The Shounen Protagonist: Recent Episodes
Tavarita & Atomic
The Shounen Protagonist is a part historical, part motivational, podcast about the anime and video games that both educated and inspired us as children and adults.
Hosted by Tavarita and Atomic, they discuss and analyze different movies, games, arcs, and episodes of the media that shaped our lives. Join them weekly for fun facts, laughs, and happy tears as they explore what makes geek culture so impactful, and most of all, what makes it fun.
It's a quiet work week for Tavarita and Atomic, so what better way to spend our time than discuss the recent controversies of Crunchyroll? In addition, they discuss the Crunchyroll Anime Award results!
0:01:11 - CON CRUD
0:07:47 - IN ANIME & INDUSTRY
1:06:30 - TALK NO JUTSU
1:30:52 - STRAW HAT CORNER
2:28:51 - FUCK THIS POST & HAPPY BIRTHDAY SONIC
Articles Referenced:
- https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/crunchyroll-anime-awards-winners-2024-list-1235841942/
- https://www.polygon.com/anime/24092569/crunchyroll-ai-subtitles-funimation-account-updates-interview
- https://www.theverge.com/2024/2/26/24080637/funimation-shut-down-crunchyroll-digital-library-compensation
Intro: "Next" by Gio Navas
It has been a heart shattering week for the world, and particularly the anime & manga world, as we hear about the passing of mangaka and legend Akira Toriyama. Atomic and Tavarita discuss the impact of his work in their own lives, and the lives of other personal heroes and family members. As Yusuke Murata wrote of Toriyama: "Strangely, it doesn't feel at all like he's gone. Perhaps because for me he was always almost like a star in the sky."
0:00:43 - IN ANIME & INDUSTRY
1:49:48 - STRAW HAT CORNER
2:54:56 - FUCK THIS POST & HAPPY BIRTHDAY SONIC
Articles Referenced:
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2024/03/08/dragon-ball-akira-toriyama-dies/
https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2019-05-31/dragonball-creator-akira-toriyama-knighted-by-france/.147351
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akira_Toriyama
https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/2024/03/08/akira-toriyama-dragon-ball-appreciation/
Intro: "Next" by Gio Navas
After an impromptu sick break, we're back! Atomic and Tavarita discuss the prompt exit of Voice Actress Cristina Vee from Twitter, and the Hazbin Hotel craze at conventions and online -- more specifically, asking the question, does a fandom presence create a better or a worse product?
Content Warning: This episode contains discussion of the genocide in Palestine.
0:00:59 - CON CRUD
0:32:27 - IN ANIME & INDUSTRY
1:07:17 - TALK NO JUTSU
2:04:34 - STRAW HAT CORNER
2:42:58 - FUCK THIS POST & HAPPY BIRTHDAY SONIC
Articles Referenced:
https://ponett.medium.com/my-own-personal-hell-thoughts-on-hazbin-hotel-1b226af317f5
Intro: "Next" by Gio Navas
As Tavarita and Atomic prepare for Megacon in Orlando, there's lots to talk about! Along with career wins, they discuss the Taisho Award Nominees, their reviews of The Boy and the Heron and Godzilla Minus One, and the IGN Rating of Jujutsu Kaisen Season 2 Part 2 that has everyone talking. Do long fight scenes justify a harsh review of a shounen?
0:03:20 - CON CRUD
0:31:06 - IN ANIME & INDUSTRY
1:58:29 - STRAW HAT CORNER
2:35:56 - FUCK THIS POST & HAPPY BIRTHDAY SONIC
Articles Referenced:
https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2023-01-24/16th-manga-taisho-awards-nominate-11-titles/.194135
https://www.polygon.com/24041648/anime-awards-2024-best-anime-nominees-crunchyroll
https://www.ign.com/articles/jujutsu-kaisen-season-2-part-2-review-shibuya-incident-arc
https://gizmodo.com/godzilla-minus-one-oscar-nomination-visual-effects-toho-1851189245
Intro: "Next" by Gio Navas
It seems like there's more news than ever this week! Atomic and Tavarita discuss the Waitlist Blues of Artist Alley, the Colombian grifter who briefly had people believing she animated on The Boy and the Heron, The Crunchyroll Anime Award Nominees, and begging the questions: Where are the women working in anime?
0:00:00 - CON CRUD
0:35:55 - IN ANIME & INDUSTRY
1:33:42 - TALK NO JUTSU
1:57:23 - STRAW HAT CORNER
2:20:20 - FUCK THIS POST & HAPPY BIRTHDAY SONIC
Intro: "Next" by Gio Navas
Welcome back! After a 4 month hiatus, Tavarita and Atomic discuss all of the exciting developments in their art careers and in anime. In this episode, a review of all fall/winter conventions, Dungeon Meshi, Pokémon Concierge, Apothecary Diaries, and the controversial One Piece Reboot announcement. In addition, this is the first Straw Hat Corner, in which Tavarita and Atomic finally watch One Piece!
What do we expect with the announcement of Chopper in the next One Piece Live Action? Hyper-realistic nightmare Chopper? Roger Rabbit Chopper? Muppet Chopper? Tavarita and Atomic discuss the pros and cons of different acceptance standards for Artist Alley, why the One Piece Live Action showrunners should make Chopper a Muppet, Anime News Network's top-rated Summer 2023 shows, and, of course, the shit-show going on with Unity.
Opening Theme "Next" by Gio Navas
Logo by Jules Riseling
“The studios didn’t invent Rotten Tomatoes, and most of them don’t like it,” says the filmmaker Paul Schrader. “But the system is broken. Audiences are dumber. Normal people don’t go through reviews like they used to. Rotten Tomatoes is something the studios can game. So they do.”
Atomic and Tavarita discuss their time at Nan Desu Kan and San Japan, the One Piece Live Action's explosive debut among the thick of the SAG/WGA strike, possible reasons Netflix has pushed the release of a live action anime so hard, and the scathing NY Mag article about the death grip Rotten Tomatoes has among studios as well as consumers.
Intro "Next" by Gio Navas
Logo by Jules Riseling
It's another one of those weeks where we always end up on the same subject no matter what else we try to talk about! This week, Tavarita gets spoiled for Chainsaw Man, Atomic talks about misinformation being spread online regarding AI animation, and both bemoan the way media is consumed in modern times... and how we can be more discerning.
Opening Theme "Next" by Gio Navas
Logo by Jules Riseling
Fall convention season is coming up fast! Atomic and Tavarita discuss the possible impact extreme heat is having on the Texas summer con season, the unfortunate passing of comedy writer and voice acting legend Johnny Hardwick (mostly known as Dale Gribble from King of the Hill), recommending anime according to the WAS (Weeb Ass Shit) scale, and a possible rebrand in the podcast's future!
Opening theme by Gio Navas
TSP Logo by Jules Riseling
Atomic and Tavarita discuss their time at AnimeFest in Dallas, the furry COVID comic that has everyone dunking on OP, and the endless cycle of dissatisfaction that plagues anime fans.
What's to update on a weekend with no conventions? A lot, apparently. Atomic and Tavarita talk the controversial date changes for Holiday Matsuri, the turbulent landscape of social media trends, the danger of lost media due to recent MAX announcements, and what it means to be a real anime ~enjoyer~.
Atomic and Tavarita talk Metrocon and Okashicon, along with (not so) expert opinions on the development of convention juries and table placements for artists at future conventions. Atomic gives thoughts on this season's anime to watch (and to avoid), and recent binges watching Jerma. Both discuss One Piece GOLD, Oda's legacy as an artist and story-teller, and One Piece's place in the Eastern entertainment zeitgeist. There's never been a better time to be a One Piece fan!
As Atomic and Tavarita come into July, they discuss Anime Trivia, Delta H Con and AX FOMO obliteration, upcoming announcements such as Suicide Squad's upcoming ... (checks notes) isekai anime(??) and the constant struggle for dominance among social media platforms.
Atomic and Tavarita discuss their experience with latest conventions, as well as a much-needed update in episode formatting.
In this spooky Halloween episode, Atomic and Tavarita talk about horror manga-ka extraordinaire, Junji Ito, and in particular, his work Uzumaki -- considered to be his magnum opus. Join them as they discuss what makes good horror, why Ito's work is so scary, and the future of Uzumaki as a franchise. Happy Halloween y'all!
Content Warnings: Existentialism, Uzumaki and other Junji Ito Spoilers, Murder, Suicide Mentions
[Show Notes]
- K, B. (2019, June 10). An interview with master of horror manga junji ito (full length version). grape Japan. Retrieved October 26, 2022, from https://grapee.jp/en/116016
- Thacker, E. (2016, April 30). Black illumination: The unhuman world of Junji Ito. The Japan Times. Retrieved October 26, 2022, from https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2016/01/30/books/black-illumination-unhuman-world-junji-ito
- Wikimedia Foundation. (2022, October 22). Uzumaki. Wikipedia. Retrieved October 26, 2022, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uzumaki
- Wikimedia Foundation. (2022, October 23). Junji Ito. Wikipedia. Retrieved October 26, 2022, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Junji_Ito
[Art Credit]"Shounen Protagonist" Logo & Design by Jules Riselinghttps://www.julesriseling.com (thank you Jules!)https://www.twitter.com/julesriseling
[Music Credit]Intro & Outro Music: "Next" by Gio NavasIntermission Music: "Brave" by Gio Navashttps://www.gionavas.com/ (thank you Gio!)https://www.twitter.com/giomaria
In this episode, Atomic and Tavarita discuss the sleeper hit manga and anime series Mushishi and its mastery of the art of short storytelling. They dive into Mushishi's haunting naturalism, the possibility of a shadow biosphere, and the entropy of our universe. This one is a thinker!
Content Warnings: Existentialism, Talk of Animal Death
- [0:00] Episode Introduction
- [0:29] Episode Title, John Muir
- [1:40] Housekeeping!
- [6:15] The Career of Yuki Urushibara
- [13:39] The Mushishi Manga
- [19:47] Manga Publishing Issues & FOMO
- [23:56] World of Mushishi
- [1:03:33] The Shadow Biosphere
- [1:14:04] The Mushi & Entropy
- [1:39:54] Why Fish Don't Exist
- [1:45:40] Outro - Alexa Guesses That Anime
[Show Notes]
- Conover, E. (2015). “Shadow biosphere” might be hiding strange life right under our noses. Science. Published. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aaa7865
- Davies, P. C., Benner, S. A., Cleland, C. E., Lineweaver, C. H., McKay, C. P., & Wolfe-Simon, F. (2009). Signatures of a Shadow Biosphere. Astrobiology, 9(2), 241–249. https://doi.org/10.1089/ast.2008.0251
- Miller, L. (2021). Why Fish Don’t Exist: A Story of Loss, Love, and the Hidden Order of Life (First Printing ed.). Simon & Schuster.
- Ohara, T. (2007, February 3). Mushishi Live-Action Movie Interview. ComiPress. https://www.comipress.com/article/2007/02/03/1449.html
- Oxford Essential Quotations, & Ratcliffe, S. (2020). John Muir. Oxford Reference. https://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/acref/9780191843730.001.0001/q-oro-ed5-00012574
- Universe Today [Fraser Cain]. (2020, January 28). Is There A Shadow Biosphere? Searching For Life On Earth That Isn’t Related To Us [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2brd-3OVgn8
- Wikipedia contributors. (2021a, August 7). Yuki Urushibara. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yuki_Urushibara
- Wikipedia contributors. (2021b, August 31). Mushishi. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mushishi
[Art Credit] "Shounen Protagonist" Logo & Design by Jules Riseling https://www.julesriseling.com (thank you Jules!) https://www.twitter.com/julesriseling
[Music Credit] Intro & Outro Music: "Next" by Gio Navas Intermission Music: "Brave" by Gio Navas https://www.gionavas.com/ (thank you Gio!) https://www.twitter.com/giomaria
It's already getting deep fam! In this episode, Atomic and Tavarita discuss the origins of the classic shounen series "Hunter X Hunter" and the controversial career of its creator, Yoshihiro Togashi. Furthermore, they talk of the deadly work culture that has developed in the manga industry, how consumers can help, what we can learn from Togashi's career - and by extension, what we can learn from the decline of his protagonist Gon.
Find your favorite artists on Fanbox: https://www.fanbox.cc/
Trigger Warning: Premature Death Mentions
- [0:00] Episode Introduction
- [1:32] Anime Houston!
- [9:26] Episode Title, "The Hollow Men"
- [11:14] The Career of Yoshihiro Togashi
- [40:10] "Hiatus X Hiatus" & Burnout
- [1:25:00] What We Owe Creators
- [1:38:00] Outro - Alexa Guesses That Anime
[Show Notes]
- Eliot, T. S. (1925). The Hollow Men by T S Eliot. All Poetry. https://allpoetry.com/the-hollow-men
- Rudlin, P. (2021, July 2). So, What is Karoshi Actually? Japan Intercultural Consulting. https://japanintercultural.com/free-resources/articles/japanese-business-keywords/so-what-is-karoshi-actually/
- Sridhar, P. (2020, January 24). What We Owe to Creators: Burnout in manga artists and how to prevent it. Anime Feminist. https://www.animefeminist.com/what-we-owe-to-creators/
- Wikipedia contributors. (2021, August 16). Yoshihiro Togashi. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yoshihiro_Togashi
[Art Credit] "Shounen Protagonist" Logo & Design by Jules Riseling https://www.julesriseling.com (thank you Jules!) https://www.twitter.com/julesriseling
[Music Credit] Opening Music: "Next" by Gio Navas Intermission Music: "Brave" by Gio Navas https://www.gionavas.com/ (thank you Gio!) https://www.twitter.com/giomaria
In their first episode, Atomic and Tavarita discuss the origins of their podcast concept, the humble beginnings of video game designer Satoshi Tajiri, and the cultural impact of his Pokémon franchise, and what we can learn from the never-ending journey of Ash Ketchum.
- [0:00] Episode Introduction
- [0:52] Why did we start this podcast?
- [7:54] Host Introductions
- [12:20] Logo Discussion & "Ganbaru" Etymology
- [16:19] History of the Pokémon Franchise
- [31:36] Pokémon in Science & Sociology
- [49:17] Pokémon: I Choose You Movie
- [53:00] Pokémon Edgelord Theories
- [1:04:00] What We Can Learn From Ash Ketchum
- [1:25:00] Outro - Alexa Guesses That Anime
[Show Notes]
- Suzuki, M. (2018, September 19). Ganbaru (頑張る) –– What it Really Means and How to Use it. Tofugu. https://www.tofugu.com/japanese/ganbaru/
- Wikipedia contributors. (2021, August 4). Satoshi Tajiri. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satoshi_Tajiri
- Joseph Tobin. (2004). Joseph Tobin. http://joetobin.net/
- Tobin, J. (2004). Pikachu’s Global Adventure: The Rise and Fall of Pokemon. Duke University Press Books.
- Isaak, M. (2020). Curiosities of Biological Nomenclature: Etymology: Fiction. Curiosities of Biological Nomenclature: Etymology: Fiction. https://www.curioustaxonomy.net/etym/fiction.html
- Gomez, J., Barnett, M., & Grill-Spector, K. (2019). Extensive childhood experience with Pokémon suggests eccentricity drives organization of visual cortex. Nature Human Behaviour, 3(6), 611–624. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41562-019-0592-8
- Yuyama, K. (Director). (2017). Pokémon the movie: i choose you! [Film]. OLM, Inc.
- Brackett, C. (2021). 10 Fan Theories That Explain Why Ash Ketchum Never Ages. Ranker. https://www.ranker.com/list/ash-ketchum-age-theories/crystal-brackett
- Impidimp. (2021). [Illustration]. https://cdn2.bulbagarden.net/upload/f/fb/859Impidimp.png
[Art Credit] "Shounen Protagonist" Logo & Design by Jules Riseling https://www.julesriseling.com (thank you Jules!) https://www.twitter.com/julesriseling
[Music Credit] Opening Music: "Next" by Gio Navas Intermission Music: "Brave" by Gio Navas https://www.gionavas.com/ (thank you Gio!) https://www.twitter.com/giomaria