Taste Test: Train to the End of the World

it’s all about perspective!

There were a good handful of shows I pushed to the top of my to-watch list this spring, many of which are sequels. Sure, there were some very hyped newer shows, but for the most part, nostalgia was a strong deciding factor for which shows I decided to watch first. The ones I left at the bottom were isekai, video game adaptations, and slice-of-life-girls-doing-cute-things. Hence, why Train to the End of the World was one of the later shows I picked up. I expected it to play out much like the promotional art implied, or, if things went even better, thought it might turn out like Girls’ Last Tour.

That latter optimism wasn’t inaccurate, but doesn’t go near far enough to describe the surreal nature of this show. What we have here isn’t just a group of friends literally riding a train, but also a post-apocalyptic journey with no sense of distance, time, or reality. And that’s a fantastic thing.

Taste Test: Oblivion Battery

Query: is amnesia real?

Bear with me. I’ve seen amnesia tossed around so much over the years across almost all mediums that I started to doubt the validity of the ailment. Never fear, amnesia is real and typically refers to the temporary loss of memory rather than permanent. Still, I’ve never met anyone with the condition. Have you?

I ask this because amnesia sets the stage for this season’s baseball anime: Oblivion Battery. We’ve seen so many baseball stories over the years; it’s Japan’s favorite past time, after all. Especially high school baseball. We’ve seen newbie players, mediocre players, nationals bound players, co-ed players, all-girl teams, post-apocalyptic city teams…you get the idea. Now, we have a former unbeatable battery struck down with an amnesiac catcher who once was the brains behind the unit.

Kaiseki Anime Podcast Episode 145 – Winter 2024 Season Final Impressions

• 0:00:00 Intro
• 0:01:03 Meiji Gekken 1874
• 0:02:35 7th Time Loop: The Villainess Enjoys a Carefree Life Married to Her Worst Enemy!
• 0:04:07 Blue Exorcist -Shimane Illuminati Saga-
• 0:05:58 Chained Soldier
• 0:07:12 Cherry Magic! Thirty Years of Virginity Can Make You a Wizard?!
• 0:10:04 The Demon Prince of Momochi House
• 0:11:21 Doctor Elise: The Royal Lady with the Lamp
• 0:13:16 The Fire Hunter 2
• 0:14:55 Fluffy Paradise
• 0:16:34 Hokkaido Gals are Super Adorable
• 0:18:08 Metallic Rouge
• 0:21:03 Tales of Wedding Rings
• 0:22:17 The Unwanted Undead Adventurer
• 0:24:14 The Witch and the Beast
• 0:26:33 Banished from the Hero’s Party, I Decided to Live a Quiet Life in the Countryside Season 2
• 0:28:15 Bottom-Tier Character Tomozaki 2nd Stage
• 0:31:40 Classroom of the Elite Season 3
• 0:33:51 The Foolish Angel Dances with the Devil
• 0:35:17 My Instant Death Ability is Overpowered
• 0:36:13 Sasaki and Peeps
• 0:38:44 Synduality Noir 2
• 0:42:10 A Sign of Affection
• 0:44:57 Brave Bang Bravern!
• 0:48:13 Solo Leveling
• 0:50:52 ‘Tis Time for “Torture,” Princess
• 0:53:37 The Wrong Way to Use Healing Magic
• 0:56:05 The Apothecary Diaries
• 0:58:57 Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End
• 1:00:41 Gushing About Magical Girls
• 1:01:48 Shangri-La Frontier
• 1:04:03 Undead Unluck
• 1:09:08 Delicious in Dungeon
• 1:11:09 TSUKIMICHI -Moonlit Fantasy- Season 2
• 1:11:46 Outro

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You can find Kaiseki Anime Podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Google Podcasts. Subscribe to us now! Please also take a moment to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts—these reviews increase our visibility to new viewers, as well as gives us the feedback we need to improve.

If you have any questions or comments, let us know by commenting below, through Twitter with #KaisekiAnimePodcast, or on our personal Twitter accounts.

Music Credits:

• “Clover 3” by Vibe Mountain
• “Seasons” by roljui

Taste Test: Black Butler: Public School Arc

I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw this old favorite on the spring list. Mixed feelings abounded: would this be a true continuation of everything I loved so much in the previous works, or would this follow the recent trend of beloved classics gutted into something almost unfamiliar, something worth forgetting. And when I jumped into the first episode with very little research via summaries or even video trailers, I started to fear that this “high school arc” would rewrite the history I’d loved. Was this some alternate universe where Ciel never rules his own household or secretly serves as the Queen’s guard dog?

I never should have doubted the young man, nor his butler. This was in fact not a remake erasing all that I held dear; this was another one of Ciel’s investigations with an all-encompassing reach extending to identity, setting, and cast of characters. But don’t worry, there’s still plenty of devilish work at play.

Undead Unluck Hit Me Right in the Gut and I Liked It

Thank you, Draggle, once again for turning me onto this show, and what a ride it was. Crazy, wild, and really, really damn good. 

That’s it. That’s the review.

Just kidding. I’m not as succinct as my podcast co-host can be, so I’ll go into a bit more detail. If you’re interested, you can also listen to us talk about it. Since you’re here, now, then let me just say that Undead Unluck took all my misgivings and expectations and blasted them into the literal galaxy where they expanded and took on Andy-levels of joy. I could not watch a single episode without laughing my ass off, which might be why I avoided watching the final episodes on my recent vacation. I can’t be cackling like a mad fiend on the plane or train that way. People would call the authorities. There’d be embarrassment to be had for everyone involved. Then we’d all get over it after I explained that it was the show’s fault and that if they just watched it, then they’d understand. Right?

Frieren, The One Worth Waiting For

Alright, I’ve procrastinated talking about Frieren long enough. The time has finally come for me to acknowledge that this show is well and truly over, and that a sequel has yet to be announced.

Nevermind that a Chained Soldier has a promised continuation. I’m not bitter, or anything like that.

Ahem, anyway, this has been one hell of a season, and Frieren is a large part of why I enjoyed the winter so much. Does it have its flaws? Obviously, yes. But what it does right it does so time and time again, and I am at heart a creature of comfort and habit.

How to Become a Wizard with Cherry Magic!

Oh, Cherry Magic, how I will miss you! Your angst and your miscommunications, your fluffy dreams and wishes. The show didn’t go quite as explicit as I’d been hoping for, but that’s okay. I don’t mind imagining all the gritty details now that our couples are actually couples, complete with reciprocated understandings of what it is they feel for one another and want for the future.

The Apothecary Diaries: A Balm to My Soul

The season might be over, but not only do we already have an announced sequel, we also have plenty of source material still to titillate us (and this I actually know firsthand). Even though this first series took up two cours, I still wasn’t ready for it to end. I know it sounds dramatic, but I can’t really bear the thought of future weeks going without The Apothecary Diaries, it was just that wonderful of a show to look forward to. I’ll be ready and waiting for when it returns.

Fluffy Paradise Isn’t So Fluffy, After All

Curiosity and cuteness didn’t kill the cat, but it did lull me into a state of begrudging affection. When I originally decided to keep up with this show, the decision came about from a genuine interest in the main character’s new life and how she might grow up with her gift. What I didn’t expect, but probably should have in hindsight, was the latter half’s focus on the politics and drama in relation to the beasts that occupy “their” kingdoms. Neema situates herself right in between them, “helping” in the unique way that she can, but really coming across as a little girl with a savior complex.

Kaiseki Anime Podcast Episode 144 – AKB0048 and AKB0048 Next Stage

• 00:00 Intro
• 00:45 AKB0048
• 14:27 AKB0048 Next Stage
• 22:13 Outro

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You can find Kaiseki Anime Podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Google Podcasts. Subscribe to us now! Please also take a moment to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts—these reviews increase our visibility to new viewers, as well as gives us the feedback we need to improve.

If you have any questions or comments, let us know by commenting below, through Twitter with #KaisekiAnimePodcast, or on our personal Twitter accounts.

Music Credits:

• “Clover 3” by Vibe Mountain
• “Seasons” by roljui