Best Anime Protagonist Podcasts (2024)

1
143 - [WEEB] Recommend Anime 1:57:00

2h ago1:57:00

1:57:00

This week, AniPro is helping each other out by recommending anime they've seen to their co-hosts! (It's complicated, you'll see). Also, Cole won't shut up about Alien, Jay's obsessed with a new novel (what else is new?), Mike is getting Elite, and more! LAST WEEK TO VOTE for Listeners' Choice on Twitter, Instagram, Discord, Patreon, YouTube, this e…

1
The Wife: best movie ever 25:24

3h ago25:24

25:24

Holy moly, this is a good movie! It's an especially good movie to study for anyone writing a quiet, character-driven story. THE WIFE originally aired as Episode 4 of Season 6 when Melanie was studying stakes and I was studying empathy. But honestly, this is one of those rare films that novelists (and memoirists!) can study to learn just about any s…

1
142 - [WEEB] Watch Summer 2024 Anime 1:57:22

4h ago1:57:22

1:57:22

We're halfway in to the season of summer so... you know what that means! It's check-in time! Find out what shows Anipro is liking, or what they're dropping, now! Also, Mike and Cole had a wedding, Jay's listing characters, and more! Vote for Listeners' Choice on Twitter, Instagram, Discord, Patreon, YouTube, this episode's poll, and at this link: h…

1
August Osage County: simply masterful 31:03

3h ago31:03

31:03

This movie is a masterclass on characters, character development, cast design and the relationships between characters. It honestly doesn't get any better than this. So no matter what kind of story you're writing, grab your notepad and dive in! -V. For access to writing templates and worksheets, and more than 70 hours of training (all for free), su…

1
Girltaku 158: Girlhood vs Girls Love 57:12

10m ago57:12

57:12

We did bromance vs romance. It's time for the ladies now! Anime Discussed: Whisper Me a Love Song, Zombieland Saga, Yuru Camp, Gundam Witch from Mercury, Lycoris Recoil, and Akebi's Sailor Uniform --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/girltaku/support

1
141 - Panty and Stocking With [WEEB] 1:50:12

2d ago1:50:12

1:50:12

It's an American cartoon extravaganza, as Anipro reviews Gainax's Panty and Stocking with Garterbelt, but with a twist! ...Maybe; you'll see! Also, Mike and Cole partied hard and drank harder, Jay forgot what was going on, and more! Vote for Listeners' Choice on Twitter, Instagram, Discord, Patreon, YouTube, this episode's poll, and at this link: h…

1
Lego Batman: ROTFL 39:35

7d ago39:35

39:35

Melanie chose Lego Batman from the vault because, in addition to being a really well-written story, it made her laugh. And that, imo, is the mark of superior writing. This episode originally aired in Season 5 when Melanie was studying resonance. If you're curious about what that is, and how it can truly enhance your storytelling, be sure to give th…

1
140 - The Wizarding World of [WEEB] 2:20:09

3d ago2:20:09

2:20:09

Welcome to the wonderful wizarding world of... anime? This week, the boys become the sorting hat as they sort the most popular anime characters into their Hogwarts houses! Also, AniPro reviews Witch Hat Atelier, My Hero Academia has ended, Mike plays Pokémon, and more! Support AniPro:Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/AniProPod…

1
The Godfather: Valerie gets excited 50:47

14d ago50:47

50:47

Melanie and I are taking a short mid-winter/mid-summer break, so while we recharge our batteries we're reposting some of our favourite episodes starting this week with THE GODFATHER. Wow, there just aren't too many movies with this level of storytelling craft in them. I had a whole lot to say about this classic film and I know that no matter which …

1
Girltaku 157: ESTP Anime Characters 55:00

22d ago55:00

55:00

Sorry for the wait! There was conventions, interviews, travel, and sickness all involved. Thank you for hanging on with us! Now back to the show! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/girltaku/support

1
139 - Questions for [WEEB]s 2:21:08

9d ago2:21:08

2:21:08

It's a mailbag episode, this week! Join Anipro as they answer all of the biggest questions the listeners had to offer. Also, Jay's shy at parties, Mike beat a beloved cult-classic, Cole is the gacha god, and more Support AniPro:Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/AniProPod⁠⁠Send us a Mailbag: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://anipropod.com/mailbag⁠…

1
Nocturnal Animals: pretty, but no story 24:26

21d ago24:26

24:26

We visit the joys of multiplot stories this week. Valerie discovers (again) the issues with multiplot stories in movies, and I investigate how the different timelines impact the narrative drive. We both learnt what happens to a story when conflict triangles and curiosity and concern are absent - a cautionary tale for writers. -M “A character can’t …

1
138 - [WEEB] Review Shadows House 1:53:57

1M ago1:53:57

1:53:57

Sit down, relax, grab yourself a cup of coffee, and enjoy as the boys review the 2021 Cloverworks anime: Shadows House! There are shadows in the house, and they do the spooky things. Also, the boys discuss their childhood fears (shows they like), find characters trapped in the wrong genre/demographic, Mike's life has changed forever (dun dun dun), …

1
The Help: put this on your list 29:01

21d ago29:01

29:01

If you're writing a story with multiple protagonists/POVs, or if you're tackling a big social issue in your story, then you'll want to study The Help. As it happens, it's also a cracking example of Conflict Triangles and Narrative Drive - and that's what Melanie and I talk about in this week's episode. - V. "The bigger the scope of the issue, the s…

1
137 - The Wonderful World of [WEEB]s 2:21:46

1M ago2:21:46

2:21:46

Hey, you! Yeah, you over there! Do you have a friend who you think would like anime, but you're unsure which one to start them on? Well, have no fear, dear listener! This week, the boys crown the one true "best gateway anime of all time"! So sit down, relax, and you'll be getting your friend into the wonderful world of weebs in no time!Also, the bo…

1
A Simple Favor: seriously, an evil twin? 36:53

1M ago36:53

36:53

This week one of mystery writing’s deadly sins makes a guest appearance. Valerie and I discuss if the appearance is welcome or not. A Simple Favour has good examples of how Narrative Drive works - great for my topic. However, it wasn’t so good for Valerie’s study of Conflict Triangles, so we see how superficial a story can be when the conflict isn’…

1
Belfast: active v passive protagonist 33:47

1M ago33:47

33:47

In BELFAST, Kenneth Branagh does something that most, if not all, new writers do. In a movie, it's kind of hard to spot because filmmakers have access to tools (like costume design, cinematography, and a musical score) that obscure it. In a novel, it's obvious —stark even — because all we have is black text on a white page. It's laid bare for all r…

1
136 - Separating the [WEEB] 2:10:47

2M ago2:10:47

2:10:47

Can you separate the art from the artist? That is the question the boys look to answer as they review the controversial manga: Act-Age! Was it able to surpass the negative stigma? Or was it a manga best left in the past? Tune in to find out! Also, the trilogy of the best anime in genres comes to a dramatic conclusion, Jay doesn't know how to drink …

1
135 - And the [WEEB] Goes to... 2:23:32

2M ago2:23:32

2:23:32

Another lineup of shows have ended, so the boys took it upon themselves to award the best Spring 2024's anime season had to offer! From best girl, to the coveted "anime of the season", AniPro proudly presents the Spring 2024 anime awards! Also, Mike recommends ecchi to his coworker, Cole fans will rejoice, and more! Support AniPro: Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠…

1
What Lies Beneath: play the "let me guess" game 31:10

2M ago31:10

31:10

Sometimes we learn more from our mistakes than our successes - that’s my story and I’m sticking to it this week! Narrative drive is an important storytelling principle to learn and this week’s movie is an example of poor story structure resulting in terrible narrative drive. A mystery writer should have control of the information. Valerie’s study o…

1
134 - [WEEB] Preview Summer Anime 2:25:06

2M ago2:25:06

2:25:06

Spring has come and gone, and has brought summer along as a result! Now, it's time to discuss what Cole, Mike, and Jay think are the shows to look out for this new season! Also, the boys jinx the Stanley Cup finals, Cole's lost his AC, and more! Support AniPro: Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/AniProPod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Send us a M…

1
Doubt: a "quiet story" masterpiece 26:59

2M ago26:59

26:59

It's a brand new season and that means Melanie and I are studying two new topics: narrative drive and conflict triangles. Conflict and page-turners are usually associated with action stories, thrillers and the like. But DOUBT is a quiet, character-driven film that is so expertly crafted it grabs the viewer's attention immediately and holds it right…

1
Girltaku 156: Favorite Superpowers in Anime 59:19

2M ago59:19

59:19

From the mundane to the flashy, we love the various superpowers seen in anime! Anime Discussed: Campfire Cooking in Another World, My Hero Academia, Bungo Stray Dogs, Blood Blockade Battlefront, Cardcaptor Sakura, Cherry Magic --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/girltaku/support…

1
133 - From [WEEB] To You 2:02:19

2M ago2:02:19

2:02:19

You voted, so this week, Anipro watches "Kimi ni Todoke: From Me To You"; a classic shojo romcom that is just begging to give you the sugar sweet feelings in your belly. (There may even be pre-marital hand-holding). Did the boys like the sugary flavour of this romance anime? Or did it have a sour after-taste? Tune in to find out! But first, the boy…

1
Our Best Advice: female characters + setups and payoffs 30:23

2M ago30:23

30:23

We've reached the end of another season and so we're wrapping up our best advice and a-ha moments just for you. Tune in to hear what we have to say about writing female characters and using female archetypes. We also share why it's crucial for you to use the first half of your story to set up everything that happens in the second half. (Hint: it al…

1
Girltaku 155: Female Gaze vs Male Gaze in Anime 1:01:03

3M ago1:01:03

1:01:03

As the title suggests! How do you define differences between the two? --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/girltaku/support

1
132 - [WEEB]ing the Score 2:04:55

3M ago2:04:55

2:04:55

It's game night, once again, and Mike has tasked Cole and Jay with figuring out MAL and Anilist's most popular anime! Who knows the masses more? How will this affect the trophy race? And just WHO is the wolf girl in No Game No Life? Find out all the answers to these questions in an exciting Anipro special event! Also, Cole's a furry ("No I'm not" -…

1
Hanna - women aren't small men 41:04

3M ago41:04

41:04

I have been looking forward to this episode since the start of the season. I specifically selected Hanna so we could study fight scenes and weapons handling with female characters - Hanna doesn’t disappoint. I consider aspects of female fight scenes and firing pistols. Valerie wasn’t so lucky this week. Hanna is light on story because the action sc…

1
Girltaku 154: Favorite Anime OPs & EDs 57:42

3M ago57:42

57:42

We talk all about anime openings and endings this week! Sequences and songs are included in the discussion. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/girltaku/support

1
Rock On - E13 - Survivor 46 Fantasy 41:20

3M ago41:20

41:20

Toon, Teeb, and Soaring wrap up the season, discussing the final challenge team-up, the remifications of fire making, and the questions asked at final tribal council; and of course crown a new fantasy champion! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check out our fantasy spreadsheet!⁠⁠⁠

1
131 - A Very Comfy [WEEB] 2:04:44

3M ago2:04:44

2:04:44

Get comfy, because the boys are reviewing the comfiest anime on the market: Laid Back Camp! With a boatload of camping tips, and cute girls to present them, there's no way you're not getting cozy with this show... or are you? You'll have to sit back, relax, and find out! But first, which one of the hosts has the most camping experience?, are summer…

1
Where'd You Go, Bernadette: deus ex machina 33:30

3M ago33:30

33:30

Quite often, stories that don't work have more to teach us than the stories that do. Maybe Maria Semple's novel (upon which this film is based), is simply one that's challenging to adapt to the screen. Whatever the case, this move has missed the mark on some basic storytelling principles (it has too many backstory info dumps, a Deus Ex Machina, and…

1
Summer Vacation! We'll Be Back September 4th 5:19

2M ago5:19

5:19

We're taking some time off this summer to refresh and make some great stuff for y'all! We'll be back September 4th and we'll see you then. Have a great summer, Bad Boys. Leave a comment/review or message us at badanimepod@gmail.com or DM us on insta @badanimepod to have your lovely words read out on the show!…

1
Girltaku 153: Anime Archers 58:24

2M ago58:24

58:24

We're back after our one month hiatus! This week, we will be speaking about archers in anime, which surprisingly there isn't a lot of. Anime Discussed: Bleach, Fate series, Golden Kamuy, Train to the End of the World, and JJK --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/girltaku/support…

1
130 - Genres of [WEEB] 2:16:04

3M ago2:16:04

2:16:04

The boys return to their lists of best anime by genre, and this time they discuss: Action Horror Music Sci-Fi Psychological and Slice of Life! Will Cole, Mike, and Jay name your favourites? Tune in and let us know! But first, One Piece is on top, Toho is playing Monopoly, everyone is learning anime, and more! Support AniPro: Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠…

1
The Genius of Novellas 11:36

3M ago11:36

11:36

Novellas are the ace up your writerly sleeve! They enable you to practice all of the principles of storytelling in a shorter, more manageable form. That's going to make you a much better novelist because your story will be focused and you won't get lost in your manuscript. And oh, the best part? Novellas are on the rise. - V. *Script note: In the e…

1
Crazy Rich Asians: when the antagonist is more compelling than the protagonist 44:13

3M ago44:13

44:13

Crazy Rich Asians pitches two female leads against each other - sounds excellent right? Not so fast… This should set up an epic battle of wills as one fights against traditions she doesn’t understand while the other fights to retain order and tradition. This week, I find out what happens when the protagonist doesn’t plausibly match, then surpass, t…

1
The New Gate: It's SAO, with a slight twist? | 3 EP Rule 26:06

3M ago26:06

26:06

After completing the first 3 episodes of new semi-SAO clone, The New Gate, we were left scratching our heads. The show has a very familiar premise, but did it capitalize on its uniqueness? Leave a comment/review or message us at badanimepod@gmail.com or DM us on insta @badanimepod to have your lovely words read out on the show!…

1
129 - [WEEB] Circle, Blue Box 1:57:18

3M ago1:57:18

1:57:18

We've had many topics on Anipro, but there are some we've left buried to time in the ol' Disney vault. This week, the boys dust off the old topics that have been lost to time! Also, a Blue Box meets a Red Circle, the best anime theme songs (OPs) are revealed, the boys get tropey, and more! Support AniPro: Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.c…

1
Yentil: the heroine's journey 36:39

3M ago36:39

36:39

This movie was way ahead of its time. It's a brilliant example of the heroine's journey and Melanie walks us through all 10 phases as outlined in Maureen Murdock's THE HEROINE'S JOURNEY: A WOMAN'S QUEST FOR WHOLENESS. Thanks to its excellent use of setups and payoffs, it also has an ending that is both surprising and inevitable. "One of our most ha…

1
How Jaded Are We? Our Anime Fandom Breakdown 48:58

3M ago48:58

48:58

Anime is constantly changing and we're not sure if it's for the best. Since we started Bad Anime we've got increasingly more jaded at new anime content- but just how jaded have we each gotten and why? Join us for a chat about the anime industry, streaming and the latest trends. Leave a comment/review or message us at badanimepod@gmail.com or DM us …

1
Self-Contained - E12 - Survivor 46 Fantasy 35:22

3M ago35:22

35:22

Toon, Teeb, and Soaring discuss the final five’s path to the end, the unlucky streak that seems to keep happening, and what it all may mean for their fantasy teams going into the finale. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check out our fantasy spreadsheet!⁠⁠⁠

1
128 - [WEEB] React to Spring Anime 2:48:35

4M ago2:48:35

2:48:35

It's almost the midpoint of Spring, and you know what that means! It's time for us to give you our early impressions on Spring 2024 seasonal anime. However, since this season is so packed, we needed to call in the experts (A.K.A. Dave from the Treehouse Anime Club Podcast). Join us as we unravel the mysteries surrounding the spring season of anime.…

1
Red Joan: meeting reader expectations 35:38

3M ago35:38

35:38

The marketing for this film highlights Judi Dench, but she's barely in it at all. As fans of hers, Melanie and I were disappointed. The movie is ok but it wasn't what we expected and that soured our experience of the story. Melanie still did a study of female archetypes and I still studied setups and payoffs, but the real lesson this week is what h…

1
Reincarnated as the 7th Prince: Another OP Protagonist, Gee Thanks | 3 EP Rule 21:15

3M ago21:15

21:15

Here w go again! An OP young boy protagonist in a fantasy world. Will he face any adversity? Is there any conflict? Will this show be at all interesting? Who knows. Leave a comment/review or message us at badanimepod@gmail.com or DM us on insta @badanimepod to have your lovely words read out on the show!…

1
The Teebs We Made Along The Way - E11 - Survivor 46 Fantasy 24:24

4M ago24:24

24:24

Teeb and Soaring discuss the high energy idol hunt, the tense ball maze, and the contentious reward pick. Plus one of them sulks in their elimination in the fantasy league. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check out our fantasy spreadsheet!⁠⁠⁠

1
Girltaku 152: ISTJ Anime Characters 1:00:16

4M ago1:00:16

1:00:16

We're going on hiatus for May, but we wanted to still lead off with another MBTI episode. Enjoy your ISTJ faves! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/girltaku/support

1
127 - [WEEB] Review Golden Boy 2:02:14

4M ago2:02:14

2:02:14

What better way to celebrate mother's day than to review an anime with many "step on me mommy" energy characters, the 1995 hit OVA: Golden Boy! With a coloured legacy like the one the manga-ka had, what could possibly go wrong? But first, Cole, Mike, and Jay discuss their favourite "step on me mommy" characters, anime has dumb titles (including and…

1
Dirty Dancing: the heroine's journey 38:20

4M ago38:20

38:20

Does the nickname "baby" bother us? Why yes, yes it does. But we've got to admit, Dirty Dancing is an excellent example of the heroine's journey, as well as female archetypes and how women are presented in stories. It also happens to be, structurally, an excellent film. It's not a complex story, but it's well-told. -V. "In the first half of your st…

1
Vampire Dormitory: Not a Boys Love Anime, but Close | 3 Ep Rule 26:55

4M ago26:55

26:55

New for the Spring 2024 season its a Vampire show about a girl who is dressed as a boy and falls in love with a Vampire who think's she's a boy. Great! Now as wacky as that sounds, is it any good? Leave a comment/review or message us at badanimepod@gmail.com or DM us on insta @badanimepod to have your lovely words read out on the show!…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Anime Protagonist Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

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