Category: The Speakeasy

The Speakeasy #033: The French Connection, Historical Anime

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Drink #033: The French Connection,
Historical Anime

In celebration of Nozomi answering the long held fan wish of licensing The Rose of Versailles, there was only one topic that we could talk about this month: historical anime. That means ornate costumes, majestic settings, famous people, and sometimes even some real learning. We look at some of the best anime that is set in the past. Everything from super serious works to over the top camp. This is hardly a complete overview of historical anime but it is a is a nice primer. We avoid spoilers so feel free to listen if you are a long time history buff or just curious what the genre has to offer.

P.S. If you think that Marie Antoinette dying at the end of The Rose of Versailles is a spoiler then you really need to read more.

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(Listen)

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

The French Connection

  • 1 1/2 oz Cognac
  • 3/4 oz amaretto liqueur

Build the ingredients into an old-fashioned glass filled with ice. Stir and serve.


The Speakeasy #032: Happy Ending, Atropos and Anime Endings

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Drink #032: Happy Ending,
Atropos and Anime Endings

All things must come to an end. Even anime. Although Sazae-san and Golgo 13 might easily make you think otherwise. Despite that, this month we tackle one of the oldest ideas in the anime fandom: if there is one thing anime cannot do, it is stick a landing. The question is why does anime have such a bad reputation for horrible endings? How much of it is legitimately founded and how much of it is cynical whining? What makes a good ending, what makes a bad ending, and are those elements mutually exclusive?

But we also talk about some of the best and strangest anime endings we have seen. Chime in with your favorite and most hated anime endings of all time.

As a warning, the first part is spoiler free. It is all theory so anyone can listen. But after the break we drive the bus into Spoiler Country USA so if you have not seen the following shows you might want to be careful:  Neon Genesis Evangelion, Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam, Mahoromatic, Kare Kano, Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann, The King of Braves GaoGaiGar, Gunbuster, Magical Shopping Arcade Abenobashi, Hellsing, Last Exile, Kaleido Star, Revolutionary Girl Utena, Mawaru Penguindrum, Cowboy Bebop, Macross Frontier, Legend of the Galactic Heroes, Le Chevalier d’Eon, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex, Turn A Gundam, Mobile Suit Gundam, Mobile Suit Gundam: Char’s Counterattack, The Irresponsible Captain Tylor, Redline, Maison Ikkoku, Voices of a Distant Star, Higurashi: When They Cry, Umineko: When They Cry, Battle Athletes Victory, Berserk, Mobile Suit Gundam 00: A Wakening of the Trailblazer, The Vision of Escaflowne, Macross 7.

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(Listen)

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

Happy Ending

  • 2 oz Absolut Mandrin vodka
  • 4 oz club soda
  • 2 splashes cranberry juice
  • cocktail glass
Add 2 shots vodka to approx. 4 oz. of club soda. Mix in a splash of cranberry juice. Squeeze 1 lime wedge and enjoy!

The Speakeasy #031: Stars and Stripes, American Cartoon Invasion!

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Drink #031: Stars and Stripes,
American Cartoon Invasion!

While this is an anime and manga blog/podcast, from time to time we indulge in talking about our other pursuits like comics and video games. This month we are look at American cartoons.

There was a time back in the primordial past known as the 80s when there was a growing number of kids who rejected the idea that animation had to be for kids. There were these Japanese cartoons called anime that were edgy and hip. Jump ahead to the 2000s and two things have occured. We finally started getting enough anime that we realized in actuality while there were some cartoons from Japan that were for adults, a majority of the were for kids. And at the same time American animation stepped up its game. They generally came to the understanding that they could make cartoons a little smarter and mature and the universe would not collapse in on itself.

Cut ahead again to 2012. We look at some of the best cartoons that have come out in the last year and why we love them. Some are remakes, some are reimaginings, some are sequels, and some are even cool new originals ideas. But they all say that there is animation for children of all ages in the U.S. And maybe you should check some of it out.

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(Listen)

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

Instructions:

Layer this drink in a chilled shot glass. Using a cold spoon, carefully pour the ingredients over the back of the spoon into the shot glass. Garnish with a piece of star fruit.