Strictly Anime

We discuss: Is It Finally Cool to Like Anime? Being an Anime Fan Then vs. Now. We take a look at life as an otaku back in the day (we're talking the Adult Swim, Toonami, and 4Kids TV era of anime) and compare it to the current anime industry and weeb community. Let's just say that new weebs have no idea how easy they have it.⁠ Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/thestrictlyseries Website:...

We review Saint Young Men (Saint Oniisan). This comedy, which follows Buddha and Jesus on their vacation to Japan, left us thinking "What did we just watch?" but in the best way possible. Rather than being a focal point, religion only helps to shape how they interact with the world, making this a simple and refreshing story that anyone can enjoy. We discuss the clever ways in which relig...

We review I Want to Eat Your Pancreas (Kimi no Suizou wo Tabetai). Despite having one of the most questionable and confusing titles, this anime movie presents a safe but compelling story. Join us as we review the method of story-telling that blends predictability with unexpected elements, as well as the themes of growth and acceptance. Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/thestrictlyseries...

We review Fena: Pirate Princess (Kaizoku Oujo).⁠ This anime was one of our favorites of Summer 2021 with its high production value, captivating story, and endearing characters. We discuss the untapped potential of this show as we keep our fingers crossed for a season 2. Also, Courtney shares why Yukimaru is the ideal male tsundere.⁠ Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/thestrictlyseries We...

We review My Hero Academia: World Heroes' Mission (Boku no Hero Academia the Movie 3: World Heroes' Mission). The third movie for this series is more intense and dark than the previous installments, however it wasn't quite what we were expecting based on the promo material. We dive into Humarise, Midoriya's adventure with Rody, the climactic fight scenes with Bakugo and Todoroki, and theorize whic...

We discuss our spoiler-free Fall 2021 Anime First Impressions. The year is almost over, but this season is keeping the hype alive with some really promising shows. Will Fall 2021 present us with some of the top contenders for this year? We discuss Komi-san, Mieruko-chan, Platinum End, and everything else we're watching!⁠ Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/thestrictlyseries Website: https...

We share our favorite anime openings and endings. There’s a lot of great OPs and EDs out there, but our favorites are the ones that have unique visuals, songs that are absolute bangers, and stick with us long after we finish watching the anime. Join us as we vibe to our favorites! Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/thestrictlyseries Website: https://www.thestrictlyseries.com Instagram: h...

We review Life Lessons with Uramichi Oniisan. Finally, an anime for millennials who are stuck in an existential crisis and whose dreams are unfulfilled. This dark comedy hits home as the story follows Uramichi Oniisan in his attempts to deal with the nonsense of everyday life. Join us as we discuss the relatability of this show and its characters, the great moments of comedy, and how it left us wa...

Karl reviews Star Wars: Visions. This anthology series perfectly showcases the enthralling visual and storytelling aspects of anime whilst remaining true to the spirit and legacy of the Star Wars mythos. Join Karl in his inaugural (Han) solo outing as he explores the Japanese vision of a galaxy far, far away! Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/thestrictlyseries Website: https://www.thest...

We review the second half of My Hero Academia (Boku no Hero Academia) season 5. There were a lot of ups and down throughout this season with some really intense and emotional moments. We discuss Hawks' undercover work, Endeavor's struggle to be a good father, and the craziness going on between the League of Villains and the Meta Liberation Front during My Villain Academia. We also speculate what's...

We review the second half of Tokyo Revengers season one. It's been a wild ride so far, and apparently it's only getting started. This anime is deserving of its hype and we've been loving the emotional story full of unexpected turns. We dive into the Valhalla arc, animation issues, how we miss Hina, and, most importantly, that insane cliffhanger season finale. Join us!⁠ Support the podcast: https:/...

We discuss anime powers we wish we had in real life. Wouldn't it be awesome to time travel? Or read people's minds? Or become a Pokemon trainer? We take a realistic look at anime powers and decide whether we'd want them in real life. As a bonus, we also share anime powers we would never want, because it might not be as cool as it looks in the show. Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/thes...

We review season one of To Your Eternity (Fumetsu no Anata e). Why didn't anyone warn us that we'd be on the verge of tears over and over again while watching this anime? With such a beautifully written story and incredible animation, we were hooked immediately. Though not every arc hit in quite the same way, we tackle each one in our discussion as well as speculate what may be in store for season...

For this very special 50th episode we're joined by JD and Earthworm from Anime Brothers Podcast sharing our takes on popular anime characters! We analyze each character on our lists, questioning if they have what it takes to be legendary. Who did we feel deserves to be popular? And who do we think is just hyped? Join us and find out!⁠ Check out Anime Brothers Podcast on Apple, Google, Spotify and...

We review Josee, the Tiger and the Fish (Josee to Tora to Sakana-tachi). This movie was a solid watch with pleasing visuals, a whimsical score, and a feel-good love story centered around a tsundere and her disability. Join us as we discuss Josee and Tsuneo's blossoming relationship, the themes of independence and dreams, and how this anime movie compares to others. This is a movie well worth the w...

We review the third part (episodes 27-37) of Death Note. After this insane ride, we understand why this anime is a classic. We discuss the incredible writing, how the final part compares to the the earlier parts of the show, and the big brain ending that took us a bit to understand. Join us! Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/thestrictlyseries Website: https://www.thestrictlyseries.com I...

We review Words Bubble Up Like Soda Pop (Cider no You ni Kotoba ga Wakiagaru). Pleasant visuals and a simple theme of finding self-confidence, this boy-meets-girl film blends two love stories together for an easy watch. While the delivery of the story and characters may have been the weakest part, this movie still shines bright in art style and soundtrack. Join us as we discuss what the movie got...

We review the second part (episodes 14-26) of Death Note. The hype never stops in this anime, even with a big tone shift and slower pacing for several episodes. We discuss the complexities of the story, whether Light is inherently good or evil, and the pivotal moment with L. And as first-time viewers, we speculate what happens in the final part of Death Note. Support the podcast: https://www.patre...

We discuss our spoiler-free Summer 2021 Anime First Impressions. Join us as we chat about our current watches, how this season compares in the early days to Winter and Spring, and what our favorite anime is so far.⁠ Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/thestrictlyseries Website: https://www.thestrictlyseries.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestrictlyseries Twitter: https://twitte...

We review the first part (episodes 1-13) of Death Note. We waited 15 years to finally watch this iconic anime, and now we understand the hype. From Light and the Death Note, to L and his detective skills, to Ryuk and his apples, this show is dramatic and intense. Join us as we experience Death Note for the very first time!⁠ Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/thestrictlyseries Website: ht...

Courtney reviews Higehiro: After Being Rejected, I Shaved and Took in a High School Runaway (Hige wo Soru. Soshite Joshikousei wo Hirou.). Despite the sus title, this was a hidden gem of the Spring 2021 anime season with a story that was heartwarming. Plus, this show has Yoshida, who is one of the best protagonists this year with his kind and caring demeanor.⁠ Support the podcast: https://www.patr...

Courtney reviews Wonder Egg Priority. She shares her take on an anime that is visually stunning, mysterious and intriguing, and tackles some of the heaviest themes in anime. However, despite her love for this show, it certainly wasn't perfect due to major production issues that resulted in some pretty bad flaws. Join her as she discusses the best and worst parts of this unique anime!⁠ Support the...

We review the first half of Tokyo Revengers season one. Join us as we chat about the time travel ability, how middle schoolers can somehow form the deadliest gang in Tokyo, how much Takemichi cries compared to other shounen protagonists, and our predictions for the second half of this show.⁠ Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/thestrictlyseries Website: https://www.thestrictlyseries.com I...

We've got a unique discussion this week as we review Trese through the lens of two Filipino-Americans. We talk about the folklore and culture seen in this show, question if Netflix did this story justice, and debate whether this is truly considered an "anime."⁠ Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/thestrictlyseries Website: https://www.thestrictlyseries.com Instagram: https://www...

We review the first half of My Hero Academia (Boku no Hero Academia) season 5. We talk (another) tournament arc, Midoriya's struggle with One for All, Bakugo's character development, thicc Froppy, fan service, ships, and so much more!⁠ Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/thestrictlyseries Website: https://www.thestrictlyseries.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestrictlyseries Twi...