#chatty af

[animefeminist]

Chatty AF 234: The Summer Hikaru Died Retrospective (WITH TRANSCRIPT)

Alex, Vrai, and Tony go elbow-deep exploring the queer themes and rural horror of The Summer Hikaru Died.

Episode Information

Date Recorded: October 21st, 2025 Hosts: Alex, Tony, Vrai

Episode Breakdown

0:00:00 Intro 0:01:01 Summary 0:02:29 Personal experiences 0:08:11 Making anime scary 0:11:27 The Netflix of it all 0:15:35 BL as a genre piece 0:20:20 The gay ‘90s 0:24:03 A horror genre piece 0:27:40 Showing vs telling queer rep 0:34:06 Cronenberg 0:42:53 “Supporting” cast 0:44:58 Penguindrum and Venom 0:51:27 Asako 0:55:29 Rie and queer acceptance 1:05:42 Hikaru’s entity 1:10:57 Final thoughts 1:13:47 Outro

Read the transcript here!

[joseinextdoor]

Chatty AF: Ace/Aro Representation in Anime and Manga

It's Ace Awareness Week, making it the perfect time to plug the two-part aspec rep podcast I did with Cy and Alex for Chatty AF! Because what better way to learn than through geekery? 💜🖤

✨️ Transcripts Included ✨️

Ace/Aro Representation in Anime and Manga - Part 1: General Discussion and Animanga Grab Bag

Ace/Aro Representation in Anime and Manga - Part 2: The Isaki Uta Appreciation Hour

[shojoandtell]

Please do princess tutu! its the best <3

While we appreciate the intent and the series here, we really focus only on manga, and Princess Tutu shines as an anime! We know there is a Princess Tutu adaptation manga, but we've heard it's not very good... Highly recommend listening to the Anime Feminist Chatty AF podcast episodes walking through the Princess Tutu anime: https://www.animefeminist.com/podcast-chatty-af-91-princess-tutu-watchalong-episodes-1-6/

[animefeminist]

Chatty AF 237: NANA Watchalong – Episodes 1-7 (WITH TRANSCRIPT)

Vrai, Tony, and special guest, the Getting Animated podcast’s Destiny-Senpai, begin their multi-part watchalong of the shoujo classic, NANA. Destiny will be our expert as Vrai and Tony experience the story for the very first time, just in time for its 25th anniversary.

Episode Information

Date Recorded: December 15th, 2025 Hosts: Vrai, Tony, Destiny

Episode Breakdown

0:00:00 Intro 0:03:00 About NANA 0:05:11 Personal histories 0:10:51 Yazawa’s style and other works 0:14:12 Plot summary 0:15:32 Music, fashion, and identity 0:37:18 Love, Sex, and CompHet 0:50:25 The boys 0:57:53 Hachi 1:00:20 NANA glazing 1:02:05 Theorycrafting 1:06:38 Lightning round 1:14:59 Outro

Further Reading

Remembering ‘Nana’, the anime that redefined modern punk—and loved Vivienne Westwood

VIVIENNE WESTWOOD X NANA – In Conversation with Ai Yazawa

Read the transcript here!

[animefeminist]

Chatty AF 228: ZENSHU Retrospective

The classic AniFem combo of Dee, Caitlin, and Vrai get together to talk about the standout anime of 2025 Winter and AOTY hopeful, a meta throwback to ‘90s shoujo isekai, ZENSHU!

Episode Information

Date Recorded: April 26th, 2025 Hosts: Dee, Caitlin, Vrai

Episode Breakdown

0:00:00 Intro 0:02:25 Background 0:03:38 Production 0:06:51 Personal experiences 0:09:54 Sub and dub 0:12:59 The beginning 0:13:50 ‘90s shoujo isekai vibes 0:16:43 Adult isekai 0:18:44 Industry conditions vs individual relationship with art narrative 0:23:18 Destiny and Memmeln 0:36:00 Natsuko drawing from her inspirations 0:37:48 Tsuruyama 0:43:23 Transformative fandom 0:47:08 Justice 0:54:14 Natsuko’s relationships and romance 1:01:58 QJ 1:05:17 Luke 1:09:27 The ending 1:14:58 Letter scores 1:19:55 Outro

Further Reading

Caitlin’s weekly ZENSHU recaps

[animefeminist]

Chatty AF 211: Revolutionary Girl Utena Watchalong – Episodes 28-34

Things are heating up, both narratively and literally, as Vrai, Cy, and Chiaki return to peak trauma with Part 4 of our Revolutionary Girl Utena retrospective!

Episode Information

Date Recorded: June 30th, 2024 Hosts: Vrai, Cy, Chiaki

Episode Breakdown

0:00:00 Intros 0:01:51 State of the retrospective 0:03:58 Initial impressions 0:05:05 Juri 0:13:25 Akio 0:15:30 What is Touga doing? 0:20:41 Nanami 0:25:36 Episode 33 0:37:43 Anthy and Akio 0:44:17 Prejudice, exoticism, and Anthy 0:55:18 Utena’s memory 1:04:24 Outros

Further Reading

Empty Movement

Series Content Warnings List (with spoilers)

Vrai’s Utena Episode Analyses (with spoilers)

Dear Brother Watchalong

[animefeminist]

Chatty AF 217: 2024 Fall Mid-Season Check-In

Alex, Cy, and Peter check in on the 2024 Fall season’s surprising number of magical girls, enjoyable het romances, and girls hitting the Sailor Moon pose!

Episode Information

Date Recorded: November 8th, 2024 Hosts: Alex, Cy, Peter

Episode Breakdown

0:00:00 Intro 0:02:41 Yakuza Fiance: Raise wa Tanin ga li 0:09:46 The Do-Over Damsel Conquers the Dragon Emperor 0:15:07 TsumaSho 0:16:39 I’ll Become a Villainess Who Goes Down in History 0:18:12 Orb: On the Movements of the Earth 0:24:56 Negative Positive Angler 0:28:23 Acro Trip 0:31:01 Ranma 1/2 0:38:38 Nina the Starry Bride 0:46:34 Magilumiere Magical Girls Inc. 0:52:55 How I Attended an All-Guy’s Mixer 1:00:21 DAN DA DAN 1:09:59 The Stories of Girls Who Couldn’t Be Magicians  1:10:55 365 Days to the Wedding 1:15:13 Outro

Further Reading

2024 Fall Premiere Digest

2024 Fall Three-Episode Check-In

[animefeminist]

Chatty AF 222: 2025 Winter Mid-Season Check-In

Dee, Tony, and Peter team up to check-in on the A to ZENSHU of 2025 Winter anime, discussing the surprisingly top-heavy season!

Episode Information

Date Recorded: February 15th, 2025 Hosts: Dee, Tony, Peter

Episode Breakdown

0:00:00 Intro Red Flags 0:01:45 OKITSURA: Fell in Love with an Okinawan Girl, but I Just Wish I Know What She’s Saying Yellow Flags 0:07:02 Sakamoto Days Neutral Zone 0:11:40 Sorairo Utility It’s Complicated 0:13:19 I May Be a Guild Receptionist, but I’ll Solo Any Boss to Clock Out on Time Feminist Potential 0:19:27 Medalist 0:31:05 Honey Lemon Soda 0:40:47 From Bureaucrat to Villainess: Dad’s Been Reincarnated! 0:47:59 Flower and Asura 0:53:51 ZENSHU 1:08:39 Outro

Further Reading

2025 Winter Premiere Digest

2025 Winter Anime Three-Episode Check-In