Spirited Away

It’s the final day of Anime August Week and Amanda and Patrick have saved the best for last: today, they’re treating you all to Hayao Miyazaki’s award-winning, record-breaking 2001 Japanese animated fantasy film, Spirited Away! Often considered Ghibli Studios’s breakout project—and a usual suspect on “best of” lists throughout the industry—Spirited Away is the company’s (and Miyazaki’s) first Academy Award-winning film, having been only the second movie to win Best Animated Feature at the 75th Academy Awards (following Shrek, the award’s inaugural winner, lol). As with all Miyazaki films, Spirited Away tackles themes of community building, environmentalism, and greed, conveyed across a simultaneously tender and exciting coming-of-age adventure set against a backdrop of cultural Japanese folklore. Mythical deities, acerbic witches, and whimsical magical entities (looking at you, Soot Sprites!) are just a few things that the 10-year-old protagonist, Chihiro, encounters during her employment at a bathhouse for spirits, where she’s forced to earn her keep if she doesn’t want to run afoul of powerful witch Yubaba, the bathhouse’s austere owner. If Chihiro hopes to make it back to the mortal realm, she’ll have to rely on the help of her coworkers and Yubaba’s mysterious right-hand man, dragon-shifter Haku. Join Amanda and Patrick as they engage in some all-too-familiar antics, including (but not limited to): Amanda forgetting how to read, Patrick going on a tangent about music, Amanda literally crying about how much she loves this movie, and Patrick Googling things in real time. We at GateCrashers are so excited to bring you the final episode of one of our favorite annual segments. Thank you for joining us. See you next year. Long live Anime August! 

Amanda and Patrick are back for day 3 of Anime August Week, and this time they’re diving into the world of revered director Hayao Miyazaki, starting with his 1984 film Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind! Believe it or not this is the first episode in GateCrashers history talking about Studio Ghibli or Miyazaki! Amanda and Patrick are huge fans of Miyazaki’s films, so they are very excited to talk about this movie. Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind is often considered the beginning of the Studio Ghibli era, even though Miyazaki made it before founding the studio. As such, Amanda and Patrick talk about how it feels so classically Miyazaki, fully formed and fledged right from the start, even though it was only his second ever full-length film. There are plenty of classic themes in this film we’ve come to appreciate in Miyazaki’s canon, including environmentalism, Marxism, and our favorite, some funky little airplanes! To that end, this Amanda and Patrick episode has all the classic Amanda and Patrick themes too: yelling about the English dub, learning things in real time about the manga that they absolutely did not read before recording the episode, and going on tangents so deeply unrelated from the topic of the episode that they have to hard segue back to talking about the movie. Ya know, a classic Amanda and Patrick episode! Amanda and Patrick do genuinely believe that this is one of the Miyazaki’s best films. They talk about how important and relevant Miyazaki’s message in this film is, even 41 years later, as we continue to live in a world affected by ecological disaster, war, and hatred. But importantly, Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind has a message of hope for a humanity that chooses to coexists with nature and the Earth instead of dominate it. Come and join us as we continue our annual dive into the world of Japanese animation! And keep an eye (or ear) out for tomorrow’s episode about another Hayao Miyazaki movie!

It’s another Anime August episode with Patrick and Amanda! This time, we are discussing the anime Delicious in Dungeon (or as it is known in Japanese and on some corners of the internet Dungeon Meshi). This episode covers the first season of the anime series on Netflix (and in theory the corresponding manga - we didn’t read it, sorry!), so be sure to watch the whole season to avoid spoilers. (Although Patrick definitely spoiled something he saw online that happens after the first season’s story! He’s really sorry he promises!) Amanda and Patrick talk about some of their favorite bits of the season of Delicious in Dungeon, including Senshi crotch shots, Marcille’s semi-canon lesbianism, and the spectacular English dub. They also discuss autistic representation, perceived or otherwise, in Laios’s character (which might be partially influenced by the performance from Damien Haas, his English language voice actor). The food is talked about, of course, but more importantly Amanda yells about how weird it is that people think it’s so strange that Laios and party eat the monsters in the dungeon. Naturally, they also get very passionate about side characters like Kabru and Shuro. There is also a good deal of discussion around the influence that Dungeons & Dragons has on Delicious in Dungeon, including how the mangaka read Dungeons & Dragons player and dungeon master books for research. They also discuss the need (or lack thereof) of racism in the fantasy genre (spoiler: they come out hard against racism). And Amanda and Patrick only briefly get sidetracked into talking about Smosh like twice and whether or not Damien Haas’s participation in Smosh videos means that we are getting season 2 anytime soon… So come and join us as we continue our annual dive into anime. Be sure to check out our other episodes this month while you’re at it!

ANIME AUGUST IS BACK BABY! We're kicking off with a bang, featuring demons, aliens, and GILFs. This is the big time now because we are talking Dandadan. Amanda and Pat are the hosts of this year's Anime August! This episode, they are joined by Dan because no way he was missing a chance to talk about this wild show. So kick back, get your conspiracy theories or demonology books ready, and hit play. Because if you know it, the theme song is already playing in your head. Dandadan is a manga and anime series about two high schoolers, Momo Ayase, a girl from a family of spirit mediums, and Okarun, an occult enthusiast. After Okarun denies ghosts and Momo dismisses aliens, they make a bet to prove each other wrong by visiting legendary paranormal hot spots, which results in both of them gaining supernatural powers after encountering overwhelming entities. They are then forced to join forces, fighting terrifying aliens, yokai, and other threats while also navigating their own burgeoning relationship and the chaotic paranormal events that engulf their lives. You can find Dandadan on Crunchyroll and Netflix, with both dubs and subs available currently, with season 2 wrapping up. The team talks about how they feel about certain voices in subs and dubs with their attachments to some or the other as well in this episode! They also talk about many other things. We are not sorry to any goblins who were hurt during the making of this episode or in the past or future. Dan also gets the chance to talk about a bit of the score that hit him personally that made the show click that it was going to become a personal favorite. It's about a piece everyone knows but not many know the name of but the show and the composer got to play with for the show in a very fun way.

Ben Folds has been an influential artist on me for as long as I have had my own musical identity. I have been able to follow his work to see his growth as a musician, changing and evolving over time. There was never a moment when I thought I would be sitting in a virtual room with him, having a conversation about his current lane of music and how he doesn't really have anyone else like him. We discussed how he approached another outing with Snoopy and the gang with Snoopy Presents: A Summer Musical. Listen below or anywhere you get your podcasts!   About Snoopy Presents: A Summer Musical This summer, celebrate the joy and magic of summer camp and the importance of preserving what you love. Charlie Brown loves camp and is determined to make his final year special, but Sally – a first-time camper – is nervous and skeptical of the new and unfamiliar place. While everyone settles into camp, Snoopy and Woodstock discover a treasure map that takes them on a wild adventure nearby.  One morning, the Peanuts gang learns that their beloved camp is shutting down because there are fewer campers joining each summer. The news especially saddens Charlie Brown, who feels hopeless about losing a place that has meant so much to him and his friends. Meanwhile, on their adventure, Snoopy and Woodstock find the sought-after treasure chest, but are quickly disappointed when they discover it’s not riches, but instruments and photos from past summer concerts held at the camp. Newly inspired, Charlie Brown and the Peanuts gang use the treasure to host their own concert to save the camp. Featuring original music by Emmy Award-nominated composer Jeff Morrow and Emmy-nominated singer, songwriter, composer, and New York Times bestselling author Ben Folds, the latest special under the acclaimed “Snoopy Presents” banner by Peanuts and WildBrain for Apple TV+ marks the first Peanuts musical in 35 years. Produced for Apple TV+ by Peanuts and WildBrain, “Snoopy Presents: A Summer Musical” is directed by Erik Wiese and is written by Craig Schulz, Bryan Schulz, and Cornelius Uliano. Executive producers are C. Schulz, B. Schulz, Uliano, Paige Braddock, Josh Scherba, Stephanie Betts, and Logan McPherson. 

Before Chip Zdarsky, Valerio Schiti and Frank Martin’s Captain America shield slashes into stores this Wednesday, I had a chance to converse with Chip about the title, as well as his (and Rachael Stott, Tamra Bonvillain and Ariana Maher’s) White House Robot Romance from DSTLRY – going into how it feels to write books with these storylines during this political climate, as well as a wealth of other stuff primarily about Captain America and how he views the character and the mythos. I’ve been a big fan of Chip Zdarsky since his Spectacular Spider-Man book way back in 2017, and he was the first comics creator I ever met in person, so getting to interview him was a dream come true. The conversation we had about these books, especially Captain America, was a real eye opener in a lot of ways. I even got to talk about one of my criticisms of Avengers: Twilight’s ending with him and how that might influence how he writes Captain America, which certainly left me very inquisitive about how this book is going to turn out. I also asked about Gundam (obviously), which he covered with his friends over at his manga podcast Mangasplaining, so be sure to check that out. Captain America #1 hits stores this Wednesday, July 2nd. Check out Chip Zdarsky over at his substack! Synopsis for Captain America #1 While Captain America slumbered in ice, the world changed — for better and for worse. Steve Rogers awakens to a reality where battles are fought in the shadows through secrets and subterfuge, and villains aren't so easy to identify. When a fledgling dictator named Victor Von Doom conquers Latveria, Steve faces a critical decision: adapt to a new kind of warfare, or forge his own path? And what will the choice he makes in the past mean for his future? Experience the untold tale of Captain America's first encounter with Doctor Doom as Chip Zdarsky and Valerio Schiti team up for a game-changing new era of CAPTAIN AMERICA! Synopsis for White House Robot Romance When Chef-9 learns that Service-1 is scheduled for immediate decommissioning, he makes an unprecedented choice: abandon his station, break protocol, and flee with Service-1 into the streets of Washington, D.C. But what starts as a desperate act of defiance quickly spirals into an international crisis. Service-1’s memory banks hold highly classified state secrets—ones that could tilt the balance of power between America and Canada. As paranoia mounts and the military mobilizes, the runaway robots find themselves hunted by government agents. Be sure to check out our previous interview with Chip here, where he discusses his other work, Public Domain. We delve into the comics industry, its history, and what it's like working in it today. Be sure to rate and subscribe to the podcast wherever you listen to podcasts! Every rating helps us get fantastic interv

With The Library at Hellbore's release right around the corner (July 22), I got the chance to sit down and have a conversation with Cassandra Khaw about the upcoming book. This conversation was much more than that, though. It was a conversation with a creator whose work made me fall in love with prose as an adult. Cassandra's style of writing is enthralling to the point of outright consumption (which... is a topic in this episode in a more meaty sense). Our conversation digs into the themes of the title in a non-spoiler fashion. Still, it is an overall conversation about horror and the horrors of the world in a wonderfully eye-opening way. If you could see how often my eyes widened as I listened to Cassandra Khaw speak, you would laugh as you listened along but there is so many things they say that made the gears move in my brains. It's one of those interviews where I will always be thankful I got to talk with someone who inspires me. I hope you take something away from this conversation as well. The Library at Hellbore will be in bookstores on July 22nd, but pre-order wherever you get your books now, so you can let them know you want it. In our interview, Cassandra Khaw mentions that there is a perfumist who makes scents based on their works. Here is a link to their site with a TON of really niche scents, lotions, and candles based on all sorts of things that I personally love. I couldn't help myself and got the Deckard, the Clown, and of course, my favorite Khaw book's perfume, Nothing But Blackened Teeth. There is something so cool to me about engaging other senses with things like prose because it only draws you further into the world you're reading about. Follow Cassandra Khaw on Instagram to keep up with everything they've got going on! The Hellebore Technical Institute for the Gifted is the premier academy for the dangerously powerful: the Anti-Christs and Ragnaroks, the world-eaters and apocalypse-makers. Hellebore promises redemption, acceptance, and a normal life after graduation. At least, that’s what Alessa Li is told when she’s kidnapped and forcibly enrolled. But there’s more to Hellebore than meets the eye. On graduation day, the faculty go on a ravenous rampage, feasting on Alessa’s class. Only Alessa and a group of her classmates escape the carnage. Trapped in the school’s library, they must offer a human sacrifice every night, or else the faculty will break down the door and kill everyone. Can they band together and survive, or will the faculty eat its fill?

With the final volume of Brian Michael Bendis and André Araújo's Phenomena on shelves now, we got the chance to dig into the series with them. Dan spends a lot of time chatting with the team about building this fascinating world from the ground up, what world-building looked like for them, and more. There is a focus on the art in this interview with André talking about building scenes and his approach to the scope of his work. This is a must-read for sci-fi fans of all ages. Check out the interview and make sure to pick up all three volumes wherever you get your books from Abrams Books! Phenomena is the story of a young boy named Boldon and his warrior friend Spike—survivors of a phenomena that took over Earth years ago. Not an apocalypse . . . something far more interesting. We follow Boldon and Spike as they are forced to team up with another lost orphan of the world, Matilde. The trio of heroes go on a globetrotting adventure that takes them to a magical, mysterious place called the Golden City of Eyes. As they quest across this epically crazy new world looking for answers and purpose, they face off against dark forces big and small, changing the world better along the way. In each book in the series, our heroes travel to different parts of the magical world of Phenomena by various modes of transportation, each more and more fantastical than the mode that preceded it. Each journey is personal, and every chapter takes the trio toward a different, visually iconic destination, and each location, character, and chapter reveals clues to the shape of the world and how they got there—and, ultimately, their purpose. With Phenomena, Brian Michael Bendis and André Lima Araújo deliver a universe chock-full of unforgettable characters, full-tilt action, and stunning imagination and world-building that is perfect for fans of Avatar: The Last Airbender.

Superman Unlimited written by Dan Slott, with interior art by Rafael Albuquerque, colours by Marcelo Maiolo and letters by Dave Sharpe hits shelves tomorrow from DC Comics. This series is set up to be a brand new jumping-on point for all types of readers. If you're a new fan coming off of the excitement for the new film or an old fan wanting to return to the last son of Krypton, this is the book for you! I got the chance to sit down with Dan Slott to chat about the series, Superman, and his world. Listen wherever you get your podcasts or on YouTube! Our first Dan and Dan interview dug deep into the character of Spider-Man where we took time to unpack the character and this interview follows that same web. Dan and I talked about Superman Unlimited and how it came to be after so much time in the industry. Dan opened the interview hard talking about Superman's rogue gallery which we revisit later in the episode. Slott's other work has often featured a heavy emphasis on the third-party cast around superheroes, which has been lacking in mainstream comics. We discussed how he will use Superman's supporting cast in Superman Unlimited to bolster the character and the world around him. Dan talks about which characters he is going to make you fall in love with by the time his run is over. I was lucky enough to read Superman Unlimited before our chat, which I allude to in the interview. I will say there is a scene in issue one that recontextualizes something about Superman and the burden he carries with him that changes a pivotal point in the character's history. It's an extremely powerful moment that Slott has crafted that sets the path forward so much more exciting for longtime fans of the character. This is a series filled with heart, which makes a very strong Superman book for me. You will want to pick Superman Unlimited up as soon as you can!

News From the Fallout is one of those horror titles that sticks to your heart like tar. It has a lingering fear that seeps deep into you the longer you sit with the book. It's an incredible piece of work from the Writer CHRIS CONDON (THAT TEXAS BLOOD, Ultimate Wolverine), artist JEFFREY ALAN LOVE (The Last Battle at the End of the World, The Thousand Demon Tree), letterer Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou, and designer Michael Tivey. I was lucky enough to sit down with the writer and artist to have a long discussion about the series that digs into some rather heavy topics about the book. Pre-order it now! In 1962 Nevada, a nuclear bomb test goes horribly awry and unleashes a contaminate into the atmosphere that turns people rotten. Otis Fallows, a private in the U.S. Army who is present for the test and is the only known survivor, flees the secret army base in search of a safe haven—but does such a place exist? Here is an excerpt from my review of the first two issues, which you should pre-order now: I grew up as a child in the 90’s, seeing footage or references to nuclear fallout drills in all sorts of media. Watching those children my age crawl under their desks to escape the blast of a nuclear bomb’s fallout seemed more like science fiction than something that was a real present threat anyone faced. Nothing catastrophic like that could ever happen in America, right? Well, in 3rd grade, I watched the Twin Towers fall on live television. So those tests didn’t seem too far-fetched in my 9-year-old gray matter anymore.  With both the horrors that I witnessed and everything surrounding them, it felt like people’s fears were heard loud and clear. They were echoed in everyone’s hearts to try to stop them from happening again. There was no doubt that the fallout was inevitable.