#retrosofa

35. favorite animation style

This is probably is more in the “art-style” category than “animation”, but I really love that cel-shaded 80′s anime aesthetic

I like the more cartoony and bouncy animation style (like in Little Witch Academia) that’s been showing up in more modern anime too. But every time I watch an 80′s anime movie I’m always in awe of how pretty it is.

Disney recently re-released a brand new blu-ray of The Little Mermaid...so what better time to talk about Toei’s 1975 anime adaptation? With me is one of the internet’s leading Mermaid Scholars™ , Salvatore (aka @retrosofa!) to talk about this hidden gem of 70s anime. Listen as we discuss how Disney was inspired by Toei (and vice-versa), the movie’s connection to both Go Nagai AND Sailor Moon, and just what makes this adaptation of the classic fairy tale so special. 

Stream the episode above or [Direct Download] Subscribe on itunes | Stitcher | Google Play | Spotify

Relevant links:

Buy Hans Christian Andersen’s The Little Mermaid on Amazon or Rightstuf!

Toei’s official website on the film

Mentioned in the episode: This video of character designs of the movie by Reiko Okuyama.

Sakugablog’s article about The Little Mermaid’s animation director/character designer Reiko Okuyama & her struggles with discrimination throughout her career.

Article on Pioneer Women Animators that includes Reiko Okuyama.

Article on Mariko Miyagi (Japanese voice of Fritz) and her life-long activism for the disabled in Japan.

Remembering Kirsten Bishop, the dub voice of Marina

Find Salvatore online:

@retrosofa on Tumblr and Twitter!

@retrosofa.inc on instagram!

Read his comic No More Mermaids! (VERY NSFW WARNING! Absolutely not for kids!)

Support the work I do on this podcast by leaving me a tip on Ko-fi! Want to have your name read in the special thanks segment on the next episode? All you need to do is buy me 2 or more “coffees” on Ko-fi!

Did this as a bday gift for @retrosofa​! Plus another concept I thought about doing.

yeah, i wanted to do a review on it since $30 is a fairly hefty sum and i think some people were waiting for the classic collection to come out to read the manga since manga websites can be rather sketchy sometimes. i am very disappointed that important scenes have been cut (especially since it was to allow room for shin devilman, which is garbage), but what can you do besides warn people

Yeah, I thought so too. I can't remember how Kanemitsu identities, or what pronouns they use. But I do know they don't identify as gay, and do want to have reassignment surgery. Their subplot is a little strange (with the family drama) and I'm not sure why Go has them appear twice. The origins of the monsters his sisters are engaged to aren't full explained either, if I remember correctly. :/

I was happy to see them again, i guess its nice to see that all the stories are quite just up one and done and can be called back upon.

Dracula and the Wolfman just wanted in on some money is all, castle debts or something im sure.

I think having Natsuko know about Honey working with PCIS was a HUGE mistake. Natsuko saw Hurricane Honey and was able to identify her as Honey. She also saw her transform twice, and saw her change her into a FUCKING ROCK. So the whole "oh, I thought you were just good at cosplay" is fucking dumb.

It made me laugh at least! shrug.

Thing is it feels kind of idk, stupid, having Natsuko kind of know Honey was the chick doing all the cool stunts as Hurricane or fighting off Panther Claw, and then apparently none of that ever came into conversation.

It does give us the Natsuko/Genet interactions which are pretty good i guess.