Category: Anime

The True Main Character of UC Gundam

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hisuiconIf someone were to ask a Gundam fan who was the main character of the Universal Century series of Gundam two names pop into most people’s minds. They would either answer Amuro Ray or Char Aznable. They are both iconic characters of the series and have an enormous influence on the Universal Century time line. But neither character is in Gundam Double Zeta and their deaths in Char’s Counter Attack make it hard (but possibly not impossible) for them to participate in Gundam Unicorn. A more savvy Gundam fan might realize that Bright Noah  has been in every major Universal Century TV series and movie. But he always been a supporting cast member and never rose to prominence as a main character.  In fact there is one character for all of the first leg of the Universal Century time line can be a backdrop for their story. Continue reading →

No Case Too Small: Hayate the Combat Butler

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Welcome to our latest detective initiative! In No Case Too Small we will be highlighting series that pay homage, do a parody, or simply have an episode that involves a detective. These are one or two episodes stints in a larger series that doesn’t really involve sleuthing otherwise. Since our detective series list excludes such we wanted to give them a place all their own. And we want to make sure they don’t go overlooked or get forgotten.

The case in question is episode 30 of Hayate the Combat Butler: “The Beautiful Rich Great Young Detective Lady Saw It! The Case of the Murdered Female Teacher Amidst Clouds of Steam”

hisuiconHayate the Combat Butler is a character based comedy series but they love to parody and poke fun at a wide variety of topics at the same time. Given the popularity of detective anime, and detective series in general in Japan, it is no wonder that Hayate and Nagi encounter a mystery while visiting the hot springs. This intentionally cliché scenario leads to a  fourth wall breaking look at the mystery genre with tongue firmly in cheek. Continue reading →

The Speakeasy: A Reverse Thieves Podcast – Drink #011

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Anime 3000 presents The Speakeasy Podcast:
Drink #011: Absinthe Minded, Under the Influence of Gainax

The new season chart comes out and anime fans rush to blogs, forums, twitter, IRC, clubs, and anywhere and everywhere else otaku go to discuss their hobbies. They talk about what shows will be horrible and which shows hopefully meet their expectations. But it seems that no matter what they make, everyone will always discuss one studio and oddly enough usually in glowing terms. This studio is Gainax. Why does Gainax get this free pass from a fandom known for bitterness and pessimism? Does Gainax deserve this lofty status? Also why does everyone forget they made He Is My Master? Are they repressing painful memories?

(Listen) (Show Notes)

And now your helpful bartenders at The Speakeasy present your drink:

Absinthe Minded

Ingredients:
3 oz Bombay Saphire gin
1/2 oz Absinthe Original
1/2 oz Grand Marnier orange liqueur
dry vermouth
1 orange peel

Properly chill 1 cocktail glass. In mixing glass with ice, pour gin and absinthe, and stir. In your cocktail glass, roll 1/2 oz of dry vermouth and throw away the excess. Strain other ingredients into cocktail glass and float 1/2 oz of grand marnier over top. Garnish with orange peel.