Treehouse Anime Club

Attack on Titan recently ended, and I wanted to talk about my journey with this series that began all the way back in 2013. HEAVY SPOILERS FOR ATTACK ON TITAN Obviously! I went through my memories as best as I could, like Eren Yeager sifting through his awareness of the multiverse, and I compiled my notes into a semblance of sanity in order to ramble through my thoughts now that it's all over. I h...

Gurren Lagann is a true blue modern classic, and a turning point for its creators, the studio, and much of its audience! The show is a non-stop rollercoaster of storytelling and animation that oftentimes leaves me breathless after watching! But it's also a tale firmly rooted in tradition, a fresh "spin" on the classic hero's journey as we follow our timid protagonist on his journey to manhood. And...

(Re-uploaded on June 30, 2024 to match my two-part format) From the classic catalog of manga powerhouse CLAMP and the dynamite animation staff of Studio Madhouse, comes a classic love story with a twist! Chobits is a series very much set in the early 2000s yet imagines a not-so-distant future of artificial intelligence and computers becoming fully integrated into modern society as sexy robot ladie...

Paranoia Agent is our spooooky Halloween episode for this year, and it's the scariest anime I own in my collection. We're breaking out the big guns for this one! From the late, great director, Satoshi Kon comes a work that could be described as a stream of consciousness piloted by a captain with a firm hand on the tiller. Only the captain knows the direction the boat needs to go, and he of...

Happy fall, y'all! A new season of magical anime goodness is upon us, and I want to talk about a few that I have my eyes on going into the Fall 2023 Anime Season! The Sizzling Summer Watchlist went over pretty well so I've now made the seasonal previews an official part of the podcast! In other news... there are too many damn cartoons to watch this season!!! Tell me the anime YOU are excit...

Seirei no Moribito is a classic example of a classic anime that time has unfortunately left behind in wider fandom. This is a story of fighting for what you believe in and protecting what you think is right even if it will likely cost you everything you hold dear. How far would you go for a stranger? And on the production side, I think y'all will find it interesting to learn how this historical fa...

Outlaw Star is a series that defines the epitome of what was great about the animation and character designs of the late 90's. It's a real shame we haven't gotten any new projects in this universe over the last 25 years... Buckle up because the story of Outlaw Star's production is one full of twists and turns, nostalgia, and a little heartbreak. Musical tracks in this episode "Flight" - Kou Ohtani...

Death Parade is a consistent favorite of mine, and its director, Yuzuru Tachikawa, has had one heck of a career following this show's release. Take a chance and gamble on a good time as I explain how Tachikawa-san was able to produce such a unique property through the Young Animators Training Program, sponsored by the Japanese Government. Musical tracks in order of appearance "Flyers&quot...

This is the second half of our Treehouse Anime Club Origins series, and this time I turned the Listener Spotlight on full and put the community in the driver's seat! This is YOUR Anime Origin Story! I also reached out to my podcasting "senpai" for their anime origin stories. This was a blast to put together and I plan to do more of these kinds of episodes in the future. Enjoy! Intro...

By popular demand, this is a more detailed breakdown of how I got into the anime hobby, what the anime landscape was like at the time, and the ideas that shaped this podcast! Intro music: "Ready Steady Go!" L'Arc-en-Ciel [Fullmetal Alchemist OP2]

The Treehouse Anime Club Discord has spoken! "Mobile Suit Gundam" the 1980s Compilation Movie Trilogy is our first official mecha episode! Grandaddy RX-78-2 demands its coverage! I admit that Gundam has long been a blind spot in my personal anime journey, and what better way to enter the franchise than by classic peer pressure? I've been on one heck of a journey, and I can't wait to share my exper...

Revolutionary Girl Utena is one of the most unique visions of animation and storytelling I've seen in recent memory. Kunihiko Ikuhara was already riding high from his success as the Series Director of Sailor Moon, but he left it all behind to gamble on a vision. The Treehouse Anime Club pulls back the curtain on early days of Utena's production as well as the creative tensions present in t...

This was one of the toughest episodes to record. Kyoto Animation is one of my favorite studios in anime, and Violet Evergarden ranks as one of my favorite recent works. For this episode, I am covering Violet Evergarden in its entirety so it's another long episode, but I made sure to pack this one full to the brim with cool details about the anime. Follow the show on Instagram/Threads! Super Dave (...

Surprise! You're getting a bonus episode out of nowhere! Happy Summer! This week is mostly unscripted as I run through my highlights and a few lowlights of the 2023 Summer Anime Season, and where I think a few of these shows might be going. And tell me the anime YOU are watching this season! Follow the show on Instagram Super Dave (@treehouseanimepod) | Instagram And be part of the show on our...

This week's episode is a double feature of "Trigun" and its 2010 film "Trigun: Badlands Rumble"! Who is Vash the Stampede, really? Who brought his journey to life? What lies in store for the legendary outlaw and his world? From the mind of Yasuhiro Nightow, to the fine folks at Studio Madhouse who translated pen and paper to the big screen. Join me in the Treehouse as I dis...

The directorial vision of Masaaki Yuasa and Science Saru is one of the most unique voices in the anime industry. Their latest film, Inu-Oh, delivers one of the strangest and visually expressive films I've had the pleasure of experiencing. This is a project that can only be brought to life by the vision of Yuasa and his team. Join me as I uncover the story of the making of Inu-Oh! Rock on Song list...

We were THIS CLOSE to being topical for Soul Eater's 15th anniversary! Ah well, better late than never. Soul Eater remains as one of my favorite action anime series to date, only topped by the likes of One Punch Man and Mob Psycho 100, which also share animation staff from Soul Eater! Join me as I geek out over the art and animation of Soul Eater, why I think it holds up today, why you should...

Follow the show on Instagram! Super Dave (@treehouseanimepod) | Instagram This week, we're leaning a little into 90's anime nostalgia! I have a lot of fond memories of the Ronin Warriors, but it's also been over 10 years since I last watched the show. So, what better excuse to rewatch a classic series than to make an episode about it?! I can't find a better one. Links! Check out myself with Joe an...

Follow the show on Instagram at Super Dave (@treehouseanimepod) | Instagram We're all somebody from somewhere. For our inaugural episode I am covering the production story of "Kiki's Delivery Service" and the fine folks who made it the critical and commercial success it is today. I also talk about my plans for the show (I have a lot of 'em!) plus thank the folks who helped me...