Continuing the conversation from our previous episodes, we’re discussing a little-known experimental short film by Koji Morimoto and Studio 4°C called Noiseman Sound Insect. It’s a dystopian, futuristic story about oppression and the power of the individual, packed into a 15-minute chaotic hovercraft ride. We’ve been exploring cult creators and directors, anthologies, and niche genre exercises, and this anime weaves a tight web right into our discussion.

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This week, we crack open Katsuhiro Otomo’s 1995 anthology masterpiece Memories as our exploration of anime’s most fascinating cult directors rolls on.

If you weren’t paying close attention, you might have completely missed the new adaptation of Tatsuki Fujimoto’s 17–21 / 22–26, recently published by VIZ. In this episode, we dive into Fujimoto’s early, chaotic, and wildly imaginative storytelling—the raw creative groundwork laid long before Chainsaw Man made him a global sensation. Join us as we explore the adolescent mind of a creator on the cusp of redefining modern manga.

In this episode of The Otaku Hostclub Podcast, we dive into the world of cult anime directors—the rule-breakers, the visionaries, and the creators whose bold ideas earned them fiercely loyal followings. From surreal experiments to underappreciated gems, we explore what makes a director “cult” and why their work still shapes anime today.

There was a time when hyper-violent, sexually charged OVAs ruled the Japanese home-video market—and few creators embodied that era more than Yasuomi Umetsu, the director behind Kite and Mezzo Forte. Kite even spawned an American live-action remake starring Samuel L. Jackson (which… let’s be honest, barely anyone saw).

Now, Umetsu is back. His latest work just hit U.S. theaters last week, and we’re breaking down exactly what we thought of it.

We’re reWe’re rewriting anime endings that didn’t do these shows justice. From Darling in the Franxx’s galaxy-brain nonsense to Naruto’s out-of-this-world alien takeover and Lazurus leaving us with nothing, we’re giving these series the glow-up they deserve. Unfiltered takes, petty rewrites, and emotional damage included.

Check us out on our website: https://www.otakuhostclub.com. Chat with us between episodes on our Discord server: https://discord.gg/VZWCpsMvmR, and follow us on Instagram @otakuhostclub.

Dan is back (for now) and we’re talking Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc!!! Amelia starts us off with all the tea of the Pochita popcorn buckets, theater turn out and how it’s stacking up against Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle, and obviously our thoughts on Reze, the Bomb Devil, and Denji being down bad (again). It’s messy, explosive, and we loved every second. BOOM!

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Dan is away from the pod again in some faraway land that sounds made up but actually isn’t! And since it’s right in the middle of the seasonal anime changeover Amelia and Geoff are chatting about our favorite summer anime and some of our anticipated fall anime. Obviously, we’re all excited for the Chainsaw Man movie hitting theaters next week, so join us for this chill episode before we can’t stop talking about Chainsaw Man!

Check us out on our website: Https://www.otakuhostclub.com Chat with us in between episodes on our Discord server: https://discord.gg/VZWCpsMvmR and check us out on our Instagram @otakuhostclub