ASO Radio - Anime Talk News Radio

Originally recorded 2019-Aug-08.

This Episode marks twenty (That's 2-0!) years of ASO Radio. It seems like only two decades ago that I started this show, but it has actually been twenty years - who could have guessed? ^_- In that time we have reviewed every anime and Japanese video game ever made as well as the majority of manga, visual novels, light novels, and soundtrack CD's, with reviews of millions of comedic and dramatic audio programs on CD and digital as well. Or... that would be awesome if it were true. So until it is, we will continue to review media from Japanese popular culture.

...And hey, here's to another twenty years of ASO Radio! We hope you all shall join us on our continuing adventures in anime talk radio broadcasting!

Anime Review: "Aggretsuko (Aggressive Retsuko)," "Aggretsuko - We Wish You a Metal Christmas," "Patema Inverted"

Video Game Review: "Pushmo (3DS)"

HotSpot: "Nz17's Trip to Japan in 2018"

Our fifteenth anniversary Episode - originally recorded on August 10th, 2014 - starts with an overview of ASO Radio's beginnings and its early episodes. We then segue to talking about the contemporary anime talk radio shows from back-in-the-day that have disappeared from the Internet over the years as well as what's been happening in the lives of Nz17, DB3, and ZGuy. All that is followed by our usual segments which include an anime review, some unique fan mail, a few zippy video game reviews while Nz17 gets a drink, and an overview of the 2013 NDK convention.

Anime Review: "Sailor Moon Crystal"

HotSpot: "Fast, unofficial video game reviews," "Nan Desu Kan (NDK) 2013 anime convention travelogue"

Wow, we did it! Fourteen years of ASO Radio C-O-M-P-L-E-T-E-D, completed! Yahoo! All right! PaRappa The Rapper, you gotta believe! Ten seasons finished! Yeah, yeah, yay, woo, wooo!

...And here's to another fourteen years yet to be. We hope you all shall join us on our continuing adventures in anime talk radio broadcasting.

Anime Review: "Toradora!"

Video Game Review: "Kid Icarus: Uprising (3DS)"

Are you prepared for a rocking summer-time episode of ASO Radio? Good, glad to hear it, because we have one that's ready for you!

Nz17 is going to take you on spin through some anime reviews "shotgun style," and then we serve up a mighty fine video game review of a compilation of games for PSP.

Anime Review: "Katanagatari," "Arakawa Under the Bridge," "Pandora Hearts," "Our Home's Fox Deity," "Kimi ni Todoke," "Bunny Drop," "Ground Control to Psychoelectric Girl," "House of Five Leaves," "The Everyday Tales of a Cat God"

Video Game Review: "Metal Slug Anthology"

This Episode contains a special announcement about some changes we're going to be making around here. But it also contains a review of the anime Working!! (known as Wagnaria!! in North America) and an hour-long interview with the famous voice actor Sonny Strait and the musician - and convention favorite - Warky T. Chocobo. A nice mix of ASO Radio goodness that spans over ninety-eight minutes, this is an Episode you should not miss!

Anime Review: "Wagnaria!!"

HotSpot: "Sonny Strait + Warky T. Chocobo interview"

You know that whole thing about shorter, more manageable Episode lengths? Yeah, about that: got into a bit of a rant about anime production and buyer purchasing habits, so a short Episode isn't happening this time. What is happening is a great bit of anime news, an anime review of a classic from the golden days of the late 80's / early 90's, and a review of a recent release for the Nintendo DS in the HotSpot section.

Anime Review: "YaWaRa! A Fashionable Judo Girl"

Video Game Review: "Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days"

It is the end of an era, and the dawn of a new era... and time for more ASO Radio! We wrap up our first decade of ASO Radio with Episode #125, a true milestone! And to celebrate, we bring out some dutifully critical reviews of the new Fullmetal Alchemist anime series, Brotherhood, and the original manga too. Put on your listening headphones and tune into a new decade of ASO Radio, my fellow otaku.

Anime Review: "Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood"

Manga Review: "Fullmetal Alchemist"

And now we proudly present the first Episode of 2009, #124! *crowd cheers*

Yes, yes, we are glad to be back, and this is a great Episode. We feature our expanded Community Section (Anyone have a better name suggestion for this segment?), we have double doses of anime and video game reviews, and we tell you in the anime news segment of the upcoming and pending releases and retractions of the retail world of anime and manga. So let's get the downloads rolling and listen to this shining new Episode of ASO Radio!

Anime Review: "Chobits," "Lucky Star"

Video Game Review: "Disgaea DS," "New Zealand Story Revolution"

DB3 is back for one more Episode of ASO Radio before the summer ends. Tune in to hear him and Nz17 jab their jibs at one another and laugh even more. As a special treat, DB3 is giving us a review of a manga series he has been following recently, and we give another Web site recommendation. Banzai!

Web Site of the Week: Bleach Portal

Anime Review: "Sakura Wars (OVA)"

Manga Review: "Liar Game"

Holy cows, we are back again! And by we, I mean a special guest and I. Who is this special guest? You'll have to listen to the Episode - or I'll have to stop being a schmuck - for you to find out. I think I'll just stop being a schmuck then, and tell you our super-special guest is none other than long-time and old-time co-host of the show, DB3! For those of you unfamiliar with his work, go back and listen to like #105 and just about everything between #58 and #94. I'm sure it is a good use of thirty-eight hours of your ever more precious life, unless you have a scheduling conflict or something, and then it's cool.

Web Site of the Week: Anime Paper

Anime Review: "Chobits"

How have you been? Boy, seven months can really fly by when you get busy with life and anime. But hey, we're back, and we're bold, and we are ready with a smorgasbord of anime material that will blow your socks off your feet! We'll try to restrain ourselves, but trust me, we're busting at the seams with new reviews waiting for you, now and in the future. Did I mention the upcoming weekly Episodes? Good times ahead.

Anime Review: "Blue Seed," "Chobits," "Eureka Seven," "Galaxy Fraulein Yuna," "Get Backers"

Manga Review: "Maison Ikkoku"

Video Game Review: "Bleach: The Blade of Fate," "Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow," "Etrian Odyssey," "Jam Sessions"

Ye gads! It has been nearly a month since our last new Episode! We should better get back to the grind stone, then.

With so much time having passed us by, we have a stockpile of anime reviews amassed. You know what that means: shotgun review time! We'll wrap up two series and introduce some new ones too, when we take down them all with a shotgun review.

Anime Review: "Boys Be...," "Gunslinger Girl," "Samurai Champloo"

HotSpot Manga Review: "FullMetal Alchemist: The Valley of White Petals"

Okay, so we have a video game review for you this Episode. Guess which system it is for! If you guess the Nintendo DS, you're right! (It's almost like that's the only one I have that gets Japanese games.) More than that, we review two more volumes of Samurai Champloo, one more of a certain series for boys, and read the fan mail. Nz17 wraps things up nicely with a special announcement about a future guest of ASO Radio. Ooh, listen to find out who! That Episode will be one to mark on your blog or calendar.

Anime Review: "Boys Be...," "Samurai Champloo"

HotSpot Video Game Review: "Touch Detective"

Okay this show has a small news section this time. But that's cool, right? I mean, you don't need to have huge blocks of news everytime, correct? Variety is the spice of life. I don't know what is the body of life, the meat, if you will, but variety apparently makes it taste good. And nobody wants to eat nasty meat without spice. But it is hard to market spicy nasty meat patties, so I think !XTREME! BERGERZ is a better name in this case. It is not a classy name, but mass consumerism is what sells in mass quantities.

Anime Review: "Kino's Journey"

HotSpot Manga Review: "Comic Party"

HotSpot Video Game Review: "Rhythm Tengoku"

This Episode is wicked to the extreme! Wait, no, is that: !XTREME!? Maybe I need a few more X's, and maybe some Mountain Dew. Mountain Dew strangely is not only made with water from the gentle grasses of the mountains, but sugar, caffine, and some green flavor dust.

All I know is that the show is the phattest hottie. This may be a large warm thing of some nature. So I guess giant, burning flames are the popular stuff in this day and age. Which is pretty exciting. Also, new Episode. I think that should be mentioned.

Anime Review: "Kaleido Star"

HotSpot Manga Review: "Alien Nine," "Planetes"

HotSpot Video Game Review: "Wario Ware Twisted!"

Here is some sweet news: besides being listed on the iTunes podcast directory, ASO Radio is now also listed on Digg's podcast section. That of course is very cool, because now our listeners can "digg" us as one of their favorite podcasts on Digg.com. So I encourage all of you to do that, as it is the super-awesome. If you could take a moment to write a review of our podcast on iTunes as well, people will know how the show is, and that is a very cool thing indeed.

Remember, we have an import video game review on this show (which is always a treat), and we dish out the anime news. Let's listen!

Anime Review: "Samurai Champloo"

HotSpot Manga Review: "Fruits Basket"

HotSpot Video Game Review: "Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan!," "Sigma Star Saga"

Wow, there is a lot of exciting stuff in this Episode. Just consider the news: it is full of announcements of sequels, licenses, cancellations, box office numbers, and new anime coming to North America. If the news is that awesome, just imagine what this Episode is like after you count the anime, manga, and video game reviews we have! We even tried a new recording technique for this show, so we would love to know what you think of our new sound. So be sure to listen in, my otaku kindred!

Anime Review: "My-HiME," "Street Fighter II V"

HotSpot Manga Review: "FullMetal Alchemist"

HotSpot Video Game Review: "Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney (Nintendo DS)"

Have you seen the Artist Alley lately? We have even more swell fan art from listeners like you which are now available in our alley of art, including new drawings of Bandie and DNAngel! We have some new tunes from Annunaki as well, and hey, what if we talked a bit about anime and manga too? Sounds pretty dang super to me! Give a listen and find out for yourself.

Anime Review: "Princess Nine," "Super GALS!"

HotSpot Manga Review: "Boys Be...," "Oh My Goddess!"

HotSpot Video Game Review: "Kirby Squeak Squad (Nintendo DS)," "Wario Ware (Game Boy Advance)"

Hey, look who's here. It is Annunaki, bringing us music for this Episode of ASO Radio. Totally awesome of them, and they will be back with more music next Episode. We are dishing out a trio of dual reviews this time including video game, manga, and of course, anime reviews. And more fan mail too, lucky days!

Anime Review: "Disgaea," "This Ugly Yet Beautiful World"

HotSpot Manga Review: "Boys Be...," "Comic Party (Comic Anthology)"

HotSpot Video Game Review: "Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin (Nintendo DS)," "Dragon Quest Heroes: Rocket Slime (Nintendo DS)"

Woo-hoo: back in full force baby! We were gone for a bit after our triology of Episode with DB3, but now Nz17 is back with a nutritious serving of anime news and reviews. But lest not our manga and video games fans be left out in the cold, this Episode we have two manga reviews and two portable game reviews. As a matter of fact, how about we do that for the next two Episodes as well as this one? Sounds like a plan!

Anime Review: "Hyper Police," "Yugo the Negotiator in Pakistan"

HotSpot Manga Review: "Comic Party," "Maison Ikkoku"

HotSpot Video Game Review: "Castlevania Adventure (Game Boy)," "R-Type DX (Game Boy Color)"

Another Episode with DB3? Believe it! We have some funny news this Episode, so be sure to listen to that. Also behold a pair of shotgun reviews and a video game review. Then we wrap it all in a warm and fluffy look forward at things in 2007.

Anime Review: "Martian Successor Nadesico," "Tenchi Muyo GXP"

HotSpot Video Game Review: "Yoshi Touch 'n' Go (Nintendo DS)"

HotSpot: "Editorial: 2007 Anime Expectations"

Behold, dear listeners, our promised new cohosts! I now proudly introduce jd10t and Cat13, the two new femmes d'animation here at ASO Radio. This is their first Episode, so please do give constructive criticism so that they may become the best new cohosts this season.

And how do we begin our new tenure with these cohosts? With a hearty helping of baseball anime and our ASO Radio Live! panel that we did at Anime Banzai, that's how! Listen and enjoy, or face the wrath of... straw! (Straw can be quite dry and scratchy and even uncomfortable at times, you see.)

Anime Review: "Princess Nine"

HotSpot: "ASO Radio Live! from Anime Banzai 2006"

All aboard, the review train is now leaving the station! We have a car-load full of reviews this Episode courtesy of Nz17 including the remainder of Comic Party and new entries from Licensed by Royalty and Kodocha. And since we didn't load any video game reviews before we left the platform, this week we have a new Ravin' Rant about all those little things about localisation that can annoy someone.

Anime Review: "Comic Party," "Kodacha," "L/R Licensed by Royalty"

HotSpot: "Ravin' Rant: Localization irks"

Hey we got some great stuff for you this Episode indeed! We were able to go to the advance theatrical showing of Fullmetal Alchemist: The Movie: The Conqueror of Shamballa: The Subtitle, and we have a full and thorough review waiting for you. Did we like it or was it awful dreck? Find out inside.

Anime Review: "Animation Runner Kuromi," "Fullmetal Alchemist: The Movie: The Conqueror of Shamballa"

HotSpot Video Game Review: "Kirby Canvas Curse," "Meteos"

What more can be said? We are really at Episode #100 after all these years. Awesome possum and bake an apple pie, we did it!

So join Nz17 and special guests Warpshadow and Link1986 for this spectacular show. We have anime, manga, and video game reviews galore and more and more and more. Encore! Encore!

Anime Review: "Boys Be...," "Comic Party"

HotSpot Manga Review: "Sgt. Frog"

HotSpot Video Game Review: "New Super Mario Bros.," "Zoo Keeper"

All right! Woo! We got some awesome new audio introductions for our reviews. Expect to see more next Episode too. This time we review the second entry in the Super GALS! series and the classic Dreamcast game Shenmue. And this Episode is host to the second entry in Azure's Corner. Get to downloading, this Episode is sweet and spicy!

Anime Review: "Super GALS!"

HotSpot Video Game Review: "Shenmue"

HotSpot: "Azure's Corner"

Well otaku-of-all-ages this Episode is packed to the brim with the unpatented ASO goodness. After all, if we patented it, how could we so easily share it? *wink*

We have dual reviews dueling for supremacy this week, a smorgasborg of international anime news, fan art contest winners, and a HotSpot video game review with special segment. What sort of unique offering are we bringing this week? The HotSpot has the first entry in a hopefully long-running series we like to call "Azure's Corner."

Anime Review: "The Hakkenden - The Legend of the Dog Warriors," "Paranoia Agent"

HotSpot Video Game Review: "Taiko Drum Master (PlayStation 2)"

HotSpot: "Azure's Corner"

Poor Nz17, he has a sore mouth from his dental work. But he is dedicated to you listeners, so here is the fruit of his painful labor, Episode #095.

This Episode is going to be a whole show instead of the daily segments we've been having lately. Herein we shall review three different anime (one excellent, two not-so-much) and one video game. Congratulations go out to Cat, our newest fan art contest winner! Be sure to get in your artwork for the next contest; for more information, please check out our fan art page.

Anime Review: "Catnapped! The Movie," "Yugo the Negotiator," "Kimagure Orange Road"

HotSpot Video Game Review: "P.N.03 (Gamecube)"

At ASO Radio we are always striving to make the best anime talk radio (podcast) show that we can. Part of the process of making improvements involves changes and experiementation.

This week marks the first test run of a new delivery style for our show. Instead of one long show delivered only once per week, we've decided to experiment by providing one standard show broken up into daily segments. It is the same ASO Radio format you know and love, only now delivered in daily digestible bits.

Please be sure to take our poll on the bottom half of our Web site to let us know what you think of this new style.

Nz17 starts things off with the parody "Springtime for Hoenheim" despite a sore tooth, then charges into a set of anime news sure to get some people talking. Due to acquisition issues (a.k.a. no DVDs in time for the show), we reach into the Vault for DB3's and Nz's take on Cat Soup. As a special bonus this week, we have some fine music courtesy of Norwegian Celery Farmers and Archer Avenue. Last to wrap things up we present a trio of features for our HotSpot that are sure to satisfy.

Anime Review: "Cat Soup," "Fullmetal Alchemist"

HotSpot: "The Evolution of Takuhai Magazine," "Fullmetal Alchemist End-of-Season Retrospective," "Commercial Funnies Set 5"

Some exciting new anime announcements are revealed in this Episode, then we review a pair of anime (with a bonus tossed in for good measure), fan some mail to get back on moral issues, and wrap up our NDK 2005 interview series. All-in-all, this Episode gives a ton of fast-flying fun!

Anime Review: "The Daichis: Earth's Defense Family," "Roujin Z," "The Slayers"

HotSpot: "Monica Rial Interview from Nan Desu Kan 2005 (Part Two)," "Commercial Funnies Set 4"

Watch out, Nz17's on a rampage! First he deals a whipping to newsies, then gives the what-for to audiophiles, and follows that up with verbal beatings for some of those deserving perverts. Interviews, funnies, and so much more on this Episode of ASO Radio!

Anime Review: "Kodocha," "Whisper of the Heart"

HotSpot: "Monica Rial Interview from Nan Desu Kan 2005 (Part One)," "Commercial Funnies Set 3"

Oh that Nz17, he make so much with the funnies. He make the sing-song, he make the ha-ha comercials, he so funny.

He also make good thinking too. He think hard about how a good anime is, and what for a bad anime is too. He say that Geshiken is bad, and Urusei is good!

Me also want say hi Mr. Devall! Me is fan, real big much. Thank you, you is nice! [This is the last time I let a caveman write my descriptions. I tell you, his noun-verb agreement is just all wrong.]

Anime Review: "Genshiken: Society for the Study of Modern Visual Culture," "Urusei Yatsura"

HotSpot: "Trevor Devall Interview from Nan Desu Kan 2005 (Part Two)," "Commercial Funnies Set 2"

What a meaty chunky but-not-too-funky Episode of ASO Radio! For this Episode we crack open the vault of ASO's unheard past to bring out an ancient anime review from DB3 and Nz17 and the first set of many commercial funnies. We also feature a fresh find of amazingly preserved news, a review of a 20th Century anime, an untombed NDK interview, and speculation on the future of podcasting (hint hint: It involves ASO Radio!).

Anime Review: "Kodocha," "Ranma 1/2: Big Trouble in Nekonron China"

HotSpot: "Trevor Devall Interview from Nan Desu Kan 2005 (Part One)," "Commercial Funnies Set 1"

This Episode is like a good German beer: full of flavor, hearty, and filling. We manage a fine, interesting mix of news, a pair of quality anime reviews (one a drama, one a comedy, both for balancing effect), and the exciting conclusion to our Deb Rabbai interview. And unlike an imported beer, this Episode comes at a friendly economic price. :P

Anime Review: "Neon Genesis Evangelion," "Maison Ikkoku"

HotSpot: "Deb Rabbai Interview from Nan Desu Kan 2005 (Part Two)"

We close out 2005 with a bang with this super-big Episode! We have lots of angsty fun with our Funny, feature a ton of quality reviews, update the news, and fan some mail. Then our HotSpot has two features, the second half of our Swaile/Smith interview and our annual year-end wrap-up review... thingy. Spend those gift cards well!

Have fun, and we'll see you in 2006!

Anime Review: "Escaflowne: The Movie," "Gravitation," "Kaleido Star," "Maison Ikkoku," "Samurai Seven"

HotSpot Manga Review: "Warriors of Legend: Reflections of Japan in Sailor Moon"

HotSpot: "Annual Holiday Review Wrap-Up," "Doug Smith and Brad Swaile Interview from Nan Desu Kan 2005 (Part Two)"

A really funny Episode that was fun to make, #082 is one of our best. It includes our Funny, "Irresponsible President Bush," some meaty anime news (for a change), a couple of reviews that poke fun at boring anime, a manga review of Van Von Hunter, and the second part of our interview with voice actress Carrie Savage.

Anime Review: "Haibane Renmei," "I'm Gonna Be An Angel"

HotSpot Manga Review: "Van Von Hunter"

HotSpot: "Carrie Savage Interview from Nan Desu Kan 2005 (Part Two)"