Tokyo, Thursday
Shion, Taigo, and Sayuri were setting up for their weekly podcast recording. Shion glanced at the tabel one last time and asked, "Are we ready?" Both nodded, and he pressed the record button.
"Welcome to Best Take in Anime! Let's get started," Shion said brightly. "So, with most of the major winter season wrapping up..."
"Let's talk about it," Sayuri jumped in, leaning forward and brushing a strand of hair behind her ear, her eyes shining with excitement. "Honestly, I think Into the Abyss was really solid. A new story, still set in the same universe, but it didn't feel recycled at all. Producer Saya really delivered. If Madoka Magica hadn't dropped this season, I think Into the Abyss would've had a much higher chance at Anime of the Year."
"That's fair," Shion said. "It had strong pacing, good character development, and the animation was sharp. Speaking of Madoka Magica... Taigo, have you finished it yet?"
Taigo raised his hand immediately. "One episode left. No spoilers," he warned.
"You're dragging it out?" Sayuri groaned. "The finale is incredible. I actually cried. Like, full-on crying. You'll see tonight, right?"
"I'll get to it, I promise," Taigo said with a half-smile. "Can't let the hype consume me before I finish it properly."
Shion said. "Because we want a full breakdown once you catch up. But at least you've seen the teaser Mizushiro dropped for his new anime, right?"
Shion hit play on the monitor.
A single line appeared in stark white letters: From one boy's command, the world was rewritten. Then the title flashed: Lelouch the Rebellion.
The three of them sat in silence for a moment, letting the teaser sink in.
Taigo broke the silence first, rubbing his arms. "Man, I got goosebumps. Mizushiro hasn't missed once. He's on a generational run right now. Even teaser hits the mark."
"I know, right?" Sayuri's eyes lit up. "Every one of his works has been my favorite. Seriously. I've been following him forever. Maybe we should do a ranking episode. Tier list from best to least. Viewers, drop us a comment if you want that."
"Who else is in the running?" Sayuri asked, turning to Taigo, who always tracked overseas releases the closest.
"Well," he started, "Anime of the Year is almost guaranteed. But Best Visuals? That's tougher. Violet Evergarden is competing."
"Violet Evergarden? What's that about?" Sayuri asked.
Taigo said, "It's really good. drama-heavy, but the visuals are insane. You should check it out."
He nodded, a small grin on his face. "And guess who created it?"
Sayuri slightly raised herself from her seat. "Who is it? Stop trying to build suspense!"
"It's Kotone, Mizushiro's first assistant," Taigo said, still smiling.
Sayuri's eyes widened. "She went overseas? She actually went overseas?"
"Yes," Taigo said. "She even published Violet Evergarden overseas. And the art… wow. Check this out."
He swiveled the monitor so they could see. On the screen, a blonde girl in a delicate doll-like outfit balanced on a standing leaf across a quiet lake, while a red-haired man in glasses watched from the shore, a tear streaking down his cheek.
The three leaned closer, silent. The panel radiated sorrow and beauty, pulling them into the moment. Sayuri's jaw dropped slightly, and even Shion let out a quiet, impressed breath.
"That was my exact reaction the first time I saw it," Taigo said quietly, almost in awe.
Sayuri shook her head, a bitter edge creeping in. "Kurokawa Pushed her away. And now she's blowing up overseas. I'm just glad Mizushiro didn't go. If he left too…" she trailed off, shaking her head.
"And guess which studio picked up the anime adaptation?" Taigo asked, leaning back slightly.
Shion's brow furrowed. "Maya Productions?"
Taigo nodded. "Yup."
Sayuri groaned, slapping the desk lightly. "Of course... not against 5 Centimeters per Second. I really thought we had Best Visual locked this year."
"So now," Sayuri said slowly, "it's only Anime of the Year we can count on?"
"Seems like it," Shion replied. "And I think we're straying from our main discussion, Mizushiro's next project, Code Geass. No studio announcement, no staff info, not even a word from Mizushiro himself. Something bigger must be happening behind the scenes."
Sayuri, already imagining the next recording session. "We'll have plenty to talk about when that day comes. And the audience will lose their minds. Honestly, this teaser alone will keep people buzzing until release."
Shion added, "But I think Mizushiro is hiding something big. I hope he gives us an update on Code Geass soon."
Sayuri laughed. "I just hope they don't spoil anything before the release. I'll be glued to the screen either way. And Honestly, the level Kotone's at now... it gives me chills. That kind of artistry? It's on another level."
They spent a few more minutes discussing minor details from Into the Abyss, comparing animation styles, character arcs, and subtle callbacks. Shion even pulled up some old clips from past Mizushiro projects for reference, and the three debated which moments stood out the most. Sayuri leaned forward occasionally, pointing at a frame she loved, and Taigo noted timing and pacing that could influence award discussions. They shared laughs, minor teasing, and quick references to fan theories, keeping the conversation natural and flowing.
Finally, Shion leaned forward, checking the timer. "Okay, I think that's enough for today's recording. Let's wrap it up before we run over time."
(TL:- if you want even more content, check out p-a-t-r-e-o-n.com/Alioth23 for 60+ advanced chapters)