What if the sad thing on the news could be made funny with le heckin‘ pop culture reference tho???
Beyond The Mountain Lies A World Of Frills
Jul 31, 2023 • Subscribe
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Fan Content and Pop Culture References
The Impact of Akira on pop culture is still noticeable today in many different forms. One of the most notable has to be Kanye West’s official music video,…


“Pop” Culture
This is one seriously deranged offering. This is a very binary show: either you like it a lot or you hate it a lot. You also need to…


Attack on Titan Junior High Episode 10--Politics and References
Thoughts on Episode 10 of Attack on Titan Junior High!


When pop culture meets culture war
Dragon Quest III HD-2D and the pitfalls of producing content in a polarized world


Loli Pop Culture: The great divide
Twice now I've been called on my labeling of anime characters as lolis, when I thought I was near-certain that they were. And aside from l...
What is eternity doing tonight? - an anime blog
Kodomo no Jikan, OZ, Shakugan no Shana, Shuffle!, Cardcaptor Sakura


The “Bane” of My Existence
I wuz robbed! Someone call the anime police! What a crock of crap! Please excuse my histrionics, but never have I felt so cheated by a show as…


Review: Piccolo Is Black: A Memoir of Race, Religion, and Pop Culture
Han Solo, He-Man, my dad, and Jesus Christ. These were my heroes as a kid. I would weave stories about them in my head, filling in the gaps…


The Revolution Will Be Japanified: Pure Invention and the Multifaceted Influence of Japanese Pop Culture
My daughter has a plush octopus named Veronica. Veronica, a Squishmallow brand toy, came with her name, as well as a stated interest in pretzels, reading, and having…


Documentaries on Japanese Pop Culture: “Tokyo Idols”
Publisher: KimStim (USA) Format: Region 1 DVD, NTSC, Japanese Dialogue with English Subtitles Length: 92 minutes Production Date: 2...


Politics in art and the value of escapism
Warning: it’s a real load of bullshit this time. I talk about politics, angry people on the internet, and the end of the world, and it’s probably a…


The Story of Cheez TV: How Australian Millennials Pop Culture Taste Changed Forever
Australian Millennials growing up in the mid-90's to Early 00's didn't have a lot of ways to indulge in media outside of certain blocks of cartoons per weekday…


Huntsville Comic and Pop Culture Expo 2024 Review: Same Perks, Same Problems
Another year goes by and I once again found myself at Huntsville Comic and Pop Culture Expo. This makes my fourth year attending and I went into this…
Five Years On; Anime Feminist Vs Japanese Pop Culture
Well, as you can see, not a great deal of writing is getting done for this blog. To be honest, I have put the blog on hold for…
The Melancholic Middle Aged Anime Fan
Case Closed, After the Rain, Horimiya, Kill la Kill, Ristorante Paradiso
Pride, Policing, and the Conservative Politics of My Hero Academia
My Hero Academia, in its proud declarations of right and wrong, good and evil, heroism and villainy, argues how the world should be. Understanding how My Hero Academia…


The BEST Joe References
I may be far from comprehensive, but hopefully I’m able to share some interesting notes as I explore the favorite times I’ve seen a reference to the iconic…
Muv-Luv Alternative, Naruto, Tomorrow's Joe, Cutey Honey, Cutey Honey F


The politics of 80s anime: the 198X controversy
A common narrative of Japanese social history and anime history holds that, starting from the 1980’s, the Japanese population has gotten increasingly distant from politics. The rise of…


Manhwa Review | Bane of My Existence by Nellikang
Rabby Johnson is one of the best bounty hunters in the galaxy... at least, in his own mind. He also believes he's got one of the most delectable…


The business and politics of magic in Magilumiere Magical Girls Inc
When money is a key motivation, ethics and the greater good are quickly abandoned. This theme is apparent in Season 1 of the anime, bubbling away ever-present in…


The Death Of Otaku Culture
Otaku Culture is dead and the reason is that it has killed itself in seeking efficiency
Hebī Metaru: The Musical References of Mamoru Nagano
Musical in-jokes and allusions run deep in the works of mecha maestro Mamoru Nagano.
Hebī Metaru: The Musical References of Mamoru Nagano
Musical in-jokes and allusions run deep in the works of mecha maestro Mamoru Nagano.
The Otakusphere: Politics, gatekeeping and anime hair physics
I’m not sure if you noticed, but I’ve got a sweet new masthead for this feature, done by my friend Jon Spencer. At least that’s what I assume…
Monster Politics
Bobby Pickett's next big hit! My Hero Academia 240 - 1:24Food Wars 315.3 - 17:57EDENS ZERO 58 - 40:04Mission: Yozakura Family 1 - 50:13Beast Children 13 - 60:06Samurai 8…
The Promised Neverland, The Seven Deadly Sins, Black Clover, EDENS ZERO, My Hero Academia


Fireworks In Japan: The Culture and Festivals of Hanabi
Summer in Japan sees the skies aflame with fireworks. Ever wonder why? Read on to learn about the history and cultural significance.


The Hentai Posts: For Men and Women of Culture
Shallow Dive in Anime has been around for almost three years, and I’ve done a shit ton of posts on Hentai. I love em to death, and I’ve…


The Nadia References in Hellsing
#shorts #nadia #hellsing


The Concierge – Magic and Consumer Culture
The Concierge is an upcoming anime movie that I had the luck to see at Fantasia. Be the first to find out what it's all about!
Miyazaki’s Marxism – The Politics of Anime’s Legendary Director
Hayao Miyazaki began his career as a Marxist, but by the mid-90s, that all had faded away. What impact have those politics had on his works, what do…
Beyond Manicheism : the politics of Brand New Animal
It’s probably no secret by now that most of the work done by the Hiroyuki Imaishi-You Yoshinari team contains some sort of political commentary ; however, when looking…


Trapped in references
Kamina is inevitable
Gurren Lagann, Inferno Cop, Little Witch Academia, Promare, Space Patrol Luluco
Nick Lowe and the Charm of the Clever Pop Lyric
I wrote this about 10 years ago for another blog. I don’t listen to as much Nick Lowe now that me he mostly makes old man music (a…


Pure TokyoScope PODCAST #73: Japanese Pop Culture Strikes Back! Earthquakes! Airplane!
Patrick Macias and Matt Alt bring you pop culture from Japan


Make Believe Bonus: Japanese Pop Culture Report From An American Mall
Surely T-Shirt Stalls Next To A Wetzel's Pretzels Offers Deep Insight
Reinventing A Medium: What American Pop Culture Can Learn From Manga
Joshua Pantalleresco examines the world of manga, and how the western pop culture industries could learn from its perennial successes.
Japan: Courts and Culture
By Helen McCarthy. Japan: Courts and Culture was originally scheduled to open in 2020. Like so many of that year’s best-laid plans, it had to be shelved. But…


Portrayals of Duality: Hafu in the Media and Popular Culture
We are increasingly seeing more strong Hafu women being celebrated for their amazing achievements as well as being able to harness the power of understanding and experiencing two…
The Otakusphere: Semantics, Internet culture and a dash of anxiety
I have zero theme for this week in The Otakusphere. It’s a combination of exceptionally personal posts next to posts about what you need to know to be…


How K-Pop and K-Dramas are attracting visitors to South Korea
Korea's exports, like K-Pop and K-Dramas, have enticed fans to visit the country for a first-hand cultural experience.


Baek XX – Gangs, Special Forces and Politics
I was waiting for a few chapters to build up for me to read this one and I have to say that the PTJ company doesn’t disappoint at…
Heian Period Sexual Politics, Marriage, and Sex
The Heian period (794 to 1185) imported many ideas and conventions from China. This marked the flowering of Japanese ideals of beauty, from Cherry Blossom Viewing Festivals to…


The Depiction of Hikikomori in Japanese Pop Culture: Can the Anime Industry Help ‘Social Recluses’ Break out of Their Shells?
Maja Djordjevic compares the real struggles of hikikomori with their depictions in anime and how Japan is trying to offer solutions to families.


Pure TokyoScope PODCAST #63: 2023 is 1973! The Oil Shock's Impact on Japanese Pop Culture!
Matt Alt and Patrick Macias bring you pop culture from Japan


Yasuke: Culture, Tradition and Identity
I binged the entirety of the 6 episode Netflix Original Anime Series Yasuke yesterday from famed Director LeSean Thomas (Legend of Korra, Canon Busters, The Boondocks). I went…


Anime & Manga Culture and Neurodivergence
In this video, I delve into why neurodivergent people may find anime and manga appealing. While being neurodivergent and interested in the subculture is not mutually exclusive, there…


Spoiler Culture and Anime Fans
Spoilers are bad right? I mean yeah they are! But not everything is a spoiler. Sometimes, spoiler phobia can go a bit too far.


Manga Influencers and Hoarding Culture
It's easy to get swept up and just want to buy all the manga we see. But is it really a good idea? And not just for your…


Writing Prompt: What are your thoughts on depictions of Western culture in anime?
Alright, let’s tackle another question that I think is a pretty good one. It’s been on the list for a while, so it’s about time I chose this…


Huntsville Comic and Pop Culture Expo 2023 Review: It’s Gotten Bigger But Now Needs To Be Better
Huntsville Comic and Pop Culture Expo is an event I find myself attending yearly ever since I first came across it in 2021. It’s one of those events…


From Nintendo to Hello Kitty, Chatting About Japanese Pop Culture w. Matt Alt
Matt Alt is a localizer of Japanese games and manga. Together with Hiroko Yoda he founded the localization company AltJapan and has authored multiple books on
Tokyo’s 24th Ward #10 — And Now, American Politics
Strangely both out of left field and comically on the nose. Aiming to have the spring season preview up Sunday. All I'll say for now is good…