Known as both a rising Vancouver voice talent and major anime fan, Caitlyn Bairstow has recently made a name for herself with major roles in Dragalia Lost, World Trigger, Beyblade Burst, Megaman Fully Charged and My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic. Caitlyn joins me to talk about working in Vancouver, mobile gatcha games and her inspirations.…

Lots of amazing theatrical anime release happened in 2018... but you may have noticed that very few of them came to Canada, especially compared to the previous two years. Randy joins me to try and explain the many factors that may have led to this somewhat sorry state of affairs. We also talk about all of the great anime films we did manage to ...…

Curating the many great anime, TV shows, films, comics and music of 2018 is pretty much an impossible task, but Dave Merrill and Chris (aka Kurotsuki) join me in this holiday special to at least help navigate their personal favourite pieces of media of the year. Hear us discuss about Cells at Work, Joe Pera Talks With You, Hereditary and one re ...…

Few things compare to the sheer might in which Goldorak (the French version of UFO Robo Grendizer) took French-speaking Canada by storm when it first debuted in 1978. While not particularly well-loved in Japan, Goldorak has proven to be one of Go Nagai's most impactful creations worldwide, and has influenced youth programming in ways you may no ...…

WOW Unlimited will be launching a new television channel soon in collaboration with Bell Media, and the chances are looking very good that it will feature an anime line-up of some kind. Why should anyone care about a linear television channel in this day and age? With some notable heavy hitters behind the scenes, as well as an incredibly strong ...…

The Bush Baby, an anime based on a Canadian novel, was one of a minority of World Masterpiece Theatre titles to receive an English dub. This dub aired on TVO and Access Alberta in 1993 and then... vanished. It was thought to be lost forever, until it was finally recovered in its entirety earlier this year. Rania, who had the series archived for ...…

Since the early 90s, Raj Ramayya has had a rich career in the Japanese music industry, spanning commercials, to children's shows, to video games and, of course, to anime music collaborations with the likes of Yoko Kanno (Cowboy Bebop and Wolf's Rain) and Kevin Penkin (Made in Abyss). He joins me in this episode to talk about how a foreigner fro ...…

Sarah joins me to talk about Anime Revolution 2018, including the big improvements from last year, as well as complaining about panels that pad out time with Q&A because they can't fill a full hour with proper content. Incidentally, we get through this topic in about 30 minutes, and then proceed to fill the rest of the episode with discussion a ...…

Why was Mobile Suit Gundam SEED a success here but not the United States? Daryl Surat and Jarvis Gray join me to explain, in yet another retrospective episode on anime that have had a unique cultural impact in Canada. (Honestly though, we spend more time ranting about Gundam SEED Destiny, how that show is unfairly lumped in with its predecessor ...…

Matthew Erickson is one of the few voice actors who has worked (physically, at least) at both Ocean Studios locations. He made the leap from working at Blue Water Studios in Calgary to Westwood Studios in Vancouver, and is noted for his roles as Shinn Aska in Gundam SEED Destiny, Amuro Ray in Zeta Gundam and Trunks in the Blue Water dub of Drag ...…

Karl (aka Ultraklystron) and I reunite to discuss a few things that occurred this past April Fools' Day; namely Sakura-Con 2018 and Reboot: The Guardian Code. Karl also has a lot more to say about the new FLCL than I do.

Are FUNimation and Crunchyroll abandoning theatrical anime in Canada? Is Netflix eradicating unique media phenomena at a national level? Is Violet Evergarden worth coming back to every week? Eryn and I discuss all of this, and Devilman Crybaby too!

Randy and I look back on all of the major theatrical anime releases in Canada from this past year including your name., In This Corner of the World, Sailor Moon R and Love Live! delayed live shows. We also talk about Studio Ghibli screenings moving to Cineplex and whether or not we should just embrace our monopolistic overlords.…

Geoff Thew from Mother's Basement and Dave Merrill of Stupid Comics and Anime Hell fame join me to scrounge for morsels of media goodness in the year that was 2017. Hear us talk about Riverdale, Twin Peaks, Re:Creators and the extremely weird Neddeaus of Duqesne Island, among many other things.

Pan, Ian and I continue our retrospective on Gundam Wing, this time focusing a little more on the series and its themes, including philosophy on war.

Gundam Wing was a pivotal title for audiences in Canada, and may have marked a point of division with anime fandom in the US that could never be undone. Ian and Pan join me for a retrospective on this series, and had so much to say that I had to cut it in half!

Netflix has committed to investing $500 million into a Canadian production studio over the next five years, but will this be enough to save Canadian media? Will it even be worth it if they can't recreate the lightining-in-a-bottle that is Neo Yokio on anyone's dime? Karl joins me to talk about this, as well as Viceland and that anime Canadian t ...…

G4, G4TechTV, ZDTV... no matter what you call it, it had one of the most interesting evolutionary path of any channel on Canadian TV, and some of the most interesting anime selections. Does Anime Current stand the test of time? Jarvis and I try to get to the bottom of that.

Amanda joins me to talk about this year's Anime Revolution: the only anime convention sponsored by Church's Chicken. The Vancouver con is far from the best out there, but I'll be damned if it isn't one of the most interesting to talk about. Hear about all of the highs and lows of the 2017 event.

Jose Argumedo from the One Piece Podcast joins me to share his thoughts on the streaming economy and why we can't quite escape from the bundling tactics that have stigmatized cable for many. We also chat a bit about Discotek releases and Adult Swim.

In another retrospective on anime that have had a unique cultural impact in Canada, Dave Merrill joins me to gush about the legendary space pirate Captain Harlock. Under the localized title "Albator," the 1978 series was once a massive social phenomenon in French-speaking Canada. What made this show resonate so strongly with people? Is it worth ...…

Jarvis Gray joins me to chat about the good times had at Sakura-Con 2017, the shut down of Nyaa and the unexpected impact this might have on people who need clips or can't stream anime, the lost Anne of Green Gables dub and just how blown away we've been by Persona 5.

Remember when Power Rangers was banned in Canada by the CBSC? Pan and I sure do! In this episode we recount the somewhat rocky history of Super Sentai in Canada. Also: the Conservative Party of Canada is holding their leadership conference at the same time and place as Anime North! What could this mean?Episode breakdown:3:30 - Pan shares her th ...…

Crunchyroll recently released a new dub for the third season of Gintama, one of the few recently produced in Vancouver, BC. Michael Daingerfield, the voice of Gintoki, stops by to talk about his work. Patrick also joins me to dig into the new dub.

Karl and Corey join me to talk about the sad demise of HMV, how the increasingly restrictive US border under 45 may impact Canadian anime fans, and what you might be missing if you don't have an over-the-air antenna. Also, more musing about anime on CBC.Episode breakdown:00:00 - HMV closure24:00 - The implications of the recent US travel ban35: ...…

Has Beyblade had a unique cultural impact in Canada? I'm still a little on the fence, but Ashley and Noah join me to make a pretty solid argument.

Try to find some kind of complacency in this tumultuous 2016 holiday season as Jesse, Eryn, Ian and Randy recount our favourite movies, TV shows, comics and video games from the past year. If you weren’t paying attention to DC’s new Hannah-Barbera comics already, you might want to reconsider now.Episode Breakdown2:00 - A look back at anime in C ...…

Lissa Pattillo from Seven Seas Entertainment talks about how the manga market has changed over the years, how important it is for the industry to have stuff on TV and the perils of bringing manga (smutty or otherwise) over the US border.Episode breakdown:2:15 - Looking back on Kuriousity and changes in the manga market since then14:00 - Compari ...…

Crunchyroll recently released electoral-style maps breaking down the most popular new anime in each Canadian province and US state, and man were there some notable differences.Canadian map: http://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-feature/2016/10/30-1/feature-crunchyrolls-most-popular-fall-anime-by-provinceterritoryUS map: http://www.crunchyroll.com/an ...…

You must watch "The Secret Path." Directed by Gord Downie of The Tragically Hip, this animated feature recently broadcast on CBC tells the story of Chanie Wenjack who escaped from a residential school in 1966 in a way that no other medium could. Ian Whitcombe joins me to explain why."The Secret Path" can be viewed here: https://www.youtube.com/ ...…

Jesse and Karl share their thoughts on Crunchyroll and Funimation's recent partnership announcement - hands down the second-most important anime news of the week.

Cameron Archer from Gloryosky (sweetposer.com) joins me to talk about industry presence at Canadian anime cons, the new fall TV line-up and... could anime work on the CBC?

When McPizza was test marketed, it never made it outside of our borders. When Pepsi Max was, it spread to countless markets. Karl helps me figure out which junk food analogy best fits Crunchyroll's current strategy. We also talk about Viz streaming on Tubi TV, upcoming Ocean dubs and some thoughts on the Iron Man anime which finished its run on ...…

Sailor Moon is unanimously considered the starting point of modern anime fandom in English-speaking Canada. Is this historical designation still important in an age where the series is receiving US-based redubs and remakes? Randy and Eryn share their thoughts. Also, an interview with the ADR director of the original DiC dub, Roland Parliament, ...…

Over 20 years, John Rooney has worked at YTV, Teletoon and DHX Media. Acting as Director of Programming during the Bionix era and helping oversee the launch of Adult Swim Canada, John has overseen many key moments in anime and animation in Canadian media. I ask him to help dispel myths about acquisition, production, and talk also about a bunch ...…

LINK TO IMPORTANT CANCON SURVEY: http://pch.sondages-surveys.ca/s/dwc/?l=enThe Iron Man anime is hitting... Family CHRGD? What's Viz up to this time? Is there any hope for Canadian content with a new survey from the Ministry of Heritage, or should we just stick with anime forever? Karl returns to share his perspective.Episode breakdown:4:30 - T ...…

A few theatrical updates, and a rundown of the new shows for the spring 2016 season with Corey and Ian. Episode breakdown:5:00 - Theatrical updates9:20 - Everything you need to know about Super Lovers14:20 - Ian mercifully changes the subject to The Lost Village18:25 - Streaming issues, Kabenari of the Iron Fortress29:30 - My Hero Academia, Jok ...…

In a surprise turn, Mongrel Media will be releasing Mamoru Hosoda's "The Boy and the Beast" in Canada rather than FUNimation - both theatrically AND on home video. Yet we've gotten almost no news about this. Randy Forbister helps speculate on just what on earth is going on with this movie. Also, other theatrical issues, as well as streaming.Epi ...…

Inuyasha made a significant splash when it first debuted on YTV in 2003... far greater than many of us seem to remember, in fact. What were the exact cultural circumstances that caused Inuyasha to dominate Canadian Google searches for years? Ian and Noah help me get to the bottom of this.Episode Breakdown:5:45- Our personal experiences with Inu ...…

Hazel and Bell from the popular webcomic "Always Raining Here" join me to discuss new anime for the winter 2016 season. But first, Karl and I talk about the new policy changes for Canadians on Crunchyroll a few other unfortunate developmentsEpisode breakdown:0:15 - Crunchyroll is restricting access for non-premium users! Netflix is blocking VPN ...…

Former Zone host Sugar Lyn Beard talks about her time as a host and producer at YTV, an unlikely start in radio and her fond memories working on Sailor Moon S and SuperS. She also shares details on some surprising projects we can expect from her in the future!

Get in the holiday spirit as Jesse, Karl, Eryn and Rin-senpai recount their personal highlights of 2015.Episode breakdown:01:00 - News rundown15:00 - We each share our media highlights of the year

A little bit of everything: Adult Swim Canada, geoblocking issues, and a rundown of some of the best and worst new anime now streaming from Japan.Episode breakdown:7:00 - Adult Swim schedule updates for November and some thoughts on Two Nuts and a Richard20:00 - Some news on Canadian dubbing, or lack thereof28:00 - Streaming gaps, and are shomi ...…

Bummed out that Love Live: The School Idol Movie didn't open in any Canadian theatres at all? You're not alone! Randy, Eryn, and Rin-senpai chime in on what they think went wrong with this supposedly "international" theatrical release.

Karl and Brittney join me to take a good hard look at [adult swim] Canada now that we get it, talk about the big changes in children's television stations, and dissect the smidgen of hope for adult-targeted anime that has surfaced on Teletoon.3:50 - An overview of [adult swim] Canada since their expansion, and some initial impressions of Night ...…

Why doesn't Adult Swim seem to work outside of the United States? Does it just not translate anywhere culturally? Or is it because of corporate politics? Karl Olson (Ultraklystron) returns along with animation storyboarder Corey Barnes (who's worked on Archer, China IL, Superjail! and Axe Cop) to mull over why the subversive network has such a ...…

Mike Toole swings by to help determine why anime is more popular in Canada than it is in other regions like the United States. I don't think we find a definitive answer, but along the way we talk about Otakon, the 80s Astro Boy dub that aired on Global, World Masterpiece Theatre on Radio-Canada, and that elusive Dragon Ball Kai Ocean dub.…

YTV's infamous Anime Master is at last ambushed and unmasked for all to see! But first, Karl and I talk a bit about streaming on MAL, why you shouldn't use Hola after all, and why you should care about not being able to watch NieA_7.

Randy and I sit down with Phil Guerrero, former host of YTV's "The Zone" block, who tells us about the loneliness of bingewatching, living the fast life in LA, and what it's like to be haunted by a single, over-used photograph.Episode breakdown:02:03 - Phil talks about his time on The Zone.33:30 - How the internet screwed everything up and why ...…

This episode I'm joined by Lance Heiskell (former Director of Corporate Strategy for FUNimation Entertainment) and Karl Olson (nerdcore rapper Ultraklystron) to talk about anime streaming and simulcasts in Canada. Geoblocking and the inability for American companies to understand the problems with it, the ethics of VPN use, and weighing streami ...…