Anime Explorations Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

This month we're discussing the 4th and 5th films in the Garden of Sinners series (probably the strongest films in the series so far).

Also discussed:

Newtype Magazine has their anime of the past year picks: https://fast.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2025-10-19/makeine-bocchi-the-rock-anime-win-top-newtype-anime-awards/.230103

The Russian government has blocked MyAnimeList because of LGBT+ content: https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2025/10/28/russia-blocks-worlds-largest-anime-and-manga-database-over-lgbtq-content-a90966

Discotek Media is putting out a 4K release of Project A-Ko (and is including most of the sequels): https://bsky.app/profile/discotekmedia.bsky.social/post/3m5euws774s23

Digital manga publisher Azuki has changed its name to Omoi: https://fast.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2025-11-13/digital-manga-publisher-azuki-changes-name-to-omoi/.230990

Next month we're watching Robot Carnival, available pretty much everywhere.

If you have comments on the podcast or on next month's anime, please send them to animeexplorationspod@gmail.com

Opening:
Donut by Anozira
Bandcamp Link: https://anoziramusic.bandcamp.com/track/donut
Used with permission

Subscribe to the Podcast: https://feeds.libsyn.com/444780/rss

Please support my Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/countzeroor
Buy me a coffee at Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/countzero
Watch my Live-Streams on http://twitch.tv/countzeroor
Watch my Let's Plays at https://www.youtube.com/@CountZeroOrPlays

• 00:00:00 Start
• 00:00:05 Opening & New Season/News Discussion
• 00:21:04 Garden of Sinners Parts 4 & 5 Discussion
• 01:06:08 Next Month's Pick

This month we're discussing the horror comedy(?) anime Mieruko-Chan.

Also discussed:

The Ghost in the Shell Arise Tabletop RPG Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/manaprojectstudio/ghost-in-the-shell-roleplaying-game

Anime By The Numbers' article on Crunchyroll's subtitling woes: https://fast.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2025-10-09/crunchyroll-cites-internal-system-problems-regarding-subtitles-for-fall-2025-anime/.229669

Anime News Network's article on Crunchyroll's subtitling woes: https://fast.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2025-10-09/crunchyroll-cites-internal-system-problems-regarding-subtitles-for-fall-2025-anime/.229669

Next Month we are watching Garden of Sinners films 4 & 5, available on Crunchyroll.

If you have comments on the podcast or on next month's anime, please send them to animeexplorationspod@gmail.com

Opening:
Donut by Anozira
Bandcamp Link: https://anoziramusic.bandcamp.com/track/donut
Used with permission

Subscribe to the Podcast: https://feeds.libsyn.com/444780/rss

Please support my Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/countzeroor
Buy me a coffee at Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/countzero
Watch my Live-Streams on http://twitch.tv/countzeroor
Watch my Let's Plays at https://www.youtube.com/@CountZeroOrPlays

• 00:00:00 Start
• 00:00:05 Opening & New Season/News Discussion
• 00:31:05 Mieruko-Chan Discussion
• 01:09:28 Next Month's Pick & Kumoricon Notes

This month, in honor of Lunar New Year, we're discussing the second Thunderbolt Fantasy film and the third season of the show. As of this recording season 4 was not available on Crunchyroll for streaming, but it ended up going up while I was editing this episode.

There are some audio issues on this episode due to some technical difficulties related to how we're recording the show.

Next month we're covering Fate/Zero, which is available for streaming on Hulu/Disney+ and on Crunchyroll, and has a physical media release available through the Crunchyroll store (Affiliate Link)

If you have comments on the podcast or on next month's anime, please send them to animeexplorationspod@gmail.com

Opening:
Donut by Anozira
Bandcamp Link: https://anoziramusic.bandcamp.com/track/donut
Used with permission

Subscribe to the Podcast: https://feeds.libsyn.com/444780/rss

Please support my Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/countzeroor
Buy me a coffee at Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/countzero
Watch my Live-Streams on http://twitch.tv/countzeroor
Watch my Let's Plays at https://www.youtube.com/@CountZeroOrPlays

This month we're watching a Toei anime film from 1971 with some tenuous connections to a work of classic literature.

Next month, we're covering Thunderbolt Fantasy Season 3 and the second film - Bewitching Melody of the West: https://www.crunchyroll.com/series/GY75KE906/thunderbolt-fantasy

If you have comments on the podcast or on next month's anime, please send them to animeexplorationspod@gmail.com

Opening:
Donut by Anozira
Bandcamp Link: https://anoziramusic.bandcamp.com/track/donut
Used with permission

Subscribe to the Podcast: https://feeds.libsyn.com/444780/rss

Please support my Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/countzeroor
Buy me a coffee at Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/countzero
Watch my Live-Streams on http://twitch.tv/countzeroor
Watch my Let's Plays at https://www.youtube.com/@CountZeroOrPlays

This time we discuss the first 3 films in the Garden of Sinners series of movies, which are available for streaming on Crunchyroll.

Next time we're watching Animal Treasure Island, which is available for streaming on the Internet Archive, and which also received a physical release from Discotek Media.

Affiliate Links: 
* Crunchyroll: https://crunchyrollstore.sjv.io/WyD3Je
* Amazon: https://amzn.to/48TmpXL

If you have comments on the podcast or on next month's anime, please send them to animeexplorationspod@gmail.com

Opening:
Donut by Anozira
Bandcamp Link: https://anoziramusic.bandcamp.com/track/donut
Used with permission

Subscribe to the Podcast: https://feeds.libsyn.com/444780/rss

Please support my Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/countzeroor
Buy me a coffee at Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/countzero
Watch my Live-Streams on http://twitch.tv/countzeroor
Watch my Let's Plays at https://www.youtube.com/@CountZeroOrPlays

We have some horror anime this month with Dark Gathering, which is available for streaming on Hidive & Hulu/Disney+.

Next month, we'll cover the first three Garden of Sinners films, which are available for streaming on Crunchyroll.

Series Music:
Kakuriyo by luz
Used under fair use.

If you have comments on the podcast or on next month's anime, please send them to animeexplorationspod@gmail.com

Opening:
Donut by Anozira
Bandcamp Link: https://anoziramusic.bandcamp.com/track/donut
Used with permission

Subscribe to the Podcast: https://feeds.libsyn.com/444780/rss

Please support my Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/countzeroor
Buy me a coffee at Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/countzero
Watch my Live-Streams on http://twitch.tv/countzeroor
Watch my Let's Plays at https://www.youtube.com/@CountZeroOrPlays

This month we're taking a look at both seasons of Moyashimon. Moyashimon is available for streaming on Crunchyroll.

Next month we are discussing Dark Gathering, which is available for streaming on Hidive & Hulu/Disney+.

If you have comments on the podcast or on next month's anime, please send them to animeexplorationspod@gmail.com

Opening:
Donut by Anozira
Bandcamp Link: https://anoziramusic.bandcamp.com/track/donut
Used with permission

Subscribe to the Podcast: https://feeds.libsyn.com/444780/rss

Please support my Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/countzeroor
Buy me a coffee at Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/countzero
Watch my Live-Streams on http://twitch.tv/countzeroor
Watch my Let's Plays at https://www.youtube.com/@CountZeroOrPlays

Blaine joins us again for a discussion of Bubblegum Crisis, along with the tabletop RPG.
Bubblegum Crisis is available for Streaming on Plex, Retrocrush, Pluto.Tv, and Peacock
The series is also available on physical media through the Crunchyroll Store (Affiliate Link): https://crunchyrollstore.sjv.io/c/1395613/1941463/20100

Next month we are discussing Moyashimon
Moyashimon is available for streaming on Crunchyroll.

If you have comments on the podcast or on next month's anime, please send them to animeexplorationspod@gmail.com

Opening:
Donut by Anozira
Bandcamp Link: https://anoziramusic.bandcamp.com/track/donut
Used with permission

Subscribe to the Podcast: https://feeds.libsyn.com/444780/rss

Please support my Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/countzeroor
Buy me a coffee at Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/countzero
Watch my Live-Streams on http://twitch.tv/countzeroor
Watch my Let's Plays at https://www.youtube.com/@CountZeroOrPlays

This month I'm joined by Blaine of the Babylon 5 30 Years Later and 99 Years 100 Films Podcasts (at Bureau42.com) to discuss My Neighbor Totoro & Akira.

Referenced Links:
Akira Production Report Documentary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YcY248hbwwU
Mythology Behind My Neighbor Totoro: https://www.followthemoonrabbit.com/totoro-mythology/

My Neighbor Totoro is available for streaming on Max in the US and on Netflix internationally.
Akira is available for streaming on Crunchyroll.
Both films are available through the Crunchyroll Store (Affiliate Link): https://crunchyrollstore.sjv.io/c/1395613/1941463/20100

Next month we are watching Bubblegum Crisis
Available for Streaming on Plex, Retrocrush, Pluto.Tv, and Peacock
The series is also available on physical media through the Crunchyroll Store (Affiliate Link): https://crunchyrollstore.sjv.io/c/1395613/1941463/20100

If you have comments on the podcast or on next month's anime, please send them to animeexplorationspod@gmail.com

Opening:
Donut by Anozira
Bandcamp Link: https://anoziramusic.bandcamp.com/track/donut
Used with permission

Subscribe to the Podcast: https://feeds.libsyn.com/444780/rss

Please support my Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/countzeroor
Buy me a coffee at Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/countzero
Watch my Live-Streams on http://twitch.tv/countzeroor
Watch my Let's Plays at https://www.youtube.com/@CountZeroOrPlays

We wrap up Diamond is Unbreakable and our Summer of Jojo for 2024.

Next month we are watching a double feature of Akira & My Neighbor Totoro:

• My Neighbor Totoro is available for streaming on Max in the US and on Netflix internationally.
• Akira is available for streaming on Crunchyroll.
• Both films are available through the Crunchyroll Store (Affiliate Link): https://crunchyrollstore.sjv.io/c/1395613/1941463/20100

If you have comments on the podcast or on next month's anime, please send them to animeexplorationspod@gmail.com

Opening:
Donut by Anozira
Bandcamp Link: https://anoziramusic.bandcamp.com/track/donut
Used with permission

Subscribe to the Podcast: https://feeds.libsyn.com/444780/rss

Please support my Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/countzeroor
Buy me a coffee at Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/countzero
Watch my Live-Streams on http://twitch.tv/countzeroor
Watch my Let's Plays at https://www.youtube.com/@CountZeroOrPlays