Anime Brain Freeze

After discussing a couple of stormy premieres from Fall Season 2026 in the Sneak Peek, the (g)hosts review the newest adaption of Masamune Shirow's iconic Manga The Ghost in the Shell.

Sneak Peek:

Romelia War Chronicle (2:19)

Psyren (6:27)

Magic Knight Rayearth 2026 (15:33)

Ranma ½ - Season 3 (26:28)

Dragon Ball Super: Beerus (29:15)

STEEL BALL RUN JoJo's Bizarre Adventure (33:28)

Cyberpunk: Edgerunners 2 (42:55)

Review:

The Ghost in the Shell (55:30)

Related Links:

https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/

Play Buffet:

Next Fest demos (0:51)

Steam Controller (7:43)

Maimai & other Round1 Arcade games (8:48)

Mega Man W & other fangames (15:53)

Super Mario Bros Wonder Switch 2 Edition (32:43)

Marvel Tokon (41:29)

Bloodborne & the problem with too many big games (52:53)

Mina the Hollower (1:31:07)

Star Fox (1:48:32)

Borderlands 2 (2:06:20)

Xenoblade Chronicles 3 (2:17:39)

Newsbits:

Sony decided to kill physical games (2:57:09)

1-Up for Discussion:

After discussing a couple of scorching hot premieres from Summer Season 2026 in the Sneak Peek, the hosts review the ice-cold robot vs kaiju action show Snowball Earth.

Sneak Peek:

Chainsmoker Cat (3:27)

Iron Wok Jan! (7:04)

Black Torch (11:14)

Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha EXCEEDS Gun Blaze Vengeance (13:14)

Sparks of Tomorrow (20:06)

Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia (26:14)

The Ghost in the Shell (35:13)

Young Ladies Don't Play Fighting Games (42:14)

Review:

Snowball Earth (55:30)

Snowball Earth – Spoilers (1:29:12)

After wrapping up a few leftovers in The Quick and the Dead, the hosts review the final season of Beastars. Last but not least, they pick their favorite shows in Best of the Season.

The Quick and the Dead:

Oshi no Ko – Season 3 (3:55)

Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid: A Lonely Dragon Wants to be Loved (6:01)

Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc (12:18)

Princession Orchestra (14:37)

My Hero Academia: More (18:16)

Review:

BEASTARS FINAL SEASON (21:22)

Best of the Season (1:57:07)

The hosts indulge in their pyromantic tendencies one last time and review the finale of Fire Force. After that, they dig up the treasure that is Golden Kamuy's penultimate arc.

Reviews:

Fire Force – Season 3 Part 2 (1:20)

Golden Kamuy Final Season (1:18:45)

Mp3 Download: https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/animebrainfreeze/AnimeBrainFreeze181.mp3

Transcription: https://freepodcasttranscription.com/transcription/ee9f62740bbfbd896351ab6772699e4b914af147.srt

Website: http://animebrainfreeze.com

Twitter:

John and CC partake in a new grail war and review the first season of Fate/strange Fake. After that, they discuss yet another mixed outing from To Your Eternity. And finally, they return to the beautiful world of Frieren: Beyond Journey's End to talk about its second season.

Reviews:

Fate/strange Fake (1:24)

To your Eternity – Season 3 (49:19)

Frieren: Beyond Journey's End – Season 2 (1:51:09)

Special:

How Kojima is that German name!? – Lightning round (2:14:33)

Related Links:

https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interview...

The hosts return to No Man's Land and review the second season of the new Trigun adaption: Trigun Stargaze. After that, they get on their trusty steeds and gush over the first stage of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Steel Ball Run.

Reviews:

Trigun Stargaze (1:12)

JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Steel Ball Run - 1st Stage (1:44:10)

Related Links:

https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interview/2025-11-14/a-mini-with-yasuhiro-nightow-on-trigun-stargaze-and-his-way-of-writing/.230613

https://www.animefeminist.com/feature-powerful-women-trigun/

https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/feature/2025-10-15/preparing-for-anime-greatest-race-the-steel-ball-run-cast-take-the-stage/.229500

https://aftermath.site/steel-ball-run-jojos-bizarre-adventure/

After tackling a couple of premieres in the Sneak Peek, the hosts review the newest outing from the Shonen Action hit show Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3: The Culling Game Part 1.

Sneak Peek:

Kirio Fan Club (2:11)

Nippon Sangoku (3:36)

Rooster Fighter (11:32)

Mistress Kanan is Devilishly Easy (14:42)

MAO (16:50)

Snowball Earth (24:32)

Daemons of the Shadow Realm (32:36)

Liar Game (43:39)

Classroom of the Elite 4th Season: Second Year, First Semester (50:22)

Witch Hat Atelier (54:21)

Review:

Jujutsu Kaisen Se...

The hosts tackle a couple of leftover shows in The Quick and the Dead. Then they discuss the newest season of the sitcom action hit Spy x Family and last but not least present their picks for Best of the Season.

The Quick and the Dead:

Sanda (1:28)

Ranma ½ 2025 (16:59)

Gachiakuta (22:41)

Touring after the Apocalypse (39:56)

My Hero Academia – Final Season (47:53)

Review:

Spy x Family – Season 3 (1:03:42)

Best of the Season (1:50:29)

Related Links:

https://w...

Play Buffet:

Mega Man X: Viral Nightmare demo (1:06)

Duskfade demo (5:08)

Acrolyte demo (6:03)

Super Alloy Crush demo (7:17)

LUCID demo (8:51)

Kingdom's Return: Time-Eating Fruit and the Ancient Monster demo (10:34)

Denshattack demo (14:24)

Vampire Crawlers demo (17:44)

Replaced demo (23:12)

Scott Pilgrim EX demo (26:04)

Wild Blue Skies demo (28:22)

Mightreya demo (35:03)

Parasite Mutant demo (37:36)

John goes Linux (47:41)

John bought a Virtual Boy (55:24)

Windswept (1:03:06)

After celebrating their 10-year anniversary, the hosts highlight a couple of premieres in the Sneak Peek and then air their grievances with the newest season of the show that started it all: One Punch Man.

10 years of Anime Brain Freeze (1:20)

Sneak Peek:

The Darwin Incident (13:05)

Yoroi-Shinden Samurai Troopers (22:44)

Hell's Paradise – Season 2 (33:02)

Oshi no Ko – Season 3 (34:28)

My Hero Academia: Vigilantes – Season 2 (36:22)

Golden Kamuy – Final Season (40:13)

Journal with Witch (44:18)

Trigun Stargaze (51:15)

Fire Force – Season 3 Part 2 (56:24)

Fate...

After firing off a couple of mini reviews in The Quick and the Dead, the hosts discuss the new adaption of the 30 year old Manga Yaiba: Samurai Legend. Last but not least they present their choices for Best of the Season.

The Quick and the Dead:

Kaiju No. 8 – Season 2 (1:11)

Cultural Exchange With a Game Centre Girl (15:58)

DAN DA DAN – Season 2 (20:06)

Review:

Yaiba: Samurai Legend (30:50)

Yaiba: Samurai Legend - Spoilers (1:17:10)

Best of the Season (1:25:32)

Mp3 Down...

John comes to regret certain life choices as he tasks himself with reviewing the fourth season of Rent-A-Girlfriend. After that, CC closes a long overdue knowledge gap in his anime library, by talking about the new adaption of the Anne Shirley books.

Reviews:

Rent-A-Girlfriend – Season 4 (1:12)

Anne Shirley (23:51)

Mp3 Download: https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/animebrainfreeze/AnimeBrainFreeze174.mp3

Transcription: https://freepodcasttranscription.com/transcription/345cd2aa41ac856afd84d33e3fa761234a5dc42a.srt

Related Links:

https://www.animen...

Play Buffet:

Retro pickups from local conventions (1:12)

Mario Kart World & Sonic Racing CrossWorlds (6:41)

Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket (29:14)

Umamusume (31:03)

Stella Sora (35:31)

Blaster Master Zero 2&3 (38:02)

Sonic Rumble (48:01)

Bounty Star - The Morose Tale of Graveyard Clem (49:22)

Berserk Boy (53:11)

Captain Toad Treasure Tracker (58:20)

Xenoblade, Xenogears and Xenosaga talk (1:06:02)

Persona 3 Reload (1:13:52)

Pokemon Legends Arceus (1:32:44)

Shinobi – Art of Vengeance (1:46:52)

Mega Man X1/2/3 Route MatriX Randomizer (1:52:30)

ROG Xbox Ally X (1:59:0

CC kicks off the show by talking about the eerie folk horror show The Summer Hikaru died. Then John details the many comedic antics happening in CITY The Animation. And last but not least, CC reviews the unexpected wild ride that Takopi's Original Sin took him on.

Reviews:

The Summer Hikaru died (1:20)

CITY The Animation (38:48)

Takopi's Original Sin (1:03:06)

Takopi's Original Sin – Spoilers (1:15:35)

Takopi's Original Sin – Super Spoilers (1:29:31)

Takopi's Original Sin – Ultra Spoilers (1:40:41)

Mp3 Download: https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/animebrainfreeze/AnimeBrainFreeze173.mp3

The hosts discuss a couple of premieres from Fall in the Sneak Peek and then put on their assassin aprons to talk about the second season of Sakamoto Days.

Sneak Peek:

My Gift Lvl 9999 Unlimited Gacha (2:07)

Dusk Beyond the End of the World (6:21)

One Punch Man – Season 3 (9:49)

Touring After the Apocalypse (15:59)

Tojima Wants to Be a Kamen Rider (20:20)

To Your Eternity (28:04)

Spy×Family – Season 4 (37:12)

Ranma ½ 2025 – Season 2 (42:33)

Sanda (45:37)

My Hero Academia – Final Season (52:38)

Review:<...

The hosts kick off the show with a couple of mini reviews in The Quick and the Dead. Then they discuss the lukewarm outing from the first half of Fire Force's ostensible final season.

The Quick and the Dead:

Mono (3:38)

Uma Musume Pretty Derby Season 2 (5:42)

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle (14:46)

Review:

Fire Force - Season 3 Part 1 (24:44)

Best of the Season (1:46:56)

Related Links:

https://www.cbr.com/fire-force-disappointing-final-season-potential-problems/

https://www.rjwh...

The hosts discuss a couple of quick Lycoris Recoil appetizers before roping in CC's friend David to talk all things Gundam and review Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX, the newest outing from Hideaki Anno's studio Khara.

Reviews:

Lycoris Recoil: Friends are thieves of time. (1:20)

Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX (12:03)

Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX - Spoiler Section (1:20:33)

Related Links:

https://www.youtube.com/@GiantRobolove

https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/this-week-in-anime/2025-04-10/.223361

https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/this-week-in-anime/2025-05-29/.224882

Mp3...

Episode 169: Riffs & Rebels

John headbangs to the tunes of the girls from Rock is a Lady's Modesty and CC suits up to join a motely crew of unsanctioned do-gooders in the My Hero Academia spin-off Vigilantes.

Reviews

Rock is a Lady's Modesty (1:11)

My Hero Academia: Vigilantes (35:27)

Related Links:

https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interview/2025-05-23/rock-is-a-lady-modesty-director-shinya-watada-and-the-rise-of-girl-bands/.224387

Mp3 Download:

https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/animebrainfreeze/AnimeBrainFreeze169.mp3

Transcription:

The hosts kick off Summer Season with a bunch of premieres in the Sneak Peek and then review Lazarus, the new action spectacle from the Cowboy Bebop director.

Sneak Peek

Leviathan (2:55)

Cultural Exchange With a Game Centre Girl (10:59)

The Summer Hikaru Died (14:49)

Gachiakuta (21:15)

CITY The Animation (29:46)

Returning and continuing shows (34:38)

Takopi's Original Sin (47:36)

Review

Lazarus (1:06:07)

Lazarus - Spoiler Section (1:38:10)

Mp3 Download:

https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/animebrainfreeze/Ani...

The hosts review the retired assassin spoof Sakamoto Days and then present their picks for Best of the Season.

Review

Sakamoto Days (1:09)

Best of the Season (1:04:30)

Mp3 Download:

https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/animebrainfreeze/AnimeBrainFreeze167.mp3

Transcription:

https://freepodcasttranscription.com/transcription/d2ddf685c4f121839bd239b82841a6edc90a49c3.srt

Website: http://animebrainfreeze.com

CC kicks off the episode by reviewing a slightly different "creator-meets-creation" isekai in Zenshu. After that, John brings back the edgy 00s energy and talks about the violent fantasy revenge tale Übel Blatt. Last but not least, CC returns to the genre of sports and fawns over the double-flavored underdog story of Medalist.

Reviews:

Zenshu (1:20)

Übel Blatt (1:01:07)

Medalist (1:43:27)

Related Links:

https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/this-week-in-anime/2025-01-30/.220595

https://blog.sakugabooru.com/2025/05/09/the-many-other-gems-of-animation-in-early-2025/

Mp3 Download: https://traffic.libsyn.com/s...

PAX East impressions (1:24)

Play Buffet:

Crimson Desert (8:25)

Shantae Advance (14:18)

Double Shake (15:15)

Earthion (16:00)

Gigasword (19:49)

Neon Inferno (21:47)

Break Arts III (22:33)

Demon Tides (23:44)

A Corgi's Cozy Hike (24:44)

Section 13 (25:23)

Skateboard Knight (26:12)

Nier Automata (33:54)

Blaster Master Zero (50:22)

Sonic Unleashed (54:13)

Trials of Mana Remake (1:21:03)

FF16 hard mode (1

Episode 165: Daima Wonderland

The hosts discuss a bunch of spring premieres in the Sneak Peek. After that, they review the final Akira Toriyama Dragon Ball show: Dragon Ball Daima.

Sneak Peek:

Rock is a Lady's Modesty (3:16)

Apocalypse Hotel (6:20)

Guilty Gear Strive: Dual Rulers (9:57)

Princession Orchestra (22:38)

mono (28:27)

Your Forma (31:47)

Yaiba: Samurai Legend (37:46)

Lazarus (44:01)

Anne Shirley (51:00)

Fire Force – Season 3 (58:36)

My Hero Academia: Vigilantes (1:07:18)

Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX (1:14:18)

The hosts discuss a couple of leftover shows in The Quick and the Dead. Then CC dives into the world of the occult and reviews the rom-com action show DAN DA DAN. Last but not least, the guys present their picks for Best of the Season.

The Quick and the Dead:

BLUE LOCK vs. U-20 JAPAN (1:42)

TASUKETSU -Fate of the Majority- (12:23)

Magilumiere Magical Girls Inc. (15:46)

Love Live! Superstar!! – Season 3 (17:15)

Ranma ½ 2025 (17:57)

Review:

DAN DA DAN (20:35)

Best of the...

Play Buffet:

Final Fantasy XIV (4:07)

Pokémon TCG Pocket (11:32)

Pokemon Legends Arceus (17:23)

Final Fantasy Legend (27:07)

Luminous Avenger iX 2 (37:36)

Metroid Dread (50:36)

Nier Replicant (1:15:29)

Batboy (1:37:27)

Shadow of the Ninja Reborn (1:41:18)

Contra: Operation Galuga (1:50:42)

Wanderstop (1:56:17)

Beyond the Ice Palace 2 (1:58:10)

Gal Guardians: Servants in the Dark (2:00:37)

Sanae's Sylphid Breeze (2:02:08)

Fubuki -Zero in on Holoearth- (2:03:32)

After discussing a couple of Winter Season 2025 premieres in the Sneak Peek, the hosts review the Kickstarter-project-turned-full-show sci-fi action series Mecha-Ude: Mechanical Arms.

Sneak Peek:

Ameku M.D.: Doctor Detective (3:10)

I Left My A-Rank Party (6:54)

Übel Blatt (10:57)

ZENSHU. (18:59)

I May Be a Guild Receptionist (29:02)

Medalist (35:17)

Sakamoto Days (45:54)

Dr. Stone: Science Future (56:39)

BEASTARS Final Season (58:15)

Review:

Mecha-Ude: Mechanical Arms (1:06:16)

Related Links:

In this season finale the hosts dish out a couple of "quick" reviews in The Quick and the Dead. After that they mix things up and review a bunch of recent Anime movies, among them Gridman Universe. Last but not least they pick their winners for Best of the Season.

The Quick and the Dead:

My Hero Academia - Season 7 (1:19)

Grendizer U (41:40)

Motion Picture Avalanche:

HAIKYU!! The Dumpster Battle (56:12)

The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim (1:05:32)

The First Sl...

CC kicks off the show by going nocturnal and reviewing the new vampire youtuber comedy Mayonaka Punch. After that, John once more braves the treacherous seas of the Video-Game-to-Anime adaptions and explains why NieR:Automata Ver 1.1a bucks the trend. Last but not least, CC travels back in time to discuss the rejuvenation of a struggling 80s franchise in the form of Terminator Zero.

Reviews:

Mayonaka Punch (1:41)

NieR:Automata Ver 1.1a (41:49)

Terminator Zero (1:17:08)

Related Links:

https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/this-week-in-anime/2023-03-14/.195934

The hosts discuss a couple of Fall premieres in the Sneak Peek and then review the buckwild comedy series My Deer Friend Nokotan.

Sneak Peek:

Trillion Game (2:30)

Magilumiere Magical Girls Inc (5:33)

Mecha-Ude: Mechanical Arms (10:10)

Ranma ½ 2024 (15:09)

DAN DA DAN (20:33)

Love Live! Superstar!! [Season 3] (27:36)

The IDOLM@STER Shiny Colors [Season 2] (29:19)

Uzumaki (31:30)

TASUKETSU -Fate of the Majority- [Season 1 Part 2] (35:32)

Sword Art Online Alternative: Gun Gale Online II (37:35)

BLUE LOCK 2nd Season (39:57)

Dragon Ball Daima (42:00)

After the hosts gulp down some leftovers in The Quick and the Dead, CC unleashes his monstrous review of Kaiju No. 8. Then the hosts start cooking and discuss the many tasty offerings of Delicious in Dungeon. Last but not least, they present their picks for Best of the Season.

The Quick and the Dead:

Date a Live V (2:18)

Laid-Back Camp - Season 3 (4:45)

Urusei Yatsura 2024 (6:22)

Hunter x Hunter 2011 (13:23)

Astro Boy 2003 (19:44)

Reviews:

Kaiju No.8 (23:24)

Delicious in Dungeon (55:02)

The hosts discuss a couple of premieres in the Sneak Peek and then review the lead-up to the big Demon Slayer finale: The Hashira Training Arc.

Sneak Peek:

TASUKETSU -Fate of the Majority- (2:28)

Grendizer U (8:50)

The Magical Girl and The Evil Lieutenant Used to Be Archenemies (17:30)

Mayonaka Punch (20:36)

VTuber Legend: How I Went Viral after Forgetting to Turn Off My Stream (28:28)

Suicide Squad ISEKAI (33:16)

My Deer Friend Nokotan (39:23)

NieR:Automata Ver 1.1a (47:23)

Oshi no Ko (50:34)

After tackling a couple of mini reviews in The Quick and the Dead, CC elaborates on why Undead Unluck is one of the most refreshing Battle Shonen series in recent time. After that, both hosts discuss the fantasy Anime Frieren – Beyond Journey's End and its interesting approach to the topics of time and near-immortality.

The Quick and the Dead:

One Piece (2:24)

Lupin III - The Castle of Cagliostro (4:53)

Spy x Family – Code White (6:13)

Classroom of the Elite – Season 3 (9:25)

Reviews:

Undead Unluck (11:26)

F...

The hosts discuss a couple of premieres in the Sneak Peek and then review the hot-blooded super robot adventures of Brave Bang Bravern!

Sneak Peek:

Highspeed Étoile (3:58)

Go! Go! Loser Ranger! (6:20)

The IDOLM@STER Shiny Colors (12:16)

The Grimm Variations (16:38)

Blue Archive The Animation (24:22)

That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime - Season 4 (31:24)

My Hero Academia – Season 7 (32:38)

Nijiyon Animation – Season 2 (34:18)

Laid-Back Camp – Season 3 (35:38)

Sound! Euphonium – Season 3 (37:26)

Date A Live V (42:51)

Kaiju No. 8 (45...

In this monster-sized episode, the hosts are joined by their friend Jacob to review the finale of the modern epic that is Attack on Titan. They also talk about a few leftovers in The Quick and the Dead and present their picks for Best of the Season.

The Quick and the Dead:

The IDOLM@STER Million Live! (1:52)

Uma Musume Pretty Derby (5:13)

Oshi no Ko (14:05)

Hunter x Hunter 2011 (19:50)

Review:

Attack on Titan Final Season THE FINAL CHAPTERS (29:59)

Best of...

In an improvised news segment, John and CC say goodbye to the legendary manga author Akira Toriyama. After that, John talks about a slightly different Shonen tournament in his review of Helck. And last but not least, the hosts discuss the long-awaited return of The Ancient Magus' Bride.

News:

Farewell Akira Toriyama (1:20)

Reviews:

Helck (27:43)

The Ancient Magus' Bride – Season 2 (56:18)

Related Links:

https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/this-week-in-anime/2024-03-26/.209195

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-YE8RtsYTs

 <...

CC reviews the dark comedy Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead, a fresh take on the battered Zombie genre. After that, the hosts go on a cruise with the Forger family and a bunch of deadly assassins in the third season of Spy x Family.

Reviews:

Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead (1:20)

Spy x Family – Season 3 (31:53)

Related Links:

https://twitter.com/Yuyucow/status/1678061828314746881

https://twitter.com/YoArjash/status/1678064328954748929

https://blog.sakugabooru.com/2023/07/14/zom-100-bucket-list-of-the-dead-production-notes-01/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cko...

CC kicks off the episode by reviewing the long awaited Anime adaption of Pluto, Naoki Urusawa's take on the Astro Boy universe. After that the hosts take a trip to the F4 racing track and discuss the sports drama Overtake!

Reviews:

Pluto (1:20)

Overtake! (32:06)

Related Links:

https://www.polygon.com/23933966/pluto-best-anime-netflix-watch-it

https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/this-week-in-anime/2023-11-02/.204013

https://www.crunchyroll.com/news/features/2023/10/26/want-to-get-into-formula-racing-start-with-overtake

https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/this-week-in-anime/2023-12-14/.205451

Mp3 Download: https://traffic.lib...

John and CC start of this super packed review season as usual with a Sneak Peek of the newest Anime premieres. After that, they do a deep dive into the second season of the dark shonen hit show Jujutsu Kaisen and also talk about its production troubles.

Sneak Peek:

Blue Exorcist: Shimane Illuminati Saga (2:41)

Sengoku Youko (9:41)

The Witch and the Beast (15:34)

Delicious in Dungeon (18:22)

Bucchigiri?! (28:35)

Metallic Rouge (32:13)

Classroom of the Elite – Season 3 (39:30)

Urusei Yatsura – Season 2 (41:57)

Brave Bang Brave...