERSION

Magic Iron Man

Magic FBI

Magic gone wrong

Show #42: Thank God Her Pants Stayed On

Niall and Dwayne marshal a team of action scientists to counter the threat posed by the mighty Inhumanoids!

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A podcast much belated, but not for any fear of discussing this 1986 toy property tie-in from Hasbro and Sunbow as we find ourselves pleasantly surprised yet again. The war on giant monsters from beneath the Earth eventually gives way to more light-hearted shenanigans which leads to a slight disparity of tone. However an entertaining cast of heroes, villains and weird creatures with amusingly sarcastic dialogue and grotesque spectacle helps it stand out from the crowd, despite not achieving the long-running successes of its peers.

THE SHORT VERSION

Giant monsters

Relationship trouble

Justice for all