Podcast
Shojo & Tell: A Manga Podcast
A manga discussion podcast focusing on shojo (and josei!) series that make your heart go doki-doki. Covering classics like CLAMP’s “Cardcaptor Sakura” and Yuu Watase’s “Fushigi Yuugi” to newer favorites like Kazune Kawahara’s “My Love Story!!” and Hiro Fujiwara’s “Maid Sama!”
Shojo & Tell host Ashley McDonnell discusses one series per episode with a rotating shojo superfan. We're recreating all those impassioned rants you'd have with your friends about your favorite series, just in podcast form.
Shojo [or shoujo] manga: Japanese comics made for young women. A breath of fresh air after reading over 100 volumes of “One Piece.” The underappreciated sibling of all those same-y never-ending shonen titles.
- Animation & Manga chart
- #180
- Episodes
- 138
- Releases
- Monthly
- Typical length
- 1 hr 38 min
- On air since
- 2017
- Latest episode
- 1 week ago
Episodes
138 episodes, newest first
-
2 hr 5 min
Red River Manga Discussion Part 2 (with Asher Sofman)
Episode 128
Show notes
Red River by Chie Shinohara has finally gotten an anime adaptation, so, just as everyone else is talking about it right now, we, too, are entering the fray of the ancient Hittite Empire. Shojo & Tell host Ashley and her husband, Rabbi Asher, are back to discuss the middle third of the series (volumes 10-18). Fair warning: The first part of this episode, in particular, is heavy! The Ashes express immense frustration at A Very Upsetting Scene between Yuri and Kail, make a lot of comparisons to Yuu Watase works, and just seriously have to keep talking about Upsetting Scene, while still thinking that Yuri herself is great.
REFERENCES
• Red River is available from Viz Media's Shojo Beat line
• The Red River anime is streaming on Crunchyroll
• Other anime/manga series mentioned• Fushigi Yugi
• Doraemon
• Horimiya
• Sailor Moon
• Revolutionary Girl Utena• Toga
• Pegasus
• Ceres, Celestial Legend
• Arata, The Legend• Books mentioned:
• The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
• Twilight by Stephanie Meyer• Outro: "Tokimeki no Doukasen" (Fushigi Yuugiending theme) + Fruits Basket (2019) episode 3 dialogue
CONTACT
• Shojo & Tell on Bluesky, Tumblr, Instagram, andTwitter
• Ashley on Bluesky -
1 hr 53 min
Red River Manga Discussion Part 1 (with Asher Sofman)
Episode 127
Show notes
Red River by Chie Shinohara has finally gotten an anime adaptation, so, just as everyone else is talking about it right now, we, too, are entering the fray of the ancient Hittite Empire. Shojo & Tell host Ashley is persuaded by her husband, Asher, that he's the guy fit for discussing this iconic series, because his rabbinic studies give him an informational edge. The Ashes debate what the relentlessness of sexual assault against Yuri culturally signifies, wonder at the limits of historical fiction, and get wistful about isekai of yore. On sillier notes, Ashley fawns over Yuri and praises Prince Kail for being so corny. This episode covers the first third of the series.
REFERENCES
• Red River is available from Viz Media's Shojo Beat line
• The Red River anime is streaming on Crunchyroll
• Other anime/manga series mentioned• The Vision of Escaflowne
• Fushigi Yugi
• Sword Art Online
• Sailor Moon
• Snow White with the Red Hair
• Hot Gimmick
• Fruits Basket
• Mars• The Prince of Egypt is the source of all truth
• Books mentioned:• Horse by Geraldine Brooks
• The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness• Songs mentioned:
• "A Horse with No Name" by America
• "Yuri the Only One for Me" by LeetStreet Boys• Ishtar
• Syrian civil war
• Outro: "Tokimeki no Doukasen" (Fushigi Yuugiending theme) + Fruits Basket (2019) episode 3 dialogueCONTACT
• Shojo & Tell on Bluesky, Tumblr, Instagram, andTwitter
• Ashley on Bluesky -
2 hr 38 min
Please Save My Earth Manga Discussion Part 2 (with Autumn)
Episode 126
Show notes
We pick up right where we left off, and... It's not what you expect. At all. Rin is up to Rin machinations. Shion did exactly what you thought he did. Jinpachi is suddenly kinda sinister. Alice is struggling with her memories, in more ways than one. Daisuke exists. Tamura is still the best (Mikuro is a close second). Shojo & Tell host Ashley and special guest Autumn talk their overall thoughts on the ending of this slow-burn mystery/drama, delve into the worldbuilding presented by Mokuren's past (so you DID have cool flying spaceship jawns!), poke gentle fun at some new back-half characters, and of course, wonder "WHY?" about a slew of ridiculous ships.
REFERENCES
• Please Save My Earth is available digitally from Viz Media
• Other anime/manga series mentioned• Sailor Moon
• Red River
• Hana-Kimi
• Boys Over Flowers
• From Far Away
• The Vision of Escaflowne
• A Sign of Affection
• Fushigi Yugi
• Hot Gimmick• Outro: "Tokimeki no Doukasen" (Fushigi Yuugiending theme) + Fruits Basket (2019) episode 3 dialogue
CONTACT
• Autumn's blog: https://notanotakunao.blogspot.com/
• Shojo & Tell on Bluesky, Tumblr, Instagram, andTwitter
• Ashley on Bluesky -
2 hr 21 min
Please Save My Earth Manga Discussion Part 1 (with Autumn)
Episode 125
Show notes
It's 1980s Japan. Saki Hiwatari is telling a story set in the extremely near future, in 1990s Tokyo (now nostalgic past). A group of teens start to meet up because they all have dreams of a past life where they were people who were the size of human pinkies and they lived on the moon. Why do they have these dreams? What happened in their past life? It's an epic drama and drawn-out science fiction mystery for the times! Shojo & Tell host Ashley and shojo manga superfan Autumn get into themes of fate and cyclical wrongs with this singular series. The discussion mostly centers around how punchable Rin/Shion is, but hey, we swear there's other fun stuff packed in here, too.
REFERENCES
• Please Save My Earth is available digitally from Viz Media
• Other anime/manga series mentioned• Saint Seiya
• Tokyo Babylon
• The Vision of Escaflowne
• Banana Fish
• A Sign of Affection
• X/1999
• Fushigi Yugi
• Paradise Kiss
• Legend of the Galactic Heroes
• Devilman
• Maid-Sama
• Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle
• Hot Gimmick
• Black Jack
• Hunter x Hunter
• YuYu Hakusho• Rocky is rated PG when it probably shouldn't be (it should be PG-13)
• "This is a work of fiction" disclaimer history: Started in the 1930s in novels as a result of a defamation lawsuit
• Outro: "Tokimeki no Doukasen" (Fushigi Yuugiending theme) + Fruits Basket (2019) episode 3 dialogueCONTACT
• Autumn's blog: https://notanotakunao.blogspot.com/
• Shojo & Tell on Bluesky, Tumblr, Instagram, andTwitter
• Ashley on Bluesky -
2 hr 16 min
Full Moon o Sagashite Manga Discussion (with Laura Spicer)
Episode 124
Show notes
There are few authors more synonymous with "shojo" than Arina Tanemura. We've done Tanemura works before. But Full Moon is peak Tanemura. Which is not to say it's a masterwork.
For those who don't idolize Tanemura and are wondering what Full Moon is about, the series follows a 12-year-old girl named Mitsuki who wants to be a singer so she can reconnect with her childhood crush, whom she met when they both lived at an orphanage, but she can't become a singer because she has throat cancer that, if left untreated, will kill her. Some shinigami show up telling her she only has one year left to live, and she somehow convinces the shinigami to turn her into a 16-year-old so she can become the idol of her dreams before she dies. Are you keeping up? Tanemura fan Laura Spicer joins Shojo & Tell host Ashley once again to go through the whirlwind of a manga to, first, figure out what even all happened here, and second, to determine what the good emotional beats are.
REFERENCES
• Full Moon is available digitally from Viz Media's Shojo Beat line
• The Full Moon anime is available on blu-ray
• Tanemura's other projects• Phantom Thief Jeanne
• Idol Dreams
• idolish7
• The Gentlemen's Alliance
• Sakura Hime
• Time Stranger Kyoko• Music mentioned
• +44
• Linkin Park
• Evanescence
• Within Temptation
• t.A.T.u.
• Maaya Sakamoto
• Yui Horie
• AKB48
• Morning Musume
• Ayumi Hamasaki• Other anime/manga series mentioned
• Fruits Basket
• Sailor Moon
• Cardcaptor Sakura
• Ouran High School Host Club
• Yona of the Dawn
• Hana-Kimi
• A Condition Called Love
• Not Your Idol
• Oshi no Ko
• The Vision of Escaflowne• Outro: "Tokimeki no Doukasen" (Fushigi Yuugiending theme) + Fruits Basket (2019) episode 3 dialogue
CONTACT
• Laura on Bluesky, Instagram
• Shojo & Tell on Bluesky, Tumblr, Instagram, andTwitter
• Ashley on Bluesky -
1 hr 11 min
Mixed Vegetables Manga Discussion (with Asher Sofman)
Episode 123
Show notes
Hanayu wants to be a sushi chef, but her father expects her to take over the family pastry shop. Hayato wants to be a pastry chef, but is expected to take over his family's sushi restaurant. Uh, you can see where this is going, right? Shojo & Tell host Ashley and her husband Asher discuss this romantic comedy series in which these 15 year old children place the weight of the world on their shoulders. Mixed Vegetables may be a mixed bag, but hey, maybe that's your cup of tea (to mix metaphors).
REFERENCES
• Read Mixed Vegetables digitally on the Viz Media app
• Other manga/anime mentioned• Maid-Sama
• Kimi ni Todoke
• Full Moon o Sagashite
• Yuu Watase• Locations in Japan mentioned
• Kagoshima
• Okinawa
• Hokkaido• How Japan’s Female Sushi Chefs Are Claiming a Seat at the Counter (Conde Nast Traveler 2022)
• Koseki
• Outro: "Tokimeki no Doukasen" (Fushigi Yuugiending theme) + Fruits Basket (2019) episode 3 dialogueCONTACT US
• Shojo & Tell on Bluesky, Tumblr, Instagram, andTwitter
• Ashley on Bluesky -
1 hr 7 min
Horimiya Manga Discussion, Part 2 (with Caitlin Moore) [Shonen Exception #6]
Episode 122
Show notes
Caitlin and Ashley are back to discuss the second half of Horimiya, aka, all the bits that don't matter. Like, it's a miracle this episode is over an hour long, because the two spend most of the time talking about *checks notes*: Sawada, Iura, and Watabe. And they're definitely the most interesting characters in this whole series, right? Especially Iura.
Jokes aside, Caitlin and Ashley spend time going over the chapters they did like (and some they really didn't), plus there's a shipping corner with an 11th hour bombshell dropped. Just like the second season of the Horimiya anime, this episode isn't boring, but it might also not be necessary. Tune in to hear for yourself.
REFERENCES
• Horimiya is published by Yen Press
• Other manga/anime mentioned• Outro: "Tokimeki no Doukasen" (Fushigi Yuugiending theme) + Fruits Basket (2019) episode 3 dialogue
CONTACT US
• Shojo & Tell on Bluesky, Tumblr, Instagram, andTwitter
• Caitlin's writings at Anime Feminist and Anime News Network
• Caitlin on Bluesky
• Ashley on Bluesky -
1 hr 23 min
Horimiya Manga Discussion, Part 1 (with Caitlin Moore) [Shonen Exception #6]
Episode 121
Show notes
Finally, we're here to talk about the shonen elephant in the shojo room: Horimiya. Look at almost any list of "best shojo anime," and you're bound to see Horimiya near the top of it. But, just so we're all clear: Horimiya isn't a shojo series. It is, however, a very good shonen romance series.
Shojo & Tell host Ashley and Anime News Network and Anime Feminist writer Caitlin dig into why people often mistake Horimiya for a shojo series and how the series lovingly subverts a lot of stereotypical romance tropes through the main couple, Hori and Miyamura, and many of the B couples, especially Remi and Sengoku. There's a lot of gushing over how relatable Hori is (seriously, so relatable). But most importantly (regrettably?): Ashley and Caitlin delve into what makes the sex scene so touching and how nice it is to see an authentic teenage exploration of kink.
REFERENCES
• Buy Horimiya from MangaMart, a family-run manga store offering some of the most competitive prices around (affiliate link)
• Horimiya is published by Yen Press
• Other manga/anime mentioned• Fushigi Yuugi: Genbu Kaiden
• Millennium Snow
• Attack on Titan
• Sword Art Online
• Black Bird
• Hot Gimmick
• Monthly Girls' Nozaki-kun
• Fushigi Yuugi
• Boys Over Flowers
• Kodocha
• Marmalade Boy
• Full Moon• Outro: "Tokimeki no Doukasen" (Fushigi Yuugiending theme) + Fruits Basket (2019) episode 3 dialogue
CONTACT US
• Shojo & Tell on Bluesky, Tumblr, Instagram, andTwitter
• Caitlin's writings at Anime Feminist and Anime News Network
• Caitlin on Bluesky
• Ashley on Bluesky -
52 min
Mermaid Scales and the Town of Sand Manga Discussion (with Asher Sofman)
Episode 120
Show notes
Get ready to go to the beach in this emotionally affecting, short josei series. Mermaid Scales and the Town of Sand by Yoko Komori follows Tokiko, a sixth grader whose parents are recently separated; as a result, she moves with her dad from Tokyo to the small beach town where her mother grew up where legends of merfolk are still honored. As she grapples with her new normal, Tokiko is also looking for a particular merman for saving her from drowning. Shojo & Tell host Ashley and her husband Asher dive deep into Tokiko's family dynamics, whether or not one citizen of the town is actually real, and the consequences of pathological lying.
REFERENCES
• Buy Mermaid Scales and the Town of Sand from MangaMart, a family-run manga store offering some of the most competitive prices around (affiliate link)
• Mermaid Scales and the Town of Sand is published by Viz Media's Signature line
• Other manga/anime mentioned• Horimiya
• Outro: "Tokimeki no Doukasen" (Fushigi Yuugiending theme) + Fruits Basket (2019) episode 3 dialogue
CONTACT US
• Shojo & Tell on Bluesky, Tumblr, Instagram, andTwitter
• Ashley on Bluesky -
2 hr 13 min
Snow White with the Red Hair Manga Discussion Part 2 (with Asher Sofman)
Episode 119
Show notes
Ashley and Asher are back to discuss volumes 11 through 20 of Snow White with the Red Hair, and they have a lot more to say this time (most of it is still some variation of "they're so cute!"). The Ashes talk about new characters (Hisame, the Bergat brothers, Lilias folks), the overarching plots (Izana's coronation, Lilias part 2, Sereg assassination plots, Kiki's marriage machinations), the official character poll (lol Mitsuhide), and of course, all the ships (yes, Zen and Shirayuki are cute, but why not Kiki and Shirayuki?). Let the fangirling and fanboying commence.
REFERENCES
• Buy Snow White with the Red Hair from MangaMart, a family-run manga store offering some of the most competitive prices around (affiliate link)
• Snow White with the Red Hair is published by Viz Media's Shojo Beat line
• Other manga/anime mentioned• Bleach
• Fushigi Yugi
• Fushigi Yugi: Genbu Kaiden
• Jesse and James from Pokemon• WHYY: "How experiments with gila monster venom led to blockbuster weight loss drugs like Ozempic"
• Outro: "Tokimeki no Doukasen" (Fushigi Yuugiending theme) + Fruits Basket (2019) episode three dialogueCONTACT US
• Shojo & Tell on Bluesky, Tumblr, Instagram, andTwitter
• Ashley on Bluesky -
2 hr 15 min
Josee, the Tiger and the Fish Discussion (crossover with Shoujo Sundae)
Episode 118
Show notes
Welcome to the special collaboration episode between Ashley of Shojo & Tell and Chika and Giana of Shoujo Sundae (hereby dubbed the "shojo trio"). In this episode, we talk everything Josee, the Tiger and the Fish: the animated movie version (amazing!), the manga (basically the same as the movie but taking things at your own pace can be helpful!), the live-action movie (oh no!), and the original short story (very Japanese!). Josee, the Tiger and the Fish follows Josee, a sheltered, curmudgeonly wheelchair user, and Tsuneo, a try-hard college boy who loves diving, as they both come out of their shells to meet each other and the sometimes scary, sometimes harsh, occasionally beautiful outside world. Let's dive!
REFERENCES
• You can watch the animated movie on Crunchyroll
• You can read the manga version, published by Yen Press
• You can read the original short story, also published by Yen Press
• You can watch the live-action version on RetroCrushSTAY IN TOUCH
• Find Shoujo Sundae on: Bluesky, Instagram, X
• Find Chika on: Bluesky, Instagram
• Find Giana on: Bluesky, Instagram, Personal Website
• Find Shojo & Tell on: Bluesky, Instagram, Tumblr
• Find Ashley on: Bluesky -
1 hr 33 min
Snow White with the Red Hair Manga Discussion Part 1 (with Asher Sofman)
Episode 117
Show notes
There are few contemporary shojo manga that are more popular and beloved that Sorata Akizuki's wholesome fairy-tale-inspired story Snow White with the Red Hair. The protagonist, Shirayuki, has apple-red hair that attracts attention from unsavory characters and noble princes alike, and the story follows her as she becomes a court herbalist and a worthy bride-to-be for Prince Zen Wisteria. Shojo & Tell host Ashley and her husband Asher delve into why this story is so special, while walking through the highs (and the lows) of the first 10 volumes. Asher expresses his undying love for Obi, while Ashley pledges allegiance to Prince Izana. But in the end, it's all about the best ZenYuki moments.
REFERENCES
• Buy Snow White with the Red Hair from MangaMart, a family-run manga store offering some of the most competitive prices around (affiliate link)
• Snow White with the Red Hair is published by Viz Media's Shojo Beat line
• Other manga/anime mentioned• Waiting for Spring
• Maid-Sama!
• Shortcake Cake• WHYY: "How experiments with gila monster venom led to blockbuster weight loss drugs like Ozempic"
• Outro: "Tokimeki no Doukasen" (Fushigi Yuugiending theme) + Fruits Basket (2019) episode three dialogueCONTACT US
• Shojo & Tell on Bluesky, Tumblr, Instagram, andTwitter
• Ashley on Bluesky -
1 hr 21 min
My Love Mix-Up! Manga Discussion (with novelist Megan Frampton)
Episode 116
Show notes
This episode discusses all 9 volumes of the My Love Mix-Up! manga by Wataru Hinekure and Aruko, and contains comparisons between it and the Japanese live-action adaptation.
My Love Mix-Up! (not to be mixed up with Aruko's other work, My Love Story!! .... deep sigh) tells the story of Sota Aoki, a seemingly happy-go-lucky boy who has a crush on a female classmate, Mio Hashimoto, but winds up in a relationship with male classmate Kōsuke Ida. It sure is all mixed up, and it's a pure delight. Romance novelist Megan Frampton joins Shojo & Tell host Ashley to discuss what makes the series so funny, how that does or does not translate to the Japanese live-action screen adaptation, and the surprising amount of character growth the main cast goes through. Jump into the fluff and feels with us!
REFERENCES
• My Love Mix-Up! is available from Viz Media's Shojo Beat line
• Watch the My Love Mix-Up! Japanese live-action version on Viki
• There is also a My Love Mix-Up! Thai live-action version
• Other manga/anime mentioned• MARS
• My Love Story!!
• Maid-Sama
• Kimi ni Todoke• Kimi ni Todoke live action
• Kimi ni Todoke anime• Live-action Bleach movie
• Kaguya-Sama: Love is War• Outro: "Tokimeki no Doukasen" (Fushigi Yuugiending theme) + Fruits Basket (2019) episode three dialogue
CONTACT US
• Find Megan on BlueSky and Instagram
• Check out Megan's books https://www.meganframpton.com/
• Subscribe to Megan's Substack
• Shojo & Tell on Bluesky, Tumblr, Instagram, andTwitter
• Ashley on Bluesky -
1 hr 38 min
Mars Manga Discussion (Pt. 2) [with Lucy of CLAMPcast in Wonderland]
Episode 115
Show notes
This episode discusses MARS volumes 9-15 and the prequel story, "Horse with No Name"
How many suicide attempts can happen close to Kira and Rei? How many car crashes and motorcycle accidents? Shojo & Tell host Ashley and CLAMPcast in Wonderland co-host Lucy are back to discuss the second half of the melodrama MARS by Fuyumi Soryo, and their biggest question is about whether the series accurately portrays the way trauma stacks (both Ashley and Lucy lean toward no). Ashley and Lucy share their thoughts about Kira seeming to give up her dreams to be with Rei, and so Rei can pursue his, what they wish "Horse with No Name" had been about instead, how they're glad Tatsuya made it out unscathed, and more.
REFERENCES
• MARS is available from Kodansha Comics digitally
• Listen to Ashley's MARS DJ set!
• Read Robin's book!
• Other manga/anime mentioned• RG Veda
• Kimi ni Todoke
• Marmalade Boy
• My Love Mix-Up!
• Snow White with the Red Hair• Songs mentioned:
• "A Horse with No Name" by America
• Misc. mentions:
• Grey's Anatomy
• The Last Unicorn• Outro: "Tokimeki no Doukasen" (Fushigi Yuugiending theme) + Fruits Basket (2019) episode three dialogue
CONTACT US
• Find CLAMPcast on BlueSky, Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook
• Find Lucy on Threads, Instagram, and BlueSky
• Shojo & Tell on Bluesky, Tumblr, Instagram, andTwitter
• Ashley on Bluesky -
1 hr 39 min
Mars Manga Discussion (Pt. 1) [with Lucy of CLAMPcast in Wonderland]
Episode 114
Show notes
This episode discusses volumes 1-8 of MARS by Fuyumi Soryo.
We continue our melodrama mood with the late 1990s/early 2000s series, MARS. Kira Aso is a quiet girl who loves to paint. Rei is a bad boy who loves to race motorcycles. Naturally they fall in love, and all the dark secrets come out about them both. Shojo & Tell host Ashley and Clampcast in Wonderland co-host Lucy discuss what makes this series so gripping despite it being over the top, how iconic the art is, the portrayal of America, how cute Rei and Kira are, and much more.
REFERENCES
• MARS is available from Kodansha Comics digitally
• Colleen's MARS retrospective video
• Other manga/anime mentioned• Hot Gimmick
• Fruits Basket
• Hana-Kimi
• The Vision of Escaflowne (Dilandau)
• LoveCom
• Marmalade Boy
• Clover
• Cardcaptor Sakura• Songs mentioned:
• "Safe with Me" by Gryffin
• "Ride or Die" by The Knocks• Outro: "Tokimeki no Doukasen" (Fushigi Yuugiending theme) + Fruits Basket (2019) episode three dialogue
CONTACT US
• Find CLAMPcast on BlueSky, Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook
• Shojo & Tell on Bluesky, Tumblr, Instagram, andTwitter
• Ashley on Bluesky -
1 hr 45 min
Hot Gimmick Second Half (Pt. 2) Discussion (with Naja B. of Blerdy Otome)
Episode 113
Show notes
This episode discusses the second half (volumes 7–12) of Hot Gimmick by Miki Aihara.
Oh, so you thought the first half of Hot Gimmick contained the worst of the problematic hot trash? Think again. Shojo & Tell host Ashley and Naja of Blerdy Otome are back to talk about this wild, wild ending to a wild, wild series where all the content warnings apply. Who does Hatsumi end up with in her triangle of horrible choices? Why are Tachibanas like this? What are you doing, Shinogu? Who is THE worst character in the entire series (on a scale of constant abuse and gang rape to actually why the heck isn't this series about cuties Subaru and Akane?)? What are the most popular ships on Ao3/FF.net for this series, and do the people writing it know they're wrong? All that and more is touched on in this podcast episode. You've been warned.
REFERENCES
• Hot Gimmick is available from Viz Media in English
• Hot Gimmick S is a reimagining of the ending
• Other anime/manga mentions• Gundam
• My Hero Academia• Archive of Our Own
• https://www.fanfiction.net/
• Misc. media mentions• "We Found Love" by Rihanna and Calvin Harris
• Otome game: In Your Arms Tonight• Outro song: "The Streatham Hill Gods" by Danosongs
CONTACT US
• Find Naja's work on her website, Twitch, Twitter, and BlueSky
• Shojo & Tell on Bluesky, Tumblr, Instagram, andTwitter
• Ashley on Bluesky -
1 hr 52 min
Hot Gimmick First Half (Pt. 1) Discussion (with Naja B. of Blerdy Otome)
Episode 112
Show notes
This episode discusses the first half (volumes 1-6) of Hot Gimmick by Miki Aihara
It's here. It's finally here. Shojo & Tell host Ashley has been trying to make this episode happen for at least two years. And now, here we are. We're talking about the first half of Hot Gimmick, aka, Hot Trash, aka Hot Mess. Seriously: Content warning for basically everything. Ashley was prepared to have nothing nice to say about this series (she's read it before and thought it was the worst shojo series ever), but it's surprising what reading something 12 years after your initial encounter with it can do... Naja of Blerdy Otome is a big fan of Hot Gimmick, despite also recognizing that it's extremely problematic. There's underage sex and drugs, there's blackmail, there's demeaning servitude, there's gang rape. And that's just the first three volumes. Hatsumi's a doormat, Ryoki's bad, Azusa's bad, Shinogu's bad trying to be good, Akane is the reason we're in this mess. Only Subaru is good. Team Subaru! Let's talk it through.
REFERENCES
• Hot Gimmick is available from Viz Media in English
• Hot Gimmick S is a reimagining of the ending
• Other anime/manga mentions• Chobits
• Cardcaptor Sakura
• Gundam
• Red River
• Basara
• From Far Away• Archive of Our Own
• Wattpad
• Story of NHL player who Ashley went to college with
• Misc. media mentions• Gossip Girl
• You• Outro song: "The Streatham Hill Gods" by Danosongs
CONTACT US
• Find Naja's work on her website, Twitch, Twitter, and BlueSky
• Shojo & Tell on Bluesky, Tumblr, Instagram, andTwitter
• Ashley on Bluesky -
1 hr 29 min
Neon Genesis Evangelion: Angelic Days (with Joshua McHugh)
Episode 111
Show notes
This episode discusses all of Neon Genesis Evangelion: Angelic Days (volumes 1-6) by Fumino Hayashi.
Shinji, get in the robot! Shojo & Tell host Ashley and the guy previously known as Ashley's "Cyborg 009 buddy," Josh McHugh, delve into this version of the beloved series Neon Genesis Evangelion, which is an alternate universe of the video game Neon Genesis Evangelion: Girlfriend of Steel 2nd (a PlayStation 2 game, and yes there is first Girlfriend of Steel before this entry), which is an alternate universe of the events in the final episode of the original anime. The main plot is mostly about whether Shinji will pick Rei or Asuka to be his life partner while they're all still in high school. Are you keeping up? Great!
Ashley and Josh do a sort of cultural exchange in this episode: Ashley doesn't really like Evangelion (ikr?), and Josh, like many a millennial, thinks Eva is the GOAT and is very hype to discuss the Instrumentality sequences; Ashley is over 100 episodes deep on a shojo manga podcast, while Josh hadn't read a shojo manga before this. The two talk about how, in Angelic Days, Rei is a completely different person from her beloved anime self; the shortcomings of the backstory about Shinji's parents, Gendo and Yui Ikari; what punk bands Gendo would be into; and much more. And if you're wondering: There ARE still mech fights in this, but there shouldn't have been. So on second thought: Shinji, don't get in the robot!
REFERENCES
• Neon Genesis Evangelion: Angelic Days is out of print. You can find used copies on resale sites. It was published by ADV manga in English.
• Other anime/manga mentioned:• Rebuild movies
• End of Evangelion• Cyborg 009
• The Vision of Escaflowne
• Cowboy Bebop
• Serial Experiments Lain
• Soul Eater
• Neo Yokio
• Your Name
• My Hero Academia
• Hot Gimmick• Punk bands named
• Linkin Park
• Fall Out Boy
• Panic at the Disco
• Yellowcard
• Hawthorne Heights• Misc. other mentions
• The Rest of Us Just Live Here by Patrick Ness
• xkcd
• Red oni/blue oni
• Manic pixie dream girls
• Controversy over Netflix's translation of Eva
• BattleTech / MechWarrior
• Three Wise Men• Outro song: "The Streatham Hill Gods" by Danosongs
CONTACT US
• Josh wants you to check out his Soundcloud because we're both stuck in the year 2005: https://soundcloud.com/j_m_p_h
• Listen to his Serial Experiments Lain OP a capella version in particular: https://soundcloud.com/j_m_p_h/boa-duvet-a-cappella
• Shojo & Tell on Bluesky, Tumblr, Instagram, andTwitter
• Ashley on Bluesky -
53 min
Miyuki-chan in Wonderland and The One I Love (with Asher Sofman)
Episode 110
Show notes
This episode discusses Miyuki-chan in Wonderland and The One I Love by Clamp
A short episode to discuss two short Clamp works. Shojo & Tell host Ashley and her husband/journey-through-all-of-Clamp-buddy Asher recognize that hentai Miyuki-chan was perhaps.... just not at all for them. And also isn't meant to be taken seriously anyway. Which is good, because neither Ash really enjoyed it. Then there's The One I Love, which feels like a strange gender experiment gone wrong. To quote Asher: It feels gender essentialist and "homework-y." The best we can say is we did our homework assignments of reading these for our Clamp 101 course.
REFERENCES
• Miyuki-chan in Wonderland is available from Viz Media
• The One I Love is available from Viz Media
• You should probably listen to CLAMPcast instead
• Other Clamp works mentioned:• Shirahime-Syo
• Legend of Chun Hyang
• X
• Suki
• Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicles
• Magic Knight Rayearth
• Clamp School Detectives
• The One I Love
• Tokyo Babylon
• Man of Many Faces
• Duklyon
• xxxHolic
• RG Veda
• Cardcaptor Sakura
• Chobits
• Angelic Layer
• Wish
• Legal Drug
• Clover• Other manga/anime mentioned
• Delicious in Dungeon
• A Sign of Affection
• JoJo's Bizarre Adventure
• Evangelion: Angelic Days
• Snow White with the Red Hair
• Mars
• Vampire Knight• Back in our Digimon podcasting days...
• Read Miyuki-chan while listening to Miami 2 Ibiza by Swedish House Mafia
• Outro song: "The Streatham Hill Gods" by DanosongsCONTACT US
• Asher on Archive of Our Own: @dashery
• Shojo & Tell on Bluesky, Tumblr, Instagram, andTwitter
• Ashley on Bluesky -
58 min
Legal Drug (with Asher Sofman)
Episode 109
Show notes
Covers all three volumes of Legal Drug by Clamp
Get ready to get high. And horny. And gay. And paid. Okay, to be honest, we're not sure what the drug is, or that it's legal, but hey, we're here to talk about it anyway. Shojo & Tell host Ashley and her husband Asher continue their Clamp journey with Legal Drug, which is technically complete, in the same way that QQ Sweeper is complete (which is to say: Not at all, because there's a sequel, Drug & Drop, and it's been on hiatus for forever). None of the central mysteries of Legal Drug is solved within the confines of the volumes. Well, whatever. We're all just here for Kazahaya and Rikuo being in provocative poses, right? The biggest question of the episode is: Is this queerbaiting? Get ready to hear our thoughts about Clamp's fiftymillionth JoJo's Bizarre Adventure fanfic (this one is basically the crappier version of xxxHolic).
REFERENCES
• Legal Drug is available from Dark Horse Comics
• Drug & Drop is also available from Dark Horse Comics
• You should probably listen to CLAMPcast instead
• Other Clamp works mentioned:• MuriKuri
• Suki
• Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicles
• Magic Knight Rayearth
• Clamp School Detectives
• The One I Love
• Tokyo Babylon
• Man of Many Faces
• Duklyon
• xxxHolic
• RG Veda
• Cardcaptor Sakura
• Chobits
• Angelic Layer
• Wish• Other manga/anime mentioned
• Delicious in Dungeon
• QQ Sweeper
• Queen's Quality
• Kimi ni Todoke
• Cyborg 009
• Neon Genesis Evangelion: Angelic Days
• Snow White with the Red Hair• Figs need wasps
• The Ashes love Tales of games maybe too much• Tales of Vesperia (Raven)
• Tales of the Abyss (Jade)• There is only hitsuzen
• Archive of Our Own
• Outro song: "The Streatham Hill Gods" by DanosongsCONTACT US
• Asher on Archive of Our Own: @dashery
• Shojo & Tell on Bluesky, Tumblr, Instagram, andTwitter
• Ashley on Bluesky
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