Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Failed Topic Ideas

As we here in the 50th State prepare to ring in a new year, I would like to take this opportunity to spread a little humor this New Year's Eve by dusting off my old notebooks and giving all of you a short list of topic ideas that, for one reason or another, failed to make it into the podcast.

1. Anime/Manga a cappella - I'll be the first one to admit that this topic looked great on paper. But the notion of myself singing about a particular Anime/Manga series that piqued my interest wasn't quite as scary as the inevitable storm of sarcasm that I would have to brave from my fellow contributors. While there was one major problem (I can't sing to save my life) the topic headed to the round file after realizing that Cupid would have a field day, and I think that guy has all the ammunition he'd ever need.

2. The Random Phone Call - Before settling on a podcast as my medium of choice, I was drawn to the idea of having an internet radio broadcast each week, complete with call-in segments with listeners. As such, one of the ideas that didn't make it was where I would call a random phone number, and then have a short conversation with whoever answered the phone. In the end, I'm glad I didn't go the "radio route." Besides, wouldn't the constant thought of having an impromptu phone conversation with me get a bit creepy after a while?

3. 6 Degrees Of... - This topic, which involved me naming two completely dissimilar objects found in Hawaii (say, Taro & Kona Coffee) and then having each contributor try to tie those objects together in a few steps as possible (i.e. Kona Coffee & Taro seeds are both planted in the ground) almost made it into the first season's final topic list, but it was vetoed because it would mostly lead to an inevitable conversation about the growing stagnancy of our local economy.

4. Who Irritates You More? - This little gem found its way into my head (and subsequently, onto paper) during a solo brainstorming session not long after our podcast preview episodes were recorded. The idea was to compare two types of people from our everyday lives to see which would prove to be more irritating (People who use their cell phones while driving OR People who ask to cut in front of you in line at the supermarket?) While this topic was cut because it brought too much of an overtly negative tone to the podcast, that's not to say that there isn't any room for a bit of behavioral evaluation. Maybe this will appear in a future episode as a conversation-starter...

Well, that's about all I think you can handle for now. Stay tuned to this site for more feature articles as our 2nd Season approaches!

Happy New Year!

~Totoro (Otaku 5-0 Creator, Executive Producer)

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Casting Couch: Take Four

Aloha everybody!

Since the podcast is officially on hiatus (and I have no intention to keep this site dormant until we return), I have decided to post the fourth in a series of articles about my favorite podcast topic - Casting Couch!

As you well know, this topic's premise allows myself and the other contributors to provide our "wish list" cast for a movie that has yet to be made based on an Anime/cartoon series or video game.

I would like to take you back in time to the 4th episode of Season 1 (visit here for a refresher), where the next occurrence of Casting Couch took place, centered around casting a movie based on the Anime series Cowboy Bebop.

This installment was a lot of fun. Myself, Cupid & Jupiter submitted our casting choices with a straight live-action movie adaptation of the Anime in mind. Cetic, on the other hand (who was actually a member of the audience but wanted to chime in and offer his picks) envisioned a "live-action Anime" type of movie, with an on-screen actor providing the character's physical performance and another actor providing the character's voice. Needless to say, he stole the segment.

Producer's Note: In each principal character's "Original Performer" slot, I will name that character's Japanese and English voice actors.

And so, without further adieu... .

Role: Spike Spiegel
Original Performers: Koichi Yamadera (Japanese voice), Steven Blum (English voice)
Our Suggestions: Ryan Reynolds (Cupid), Ray Park w/ voice of Will Smith (Cetic), Keanu Reeves (Jupiter), Neil Patrick Harris (Totoro)


Role: Jet Black
Original Performers: Unshō Ishizuka (Japanese voice), Beau Billingslea (English voice)
Our Suggestions: Bruce Willis (Cupid), Ken Watanabe w/ voice of Tom Hanks (Cetic), Kris Kristofferson (Jupiter), Michael Chiklis (Totoro)


Role: Faye Valentine
Original Performers: Megumi Hayashibara (Japanese voice), Wendee Lee (English voice)
Our Suggestions: Kristin Kreuk or Angelina Jolie (Cupid), Sora Aoi w/ voice of Angelina Jolie (Cetic), Summer Glau (Jupiter), Dita von Teese or Carrie-Anne Moss (Totoro)


Role: Edward Wong Hau Pepelu Tivrusky IV
Original Performers: Aoi Tada (Japanese voice), Melissa Fahn (English voice)
Our Suggestions: Neil Patrick Harris (Cupid), A younger Shia LaBeouf (Cetic), A younger Mary Kate/Ashley Olsen or Freddie Highmore (Jupiter), A younger Macaulay Culkin (Totoro)


I would like to thank you very much for taking this trip down memory lane with me. Happy Holidays to you all and please stay tuned to this site for our second season!

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Otaku 5-0 Season 1: Episode 15

Aloha everybody!

The first leg of our journey has come to an end...

I am proud to present to you the final episode of Otaku 5-0's inaugural season. This is our first attempt to produce a podcast with a 4-person panel. If I do say so, I think it turned out pretty well. And of course, I think it interesting to note that this episode is CURRENTLY the longest we have ever produced!

I would like to take this opportunity to thank every member of our growing audience for taking the time to download and/or listen to our episodes. We hope that you'll continue to listen to us when we return. And for those who are just now discovering our podcast, we welcome you with open arms.

On behalf of the entire staff of Otaku 5-0, I wish you a very heartfelt, "Happy Holidays!"

See you all next year for our Season 2 premiere!

Mahalo,
~Totoro (Creator/Executive Producer, Otaku 5-0)



Click here to download episode.

Show Notes
Otaku 5-0: Episode 1.15

Date Recorded: December 15, 2008
Running Time: 80 minutes

Moderator
Totoro (Executive Producer)

Panelists
Cetic (Senior Producer)
Jupiter (Senior Producer)
Cupid (Contributor)

Format
1. Bad Joke of the Day (Cupid)

2. Pearl of Wisdom (Jupiter)

3. Lead-in (Totoro)

4. Great Debates: The Simpsons or Family Guy?

5. Taking Stock
- Season 1: A Brief Retrospective
- Discussion of how Season 2 can be better
- Discussion of future interview segment with DJ Buma (and a rumor regarding events during the kon dance party)
of Kawaii-kon & audition episode for Anime/Manga Correspondent candidate (you know who you are...)

6. Sequels That Shouldn't Have Been Made

7. 4 Reasons Why... Yoda Should Not Have Been CG

8. Random Chatter
- Discussion: Star Wars (We love the movies, but they could have been better... we're not ashamed to say that.)
- Oscar Watch: The Dark Knight
- Movie/Video Game Talk: Dragonball: Evolution, X-Men Origins: Wolverine, The Spirit, Johnny Quest, Race To Witch Mountain, The Day The Earth Stood Still & Seven Pounds, Punch-Out! Wii, FEAR 2, Prototype, Alpha Protocol, Resident Evil 5
- Discussion of Anime that we'd like to see during the hiatus

9. Lead-out (Totoro)

Musical Notes
- Opening Theme: "Kefka's Theme" from Final Fantasy VI
- Interstitial Clips: "Subtitle" from Full Metal Panic!, "Gato's Theme" from Chrono Trigger, "Afternoon Of Konoha" from Naruto, "Catch (boon)" from Ah! My Goddess,
- Ending Theme: "Honoruru, Hawaii" from Frank De Lima's Ethnicology 101

Questions and/or feedback can either be posted here as a comment or sent via e-mail to Otaku50podcast@gmail.com

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Otaku 5-0 Season 1: Episode 14

Aloha everybody!

I know it's been a while, but I am very pleased to FINALLY present the latest episode of our podcast!

The last topic for this episode is actually a preview topic for our upcoming second season (which will begin around mid-January.)



Click here to download episode.

Show Notes
Otaku 5-0: Episode 1.14

Date Recorded: December 8, 2008
Running Time: 54 minutes

Moderator
Totoro (Executive Producer)

Panelists
Cetic (Senior Producer)
Jupiter (Senior Producer)

Format
1. Pearl of Wisdom (Jupiter)

2. Lead-in (Totoro)

3. Casting Couch: Dexter's Laboratory

4. Room For Improvement: Cartoon Network's Adult Swim

5. Random Chatter
- Discussion of our least favorite TV channels/programs

6. Least Favorite... Horror Movie

7. Please Produce This...

8. Random Chatter
- Discussion of upcoming "audition" episode for our prospective Anime/Manga Correspondent
- Discussion of next week's Season 1 finale

9. Lead-out (Totoro)

Musical Notes
- Opening Theme: "Gai's Theme" from Naruto
- Interstitial Clips: "Subtitle" from Full Metal Panic!, "Subtitle" from Full Metal Panic! Fumoffu?, "Catch (cheen)" from Ah! My Goddess, "I'll Do It Right!" from Naruto
- Ending Theme: "Breach of Contract" from Ah! My Goddess

Questions & feedback may be posted here as a comment or sent via e-mail to Otaku50podcast@gmail.com

Stay tuned for the next episode!

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Otaku 5-0 Season 1: Episode 13

Aloha everybody!

I am pleased to present the next episode of our podcast!

Based on a suggestion from Jupiter, we decided to do an Electronics-themed episode which I think turned out to be pretty good. Also, to make up for the lack of a podcast episode last week, I decided to produce an hour-long episode. As such, I am also pleased to announce that this episode is currently the longest we have ever done!

Enjoy!

Producer's Note: Oops! During the episode, I give March 9, 2009 as the release date for the upcoming live-action Watchmen movie. As it turns out, this is incorrect. The movie actually premieres 3 days earlier (March 6, 2009).



Click here to download episode.

Show Notes
Otaku 5-0: Episode 1.13

Date Recorded: November 17, 2008
Running Time: 74 minutes

Moderator
Totoro (Executive Producer)

Panelists
Cetic (Senior Producer)
Jupiter (Senior Producer)

Format
1. Pearl of Wisdom (Jupiter)

2. Lead-in (Totoro)

3. Random Chatter
- Discussion of new photos for upcoming live-action Dragonball movie (premiere date: April 9, 2009)
- Discussion of latest trailer for Watchmen (premiere date: March 6, 2009)
- Discussion and capsule review of Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm (PS3)

4. Great Debates: PC or Mac?

5. (Video Game) Sequels That Shouldn't Have Been Made

6. The Top 5: Video Game Systems

7. Room For Improvement: Video Game Systems/Peripherals

8. Random Chatter
- Discussion on possibility of a 4-man or 5-man format for Season Finale

9. Lead-out (Totoro)

Musical Notes
- Opening Theme: "Kefka's Theme" from Final Fantasy VI
- Interstitial Clips: "Subtitle" from Full Metal Panic!, "Subtitle" from Full Metal Panic! Fumoffu?, "Pre-Title" from His & Her Circumstances, "Catch (puff) from Ah! My Goddess
- Ending Theme: "Chrono Trigger" from Chrono Trigger

If you have a piece of feedback or a question for our forthcoming "Mail Bag" episode, you can either post it here as a comment or send it to us via e-mail to Otaku50podcast@gmail.com

Stay tuned to this page for next week's episode as we near the end of our first season!

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Otaku 5-0 Season 1: Episode 12

Aloha everybody!

I am proud to present the latest episode of the podcast!

A note of interest: This is the first podcast that features a short musical break. Circumstances during the recording session prevented us from making a start-to-finish recording, so the episode was broken into two parts, and then reconstituted during post-production.

WARNING! Portions of this podcast contains mature language. Listener discretion is advised.



Click here to download episode.

Show Notes
Otaku 5-0: Episode 1.12

Date Recorded: November 3, 2008
Running Time: 54 minutes

Moderator
Totoro (Executive Producer)

Panelists
Cetic (Senior Producer)
Jupiter (Senior Producer)

Format
1. A Philosophical Musing (Totoro)

2. Lead-in (Totoro)

3. Little Big Planet Review (Cetic)

4. Sequels We'd Like To See

5. Least Favorite... Actor/Actress

6. Random Chatter
- Discussion on Favorite Comedians

7. Anime/Manga Pick of the Week

8. Random Chatter
- Discussion on Anime/Manga & the state of entertainment
- Discussion about upcoming interviews with Laura Bailey and DJ Buma of Kawaii-kon

9. Lead-out (Totoro)

Musical Notes
- Opening Theme: "Cyan's Theme" from Final Fantasy VI
- Interstitial Clips: "Gato's Theme" from Chrono Trigger, "Pre-Title" from His & Her Circumstances, "Subtitle" from Full Metal Panic!
- Musical Break: "Airwolf Theme" composed by Sylvester Levay, performed by YouTube user metalbums
- Interstitial Clips: "Miyazawa Family" from His & Her Circumstances, "
- Ending Theme: "Opening Theme" from Samurai Pizza Cats

Thank you for your continued support during our inaugural season! Stay tuned for the next episode!

If you have a question or comment for us, please post them as a comment or send an e-mail to Otaku50podcast@gmail.com

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Casting Couch: Take Three

Hey everybody!

I present the third in a series of articles covering my favorite podcast topic - Casting Couch!

First, let me take you back to last month, where we recorded a "Bonus" episode of the podcast for subscribers to our (now-defunct) mailing list. That episode featured an installment of Casting Couch where the panelists (myself, Neko-X and Cetic) formulated a wish-list cast for a movie version of the perennial NES classic, Punch-Out! (Yes, we know that Mike Tyson's Punch Out! actually came out first, but we decided NOT to give that psycho any more attention than he deserves.)

On another note, after taking a look at the game's overall plot, we decided that this would be a great opportunity to actually cast a FRANCHISE of films based around this title. So, for this installment, we opted to limit the cast list only to the game's MINOR CIRCUIT opponents.

Let's take a look at what we came up with...

- The Protagonists -

Little Mac - The Hero
Totoro: Elijah Wood
Neko-X: Jake Gyllenhaal
Cetic: Tobey Maguire


"Doc" Louis - The Mentor
Totoro: Cedric The Entertainer
Neko-X: Martin Lawrence
Cetic: Robert Downey Jr.


- The Opponents -

Glass Joe - The Born Loser
Totoro: Owen Wilson
Neko-X: Michael McDonald
Cetic: George Clooney


Von Kaiser - The Second Fiddle
Totoro: Vinnie Jones
Neko-X: Thomas Lennon
Cetic: Gary Oldman


Piston Honda - The Tokyo Express
Totoro: Jackie Chan
Neko-X: ---
Cetic: Ace Yonamine

Thanks for taking this trip down memory lane with me. Stay tuned to this site for more episodes and feature articles as our inaugural season continues!

Otaku 5-0 Season 1: Episode 11

Hey everybody!

I am proud to present the newest episode of our podcast!

I've been on the panel for every episode of the podcast so far. It might surprise you, but I can say that this is probably the best episode we've done so far (the other being Episode 1.5).

Recording this episode was a lot of fun, particularly because the topics changed so fluidly during the course of the conversation (Sage deserves much of the credit for that), which provides a prime example of Otaku 5-0's light-hearted style. This is what "talking story" is all about, folks.

Producer's Note: Oops! Near the end of the podcast, I state that this episode is the longest we've ever recorded. While this episode is long, after a bit of research I found out that Episode 9 is STILL the current record-holder (at 72 minutes.)



Click here to download episode.

Show Notes
Otaku 5-0: Episode 1.11

Date Recorded: October 28, 2008
Running Time: 65 minutes

Moderator
Totoro (Executive Producer)

Panelists
Jupiter (Senior Producer)
Sage (Contributor)

Format
1. Pearl of Wisdom (Jupiter)

2. Lead-in (Totoro)

3. Entertainment That Changed Everything: "Chick Flick"

4. Favorite... Musician/Musical Group

5. Room For Improvement: Star Wars franchise

6. Sequels That Shouldn't Have Been Made

7. An Otaku 5-0 Special Announcement

8. Lead-out (Totoro)

We are still compiling questions for our upcoming "Mail Bag" episode. You can either submit them here as a comment or send them via e-mail to Otaku50podcast@gmail.com

Musical Notes
- Opening Theme: "Frog's Theme" from Chrono Trigger
- Interstitial Clips: "Subtitle" from Full Metal Panic!, "Piano Bit" from Rap Reiplinger's The Best of Rap Too!, "Putting The Cart Before The Horse" from His & Her Circumstances, "Catch (cheen)" from Ah! My Goddess
- Ending Theme: "Breach Of Contract" from Ah! My Goddess

Stay tuned for the next episode!

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Otaku 5-0 Season 1: Episode 10

Aloha everybody!

I am proud to present to you the next episode of our podcast!

For the first time since Episode 8, Otaku 5-0's "Alpha Team" (Totoro, Cupid & Cetic) is re-united for another session of entertainment-related discussion.



Click here to download episode.

Show Notes
Otaku 5-0: Episode 1.10

Date Recorded: October 20, 2008
Running Time: 53 minutes

Moderator
Totoro (Executive Producer)

Panelists
Cetic (Senior Producer)
Cupid (Contributor)

Format
1. Bad Joke of the Day (Cupid)

2. Lead-in (Totoro)

3. Anime Pick of the Week

4. Freddy vs. Jason vs. Ash Review (Cupid)

5. Dead Space Review (Cetic)

6. W. Review (Totoro)

7. Casting Couch: The Legend of Zelda

8. Sequels We'd Like To See

9. Favorite... Actor/Actress (w/ talent)

10. Lead-out (Totoro)

Musical Notes
-Opening Theme: "Kefka's Theme" from Final Fantasy VI
-Interstitial Clips: "Subtitle" from Full Metal Panic!, "Eyecatch" from Full Metal Panic!, "Gato's Theme" from Chrono Trigger, "Bishop Estate Trustee" from Frank De Lima's Ethnicology 101
-Ending Theme: "Opening Theme" from Samurai Pizza Cats

Stay tuned for the next episode!

Friday, October 17, 2008

Otaku 5-0 Season 1: Episode 9

We're Back!

After a few weeks on hiatus, I am proud to present to you the next episode of our podcast! This is the debut of my co-worker Tim (who has adopted the broadcast name of Sage) as a podcast contributor.

Also, I am glad to say that this is our first OFFICIAL hour-long episode!



Click here to download episode.

Show Notes
Otaku 5-0: Episode 1.9

Date Recorded: October 16, 2008
Running Time: 73 minutes

Moderator
Totoro (Executive Producer)

Panelists
Cupid (Contributor)
Sage (Contributor)

Format
1. Lead-in (Totoro)

2. Introduction of Sage, our new Contributor

3. The Top 5: Video Games

4. Great Debates: Bond or Bourne?

5. Sequels That Shouldn't Have Been Made

6. Lead-out (Totoro)

Musical Notes
-Opening Theme: "Kefka's Theme" from Final Fantasy VI
-Interstitial Clips: "Putting The Cart Before The Horse" from His & Her Circumstances, "Into A Dream" from His & Her Circumstances, "Subtitle" From Full Metal Panic!
-Ending Theme: "Breach of Contract" from Ah! My Goddess

Stay tuned for the next episode!

Monday, October 13, 2008

Casting Couch: Take Two

Aloha everybody!

Today, I would like to take a second look at what has become my favorite podcast topic - Casting Couch!

As you can no doubt guess, Casting Couch is where myself and the other contributors list our preferred actors/actresses for a particular movie that has yet to be made. As the previous article covered the first appearance, I will look at the second time we approached this topic, which involved the casting for a "Four Musketeers" movie.

For this particular film, I posed an additional caveat: Each contributor had to state what type of genre the movie was going to be. For Jupiter, she opted for a live-action period film, while Cupid preferred a live-action update of the story. As for me (Totoro), I envisioned an anime-inspired adaptation, with four fairly well-known voice-actors in the key roles.

Producer's Note: Interestingly enough, a movie titled, "The Four Musketeers" was released in 1974, directed by Richard Lester (Superman II & III) and featured Raquel Welch, Richard Chamberlain, Frank Finlay, Christopher Lee, Faye Dunaway and the late Oliver Reed & Charlton Heston.

However, for information's sake, in the "Original Actor" slot, we will include the names of actors who have played the character in previous efforts.

Role: Athos
Original Actor: Various, including John Malkovich, Kiefer Sutherland & Oliver Reed
Our Suggestions: Viggo Mortensen (Jupiter), Morgan Freeman (Cupid) & Vic Mignogna (Totoro)

Role: Porthos
Original Actor: Various, including Gérard Depardieu, Oliver Platt & Frank Finlay
Our Suggestions: Antonio Banderas (Jupiter), Jason Scott Lee (Cupid) & Rosearik Rikki Simons (Totoro)

Role: Aramis
Original Actor: Various, including Jeremy Irons, Charlie Sheen & Richard Chamberlain
Our Suggestions: Johnny Depp (Jupiter), Jason Statham (Cupid) & Travis Willingham (Totoro)

Role: D'Artagnan
Original Actor: Various, including Gabriel Byrne, Chris O'Donnell & Michael York
Our Suggestions: Orlando Bloom (Jupiter), James McAvoy (Cupid) & Mike Sinterniklaas (Totoro)

Well, that was quite an experience. I hope that you've enjoyed this trip down memory lane with us. Stay tuned to this site for more episodes and feature articles in the near future.

Friday, October 3, 2008

Otaku 5-0: "Bonus" Episode

Aloha everybody,

After looking at the episodes in our archives, I was surprised to discover that there is one episode there hasn't yet been posted to this website. Let me take this opportunity to rectify that by presenting the special "bonus" episode, originally intended for individuals on our (now-defunct) podcast mailing list.

This episode is the first (and so far, only) appearance of Neko-X, the podcast Video Game Correspondent. The episode also features our first interview segment, where we talk about the organization that Neko-X runs (The Hawai'i Video Gaming League) and their efforts to bring positive change to our local video-gaming community.

Producer's Note: This episode is of a lesser recording quality than previous episodes. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause to our listeners, but rest assured that this problem has been (in some ways) rectified.



Click here to download episode.

Show Notes
Otaku 5-0: Episode 1.A

Date Recorded: August 18, 2008
Running Time: 45 minutes

Moderator
Totoro (Executive Producer)

Panelists
Cetic (Contributor)
Neko-X (Video Game Correspondent)

Audience
Cupid (Contributor)

Format
1. Lead-in (Totoro)

2. Introduction of Video Game Correspondent Neko-X

3. Interview spot: Hawai'i Video Gaming League

4. Soul Calibur IV Review

5. Madden NFL '09 Review

6. Random Chatter
- Brett Favre returns to NFL as Jets starting QB
- Discussion of former UH QB Colt Brennan's first NFL game for the Redskins
- Review of HBO's Hard Knocks: Training Camp With The Dallas Cowboys
- Comparing Favre to Junior Seau

7. Room For Improvement: Mortal Kombat series

8. Casting Couch: Punch Out! (Minor Circuit opponents)

9. Favorite... Video Game Villain

10. Lead-out (Totoro)

Stay tuned for the next episode!

Friday, September 26, 2008

Casting Couch: A Second Look

Hey everybody!

Since this website is now caught up to our most current episode, I thought it a nice opportunity to take a topic or point of discussion from a previous episode that deserves a more in-depth look.

For this article, I will go back to the first episode of our podcast, where we introduced Casting Couch, a topic where myself and the other contributors list our preferred actors/actresses for a particular movie that has yet to be made. Besides trying to be entertaining, this topic was actually a comment on the current state of entertainment that continually produces new versions of older films.

The first movie that we approached was a remake of Ghostbusters (perhaps a bit of a sacrilege, as the original cast for that movie worked so well.) Listed below are the roles that we included, along with the original actors and our suggestions for replacements should that film be remade.

Role: Dr. Peter Venkman
Original Actor: Bill Murray
Our Suggestions: Adam Sandler (Cupid), George Clooney (Cetic) & Jack Black (Totoro)


Role: Dr. Egon Spengler
Original Actor: Harold Ramis
Our Suggestions: Ben Stiller (Cupid), Matt Damon (Cetic) & James Franco (Totoro)


Role: Dr. Ray Stantz
Original Actor: Dan Aykroyd
Our Suggestions: Brendan Fraser (Cupid), Brad Pitt (Cetic) & Ewan McGregor (Totoro)


Role: Winston Zeddemore
Original Actor: Ernie Hudson
Our Suggestions: Tyrese Gibson (Cupid), Robert Downey Jr. (Cetic) & Will Smith (Totoro)


Well, there you have it. Like it or not, those suggestions were entirely our own, and we don't expect them to be taken seriously. Feel free to send in your ideas for actors you'd like to see in those roles at Otaku50podcast@gmail.com

Thanks for taking this trip down memory lane with us. Stay tuned to this website for more episodes and articles.

Thursday, September 25, 2008

Otaku 5-0 Season 1: Episode 8

Aloha everybody!

I am pleased to present the next episode of our podcast!

Cupid, one of the founding members of the podcast staff, returns from his 3-week hiatus, and in celebration we decided to produce our first hour-long episode! However, during post-production, the running time came up a tad shorter than expected (58 minutes and change.)

Oh well... At least we'll have Paris.



Click here to download episode.

Show Notes
Otaku 5-0: Episode 1.8

Recording Date: September 22, 2008
Running Time: 59 minutes

Moderator
Totoro (Executive Producer)

Panelists
Cetic (Senior Producer)
Cupid (Contributor)

Format
1. Cupid's Story (Cupid... duh.)

2. Lead-in (Totoro)

3. Star Wars: The Force Unleashed Review (Cetic)

4. Street Fighter IV Review (Cetic, Cupid)

5. Least Favorite... Video Game

6. Great Debates: Marvel or DC?

7. The Top 5: Anime Series

8. Sequels We'd Like To See

9. Lead-out (Totoro)

Thank you for your continued support during our freshman season!

Musical Notes
- Opening Theme: "Kefka's Theme" from Final Fantasy VI
- Interstitial Clips: "I'll Do It Right!" from Naruto, "Subtitle" from Full Metal Panic!, "Bishop Estate Tree" from Frank De Lima's Ethnicology 101, "Pre-Title" from His & Her Circumstances
- Ending Theme: "Breach of Contract" from Ah! My Goddess

We are always open to constructive criticism or feedback. Please contact us via e-mail at Otaku50podcast@gmail.com

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Otaku 5-0 Season 1: Sailor Moon Episode

Aloha everybody!

I am proud to present the long-awaited Sailor Moon-themed episode, suggested by our Senior Producer Jupiter, which features topics and discussion about her favorite anime series!



Click here to download episode.

Show Notes
Otaku 5-0: Episode 1.B

Recording Date: September 21, 2008
Running Time: 49 minutes

Moderator
Totoro (Executive Producer)

Panelists
Jupiter (Senior Producer)
Rini (Guest Contributor)

Format
1. Pearl of Wisdom (Jupiter)

2. Lead-in (Totoro)

3. Random Chatter
- Comments about Sailor Moon compared to other magical girl series
- Comparing Sailor Moon to other anime of its time

4. The Top 5: Sailor Moon Villains

5. Casting Couch: Sailor Moon

6. Great Debates: Inner Scouts or Outer Scouts?

7. Favorite... Sailor Moon episode

8. Random Chatter
- Announcement of an Otaku 5-0 fan commentary for Jupiter's favorite Sailor Moon episode/movie

9. Lead-out (Totoro)

Musical Notes
- Opening Theme: "Opening" from Sailor Moon
- Interstitial Clips: "Subtitle" from Full Metal Panic!, "Eyecatch" from Full Metal Panic!, "Catch (cheen)" from Ah! My Goddess, "Catch (boon)" from Ah! My Goddess
- Ending Theme: "Opening" from Sailor Moon

Otaku 5-0 Season 1: Episode 7

Aloha everybody!

Here is the latest episode, fresh out of our archives.



Click here to download episode.

Show Notes
Otaku 5-0: Episode 1.7

Recording Date: September 15, 2008
Running Time: 46 minutes

Moderator
Totoro (Executive Producer)

Panelists
Cetic (Senior Producer)
Jupiter (Interim Senior Producer)

Format
1. Pearl of Wisdom (Jupiter)

2. Lead-in (Totoro)

3. Random Chatter
- Discussion about upcoming Sailor Moon-themed podcast episode

4. Casting Couch: Tenchi Muyo!

5. Sequels That Shouldn't Have Been Made

6. Least Favorite... Anime

7. Entertainment That Changed Everything: TV Series

8. Random Chatter
- Resources I use to catch up on anime (animeseason.com, zomganime.com)

9. Lead-out, Interrupted (Totoro)

Musical Notes
- Opening Theme: "Afternoon of Konoha" from Naruto
- Interstitial Clips: "I'll Do It Right!" from Naruto, "Catch (boon)" from Ah! My Goddess, "Subtitle" from Full Metal Panic!, "Fooling Mode" from Naruto
- Ending Theme: "Opening Theme" from Samurai Pizza Cats

Thanks for your continued support during our freshman season!

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Otaku 5-0 Season 1: Episode 6

Aloha everybody!

I am proud to present the next podcast episode!



Click here to download episode.

Show Notes
Otaku 5-0: Episode 1.6

Recording Date: September 8, 2008
Running Time: 23 minutes

Moderator
Totoro (Executive Producer)

Panelists
Cetic (Senior Producer)

Audience
Jamie, Cetic's girlfriend
Conner, Cetic's son

Format
1. Lead-in (Totoro)

2. Sequels We'd Like To See

3. Great Debates: Star Trek or Star Wars?

4. Anime Pick of the Week

5. Favorite...Tim Burton film

6. Random Chatter
- An initial impression of Spore
- Movies featuring dragons (Reign of Fire, Dragonslayer, Dragonheart)
- Street Fighter IV now at Hawaiian Brian's Billiards
- announcement of new website for podcast (Editor's note: if you're able to read this, then you're at the website!)

7. Lead-out (Totoro)

Musical Notes
- Opening Theme: "Frog's Theme" from Chrono Trigger
- Interstitial Clips: "A Prayer For The Wayfarer" from Chrono Trigger, "Gato's Theme" from Chrono Trigger,
- Ending Theme: "Frog's Theme" from Chrono Trigger

Thanks for your continued support during our freshman season!

Monday, September 22, 2008

Otaku 5-0 Season 1: Episode 5

Aloha everybody!

Here is next episode, fresh from our archives!



Click here to download episode.

Show Notes
Otaku 5-0: Episode 1.5

Recording Date: September 1, 2008
Running Time: 32 minutes

Moderator
Totoro (Executive Producer)

Panelists
Cetic (Senior Producer)

Audience
Jamie, Cetic's Girlfriend
Conner, Cetic's Son

Format
1. Lead-in (Totoro)

2. Taking Stock
- What this podcast is all about
- What "Otaku" means to us
- Why we don't cover local entertainment

3. Anime Pick of the Week

4. Room for Improvement: Spider-man movie franchise

5. Lead-out (Totoro)

Thank you for your continued support during our first season!

Saturday, September 20, 2008

Otaku 5-0 Season 1: Episode 4

Aloha everyone!

I am proud to present the next episode of our podcast!



Click here to download episode.

Show Notes
Otaku 5-0: Episode 1.4

Recording Date: August 25, 2008
Running Time: 39 minutes

Moderator
Totoro (Executive Producer)

Panelists
Cetic (Contributor)
Jupiter (Contributor)
Cupid (Contributor)

Format
1. Bad Joke of the Day (Cupid)

2. Pearl of Wisdom (Jupiter)

3. Lead-in (Totoro)

4. Podcast Announcements
- Cetic & Jupiter promoted to Senior Producer & Interim Senior Producer respectively
- Cupid taking a 3-week hiatus

5. Anime Pick of the Week

6. Sequels That Shouldn't Have Been Made

7. The Best Movies of 2008 (So Far)

8. Casting Couch - Cowboy Bebop

9. Cupid's Send-off

10. Bad Joke of the Day (Cupid)

11. Lead-out (Totoro)

Friday, September 19, 2008

Otaku 5-0 Season 1: Episode 3

Aloha everyone!

I am proud to release the next episode of our podcast!



Click here to download episode.

Thanks for your continued support during our first season!

Show Notes
Otaku 5-0: Episode 1.3

Recording Date: August 18, 2008
Running Time: 42 minutes

Moderator
Totoro (Executive Producer)

Panelists
Cetic (Contributor)
Cupid (Contributor)

Format
1. Bad Joke of the Day (Cupid)

2. Lead-in (Totoro)

3. Random Chatter
- 6th Harry Potter movie delayed until Summer of '09
- Tropic Thunder beats out The Dark Knight as #1 movie in America
- Discussion on best movies of the year
- Discussion of upcoming Batman comic story arc (Batman: Rest In Peace)

4. Anime Pick of the Week

5. Entertainment That Changed Everything: Sci-Fi Movie

6. The Top 5: Anime Movies

7. Sequels That Shouldn't Have Been Made

8. Lead-out (Totoro)

Thursday, September 18, 2008

Otaku 5-0 Season 1: Episode 2

Aloha!

I am proud to present the second episode of our podcast!



Click here to download episode.

Thank you for your continued support as we get through our first season!

Show Notes
Otaku 5-0: Episode 1.2

Date Recorded: August 11, 2008
Running Time: 36 minutes

Moderator
Totoro (Executive Producer)

Panelists
Cupid (Contributor)
Jupiter (Contributor)

Format
1. Oops File! - Corrections/Clarifications (Totoro)

2. Pearl of Wisdom (Jupiter)

3. Lead-in (Totoro)

4. Random Chatter
- Passing of Isaac Hayes & Bernie Mac
- Which celebrity will die next?
- Caitlin Glass (Winry Rockbell on Fullmetal Alchemist) confirmed as 3rd guest for Kawaii-kon 2008
- Kawaii-kon favorite Vic Mignogna may not attend
- Jupiter gushes on Laura Bailey (Lust on Fullmetal Alchemist)
- Possibility of podcast at Kawaii-kon 2008 with Laura Bailey

5. Casting Couch - The "Four" Musketeers

6. Journey to the Center of the Earth Review (Jupiter)

7. Sequels We'd Like To See

8. Favorite... Giant Robot Design

9. Random Chatter
- Discussion of Sailor Moon-themed podcast episode

10. Lead-out (Totoro)

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Otaku 5-0 Season 1: Episode 1

Aloha everyone!

Sorry it's been so long since I posted, but I am proud to give you the premiere episode of our podcast!



Click here to download episode.

Thanks for your support as we start our first season!

Show Notes
Otaku 5-0: Episode 1.1

Recording Date: August 5, 2008
Running Time: 42 minutes

Moderator
Totoro (Executive Producer)

Panelists
Cetic (Contributor)
Cupid (Contributor)

Format
1. Oops! File - Corrections/Clarifications (Totoro)

2. Bad Joke of the Day (Cupid)

3. Lead-in (Totoro)

4. The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor Review

5. Anime Pick of the Week

6. Casting Couch - Ghostbusters

7. Entertainment That Changed Everything: Video Games

8. Sequels That Shouldn't Have Been Made

9. Random Chatter
- Travis Willingham (Col. Roy Mustang on Fullmetal Alchemist) & Laura Bailey (Lust on Fullmetal Alchemist) announced as first confirmed guests for Kawaii-kon 2009.

10. Great Debates: Subbed or Dubbed Anime?

11. Lead-out (Totoro)

Friday, September 5, 2008

Totoro's Fantastic Four of 2008

Aloha everybody,

A common theme among entertainment aficionados is to compile a list of either the best or worst examples of a particular subject. Movie critics have their list of the top 10 movies of the year, while fashion watchdogs have a list of the best and worst-dressed celebrities. Even Maxim, which I like to call "The Essential Guide To Understanding Modern Man" has their own list (The 100 Hottest People).

While my own contributions may not matter much in the long run, a part of trying to stand out against a large landscape of voices is to do something different, especially when it comes to things that I feel passionate about (in this case, movies.) So, in homage to both this "listing" tradition and to my mother's favorite superhero team, I am proud to present to you...

Totoro's Fantastic Four of 2008

#4. Tropic Thunder
Ben Stiller's dissertation about a group of actors who, during the course of shooting their war movie, mistakenly stumble into a similar real-life situation was truly a breakout hit of the summer movie period. This film made me a staunch believer in the notion that "casting is half the work." Judging by this movie's cast, the other 50% couldn't have been all that hard.

I have to be honest here. Never did I expect to be as entertained as much as I was by this film. One thing I was drawn to immediately was the performances of the actors. Stiller's contribution of his action-adventure star fast approaching career burnout might have been a bit of a stretch, but he succeeded. Jack Black turned in yet another noteworthy performance as a drug-addled comedy star, which made me a bit worried (perhaps this role was a bit of ominous foreshadowing as to the future of his career?) Previously unknown actors Jay Baruchel & Brandon T. Jackson rise to the challenge and match up well against their A-list co-stars, but the true stars of the movie are Robert Downey Jr and Tom Cruise, with their scene-stealing performances as an African-American soldier and the narcissistic studio chairman, respectively.

#3. Iron Man
I've been a fan of Robert Downey Jr. since Chaplin, and I'll admit that his name was the last one that I would've expected to see in the cast list for a comic book movie. And I agree that comic book/superhero movies have gotten a bad reputation as of late (thanks in no small part to the train wrecks that were Spider-Man 3 and Hancock.)

Characters like Iron Man (aka Tony Stark), Spider-man and ANOTHER comic-book icon that I shall not name (See #1 on this list for more info) were always appealing to me because I understood that beneath the suit/powered armor exterior was an ordinary man trying to do the right thing. The final result, after years of effort (and directors like Quentin Tarantino & Joss Whedon being considered for the job eventually filled by Jon Favreau) does not disappoint. Robert Downey Jr. owes a debt to this movie, which has triggered something of a career Renaissance, but only time will tell if this is truly deserved. There was some discussion of the wisdom in setting this movie in the present-day (Post 9/11) world, instead of its original Vietnam-era landscape, but I agree with this choice (Besides, I've heard enough arguments to understand that these two historical periods are startlingly similar.)

#2. WALL*E
Pixar Animation Studios has emerged as an entertainment powerhouse. Their efforts exceed those of their great predecessor, Walt Disney Studios, but are equivalent with the films produced by Studio Ghibli, co-founded by legendary Japanese animation director Hayao Miyazaki (Spirited Away, Howl's Moving Castle.)

Pixar's commitment to producing quality entertainment (mostly in the form of "message movies" - a type of film that, while entertaining in itself, has a particular idea or theme they wish to convey to the audience) appeals to both young and old, and they are on already on my short list to becoming THE animation studio of the 21st Century. When it was announced back in 2006, I was immediately drawn into WALL*E's premise: What if humanity had left Earth, and someone had forgotten to turn the last robot off? Upon seeing this film, I was once again convinced that I had seen something very special - a film that illustrates Pixar's ability to show the poignancy and determination of the human spirit, embodied in the most un-human of figures.

#1 The Dark Knight
As much as Spider-Man 3 lowered the bar for all other comic book movies, this film would raise the bar to nearly unattainable heights. From Christian Bale's portrayal of Bruce Wayne to the late Heath Ledger's career-defining (as well as career-ending) performance as The Joker, this film not only leaves its predecessor (Batman Begins) choking in the dust, but it makes me as a fan more than a bit apprehensive. Where can they possibly go with the franchise from here?

When Begins was released, the attitude of comic book fans were something along the lines of: "I'll see the sequel, if it's any good." Well, the time came, and not only did most comic book fans see this movie, they saw it multiple times in the theaters (As of this writing, I have seen the movie 5 times in theaters.) Equally remarkable is that while this is a movie based on a comic-book character, it appealed in some way to every other type of movie fan. Romance fans got the "love triangle" between Bruce Wayne, Rachel Dawes (superbly played by Maggie Gyllenhaal of Secretary fame) and District Attorney Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart, whose career I've followed since his 2005 film, Thank You for Smoking.) Action/Adventure fans got the "highway sequence", in which The Joker tries (unsuccessfully, thanks to interference from Batman) to kill Harvey Dent. Drama/Suspense fans got the tense "social experiment" sequence (you all know what that sequence is, and why it's so cool.) This is truly the best film that we'll probably see for what's left of the year, and I look forward to watching this many times more on DVD.

Well, there you have it. I hope that you have enjoyed reading this as much as I did writing it. In the meantime, please stay tuned for the episodes of the podcast as they are released.

See you at the movies!

~Totoro (Otaku 5-0 Creator, Executive Producer)