Den of Otaku

In this episode of Den of Otaku, Den of Geek’s official anime and Japanese pop culture discussion series, we’ve still got Sakamoto fever leading up to the finale of Sakamoto Days Part 2! Den of Otaku examines why Part 2 is such an important turning point for the successful shonen series where it really begins to find its voice and take bigger risks. We break down Part 2's rewarding character devel...

We’re continuing our celebration of Sakamoto Days in honor of Part 2's release by breaking down how the anime dubbing industry has evolved over the past decade and how a dub’s quality can make or break an anime’s reception. We also gets candid with Matthew Mercer and Vinnie Hacker, the voice actors responsible for Sakamoto Days’ Taro and Slur, as they dig deep into their characters and all things ...

We’re busting out our garlic and standing in direct sunlight as we celebrate what’s arguably the most important vampire anime of all-time, Vampire Hunter D! In honor of Vampire Hunter D’s 40th anniversary, Den of Otaku provides a brief primer on anime’s vampire subgenre, Vampire Hunter D’s history and evolution, and its impressive legacy as a foundational vampire text. Plus, a very special Yoshiak...

In this episode we’re joining ACROSS and fighting for city-wide domination as we obsess over early 2000s fringe comedy, Excel Saga! Den of Otaku discusses why Excel Saga is such a groundbreaking and boundary-pushing gag comedy series, its brilliant approach to adaptation and genre deconstruction, the unusual careers of Koshi Rikdo and Shinichi Watanabe’s unusual careers, and the controversy surrou...

In this episode of Den of Otaku, Den of Geek’s official anime and Japanese pop culture discussion series, we’re doing a deep dive on the 9th Crunchyroll Anime Awards! Den of Otaku breaks down this growing tradition and how the Crunchyroll Anime Awards have become such a global event and one of the biggest awards ceremonies in the industry. Den of Otaku discusses the Crunchyroll Anime Awards’ histo...

In this episode of Den of Otaku, Den of Geek’s official anime and Japanese pop culture discussion series, we’re going all in on Taejun Pak and Kim Junghyun’s Viral Hit, from WEBTOON Unscrolled. We break down why Viral Hit is such an exciting and timely series, why it’s such a rich character study of a complex modern protagonist, and why it’s the perfect contemporary title that critiques and subver...

In this episode of Den of Otaku, Den of Geek’s official anime and Japanese pop culture discussion series, we’re doing a deep dive into Shinichiro Watanabe’s overlooked and underrated, Space Dandy. We begin with a primer on Watanabe’s career and the anime that put him on the map and made Space Dandy possible. Den of Otaku unpacks why music is so important to all of Watanabe’s works and also touches...

In this episode of Den of Otaku, Den of Geek’s official anime and Japanese pop culture discussion series, we’re breaking down the many exciting anime feature films that are hitting cinemas in 2025, including The Colors Within, Ghost Cat Anzu, and Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX -Beginning-. Den of Otaku discusses the broader trends that these movies are pointing toward and how they’re likely to influ...

In this episode of Den of Otaku, Den of Geek’s official anime and Japanese pop culture discussion series, we’re breaking down Yuto Suzuki’s breakout shonen hit, Sakamoto Days! Den of Otaku discusses Suzuki’s impressive trajectory as a mangaka and the creative building blocks that helped make Sakamoto Days possible, the circumstances behind the series’ success, and why subversive assassin shonen se...

In this episode of Den of Otaku, we’re traveling down the Yellow Brick Road and breaking down anime’s surprisingly intricate relationship with L. Frank Baum’s The Wizard of Oz. Den of Otaku discusses why The Wizard of Oz is the prototypical isekai story, 1982's Wizard of Oz anime movie, the subsequent series and its wild localization history, and the radical Adventures of Space Oz reimagining. Den...

In this episode of Den of Otaku, Den of Geek’s official anime and Japanese pop culture discussion series, we’re breaking down Japan’s unique relationship with Christmas and how this has carried over into anime programming. Den of Otaku discusses why Colonel Sanders is a Japanese Christmas icon, why anime Christmas content lacks religious themes, and if Gundam Wing: Endless Waltz is a better Christ...

We’re going all in on Kohei Horikoshi’s modern shonen masterpiece, My Hero Academia! Den of Otaku examines My Hero Academia’s unusual origins, why its final seasons have been such unconventional triumphs, and what its future may hold now that the manga is over and the anime has announced its endgame. Plus, some interesting analysis on My Hero Academia’s various manga spin-offs and which could rece...

In this episode of Den of Otaku, Den of Geek’s official anime and Japanese pop culture discussion series, we’re celebrating Dragon Ball’s 40th anniversary! Den of Otaku breaks down the influences of origins of Akira Toriyama’s groundbreaking shonen series, why it’s so special, how it evolved from its humble gag comedy roots into an iconic action staple, and what lies ahead in Dragon Ball’s future....

In this episode we’re breaking down the popular magical girl subgenre! Den of Otaku takes a deep dive into the subgenre’s humble origins during the 1950s and ’60s, how it’s a style of storytelling that consistently holds a mirror up to Japanese society, and the ways in which it’s evolved into a more subversive and all-inclusive subgenre that’s found international appeal. Plus, a special magical gi...

In this special Halloween episode of Den of Otaku, Den of Geek’s official anime and Japanese pop culture discussion series, we’re shining a spooky light on the anime industry’s comprehensive relationship with the horror genre! Den of Otaku breaks down anime’s history with horror, why it’s more prominent and successful than Western horror animation, a celebration of Higurashi: When They Cry and Mon...

In this episode of Den of Otaku, Den of Geek’s official anime and Japanese pop culture discussion series, we explore the unique benefits of American properties that have undergone anime makeovers, such as Rick and Morty: The Anime, The Lord of the Rings: The War of Rohirrim, and Go-Go Mystery Machine. Den of Otaku also breaks down the industry’s growing trend of anime, manga and American crossover...

In this special episode of Den of Otaku, Den of Geek’s official anime and Japanese pop culture discussion series, we boot up Netflix and celebrate the streaming service’s new animation slate, specifically Zack Snyder’s Twilight of the Gods and Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft. Den of Otaku discusses Zack Snyder’s surprising relationship with anime and how it’s been a throughline of his career...

In this very special episode of Den of Otaku, Den of Geek’s official anime and Japanese pop culture discussion series, we plug ourselves into Skynet and go all in on Netflix’s new sci-fi anime sensation, Terminator Zero. Den of Otaku discusses the Terminator franchise’s impact on pop culture, Production I.G’s legacy as an animation studio, and why Terminator Zero succeeds where other Terminator se...

In this episode of Den of Otaku, Den of Geek's official anime and Japanese pop culture discussion series, we discuss the latest developments behind the live-action Naruto and One-Punch Man feature films and what this means for the industry’s future. Den of Otaku also discusses anime’s history with “dark doubles” in the context of My Hero Academia’s upcoming movie. Den of Otaku also breaks down the...

In this episode of Den of Otaku, Den of Geek’s official anime and Japanese pop culture discussion series, we discuss the incomparable legacy of Akira Toriyama – the creator of Dragon Ball, Dr. Slump, Sand Land, and so much more – after his tragic passing. Den of Otaku also breaks down the subversive excitement of anime’s recent approach to the sentai and kaiju genres with Go! Go! Loser Ranger and...

London Calling! In this special international episode of Den of Otaku, Den of Geek’s official anime and Japanese pop culture discussion series, we head to AnimeCon London! Den of Otaku gets to the bottom of what makes anime fandom in England so special by seeing the sights and speaking to the fans. Den of Otaku touches base with Keith Silverstein (Monster, My Hero Academia, Mr. Ososmatsu) and Cris...

In this episode of Den of Otaku, Den of Geek’s official anime and Japanese pop culture discussion series, the early controversy over the newly announced One Piece remake, THE ONE PIECE, gets broken down. Den of Otaku also brings light to the ongoing manhwa craze and anime’s push towards adapting South Korean content, like Solo Leveling. We also examine Studio Bones big 2024 hit and 25th anniversar...

In this episode of Den of Otaku, Den of Geek’s official anime and Japanese pop culture discussion series, Netflix’s Pluto and Scott Pilgrim Takes Off are discussed, as well as the larger phenomena of anime remakes that radically remix their source material for modern audiences. Den of Otaku also brings light to anime’s trend of combining flora and fauna as a unique narrative device. We also break...

Den of Otaku sets sail and examines Netflix’s live-action One Piece, but also anime’s tumultuous history with live-action adaptations. Den of Otaku will also get in the cockpit with Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch From Mercury and analyze the controversy that’s surrounded the mecha series’ ending. Plus, new installments of Den of Otaku’s “Release The Hounds” and “The Big 3!” —————————— This episode...

Den of Otaku is Den of Geek's official anime and Japanese pop culture discussion series that breaks down the biggest developments in the industry. In the series' inaugural episode, Den of Geek contributor Daniel Kurland brings to light anime's own "Barbenheimer" phenomenon from the late '90s: Studio Ghibli's A-bomb epic, Grave of the Fireflies and Japan's Barbie analogue, Super Doll Licca-Chan. De...