PenPen Pals

Back to the classroom! We, the honorary members of the Future Gadget Laboratory, invite you to review time travel theory with us. Join us for this high concept sci-fi temporal thiller along with friend of the show Hayden Workman of #WeBAG.

Alex had a lot of fun talking about the dads of Sekiro with Sophie and Mimi, so here's a new series! Mimi returns as we look at the game area by area and discuss the various enemies and bosses we encounter. Join us for a discussion of giant c*cks, dogs that are basically wolves, and the gatekeeper with a bullhorn for vocal chords. And remember, always announce yourself thusly "MY NAME IS..." Thank...

Content Warning: Discussion of radiation sickness and the other effects of atomic weaponry on human bodies We all live under the shadow of nuclear holocaust. Most of the time we can dismiss the phenomenon cognitively because of the distance and statistics of it all, and yet we remain in that shadow constantly. This episode discusses the story of people who lived quite literally in the shadow of th...

Friend of the show Sophie joins Alex and brings along her very funny EXPERT friend Mimi! This is the second in our series of realistic strong silent characters, which started with Fuse of Jin Roh. Come listen to us talk about big dumb idiot himbos, the constraints and purpose of societal roles, and one hyper competent doctor/spy/aikido-flip woman. Check out Sophie and Mimi's previous talk on Sekir...

We got together with Marley one more time to discuss the ending of Madoka Magica thus far. We also discover something shocking about Homura, Gendo, and ALEX?! (DUNDUNDUN) Join us for this enthusiastic sendoff to an acclaimed deconstructionist work

Get on the train loser!! We're going on a cosmic death journey!!! With special guest Ebony Atropus! FInd her work here: https://www.mixcloud.com/EbonyAtropus/black-moon-playlist/ https://kanashibari666.bandcamp.com/album/nightly-visits And check out the movie at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uOaNT5VXuEU

How can we make it easier to examine the darker truths of human existence? By exploring it through anthropomorphized cats!!! Created by the brilliant though somewhat fringe manga-ka Chiyomi Hashiguchi and animated by the equally talented director Tatsuo Sato and storyboard artist Masaaki Yuasa. Join us and first time guest Lily for a mind bending adventure through time, space, and the (cat)human c...

Here we are at the end of another phenomenal series. Madoka turned out to be an indispensable installment in anyone's anime education. Whether you're looking for a wave of emotional catharsis or a deconstruction of the genre, Madoka and her comrades will satisfy. Join us and informative new guest Bryant of ExplanationPointAnime for our final look at the series but maybe not our last coverage of Ma...

Our Penultimate Madoka episode! SAYAKA IS A WITCH?! Kyubey eats witches... IS KYUBEY GONNA EAT SAYAKA?! Twists and turns won't stop coming to our delighted little brains. New guest Kai of youtube.com @clearandsweet helps us untangle Homura's time web and gives us a slew of magical girl recommendations

Exploitation, ultraviolence and intrigue. Are we sure this show isn't set in america? We get more revelations after successful predictions, we discuss Kyubey's economic symbolism and why Sayaka is the most hardcore magical girl. Join us and new guest @ProfessorViral for this heady discussion Check out their work on Madoka and other anime at: https://www.youtube.com/@ProfessorViral

Half way baby!! The last two episodes were a fabulous tone shift, and these to do some welcome world building. Tyler Vincent joins us and shares some spoiler free reasons why new girl Kyoko is his favorite character.

Time for the episode three twist! We continue our discussion as Kyubey continues to exploit these Magical Girls. New guest and series expert @NezumiVA joins us Check out her work here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1IRtTied9Y

We tackle our next series and dip our toes into the Magical Girl genre for the first time in PenPenPals history. New guest Marley joins us to dissect another deconstructionist anime. Some say the Neon Genesis of the Mahou Shoujo genre. Marley will be giving a talk on "Queerness and Magical Girls" at FanimeCon on Sunday, 5/28, from 6:30-8:30pm You also can find her on Twitter @marleyteter https://w...

This episode contains discussion of graphic violence and the horrors of authoritarianism and capitalism. Listener discretion is advised. Meet Fuse, a paramilitary officer who can't shoot terrorists. Meet Kei, a former bomb carrier trying to turn her life around. When they get together they'll lose more than their humanity! Friends of the show Sin and Sophie join us for this giant sized discussion...

All good things must end, but so must all bad things. Join us as we say goodbye to Paranoia Agent as well as the many traumas contained therein. Friend of the show and absolute legend Th8a Wakes of @Nearlyonred is with us for this emotionally charged and satisfying finale. Check out Th8a's work on Twitter, Twitch, and Youtube. Stay tuned for more stuff from us , but bear with us while we choose so...

Back to the plot with our new guest Veronica!!! But first, a primer on Japan's animation industry and the human cost of this art form we love so much. Prepare yourself for this Penultimate Presentation of Paranoia Agent! Tweet at us @PenPenPalsPod or email at PenPenPalsPod@gmail.com

Content warning: Discussion of suicide and suicidal ideation. If these subjects would upset you, please skip this episode. Three internet friends meet in person for the first time and form a found family under unusual circumstances. A gaggle of gossipy housewives razz the new girl and help Lil' Slugger pervade their reality. Friends of the show Sophie and Sin from the Snack Covenant join us to dis...

Stories are told and unravel. Faith is tested and broken. People are still getting hit in the head. Trust is a hard thing to come by these days. Join us and new guest Aubrey Stockton as we continue to discuss this story about how fundamentally important stories are to our existence. Check out Aubrey's sweet sweet music at: https://www.youtube.com/@BONESOLVENT

Masami reminds us that ACAB. Kozuka reminds us that there is such a thing as too much video games. Nate Reminds us that the art in this show is BONKERS! Check out Nate's work on instagram and tik tok @house_of_midnite

Friend of the show Tonya joins us as the psychological plot thickens. Two new pairs of victims, two divergent life paths, two cultural phenomenons. The house of mirrors builds up around us, enlightening us but trapping us in its hypnotic gaze...

Enter Tsukiko Sagi, a young artist with a hit character and a deadline breathing down her neck. Enter Akio Kawazu, a sleazy reporter in need of a story to pay off his debts. Enter Lil' Slugger, the answer to everyone's problems. Join the PenPenPals for a discussion of Satoshi Kon's only television series.

Our phavorite philosopher Socratetris stops by to wrap up Lain with us. We talk Gnosticism, Buddhism, Transference, the whole shebang. We also decide that this horror series has a surprisingly happy ending. Stay tuned for the next exciting psychological thriller we will tackle. Find Socratetris' stuff at: https://www.youtube.com/@SocraTetris/

Lain in review. is she looking back at her own life? Is the God of the Wired showing her the truth? Is the show just doing a recap episode? These answer AND MORE in this week's episode. New guest Ryan comes to chat. Find ryan @Rychuzed on Twitch

Who made a deal with the aliens? Lain. Who killed the dinosaurs? Lain! Who faked the moon landing? LAIN! It's all Lain all the Lain. Lain? Lain?! LAAAAAAAIIIIIIIIN! And friend of the show Damian, of course... Damian urges us all to contribute to our local mutual aid organizations or start your own!

Lain's contact with the Knights escalates and the Men in Black pay her another visit. Plus psychic kids and CIA scientists. Help us kids explore our new online society alongisde returning guest Elicia