Hello, kaiju lovers! With this episode, we reach the end of the “Year of Gamera.” Depending on who you talk to (like Nate), it’s a bittersweet occasion because, on one hand, many bad movies were endured, but on the other hand, today’s subject is 2006’s Gamera the Brave. Becky “Bex” Smith from the Redeemed Otaku podcast and YouTube channel joins Nate to discuss what is, as of now, the last Gamera film. It is sadly overshadowed by everything that came before it. It’s a shame because this is a Showa Gamera movie—except good! Think of it as a Gamera film made by Pixar. So, it’s emotionally honest and will make you cry. Even Nate had to summon all of his manly discipline to keep control. Bex, on the other hand, did not. The Toku Topic, since much of the movie takes place at a restaurant, is Japanese ramen culture.
Before the broadcast, Nate was…graced with the return of his pseudo-sister, Jessica. Unfortunately, he didn’t appreciate her bone-crunching glomp and told her off. That got him a lecture from Jessica’s bestie, Bex. Afterward, Nate is all but forced to indulge Jessica and let her sing a karaoke of a popular anime theme song. You can probably guess which one.
Check out the Redeemed Otaku podcast and YouTube channel.
This episode’s prologue and epilogue, “Jessica Returns,” was written by Nathan Marchand with Becky Smith.
Guest stars:
- Sarah Marchand as Jessica Shaw
Additional music:
- “A weird thing” by Chiro
- “Waltz of the Wind God” by Laura Platt
- “Pacific Rim” by Niall Stenson
- “Sailor Moon Theme Song” (melody by Tetsuya Komoro, lyrics by Andy Heyward)
Sound effects sourced from Freesound.org.
Listen to Nathan Marchand and Travis Alexander’s spinoff podcast, The Henshin Men, on Redcircle.
We’d like to give a shout-out to our MIFV MAX patrons Travis Alexander and Michael Hamilton (co-hosts of Kaiju Weekly); Danny DiManna (author/creator of the Godzilla Novelization Project); Eli Harris (elizilla13); Chris Cooke (host of One Cross Radio); Bex from Redeemed Otaku; Damon Noyes, The Cel Cast, TofuFury, Elijah Thomas, and Eric Anderson! Thanks for your support!
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This episode is approved by the Monster Island Board of Directors…maybe.
Timestamps:
- Prologue, “Jessica Returns (Part 1)”: 0:00-5:10
- Intro: 5:10-16:15
- Entertaining Info Dump: 16:15-23:19
- Toku Talk: 23:19-1:25:32
- Ad: 1:25:32-1:26:58
- Toku Topic: 1:26:58-2:10:30
- Housekeeping, Epilogue (“Jessica Returns, Part 2”), & Outro: 2:10:30-end
Podcast Social Media:
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© 2021 Moonlighting Ninjas Media
Bibliography/Further Reading:
- Buhnn, Jane. “History of Ramen in Japan: Quintessentially Japanese.” Tokyoesque. 14 May 2020.
- Flower, James. “A Guide to English Language Gamera.” (Arrow Video Gamera: The Complete Collection).
- Gamera: The Complete Collection, Disc Eight Special Features.
- Gamera the Brave Commentary by Keith Aikan and Bob Johnson (Arrow Video’s Gamera: The Complete Collection).
- “Ramen in Culture.” Arigato Travel. 10 April 2020.
- LeMay, John. The Big Book of Japanese Giant Monster Movies Volume 2: 1982-2017.
- Lombardi, Linda. “The Social History of Ramen: Slurp Slurp Slurp Some Knowledge.” Art by Aya Fransisco. (Tofugu).
- Macias, Patrick. “A History of Gamera: Gamera the Brave” (Arrow Video’s Gamera: The Complete Collection).
- “Mikimoto Pearl Island.” (Wikipedia).
- “Ramen Culture as a Vital Part of the Traditions in Japan Essay.” (IvyPanda).
- Wiki Articles on Gamera the Brave: