The hottest Anime Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Culture Topics

The World is a Morality Play

From the New World • 26 implied HN points • 21 Feb 25
🎭️ Culture Literature Anime Philosophy Gender Studies Media Critique
  1. The anime Madoka Magica shows how personal desires can lead to tragic outcomes. If characters aren't careful about what they wish for, they can end up worse off.
  2. Kyubey, the magical cat, uses the emotions and struggles of magical girls as energy to keep the universe alive. This creates a cycle of suffering that drives the story.
  3. Homura is a character who learns to understand her true desires, challenging the idea of sacrificing for others. She ultimately transcends typical morality by getting the power she wants and fighting against the system.

'Catnapped' Is Weird and Wonderful

Animation Obsessive • 4215 implied HN points • 04 Mar 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Animation Director Film Anime Character design
  1. 'Catnapped' is a unique and imaginative anime feature that is often underrated but holds a special place among fans.
  2. Director Takashi Nakamura's journey from being a core animator on 'Akira' to directing his own films like 'Catnapped' showcases his evolution as an artist with a distinct visual style.
  3. The making of 'Catnapped' involved a team of talented animators, art director, and composer who brought Nakamura's creative vision to life, emphasizing the importance of collaboration in animated filmmaking.

Vol. 2, Issue 34 - A Tribute to Rachael Lillis

Johto Times • 39 implied HN points • 22 Aug 24
🎭️ Culture Entertainment Anime Comics Media Tribute
  1. Rachael Lillis was a talented voice actress known for bringing characters like Misty and Jessie to life in the Pokémon anime. Many fans have fond memories of her performances, which shaped their childhood experiences.
  2. She sadly passed away on August 10, 2024, after battling breast cancer, and her loss is deeply felt in the Pokémon community. People are sharing their love and tributes to celebrate her contributions.
  3. The 2024 Pokémon World Championships took place recently, showcasing new champions and announcements for upcoming games. Fans can look forward to more exciting Pokémon content in the future.

'Run, Melos!' Shows the Power of Animated Realism

Animation Obsessive • 3677 implied HN points • 08 May 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Animation Realism Anime Director
  1. 'Run, Melos!' is a buried treasure of realist anime that breaks away from cliches like high school and superpowers.
  2. The film showcases the perfection of animated realism unique to Japanese animation, creating a solid, three-dimensional world with detailed characters.
  3. The production of 'Run, Melos!' involved a team of talented animators and artists who focused on creating realistic characters, backgrounds, and storytelling.
Get a weekly roundup of the best Substack posts, by hacker news affinity:

The Phantom Legacy of Errol Le Cain

Animation Obsessive • 2780 implied HN points • 31 Jul 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Animation Visual art Anime
  1. Errol Le Cain was an influential illustrator and animator, known for his work on Richard Williams' films like The Thief and the Cobbler.
  2. He had a unique artistic process that deeply involved his personal experiences and cultural background.
  3. Animation in Africa is experiencing a significant growth, with projects like Kizazi Moto and Supa Team 4 gaining international attention.

Update, Links, and the Future: March 2023

Anarchonomicon • 294 implied HN points • 02 Mar 23
🎭️ Culture Anime Music Literature Art Social media
  1. The author has experienced significant growth in their online presence and newsletter subscribers, with plans to make it a full-time job.
  2. There are upcoming articles focusing on historical cycles and geopolitics, with the need to reframe and divide content.
  3. The author discusses topics like the decline of literature due to academia, challenges faced in writing, and the dominance of certain tabletop RPGs in different markets.

Vol. 1, Issue 46 - Interview with Michael Haigney

Johto Times • 119 implied HN points • 21 Dec 23
🎭️ Culture Anime Podcasts Interviews Television
  1. Michael Haigney was the voice director for the English adaptation of the Pokémon anime and voiced many beloved characters like Charmander and Psyduck.
  2. Adapting the anime involved a lot of fast-paced script writing and scheduling challenges, especially to keep up with tight deadlines.
  3. Attending conventions and meeting fans has been a rewarding part of his journey, revealing how much the show means to many people.

Vol. 2, Issue 16 - Interview with Universal Pokémon Network

Johto Times • 39 implied HN points • 18 Apr 24
🎭️ Culture Pop culture Fan Communities Anime Gaming Websites
  1. The Universal Pokémon Network was a popular fan site in the late 90s and early 2000s, offering news and a community for Pokémon fans. It became well-known for its clip archive and forum, where fans could connect and discuss.
  2. Running UPNetwork was expensive, especially during the dot-com bubble, and it ultimately shut down when financial support dwindled. Despite this, it peaked at 5.4 million pageviews in a single day, showcasing its popularity.
  3. Jaxel, the webmaster, reflects on the joy of sharing a passion for Pokémon and encourages others to spread that joy. He believes that enjoying and sharing the connections from the past is what truly matters.

Vol. 1, Issue 8 - Interview with Ray (Pokémon Elite 2000)

Johto Times • 99 implied HN points • 30 Mar 23
🎭️ Culture Entertainment Media Fan Communities Nostalgia Anime
  1. The interview highlights the nostalgic impact of the Pokémon Elite 2000 website run by Ray, which was a valuable resource for fans in the early 2000s.
  2. March 2023 marked the end of an era with Ash's Pokémon anime saga concluding, paving the way for a new series called Pokémon Horizons.
  3. The Johto Times has grown its reader base to 120 subscribers, with plans to create more engaging content for the community.

Vol. 1, Issue 31 - Interview with Daniel Dockery (Monster Kids)

Johto Times • 39 implied HN points • 07 Sep 23
🎭️ Culture Pop culture Interviews Literature Anime Gaming
  1. Daniel Dockery's book, 'Monster Kids,' explores how Pokémon influenced a generation and captures the essence of the 90s 'Pokémania' era.
  2. The new Pokémon Center is opening in Taipei, Taiwan, expanding the Pokémon brand outside of Japan.
  3. There’s a special Tera Raid event featuring Mewtwo in Pokémon Scarlet & Violet, encouraging fans to bring their strongest Pokémon for the challenge.

To the Other World

Political Currents by Ross Barkan • 7 implied HN points • 12 Mar 24
🎭️ Culture Anime Animation Fantasy Storytelling
  1. Dragon Ball Z, created by Akira Toriyama, was a hugely influential series that left a lasting impact on a generation with its complex characters and thrilling story arcs.
  2. Character development was a key strength of Dragon Ball Z, with characters like Vegeta undergoing significant transformations from villain to antihero to protector throughout the series.
  3. The unexpected twists and deep emotional moments in Dragon Ball Z set it apart, offering a level of pathos rarely seen in contemporary animation.

A mythological rabbit hole 🐇: The Divine Dragon 🐉 in Sekiro 🏯 : The Sword and the Everblossom

Rabbit Holes 🐇🕳 • 0 implied HN points • 25 Apr 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Mythology Anime Video Games Pop culture
  1. The Seven-Branched Sword in Sekiro symbolizes the connection of the dragon to the divine realm through intricate design and historical significance.
  2. The Everblossom Tree represents impermanence and the beauty of ephemeral existence in Japanese culture, with the loss of the tree being a significant event tied to the quest for immortality in the game.
  3. Eastern dragons in popular media such as Spirited Away, Dragon Ball series, and Legend of Zelda embody mythical themes like guardianship of water bodies, granting wishes, and control over weather and natural elements.

Love and Dating in Death Note

Unstabler Ontology • 0 implied HN points • 18 Mar 24
🎭️ Culture Anime Relationships Storytelling Psychology Entertainment
  1. In Death Note, love can influence strategic decisions, leading to obedience, sacrifice, and even betrayal.
  2. The show explores the intertwining of love and dating with strategic gameplay, showcasing dynamics like competition among lovers and secretive communication.
  3. Real love and dating concepts, such as trust, obedience, and shared fantasies, are depicted in a gamified way, providing insights into human relationships.

Noura Tafeche: 75 Tbps of Cute Violence Compass

Do Not Research • 0 implied HN points • 15 Feb 22
🎭️ Culture Visual art Internet culture Fashion Anime Social media
  1. The digital space is evolving with a mix of cuteness and violence, blurring lines between tenderness and extremism.
  2. New bizarre concepts are emerging online, mixing human rights, military themes, OnlyFans, and other unexpected elements.
  3. An imaginative, dystopian future scenario is described with societal structures based on pacifism, OnlyFans, unboxing, waifus, and more.