Category SpeakerPODcast

It’s time to take a look back at all the developments and happenings in the Macross franchise over the last year. Before that though, we need to get the new year started. And what better way to do so than visit the Macross Bakuon Film Festival to watch Macross Plus and Do You Remember Love?

The latest chapter of Blue Blazes recounts author Kazuhiko Shimamoto’s reaction to the original Macross OP.

It’s a question that seems to pop up more and more frequently as of late, given its global popularity – just what exactly IS anime?

This episode, following bribes involving copious amounts of pizza, we gather a panel of experts, academics and industry insiders to try come up with an answer to this question which is as old as anime fandom itself (spoiler alert – we fail spectacularly).

Featuring special guests Callum May from The Canipa Effect, Kim Morrissy from Anime News Network, Craig Norris from the University of Tasmania and the SpeakerPODcast Crew.

Be afraid – we’re armed with flashcards and we aren’t afraid to use them!

Photo courtesy of entertainmentstation.jp

In case you’re wondering, the title of this episode refers to the series of Macross nooks we found while visiting Macross The Art (pictured above). 

Similarly, this episode is a series of reports and discoveries the likes of which have never been covered by a single podcast ever before!

We visit Macross the Art, uncover long-lost VF-0 lineart, hear a live audio commentary by Shoji Kawamori himself and learn all about the making of the notorious SDFM episode “Phantasm”.

But that’s just the beginning! We then meet conductor Kenichi Shimura and experience Yoko Kanno’s BGM work on Macross Frontier performed by a full orchestra. After that, it’s time to talk to the scenario writer of Macross, Kenichi Matsuzaki about the Supervision Army and hear mechanical designer Kazutaka Miyatake discuss his new personal best work.

It’s more deculture than ever before, so throw on some headphones, kickback, and enjoy.

These shots were instrumental in the making of “Phantasm”.

This is the second podcast that we recorded at Super Dimension Convention in September. Instead of the usual round table format, we tried something a little different…

A table, an open mic, a very noisy dealers hall… and you.

Maybe this isn’t the best idea. Maybe it’s the best idea ever. Maybe it’s just really really noisy. How it turns out, is up to you, the fans at the con who were generous enough with their time to sit down and talk with us. So thank you – you all know who you are. I hope.

Special thanks to Andrew Collie for spontaneously co-hosting and Revan for getting the word out and also for the photos. Thanks guys!