Show #55: Romantagonist

Ninjas! Robots! Aliens! Abominations of nature! It's all kicking off in the latter half of the first season of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2012!

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This new iteration of the popular Turtles franchise was off to a flying start when last we talked about it and it just about maintains that pace as it finishes it's debut season. A steady escalation of events build to a heady climax with space to develop in later seasons but not without a few missteps along the way. Turtles fans have got it pretty good at the moment, so enjoy it now before you undoubtedly get mad at Michael Bay's bizarre live-action feature arriving next year!

THE SHORT VERSION

Tim, Nice But Dim

DO NOT TRUST

High job turnover

Show #54: Anime Didn't Invent Character Development

Niall and Dwayne embrace their destiny to master all animation as they get stuck into the first season of Avatar: The Last Airbender!

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The Legend Of Korra returns for it's second season on September 13th with much expectation already heaped upon it. What better way to get into the mood and brush up on our Avatar lore than revisiting the series where it all started? Well regarded for it's vibrant art style, quality of writing which deftly balances humour, poignancy and drama and most certainly for super powered kung fu this first season does a great job escaping a formulaic opening and developing into a cartoon of substance and style.

Cautiously looking forward to Korra Season 2, and if you wanna know why we went over all that in our earlier podcast on Korra Season 1, which should bring you up to your recommended daily allowance of Avatar related media.

THE SHORT VERSION

Super Kung Fu

Positive Role Models

Anime?

Show #53: CHUNG IS KING! CHUNG IS KING!

Keep an eye on the shadows, because Niall and Dwayne are sneaking up to shank you with The Chronicles Of Riddick: Dark Fury!

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Riddick fever is back! Sort of! Vin Diesel returns to cinemas as your favourite gravelly voiced convict/ knife fancier / space emperor and let's not forget his animated appearance in this tie-in short for the 2004 film, directed by the equally appreciated and maligned Peter Chung. It actually works out to be fairly okay if straightforward with a little more variety in its art direction than usual from Mr Chung, but ultimately feels completely unnecessary unless you're really hankering for the continuing adventures of Richard B. Riddick.

THE SHORT VERSION

Peter Chung-iness

Techno Trousers

A completely different movie!

Show #52: A Man Can Get Lonely

Back to our regular schedule with a much re-scheduled show on Aardman Animation's The Pirates! In An Adventure With Scientists!

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As usual when we newly crack into the works of a particular animation studio we start with their most recent effort. The Pirates In An Adventure With Scientists (a much better name than the American "The Pirates: Band Of Misfits") is pretty straightforward as far as narrative goes but more than makes up for it on the strength of it's visuals, production design, rapid fire gags and great performances from an excellent cast. To contrast all this positivity we have a grand old rant on our bafflement at the box office success of some terrible animated movies.

THE SHORT VERSION

Pirates!

Scientists!

A chimpanzee butler!

Gone Conventionin'

Niall and Dwayne are both away this week, with D off on a well deserved holiday and Niall in attendance of the final Ayacon. It won't be all leisure time at the con though as he'll be busy presenting a panel on Norse Myth In Anime & Manga as well as participating in Dynamite In The Brain's soon-to-be convention staple Anison Armageddon.

Speaking of DITB, if you can't bear to be without our smooth tones this week you can always catch our most recent guest appearances on their prestigious podcast, displaying our tag team prowess playing some silly games for high stakes on their 100th installment and then returning to get tough on the Fist Of The North Star movie. Hang in there babies, and we'll see you next week!

Show #51: The Not Catapult Gang

Niall and Dwayne fly into a berserker rage at the wasted opportunities presented by the Wolverine anime series.

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Part of a four series collaboration between Marvel and anime studio Madhouse, Wolverine made itself known to the world via an exquisitely animated trailer that looked to mark an excitingly different interpretation of the popular comic character. However the finished product was something else entirely; an incredibly bland action show with plodding direction, static set-pieces and a needlessly convoluted plot. This meeting of creative talents should have produced something of a far higher caliber and it is infuriating to see such potential wasted.

THE SHORT VERSION

Anime pretty boy Wolverine

Anime PRETTIER boy samurai Wolverine

Fallen on hard times

Show #50: Sick Podcast Scum

For our 50th episode the pressures of podcasting have caused us to regress to a childlike state with Brian Smith of Dynamite In The Brain and Peppa Pig.

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Don't worry, you have the right show. This topic was suggested to us after we left the subject of our 50th installment open to listener feedback and what better way to mark the occasion than by covering something a little outside our normal spectrum. There's plenty to discuss, so listen in for tales of seafaring, dinosaurs, nocturnal accidents and the corruption of young minds!

Brian's Website

Brian's Twitter

THE SHORT VERSION

Everybody loves puddles

Dinosaurs! RAAWRR!

Brian Blessed as Himself