Anime & Manga update [002.026.088]

Anime & Manga update

Crunchyroll

I just learned a couple of days ago that Crunchyroll is now available as a subscription on Apple TV (9to5Mac, AppleInsider, CNET, Engadget, MacRumors). The world’s largest anime library is now available as a channel on the Apple TV app in the USA, Canada, UK and Australia. It offers a one-week free trial and, after that, subscription is $9.99 per month.

The streaming platform offers over a thousand anime titles that can be searched alphabetically or by genres (action, adventure, comedy, drama, fantasy, romance, sci-fi, etc.). It is full of classics (or more recent series) that I would like to watch (or rewatch): Akira, Arte, Captain Harlock, City Hunter, Genesis Climber Mospeada, Gunbuster, Japanese Anime Classic Collection, Kimagure Orange Road, Legend of the Galactic Heroes, Library War, Mazinger Z, Mobile Suit Gundam, Moyashimon, Orguss, Phoenix, Planetes, Record of Lodoss War, Robotech, Star Blazers: Space Battleship Yamato, The Apothecary Diaries, Vinland Saga — just to name a few. And there is so much to discover !

I will certainly consider subscribing to Crunchyroll. Although, I subscribed for over a year to RetroCrush and watched just a couple of episodes of a series (I think it was Dear Brother) and never used it again until I cancelled it recently… I should wait until I have more time…

Anime Pilgrims

NHK World Japan continues to be a great source of information about Japanese culture with their documentary series. The latest episodes of Anime Manga Explosion are dedicated to Yamashita Shingo (key animator on Naruto Shippuden) and MAO (latest title from Takahashi Rumiko).

There is a new series about anime tourism titled Anime Pilgrims. Fans visit the real-life settings of iconic anime productions to offer a glimpse into Japan’s deep culture, history, and hidden charms. Two episodes are available:

In “Hokkaido: Golden Kamuy”, cosplayer Yuriko Tiger explores the real locations behind the hit anime Golden Kamuy to discover the hidden history of Otaru (in Hokkaido) and the rich traditions of the indigenous Ainu people. The 15-minute episode was broadcast on March 22, 2026 and is available as Video-On-Demand (VOD) until March 21, 2027.

In “Nagasaki: The Colors Within”, anime singer and superfan MindaRyn from Thailand visits Nagasaki, the backdrop of the 2024 acclaimed film The Colors Within, to uncover the reality behind Japan’s ‘hidden Christian‘ history. The 15-minute episode was broadcast on March 29, 2026 and is available as VOD until April 5, 2026.

Anime Old-timer’s Club

In preparation for my retirement in a year, I’ve been going through old stuff and thinking about how I will spend and organize my time. Of course, it really means falling back on the trio of my old subject of interests: science-fiction literature, Roman history and Japanese culture (mostly anime & manga).

Strangely, thinking about the old days made me quite nostalgic of those simpler times when I was “holding salon” and entertaining guests in a regular basis to watch and discuss anime. I REALLY miss watching anime. However, I feel that watching anime by myself would be sad and pathetic…

So… I’ve been thinking about going back to conventions to reconnect with the fandom. And also forming a group of old-timers like me who would gather periodically (every week or month) to watch (or rewatch) old anime and discuss them. Anime from the golden age (the 80s and 90s), but also more recent stuff (if there is anything good). It is much easier to find these days. I happen to have a HUGE collection of DVDs and there are plenty of stuff to watch on streaming sites like Crunchyroll and RetroCrush.

It would need to be a small and select group (three or four people, because my salon is not very big). If you are an old-timer (or someone of any age, but interested in old anime), living in the Montréal area, and would be interested in participating, please contact me (in the right column of the blog, there is a series of social media links, including email).

Club des Anciens Fans

En prévision de ma retraite dans un an, je me suis replongé dans mes vieilles affaires et j’ai réfléchi à la façon dont j’occuperai mon temps. Bien sûr, cela signifie surtout me replonger dans mes trois passions de toujours : la science-fiction, l’histoire romaine et la culture japonaise (principalement les animés et les mangas).

Étrangement, repenser à cette époque m’a rendu nostalgique de ces moments plus simples où je “tenait salon,” recevant régulièrement du monde pour regarder et discuter d’animés. Les animés me manquent énormément. Cependant, regarder des animés seul me paraîtrait triste et pathétique…

Du coup… j’envisage de retourner aux conventions pour renouer avec le milieu. Et aussi de former un groupe de vieux fans comme moi, qui se réuniraient régulièrement (chaque semaine ou chaque mois) pour regarder (ou revoir) de vieux animés et en discuter. Des animés de l’âge d’or (les années 80 et 90), mais aussi des productions plus récentes (s’il y en a de bonnes). C’est beaucoup plus facile à trouver de nos jours. J’ai une énorme collection de DVD et il y a plein de choses à regarder sur les plateformes de streaming comme Crunchyroll et RetroCrush.

Il faudrait un petit groupe limité (seulement trois ou quatre personnes, car mon salon n’est pas très grand). Si vous êtes un fan de longue date (ou quelqu’un de tout âge qui s’intéresse aux vieux animés), que vous habitez dans la région de Montréal et que vous souhaitez participer, n’hésitez pas à me contacter (vous trouverez des liens vers mes réseaux sociaux, y compris mon adresse courriel, dans la colonne de droite du blog).