Michelle Explains Anime, Poorly

Spearhead Squadron has some quiet time in the wilderness, but Shin is acting very weird, and Raiden's noticed. The gang visits the most depressing zoo imaginable.   We see the world from Fido's perspective.   Are you going to the other side of the water alone, Shin?: michelle.a.eem@gmail.com  

Shin and Rei fight! Lena guilts Annette into helping Spearhead! Everyone cries! Yay!   But what happens when the battle's over but you can't go home?   We're going on ahead, Major: michelle.a.eem@gmail.com  

Listen to me be super stressed as I try to record this right before an inspection!   Lena's getting yelled at by just about everybody.   We know why Shin wants to find his brother, but now we get to find out why Rei wants to find him. It's probably going to be horrifying, yay!   I complain about Shin's scar.    Please don't contact us again, Major: michelle.a.eem@gmail.com  

Hooray! It's finally time for the gang to tell Lena the really bad thing! It's probably going to really destroy her, but sometimes you gotta tell people the truth, right?   Also, how's Spearhead going to do with the siege of the Legion base that everyone knows is a trap? Remember last season when Ash went somewhere knowing it was a trap? I hope it's not going to be like that.   Will you remember u...

I talk a little about the shows I'm watching during the spring season.   We learn a little more about Shin and Rei's relationship and all of it is terrible. Lena remembers Rei fondly in a way that probably hurts Shin more than she can imagine.   Some people probably die this episode, sorry.   I slowly start to talk about my love for Shin while pretending I don't think you can notice.   Was he smil...

My computer's on the way out (no more keyboard, mouse, bluetooth, wifi...) so this might be a little more rambly than usual cos it's hard to edit without the appropriate tools. Sorry!   We find out exactly how Shin's been "breaking" all these Handlers and it probably isn't what you're expecting.   You're going to lose this war, Major: michelle.a.eem@gmail.com  

How does Lena come back from being told she's been treating Spearhead Squadron like subhuman pigs?   We see Shin break his calm demeanor for the first time and it's not when he's talking about how many comrades he's watched die.   I try some things with the audio that you'll either love or hate (or have no real opinion about). As long as you're inside the walls, you're not our equal, Handler One: ...

Lena asks Spearhead Squadron about their pets. What's their cat's name (spoiler: I still don't know what to call it)?   Daiya, Theo, and Haruto spy on the girls and Daiya asks about yobai.   Theo finally says something and it's super mean (and accurate).   "Sorry"? Sorry about what, Handler One?: michelle.a.eem@gmail.com

Lena is so well intentioned and naïve! It must be nice to have relatives in power so the military police will leave you alone when you say things that are directly against the county's ideology to a whole classroom of children.   We also learn more about how Spearhead gets supplies, how they fight, and some of their names.   You like to waste your time, huh, Handler One: michelle.a.eem@gmail.com  

A bit about the show and its production followed by episode 1.   We meet Lena and some folks in District 1. Then we get to know Shin and the Spearhead Squadron who have a habit of driving their Handlers literally insane. They seem nice though.   Yeah, I bet they're nice.   Say hello to the Reaper for me, Handler One: michelle.a.eem@gmail.com

I sit down with my human friend Henrique Couto to get his thoughts on the anime, which I, for all intents and purposes, forced him to watch.     In his own words: "TLDR: glad Ash is dead."    Also, we start 86 on March 13th!    Check out Henrique's podcast here It's almost like they were paving concrete over the garden of Ash's spirit: michelle.a.eem@gmail.com

Blanca meets Ash for the first time.   I get really upset about how Blanca and the world failed him (again) and talk about graffiti a bunch.   Next week is a weird kind last episode thing and the next season starts on March 13th!   The act of trying to hold control over a human being is not to be taken lightly, Monsieur:  michelle.a.eem@gmail.com   

The last bit of manga on the Banana Fish timeline, taking place in 1994, 9 years after Ash and Eiji first met. So what happens to Eiji after he returns to Japan? Does he ever find out about Ash?   Next week we wrap up the manga extras with Private Opinion!    I love your name, I know somebody whose name means the same thing:  michelle.a.eem@gmail.com

Hear how Ash and Shorter met, (yeah!) when Shorter's tasked with making sure Ash doesn't get killed during his first two months in Juvenile Detention.   I try to figure out how to read manga outloud and don't even cry once.   Next week is Garden of Light.   His eyes are light green, they just look red sometimes: michelle.a.eem@gmail.com

Sayonara America,   Sayonara New York,   But I won't say sayonara to you, Ash...   My soul is always with you: michelle.a.eem@gmail.com    (PS- FINE, this isn't my second favorite anime, this is my favorite anime.) A Broken Jar: https://youtu.be/u3AeMbONvcA?si=1m-C7QhVeSDnE8KV King Park: https://youtu.be/W141hdkPVMw?si=aWwvhAqS1SIuA6Bf

Ash needs to go with Eiji.   Ash cannot go with Eiji.   Sayonara, Eiji:  michelle.a.eem@gmail.com

First I talk a little about scars because Ash doesn't have any? Yeah, I don't get it either.    Foxx tries to convince Ash to join forces, but Ash would rather kiss a slug. Unfortunately he knows everything about Ash's past (stop telling people already, Golzine!) and thinks he can break him.   Eiji shows why he is best Eiji.   Eiji picks just the worst time to teach Ash how to say "sayonara".    A...

Ash and Max go to a gay bar and Ash gets to relive some trauma!   Some folks get rescued, lots of people get shot, and even the French Foreign Legion even gets involved. And to think it's all over some very sad teenager who just wants to have a normal life.   I probably cry a little too, btw.   Nothing but crazy serial killers, Eiji:  michelle.a.eem@gmail.com

Eiji and the gangs try to save Ash and then have a good old time in the NYC sewer system. Ash kills a bunch of mafia guys in the Museum of Natural History and looks just as cool as fuck doing so (sorry, mafia guys).   Mostly everything is just terrible, but the description sounds fun, right?   No new episode next week, so have a great Hanukkah, Christmas, or whatever. I'm a coward, Eiji: michelle....

Life ain't going so well for Ash, it's not even going as well as he was expecting (which was real bad).    The gang comes up with a plan to save Ash, and not a moment too soon since he, much like the majestic narwhal, does not do well in captivity (Seriously, narwhals can't survive in captivity, look it up).   We also get the most vulgar monologue I've ever had to read, so that's definitely someth...

Things are getting really bad now that Blanca's in the mix. Ash has to make just the worst decision possible in order to save that one really good thing in his life (you know the one).   Also, I cry a whole lot (sorry) and mispronounce monsieur like 5 times (I was really trying, I swear).   You'd make a good wife, Eiji:  michelle.a.eem@gmail.com   

Ash slaps someone, hugs Eiji, and then engages in a little prostitution (inappropriate wink). Also, someone is most definitely following them.   I read you like half of the manga version of the last scene in the episode cos it was toned down so much and I was sad about it.   Really, I just hope you don't hate me (these notes are getting weird).   I'd rather have you here where I can see you, Eiji:...

Is it possible for Max and Shunichi to help Ash escape the National Mental Health Institute without causing major, major problems for him?   Is this show finally going to have consensual sex in it?   Will Ash have to walk through Manhattan in a skirt?   All things are possible in Banana Fish!   That's sexual harassment, Max: michelle.a.eem@gmail.com   

You made it through Ep. 15 of Banana Fish and all you get is this terrible podcast!   How is Ash like a candy bar? Do you really wanna know? (probably not)   Besides the sex stuff, there's murder and lobotomies, hooray!   Y'know I used to be pretty famous in Times Square, Eiji:  michelle.a.eem@gmail.com   

Ash in the hospital worrying about Eiji seeing him like that, while Eiji's in jail wondering what he even meant.   Eiji unfortunately meets Yut-Lung again and Ash has a (not very) surprising knowledge of high end menswear, that I very much doubt is related to his IQ. Also, he's terrified of those nurses.   You gotta understand, I never even made it through elementary school, Mr. Halper:  michelle....