Anime, Market Takeovers, and That One Piece Flag IRL — plus Mononoke’s wild new movie, TCG nostalgia, and why AI is coming for your anime.

Blu3 and TehWrongGuy kick off with weather talk, then blow our minds with anime’s market size: $64 billion by 2032, fueled by tech, VR, and—controversially—AI. One Piece outselling Batman is the perfect segue to how manga’s now shaping global culture (and even real-world protests in Indonesia).

The crew debates which “Big Three” anime hit the hardest, then wonder if series like Bleach and Naruto should’ve ended sooner. Card game memories spark a rant about old-school Yu-Gi-Oh! vs the current meta (“read a book to play a card!”). Blu3 wants to know who makes the new Top 3—Demon Slayer, My Hero Academia, and Kaiju No. 8 top the list, with Solo Leveling as a manhwa honorable mention.

Movie slot time: Mononoke: The Ashes of Rage (Netflix) stuns with psychedelic colors, kabuki-style scene changes, and classic medicine seller action. The plot’s a little loose but the visuals and soundtrack are fire, scoring a rock-solid 8–8.5 from both hosts. We geek out over the sword fight, that trippy transformation, and what the next film might bring.

AI news heats up: Sekiro’s rumored anime adaption might use AI for animation, prompting big worries for artists and the future of anime jobs. Can AI really “replace” hand-drawn magic—or is it just corporate greed in disguise? Meanwhile, faceless YouTube channels and auto-generated content are already making waves (and money).

Timestamps:

• 00:05 — Weather check, anime industry growth, and tech’s influence (AI, VR)

• 01:12 — One Piece outpaces Batman; manga takes on the world stage

• 05:14 — Which “Big Three” anime hit the hardest? (Going Merry, Naruto’s wedding, Bleach’s best fight)

• 13:26 — Bleach, Naruto, and the art of dragging out a good ending

• 19:30 — Card game nostalgia: Yu-Gi-Oh!, Pokémon, and the pain of lost 1st editions

• 30:12 — Who are the “new” Big Three? Demon Slayer, My Hero, Kaiju No. 8

• 46:30 — Movie review: Mononoke: The Ashes of Rage (Netflix); wild colors, great sword fight, 8.5/8 rating

• 53:34 — Why do Mononoke’s villains keep showing up? Move out already!

• 56:18 — Sekiro anime and the big AI debate: job loss or progress?

• 01:00:28 — VTubers, AI YouTube channels, and the future of “faceless” anime media

• 01:03:02 — Kaiju No. 8’s finale: great team-up, no milking the story

• 01:04:06 — Sign-off: more anime, more hot takes, and hit us up at animeignite.com!

💬 Got your own anime hot takes or want to join the convo? Drop your recs and rants at animeignite.com

Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle leaks are all over TikTok, summer ’25 anime is stacked, and we finally caught Haikyuu’s recap movies—straight hype. 🔥

Blu3 and TehWrongGuy break down the Infinity Castle frenzy (cam rips, viral fight scenes), shout out the new season’s heavy hitters (Kaiju No. 8, Shield Hero S4, Seventh Prince S2, Water Magician), and admit what we already dropped. Quick takes on Dr. Stone’s wild America arc (Medusa device, corn-to-cure science), GATE S2’s big return, and Edgerunners’ next Night City run.

Plus: anime IRL sightings—Naruto Burger King in PR, One Piece restaurants, MLB’s anime ad, and K-Pop Demon Hunters blowing up. Movie pick is Haikyuu’s double feature (Ending & Beginning / Winners & Losers): fast cuts, peak volleyball energy, and both hosts giving it a solid 7.5. Dumpster Battle is officially next up!

💬 Drop your hot takes or recs at animeignite.com — home base for the pod.

00:00 — Cold open: Infinity Castle already “Anime of 2025”? theater leaks, TikTok spoilers, and restraint vs. FOMO
02:10 — Intro: Welcome to Anime Ignite 🎙️
02:40 — Season check-in: Kaiju No. 8’s hot start, Shield Hero S4’s glow-up pacing, Seventh Prince S2 setup, Water Magician’s smart spells
06:05 — Vending Machine S2: early upgrades & cozy chaos; quick “drop” list (a couple just didn’t click)
08:00 — “Cleveties,” Apocalypse Bringer, and Private Tutor to the Duke’s Daughter: which ones we’re sticking with
10:45 — Dandadan S2: fast, funny, feral (action right away)
12:20 — Dr. Stone catch-up: corn → alcohol → revival fluid, Zeno’s tech leap, Medusa device refresher
15:40 — News bits: GATE S2 in 2026, Edgerunners returns (new cast, same Night City)
17:25 — Off-court anime moments: Naruto Burger King in PR, One Piece pop-ups, MLB’s anime spot, K-Pop Demon Hunters takeover
20:10 — Sports lane: Prince of Tennis Worlds hype; why Haikyuu converts non-sports fans
21:30 — Movie pick: Haikyuu — Ending & Beginning + Winners & Losers (S1 recap done right)
24:20 — Favorite beats: Hinata hang-time, Kageyama dimes, Tsukishima blocks, ace OST callbacks
26:10 — Scores: 7.5 (TWG) / 7.5 (Blu3) — crisp edit, easy rewatch; Dumpster Battle next
27:15 — Wrap & sign-off

💬 Got takes or recs? Drop them at animeignite.com — the official home of the pod.