More Than A Cartoon

How did The Bashanator become one of the most recognizable anime creators online? In this episode of More Than A Cartoon, we dive into Bash's journey from Cuba to becoming known as the "Tensura Guy," his love for anime, content creation advice, Naruto, Jobless Reincarnation, character analysis, and what it really takes to build an audience in the anime community. Whether you're a...

The 2026 Crunchyroll Anime Awards are here… BUT instead of celebrating anime, the community immediately started fighting. My Hero Academia winning Anime of the Year has the internet divided, Demon Slayer continues its unstoppable domination, BUT fans are saying shows like Takopi’s Original Sin got completely robbed. So now the anime community is asking the same question they ask every year: Are th...

What's Going On in Anime Right Now...? Netflix isn’t treating anime like a side project anymore. From exclusive releases and massive advertising pushes to changing how studios approach production, the anime industry is evolving fast. In this episode of More Than A Cartoon, we break down Netflix’s anime strategy, convention experiences, upcoming anime releases, voice acting discussions, storyte...

We went to Level Up Expo expecting a normal anime convention… but what we experienced says a lot about where anime is heading. The energy from fans was unreal, BUT the conversations kept circling back to the same thing—anime is changing fast. From the My Hero Academia finale sparking debates to the Avatar leaks shaking trust in studios, it feels like the industry is at a breaking point. Therefore...

Season 2 of Attack on Titan looks simple at first… but it’s quietly setting up everything. The Titans weren’t just monsters—but something way worse. Every scene, every line, every background detail was building toward a truth most people didn’t even catch the first time. This is where the story stops being humans vs Titans…and becomes something much darker. If you’ve ever felt like you missed some...

Everyone watches the Crunchyroll Anime Awards… but not everyone agrees with them. Every year, fans expect their favorite anime to win… BUT somehow the results always spark debates, arguments, and straight-up chaos in the community. Therefore we’re calling it early. From Anime of the Year to Best Animation, we’re breaking down our predictions for who should win, who will win, and which picks might...

Everyone thought Spring 2026 anime would be mid… but this season might actually be one of the most slept-on lineups in years. From highly anticipated sequels to unexpected hidden gems, this season is packed with shows that could completely take over the anime community. BUT not everything is worth your time… and that’s where things get interesting. We’re breaking down the biggest upcoming anime re...

Anime fans are dealing with a lot right now. From Netflix’s controversial JoJo Steel Ball Run release strategy to Crunchyroll data security concerns, this episode breaks down the biggest anime streaming issues, creator struggles, and the changing future of content creation. We also get into convention tips, movie theater etiquette, and what it really feels like trying to keep up with anime in the...

This One Piece “Racism” Debate Is Wild...Everyone thinks the One Piece live-action series is “race swapping” characters…BUT what if it’s actually doing the opposite? This debate has been blowing up across the anime community — from Vivi’s casting to Broly… I mean Brooke… to fans losing their minds over Nami — and somehow everyone is arguing without actually understanding what Eiichiro Oda intended...

Think you're a real anime fan? Let’s test it. From Naruto’s ANBU to Goku’s Kamehameha, these are the anime facts every fan should know. Some are easy, some will humble you fast. Whether you love One Piece, Demon Slayer, Attack on Titan, Bleach, or Jujutsu Kaisen, this quiz separates casual watchers from certified otaku. So the real question is… how many did you actually get right?

At first glance, Attack on Titan looks like a brutal action anime about giant monsters. But the deeper you go, the more you realize it was never just about Titans. It’s about trauma. It’s about sacrifice. It’s about cycles of hatred and the cost of freedom. From subtle foreshadowing in season one to the psychological weight every character carries, the storytelling hits harder the second time arou...

Anime fans thought the rankings would change… but some legends refuse to fall. From Attack on Titan still dominating conversations to the rise of slice-of-life comfort shows, this episode breaks down what’s really happening in the anime community. We talk character development that actually hits, voice acting that carries entire scenes, and why art style can make or break an adaptation. But here’s...

Nobody expected this… but here we are. The recent Crunchyroll price increase has the anime community questioning everything. Is this just normal streaming inflation, or is something bigger happening behind the scenes with Sony? In this episode, we break down the history of streaming price hikes, what this means for anime fans, and whether Crunchyroll is still worth the subscription. But it doesn’t...

From the return of Jujutsu Kaisen and Hell’s Paradise, to darker surprises like Sentenced to Be a Hero, this season quietly delivered more than most fans were ready for. What really caught us off guard, though, was how many yuri and yaoi anime showed up—and how confidently they owned their space instead of feeling like side content. On top of that, low-key standouts like Wash It All Away, You and...

MAPPA Sold out to Netflix (and You're Paying for it?) Anime fans didn’t ask for this—but it’s happening anyway.**MAPPA and **Netflix are officially partnering, and the implications are bigger than most people realize. Box and Dr. Applesauce break down what this deal actually means, why fans are divided, and whether this is the future of anime—or the beginning of a bigger problem. From creative...

My Hero Academia isn’t just another Shonen—it’s the anime that defined a generation. From Deku’s rise, All Might’s legacy, and Todoroki’s inner war, to the controversial ending that split the fandom, this series sparked debates about sacrifice, plot armor, hero society, and what it truly means to be a hero. Some fans call it peak shonen. Others say it fumbled the landing. But love it or hate it, M...

Winter 2026 anime is coming in hot—but not everyone’s convinced it’ll deliver. This season is packed with bold animation styles, risky adaptations, cult-classic energy, and a few wildcards that could either flop or completely overshadow fan favorites. We’re breaking down what actually matters this winter: animation quality, originality, and whether these new releases deserve the hype—or the side-e...

Anime fans didn’t ask for monopolies, AI voices, or censorship—but here we are. This episode dives into Crunchyroll’s growing dominance, the rise of AI voice acting, and why many fans feel their choices are slowly disappearing. We break down what this means for dubbed and subbed viewers, creators, and the future of anime itself—but more importantly, we ask whether convenience is costing fans contr...

Anime streaming was supposed to make life easier—but instead, it feels more restrictive than ever. Crunchyroll’s monopoly, the disappearance of Funimation’s identity, and the rise of AI dubbing are changing how anime is made, watched, and valued. Voice actors are caught in the middle, creators struggle to get paid, and fans are left with fewer real choices. This conversation isn’t about nostalgia—...

Anime fans deserve better than this. In today’s episode, we dive into the chaos surrounding Amazon’s AI-dub controversy, the community frustration with One Punch Man Season 3, and why streaming platforms feel more lost than ever. We also talk about Tatsuki Fujimoto’s real inspirations, the challenges voice actors are facing right now, and the surprising upcoming anime Does It Count If You Lose You...

Anime has always been animation first, story second—but somewhere along the way, the community forgot that. In this episode, Kyle and Dr. Applesauce dive into the downfall of One Punch Man and the animator backlash that followed. They unpack why visuals matter, why fans are frustrated, and why creators are reaching their breaking point. They also explore the state of romance anime—like With You, O...

This episode gets real. Kyle and Dr. Applesauce open up about the chaos behind podcasting—technical issues, missed episodes, and the growing pains that every creator faces. From breaking down their current anime watchlist to reacting to the massive shutdown of pirate sites, the conversation gets deeper as they unpack Cloudflare’s legal trouble and how it reshaped the entire anime streaming landsca...

In this episode, Kyle and Dr. Applesauce dive into the chaos behind the scenes of podcasting—tech meltdowns, missed uploads from getting sick, and everything creators never talk about. But that’s just the warm-up. The real discussion starts when they shift to the anime industry’s breaking point, unpacking the struggles inside studios like One Punch Man, the rise of “hope-bait vs rage-bait” content...

This episode breaks down major shifts in the anime industry, from One Piece moving to a seasonal format to Black Clover’s surprising return. Kyle and Dr. Applesauce analyze how production schedules impact animation quality, storytelling, and voice acting across iconic franchises like Naruto and Boruto. They examine the pressure creators face to maintain success, the relevance of physical media, an...

Crunchyroll deletes anime without telling people and One Punch Man Director deletes X account after season 3 backlash. Chainsaw Man’s movie might’ve reignited anime hype — but One Punch Man’s comeback is already dividing fans. In this episode, Kyle and Dr. Applesauce break down what’s really happening behind the scenes: from Chainsaw Man’s new adaptation and One Punch Man’s animation controversy t...