In this episode, we avoid cringey Gen Z puns while talking about The Darwin Incident. We explore veganism, the epidemic of mass shootings in America, the concept of animal rights, and how the United States is perceived from abroad. Not sure what a humanzee is, or whether there's ever actually been one? Find out by listening!

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to The Darwin Incident

02:59 Major Themes of The Darwin Incident

04:56 Animal Rights and Veganism

09:54 How Other Countries See America

14:37 A Real-Life Humanzee?! The Strange Case of Oliver

17:41 Ethical Implications of Humanzee Research

27:39 2AM OTTACK! Word of the Day! ー人 / Hitoー

In this episode we talk about the Apothecary Diaries (again!), this time examining the phenomenon of "magic" engraved mirrors and the history of ice cream. How does a magic mirror work? Who has the best claim to the invention of frozen creamy desserts - China, Persia, or England? What's a yuurei? Listen now and find out!

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Episodes 38-42 of The Apothecary Diaries

01:40 Episode 38: Dancing Ghosts and Magic Mirrors

05:52 Episode 39: The Ice Cream Mystery

11:32 Who Is Shisui, Really?

17:22 OP Theme Song "Kusushiki" by Mrs. Green Apple

18:36 2AM OTTACK! Word of the Day ーYuurei / 幽霊 ー

In this episode we talk about the 2025 feature-length anime The Rose of Versailles. In addition to our opinions about this version of the story, we talk about the historical people who inspired the characters, which parts are real and which are fiction, and the far-reaching influence of Riyoko Ikeda’s original 1970s manga. Brush up on your knowledge of 1780s France by joining us for this conversation!

0:00 Introduction 03:01 Introduction to The Rose of Versailles 08:19 Marie Antoinette IRL 16:03 Oscar and the Historical Figure that Inspired Her 17:22 Marie Antoinette and Axel von Fersen the Younger (and His Life) 19:26 Feminism and Gender Roles: The Rose of Versailles and Revolutionary Girl Utena24:56 OTTACK! Word of the Day! ー誇り / Hokoriー26:44 The Show's Reference to "Julie, or the new Heloise" by Rousseau

...........................................................................................
Join us to explore and dig deep into the world of anime and manga as well as the history and culture behind them through our distinct perspectives as a born-and-raised Japanese non-otaku and 30+ year American anime otaku! Get to know more about Japan and Japanese words from anime/manga at the end of each episode. (episodes may contain spoilers)

Voice: Funako

◎Email: ⁠⁠⁠300am.ottack@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠

◎2AM OTTACK! on Spotify:⁠ ⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/2WLLFsWAt2nenRMr06MfQ0⁠⁠⁠
◎2AM OTTACK! on Apple Podcasts:⁠ ⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/jp/podcast/2-00am-ottack/id1738706407⁠⁠⁠

◎3AMオタック! (日本語）on YouTube:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCICL0oVvIfTQ_T9FIyEMeAQ

◎3AMオタック! (日本語） on Spotify: ⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/3g0RUBdSIyycbujPMUHTAH?si=b496a00e609045e8⁠⁠

◎3AM オタック! (日本語）on Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/jp/podcast/3-00am-ottack/id1734521806⁠⁠

◎BluSky https://bsky.app/profile/2amottack.bsky.social

◎Instagram:⁠ https://www.instagram.com/3amottack/
#anime #podcast #manga

In this episode we introduce To Be Hero X, a new Chinese-Japanese anime collaboration with an original story and star-studded Japanese voice cast. We examine the mash-up of visual styles (which mixes 2D and 3D), talk about its time slot in Japan (replacing One Piece!), and opine on the series’ central conceit, which is that a hero’s social media popularity and people’s faith in them is what determines their power(s). Learn about the Japanese term for hero and where we think the show might go next!

...

0:00 Opening

01:24 To Be Hero X Introduction

03:43 Animation Styles - 3DCG and Regular 2D

06:18 To Be Hero X Replaces One Piece?!

07:26 S-Rank Japanese Voice Actors in To Be Hero X

09:17 Hero Rankings and Social Media Influence in Modern Society

18:56 OTTACK! Word of the Day! ー英雄 / Eiyuuー

21:55 Final Thoughts and Future Expectations

...........................................................................................

Join us to explore and dig deep into the world of anime and manga as well as the history and culture behind them through our distinct perspectives as a born-and-raised Japanese non-otaku and 30+ year American anime otaku! Get to know more about Japan and Japanese words from anime/manga at the end of each episode. (episodes may contain spoilers)

Voice credit: Funako

◎Email: ⁠⁠⁠300am.ottack@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠

◎2AM OTTACK! on Spotify:⁠ ⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/2WLLFsWAt2nenRMr06MfQ0⁠⁠⁠

◎2AM OTTACK! on Apple Podcasts:⁠ ⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/jp/podcast/2-00am-ottack/id1738706407⁠⁠⁠

◎3AMオタック! (日本語）on YouTube:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCICL0oVvIfTQ_T9FIyEMeAQ

◎3AMオタック! (日本語） on Spotify: ⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/3g0RUBdSIyycbujPMUHTAH?si=b496a00e609045e8⁠⁠

◎3AM オタック! (日本語）on Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/jp/podcast/3-00am-ottack/id1734521806⁠⁠

◎BluSky https://bsky.app/profile/2amottack.bsky.social

◎Instagram:⁠ ◎Instagram https://www.instagram.com/3amottack/

#TOBEHEROX #ANIMEREVIEW #ANIMEREACTION

In this episode we discuss the recent Netflix remake of the 90s anime Yaiba! Samurai Legend, speculate about why 80s/90s remakes are so popular currently, and ponder the differences between remakes and reboots. What is a "yaiba" anyway? Find out in this week's 2 AM OTTACK!...........................................................................................Join us to explore and dig deep into the world of anime and manga as well as the history and culture behind them through our distinct perspectives as a born-and-raised Japanese non-otaku and 30+ year American anime otaku! Get to know more about Japan and Japanese words from anime/manga at the end of each episode. (episodes may contain spoilers) Voice credit: Funako◎Email: ⁠⁠⁠300am.ottack@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠ ◎2AM OTTACK! on Spotify:⁠ ⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/2WLLFsW... ◎2AM OTTACK! on Apple Podcasts:⁠ ⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/jp/podcast... ◎3AMオタック! (日本語）on YouTube:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠ / @3amottack ◎3AMオタック! (日本語） on Spotify: ⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/3g0RUBd... ◎3AM オタック! (日本語）on Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/jp/podcast... ◎BluSky https://bsky.app/profile/2amottack.bs... ◎Instagram:⁠ ⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠ #ranma½ #animeclassics #animereview

In this episode we discuss our reactions to the first two episodes of the new anime Kowloon Generic Romance, the nature of nostalgia, the history of Kowloon Walled City, the theme songs, and the voice actors. Learn how to pronounce Kowloon in three languages, and how to talk about nostalgia in Japanese!0:00 Opening Talk 02:17 Introduction to Kowloon Generic Romance 08:56 Where Does “Nostalgia” Come From? 13:15 Pronunciation of “Kowloon” & the History of Kowloon Walled City 21:57 Voice Actors, Theme Songs, and the Live-Action Adaptation27:38 OTTACK! Word of the Day! ー懐かしい / Natsukashiiー...........................................................................................Join us to explore and dig deep into the world of anime and manga as well as the history and culture behind them through our distinct perspectives as a born-and-raised Japanese non-otaku and 30+ year American anime otaku! Get to know more about Japan and Japanese words from anime/manga at the end of each episode. (episodes may contain spoilers) Voice credit: Funako◎Email: ⁠⁠⁠300am.ottack@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠ ◎2AM OTTACK! on Spotify:⁠ ⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/2WLLFsWAt2nenRMr06MfQ0⁠⁠⁠ ◎2AM OTTACK! on Apple Podcasts:⁠ ⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/jp/podcast/2-00am-ottack/id1738706407⁠⁠⁠ ◎3AMオタック! (日本語）on YouTube:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCICL0oVvIfTQ_T9FIyEMeAQ ◎3AMオタック! (日本語） on Spotify: ⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/3g0RUBdSIyycbujPMUHTAH?si=b496a00e609045e8⁠⁠ ◎3AM オタック! (日本語）on Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/jp/podcast/3-00am-ottack/id1734521806⁠⁠ ◎BluSky https://bsky.app/profile/2amottack.bsky.social ◎Instagram:⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/ottack_podcast/⁠⁠⁠#kowloongenericromance #animereview #animerecommendations

In this episode we talk about the end of the first cour of the second season of Apothecary Diaries, the history of firearms in China (and elsewhere), world bathing cultures, and the importance of consent. What the heck do those things have to do with the Apothecary Diaries? Listen and find out!

...........................................................................................

Join us to explore and dig deep into the world of anime and manga as well as the history and culture behind them through our distinct perspectives as a born-and-raised Japanese non-otaku and 30+ year American anime otaku! Get to know more about Japan and Japanese words from anime/manga at the end of each episode. (episodes may contain spoilers)

Voice credit: Funako

◎Email: ⁠⁠⁠300am.ottack@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠

◎2AM OTTACK! on Spotify:⁠ ⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/2WLLFsWAt2nenRMr06MfQ0⁠⁠⁠

◎2AM OTTACK! on Apple Podcasts:⁠ ⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/jp/podcast/2-00am-ottack/id1738706407⁠⁠⁠

◎3AMオタック! (日本語）on YouTube:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCICL0oVvIfTQ_T9FIyEMeAQ

◎3AMオタック! (日本語） on Spotify: ⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/3g0RUBdSIyycbujPMUHTAH?si=b496a00e609045e8⁠⁠

◎3AM オタック! (日本語）on Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/jp/podcast/3-00am-ottack/id1734521806⁠⁠

◎BluSky https://bsky.app/profile/2amottack.bsky.social

◎Instagram:⁠ ◎Instagram https://www.instagram.com/3amottack/

#anime #podcast #manga

In this episode we give our honest reactions to the first episode of Solo Leveling *as we watch it!* Join us as we question the story’s internal logic, Mayu repeatedly tells Cisco to stop talking (is this a podcast or isn’t it?!), and Cisco tries to give the protagonist unhelpful advice. Listen while watching along, or enjoy our incomprehensible non-sequiturs if you don’t!

0:00 Opening

3:10 Watching Solo Leveling with Commentary

27:04 Post-Episode Discussion

...........................................................................................

Join us to explore and dig deep into the world of anime and manga as well as the history and culture behind them through our distinct perspectives as a born-and-raised Japanese non-otaku and 30+ year American anime otaku! Get to know more about Japan and Japanese words from anime/manga at the end of each episode. (episodes may contain spoilers)

Voice credit: Funako

◎Email: ⁠⁠⁠300am.ottack@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠

◎2AM OTTACK! on Spotify:⁠ ⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/2WLLFsWAt2nenRMr06MfQ0⁠⁠⁠

◎2AM OTTACK! on Apple Podcasts:⁠ ⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/jp/podcast/2-00am-ottack/id1738706407⁠⁠⁠

◎3AMオタック! (日本語）on YouTube:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCICL0oVvIfTQ_T9FIyEMeAQ

◎3AMオタック! (日本語） on Spotify: ⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/3g0RUBdSIyycbujPMUHTAH?si=b496a00e609045e8⁠⁠

◎3AM オタック! (日本語）on Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/jp/podcast/3-00am-ottack/id1734521806⁠⁠

◎BluSky https://bsky.app/profile/2amottack.bsky.social

◎Instagram:⁠ ◎Instagram https://www.instagram.com/3amottack/

#anime #podcast #manga