Wednesday
May122010
Thoughts on The Speakeasy Podcast
One of my favourite anime blogs is the Reverse Thieves, run by the hit pop duo Hisui and Narutaki. Almost all of their content is in the form of dual-posts, where the two bloggers alternate throughout the posts. With the interaction already present in their posting style, it is a very natural transition to hearing them in podcast form. The pair make plenty of podcast appearances- Hisui once even came onto the deceased G-DAP podcast. Narutaki and Hisui always would make for a great episode, so I was really excited when they announced a podcast of their own.
The Speakeasy Podcast is really great. It is like the behind the scenes conversations that become the basis for their articles. The four episodes released thus far cover a wide range of topics, and I am always interested to see what the latest show is about. The audio quality is very good with excellent voice clarity- Narutaki's moe vocals will soothe your ronery otaku heart.
Episode 1: Bloody Mary, A Discussion of Strong Female Characters
Strong females characters is a topic that the Reverse Thieves have written about before, and it is a subject they both feel strongly about. They discuss how in the past, many people got interested in anime because they were told that there were tons of these characters. They take a look at the reality of the situation, but without being jaded and depressing about it like certain others tend to do. It is a very interesting show that does the topic justice.
Episode 2: Heart of Fire, Go Nagai VS. Gurren Lagann
If you hang around mecha fans, chances are that you have heard phrases like "oh! If you loved [modern anime X], then you will also love [old classic anime Y]. This episode takes on this concept, by specifically explaining why fans of Gurren Lagann are not assured to also be lovers of 70s mecha remake Shin Mazinger. This detailed look at the differences between the two shows reveals plenty of reason that badgering mecha newcomers into watching your precious old anime might not be the best approach. There is also some delightful fanboying over Wonder Fest 2010 to kick the episode off.
Episode 3: Coconut Monkey, Can You Feel the One Piece Love?
This episode continues to analyze why fans like what they like. Here the focus is One Piece and why it is third tier compared to Naruto and Bleach. After spending a good chunk of time presenting the series' strong points, the pair bring up various reasons that attribute to its lack of success in the English speaking world. This is a great episode; the reasonings behind why it doesn't have as much appeal here are all well reasoned and explained.
I really think the main reason is just that One Piece doesn't seem as "cool" as the others. Luffy doesn't have a bad attitude like Ichigo. You can go around wearing a sand village headband and pretend to be as cool as Gaara, but straw hats aren't really in right now. I have always thought of Bleach as half-show, half-fashion item. One Piece just doesn't have that edgy/Hot Topic feel that a huge portion of the Western shounen audience craves. Also, I actually think the Western feel off it is another strike against it for Western fans. They got into anime because it’s Japanese. They want ninjas and shikigami, not pirates. One Piece is often the favourite of those around the blogosphere, but they are generally older than the kids out watching these shows. There is much more to it, as the podcast explains. But I do think the others are just seen as more “hip”.
Episode 4: The Pink Lady, Invasion of the Beautiful Boys!
This podcast is about bishounen and how the guys who get mad about it need to change their diapers. I have a bias for this podcast, since I share their opinion on the topic. Handsome male characters do not have to ruin the show for the non-fujoshi, and it’s unfair to say that all female anime fans are shallow girls who are only after BL. The podcast explains, with very detailed support, how this took place in old anime that all the guys love, but when it takes place in a modern series the male fan community gets angry.
I have never had any kind of problem with this concept. After all, I read plenty of shoujo manga, and if I don't mind them there, why should I elsewhere? As mentioned in the podcast, it has become a trend that any kind of remotely handsome guy is labeled "bishounen". I fail to see how handsome guys are a problem at all. I like my anime to have moe ladies, so why should the guys not be handsome to match? When I read shoujo, I don't think "Oh this guy is lame because he is such a bishie", and neither do I feel that way when similar character designs infiltrate non-shoujo. While the over-the-top flamboyant characters are far from my cup of tea, a lot of what people are calling bishounen is nowhere near that. I like the characters in Gundam 00, and I feel the character designs are a suitable aesthetic. I have never think "eww Lockon is 4 grlz", because that is stupid. Maybe it comes down to some people seeing these softer, gentler characters as not being manly? There are times when it that happens, but men don't have to be tearing meat and shoving it into their faces to be cool guys.
[It seems like people pay too much attention to sexuality in their anime fandom. Less so for the guys who watch shounen, but I see it in the overall fandom. For example, a new line of anime figures comes out focusing on male characters. I think to myself "cool, maybe they will have X character that I like!", but then the whole article will be written as "cool new male figures _for girls_. Wait, why can't they just be.. cool figures for people who like the characters? I know PLENTY of girls who watch moe shows and own cutesy figures. What is with guys being allergic to the handsome male presence in their series? Liking a character shouldn't always have to revolve around your "tastes".]
----
So far I am loving The Speakeasy Podcast and look forward to the next episodes. You likely noticed that the first couple podcasts have less of a response from me, but that is only because I listened quite a while ago. That and I could easily go on about the first episode's topic for way too long. Hisui and Narutaki are both really cool and GAR guys, so listen to their podcast!
The Speakeasy Podcast is really great. It is like the behind the scenes conversations that become the basis for their articles. The four episodes released thus far cover a wide range of topics, and I am always interested to see what the latest show is about. The audio quality is very good with excellent voice clarity- Narutaki's moe vocals will soothe your ronery otaku heart.
Episode 1: Bloody Mary, A Discussion of Strong Female Characters
Strong females characters is a topic that the Reverse Thieves have written about before, and it is a subject they both feel strongly about. They discuss how in the past, many people got interested in anime because they were told that there were tons of these characters. They take a look at the reality of the situation, but without being jaded and depressing about it like certain others tend to do. It is a very interesting show that does the topic justice.
Episode 2: Heart of Fire, Go Nagai VS. Gurren Lagann
If you hang around mecha fans, chances are that you have heard phrases like "oh! If you loved [modern anime X], then you will also love [old classic anime Y]. This episode takes on this concept, by specifically explaining why fans of Gurren Lagann are not assured to also be lovers of 70s mecha remake Shin Mazinger. This detailed look at the differences between the two shows reveals plenty of reason that badgering mecha newcomers into watching your precious old anime might not be the best approach. There is also some delightful fanboying over Wonder Fest 2010 to kick the episode off.
Episode 3: Coconut Monkey, Can You Feel the One Piece Love?
This episode continues to analyze why fans like what they like. Here the focus is One Piece and why it is third tier compared to Naruto and Bleach. After spending a good chunk of time presenting the series' strong points, the pair bring up various reasons that attribute to its lack of success in the English speaking world. This is a great episode; the reasonings behind why it doesn't have as much appeal here are all well reasoned and explained.
I really think the main reason is just that One Piece doesn't seem as "cool" as the others. Luffy doesn't have a bad attitude like Ichigo. You can go around wearing a sand village headband and pretend to be as cool as Gaara, but straw hats aren't really in right now. I have always thought of Bleach as half-show, half-fashion item. One Piece just doesn't have that edgy/Hot Topic feel that a huge portion of the Western shounen audience craves. Also, I actually think the Western feel off it is another strike against it for Western fans. They got into anime because it’s Japanese. They want ninjas and shikigami, not pirates. One Piece is often the favourite of those around the blogosphere, but they are generally older than the kids out watching these shows. There is much more to it, as the podcast explains. But I do think the others are just seen as more “hip”.
Episode 4: The Pink Lady, Invasion of the Beautiful Boys!
This podcast is about bishounen and how the guys who get mad about it need to change their diapers. I have a bias for this podcast, since I share their opinion on the topic. Handsome male characters do not have to ruin the show for the non-fujoshi, and it’s unfair to say that all female anime fans are shallow girls who are only after BL. The podcast explains, with very detailed support, how this took place in old anime that all the guys love, but when it takes place in a modern series the male fan community gets angry.
I have never had any kind of problem with this concept. After all, I read plenty of shoujo manga, and if I don't mind them there, why should I elsewhere? As mentioned in the podcast, it has become a trend that any kind of remotely handsome guy is labeled "bishounen". I fail to see how handsome guys are a problem at all. I like my anime to have moe ladies, so why should the guys not be handsome to match? When I read shoujo, I don't think "Oh this guy is lame because he is such a bishie", and neither do I feel that way when similar character designs infiltrate non-shoujo. While the over-the-top flamboyant characters are far from my cup of tea, a lot of what people are calling bishounen is nowhere near that. I like the characters in Gundam 00, and I feel the character designs are a suitable aesthetic. I have never think "eww Lockon is 4 grlz", because that is stupid. Maybe it comes down to some people seeing these softer, gentler characters as not being manly? There are times when it that happens, but men don't have to be tearing meat and shoving it into their faces to be cool guys.
[It seems like people pay too much attention to sexuality in their anime fandom. Less so for the guys who watch shounen, but I see it in the overall fandom. For example, a new line of anime figures comes out focusing on male characters. I think to myself "cool, maybe they will have X character that I like!", but then the whole article will be written as "cool new male figures _for girls_. Wait, why can't they just be.. cool figures for people who like the characters? I know PLENTY of girls who watch moe shows and own cutesy figures. What is with guys being allergic to the handsome male presence in their series? Liking a character shouldn't always have to revolve around your "tastes".]
----
So far I am loving The Speakeasy Podcast and look forward to the next episodes. You likely noticed that the first couple podcasts have less of a response from me, but that is only because I listened quite a while ago. That and I could easily go on about the first episode's topic for way too long. Hisui and Narutaki are both really cool and GAR guys, so listen to their podcast!
tagged 
Reverse Thieves, Speakeasy, blogosphere
Reverse Thieves, Speakeasy, blogosphere
Reader Comments (3)
Evan,
I agree. It's a great podcast and I look forward to each episode.
The Speakeasy Podcast is okay, but it lacks character development and the overall plot is virtually non-existant. : /
Also the visuals are terrible.
It is easy to miss the subtle characterization taking place.