Otaku 5-0 Season 2: Episode 8

Aloha!

In addition to presenting the newest episode of our podcast, I would like to take this opportunity to welcome Jason Hirata (who has adopted the nickname of Kira) to the podcast staff as our Anime & Manga Contributor. He has been a fan since our first episode, and we are very much looking forward to working with him.

This episode also includes the debut of The Gauntlet, a new topic where we place a contributor on, "the hot seat" (in this case, a stool) and ask him a series of prepared questions that cover his knowledge of a particular topic (in this case, Anime & Manga.) To help you follow along, I have included in the "Show Notes" section the actual order of the questions that Kira was asked. Please feel free to send in/post your own answers as well.

I also regret to inform you that this episode is the last appearance (for a while, at least) of our Contributor-at-Large Zell, who will be leaving for a 3-month deployment tour (he serves as a submariner in the U.S. Navy.) On behalf of the entire staff here at Otaku 5-0, I wish him a safe cruise and look forward to working with him again soon.

Overall, I am pretty happy with how this episode turned out. We didn't stray off topic as much, and we did our best to keep things clean yet entertaining. Also, when you factor in that nobody got hurt (emotionally or otherwise), then that's pretty much all I can ask for.

Until next time,
Totoro (Creator, Executive Producer)



Click here to download episode.

Show Notes
Otaku 5-0: Episode 2.8

Recording Date: March 30, 2009
Running Time: 51 minutes

Moderator
Totoro (Executive Producer)

Panelists
Jupiter (Senior Producer)
Cupid (Lead Contributor)
Kira (Anime & Manga Contributor)
Zell (Contributor-at-Large)

Format
1. Pearl of Wisdom (Jupiter)

2. Lead-in (Totoro)

3. Introduction of Kira, our Anime & Manga Contributor

4. The Gauntlet - Kira

Questions
A.What was the title that introduced you to anime?

B. What title would you recommend to someone who's interested in anime, but hasn't seen any?

C. There are a lot of pre-conceived notions about anime, especially from non-fans. Which notion would you say is least accurate?

D. Anime has many different underlying messages. What do you think is the most prevalent to today's (Post-9/11) world?

E. Suppose the largest portion of anime viewers are between 7 to 14 years of age. What selection(s) would you recommend for that demographic to enjoy more mature forms of anime?

F. What are your views regarding the quality of subtitles/dubbing currently being produced by U.S. anime distributors?

G. When a manga series is adapted into an anime, there will be differences between the two. Name an anime that sticks the closest to (& one that has most deviated from) its source material.

H. What does the word "Otaku" mean to you?

I. What anime character is most representative of you as a person?

J. Name a current anime title that will be called a classic 10 years from now.

5. Favorite... Piece of Sci-Fi Technology

6. Random Chatter... Evangelion 1.0: You Are (Not) Alone and The Sky Crawlers, featured in the upcoming HIFF (Hawai'i International Film Festival) Spring Showcase.

7. Lead-out (Totoro)

Musical Notes
- Opening Theme: "Airwolf Theme" composed by Sylvester Levay, performed by YouTube user metalbums
- Interstitial Clips: "I'll Do It Right!" from Naruto, "Subtitle" from Full Metal Panic!
- Ending Theme: "Breach of Contract" from Ah! My Goddess

Feedback is always accepted here at Otaku 5-0. It can be either posted on this site as a comment or sent via e-mail to Otaku50podcast@gmail.com

Stay tuned for next week's episode, where we feature an interview with DJ Buma, organizer of the Kawaii-kon Butishake & VAST Competition!

Otaku 5-0 Season 2: Episode 7

Aloha everybody!

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

This episode brings together on the panel (for the third consecutive time) our Lead Contributor Cupid & our newest staff member Zell.

Since we rather enjoyed Cupid's new bit (A Word From Our Sponsor), we decided to spice things up a bit and showcase another fake product, in the style of a radio ad. While we may never surpass the quality of those produced by Saturday Night Live (or The Monty Python wannabes, as I like to call them), we can at least try to give them a run for their money.

You may have noticed that the past few episodes we've done have been on the short side. That is because I have decided to impose a 80-minute time limit for any episode we produce, mostly to help keep our contributors on-topic. While the conversation does stray into random chatter at times, this will help keep this at a minimum.

Mahalo,
Totoro (Creator, Executive Producer)



Click here to download episode.

Show Notes
Otaku 5-0: Episode 2.7

Recording Date: March 24, 2009
Running Time: 68 minutes

Moderator
Totoro (Executive Producer)

Panelists
Cupid (Lead Contributor)
Zell (Contributor-at-Large)

Format
1. A Word From Our Sponsor (Cupid)

2. Lead-in (Totoro)

3. Sequels That Shouldn't Have Been Made

4. Least Favorite... Keanu Reeves movie

5. Great Debate: Watchmen or The Dark Knight?

6. Random Chatter: Movies that we know will suck but end up watching anyway, the maturity level of girls & women, the continuing downward spiral of The Simpsons and the upcoming Kawaii-kon anime convention

7. Lead-out (Totoro)

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!, "Pre-Title" from His & Her Circumstances
- Ending Theme: "Breach of Contract" from Ah! My Goddess

Feedback is always accepted here at Otaku 5-0. It can be either posted on this site as a comment or sent via E-mail to Otaku50podcast@gmail.com

Stay tuned to this site for the next exciting episode!

Otaku 5-0 Season 2: Episode 6

Aloha everybody!

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

This marks the 2nd appearance of Zell, our newest staff member who joined up a few weeks ago. In the short time he has been with us, I am very impressed with his level of professionalism and drive. He has set the bar for future staff members a bit higher, and we are glad to add his voice to our growing chorus.

I am also happy to say that we recorded a (relatively) clean episode, so no disclaimers were needed. A nice change of pace, if I do say so myself. Needless to say that we always try to put forward our best effort, even when the, "mature language & adult content" seems to seep in through the cracks.

Mahalo,
James "Totoro" Kamakahi
Executive Producer



Click here to download episode.

Show Notes
Otaku 5-0: Episode 2.6

Recording Date: March 17, 2009
Running Time: 58 minutes

Moderator
Totoro (Executive Producer)

Panelists
Cupid (Lead Contributor)
Zell (Contributor-at-Large)

Format
1 A Word From Our Sponsor (Cupid)

2. Lead-in (Totoro)

3. Watchmen Review (All) & Discussion

4. Comic Picks of the Week (Cupid)

5. Sequels We'd Like To See

6. 3 Reasons Why... The Wii is the best current-gen console

7. Random Chatter (video game horror stories, anime, movies & the goings-on of our former staff member Smilex, who moved to Japan)

8. Lead-out (Totoro)

Musical Notes
- Opening Theme: "Kefka's Theme" from Final Fantasy VI
- Interstitial Clips: "Subtitle" from Full Metal Panic!, "I'll Do It Right!" from Naruto, "Afternoon of Konoha" from Naruto, "Frog's Theme" from Chrono Trigger
- Ending Theme: "Breach of Contract" from Ah! My Goddess

In closing, I would like to include a special clip, courtesy of YouTube, specifically for those of you who actually listened to the episode:



Producer's Note: The above video clip is included for humorous effect only. The staff of Otaku 5-0 apologizes to anyone who was offended in any way, and would like to affirm that we do not endorse the use of the word "nigger" or any variation thereof in a racist context.

Feedback is always accepted here at Otaku 5-0. It can be either posted on this site as a comment or sent via E-mail to Otaku50podcast@gmail.com

Stay tuned to this site as our second season continues!

Otaku 5-0 Season 2: Episode 5

Aloha everybody!

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

This is our first 4-person format episode since Episode 2.2, however it should have been a 7-person format, considering the near-constant comments from the peanut gallery. I apologize in advance if that becomes an annoyance. I guess I'll have to consider buying a boom mike after all.

Also, we here at Otaku 5-0 would like to welcome Jupiter's friend Zell to our podcast staff as a Contributor-at-Large. We look forward to working with him as our second season progresses!

Enjoy!

Mahalo,
James "Totoro" Kamakahi
Executive Producer



Click here to download episode.

Show Notes
Otaku 5-0: Episode 2.5

Recording Date: March 3, 2009
Running Time: 77 minutes

Moderator
Totoro (Executive Producer)

Panelists
Jupiter (Senior Producer)
Cupid (Lead Contributor)
Zell (Contributor-at-Large)

Audience
Neko-X (Video Game & Blu-ray Contributor)
Star (Film & Book Contributor)
Peeps (Jupiter's Husband)

Format
1. Bad Joke of the Day (Cupid)

2. Pearl of Wisdom (Jupiter)

3. Lead-in (Totoro)

4. Introduction of our newest staff member Zell!

5. Random Chatter: Kawaii-kon announcements/stories

6. Sequels That Should Not Have Been Made

7. Least Favorite... Movie cliché

8. A Serious Conversation About... the upcoming Watchmen movie
Producer's Note: Sadly, we wander off-topic several times during this segment. I will definitely make more of an effort to keep things on-topic in the future.)

9. Please Produce This...

10. Lead-out (Totoro)

Musical Notes
- Post-disclaimer Theme: "Eyecatch" from Full Metal Panic!
- Opening Theme: "Kefka's Theme" from Final Fantasy VI
- Interstitial Clips: "Subtitle" from Full Metal Panic!, "Catch - boon" from Ah! My Goddess, "Pre-Title" from His & Her Circumstances, "Afternoon of Konoha" from Naruto
- Ending Theme: "Wutai Ruins" from Final Fantasy VII

Feedback is always accepted here at Otaku 5-0. It can be either posted on this site as a comment or sent via E-mail to Otaku50podcast@gmail.com

Please continue to stay tuned to this site as our second season rolls on!

Otaku 5-0 Season 2: Episode 4

Aloha everyone!

This harsh economic climate brings a great deal of uncertainty to all of us. We see some drastic changes on the horizon, and we are overcome with a slight tinge of despair. However, take heart in that there are some things that will (no matter how much we want to admit we wish for it) NEVER, EVER CHANGE.

Yesterday, for the first time in 3 weeks, the scheduling stars aligned and we actually had the opportunity to get together and record a podcast episode. I know this statement seems a bit tired, but I am proud to announce that THIS is the longest podcast episode we have produced (so far.)

This episode marks the return of Sage to our podcast panel. It also brings us into his style of free-flowing conversation that has become a staple of his appearances with us. Neko-X and myself do our best to keep up, but Sage clearly leaves us choking on the thick dust left in his wake. At this point, all I can tell Sage is to be careful, lest he finds himself in the Moderator's seat at some point this season.

Finally, this is the third episode we have produced that requires me to use any type of disclaimer statement. So, consider yourself warned thoroughly in advance.

Mahalo,
James "Totoro" Kamakahi
Executive Producer

WARNING! Portions of this podcast contain mature language and adult content. Listener discretion is advised.



Click here to download episode.

Show Notes
Otaku 5-0: Episode 2.4

Recording Date: February 23, 2009
Running Time: 94 minutes

Moderator
Totoro (Executive Producer)

Panelists
Neko-X (Video Game & Blu-Ray Contributor)
Sage (Contributor-at-Large)

Format
1. Lead-in (Totoro)

2. Sequels We'd Like To See

3. The Top 5... Sci-Fi Characters (w/ assorted Random Chatter.) Producer's Note: Because Andrew "Ender" Wiggin is his favorite character, Sage actually gives a pretty in-depth synopsis of the now-classic Orson Scott Card novel Ender's Game.

4. Great Debate... Super Nintendo or Sega Genesis?

5. Random Chatter about Video game Systems (The Xbox 360 gets a fairly harsh lookover.)

6. Lead-out (Totoro)

Musical Notes
- Post-disclaimer Theme: "Frog's Theme" from Chrono Trigger
- Opening Theme: "Kefka's Theme" from Final Fantasy VI
- Interstitial Clips: "I'll Do It Right!" from Naruto, "Gato's Theme" from Chrono Trigger, "Pre-Title" from His & Her Circumstances
- Ending Theme: "World Peace" from His & Her Circumstances

Feedback is always accepted here at Otaku 5-0. It can be either posted on this site as a comment or sent via E-mail to Otaku50podcast@gmail.com

Stay tuned to this site as our second season continues!

Casting Couch: Take Six

Hey everybody!

I am proud to present to you the latest in my series of articles covering my favorite podcast topic: Casting Couch!

I would like to take you here (our Sailor Moon-themed "Bonus Episode") where the next installment of Casting Couch took place. Joining me on the panel was our Senior Producer Jupiter and her friend Rini, and in keeping with our central theme, we decided to put together a wish-list cast for this perennial anime classic.

Just as we did with our Tenchi Muyo! installment, we decided to separate the ensemble cast into more manageable pieces. So, I assigned 2 roles to each panelist, leaving the addition of the villain for last. Also, for those who enjoy inane trivia: this is the first instance of Casting Couch where I got slapped with a book (playfully, of course) for one of my casting suggestions.


Ami Mizuno/Amy (Sailor Mercury)
Original Performers: Aya Hisakawa (Japanese), Karen Bernstein (English) & Liza Balkan (English)
Our Suggestion: Saoirse Ronan (Jupiter)




Usagi Tsukino/Serena Tsukino (Sailor Moon)
Original Performers: Kotono Mitsuishi (Japanese), Kae Araki (Japanese), Tracey Moore (English), Terri Hawkes (English) & Linda Ballantyne (English)
Our Suggestion: Dakota Fanning (Jupiter)




Mamoru Chiba/Darien (Tuxedo Mask)
Original Performers: Tōru Furuya (Japanese), Rino Romano (English) & Vince Corazza (English)
Our Suggestion: Milo Ventimiglia (Rini & Totoro)




Minako Aino/Mina Aino (Sailor Venus)
Original Performers: Rika Fukami (Japanese), Stephanie Morgenstern (English) & Emilie Barlow (English)
Our Suggestion: Miley Cyrus (Totoro) or Taylor Swift (Jupiter)




Rei Hino/Raye Hino (Sailor Mars)
Original Performers: Michie Tomizawa (Japanese), Katie Griffin (English) & Emilie Barlow (English)
Our Suggestion: Selena Gomez (Rini)




Makoto Kino/Lita Kino (Sailor Jupiter)
Original Performers: Emi Shinohara (Japanese), Susan Roman (English)
Our Suggestion: Demi Lovato (Rini) or Alexis Bledel (Jupiter)




Queen Beryl
Original Performers: Keiko Han (Japanese), Naz Edwards (English)
Our Suggestion: Michelle Pfeiffer (Rini)




I hope you've enjoyed this trip down Memory Lane with me. Stay tuned to this site for more feature articles and episodes as our second season continues!

Otaku 5-0 Season 2: Episode 3

Aloha everybody!

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

This episode in particular marks the return of Neko-X to our podcast staff (this time in his new position as Video Game & Blu-Ray Contributor.) Also joining us on the panel on short notice is Star, our Film & Book Contributor.

While I am proud of all the episodes I have produced, this episode in particular now holds a special place in my heart as another prime example of Otaku 5-0's lighthearted style (click here for the first example.) Just like I said before, this is what "talking story" is all about, folks.

Stay tuned to this site for more episodes and feature articles as our 2nd Season continues!

Mahalo,
James "Totoro" Kamakahi
Creator/Executive Producer



Click here to download episode.

Show Notes
Otaku 5-0: Episode 2.3

Recording Date: February 2, 2009
Running Time: 73 minutes

Moderator
Totoro (Executive Producer)

Panelists
Neko-X (Video game & Blu-Ray Contributor)
Star (Film & Book Contributor)

Format
1. Totally Random Statement (Neko-X)

2. Lead-in (Totoro)

3. Random Chatter
- Neko-X talks about what he's been doing since he was last on the panel

3. Video Game/Blu Ray Report (Neko-X)
- GameStop's Street Fighter IV Tournament (and how Hawaii SF4 players got shafted)
- Review of Fallout 3
- Blu-Ray Pick of the Week: Zack & Miri Make A Porno
- Impromptu Topic: Least Favorite... Kevin Smith film (w/ further discussion)

4. Sequels That Shouldn't Have Been Made

5. 3 Reasons Why... The upcoming Dragonball movie WILL NOT suck!

6. A Serious Conversation About... Video game movie adaptations

7. Lead-out (Totoro)

Musical Notes
- Opening Theme: "Kefka's Theme" from Final Fantasy VI
- Interstitial Clips: "Pre-Title" from His & Her Circumstances, "I'll Do It Right!" from Naruto, "Subtitle" from Full Metal Panic!, "Catch (cheen)" from Ah! My Goddess OVA
- Ending Theme: "Breach of Contract" from Ah! My Goddess OVA

Questions and/or comments can either be posted here or sent via e-mail to: Otaku50podcast@gmail.com