Drink #026: Pucker Up,
Love in the Most Unexpected Places
For our after Valentine’s Day podcast we decided to go with a twist on the normal February topic. While we look at relationships in anime, we examine couples in series where they are not the key focus. There is often romance in all genres of anime and we look at some of our favorites. A bit of warning in the fact that to speak about most of these relationships we have to spoil some of the series we talk about. Therefore be warned that we discuss BECK: Mongolian Chop Squad, Spirited Away, Cardcaptor Sakura, Planetes, Hayate the Combat Butler, Here is Greenwood, Crest of the Stars, and Princess Tutu in part 1. And in Part 2 we discuss Gundam SEED, Eureka Seven, Gundam X, Turn A Gundam, The Vision of Escaflowne, RahXephon, and Macross series. We ask the audience many questions so feel free to answer them in the comments.
(Listen)
And now your helpful bartenders at The Speakeasy present your drink:
Drink
- 1 oz lemon vodka
- 1 oz lemon juice
- 1 candy lemonhead
- 1 tsp sugar
Preparation:
Wet the rim of the 2-oz shot glass with lemon juice and put sugar around the rim. Pour lemon juice in the glass with the vodka. Next drop a Lemonhead candy in and wait a few seconds. Lick the sugar around the rim, shoot the shot down fast. Don`t swallow the Lemonhead, but instead suck on it after swallowing the shot.
Reverse Thieves 
Spice and Wolf features a relationship that handles a very similar age and race issue as Crest of the Stars. You come for the medieval economics, but stay for the furry demigod love.
3 anime series where love for the main character didn’t work out:
Paradise Kiss
Honey and Clover
and, uh…
Evangelion?
One of my favorite couples not mentioned on the podcast is Youko and Rakushun from Twelve Kingdoms. I’m not really sure if they’re a canon couple or not, but I loved the way they complemented each other, particularly Rakushun’s ability to give relief and comfort to Youko. It reminds me of Lafiel and Jinto in a number of ways.
Another favorite would be Gou and Anna from Godannar. Part of the appeal of that show is seeing their relationship both as newlyweds and as robot co-pilots, and I think it develops beautifully as the series goes on, through various trials and tribulations.
I guess in terms of non-official couples, I’ve always been a fan of Naruto and Hinata. The way Naruto inspired Hinata to do her best and the way Hinata was one of the first people to really appreciate Naruto’s hard work and dedication just makes it seem right.
Here is a question for next month’s Male Bag. Al, which do you prefer: boxers, briefs, or thong? What’s your favorite color in boudoir wear? Also, could we get pictures of Al recreating the nude poses from Even A Monkey Can Draw Manga? Al you bring the sexy and I just can’t say no.
Kusanagi & Batou aren’t cannon. In the manga it’s the clearest they only have a working relationship. In the movies it’s hinted that Batou has romantic feelings. In the TV, it’s hinted they could be a couple if they didn’t work together.