Transcribers: Xumbra, Mochi, Zephyr, Zanibas

[Introductions]

VERDANT: Hello everyone, welcome to our first minor podcast from Random Curiosity, and you might be wondering why we're calling this a minor podcast. It's because each season we've decided to have two major podcasts: one in the middle of the season and one to wrap up that season and bridge it to the next season. But in between, we're going to bring you some minor podcasts with smaller casts and featuring some pretty interesting topics about anime or about your favorite bloggers or something. We'll have guest speakers and stuff. So this week, we're starting off with two of our writers who haven't had as much of a chance to speak in the major podcasts, and that'll be Stereoman and Mochi. And you're probably tired of hearing me host all the time, so we've also brought on two more hosts: Stilts and Moomba.
STILTS: Woohoo! Here to help you out for once.
VERDANT: Yes, that's right.
MOOMBA: These podcasts have nothing to do with minors then. Some of it is pointed by that then.
STILTS: I'm glad I wasn't the only one thinking that.
VERDANT: I didn't even think about that.
STILTS: See, that's why Moomba and I are here! So we can bring a little, um, disruptive ability to this.
VERDANT: Well, would you guys like to introduce yourselves again?
STILTS: Who, us? Or Stereo?
VERDANT: Everyone.
STILTS: Well I'll go first. I'm Stilts, um, covered quite a few shows to start here, the first of the year, including um, god what were some of the good ones...Ano Natsu, of course my massive work on Kyoukai Senjou no Horizon, and Lagrange, and um yeah, I'm the perverted blogger, so expect that.
VERDANT: So how did you feel, or what was your reaction when you found out you got chosen to be a writer for Random Curiosity?
STILTS: Well, I was pretty happy, but I slinked into the back door and just talked to Divine so mainly my big moment of elation was when he actually responded. It was like, "I can't believe this actually happened."
VERDANT: Sounds good. And for our other host, Moomba.
MOOMBA: Well, I'm Moomba, as you know, I'm currently blogging Sword Art Online and Space Bros, and last season I blogged Space Bros and Medaka Box.
STILTS: Love Space Bros.
MOOMBA: It's gonna be a long time.
VERDANT: And what was your reaction when you found out?
MOOMBA: Well, I was actually away on business in America at the time, and so I didn't have much time to process until I came back a few days later, so I can't really say I had that much of a reaction. I was happy to be accepted.
VERDANT: Sounds good.
MOOMBA: That's pretty much the standard reaction, I guess.
VERDANT: All right, and now for our first guess: Stereoman.
STEREOMAN: My *mumble* is Stereoman. I'm currently covering Fairy Tail, and I picked up Famiglia from Zanibas. I have blogged Amnesia and Symphogear before this.
VERDANT: And how did you react when you found out?
STEREOMAN: Well first of all, I thought it was a joke because my application wasn't very serious, but I was really happy.
VERDANT: I'm glad, I'm happy to hear. And Mochi.
BAKAMOCHI: Hi guys, I'm Mochi. I blogged Guilty Crown, and Hiiro no Kakera last season, and I also picked up Kuroko no Basuke from Enzo, and currently I'm blogging Uta Koi and Katekyo Hitman Reborn, the manga. Yeah.
VERDANT: Sounds good. And what was your reaction?
BAKAMOCHI: Um, well I found out in the library, so it's like I couldn't scream in happiness or anything, but I was pretty happy. So yeah.
VERDANT: But if you weren't?
BAKAMOCHI: But if I wasn't in the library? Um, I don't know, that's a good question. I still would've felt pretty happy.
VERDANT: I think you should use this opportunity as, you know, a second chance at celebrating.
BAKAMOCHI: What? It's okay. I don't want your eardrums to burst or anything.
MOOMBA: We should try and get Stereoman to produce her reaction similar to the one she had at the Lucy figure announcement.
STILTS: Ah yes.
VERDANT: Oh, you should've saved and not told her that until the podcast!
STEREOMAN: No!
VERDANT: That would've been priceless. All right.
STILTS: Good stuff. Well then, should we go onto the section with everybody?
VERDANT: Sounds good.

[50 Questions Intro]

STILTS: All right, so what we're doing for the first section is we're going to go over the 50 things you didn't know about me. This was, for those of you who haven't seen it elsewhere, started by Acerailgun, I believe, on his blog, and it's basically 50 questions about anime that a bunch of different bloggers have responded to. We're going to start off with 10-15 depending on time and our level of boredom, that Stereoman and Mochi are going to answer of these questions. So we'll start off with the first one, and Stereoman, you can answer this first: Who is your favorite male anime character?
STEREOMAN: My favorite male character is Natsu Dragneel from Fairy Tail because—
STILTS: I'm surprised.
STEREOMAN: Well, it's because I like his personality and his love for his comrades. I usually like those happy-go-lucky, but strong heroes, so I really like him.
STILTS: The ones you really love that are in the comma.
STEREOMAN: Yeah, exactly.
STILTS: Sounds good. Well then, BAKAMOCHI: favorite male anime character.
BAKAMOCHI: Okay, this is like, pretty tough. If we're talking about recent stuff, I think it's a tie between a lot of people but surely from this season I'd say Kagami from KuroBasu or Kise Ryouta from the same show, but then I recently marathoned Digimon and it brought back my stalker level session with Yamato, so maybe him?
VERDANT: Let's go with the stalker one.
STILTS: Yeah, we've already learned some interesting things about you! Oh my!
BAKAMOCHI: Yeah, he's like the asshole's, soul's friend's childhood sweetheart, so I don't know.
VERDANT: What do you like about them exactly?
BAKAMOCHI: I think like when I was younger, I was really into his character archetype, like the cool, detached type, and it sort of carried over, so I still like that kind of person. Type. Fan.
VERDANT: I gotta take notes. "Be cool and detached."
STILTS: She likes bad boys, got it!
BAKAMOCHI: It doesn't work anymore, okay?
STILTS: Damn!
VERDANT: Aw man!
STILTS: All right then, we'll go to number two: favorite female character. Mochi, why don't you start?
BAKAMOCHI: It’s gonna be tough, but I thought about it, and I'd have to say Irie from Fate/Zero because she's such a wonderful character, and she didn't have much screen time, but I think with what little she has able to portray what kind of character she was, and I really love seeing moreover each time. But anyway, suddenly Ichiko from Binbougami is coming pretty close, there's some things like (mumble) selfish bitch played by KanaHana.
STILTS: I can understand that. I can definitely agree with that one.
VERDANT: I like Irie too.
MOOMBA: So how did it make you feel to watch throttled twice in the same story?
BAKAMOCHI: It was awful! How do you throttle someone twice? Wow.
STILTS: Oh Fate/Zero. So many—anyway, let's move on. Stereoman! Favorite female character?
STEREOMAN: My favorite female character is Niche from Tegami Bachi. She is the picture on my introduction post, and also MyAnimeList profile. I like her because she's quite adorable and hilarious at the same time and she's quite curious of everything, like me!
STILTS: Fair enough, so let's hope that some of these embody you.
VERDANT: That's pretty good.
MOOMBA: Is your hair anywhere as deadly as hers?
STEREOMAN: I have actually smacked someone in the face with my braid when I made a U-turn. I was on a skateboard, and this guy was next to me, and I didn't see him. I just heard him scream a really weird kind of scream when I turned around. Apparently he got my braid in his face.
BAKAMOCHI: Wow.
STILTS: We are learning a lot of interesting stuff, alrighty then!
VERDANT: We should do this more often then.
STILTS: Seriously, and probably not walk too closely behind Stereo. Let's go on to number three then: favorite anime soundtrack. Stereo, do you want to keep going?
STEREOMAN: I think everyone knows this, so I don't want to answer this question.
STILTS: It can be a short answer, go ahead!
STEREOMAN: Well, it's Fairy Tail. I think you can go read Moomba's post on it. I made a nice comment on it. It's quite fangirly, but it explains everything I love about it.
STILTS: If Moomba covered it, it apparently is a pretty good OST, so you seem like you're in good company there.
VERDANT: I definitely respect sticking to your guns too. Who cares if you're a fangirl? Be proud.
STILTS: Well Mochi, how about you? Favorite soundtrack?
BAKAMOCHI: There's only one OST that managed to survive five years on my mp3 player, and that's the Fate/Stay Night OST by Kawai Kenji. I also really like the classical Madoka OST. That one is pretty close too.
STILTS: Very nice, very nice. All right, and onto number four: favorite anime opening plus animation. Mochi, go ahead.
BAKAMOCHI: Well, this gets progressively harder and harder. Rozen Maiden's opening animation was pretty good, and it's the one thing that sticks out in my mind. Not sure what I could say about the song though, I didn't really like that, but if we're talking strictly about the opening song, I love Elfen Lied's "Lilium", it was just something really amazing, I think.
STILTS: Yeah, that one. It's hard to talk about, but yeah. Good one though. Let's go to Stereo. Opening plus animation.
STEREOMAN: I'm basing my answer on the *mumble* sequence and the song itself, and it has to be Death Note's second opening "What's Up People?!" by Maximum the Hormone. It's a cool song, quite *mumble*, but the opening sequence fits the show. And if I'm not wrong, I think the band wrote this song for the anime itself, so the lyrics fit Kira's personality really.
STILTS: Yeah.
BAKAMOCHI: Is that the one with a lot of swearing in it? I forget.
STEREOMAN: Yup.
BAKAMOCHI: Oh, okay, so it was the one.
STILTS: I've never seen another anime song that has so much swearing and heavy metal. Kinda interesting.
STEREOMAN: You should also see Hunter x Hunter's first ending. It's also quite screamo, but it doesn't have any swearing.
STILTS: Well all right, in that case let's go onto favorite anime ending song plus animation. So ending this time. Stereo?
STEREOMAN: I like Un-Go's ending, last year, "Fantasy" by LAMA. Is that how you pronounce it? I think the song was really cool and the animation had really nice colors.
STILTS: Very cool. I didn't see that one myself, but I heard good things from people. Mochi, ending song plus animation?
BAKAMOCHI: Okay this is a little easier, I'm going to have to go with Fate/Zero's second ending "Sora wa Takaku Kaze wa Utau". It was a perfect blend of good song and visual, at least for me. But if we're talking strictly song-wise, I'd have to say "Diamond Crevasse". I'd listen to it ad-nauseum.
STILTS: What's that from?
BAKAMOCHI: Macross Frontier.
VERDANT: I love that song. I wholeheartedly approve of your choice.
STILTS: Approved by verdant. That's a dubious honor, but hey.
VERDANT: Hey! I have good taste, I think.
STILTS: Meh! Number 6: your favorite anime scene. Mochi.
BAKAMOCHI: Oh my god, okay I don't really have a favorite scene per-se, but I can tell you what kinds of scenes I like. I really love scenes in anime where everyone just comes together. I get chills just watching scenes like that. I think the easiest example would be the end of season two in Digimon, and although it's not an example but a certain scene in Final Fantasy: Advent Children the movie where all the protagonists come together to help Cloud. It was really good stuff.
STILTS: I agree so much, I love those scenes.
VERDANT: Yeah me too, I can feel my heart just rising and going into my throat and stuff just—
BAKAMOCHI: Yeah, it's like the best part.
VERDANT: I get chills up and down my spine.
BAKAMOCHI: Mmhmm.
MOOMBA: There's a really good scene in Horizon. You should probably go see the entire anime just for that.
STILTS: Yes! I already saw season one! It's awesome.
VERDANT: Does it happen when you read it in manga too or is it only when it's animated?
BAKAMOCHI: I think manga, like—it doesn't quite have the same effect because you're not seeing any movement and you're not hearing everything, right? But if you see the motion, you get the full effect. So it's really amazing when scenes like that happen, I just simply love it.
VERDANT: I swear there's this one particular scene in Claymore that took my breath away somehow because of how epic it looked, and it was just this full-page spread.
STILTS: Yeah definitely, I saw that happen in Negima for me a few times. They do a really good, full-cast spread. And I think it still works better in animation.
BAKAMOCHI: Yeah, but Bandai works to reborn the manga, and it's happened a couple of times and I'm like, "Oh wow, this is just so amazing, because you see everything the protagonists have worked for come together."
STILTS: I can see that. And Stereoman, favorite anime scene?
STEREOMAN: Uh, I like – I don't know if anyone knows this, but my all-time favorite anime show is Natsume Yuujinchou, and there's a character there called Kogetsune; he's a little fox boy. And whenever there's a scene with him, it's so touching and I just start crying, and I just love that character. He can really bring out the best in Natsume the character himself, so. I really like those touching scenes that make me cry... they don't have to be sad, just... touching, or beautiful.
VERDANT: Hm... Stereo crying, wow.
STILTS: (something)
BAKAMOCHI: (laughs)
STEREOMAN: I cry all the time! I cried in every episode of Natsume.
STILTS: Wow, might have to pick that one up.
VERDANT: I started it. It's pretty good so far.
STILTS: And my backlist grows even more... Awesome. (laughs)
BAKAMOCHI: Hey... it's like, whatever... right?
STILTS: Yeah...
STEREOMAN: It's only four seasons.
BAKAMOCHI: (laughing) Only four seasons!
(laughter)
VERDANT: You make that sound like it's so easy.
STILTS: I'll correct that in a weekend, no worries.
(laughter)
STILTS: Alright, let's go to number seven – if you could meet any anime character, who would it be? Stereo?
STEREOMAN: I have to say Edward from Fullmetal Alchemist, because he could upgrade some of my stuff.
(laughter)
BAKAMOCHI: Free upgrade?
(laughter)
MOOMBA: (muffled)
STEREOMAN: Sorry, what did you say?
MOOMBA: Would you call him 'short', just to see what happens?
STEREOMAN: I think I'm shorter than him, so I wouldn't.
VERDANT: (laughing) Oh, wow.
STILTS: Hey, extra irony – it'll be awesome.
VERDANT: But there's no such thing as – you know, free ... it's like all about equivalent exchange! You'd have to give him like a pile of dirt or something.
STEREOMAN: Uh...
BAKAMOCHI: Well let's say I wanted a Galaxy S3. I could... break somebody's Galaxy S3, give the parts to Edward, and – (starts laughing) – he can transmutate it for me!
VERDANT: That's true –
STEREOMAN: Oh yeah, that works.
VERDANT: – just buy broken things off E-Bay.
(laughter)
BAKAMOCHI: Yeah, exactly!
STILTS: Awesome. OK, then... meet an anime character. Mochi.
BAKAMOCHI: Um... too many to count. And everyone I want to meet are almost all pretty guys, coincidentally enough! (laughing) So I'm probably never gonna get rid of this pretty-boy obsessed reputation! Um... I do have girl characters I'd like to meet though – it's probably gonna be Iri and Saber.
STILTS: Fair enough. It's completely OK if you want to meet a bunch of pretty guys... I mean, we understand.
(laughter)
VERDANT: Yeah... it's definitely understandable.
STILTS: Yeah, Verdant's the same way, so we're used to it.
VERDANT: What can I say?
STILTS: (laughs) You want to be with your own kind, right?
VERDANT: Yeah... like birds of feather fly together, right?
STILTS: (laughs) Fair enough.
BAKAMOCHI: Like attracts like!
STILTS: Alright, we'll go to number 8 – what anime character is most similar to you in terms of personality? Mochi? Your turn.
BAKAMOCHI: Hmm... I've never really given it much (Mochi's comment: FAIL ENGLISH MOCHI) actually. I guess it really depends on what aspect of my personality we're talking about? Um... basically, any horrifyingly loud and impolite person will do! (laughs)
STILTS: Fair enough, there are a few of those. I don't know if you're doing a disservice to yourself by saying that... you don't seem too horribly loud.
VERDANT: Or impolite.
BAKAMOCHI: That's because you guys haven't talked to me that often (laughs) I – I can get pretty loud.
STILTS: Challenge accepted.
(laughter)
VERDANT: I want to see this 'impolite side'. I'm a bit of an M.
STILTS: (laughs) Of course you are.
STEREOMAN: (dryly) Aren't we all?
BAKAMOCHI: Is that a declaration? (laughs)
VERDANT: Maybe.
STILTS: Oh my. Learning things about Verdant, too! (pretending to write) Verdant is an 'M'... Dunno when that's gonna come in handy, but whatever.
BAKAMOCHI: Find a nice 'S' for him.
STILTS: Keh. Anyway – (laughing) – uh, anime character most similar to you in terms of personality. Stereoman? Your turn.
STEREOMAN: Uh... I have a hard time with this question... but I'll go with Watanuki from xxxHolic, because we're both people who like to complain about things, but still end up doing them.
STILTS: Wow, you really uh... you guys are putting yourself down a lot! Seesh!
VERDANT: Yeah, I thought it'd be like... somebody spectacular, because you both are so spectacular. I love you both.
(laughter)
BAKAMOCHI: Aw.
STEREOMAN: (laughs) I love you too.
BAKAMOCHI: Flattery's not gonna get you anywhere!
(laughter)
STILTS: Oh, it was a good try though, Verdant. I at least appreciate it.
VERDANT: Thanks.
STILTS: So. What is your favorite thing about anime? Stereoman.
STEREOMAN: Um. This is hard, but hmm... I think it's the fact it's so vast and there's something for everyone to enjoy. You can tell anyone to watch anime, and there will be something they can enjoy.
STILTS: Very true, very true. Alright... then Mochi, how about you?
BAKAMOCHI: This is actually a pretty easy question! Like um... for me, my favorite thing about anime would have to be the sheer creativity of it... which might sound a little ironic considering how much cookie cutter anime are out there these days, but it's amazing to me some of the stories and characters that can come from a creator's mind. I think characters, especially.
VERDANT: Like pretty boys?
BAKAMOCHI: Ha! Yes. (laughs) That kind of comes hand-in-hand.
STILTS: Yeah, you get the pretty boys and all sorts of other characters [at the same time] – that's the best part, isn't it?
VERDANT: It's creative how many pretty boys they can come up with, right?
BAKAMOCHI: Exactly! (laughing) How many character designs can you churn out?
STILTS: Alrighty then, let's go on to question number 10 – what is your least favorite thing about anime? Mochi.
BAKAMOCHI: Um... pandering. Pandering, hands down. I hate pandering so much. And... I also hate pseudo-intelligent shows.
STILTS: Such as?
BAKAMOCHI: Um. You know, I can't think of an example right now, but um... those shows that pretend like it's more than it actually is? Which... kind of happens often.
MOOMBA: Would you consider Jinrui to be in that?
BAKAMOCHI: Jinrui... walks a fine line for me. Like I find it funny, and it's pretty sarcastic, but I guess from some people's perspective, it can be a little... pretentious in a way?
STEREOMAN: It's my favorite show this season. (Mochi's comment: It's one of my favorites too, for the record!)
BAKAMOCHI: It's good. I personally love it, but I can see where people would get that idea.
STILTS: Fair enough. Yeah, some shows drag people different ways, so... most shows do, so that's not surprising. Stereoman, least favorite thing about anime.
STEREOMAN: Some anime's endings, because they always – most of them usually bring in a lot of stuff near the finale and it ends with so many loose ends.
STILTS: The kind of 'incomplete' endings we get sometimes?
STEREOMAN: Yeah, sometimes I feel like [for a show], they make shows for the sake of production instead of making a good story, like when they catch up with the [main guy?] or there's too many loose ends, and such things.
BAKAMOCHI: Isn't part of the loose ends because they want to get a second season in there? Err, I dunno... marketing tactics, maybe?
STEREOMAN: Maybe, but it's still annoying.
BAKAMOCHI: Yeah... Yeah, I agree with you.
MOOMBA: So how do you feel about anime original endings then?
STEREOMAN: I don't mind them if they're good and they bring a conclusion to the story.
VERDANT: Yeah, I get your vein... Like a lot of the time, they won't even have the couple come together. They'll just be like, "And everyone's happy and still friends". And the main character gets blue-balled.
(laughter)
STEREOMAN: Yeah.
MOOMBA: Unresolved love triangles.
STILTS: Like a harem show. Oh, you and your harem shows, Verdant; we know how much you love them.
VERDANT: Not as much as you.
STILTS: Well –
VERDANT: I still have a ways to go.
STILTS: It's OK, young [paddler?], you'll get there.
BAKAMOCHI: Well, Stilts has very specific... like, guidelines for harem shows. He has to have lolis, you know?
STILTS: (laughs) No, all of them have lolis – it's... entirely incidental.
BAKAMOCHI: ... Oh, OK.
STILTS: Alright, well, we're gonna stop here with ten questions for today. We'll pick this up the next time we do one of these. Or not. We'll find out then. Then uh... you want to take it away from here, Verdant?
VERDANT: Yes. We'll have a middle-of-show song chosen by Mochi. It's 'Can Do' by GRANDRODEO, and it's from the show Kuroko no Basuke.

[Natsuyuki Rendezvous]

VERDANT: So that was a great song selection, and now we’ll go onto our second part of this podcast, which we’ll be talking about two shows. And Moomba, would you like to take it away?
MOOMBA: So yeah, as they said we’ll be talking about two different shows. They are Natsuyuki Rendezvous and Binbougami ga! And apparently, someone is trying to convince me to watch the former of those two.
BAKAMOCHI: Oh you’re not watching it?’
MOOMBA: No, no.
BAKAMOCHI: Whoa, okay.
STEREOMAN: How can you not watch it?
MOOMBA: I don’t know, I’m kinda watching 16 other shows, so can’t pick up too much.
STEREOMAN: You saw 22 or 23 last season, this is nothing!
MOOMBA: I wanted something of a calming break.
STEREOMAN: You’re a no-lifer!
VERDANT: Whoa.
MOOMBA: I resent that!
STILTS: You resent that, c’mon!
VERDANT: Those are some strong fighting words right there.
STILTS: Well Stereo, why don’t you try to convince Moomba to watch Natsuyuki?
STEREOMAN: First of all, it’s very different from everything else this season, it’s [got] a lot of focus on ecchi shows and fanservice, so it’s a nice, different kind of show, it’s a josei *mumble* It’s also different from the regular romance you see because this one has adults, and it’s not [about] the way to the relationship, it’s what happens after the confession. And also, there’s a ghost involved, so it’s pretty interesting.
MOOMBA: So ghost aside, it’s a bit like...I forgot the name of the show last season, what was it?
STILTS: Oh, Mysterious Girlfriend X, is that what you’re thinking of?
MOOMBA: Yes, that was the one. So it’s a lot like Mysterious Girlfriend X in that sense, ghost aside.
STEREOMAN: I wouldn’t say that because they don’t have that kind of link, like in that show there was the drool. Here, it’s more of a guy trying to win a girl’s heart, who already loves someone else who has passed away. It’s a very unique concept for anime. So it’s definitely worth watching.
STILTS: I guess it’s kinda similar in that the...it’s not about them just getting together per se, it’s the afterwards, but past that it’s pretty dissimilar from there on, from Girlfriend X.
VERDANT: I guess they’re still not—they’re technically still not together, but at least they both know that he likes her, and that she might have an interest in him, which is way faster than most shows at this point.
STILTS: Yeah.
BAKAMOCHI: Actually I don’t know what you would call the relationship, they’re not together, but they’re not “not together”.
VERDANT: I guess they’re dating because they went on a date.
BAKAMOCHI: It doesn’t seem like she’s interested in him that much though. Like it’s more...it’s not lust, but it’s closer to that than actual love right now.
VERDANT: Yeah.
BAKAMOCHI: At least that’s what I gathered from watching it.
STILTS: Could it be puppy love or something like that?
VERDANT: I don’t know, it seems too adult for puppy love though.
BAKAMOCHI: It’s not that innocent, yeah.
MOOMBA: You make it sound like they’re in an awkward relationship. Is it, or is it more straightforward than that?
BAKAMOCHI: It kinda—
STEREOMAN: Well, it’s awkward, but the main character is quite straightforward.
VERDANT: I think for me, it’s a good show to watch because a lot of the emotions I’ve already experienced myself or I could see myself experiencing, and because they’re adult emotions, they tend to have a lot more impact on your psyche and your heart and whatnot. And I guess—
STILTS: Hm.
VERDANT: Sorry, what?
MOOMBA: So you don’t consider relationships between younger people to be quite as impactful as those between adults?
VERDANT: I think yes because the issues that they bring up aren’t as pertinent to us now, or they’re just not as pertinent period. Or they take place in situations that we cannot easily identify with. While in Natsuyuki—
BAKAMOCHI: This woman is in love with a ghost, it’s pretty hard to replicate in real life.
(laughter)
STEREOMAN: Also, it’s really nice to see a romance not taking place in high school for once.
VERDANT: I think I meant more of...without the ghost thing, it was just more the adult aspect, more of him just happening to meet her who—she’s like the owner of the flower stop, that kinda of thing—I felt is was more identifiable than with high schoolers on an adventure together in a club together.
STILTS: Oh, it’s kinda like there’s no osananajimi or anything like that, no fate, no all that crap. It’s basically...it just kinda happened and that’s generally how it does happen.
VERDANT: No tsundere.
BAKAMOCHI: (chuckle) Do you think there’s an age gap has more of a role than what’s been shown so far? Because Rokka’s emotional maturity is going to be a lot more higher than say...what’s his name, Hazuki’s? How do you think that impacts their relationship?
VERDANT: I think she’s been out of the game for so long that in certain ways they kinda are at the same playing field. I mean she hasn’t felt new emotions, or the chase, or the game, I guess in eight years or whatnot, right? Something like that. So that way, they’re both pretty fresh and new at it. But I don’t know, yeah, maybe it will play a bigger part. She has shown some trepidation at being so much older than he is, and I have a feeling that she’s of an age that is undesirable to a man who is as young as he is.
STILTS: It’s definitely not the reverse. It’s another way that’s different from both anime. That’s definitely something you don’t get until high school romance.
VERDANT: A cougar.
MOOMBA: So does someone have something they want to say about the production, the directing of the anime?
BAKAMOCHI: Enzo’s not here!
(laughter)
MOOMBA: The notes suggest that someone has something to say about the production, the directing, or the acting.
VERDANT: I really like the—
STEREOMAN: I like the seiyuus.
STILTS: They do seem to be pretty strong. I only have gotten to the first episode so far when I was really drunk. That was probably not the best way to watch Natsuyuki, I’d say. But even then, I could tell that the seiyuus were doing a good job. They were bringing out the emotions pretty well.
VERDANT: I read somewhere that they specifically requested this show. They really liked this show and wanted to be on it.
STILTS: Nice.
VERDANT: So I’m not sure how that compares with the procedure from other shows. Just sounds a bit more legit, I guess.
STILTS: You don’t know how that works. I guess maybe the other time they’re just like “Yeah, I can do it” or “Yeah they’ll pay me enough.” I don’t know how that works.
VERDANT: Maybe there’s like a massive audition, I don’t know.
BAKAMOCHI: Isn’t it like all of the above? Like I always thought it was kinda like how actors choose their movies sometimes.
STILTS: Yeah.
VERDANT: But sometimes their agents bring them their role usually, right?
BAKAMOCHI: Yeah.
VERDANT: I think in this case they searched out their agent and told them that they wanted this role.
BAKAMOCHI: But sometimes actors do that too.
VERDANT: Yeah, but—
BAKAMOCHI: You have a bunch of scripts, like “Oh, I want to do this” and they’ll go tell a director or agent or something, right?
VERDANT: That makes it more special though, right? Because they actually—
BAKAMOCHI: Yeah.
STILTS: More invested in it, yeah.
MOOMBA: So does anyone have anything else they’d like to say?
STEREOMAN: You should watch it, Moomba!
BAKAMOCHI: Watch it, Moomba! Watch it!
VERDANT: You should watch—
MOOMBA: I’ll definitely take it into consideration—
VERDANT: I’m watching your shows that you’re blogging. You’re not watching the one show that I’m blogging?
MOOMBA: That’s true, I’ll definitely have to check out the first episode then.
VERDANT: Oh, I can’t believe you haven’t even watched the first episode.
MOOMBA: Time constraints, time constraints.
STILTS: But you’re making Verdant sad! He’s sad now, Moomba! Sad!
BAKAMOCHI: He’s crying in a corner!
VERDANT: Wait, what? No I’m not.
BAKAMOCHI: Yes he is!
STILTS: Go with it, you are.
VERDANT: I mean hold on, brb. Corner. Crying.
(laughter)

[Binbougami ga!]

MOOMBA: Alright then, who wants to start things off for Binbougami Ga?
VERDANT: Mochi?
BAKAMOCHI: Uh, Binbougami, where do I even start? Okay first off, I think it’s probably the most entertaining show that this season has to offer, aside from Jinrui. It’s got a great female lead and she’s got outrageous boob size, she’s such a bitch... and putting that with our flat-chested Goddess of Misfortune, it’s a great recipe for a comedy. And it’s also got a lot of references and stuff. And even though most replies were in my head, I still found it pretty entertaining. So good stuff, you should probably watch it. 
MOOMBA: There’s such a huge mass of references every single episodes.
BAKAMOCHI: They really like Dragonball Z! I just noticed that!
STEREOMAN: Is it sort of like Nyarlko...?
STILTS: Well, I don’t think it’s quite that much.
BAKAMOCHI: I feel like there’s even more references that I’ve managed to get in Binbougami Ga than in Nyarlko. 
STILTS: Yeah, that’s true. Seems like there’s more contemporary references in that... like the Medaka Box reference in the first episode... and that just finished airing a week prior.
BAKAMOCHI: There’s also Naruto references. Lots of them.
STILTS: That was pretty funny, I enjoyed that one.
BAKAMOCHI: Yeah. What else was there? I don’t know, the ones I noticed most were the Dragonball Z ones.
STILTS: Yeah, that was pretty good.
MOOMBA: Stereo, do you have anything you want to say about that?
STEREOMAN: I don’t watch this show.
(laughter)
STILTS: AH! JUDGMENT! JUDGMENT! 
MOOMBA: I had no idea!
BAKAMOCHI: We’re judging you Stereo! We’re judging you!
STEREOMAN: Noooo, don’t judge me!
VERDANT: I still think you’re cool.
STEREOMAN: Thanks! I think I’m cool too. But not Stilts, he’s a horse.
STILTS: Nooo! You’re still bitter about last time aren’t you! About last time. Well, I’d say on Binbougami... like Mochi said, the two main characters... the dynamic between them is just hilarious. Good compared to other shows that just like, do gags and really character driven. So they really have a lot of comedy they can do every episode. 
BAKAMOCHI: They really go all the way.
STILTS: Oh yeah. 
BAKAMOCHI: I have to say. Oh my gosh. 
STILTS: But the best part is—
MOOMBA: How’d you feel about—
STILTS: The best part is that, even the episodes that... even the episodes where half the episode isn’t really that funny... cause a lot of them are, lot of times I’m gasping for air and so... I’m laughing so much—even the ones that are not, get these really sweet feelings at the end, then throw down crazy jokes at the end. And you’re just like wow, they can still manage to pull some heartstrings even when they’re not telling much jokes.
BAKAMOCHI: Yeah.
MOOMBA: How do you actually feel about the gradually building drama they keep adding in, each week it seems? Every week there’s more drama than the previous week.
BAKAMOCHI: I feel... they... it’s going to be hard handling the difference in tones, but I think they’ve managed it pretty well so far. I mean, it kinda veers close to cliche, I have to admit. But it’s like a one cour show I think, right? So I think it’ll manage to avoid being a little repetitive and preachy. So looks good.
STILTS: So kinda like, they could go too far in that direction... but... 
BAKAMOCHI: Yeah. They could, but I’m hoping they won’t. 
STILTS: Hopefully. And if nothing else, we have great “Chichiko”. 
BAKAMOCHI: Exactly!
STILTS: I guess the one thing I’d wanna see more is... what’s his name... that guy from I think, episode 3. I kinda liked—
BAKAMOCHI: Keita?
STILTS: Yeah, I kinda like the romance subplot so...
BAKAMOCHI: Oh yeah, that was pretty cute. I think he’s showing up next episode isn’t he?
STILTS: Oh yeah, next week’s the loli episode. 
BAKAMOCHI: Oh yeah, you’re tuning in to watch that aren’t you?
STILTS: I’m tuning in to watch all of them! I just—
(laughter)
MOOMBA: I know quite a few people are worried, it’ll degenerate to a romance comedy, rather than a gag comedy.
BAKAMOCHI: It could happen. It could happen, I’m not going to lie. I’m hoping... I’m really hoping it won’t.
STILTS: See, I’m kind of the helpless romantic. I’d be fine if it did, but I don’t think it will.
BAKAMOCHI: I mean, even if it does, I wish it’ll still retain the gag comedy spirit... instead of having a bunch of romantic moments and socking some jokes on top of it. 
STILTS: Well, think of it like this... think of that opening scene (I forgot what his name was), in like one scene where it has, you know Ichiko and her god-friend in like every other scene. So like, I think they’re maintaining the focus. 
BAKAMOCHI: Oh, that’s good.
MOOMBA: Verdant, you’re watching this? 
VERDANT: I watched the first episode.
STILTS: And that wasn’t enough to sell you? Come on! Come on!
VERDANT: I mean—
BAKAMOCHI: Are we judging him too now!?
VERDANT: I mean, I liked the characters, it’s just... I didn’t feel how... it would go from there. I mean, it just felt like the God would just keep trying to suck out her good fortune and then she would be bitchy and try to find a way out of it, and learn a lesson in the process. So, I don’t know. And the humour... I guess wasn’t my cup of tea. But given your approval of the show, I might give the show a second chance. 
STILTS: I see.
VERDANT: So, please don’t judge me!
STILTS: Fair enough. Fair enough. 
MOOMBA: Alright, is that everything everyone wanted to say?
VERDANT: I think so. 
STILTS: Mochi, anything else?
BAKAMOCHI: No, I think that was everything. WATCH IT!
STILTS: I think we end every show with that... someone just saying “Watch it!” 
BAKAMOCHI: Yeah, tl;dr: “Just watch it!” 
STILTS: Yeah.
VERDANT: Let’s just talk about Guilty Crown next podcast.
(laugher)
STILTS: Okay, almost everyone. 
MOOMBA: Come to think of it, we haven’t—
BAKAMOCHI: I’m scared to watch it because I feel like I’ll get shot or something. 
MOOMBA: Come to think of it, we haven’t actually brought up Kajiura Yuki this podcast... which is rather strange. 
STILTS: Well, until now! Way to break it!
VERDANT: Good job. 
BAKAMOCHI: Yeah, jeez.
VERDANT: I guess uh—
STILTS: Is this like a thing, where we have to do it every time?
VERDANT: I guess Moomba’s not hosting next time!
STILTS: Swiftly fired! 
VERDANT: Just kidding, kidding.
BAKAMOCHI: We’re all kidding!
VERDANT: We’re done with the second section. Let’s switch over to our Random Discussion portion, we’re just going to talk about random things that seem entertaining according to Stilts. And he wants to keep going till it becomes awkward. 

[Random Discussions & Shout Outs]

STILTS: I wanted to start off... So, I was going through the document we use to do these things. And I was putting, you know, this thing I wanted to question Stereo and Mochi and I realize all I see down the screen is like S-M-S-M-S-M. And trying to say, which one of you are S and which are M? We know Verdant. The rest of you, go.
BAKAMOCHI: Huh... 
VERDANT: S!
BAKAMOCHI: When it comes to blogging, I’m definitely sure I’m an M. I’m an M.
STILTS: You don’t actually have to answer, but Mochi’s an M, good to know.
VERDANT: Only when it comes to blogging, though.   
STILTS: That’s not what I chose to hear! That’s...
BAKAMOCHI: Filtering?
STILTS: Selective hearing I’d like to say.
VERDANT: Selective deafness.
MOOMBA: S!
STILTS: Oh my. Ah, I can see that. 
BAKAMOCHI: S?
VERDANT: Who is?
BAKAMOCHI: Moomba.
STILTS: Moomba saying he’s an S.
BAKAMOCHI: Okay, so we got a pretty good mix on our staff.
STILTS: And you know what this means? Verdant’s an M and Moomba’s an S.
BAKAMOCHI: OHHHH!
VERDANT: BROMANCE! 
STILTS: FANGIRLS GO!
BAKAMOCHI: Bring out the doujins!
VERDANT: I think we got awkward there.
STILTS: Yeah, a little bit. 
MOOMBA: So does that mean we’re done then?
(laughter)
STILTS: No!
BAKAMOCHI: No, we’re not done.
STILTS: We’re still talkin’. Alright, does anyone have any other random thoughts, observations, jokes, dirty jokes? I admit, now we’re awkward. 
VERDANT: Awkward.
BAKAMOCHI: That was actually awkward.
STILTS: Alright, I guess we’ll move on to the shoutouts now.
BAKAMOCHI: Awkward turtle. 
STILTS: Anybody have any... awkward turtle?
VERDANT: Yeah, it’s like that little hand thing you see people do.
STILTS: I don’t know what this is... 
BAKAMOCHI: I have no idea. I just heard of it. Awkward turtle.
VERDANT: I think it’s something about turtles swimming with fingers or something. 
BAKAMOCHI: Do turtles even have fingers?
VERDANT: No, no. You do it with your hands and you pretend your fingers are the turtle’s legs or something.
BAKAMOCHI: That IS awkward.
STILTS: Turtles don’t have fingers do they? Wait. 
VERDANT: No. Well, I mean, no, they have nails on their stubby legs.
BAKAMOCHI: I thought they had fins or fin-like appendages.
VERDANT: Uh, I guess you’re talking about sea turtles. I was thinking of land turtles.
STILTS: Now we’ve gotten into a truly random discussion. 
BAKAMOCHI: Yeah! Yesterday, Zephyr said something like awkward seal. I was like, I’d never heard of that!
VERDANT: Awkward seal?
BAKAMOCHI: Awkward turtle dammit! 
VERDANT: But well.. okay, I guess you’re just really into all the awkward phrases.
STILTS: Mochi’s the master of awkwardness. 
BAKAMOCHI: Hey, it helped. It helps in discussing.
VERDANT: Oh, I thought you said it would help in everyday life.
BAKAMOCHI: Oh, no.
MOOMBA: Oh, speaking of turtles. How do we feel about computers taking over the world?
(laughter)
BAKAMOCHI: Oh my God!
STILTS: I for one, welcome our future robot overlords. And hopefully, our kind is benevolent. 
VERDANT: Oh, I thought you said I hope they’re lolis. 
STILTS: Can be benevolent lolis. Maybe. Whatever. 
VERDANT: Pretty sure, this is pretty awkward and entertaining and random all at once.
STILTS: Ah well, I guess we’ll give Zani and whoever does the transcripts fits if we keep yakking, so.
VERDANT: Did we have any shoutouts at all? Or did we’re just shouting out to turtles and computers and stuff now? 
BAKAMOCHI: No, we’re shouting out to turtles. My turtle buddies!
STILTS: The awkward penguins and turtles and whatever. No, I’ll go ahead because I just referenced it... shoutout and thanks to everyone who helps with the transcripts, i.e. mainly Zanibas. Because though I keep telling him it’s not necessary... a lot of people seem to like it so.
BAKAMOCHI: Yeah he’s an M. 
VERDANT: Yeah, I think I’ve learned that Mochi really likes to categorize people.
STILTS: Indeed, indeed. Mochi, you have any shoutouts?
BAKAMOCHI: I LOVE YOU GUYS! That’s like my shoutout for every podcast...
VERDANT: That’s not going to get anywhere with me you know?
BAKAMOCHI: Not you! I meant the readers.
VERDANT: Oh, the readers.
BAKAMOCHI: Let’s see. What else? Thank you for listening to all this and another huge thank you to the transcribers. Have fun transcribing this podcast.
STILTS: We’re sorry. 
BAKAMOCHI: Yeah, we’re really sorry.
VERDANT: No, we’re not.
STILTS: Stereo? Shoutouts?
STEREOMAN: I have a shoutout to one of our readers called immblueversion and this person has left quite insightful and good comments on the Fairy Tail posts and this person tends to catch a lot of things that I missed so I want to thank immblueversion for the nice comments and also all our readers.
STILTS: Very cool. Yeah, and me and verdant and everyone else....we don’t count, so. 
VERDANT: But thanks everyone anyways
MOOMBA: No one is interested in hearing what we have to say.
STILTS: We’re here to feature Stereo and Mochi!
BAKAMOCHI: I’ll just say that I was interested! What is this?
STEREOMAN: I’m interested, I want to hear Moomba.
BAKAMOCHI: Oh, just Moomba, okay!
STEREOMAN: Party pals!
STILTS: Putting Mochi under S...
VERDANT: Pretty much. I don’t even know why I talk to her.
BAKAMOCHI: Because you’re an M.
VERDANT: Oh yeah.
STILTS: Alright, more shipping, noooo!
VERDANT: All right, so I guess it’s a wrap, eh? We’re done?
STILTS: Good thing, yeah.
VERDANT: All right, thanks for listening everyone, and look forward to our mid-season podcast which will hopefully come in probably two or three weeks, and we’ll be talking about the summer seasons shows and what we think of them so far. So again, from Random Curiosity, thank you for listening! And we’re going to end with a theme song chosen by Stereoman: it’s the Fairy Tail ending number 11 called “Glitter (Starving Trancer Remix)” by Another Infinity featuring Mayumi. Enjoy!

[Ending theme]

[Bloopers]

STILTS: So we should say some entertaining jumps right now so we can have bloopers. 
MOOMBA: So basically we did two now and we don’t have any actual bloopers so we need to make some up.
MOCHI and STILTS: Yeah, basically.
STILTS: We can talk about unlisted again, that’s always good for bloopers.
VERDANT: I think that he’s in the bathroom actually.
(laughter)
STILTS: Yeah, probably.
BAKAMOCHI: Potty jokes!
STILTS: I can see him in there and he sneezes himself and he’s going to be like “what’s he talking about?”
MOOMBA: I don’t think that actually happens in real life.
STILTS: Eh.
MOOMBA: That’s a long song title.
VERDANT: Thanks Stereoman. Thanks. Let’s just make fun of each other right now.
MOOMBA: We could leave this saying this could be the song.
STILTS: Ah, make fun of each other, uh, Stereo is short?
STEREOMAN: Uhhh...
STILTS: So Stereo is an S...
STEREOMAN: No, I’m an M.
VERDANT: No, she’s an M.
STILTS: Oh by the way, I want to tell you that your voice sounds like somebody that works for NPR.
VERDANT: I listen to NPR every day.
STILTS: You’ve got it down, it works!
VERDANT: Thanks...it’s my radio choice on the way driving to and forth from university...
STILTS: So if you’re NPR and Moomba is BBC, what would I be...
VERDANT: The shock jock.
STILTS: Awwww, I’ve not that bad.
VERDANT: You’ve got to rile people up!
STILTS: Oh I don’t like that...
VERDANT: Everyone, Stilts doesn’t believe in global warming!
BAKAMOCHI: Oh my gosh!
STILTS: No don’t shun me! Verdant made it up!
BAKAMOCHI: We’re shunning you like right now!
STILTS: It hurts, it hurts so much.
VERDANT: I’ve already shunned you but I’m shunning you even more.
STILTS: Your permanent state is shun, I know.
VERDANT: Shunday.
STILTS: Yeah.
BAKAMOCHI: Tsundere...
(awkward pause)
BAKAMOCHI: Awkward turtle, awkward turtle!
VERDANT: We can do an episode on favorite fanservice scenes. 
STILTS: Oh come on, me and Moomba are going to start listing off random shows. ALL OF THEM.
VERDANT: You’ll be our guests of honor!
STILTS: I can list 57 shows: we’re going to list them in turn. 
VERDANT: Or favorite types of fanservice. 
BAKAMOCHI: Pretty guys.
STILTS: Oh come on, you’ve got to be more...you know...say more...
VERDANT: What do they do?
BAKAMOCHI: Uh, they’re just standing there and they’re talking.
STILTS: So, Mochi, I was just getting out of the shower, getting ready for the podcast, drying off, and Mochi’s like “No, leave it off! You don’t need one for the podcast!” So, you know...
BAKAMOCHI: I was trying to save time!
STILTS: Aha, that’s what she said.
BAKAMOCHI: I’m not a pervert, I swear.
VERDANT: She’s not. She’s not a fujoshi either. 
STILTS: Mmmm, I don’t know about that.
BAKAMOCHI: You should go on the IRC channel one day and I’ll label all the fujoshis! Wait, who started that?
VERDANT: It was Stilts.
STILTS: Hi.
BAKAMOCHI: Oh, it was you?
STEREO: Yeah, he’s a horse.
STILTS: Verdant probably did it.
VERDANT: I did not do that...I think.
STILTS: Be proud of it. Just blame Zephyr, he’s not here.
VERDANT: That’s true.
BAKAMOCHI: Let’s blame Zephyr! 
STILTS: Can not defend himself!
BAKAMOCHI: Let’s blame Zephyr for global warming too.
STILTS: Which verdant says I don’t believe in, so.