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The Fourth of July weekend was jam packed with several anime events and pop ups and your backdoor anime hangout decided to explore what LA had to offer both in and outside of the titular AX in order to explore the breadth and expansion of anime culture, industry, and community. This includes:

• Anime Expo 2026

• White Box Entertainment’s Anime Business Seminar at the Hotel Indigo

• How to Draw Manga with Ace Attorney mangaka, Kazuo Maekawa of Manga Dojo at Japan House LA

• Kodansha House LA

• LA Anime Artist Alley

• Ghost In The Shell Premiere at Brain Dead Studios Fairfax

Anime can get pretty campy with its tropes. How many more isekais will we need to get the point across that this life can be more? How many more rom-coms will continue to dangle the “relationship” in a form of sideways glances or hand holding? How many more shounens must be made using the same stock of characters to end with the power of friendship? Not all of it is bad, yet it begs the question: is that all that there is to it now…or ever?

There is a movie that simply stands on its own, unconcerned with the cliches of anime and operates more so an indie film. In this case, its truest sense where most of it - directing, editing, composing, animating, writing to name a few, save for voice acting - is all done by ONE. PERSON. This is Jinsei.

Jinsei premieres in theaters 12 June 2026.

Many thanks to Maddux Brown and Zarahi Alcantar of 42West for the screener.

The Hypnosis Mic franchise has seen its fair share of media diversification - anime, manga, even a live theater stage production - yet nothing like this: an interactive movie theater experience where audience members vote in real time to determine the outcome and narrative. Having watched the series proper, I can comfortably say that this is both the best entry point for those new to Hypnosis Mic and the film that can bring potential in revitalizing the movie experience. In this review, we go into:

• a briefer of the Hypnosis Mic franchise

• how gimmick wins over plot (for this kind of film)

• what a limited release that earned 2.5 billion yen ($16.5 million) can indicate for interactive movies in the future

• the proper procedure in preparation for this film.

Hypnosis Mic Rap Division Battle Movie releases on 27 February 2026.

More information at GKIDS

Many thanks to GKIDS for the press invite:

• Alexandra B’Llamas-Reynoso

• Rae D’Agnillo

• Juan Zavala

DISCLAIMER: Discussion on sensitive topics include: child abuse, suicide, trauma, and self-harm. Listeners discretion is advised.

One of the most compelling series of the summer season, and 2025 as a whole, is also the shortest and toughest to watch. By no means is this a bad series, far from it actually. However great art handles heavy subject matters with dignity, expertise, and balance and allows us to confront the harshest of realities however uncomfortable they may be. This is one of those, Takopi’s Original Sin.

Your backdoor anime hangout dissects this six-episode stand out hit with regards to:

• how the series handles topics such as child abuse, suicide, trauma, and self-harm

• examine the complexity of our four main characters in relation to their circumstances and insecurities

• whether or not the creators have done a fine job balancing both the brutal aspects and the message for hope.

Article Referenced: Sakuga Blog

Watch Takopi’s Original Sin on Crunchyroll

Read Takopi’s Original Sin on VIZ Media

Your backdoor anime hangout had the press media opportunity to watch Mamoru Hosoda’s latest film, Scarlet, at the Animation is Film Festival. The plot goes:

After witnessing her father’s wrongful execution, Scarlet is hellbent on revenge towards her uncle and father’s murder, Claudius. However due to Claudius’s cunning, he poisons her and Scarlet is brought into a purgatory where the living, the dead, time, and space live all at once. Now in this world, she is determined to escape in the hopes of completing her revenge; however when she is killed in the world, she will be permanently dead. 

This is Hosoda’s most ambitious and potentially divisive film as it utilizes the 2D/3D hybrid animation style inspired from Spiderman: Into the Spiderverse and Arcane while telling an epic loosely adapted from Shakespeare’s Hamlet. To discuss and dig deeper into the film’s scope, execution, and theme I talk with a fellow geek (or fan) of Hosoda’s filmography - “heroofheart”- of the entertainment publication Geek vs Fan.

FYI - Spoiler Talk begins on the 31:36 mark.

Scarlet will have its theatrical wide release in the beginning of February 2026.

• In IMAX beginning on 06 February 2026.

• Wide release on 13 February 2026.

More Information on Scarlet’s website

Hands down the best animated film of the year. Watching this at Animation is Film Festival was truly magical - a good majority of us were tearing up at its sheer beauty and nuanced storytelling. Your show host, Jonathan Joestar Beltran, goes into what makes this film exceptional as well as an interview snippet of directors Mailys Vallade and Liane-Cho Han discussing about the creative process for this film!

Little Amelie or the Character of Rain is in theaters November 7. Tickets and information

Many thanks to:

• 42 West LLC and Animation is Film Festival for the press opportunity
• Mailys Vallade and Liane-Cho Han for their work and presence at the film festival

Your backdoor anime hangout got invited to cover the Animation is Film Festival this past weekend and wanted to share with you some of the best films from the lineup!

• Little Amelie - (Feature Length Film)
• Nobody - (Feature Length Film)
• Playing God - (Short)
• Retirement Plan - (Short)

Many thanks to:

• 42 West LLC and Animation is Film Festival for the press media opportunity
• All the creators, directors, scriptwriters, and talent that came in support of their films
• Winnie for ticket assistance

Your backdoor anime hangout had the opportunity to watch the upcoming Chainsaw Man - The Movie: Reze Arc. It is ballistic in its presentation and retains the violent nihilistic charm of its source material. May this episode whet your appetite for what's to come and perhaps leave you thinking on its deeper themes of connection.

Chainsaw Man - The Movie: Reze Arc is out in theaters 24 October 2025. Please check your local listings at your nearest theater.

Many thanks to 42 West LLC and Animation is Film for the press media opportunity.

You are thrown into battle and for the next 2.5 hours you will be a witness to what is arguably the flashiest and most-cutting edge action shounen of the modern era. Your backdoor anime hangout had the opportunity to see Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba Infinity Castle; the first part of a trilogy. Our talk consists of:

• A discussion on animation (2D and 3D hybrid style)
• Glazing studio ufotable, Director Haruki Sotozaki, and Mangaka Koyoharu Gotouge

• How the show host, once a hater, became a fan
• The problem with flashbacks
• SPOILER TALK on 28:24 (talking about plot and critiques)

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba Infinity Castle is in theaters 12 September 2025. Tickets and Information Here.

On The Show:

• Jonathan "Joestar" Beltran
• Jon S.
• Bao C.

Many thanks to:

• Hannah Kim of 42West LLC for the invitation.
• Sarah and Madison of Crunchyroll for the press opportunity.
• Carolyn for the hospitality.
• Jon S. for providing a structure for the discussion.
• Bao C. for chilling at your backdoor anime hangout.

Are second chances possible? When is it too late? The latest film by the creators of Odd Taxi explore these questions through a new film about a dying mid-level yakuza member serving a life sentence in solitary confinement and engaging with a talking balsam flower about whether or not he turn his life around now.

Your backdoor anime hangout had the privilege and honor to be invited by PONY CANYON to attend the panel featuring Director Baku Kinoshita, Producer/CEO of Studio CLAP Ryoichiro Matsuo, and Producer Hirofumi Ito learn more about the film and even get to see the first eight minutes. We hope you enjoy!

Many thanks to:

• Wenbo Jiang of PONY CANYON for the press opportunity.
• Ravrath for providing extra help on coverage.

Amuse Creative Studio hosted a panel at Anime Expo about the ins-and-outs of creating anime and manga featuring:

• Shinobu Seguchi - mangaka (Prisoner Riku; Oedo Fire Slayer)

• Rei Hebiguchi - manga editor (Weekly Shonen Champion)
• Kazuhiro Nishikawa - CEO of DandeLion Animation Studios (The First Slam Dunk; Magic Candies)

Your backdoor anime hangout brings you the insights we have learned and experienced from:

• how technology has aided in the process of creating and submitting manga
• the question about AI and manga
• implementing motion capture, CGI, and hand drawn animation in an impacted market.
• upcoming anime adaptations

Read Prisoner Riku & Oedo Fire Slayer on emaqi manga.

Read ELECEED on Webtoon / Soon to be published under Penguin Random House's adult comics imprint Inklore

More Information about Amuse Creative Studio

Many thanks to:

• Amuse Creative Studios for the panel.
• Nardeep Khurmi and Grace Kawahara of AIM Entertainment for the media invite.
• Jon Sloan Jr. for his coverage.

Anime Expo 2025 has been a surprisingly great year with efficient lines, entrances, and spaces that it all feel seamless...yet the vibe felt different from previous years. Your backdoor anime hangout answers two questions:

• what are our highlights?
• how has Anime Expo changed over the years?

From calling a concert "when peak happened" to even asking ourselves "when was the last time someone asked you your favorite anime?" are what you'll be looking forward to in our coverage of Anime Expo.

Crew:

• Jonathan "Joestar" Beltran
• Jon
• Matt "imagEn"
• Sh(i)rocast
• Ravrath

Many thanks to:

• Sydney Davis of forty seven communications for the Anime Expo Press Badge
• Christian Wiseman for press equipment
• Otaku Hourly Press crew for their time and availability

Lighthearted shows are not easy to find these days, and your backdoor anime hangout had a ball in the movie theaters watching the first three episodes of the upcoming romcom series - Witch Watch. Two childhood friends reunite - one an ogre named Morihito who wants to live a peaceful life, and the other a witch named Nico who strives to both help people and woo Morihito's heart - and live together amidst an unforeseen impending disaster brewing.

We give our first impressions from our favorite scenes to our hype for LilyPichu's voice over role announcement as the titular Nico.

Witch Watch will begin streaming 06 April 2025 via:

• Netflix
• Crunchyroll
• Hulu

More information on Witch Watch via GKids.

Crew:

• Jonathan "Joestar" Beltran
• Jon
• imagEn
• Shreddy

Many thanks to Christian Wiseman for equipment.

Shinichiro Watanabe is a legend amongst anime fans and an auteur who pushes the boundaries of what the anime medium has to offer. Titles such as Cowboy Bebop, Samurai Champloo, and Space Dandy are Adult Swim staples that have defined a generation. Now he’s back with an upcoming action series debuting on Cartoon Network midnight 05 April 2025 called Lazarus. A story about a world wracked in chaos due to a “cure-all” opioid becoming lethal and the reluctant rag-tag group of criminals tasked to find the neuroscientist responsible in the hopes of creating a vaccine. It is a race against time on a global stage.

Your backdoor anime hangout had the privilege and honor to interview Watanabe-san for his latest title: his inspiration for the title, musical collaborations, and involvement with the John Wick director, Chad Stahelski.

Many Thanks To:

Interpreter: Takayuki Karahashi of Green Room International

Interview Coordination:

• Jo Ann Faustino of Green Room International

• Raymond Shipman of Anime Los Angeles

Otaku Hourly Crew:

Interviewer: Jonathan Beltran

Video: Jonathan Charles Garcia

Audio: Matthew Aquino

Editor: Christian Wiseman

Research: Clifford Sutton

“TM & © 2025 Cartoon Network. ADULT SWIM, LAZARUS, the logos and all related characters and elements are trademarks of and copyright by Cartoon Network. All Rights Reserved.”

From seeing Shinichiro Watanabe (director of Cowboy Bebop, Samurai Champloo) and ribbon collecting we have a lot of stories to share at your backdoor anime hangout! We talk about our ALA 20 highlights, fun con stories, and the potential growth of this personally beloved convention!

Topics include (and not limited to):

• Lazarus Episode 1 Premiere
• Examining Skeletal Injuries in My Hero Academia
• Ribbon Collecting
• V4Mirai Concert feat. VShojo
• Wiling Out in Karaoke
• Visiting Nostalgic Cosplay Gatherings
• Who's Broke After Con
• Witnessing ALA's Growth and Addressing Hopes & Fears

Many thanks to:

• Anime Los Angeles for allowing us the opportunity to cover as press media
• Raymond Shipman for press interview coordination
• Christian Wiseman for audio production of this episode

Anime Los Angeles will be coming back 8-11 January 2026 at the Long Beach Convention Center!

Your backdoor anime hangout looks back at the year from seasonal anime to major events in the industry and community. Topics including (and not limited to):

• Convention Coverage (e.g. Anime Los Angeles, Anime Expo)
• Seasonal Anime (Winter - Fall 2024; e.g. Frieren, Jellyfish Can't Swim At Night, DanDaDan)
• Akira Toriyama's Death
• Funimation's Shutdown
• hololive at Dodgers Stadium
• The Catholic Church Unveiling its 2025 Jubilee Mascot, Luce

Many thanks to imagEn for audio editing this episode.

Have a Happy New Year!

An intimate venue celebrating twenty years of a beloved Japanese franchise in Hollywood, California; Go USA! From having the three of the original voice actresses of the titular three characters - Saber, Rin Tohsaka, and Sakura Matou - to hosting the world premiere, this was an event for only the lucky few. Your backdoor anime hangout had the pleasure to be invited and we hope our resident Fate fan, Ravrath, will fill you in on the lore and importance of the Fate series.

Many thanks to Sydney Davis and Aniplex for the invitation.

Shout to Josh for being an accommodating presence during the event!

Fate 20th Anniversary Showcase Special

High school rom-coms are a tried and true formula and these titles demonstrate in different ways:

Koumori's adolescent rom-com Our Aimless Nights is a boy-meets-girl scenario where the two secretly flirt with one another after school and figure out where both of each other lie in each other's lives. It is a dive into the "will-they, won't they" as told in the tune of shy romance.

Mao Nakada's ecchi You're So Sloppy, Hotta-sensei places a part-time working high school boy to work for his new client - his teacher. At the risk of social embarrassment and scandal, they both agree to hide their client relationship in the hopes of making both of their lives a little more organized.

Many thanks to Evan Minto of Azuki for the press screeners :

• Chapters 1 - 11 Our Aimless Nights
• Chapters 1 - 6 You're So Sloppy, Hotta-sensei

Our Aimless Nights is digitally published by Azuki; translated by Jan Mitsuko Cash

You're So Sloppy, Hotta-sensei is digitally published by Azuki; translated by M. Skeels

Two grim titles with one common motif - the unknown.

Sumako Kari in her award-winning title, Since I Could Die Tomorrow, explores the malaise of being in your forties as told in two characters: one a film promoter who experiences menopause for the time and a mother who works part time amidst co workers twenty years younger than she.

Masaaki Ninomiya's horror manga, Gannibal, takes you into the mystery of a rumored village known for cannibalism through the eyes of a police officer/family man. As they get closer to the truth, the townsfolk becomes much more hostile. Will the case be solved, and can the family make it out in one piece?

Many thanks to Erik Jansen for the press copies for both titles.

Since I Could Die Tomorrow is published by Tokyo Pop; translated by David Bove

Gannibal is published by Ablaze; translated by Alex Kon

When a robot is designed to have human-like traits and emotions, are these feelings necessarily sentient or programmed? Independent 3DCG animator Gensho Yasuda makes his directorial debut with Make a Girl about a young inventor named Akira who - out of a cheeky suggestion to 'get a girlfriend' - decides to create a humanoid robot named No. 0 with all the physical and emotional capabilities of typical high school girls. However, the looming question remains: is this love real or machine-driven?

Your backdoor anime hangout got a chance to watch this at Global Stage Hollywood for its world premiere and will share with you our thoughts and takes!

Make a Girl premieres 31 January 2025.

Make a Girl Website

Many thanks to Kwok Hansen and Kwai of Anime Trending and Douglas Montgomery of Global Stage Hollywood for the invitation!

*Apologies for the poor audio quality on the host's end - technical difficulties on his end.

Director Naoko Yamada (A Silent Voice; K-On) has released a new film - an original story about a girl who can see and feel a person's color joining a band with a dropout and an aspiring medical student in preparation for an upcoming school festival. The Colors Within is an exploration of both the internal struggles of hiding secrets and the joys of creating music as an act of community and worship; all utilizing color and light as a storytelling device. Show Host, Jonathan "Joestar" Beltran, and his guest, Jon, talk about the movie's nuances, themes, and details and feature interview snippets featuring Yamada-san herself.

Many thanks to:

• GKIDS & 42 West LLC for the interview and screening opportunities
• Alanna Hall and Grace Liriano of 42 West LLC for their help
• Naoko Yamada for her time and insight
• Satsuki Yamashita for her interpretation

Join us as we interview Naoko Yamada, director of The Colors Within.

The Colors Within will be in theatres on January 24th, follow @GKIDSFilms for more updates!

Join us as we interview Yoko Kuno, director of Ghost Cat Anzu.

Ghost Cat Anzu will be released to theatres on November 15 according to the GKIDS official website. Follor @GKIDSFilms for more information!

Join imagEn with special guest hyunicat on their first impressions attending Anime NYC 2023!

This is a story of boy meets girl, and it is not a love story.* Keisuke Uyama's popular novel follows a young couple who fall in love yet are separated due to a fatal illness that causes someone to age rapidly. Death looms over the couple's time and intimacy together, yet what if miscommunication is accelerating their demise? Host Jonathan "Joestar" Beltran and crew member Razelatte delves further into the book and its Netflix film adaptation by the same name as well as whether or not it can become an anime (and by who/what studio).

• Love Like the Falling Petals novel is published by Clover Press.

• Love Like the Falling Petals film is streaming on Netflix

*For those who know this reference from 500 Days of Summer - kudos!

Hitting the year running, we're starting off with our experiences at Anime Los Angeles 19 (2024) and Anime Impulse Los Angeles 2024. Two VERY DIFFERENT conventions that occur right next to each other.

Members on the Show:

- Jonathan "Joestar" Beltran

- Matt "imagEn" Aquino

- Jon "No Jons" Sloan

- Jonathan "Ravarath" Garcia

Disclaimer: All opinions made are by the respective individuals.

Anime Los Angeles 2023 Highlight.

Interview with:

Mamoru Yokota - Animation Director of One Piece Film Red

Kenji Yokoyama - Animation Director & Key Animator of One Piece Film Red

Recorded originally in late September/early October, Jojo and imagEn have a lengthy hangout with Randy and Rachel; two prominent members of the Anime Impulse staff that have been around since almost the beginning. We talk about their origin, Anime Impulse's origin, their decisions behind the Anaheim Convention Center and expansion, and Jollibee.

Haven't gotten tickets yet for an Anime Impulse convention near you? Head over to Anime Impulse's website to find the closest convention and purchase a badge! FYI, Anime Impulse LA is coming REAL soon (January 13-14)

Many in the anime community consider this to be their Christmas movie - starts on Christmas with the Nativity scene and becomes a string of miraculous misadventures of three homeless people simply trying to find the parents of a baby they found in a dumpster.

Directed by the late Satoshi Kon (Perfect Blue, Paranoia Agent, Millennium Actress) this film is a gritty redemptive story of a group of outcasts becoming the unlikely heroes of the Christmas and New Year season. Your backdoor anime hangout went to watch this film in the theaters for AX Cinema Nights.

Many thanks to Erik Jansen for the press opportunity!

More information at https://www.ax-cinemanights.com/

Our thoughts on the US release of The Boy and the Heron, the latest film released by Studio Ghibli and directed by Hayao Miyazaki. Jojo really went hard on this one.

First half of the session is spoiler-free until 28:22.

Members on this episode:

Jonathan "Joestar" Beltran

Matthew "imagEn" Aquino

ANIME Impulse OC (along with K Play and Sneaker Expo) makes its debut in the legendary and expansive Anaheim Convention Center; the event space for D23 and VidCon to name a few). Considering its beginnings as an outdoor venue, your backdoor anime hangout talks about its transition into an airconditioned space as well as its focus on VTubers, specifically Nijisanji EN.

Crew:

- Jonathan "Joestar" Beltran

- Matt "imagEn"

- Shirocast

Many thanks to ANIME Impulse for this press oppotunity.

This time was a chill time, weather was pretty tolerable for a change and was "the best time to go to AX," according to one of our crew members. As to why - we'll get into that along with:

• First Year without a premier badge - thoughts?
• Common Cosplays
• Notable Premieres including the The First Slam Dunk film and Mecha-Ude series
• Panels including Hi-Fi Rush and Yakuza/Like a Dragon

Many thanks to:

• imagEn, Rav, Shirocast, and Marvin "Marth" for their time and dedication in covering Anime Expo
• imagEn for editing this episode
• Sydney Davis of fortyseven communications for the press media opportunity

BringBackTheBubbleZone

We know Hiroshima and Nagasaki, yet have you ever heard of the Tokyo Firebombing of 9-10 March 1945? This event left Tokyo's Shitamachi District in cinders and corpses, leaving 100,000 dead and a million homeless; a toll exceeding Hiroshima. Julia Morizawa's independent animated short film, Dragonfly, is an inspired account of her grandmother's survival from that chaotic night that changed Tokyo forever. We talk:

• Inspiration for the film
• Creative process in balancing factual history and personal family testimony
• Developing her FIRST animated feature
• Crafting and portraying her grandmother for Dragonfly
• Clarifying the ending; leaving the conversation in the dark

Dragonfly is currently in the festival circuit - release TBD

Information here

Many thanks to:

• Julia Morizawa of Infinite Pictures for her time and insight.
• Deborah Gilels of LA Media Consultants for organizing this interview
• Los Angeles Asian Pacific Islander Film Festival for hosting Dragonfly

Makoto Shinkai is a prolific anime director for making deeply beautiful and metaphorical films whether it be his blockbuster smash Your Name or his cult classic 5 Centimeters Per Second. Your backdoor anime hangout got invited to see his latest film Suzume at the Academy Museum of Motion Picture and Arts. We look into:

• General Thoughts and Impressions
• How it Compares to His Other Works
• Japanese Culture and its Impact on the Film
• Shinkai's Career Shifting from Arthouse to Blockbuster

Suzume premieres April 14th

Crew:

• Jonathan "Joestar" Beltran
• Christian Wiseman
• Ravrath

Many thanks to:

• Christian Wiseman for audio
• 42West LLC and Crunchyroll for the press media opportunity

The controversy here is whether or not this movie should have been released. Not so much for anything pertaining the story or canon, rather its format: a two episode recap of its previous season followed by the first episode of the upcoming season. It begs the question - why does a film like this exist? Moreso, what benefit does it do for the industry?

Many thanks to The Cliff for this episode idea.

It's the season of gratitude, and what better way to celebrate it than with your backdoor anime hangout! Jojo, Cliff, and imagEn come together to express thanks to those that have impacted our lives as anime fans - the power of friendship, dark humor, and a radio station to name a few. Regardless it's all love here at Otaku Hourly!

Crew:

• Jonathan "Joestar" Beltran
• The Cliff
• imagEn

Many thanks to 22 West Radio (formerly KBeach Radio) for making Otaku Hourly a reality and the crew - past and present - that have nurtured it to be what is today. 

Your backdoor anime hangout got invited to attend and interview at the 5th Los Angeles Animation Is Film Festival. Amidst the selection, we chose and recommend three: Unicorn Wars, Oni, and Summer Ghost; even getting a chance to interview the directors of the latter two - Dice Tsutsumi (Oni) and Loundraw (Summer Ghost). May these recommendations enrich your animation palette!

Crew:

• Jonathan "Joestar" Beltran
• Matt "imagEn"

Many thanks to:

• Hilda Somarriba, Melanie Marquez, and Sophia Kandah for the invitation
• Directors Dice Tsutsumi and Loundraw for their time and expertise
• imagEn for coverage

Unicorn Wars - at the time of the recording - is in theaters.

Oni: Thunder God's Tale is on Netflix

Summer Ghost is available on BluRay/DVD at GKIDS Films and Shout!Factory

Your backdoor anime hangout recommends some titles for Halloween whether it involves ghouls, monsters, and aliens or more thematic elements like dread, mental health, and self-esteem. The criteria may be broad, yet that just means we have more to tell you!

Anime on the Docket:

• Urusei Yatsura (2022 Reboot) - 2:40 / HIDIVE
• Chainsaw Man - 14::18 / Crunchyroll
• Shaman King (2001 & 2021 Reboot) - 21:34 / Crunchyroll & Netflix
• Soul Eater & Soul Eater Not! - 31:30/32:43 / Crunchyroll & Funimation
• Drip Drip - 34:20 / VIZ Media
• To Your Eternity - 41:30 / Crunchyroll
• Ghost Stories - 54:05 / Crunchyroll
• Deadman Wonderland - 55:10 / Crunchyroll & Funimation
• DanDaDan - 1:06:05 / VIZ Media

Many thanks to Viz Media for the review copies for Drip Drip and DanDaDan

Crew:

• Jonathan "Joestar" Beltran
• Matt "imagEn"
• The Cliff

You read that right, there is no Goku nor Vegeta in this film primarily AND that is NOT a typo - Akira Toriyama (the creator of the Dragon Ball franchise) overlooked that in development. This one focuses on Piccolo and Gohan this time as well as a familiar foe, the Red Ribbon Army. It is a movie more than just good versus evil, it is how belief in a particular narrative can amplify power and misplace good intentions - and your backdoor anime hangout is here to take it piece by piece with a couple of Dragon Ball fans.

Crew:

• Jonathan "Joestar" Beltran
• Jose Salazar
• Clifford "The Cliff"

Many thanks to Jose Salazar for the episode request as well as the recommendation to watch this film. 

When all seems lost, where do you turn to? The upcoming film The House of the Lost on the Cape answers that with a combination of community and the supernatural. How does it deliver?

Anime Expo holds a variety of different panels and this is one of them - Anime and Black Culture. Jeffrey of DataFist hosted, organized, and lead a panel - or more appropriately "a show-" of what it means to be black anime fan and how that has shaped the fandom and media we have today. The Cliff takes the helm of this episode and looks into what it means to be "black," the intersectionality between black culture and anime, and the potential it holds for the future community, industry, and medium.

Follow DataFist on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Facebook

Crew:

• Clifford "The Cliff"
• Jonathan "Joestar" Beltran

Guest: Jeffrey of DataFist

Many thanks to Jeffrey for the time and opportunity to interview him as well as The Cliff for making this episode a realtiy.

Music can start a revolution and Masaaki Yuasa's Inu-OH shows that with a glam-rock flare in 14th century Japan - a time of shogun authority in the midst of political upheaval and unification. Through two entertainers - Inu-Oh, a cursed and disfigured performer, and Tomona, a blind biwa priest - we witness the birth of a musical movement and tribute to the fallen Heike clan. From the aforementioned glam theatrics to the supernatural, how much creative liberties are made to tell such a story; and can it get away with that with finesse and style? 

(If you've seen Samurai Champloo you know where this may be going...)

Tickets and Info at https://www.inu-oh.com/

Crew:

• Jonathan "Joestar" Beltran
• Clifford "The Cliff" Sutton

Many thanks to GKids as well as Jeremy Augustitus and Sophia Kandah of 42 West LLC for the screener opportunity. 

Anime Expo, one of the most popular and renown convention in the North American continent, comes back as an in-person event after two years of going virtual due to the pandemic. Your backdoor anime hangout talks about their experience as attendees, including one volunteer, and see if it was dramatically different or the good old times.

Crew:

• Jonathan "Joestar" Beltran
• Coyo
• Ravrath
• Jon No Jons
• The Cliff
• Tora

The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures installed an exhibit of legendary director, Hayao Miyazaki - celebrating his impact on animation and cinema. A walk through the museum reveals the painstaking and breathtaking work that has lead to the movies we know and love; Spirited Away, Nausicaa Valley of the Wind, My Neighbor Totoro, Princess Mononoke to name a few. Your backdoor anime hangout took the opportunity to explore this event and this episode celebrates the life and accomplishment of the man's work. 

Crew:

• Jonathan "Joestar" Beltran
• Christian Wiseman
• Coyo
• Clifford "The Cliff"
• Shirocast
• Jon No Jons
• Tora

Ghibli Exhibit opens until 05 June 2022

Tickets at https://www.academymuseum.org/en/tickets

Stream the Studio Ghibli Collection via HBO MAX

"The thing I like most is that it is 90 minutes long."

We all live with imposter syndrome, never feeling we are good enough to do what we set out to do. This movie is a response to that. Nyallywood is where the blockbusters are made and Gene, a behind-the-scenes assistant, is given the task to direct a feature length film - practically his directorial debut. With a dedicated production team, two actors - one legendary and another starring her first lead role, and a script from a famed producer - Pompo - can Gene deliver a film worthy of praise?

Crew:

• Jonathan "Joestar" Beltran
• Clifford "The Cliff" Sutton
• Dex
• Ravrath

Many thanks to GKids for the screener!

More info at www.gkids.com

Digimon was a part of our childhood back in the early 90's and 2000's along with the wave of Pokemon, Yu-Gi-Oh, Beyblade, and more (if you know what we're talking about, welcome to the old people's club). Revisiting it as an older anime fan reveals so much more than what meets the eye - executive localization decisions that have become generational memes at best and nostalgic annoyances at worst. It begs the question, what was the original version like? Your backdoor anime hangout looks into what we saw as children - the Digimon Movie - and compare it to the one in Japan, Mamoru Hosoda's directorial debut. 

Crew:

• Jonathan "Joestar" Beltran
• Rav
• Christian Wiseman

Digimon the Movie can be purchased on DVD

HOWEVER the Mamoru Hosoda version(s) can be found in your local internet. 

Social media has become a cultural and lifestyle mainstay for the 21st century. Virtual reality is an ever growing space with users from all over the world. And with both platforms comes a duality - online and IRL. Some like to integrate, others keep it separate. Director Mamoru Hosoda looks into this duality and melds it with the classic tale of Beauty and the Beast. More on that coming up at your backdoor anime hangout ~

Crew:

• Jonathan "Joestar" Beltran
• Marvin AKA "Marth"
• Mythical Misa
• The Cliff
• Rav
• Dex

Many thanks to GKids and 42 West LLC for the screener opportunity.

Tickets and Info: bellefilm.com

Early childhood is a distant memory colored in rose-tinted glasses: simpler times of eating, playing, and sleeping. Yet take those glasses off and you realize its complications - pure, unprocessed emotions that is much too difficult to handle for both the child and parent/guardian. 

Mamoru Hosoda's Academy Award nominated film Mirai takes us into the shoes of four-year old Kun who after being an only child, gets a baby sister, Mirai. This new shift has left Kun wanting for attention, simmering into jealousy towards his sister. Once he steps out to the garden he begins to encounter people and places of past and future time - including a teenage Mirai. Consider it a time travel tour of family history and future. 

Crew: 

• Jonathan "Joestar" Beltran
• Ravrath
• Misa 

Many thanks to Christian Wiseman for producing this episode.

Mirai: https://gkids.com/films/mirai/

Tickets for Hosoda's new film Belle: https://www.bellefilm.com/

There's an anime that set the foundations of your weebdom. The Otaku Hourly crew talks about the anime that almost everyone can have a conversation about (Dragon Ball Z and One Piece just to name a couple) as well as the elitism/gatekeeping to being a fan. 

Originally broadcasted back in 2016.

At the time of this recording is St. Patrick's Day so we asked ourselves - what're some good titles to enjoy while under the influence?