Satoshi Kon’s Bizarre Adventure. Episode 06
Paranoia Agent, Episodes 1 &2
Feat. Andrew Osmond
Feat. Andrew Osmond
Like a dream within a dream, this week begins a podcast within the podcast – A full rundown of Satoshi Kon’s only television series, Paranoia Agent. It begins with a simple premise: a juvenile delinquent called Shonen Bat (‘Little Slugger’ if you’re feeling dubby) is assaulting pedestrians across Tokyo, and two detectives need to crack the case.
But as always with Kon, all is not as it appears. Those who survive Shonen Bat’s attacks come out the other end oddly relieved – or maybe they weren’t so innocent to begin with. And what of the bat? He appears and disappears seemingly at random and leaves no evidence behind. Rumor has it he might not be human, at all. And in Paranoia Agent truth is stranger than fiction, and rumors can be even more dangerous than reality, if there’s even a difference between the two.
Ian and joseph begin their journey into Paranoia Agent with special guest Andrew Osmond, the man who literally wrote the book on Satoshi Kon. His long out-of-print text ‘Satoshi Kon: The Illusionist,’ was the main source for this season’s research.
Satoshi Kon’s Bizarre Adventure. Episode 05
Tokyo Godfathers
Satoshi Kon's idea of a Christmas movie starts with three homeless people who find a baby in the trash and ends with a wacky car chase. Along the way, Toyko Godfathers involves a mob wedding, a drag bar, and various pathological lies. That it works at all is a Christmas Miracle — one that Ian and Joseph celebrate.
While dashing through the snow and ducking assassination attempts, this episode unpacks Kon's quirky family drama and its sometimes troubling representations of homeless, psychologically ill, LGBTQIA+, and Latino characters. Toyko Godfathers doesn't always succeed in its 'hard look' at social issues in economically depressed Japan, but that Kon was explored such themes at all was notable when it was released.
The film's big success is Hana, Kon's first outwardly trans character. Her face alone is a triumph of animation worth the cost of admission.
Satoshi Kon’s Bizarre Adventure. Episode 04
Millennium Actress
In Millennium Actress a starlet on her death bed recalls her lifelong chase to catch up with the love of her life. From this simple premise, Satoshi Kon crafts a kaleidoscopic love letter to Japanese cinema. His heroine, Chiyoko Fujiwara, is the perfect mirror to Mima from Perfect Blue - a hopeless romantic with an astounding career and indomitable spirit. Her journey through the golden age of the Japanese studio system (roughly early WWII to the turn of the century) blurs the line between fantasy and reality. In the process, Kon tries his hand at Kaiju eiga, the samurai epics of Kaira Kurosawa, the understated dramas of Yasujrō Ozu, and everything in-between. It's a stunning achievement and one host's favorite Kon film full-stop.
Curiously, Millennium Actress didn't light the world on fire the way its predecessor did - it wasn't even nominated for the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature in 2002 (Miyazaki's Spirited Away did). Masterful though it may be, it sets up Kon's long struggle to craft a commercial successor to his debut film. On the plus side, though, it also sets up Kon's long-standing partnership with composer Susumu Hirasawa, whose arresting New Age bombast became synonymous with Kon's work.
Ian and Joseph break down the cornucopia of references and easter eggs ticket into Satoshi Kon's too-overlooked second film - not to mention its absolutely killer soundtrack.
Satoshi Kon’s Bizarre Adventure. Episode 03
Perfect Blue
Satoshi Kon's first movie, Perfect Blue is an intricate psychological thriller that earned him international acclaim. Released in 1997, the film cataulted Kon into the international spotlight — but also cast a shadow over the rest of his career. Kon himself once joked that his job was not "film director," but "Director of Perfect Blue." In this episode, Ian and Joseph unpack its revolutionary editing style and the uncanny series of events that led to its creation.
Perfect Blue tells the story of Mima, a B-tier pop start turned aspiring actress, who sheds her innocent idol image for a role on a sleazy murder mystery show. Her career change rouses the ire of an obsessive and violent fan, but the greatest threat to Mima's safety may be her own mind as it slowly unravels until neither she nor the audience can tell fantasy from reality.
Originally intended to be the live-action adaptation of a paperback novel, Perfect Blue wound up in Kon's hands nearly by accident. Numerous mishaps including a catastrophic earthquake resulted in a cheaper-than-cheap budget but also granted Kon almost total creative control. This situation led directly to the lightning-fast editing style that became his trademark. Often imitated but never bettered, even by Kon himself, it remains a singular gem in the history of anime and cinema in-general.
Satoshi Kon’s Bizarre Adventure. Episode 02
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure
& a Brief History of Shonen Anime
& a Brief History of Shonen Anime
Shonen is the most popular sub-genre of anime. From One Piece to Naruto, a boy and his friends duking it out for the fate of mankind remains an inexhuastible well of popular storytelling. In this episode, The Human Instrumentality Podcast tracks the genre's meteoric rise in the 80s thanks to Dragonball.
But that's just an appetizer. The real meal is a lengthy discussion of the singularly wierd and wonderful shonen masterpeice that is JoJo's Bizarre Adventure.
Satoshi Kon's brief but memorable directorial debut in the original 90s JoJo's OVA gets a highlight, but Kon is really a footnote in the series' saga. Ian and Joseph discuss creator Hirohiko Araki's background, then go all in on superpowers named after classic rock bands, the Jungian meaning of tarot cards, and the curious sexiness of incredibly ripped anime boys.
Satoshi Kon’s Bizarre Adventure. Episode 01
From Hokkaido with Love:
The Golden Age of Anime in the 80s
The second season of The Human Instrumentality Podcast follows the career of director Satoshi Kon, whose brief-but-brilliant oeuvre includes “Perfect Blue” and Paranoia Agent.” By turns dreamlike and nightmarish, Kon’s psychedelic and psychological parade of images and characters celebrate the animated film tradition and critique the society that created it – and the fans that enable its existence.
The Golden Age of Anime in the 80s
The second season of The Human Instrumentality Podcast follows the career of director Satoshi Kon, whose brief-but-brilliant oeuvre includes “Perfect Blue” and Paranoia Agent.” By turns dreamlike and nightmarish, Kon’s psychedelic and psychological parade of images and characters celebrate the animated film tradition and critique the society that created it – and the fans that enable its existence.
This first episode covers the earliest part of Kon’s career, his first published works as a Manga artist, and his time as an assistant to Katushiro Otomo during the creation of maybe the most beloved film in Japanese animation: “Akira.”
UNIT 15
SMOKING THE WHOLE PACKShinji comes to terms with his own mortality and Asuka takes her redemption shot in Hideki Anno’s action-packed second attempt to button up Evangelion’s story. Ian and Joseph traverse a gauntlet of inappropriate sexual advances and right-hand path magic in The Human Instrumentality Podcast’s conclusion. This podcast covers the Neon Genesis Evangelion film “The End of Evangelion.”
Shinji comes to terms with his own mortality and Asuka takes her redemption shot in Hideki Anno’s action-packed second attempt to button up Evangelion’s story. Ian and Joseph traverse a gauntlet of inappropriate sexual advances and right-hand path magic in The Human Instrumentality Podcast’s conclusion. This podcast covers the Neon Genesis Evangelion film “The End of Evangelion.”
UNIT 14
IT PRINTS MONEYWait, there’s more? Oh yes, there is. At the behest of the almighty dollar, the Eva pilots return for a second run at the Third Impact, but not before subjecting Ian and Joseph to yet another clip show. Also, the hosts discuss the show’s cultural impact. This podcast covers the Neon Genesis Evangelion film “Death and Rebirth.”
Wait, there’s more? Oh yes, there is. At the behest of the almighty dollar, the Eva pilots return for a second run at the Third Impact, but not before subjecting Ian and Joseph to yet another clip show. Also, the hosts discuss the show’s cultural impact. This podcast covers the Neon Genesis Evangelion film “Death and Rebirth.”
UNIT 13
HOLD YOUR APPLAUSE UNTIL THE END PLEASE
Congratulations. We’ve reached Evangelion’s frustrating, psychedelic, perplexing, and ultimately beloved finale. Ian and Joseph immerse themselves in the show’s ending, it’s contentious reputation with fans and the often-misunderstood circumstances that birthed it. This podcast covers episodes 23 & 24 of Neon Genesis Evangelion.
UNIT 12
THE HARDEST SELF DESTRUCT BUTTON TO BUTTON
Rei goes down swinging against a body horror-riffic angel. Then, a new Eva pilot prompts Shinji to explore his sexual orientation – at least in the correct translation. Ian and Joseph oppose queer erasure and endorse Eva’s use of Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony. This podcast covers episodes 21 & 22 of Neon Genesis Evangelion.
UNIT 11
SCAM GOD GENDO
Fuyutsuki reveals how a scruffy fuckboy wound up in charge of a secret paramilitary organization. Afterward, Asuka takes a long elevator ride to a short defeat in the most upsetting episode in Eva. Ian examines scammers while Joseph cracks one open and gets in his feelings about histories of abuse. This podcast covers episodes 19 & 20 of Neon Genesis Evangelion. (CW: Sexual abuse.)
UNIT 10
THE LEBRON JAMES OF ANGELSRei and Asuka fail to come correct when the toughest angel of them all attacks. Shinji, on the other hand, comes out in beast mode. Ian and Joseph stan this top-tier monster battle then unpack one of Eva’s infamous psychedelic sequences. This podcast covers episodes 17 & 18 of Neon Genesis Evangelion.
Rei and Asuka fail to come correct when the toughest angel of them all attacks. Shinji, on the other hand, comes out in beast mode. Ian and Joseph stan this top-tier monster battle then unpack one of Eva’s infamous psychedelic sequences. This podcast covers episodes 17 & 18 of Neon Genesis Evangelion.
UNIT 09
WHEN THE DUMMY PLUG COMES TO COLLECT
Toji Suzahara just wants to shoot some hoops with his buds and eat snacks with the class rep. Instead, he gets in the middle of the most violent episode in Eva. Not even quarantine can stop Ian and Joseph from shit-talking the show’s adults and discussing the long-awaited Dummy Plug. This podcast covers episodes 15 & 16 of Neon Genesis Evangelion.
UNIT 08
OPERATION DIRAC SEA FREEDOMThe elder millennials get drunk at a wedding, Asuka gets her first kiss, and Shinji gets sucked into another dimension when Eva begins its morbid second half. Ian discusses what might be the best episode in the whole show before Joseph goes down a rabbit hole of existentialist philosophy with Kierkegaard and Freud. This podcast covers episodes 13 & 14 of Neon Genesis Evangelion.
The elder millennials get drunk at a wedding, Asuka gets her first kiss, and Shinji gets sucked into another dimension when Eva begins its morbid second half. Ian discusses what might be the best episode in the whole show before Joseph goes down a rabbit hole of existentialist philosophy with Kierkegaard and Freud. This podcast covers episodes 13 & 14 of Neon Genesis Evangelion.
UNIT 07
DISPATCHES FROM THE NERV HR DEPARTMENT
Ritsuko gets a whole angel battle to herself before Eva runs a dreaded “clip show” episode. Ian and Joseph, meanwhile, finally start to pick apart the show’s mind-melting religious lore from the Dead Sea Scrolls to the Kabbalah. This podcast covers episodes 13 & 14 of Neon Genesis Evangelion.
UNIT 06
RED SHIRT UNION
The background characters strut their stuff in a fun sci-fi episode before Misato proves what she’s made of in one of the show’s finest showdowns. Ian and Joseph applaud Eva’s comic timing before chipping away at the mystery that is “Second Impact.” This podcast covers episodes 11 & 12 of Neon Genesis Evangelion.
UNIT 05
WET HOT ASUKA LANGLEY SUMMER
Asuka turns the dial up to eleven in a pair of fast-paced and funny episodes. Ian and Joseph go all-in on the show’s Monster of the Week period and nerd out about Evangelion’s incredible use of music. This podcast covers episodes 9 & 10 of Neon Genesis Evangelion.
UNIT 04
YOU ARE (JET) ALONE
She protects, she attacks, she gives the boys a slap. Eva introduces its last lead character, but not before a massive infodump. Ian unpacks some of the show’s politics while Joseph wonders “Is Asuka best girl?” This podcast covers episodes 7 & 8 of Neon Genesis Evangelion.
UNIT 03
AYANAMI TRAP HOUSE
Evangelion goes into full sci-fi action mode while Ian and Joseph go hard on the show’s beloved blue-haired slum-dwelling cosplay icon, Rei Ayanami. Plus, a brief run-down on the failed attempts at American adaptations of Eva. This podcast covers episodes 5 & 6 of Neon Genesis Evangelion.
UNIT 02
EVEN THE BUGS ARE HORNY
Shinji makes some friends and then makes a break for it while Ian and Joseph ask the burning question “are giant monsters supposed to all look like penises?” Plus a little Schopenhauer helps our hosts unpack Eva’s ‘thesis statement.’ This podcast covers episodes 3 & 4 of Neon Genesis Evangelion.
UNIT 01
DOES THE PENGUIN PAY RENT?
An angel attacks and Shinji gets into the robot for the very first time while Ian and Joseph get into the weeds on Japan’s nuclear anxiety. This podcast covers episodes 1 & 2 of Neon Genesis Evangelion.
UNIT 00
METAL GODS: A BRIEF HISTORY OF GIANT ROBOT CARTOONS