So, Detective Conan/Case Closed... what a weird franchise. I'm not sure who it's supposed to be for. It's marketed to little kids in Japan, even though it has horribly violent content and an ongoing serialized main storyline. But can you market it to older kids or adults, despite it having a lot of kiddie shit? I doubt it. So who is it for? And who is this special for, by the way? I don't know, but I did kind of enjoy it. That roller coaster murder was gruesome!
review
Otaku Evolution Episode 263 – Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam (Part 1)
Welcome back to Otaku Evolution! It’s 2025 and boy have I got things planned for you, the viewer! Assuming I’m not just screaming out into the void, that is.
Speaking of screaming, there sure is a lot of that in Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam. Maybe not as much as in G Gundam, but there’s plenty. Everybody seems to be a little on edge, which is one of the reasons I like it (but also a reason some people dislike it). Characters might just fly off the handle completely at any time. It’s neat!
Otaku Evolution Episode 262 – Year End English Dub Review XI
One last video for 2024! It’s been one heckuva ride, folks (especially the particularly bumpy patch towards the end). As usual, I’m here to look at all the English dubs of the anime I’ve covered in the second part of the year. The strongest by far was Black Lagoon‘s. I love that dub. In fact, I think it’s the final Grand Pantheon dub I hadn’t reviewed yet. What will I do from now on? Well, (un)fortunately, OE isn’t just about really good things.
As for my bookend material, it looks like while I’m busy griping (and sleeping), Pen Pen and some of my other colleagues are taking action against strongmen across the globe! I hope I don’t get pinned for this. All I did was arrest Putin! (Meanwhile, in real life, only the Claims Adjuster carries out justice.)
Otaku Evolution Episode 260 – Lupin III: Takeshi Koike Movies
Sorry, no commentary this time, either. I’ve been pretty depressed lately, and have to give all my energy to my next video. Please enjoy my video and contribute to my Patreon.
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– Penguin Truth
(2024)
Otaku Evolution Episode 259 – Urusei Yatsura 2: Beautiful Dreamer
Sorry this one doesn’t have a commentary or anything. I’ll insert one here later. I’ve been stressed out because my YT account has strikes against it. All future videos will be up on Dailymotion until further notice.
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– Penguin Truth
(2024)
Otaku Evolution Episode 258 – Akira
Akira is one of those obvious “must-review” anime classics that it feels like I should have gotten to a long, long time ago. But I didn’t just want to review everything everyone else was reviewing all the time, which is why I held off on it. But holding off for ten years is probably enough. I even read a huge swath of the manga (though not *all* of it) to prepare myself. I wanted to do my homework, as to avoid somebody making a “Penguin Truth Was Wrong About Akira” video. (Yeah, right, like anyone would even notice this video.)
Otaku Evolution Episode 257 – Black Lagoon
Yikes… I’m running out of favorite anime to review! But I can’t worry about that, because Black Lagoon was calling to me, saying in a loud voice, “Review me!” And I cannot ignore the call of a classic, one of my favorite anime of all time. Still, of my, let’s say, top 30, I’ve got maybe five or six left to do? I might have to begin intentionally reviewing bad anime just to distance myself from the rest, as painful as that’d be. Not to mention, this anime also has one of my favorite English dubs, and I’m pretty sure I’m all out of those to cover after this. But more on the dub another time.
Otaku Evolution Episode 256 – Mid Year English Dub Review X
So, as usual, I’m covering the English versions of the anime I’ve reviewed so far this year. I’d say the strongest dubs I went over were the two Funimation ones. In the next half of the year, I’ll try not to even do Funimation dubbed anime, unless a spot opens up that I end up filling with one. I want to get in titles dubbed by other ADR outfits for variety.
There’s also (more than) a fair amount of “bookend” material in this video, where it looks like Pingu has finally kicked the bucket and the funeral is being held. Yeah, that’s Pingu in the pine box. Noot noot. I actually think my Chairpenguin speech is genuinely decent. Yeah, I know.
Otaku Evolution Episode 255 – Area 88 (TV)
Area 88 is a fine show. It’s nothing special, no match for the original OVA, but it does have its good aspects and notable moments. There’s a lot of detail put into the aircraft and procedure and the dogfights are interesting, if brief. Much of the drama comes from what happens on the ground. But the show doesn’t look great and some of the characterization is anemic. It just doesn’t have the overwhelming personality and charm of the OVA. But it’s not a waste of time.
Otaku Evolution Episode 254 – Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods
Akira Toriyama, creator of manga like Dr. Slump, Dragon Ball, and Sand Land, sadly passed away on March 1, 2024. He left behind a legacy of colorful work, worlds of wonder that continues to impact people the world over. Since I review anime, and not manga, I wanted to pay tribute to Toriyama in a way that reflected his own personal efforts, so I chose a Dragon Ball Z movie that he actually had influence over, Battle of Gods, whose story he constructed. Of course, I also mentioned his work in video games.