Austin

Third Impact Anime Episode #157 – Anime Secret Santa 2024 (Roujin Z, Kaiji, Chihayafuru, Gunbuster, and more!)

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Anime Secret Santa-san has once again performed his annual B&E and left us with an interesting array of anime series, movies, and OVAs under our tree. Austin and Bill and are joined by Tori and Sarah, two first-timers to the Anime Secret Santa festivities! Bill reviews three of his picks because he likes being extra (Roujin Z, Tsuritama, and Mai Mai Miracle), Austin reviews Chihayafuru (Season 1), Tori reviews Kaiji: Ultimate Survivor, and Sarah reviews Gunbuster! As our holiday gift to you, I hope you enjoy the lively conversation. A huge special thanks to everyone who participates in this fun project every year, especially the folks at the Taiiku Podcast who have kept it going the last few years. Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and may God save your little broken body.

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Have you seen any of these anime? What do you think of our takes? Would you play Anime Secret Santa next year? Let us know by sending us an email at thirdimpactanime@gmail.com and we’ll discuss it on the show.

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Time stamps:

  • 00:00:00 – Intro
  • 00:04:50 – Our history with Anime Secret Santa and welcoming Tori and Sarah to it for the first time!
  • 00:10:25 – The shows we were suggested that we didn’t watch
  • 00:18:45 – Bill’s review of Roujin Z
  • 00:30:16 – Tori’s review of Kaiji: Ultimate Survivor
  • 00:47:27 – Austin’s review of Chihayafuru (Season 1)
  • 01:11:34 – Bill’s review of Tsuritama
  • 01:26:46 – Sarah’s review of Gunbuster
  • 01:41:56 – Bill’s review of Mai Mai Miracle
  • 01:55:16 – Wrap up and social media plugs

Music used in this episode:

  • The Christmas Song by Nat King Cole
  • The Heat Miser Song by Maury Laws
  • Last Christmas by Wham!
  • All I Want for Christmas is You by My Chemical Romance
  • Active Heart by Noriko Sakai (Gunbuster OP)
  • Happy Circle by Bun Itakura and Mishio Ogawa (Roujin Z OST)
  • Mirai wa Bokura no te no Naka (The Future is in Our Hands) by Masato Hagiwara (Kaiji) with Red Bonchiris (Kaiji: Ultimate Survivor OP 1)
  • Wish by Hideki Taniuchi (Kaiji: Ultimate Survivor OST)
  • Team Chihayafuru by Kousuke Yamshita (Chihayafuru OST)
  • Tsurezure Monochrome by FUJIFABRIC (Tsuritama OP)
  • Asa, Enoshima ~Keikai Hen~ – Kuricorder Quartet (Tsuritama OST)
  • Aim for the Top – Fly High by Noriko Hidaka (Gunbuster OST)
  • Children’s World by Kotringo (Mai Mai Miracle ED)
  • ‘citation from joy to the world’ by Shiro Sagisu (Evangelion 3.0 + 1.0 Thrice Upon a Time OST)

A collection of things we brought up:

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4 comments

  3. So many great shows recommended!!! Kaiji, Chihayafuru, and Mai Mai Miracle?!

    I like to think of Kaiji’s “live with debt, die, or live with crippling injury” options as consequences of losing games as both cruelty of the bored rich and life under capitalism for the rest of us, where there’s no greater threat/crime greater than being poor. (This is expounded upon in S2 with slave/indentured labor.) The Kaiji manga, at least as described to me by the publisher, is mostly more statistics. Like a lot more. So brace yourself, Tori, if you do indulge. Also sorry to hear you didn’t dig the art style. It is definitely a devicive aspect of the show, but it’s one I love to call beautifully ugly and think appropriate for the atmosphere and subject matter. Appreciate your insights and dedication to watching despite not necessarily finding it appealing!

    As a Chihayafuru cult band member, I’m so happy Austin’s been indoctrinated. Passing along a recommendation is all it takes! I look forward to hearing about thoughts on other seasons. Fun fact: Madhouse handled the animation production for Kaiji, Akagi (Kaiji w/mahjong), and Chihayafuru, all three leverage similar techniques to keep what are 99% stagnant games dramatic and, as Austin mentioned, visually interesting. Great call out about the characters’ internal worlds lending to that excitement too. So many more characters, their motivations, and their connections to poetry to explore in S2 and S3!

    Very short story time: I saw Mai Mai Miracle presented by the director (Sunao Katabuchi) at Otakon (when it was still in MD), where he did a Q&A after the film. Not a dry eye in the house when the lights came up, and the first few people were chocking back tears so hard they could barely get their questions out. One of my best con memories. And if my memory serves, this film was made specifically in order to preserve a moment in history for someone the director met and was close friends with. So Bill picking up on that was great insight from your viewing. Glad you also brought up the intended audience, the beauty behind the purpose of the pacing, and enjoyed it as well!

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