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.

new season heat, shield hero glow-up, vending machine chaos, and a spicy movie take 🎧🔥

It’s Blue and TWG back at it, riding that first-episode high and too much caffeine. We gush about Shield Hero S4’s cinematic glow-up 🛡️🎬, trade first impressions on Water Magician 💧 and Seventh Prince ⚔️, and admit Outcasts Restaurant 🍳 and Vending Machine S2 🥤 are our unexpected comfort watches. Kaiju No. 8 stomps back into the queue 🦗💥 and Blue keeps trying to drag TWG across the finish line.

News and noise you’ll actually care about: more Night City stories for Cyberpunk Edgerunners 🤖🌃, Gate S2 is real and marching our way 🗡️🛡️, King of the Hill returns 🔧🥤, and the South Park censorship mess has us side-eyeing studio suits 😑📺. Meanwhile, TWG’s house has five kids, a heatwave, and K-Pop Demon Hunters on loop 🧒🌡️🎶 so the Saja Boys are living rent-free in our heads.

Movie night is The Colors Within 🎨🎸. The palette pops and the vibes are gentle, but the songs never quite hit for us. Come for the visuals, stay for our therapy session on why “pretty” isn’t always enough.

Hit play, grab a snack 🍿, drop your sleeper picks, and tell us what we should queue up next.

Crunchyroll everywhere, spring ’25 wrap, summer hype (Shield Hero, Vending Machine, Panty & Stocking), Big Three debates, MAL shake-up, and a cozy Ghibli close with The Boy and the Heron. 🔥

Blue and TehWrongGuy are back on the Anime Ignite Podcast with a season send-off and a stack of takes. We open on why Crunchyroll feels inescapable, then spin through spring’s standouts and letdowns: Fire Force delivered, Country Bumpkin → Master Swordsman surprised, while The Beginning After the End… didn’t. We vibe on the Dandadan OP (certified jam), argue “new Big Three” vs the originals (and swat down that SAO rumor), and hit the headlines: MangaDex gone, MyAnimeList’s blockchain buyer, Black Clover teaser on the horizon, and a 2026 Fist of the North Star revival. Plus: summer hype checks for Shield Hero S4, Seventh Prince S2 (7/9), Reborn as a Vending Machine S2 (7/2), and Trigger’s new Panty & Stocking (7/9–10). We also detour into Bleach love (Kenpachi supremacy), Solo Leveling’s mixed Japan reception, and a quick Gunpla therapy session. We close with a spoiler-light review of The Boy and the Heron—magic towers, parakeet tyrants, and that Ghibli food you can practically taste.

00:00 — Cold open: “Why is Crunchyroll everywhere?”
01:10 — Spring ’25 in a sentence (and a sigh)
02:05 — Fire Force & hidden gem: Country Bumpkin → Master Swordsman
03:35 — The Beginning After the End: expectations vs execution
05:10 — Dandadan OP = instant add to the playlist
06:05 — Summer watchlist hype: Shield Hero S4, Seventh Prince S2 (7/9), Vending Machine S2 (7/2), Panty & Stocking (7/9–10)
08:40 — SAO replacing Bleach in the Big Three? (Nope.)
10:05 — What a “new Big Three” would actually need
11:30 — MangaDex shuts down; why official platforms must do better
13:00 — MyAnimeList’s blockchain buyer and what that could mean
14:25 — Black Clover July 7 tease; fingers crossed
15:30 — Kenpachi talk: meteors, bells, and beautiful brutality
18:10 — Solo Leveling love, “Japan thinks it’s mid?” and context
20:00 — Long-runners: Ippo’s endurance & a Fist of the North Star reboot (2026)
21:30 — Gunpla & display-case dreams (mini hobby corner)
22:45 — Movie of the week: The Boy and the Heron (spoiler-light)
26:10 — Favorite moments: whistling arrow, library tower, bread-and-jam scene
28:00 — Voices roll call (Pattinson, Bautista, Hamill) & our verdict
29:30 — Final thoughts & summer outlook

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

Crunchyroll’s everywhere, our awards takes are simmering, dandadan is stuck in our heads, and Flavors of Youth goes down smooth. 🎧🔥
Blu3 and TehWrongGuy return with Episode 15—starting with why Crunchyroll is suddenly inescapable (Funimation merger vibes, R.I.P. comments section), then diving into the Crunchyroll Anime Awards: love, hate, and the eyebrow-raisers. We spar over Ninja Kamui winning anything, debate Best Continuing (Demon Slayer vs Bleach/MHA), and argue Best New Series (Solo Leveling’s hype vs Frieren’s heart).

We vibe-check Dandadan (opening/song of the year energy), celebrate Solo Leveling’s soundtrack and Jinwoo’s glow-up, and gush about comfy watches—Konosuba S3, Shangri-La Frontier boss fights, and Slime S3’s dungeon arc (plus the chill Slime Diaries spinoff). For our movie pick, we go spoiler-light on Flavors of Youth (Netflix): three gentle shorts, gorgeous noodles, sisterhood, and cassette-tape romance—complete with our scores. We detour into Toonami nostalgia (TOM forever), then hit the news: MangaDex takedown fallout and MyAnimeList getting scooped by a blockchain company (uh… NFTs, anyone?). Big opinions, bigger coziness, and plenty for your queue.

00:00 — Cold open: “Why is Crunchyroll everywhere?” (Funimation merger, player vs. player, bring back comments!)
02:46 — Intro: Welcome to Anime Ignite 🎙️
03:00 — Crunchyroll Awards: fan-voted love… and our gripes
04:50 — “Ninja Kamui” winning? Blu3 says dumpster fire 🗑️
06:05 — Best Continuing: Demon Slayer wins; Bleach/MHA snub talk
08:57 — Best New Series: Solo Leveling vs Frieren (hype vs surprise)
11:30 — Kaiju No. 8 manga hype check
12:10 — Delicious in Dungeon shoutout (wholesome watch with TWG’s kid)
13:35 — Dandadan: starts weird, lands amazing (OP + song = certified banger)
17:05 — Best Score: Solo Leveling’s “Dark Aria” goosebumps moment
18:18 — Best MC: Sung Jinwoo’s grind vs “plot armor” discourse
22:00 — Webtoon rec: The Gamer (game systems done right)
22:41 — Best Isekai: Re:Zero wins; love for Konosuba & Shangri-La Frontier’s boss fights
25:03 — Slime S3 dungeon-building joy; S2 demon lord ascension still top tier
27:08 — Konosuba S3 favorites (heist bracelet arc, Kazuma competence cameo) + specials/movie notes
30:05 — Pass on Suicide Squad Isekai (rough start)
30:31 — Support cast W: Fern (Frieren) and other category wins
31:39 — Global Impact: Attack on Titan finale thoughts (CGI quibbles, epilogue praise) + “Red Swan” shout
36:19 — Film of the Year: Look Back (adding to watchlist)
38:10 — This week’s movie: Flavors of Youth (Netflix) — setup & format
40:47 — Story 1: Rice Noodles (memory, family, food = tears)
44:35 — Story 2: A Little Fashion Show (sisters, industry pressure, healing)
48:37 — Story 3: Love in Shanghai (tapes, timing, missed chances)
58:10 — Scores: 7.5 (TWG) & 7.8 (Blu3) — watch for the vibes, especially the first two
59:43 — News: MangaDex down; scan sites vs paid models; why legit access still matters
1:06:01 — News 2: MyAnimeList acquired by blockchain firm (tokenomics??) + what it might mean
1:10:08 — Wrap & sign-off

💬 Got takes, recs, or rage about the Awards? Drop them at animeignite.com — the official home of the podcast.

AKU IMPRESSIONS, BUG-MECHS, & COZY FOOD VIBES! 🔥 Blue and TehWrongGuy kick off Episode 14 with a pitch-perfect Samurai Jack Aku intro (!!) and a chat about voice acting dreams—then dive into what’s actually hitting (and missing) this season.

We trade notes on current watches—Konosuba, Spirit Chronicles, Shangri-La Frontier, Frieren, Re:Zero, Fire Force S3—plus Blue’s take on The Beginning After the End (story chugs along, visuals still iffy) and manga catch-ups like Kaiju No. 8. Hidden gem alert: From Country Bumpkin to Master Swordsman gets a strong rec. Future hype rolls in for Seventh Prince S2, Dr. Stone’s endgame arc, and Shield Hero S4, while Dandadan and Rent-A-Girlfriend S4 spark debate (and a little cringe).

The deep dive? A throwback feast: Aura Battler Dunbine (1983) from Sunrise—wild bike-jump isekai, beetle-inspired mechs, and sharper themes than you’d expect. We nerd out on studios (MAPPA, Bones, Sunrise), chew on anime films (Demon Slayer: Mugen Train, Kaiju No. 8’s theatrical cut, Chainsaw Man movie buzz), and chat Batman Samurai & AI dubbing. For palate cleansers, we celebrate Campfire Cooking in Another World, Food Wars, Restaurant to Another World, Toriko, and even some dungeon-core novel recs for listeners who like their fantasy with stats. Big vibes, honest takes, and plenty for your queue. 🎧

00:01 — Cold open: flawless Aku impression & VA dreams
02:10 — Watchlist check: Konosuba, Spirit Chronicles, Shangri-La, Frieren, Re:Zero, Fire Force S3
04:30 — Beginning After the End: pacing up, visuals still mixed
05:20 — Konosuba specials bring back S1-era chaos
06:50 — Rec of the week: From Country Bumpkin to Master Swordsman
08:25 — Kaiju No. 8 manga catch-up (teamwork > solo carry)
09:04 — Fire Force S3 vibes (Burns goes 🔥; light spoiler note)
11:40 — Season temperature: still meh overall
13:30 — Harem-ish misses & what’s actually landing
16:50 — Summer/Fall hype: Seventh Prince S2, Dr. Stone endgame, Shield Hero S4
21:09 — Rent-A-Girlfriend S4: we watch for the cringe
22:40 — Dandadan debate (good? great? anime of the year?)
23:55 — Dr. Stone: science, Senku-cola, manga end vs. anime plans
30:14 — Deep dive: Aura Battler Dunbine (bug-mechs, isekai portal chaos, Sunrise legacy)
36:57 — Studio talk: MAPPA, Bones, and Sunrise’s massive catalog
40:10 — Movie corner: Mugen Train, Kaiju No. 8 cut, Chainsaw Man film buzz
43:30 — Family watch: Black Clover (Asta volume discourse 😂)
51:20 — AI dubbing & Batman Samurai (CGI gripes, fun plots)
55:18 — Comfort watches: Campfire Cooking, Food Wars, Ghibli food magic
1:01:05 — Chill bites: Restaurant to Another World, Toriko
1:03:00 — Book recs: dungeon-core picks for audiobook fans
1:10:45 — Wrap & sign-off

SEASON SLUMP? HIDDEN GEMS? PLUS A REDLINE REVIEW! 🔥 Blue and TehWrongGuy are back on the Anime Ignite Podcast with candid takes on a lukewarm season, and the surprise wins keeping us watching.

We kick off with why this anime season feels mid, then debate The Beginning After the End (story ✅, animation ❌), and run through what’s on our watch lists: Fire Force S3, Re:Zero, Shangri-La Frontier, Spirit Chronicles, and more. We also hit the new My Hero Academia movie and a spoiler-light chat about the manga’s epilogue chapter (future hero rankings 👀).

From there, it’s a lightning tour of news and niches: Kaiju No. 8 S2 hype, whispers of Hunter x Hunter returning, bizarre sequels (yes, the Vending Machine anime), and the cozy-food joy of Campfire Cooking in Another World (plus a spirited defense of Food Wars). We go deep on isekai roots—.hack//SIGN, Log Horizon, SAO—stumble onto the 80s mecha oddity Aura Battler Dunbine, and compare catalogs (Crunchyroll ≠ everything). We close with a spoiler-tagged review of the cult classic film REDLINE—style, speed, and nitro-fueled chaos, complete with our ratings.

To wrap, we pitch shows we wish would come back (Grimgar: Ashes and Illusions, No Game No Life) and manga/manhwa we’d love to see animated (Dungeon Reset, Astro Royale, Ruri Dragon, Solo Farming in the Tower). Big vibes, honest opinions, and plenty to add to your queue. 🎧

00:00 — Cold open & intro energy
01:20 — Why this season feels underwhelming
02:10 — The Beginning After the End: story vs. animation debate
05:50 — What we’re watching now (Re:Zero, Shangri-La, Spirit Chronicles)
07:30 — Fire Force S3 first impressions (and real-life time crunch)
09:00 — Evil Lord of an Intergalactic Empire losing steam
09:47 — New My Hero Academia movie (fun!)
10:20 — MHA manga epilogue (future rankings, light spoilers)
13:50 — PSA: there will be occasional spoilers
14:00 — Kaiju No. 8 S2 hype + Hunter x Hunter return rumors
15:00 — Vending Machine sequel?! / Campfire Cooking love / Food Wars talk
16:45 — Isekai favorites: Beast Tamer, Parallel World Pharmacy, Seventh Prince
19:00 — Isekai roots: .hack//SIGN vs. Log Horizon vs. SAO
21:50 — Hidden treasure: Aura Battler Dunbine (1983 mecha)
23:40 — Why Crunchyroll’s catalog can make you miss shows
24:00 — Dandadan temperature check
24:30 — Sakamoto Days S2, Dr. Stone returns, Rent-A-Girlfriend S4
26:35 — “Reverse isekai” picks: GATE, Devil Is a Part-Timer
28:40 — DIY from anime: Senku Cola & Ghibli food cravings
30:11 — Spirited Away Oscars note & Ghibli favorites
30:33 — Howl’s Moving Castle (book vs. film) and adaptation choices
34:28 — REDLINE overview (synopsis & style)
37:20 — Micro-details we loved (nitro pill, vehicle madness)
41:34 — REDLINE scores: 8.5 (TWG) & 8.3 (Blue)
43:26 — Dub vs. sub for movies
46:33 — Bring these back: Grimgar (please), No Game No Life
54:46 — Dungeon Reset (manhwa spotlight)
56:58 — Astro Royale & Ruri Dragon (manga shoutouts)
58:10 — Solo Farming in the Tower (webtoon that slaps)
1:00:48 — Final thoughts & season outlook

💬 Have a hot take or rec? Drop it at animeignite.com—the official home of the podcast.