Podcast
Cafe Manga
Hosted by Liz · EN
This podcast is part of a Substack newsletter about anime, manga, and light novels. If you enjoy those as well, subscribe at https://cafemanga.substack.com! New episodes every few days.
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15episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Introducing React With Me
Oct 27, 202400:09:56Tap to summarizeThis week’s episode is just to introduce to all of you of a “new” type of episode I’ll be doing in the podcast. It’s not truly new. It’s pretty similar to the episodes I did about Dr. Stone. Later today, I’ll be posting a list of the first few stories I’ll be doing a read/watch and react in the next couple of months.Basically I’ll talking about different stories per episode until I either cover the entire series or talk about all the volumes available to me. You have the option to follow along with me per episode or read/watch ahead. Check out the “hero” post I have on my publication to see which stories I’m covering next.I’ll alternating between doing episodes about different stories and talking about other related topics. So stay tuned! And feel free to leave a comment below with some suggestions of topics to cover. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cafemanga.substack.com
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The Anime Conventions Episode
Oct 20, 202400:40:37Tap to summarizeRather than the typical review like I’ve been doing in the past couple of months, I’m just telling some stories about my experiences with anime conventions. In this episode, I’ll be talking about the following things:* The basics of anime conventions* Big Apple Anime Fest* Interning at Big Apple Anime Fest* AnimeNext* I-Con* NY Comic Con* NY Anime Fest* AnimeNYCHave you guys been to one? Are you planning to go to any? Leave a comment and let me know what your own experiences have been! Please share this episode with any friends or other interested people! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cafemanga.substack.com
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Podcast News Announcements
Sep 22, 202400:12:52Tap to summarizeThis time around I’m here to announce a couple bits of information related to the podcast I’ve been doing. I just want to reassure people that I’m not planning to end the show. I’d like to keep doing this as long as possible. However I realize that I really do need a break from Cafe Manga. Just to make this a proper post for people, I’m just briefly discussing a couple things related to this decision.I’ve come to the conclusion that I really need to go on a break. I’m aiming to release the next episode on October 20. People who are subscribed to this publication will obviously know when the next episode comes out. However people listening to the podcast from elsewhere might not know. So I have to make a very clear note about the return date in this week’s episode.Typically I like to write and record in small batches when possible. This gives me some flexibility with my time. Sometimes I have free time and/or inspiration to create content back to back. However recently I’ve hit a small bump in the road. I’m actually struggling a bit to produce content for Cafe Manga/Talk Nerdy to Me. On top of that, I also am working on season 2 of my other show, The Westerosi Primer.As you can see it’s pretty clear I need to take a break from doing the show. I think being away from the show for about 3 weeks is what I need. For one thing, it gives me a little breathing room to work on the other show. But also I can gather up some material for the podcast when I do return.I realized that a big reason why I’m struggling to come up with material for the podcast is because I’ve been doing basically reviews of stories I’ve read. I think I’ve gotten to the point where it feels like I do enjoy reading stories, but I’m just reading stories at a certain pace for the sake of having material to do episodes about. I’ve come to the realization that while I don’t mind doing reviews, that’s not the only thing I want to talk about on the podcast.So after some consideration, I decided that as a way to vary up the topics I do I will be doing more than just reviews. I’m going to use my earlier Dr. Stone episodes as an example and do some Read/Watch with Me type episodes. So depending on which story I’m doing, I’ll be doing an episode per volume of Light Novels or Manga. In some case I’ll talk about 2 episodes if I’m doing an anime series.This is more than just “stretching out” content for the sake of producing episodes for listeners. I feel it’s also a better way to appreciate the stories that I’ve been reading and watching. I’ll apologize for any readers or show listeners who are annoyed or disappointed with the change. I’ll understand if you choose not to listen to the show any further.However if you do stick around, I appreciate it. In the meanwhile I will continue to produce written content. Not sure what I’ll be writing about, but it’ll be something related to Korean and Japanese stories as usual.Thanks for your continued support. Please share your thoughts. What are you reading and watching right now? Leave a comment below! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cafemanga.substack.com
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Terminator Zero
Sep 15, 202400:23:22Tap to summarizeAs part of a collaboration with another Substack writer, I agreed to watch this series and here’s my review of the series for the podcast and this publication. If you’re curious to read the guest review they wrote you can read it here! - https://cafemanga.substack.com/p/terminator-zero-a-guest-reviewThe BasicsThis anime series was specifically produced for Netflix. The project is a collaboration between Production I.G. (Japan) and Skydance Television (US). The showrunner is Mattson Tomlin and directed by Masashi Kudo.Mattson did an interview with The Hollywood Report, where he discusses the process of working on this show. (You can read here: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-features/terminator-zero-mattson-tomlin-batman-1235987299/) I find it particularly interesting that there were a lot of script re-writes because of the dubbing process. The other interesting thing is that one of his other projects he’s working on is the pilot for a potential Game of Thrones prequel about Aegon the Conqueror. However that’s not for this publication, but really for my other publication/podcast.Thus far there are only 8 episodes to this series which were all released same day on August 29. They’re like your typical anime series where the episodes are just under 25 minutes long.The PremiseLike a lot of the stories in the Terminator franchise, you have two connected stories happening. You have a story in the future when once again the humans are barely hanging on against Skynet. Then you have a plot set in the past which where a big part of the action takes place.In the dark future, you have a Terminator (voiced by Timothy Olyphant) sent back in time on a mission to chance the past for Skynet’s benefit. A member of the human resistance Eiko (voice by House of the Dragon actress Sonoya Mizuno), is sent to thwart the Terminator. Who are they after? That’s where the past timeline comes in.In 1997, you have a workaholic widower named Malcolm Lee who is obsessed with completing a major object: Kokoro, an advanced AI to rival Skynet. In between his urgent goal of finishing Kokoro, there’s the family drama happening where his work turned into a distant father to his three children: Kenta, Reika, and Hiro. The three kids are left to the care of their kind housekeeper, Misaki.The series follows the race to get to Malcolm and Kokoro. Who will get to them first, the Terminator or Eiko.General ThoughtsI have to confess that personally speaking I had mixed feelings about this series. I’m also going to openly admit that if it wasn’t for the fact I agreed to do a collaboration, I might not have even watched this series. At least not at this point in time. I’m not really a fan of the Terminator franchise. I liked the original Cameron movies, but that’s about it.My genuine opinion is that I think the extensive movies and spin-offs are just excuses to milk the cash cow. Maybe I’m part of the minority that thinks Judgment Day was good enough and it should have ended there. I could get into a long rant about why I think Hollywood has lost its ability to be truly creative at this point, but that is not what this publication or this review is about.Already this isn’t a good sign as to whether I was going to like this anime or not. The bar is pretty low. I just took a deep breath and watched for the sake of this collaboration. Overall there were things I did like about it and things I didn’t like about it. I’ll get more into details in the podcast in the spoiler talk at the end of the episode. But here’s the non-spoiler things.I think the animation is top notch. It’s not too surprising considering this is the same studio that did the Ghost in the Shell movies, Blood: The Last Vampire, and Haikyu!!! Though they do that annoying trend of including the really strange CGI work that is very off putting visually. I also appreciate some of the philosophical questions that get brought up like whether or not humanity really is worth saving.What I didn’t like? This mostly stems from my general dislike of spin-offs and sequels that nobody asked for. I just found the plot of this anime basically repeats the formula from every other Terminator movie and tv show. I especially found Malcolm a frustrating character and not a character I could find much sympathy with until episode 7 & 8. He came across as a “mad scientist” archetype. He appears to be a character obsessed with their work and particular goals that he neglects the people in his life. Also like Victor Frankenstein, he makes assumptions about how things will be once his project is completed.Overall I would say that if you’re a Terminator fan or just enjoy action stories of that type, you’ll enjoy the series. If your feelings about the franchise is similar to mind, then feel free to skip if you don’t want to watch it.Have you watched this series? What did you think? Leave a comment below! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cafemanga.substack.com
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Marry My Husband
Sep 8, 2024Tap to summarizeIf you’re new to this publication, this post is the same as the first section of the episode. The last few minutes of the episode is a more detailed discussion that will contain spoilers. If you’re not interested in listening to the spoilers, there will be a countdown warning before it starts.So it’s time for me to talk about a really popular title that’s gotten the attention of a lot of manhwa and k-drama fans. This time I’m here to talk about Marry My Husband.The BasicsThere’s not a lot of info I could find out about this series. It was originally a web novel and then was adapted to a webtoon. You can read it on Webtoon. It was adapted into a live-action K-drama on tvN in South Korea. It is available to watch on Amazon Prime.The PremiseKang Ji-won is terminally ill with stomach cancer. She’s been mostly left alone in the hospital with only her friend, Su-min, visiting her. The hospital informs her that her bills hadn’t been paid and her husband doesn’t answer phone calls. She’s forced to go home to confront him. Once she gets home she discovers that her husband, Park Min-hwan, is having an affair with Su-min!A fight ensues and poor Ji-won is shoved and she falls into the glass coffee table. She slowly bleeds to death and she laments her life. The next thing she knows, Ji-won suddenly finds herself in the office kitchenette where Min-hwan just casually approaches her for a talk. She understandably freaks out and attacks him. Ji-won runs away in a panic and slowly realizes the shocking truth: she’s gone back in time! Ten years in the past to be more precise.Ji-won is no longer a cancer patient and she’s just Min-hwan’s girlfriend rather than his wife. This is her second chance to make new choices! Can she prevent her terrible death? And why is her boss, Yoo Ji-hyuk, acting strange? You’ll have to read the manhwa or watch the TV series to find out!General ThoughtsI wasn’t initially interested in this series until a co-worker of mine asked me if I had seen this new K-drama. I was confused until she explained the premise. I just put it on my list of things to watch, but didn’t think much of it. She was obsessed with reading the manhwa and watching the show during lunch break. Her fascination made me give it another look.She explained the manhwa was on Webtoons and this was the series that finally convinced me to try reading comics on there. After I found the series I started reading. The twists and turns were pretty interesting. I found myself rooting Ji-won on her journey.But of course you might be wondering, why in the world is this series called “Marry My Husband?” It is an actual thing Ji-won says in the comic. As she makes some subtle changes and new choices, she soon discovers that there are just some events that are inevitable. It doesn’t matter whether she gets burnt by the spilled coffee or her co-worker does. Someone is supposed to get burnt that day. She comes to the realization that one of the best ways to avoid her death is that someone else needs to end up with Min-hwan. So why can’t it be Su-min? I mean if she wanted Min-hwan so much, why not let her have him.Su-min, I have some trash to throw away. Will you do it for me?And we get to see the results. And they are a doozy.If you’re interested in this series or you’ve checked it out before, leave a comment! Feel free to share this with friends who is also interested in this story and others like it! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cafemanga.substack.com
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