Chic Pixel Plus Episode 40 – Cute Critters

P-chan Okinawan chicken — P-chan the chicken (photo by Sarah)

Chic Pixel Plus is back! In episode 40, we celebrate Pokémon‘s 20th anniversary and the announcement of Pokémon Sun and Moon, ruminate over Funimation’s Escaflowne Kickstarter, and pick our next manga title (featuring a cute critter, of course). Then Sarah recaps her trip to Okinawa to visit her family, and gives us more of the cute critter action we crave in the form of the one-eyed chicken P-chan.

00:03:09 – Pokémon 20th anniversary, Pokémon Sun and Moon
00:07:36 – Funimation’s Escaflowne Blu-ray Kickstarter [ANN interview]
00:16:00 – Manga Book Club
00:19:00 – Showa Genroku Rakugo Shinju episodes 5-6
00:29:02 – Erased episodes 5-6
00:46:18 – Prince of Stride Alternative episodes 5-6
00:55:54 – Nippon Neighborhood Watch

Opening ♫ – “Mystic Eyes” by Hiroki Wada
Closing ♫ – “Opening” by Junichi Masuda

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Chic Pixel Plus Episode 39 – Danny DeVitochu

2 / 17 / 16

Even though we recorded this on schedule to go up before Valentine’s Day, things don’t always go to plan… Whoops! But the show must go on, and we have lots of things to say about our Manga Book Club pick, Otaku ni Koi wa Muzukashii, the craziness of Detective Pikachu, Wonder Festival, the 1001 Knights Kickstarter (Sarah’s in it!), and all the happenings in the latest anime. Be sure to listen to the very end to hear the old man voice of Detective Pikachu in all his glory. We’re not kidding.

00:02:46 – Meitantei Pikachu: Shin Konbi Tanjō (Detective Pikachu)
00:12:01 – 1001 Knights Kickstarter
00:14:51 – Wonder Festival announcements
00:17:33 – Manga Book Club
00:38:09 – Showa Genroku Rakugo Shinju episodes 3-4
00:48:10 – Erased episodes 1-4
01:08:37 – Prince of Stride Alternative episodes 3-4

Opening ♫ – “Heart Moving” by Misae Takamatsu
Closing ♫ – Meitantei Pikachu: Shin Konbi Tanjō opening cutscene excerpt

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Chic Pixel Plus Episode 38 – Snow Warrior

1 / 31 / 16

Hooray for new anime! In this episode, Sarah tackles snow in Tokyo and shares her Odin Sphere Leiftfhrasir impressions, while I predictably have many thoughts on otome games and Otomate’s Osomatsu-san game announcement. We then reveal our next Manga Book Club Pick, Otaku ni Koi wa Muzukashii, and share our first impressions of our 2016 anime picks!

00:02:41 – Odin Sphere Leiftfhrasir impressions
00:10:53 – Osomatsu-san otome game?!
00:16:08 – Uta no Prince-sama Repeat Vita port announced
00:17:33 – ZAM otome article
00:21:36 – Manga Book Club
00:29:24 – Showa Genroku Rakugo Shinju episodes 1-2
00:45:04 – Ajin episode 1 (swapping for Erased)
00:52:14 – Prince of Stride Alternative episodes 1-2
01:04:18 – Nippon Neighborhood Watch

Opening ♫ – “Watashi Igai Watashi ja nai no” by Gesu no Kiwami Otome
Closing ♫ – “Be My Steady” by Galaxy Standard

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Chic Pixel Plus Episode 37 – Monkey Year

1 / 16 / 16

Out with the old, win with the new! On episode 37 of Chic Pixel Plus, we wrap up 2015 with our final impressions of One Punch Man, Concrete Revolutio, and A Perfect Insider. Then we pick our favorite anime of the year, read listener choices, and select the titles we’ll be watching for the first anime season of 2016. We also discuss our manga book club pick of the week, Ano Ko ni Yasashii Sekai ga Ii, and Sarah shares her experience celebrating the new year in Japan. アケオメ (ake ome)!

00:05:10 – Manga Book Club
00:19:04 – A Perfect Insider episodes 10-11
00:30:25 – Concrete Revolutio episodes 11-13
00:37:33 – One Punch Man episodes 11-12
00:44:13 – Our favorite anime of 2015
00:50:04 – Listener favorite anime of 2015
01:03:12 – Winter 2016 anime picks
01:11:45 – Nippon Neighborhood Watch

Opening ♫ – “Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence” by Ryuichi Sakamoto
Closing ♫ – “Hoshi Yori Saki ni Mitsukete Ageru” by Hiroko Moriguchi

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Chic Pixel Plus Episode 36 – Somewhat Festive

12 / 19 / 1512 / 20 / 15

This week we’re joined by special guests cicadas (sorry about that, Anne left her window open) to talk about the latest anime we’ve been watching, the new Final Fantasy VII Remake trailer, and more Monster Hunter X now that Sarah finally has her copy! We get a little festive, too, so if you’ve wanted to learn more about how Christmas is celebrated in Japan, Sarah’s got the full lowdown. Happy holidays!

00:02:05 – Final Fantasy VII Remake news
00:06:04 – Hatoful Boyfriend Holiday Star release
00:12:35 – Ni no Kuni 2: Revenant Kingdom announcement
00:16:56 – The Secret Loves of Geek Girls picked up by Dark Horse Comics
00:20:15 – Sarah’s Monster Hunter X impressions
00:30:15 – Right Stuf holiday sale [Anne’s guide]
00:30:51 – Manga Book Club
00:35:23 – A Perfect Insider episodes 8-9
00:50:28 – Concrete Revolutio episodes 9-10
00:59:02 – One Punch Man episodes 9-10
01:07:07 – Nippon Neighborhood Watch

Opening ♫ – “Jingle Bells” by Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon
Closing ♫ – “Chocobo’s Happy Christmas” by Masashi Hamauzu

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Chic Pixel Plus Episode 35 – Everything is Grey

12 / 3 / 1512 / 19 / 15

Who’s excited about Monster Hunter X? We certainly are! We’re also excited about this episode’s Manga Book Club pick Moriawase Girls, which turns out to be just the right combination of creepy and cute. Meanwhile, Concrete Revolutio and The Perfect Insider make us scratch our heads, and things even get a little more philosophical as we recount the latest episodes of One Punch Man. And have you ever wondered what Japanese cop shows are like? Sarah’s got you covered there, too!

00:01:11 – Monster Hunter X
00:10:56 – Free manga by Inio Asano promotion at Ebook Japan
00:13:14 – Yoko Shimomura Game-Along
00:15:28 – Right Stuf holiday sale [Anne’s guide]
00:16:11 – Honoring Shigeru Mizuki
00:19:16 – Manga Book Club
00:44:52 – A Perfect Insider episodes 6-7
00:56:23 – Concrete Revolutio episodes 7-8
01:04:24 – One Punch Man episodes 7-8
01:12:06 – Nippon Neighborhood Watch

Opening ♫ – “Match Uri Shoujo” by Suiyoubi no Campanella
Closing ♫ – “Jeuno – Starlight Celebration” by Naoshi Mizuta

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Chic Pixel Plus Episode 34 – Team Watchdog-Man

11 / 17 / 1511 / 17 / 15

This may officially be episode 34 of Chic Pixel Plus, but it’s really episode TEN of the killer Sarah+Anne new format combo, so we celebrate accordingly (with booze). Then, we touch on some interesting tidbits from the latest Nintendo Direct, announce the next Manga Book Club title, and gush over our favorite minor characters in the shows we’re currently watching. Haikyuu! also makes its way in there somehow, and Sarah gives a full recap of her magical night in Hakone.

Thanks so much for tuning in to Chic Pixel Plus, and here’s to many more!

00:01:00 – Cheers to ten episodes
00:06:43 – The disappearance of Osamotsu-san episode 1
00:15:45 – Nintendo Direct
00:20:00 – Manga Book Club
00:22:08 – The Perfect Insider episodes 4-5
00:40:00 – Concrete Revolutio episodes 5-6
00:50:07 – One Punch Man episodes 5-6
01:01:28 – Anne’s anime impressions: Dance with Devils and Haikyuu!
01:14:44 – Nippon Neighborhood Watch [Monster Hunter onsen promotion]

Opening ♫ – “Hangout da!” by TsuShiMaMiRe
Closing ♫ – “Warera Shiko Gakuen Seitokai” by Dance with Devils cast

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