AniPro Podcast

Anime Protagonist Podcast

AniPro Podcast is your weekly go-to for anime, manga, and Japanese pop culture. Hosted by Cole, Mike, and Jay, we spotlight classic anime, debate the hottest seasonal shows, dive into manga, and explore the culture behind it all. No gatekeeping, no drama, just three passionate nerds with lively, thoughtful discussions and the occasional gaming detour. Whether you’re a longtime fan or new to anime, AniPro is your enthusiastic and welcoming guide to Japanese entertainment.

  1. APR 5

    226 - Wrapping the Winter [WEEB]

    Winter 2026 Anime Awards - Biggest Flops, Best Girls, & Anime of the Season You've seen our Spring impressions, now it's Winter's turn! This week, AniPro awards the best Winter 2026's anime season had to offer! From best visuals, to best girl, and the coveted best new and continuing anime of the season, there are a lot of awards to give, and a lot of steals to be made! We're breaking down the biggest hits and the most surprising misses, touching on everything from the dominance of Frieren: Beyond Journey's End and Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3, to standout newcomers like You and I Are Polar Opposites and Journal with Witch. Plus, we debate where shows like Fate/Strange Fake, Steel Ball Run, Oshi no Ko Season 3, and Chained Soldier landed in our rankings, alongside some hidden gems and the biggest flops of the season. Also, Mike's enjoying YouTube, one show finds awards dominance, and more! Topics & Timestamps: 00:00 - Winter 2026 Anime Awards Begin02:58 - Podcast Banter & Pokémon TCG Talk12:05 - Anime Awards Scoring & Draft Recap23:45 - The Biggest Flops of Winter 202630:12 - Best Opening & Ending Sequences41:16 - Best Writing & Plot47:24 - Visuals, Animation & Direction57:59 - Studio of the Season01:01:02 - Best Girl01:21:42 - Best Boy01:32:19 - Best Ensemble Cast01:40:00 - Most Fun Anime of the Season01:47:30 - Most Underrated Anime01:56:11 - Best Continuing or Returning Anime02:01:58 - Best New Anime & Wrapping UpSupport AniPro: PatreonMailbagTokyoTreat (Code: ANIPRO)Follow & Subscribe: X / TwitterInstagramDiscordNext Reviews: Manga: Botan Kamiina Fully Blossoms When DrunkAnime: Neon Genesis EvangelionMusic & Credits: Opening: “Shibuya” via slip.streamBreak Music By AniProEnjoying the show? If so, please rate & review us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify – it only takes a moment and helps new listeners find us!

    2h 10m
  2. MAR 29

    225 - A Preview of [WEEB]

    Top 15 New Anime To Watch - Spring 2026 Season Preview With Spring 2026 on the horizon, AniPro is here to help YOU figure out what to watch! This season of anime has a little something for everyone, so there's bound to be a banger just waiting for your eyes! We're breaking down our top 15 most anticipated new shows, including Witch Hat Atelier, Daemons of the Shadow Realm, and Rooster Fighter, plus returning heavyweights like Re;Zero and Dr. Stone. Also, Cole's telling the time, and more! Topics & Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro, Spring 2026 Preview & Affordable Watches09:00 - Returning Sequels: ReZero, Dr. Stone & Wistoria25:27 - More Sequels: Dorohedoro, Classroom of the Elite & Farming Life42:25 - Question of the Week, Sponsor Break & Death Note Trivia54:30 - Jay's Top 15 Anime Setup & Early Picks01:05:13 - Top 15: Pedals of Reincarnation & Witch Hat Atelier01:19:40 - Top 15: Daemons of the Shadow Realm, Akane Banashi & BL Picks01:34:16 - Top 15: Snowball Earth, Needy Girl Overdose & Aaron the Southpaw01:44:29 - Top 15: Rooster Fighter, Dumb Prefect & Ramparts of Ice01:54:40 - Top 15: Gals Can't Be Kind to Otaku & 2nd Prettiest Girl02:01:15 - Honorable Mentions & Next Time on AniProSupport AniPro: TokyoTreat: Use code "ANIPRO" for $5 offPatreonMailbagFollow & Subscribe: X / TwitterInstagramDiscordNext Reviews: Manga: Botan Kamiina Fully Blossoms When DrunkAnime: Neon Genesis EvangelionMusic & Credits: Opening: “Shibuya” via slip.streamBreak Music By AniProEnjoying the show? If so, please rate & review us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify – it only takes a moment and helps new listeners find us!

    2h 17m
  3. MAR 8

    222 - [WEEB] Become Anime Shills

    Pitching Shameless Anime Ads, High School Reunions & Modern Pokémon Complaints In an exciting twist of fate, AniPro has been given full-reign to insert product placements into some of the best anime! What products are they inserting? And how do they envision the ads playing out? Tune in to this wacky episode and find out! Also, Cole's figuring things out, Mike's embracing a new generation, Jay wants a reunion, and more! Topics & Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro & The Purple Tape Entertainment Sellout05:59 - Beast Wars, Gunpla & Figure Collecting Limits11:57 - High School Reunions & The Grade 6 Attractiveness List30:52 - The State of Pokémon: X & Y, Switch Ports & Legends Z-A46:22 - Was Dr. Pepper a Paid Steins;Gate Sponsor?52:31 - Shameless Anime Ads & Anime Food Tangents1:01:26 - Pitches: Attack on Titan, Laid-Back Camp & One Piece1:18:04 - Pitches: Dragon Ball Z, Canada Goose & Chainsaw Man1:32:09 - Pitches: Uma Musume, Death Note, JoJo, Lain & Frieren1:46:58 - Upcoming Reviews: Botan Kamiina, Now and Then & MoreSupport AniPro: PatreonMailbagTokyoTreat: Use code "ANIPRO" for $5 offFollow & Subscribe: X / TwitterInstagramDiscordNext Reviews: Manga: Botan Kamiina Fully Blossoms When DrunkAnime: Now and Then, Here and ThereGame: Needy Streamer OverloadLive Action: One Piece Live ActionMusic & Credits: Opening: “Shibuya” via slip.streamBreak Music By AniProEnjoying the show? If so, please rate & review us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify – it only takes a moment and helps new listeners find us!

    1h 50m
  4. MAR 1

    221 - The One Piece is [WEEB]

    Can the Live Action Fix a One Piece Hater? + Top 10 Zelda Games, Beast Wars & Slay the Spire The wait is finally over. After weeks of teasing, after Cole resolved to continue to hate it in 2026, AniPro finally watches the live action Netflix adaptation of Eiichiro Oda's One Piece! Do the boys like it? Or was the treasure merely the friends made along the way? Also, Mike's playing Zeldas, Jay's slaying spires, Cole's reliving his childhood, and more! Topics & Timestamps: 00:00 - Introductions & US Olympic Hockey06:03 - Parenting Woes & Sickness08:34 - The Legend of Zelda Franchise & IGN Top 10 Debate25:02 - Slay the Spire Board Game Impressions29:34 - Transformers: Beast Wars & 90s CG Nostalgia36:11 - Mailbag: What Power Does Kirby Get From Us?40:43 - AniPro Asks Trivia: One Piece Casting49:38 - One Piece Live Action Review Starts01:01:28 - Production, Sets & Multicultural Casting01:09:33 - The Straw Hats & Villain Actor Performances01:29:25 - Questionable CGI & Directorial Choices01:37:41 - Adaptation Changes & Future Season Worries01:55:15 - Final Thoughts & Next ReviewsSupport AniPro: TokyoTreat: Use code "ANIPRO" for $5 offPatreonMailbagFollow & Subscribe: X / TwitterInstagramDiscordNext Reviews: Manga: Botan Kamiina Fully Blossoms When DrunkAnime: Now and Then, Here and ThereGame: Needy Streamer OverloadLive Action: One Piece Live ActionMusic & Credits: Opening: “Shibuya” via slip.streamBreak Music By AniProEnjoying the show? If so, please rate & review us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify – it only takes a moment and helps new listeners find us!

    2h 7m
4.8
out of 5
10 Ratings

About

AniPro Podcast is your weekly go-to for anime, manga, and Japanese pop culture. Hosted by Cole, Mike, and Jay, we spotlight classic anime, debate the hottest seasonal shows, dive into manga, and explore the culture behind it all. No gatekeeping, no drama, just three passionate nerds with lively, thoughtful discussions and the occasional gaming detour. Whether you’re a longtime fan or new to anime, AniPro is your enthusiastic and welcoming guide to Japanese entertainment.

You Might Also Like