Episode 144 - POKÉMON

While the Pokémon phenomenon has been going strong for more than two decades, there's something especially magical about that first batch of 150-plus pocket monsters. A super effective cocktail of animal cuteness, competitive spirit, and pre-social media FOMO, the franchise conquered America--and the world--like few Japanese imports before or since, and left an evolutionary blueprint for others to follow.

Cartoons, video games, toys, trading cards, novelty raps: we catch 'em all in this episode focused on the Big Bang of a synergistic media universe. While we were recording, a wild Josh Lee appeared to make his WWWW debut, so boot up your Pokédex and join us in our quest to be the very best, like no pod ever was!

Pokémon (1998-present)
Based on the video game created by Satoshi Taijiri

Episodes included in this podcast:

"Pokémon, I Choose You!" (aired 9/8/98)
"Bulbasaur and the Hidden Village" (9/21/98)
"Pikachu's Goodbye" (11/20/98)
"Cyber Soldier Porygon" (unaired in the United States)

Episode 139 - THE ANIMATRIX

Matrix March keeps on scrolling with The Animatrix, an anthology that once bridged the gap between big-screen sequels, and today stands as one of the most unique and ambitious tie-ins of a major Hollywood production. The nine segments featured present an up close and personal view of a technology-fueled dystopia, and offer plenty more philosophical questions for us to debate.

Andrew McNally returns as we shift our focus from massive Australian soundstages to Japanese animation studios and American effects houses. The archives of Zion are open and waiting to be explored. A new world awaits you...

The Animatrix (2003)
Segments directed by Peter Chung, Andrew R. Jones, Yoshiaki Kawajiri, Takeshi Koike, Mahiro Maeda, Koji Morimoto, and Shinichiro Watanabe
Segments written by Peter Chung, Yoshiaki Kawajiri, Koji Morimoto, Shinichiro Watanabe, and the Wachowskis
Starring Kevin Michael Richardson, Pamela Adlon, Hedy Burress, Phil LaMarr, Victor Williams, James Arnold Taylor, John DiMaggio, Melinda Clarke, Clayton Watson, Carrie-Ann Moss, and Keanu Reeves

Follow the white rabbit to our Matrix content:
The Matrix
The Matrix Reloaded
The Animatrix
The Matrix Revolutions