Much like the kids in Bokurano, we're fighting for our lives trying to see this show through to the end as it continues to throw plot lines and characters at us that we could care less about, and forgets to have its characters reflect on any of the plot reveals that happen. Oh well, at least it's starting to get a lot sillier as it goes along.Anime Discussed: Bokurano 13-18Next time: Bokurano 19-24Send us your questions! You can email us at underthekotatsu.anime@gmail.com or DM us on twitter @underthekotatsu and on bluesky @underthekotatsu.bsky.social

So there's good news and bad news about the next six Bokurano episodes. The bad news is that we've hit a major low point in the show, but the good news is that hopefully (let's all cross our fingers) the worst is now behind us. Sit down in your thematically appropriate pilot chair and join us as we complain about the tasteless of the show, it's contradictory inclination to pull its punches, and the ongoing saga of weird car stuff.

Anime Discussed: Bokurano 7-12

Next time: Bokurano 13-18

Send us your questions! You can email us at underthekotatsu.anime@gmail.com or DM us on twitter @underthekotatsu and on bluesky @underthekotatsu.bsky.social

We're watching Bokurano! Six episodes in and it's fair to say we have some varied opinions about this one. Things we generally like: the music, the mechs, the OP; things we don't like: all these nasty boys, the ED, strange changes from the source material. Will our spirits hold for the remaining 18 episodes, or will they die out like these kids after piloting Zearth? Anime Discussed: Bokurano 1-6Next time: Bokurano 7-12Send us your questions! You can email us at underthekotatsu.anime@gmail.com or DM us on twitter @underthekotatsu and on bluesky @underthekotatsu.bsky.social

It's our 5th anniversary! We're celebrating the occasion by talking about a seminal anime film: Akira. We're also continuing our annual tradition of personally ranking all of the anime we've watched over the last 5 years. Turns out we've watched a lot, so the lists are long, but some of us might finally have something different at the number one spot. Tune in to find out!Anime Discussed: Akira + our 5 year rankingsNext time: Bokurano 1-6Send us your questions! You can email us at underthekotatsu.anime@gmail.com or DM us on twitter @underthekotatsu and on bluesky @underthekotatsu.bsky.social

We've finished Wish Upon the Pleiades which means we can finally lay Gainax to rest. Was their final produced anime any good? Was it way too straight for our liking? Did it make us want to go out an purchase a Subaru? Listen to find out!Anime Discussed: Wish Upon the Pleiades 7-12Next time: Akira + our year rankingsSend us your questions! You can email us at underthekotatsu.anime@gmail.com or DM us on twitter @underthekotatsu and on bluesky @underthekotatsu.bsky.social

Today's episode is brought to you by your local Subaru dealer! Just kidding, but we are starting the Subaru and Gainax (RIP) co-produced anime Wish Upon the Pleiades. Is this a sleeper hit of a magical girl show or just blatant advertising? Or perhaps something else entirely? Let's find out!Anime Discussed: Wish Upon the Pleiades 1-6Next time: Wish Upon the Pleiades 7-12Send us your questions! You can email us at underthekotatsu.anime@gmail.com or DM us on twitter @underthekotatsu and on bluesky @underthekotatsu.bsky.social

We're finishing off our run on Patlabor with a trio of offerings. First there's the main event, Patlabor WXIII, the last of the theatrical animated films and an often overlooked and underappreciated part of the series. Then there's MiniPato, the short form experimental parody anime, and last (and probably least) there's Patlabor Reboot, the 2016 proof of concept for a modern Patlabor series that's finally going to see its actualization in the upcoming Patlabor EZY.

Anime Discussed: Patlabor the Movie 3, MiniPato, and Patlabor Reboot

Next time: Wish Upon the Pleiades 1-6

Send us your questions! You can email us at underthekotatsu.anime@gmail.com or DM us on twitter @underthekotatsu and on bluesky @underthekotatsu.bsky.social

It was all leading to this. One Patlabor work stands high above the rest: Mamoru Oshii's Patlabor 2. Join us as we talk about the films big thematic ideas, the masterful soundtrack from Kenji Kawaii, both the showy and subtle animation, the historical context the film was released in, and much more. Folks, they really don't make 'em like they used to.Anime Discussed: Patlabor 2: The MovieNext time: WXIII: Patlabor the Movie 3, MiniPato, and Patlabor RebootSend us your questions! You can email us at underthekotatsu.anime@gmail.com or DM us on twitter @underthekotatsu and on bluesky @underthekotatsu.bsky.social