Otaku 5-0 Season 2: Episode 2

Aloha everybody!

I know it's been a while, but we've had a few minor setbacks in the scheduling area. However, I am pleased to present the next exciting episode of our podcast!

Not only is this currently the longest episode we have produced, but this is the second episode that carries a disclaimer statement (for history's sake, the first episode can be found here.) After the recording session was completed, all the panelists unanimously agreed that this episode would serve as a perfect example of what would happen if Otaku 5-0 "went extreme." Rest assured, this is probably as extreme as I'm willing to take it.

However, let me apologize in advance for any content that you (our audience) may find offensive or objectionable.

Mahalo,
James "Totoro" Kamakahi
Creator/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 2.2

Recording Date: January 29, 2009
Running Time: 83 minutes

Panelists
Totoro (Moderator, Executive Producer)
Cupid (Lead Contributor)
Smilex (Guest Contributor)
Rerun (Guest Contributor)

Format
1. Bad Joke of the Day (Cupid)

2. Lead-in (Totoro)

3. Impromptu Rant Battle: Smilex vs. Rerun

4. Least Favorite... Hayao Miyazaki movie

5. Great Debate... Pirates or Ninjas?

5. Please Produce This...

6. Sequels That We'd Like To See

7. A Serious Conversation About... Kawaii-kon (with a few horror stories added in)

8. 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, "Pre-Title" from His & Her Circumstances, "Gato's Theme" from Chrono Trigger, "Subtitle" from Full Metal Panic!, "Afternoon of Konoha" from Naruto, "Catch (boon) & "Catch (cheen)" from Ah! My Goddess OVA
- Ending Theme: "Honoruru, Hawaii" from Frank De Lima's Ethnicology 101

Stay tuned to this site for the next exciting episode of Otaku 5-0!

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

Otaku 5-0 Season 2: Episode 1

We're back!

No, it's not a dinosaur's story. I'm pleased to present to you the premiere episode of our second season!

In this episode, we introduce Star, who has kindly agreed to serve as our Film & Book Contributor. Suffice it to say that she made quite a first impression on all of us here. We offer her a warm welcome into our growing podcast family, and we're glad you decided to stay with us as we move forward into the New Year!

Mahalo,
James "Totoro" Kamakahi
Creator/Executive Producer



Click here to download episode.

Show Notes
Otaku 5-0: Episode 2.1

Recording Date: January 15, 2009
Running Time: 59 minutes

Panelists
Totoro (Moderator, Executive Producer)
Jupiter (Senior Producer)
Cupid (Lead Contributor)
Star (Film & Book Contributor)

Audience
Adam, Jupiter's Husband

Format
1. Pearl of Wisdom (Jupiter)

2. Bad Joke of the Day (Cupid)

3. Lead-in (Totoro)

4. Taking Stock
- Activities/Events during our hiatus
- Introduction of Star, our new Film & Book Contributor

5. Film & Book Report (Star)
- Rundown of Oscar favorites (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Slumdog Millionaire & The Wrestler)
- Movie of the Week: Monster Squad

6. Great Debate: Digimon or Pokemon?

7. Please Produce This...

8. Lead-out (Totoro)

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

Stay tuned to this site for the next exciting episode of Otaku 5-0!

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

Casting Couch: Take Five

Aloha everybody!

In keeping with my promise to not let this website fall dormant during our hiatus, I would like to present to you the 5th in a series of articles covering my favorite podcast topic - Casting Couch!

As you know, this topic allows myself and the other contributors to put forward a wish-list of actors/actresses that we'd like to see portray our favorite anime characters. So let's go back to Episode 1.7, where our fearless group of panelists (Cetic , Jupiter & myself) named our casting choices for a live-action adaptation of the perennial anime classic Tenchi Muyo! Ryo Ohki. Since this series boasted an ensemble cast, we decided to submit one choice for a specific number of characters. As it turned out, each of us had 3 characters to cast for.

Producer's Note: Since this is an anime series, the character's original Japanese and English voice actor/actress will be listed in the "Original Performer" slot.

Tenchi Masaki
Original Performers: Masami Kikuchi (Japanese), Matt K. Miller (English)
Our Suggestion: Justin Long (Cetic)


Kiyone Makibi
Original Performers: Yuri Amano (Japanese), Sherry Lynn (English)
Our Suggestion: Lucy Liu (Cetic)


Mihoshi Kuramitsu
Original Performers: Yuko Mizutani (Japanese), Ellen Gerstell (English)
Our Suggestion: Reese Witherspoon (Cetic)


Ayeka Masaki Jurai
Original Performers: Yumi Takada (Japanese), Jennifer Darling (English)
Our Suggestion: Keira Knightley (Jupiter)


Sasami Masaki Jurai
Original Performers: Chisa Yokoyama (Japanese), Sherry Lynn (English)
Our Suggestion: AnnaSophia Robb (Jupiter)


Washu Hakubi
Original Performer: Yuko Kobayashi (Japanese), K.T. Vogt (English)
Our Suggestion: Drew Barrymore (Jupiter)


Kagato
Original Performers: Norio Wakamoto (Japanese), Michael Scott Ryan (English)
Our Suggestion: Jeremy Irons (Totoro)


Ryoko Hakubi
Original Performers: Ai Orikasa (Japanese), Petrea Burchard (English)
Our Suggestion: Natalie Portman (Totoro)


Katsuhito Masaki
Original Performers: Takeshi Aono (Japanese), Bob Papenbrook (English)
Our Suggestions: John Lone (Jupiter), Hugo Weaving (Totoro)

Well, there you have it - our first, "Ensemble Edition" of Casting Couch (and it surely won't be our last.) I'd like to thank you for taking this trip down memory lane with me, and please stay tuned to this website for more feature articles as our 2nd season approaches!

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)

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!

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

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!