The Vision of Escaflowne (with Asher Sofman) [Shonen Exception #5]

The Vision of Escaflowne (with Asher Sofman) [Shonen Exception #5]

Author: Ashley McDonnell December 13, 2023 Duration: 1:45:56
This episode discusses all volumes (1-8) of THE VISION OF ESCAFLOWNE by Katsu Aki THE VISION OF ESCAFLOWNE is the anime that got Shojo and Tell host Ashley into anime. It sparked one of only a handful of great obsessions in Ashley's life. It's probably the reason this podcast exists at all. Katsu Aki's shonen manga version of the story is..... not like the anime you know and love. It's explicitly billed as a shonen series, and it's all downhill from there. Instead of being a badass track and field star with short hair who saves Van and Allen more times than anyone in the series bothers to count, Hitomi is now a busty babe with glasses who's necessary to pilot the giant mech, Escaflowne. Prince Van is an annoying uncouth and unskilled swordsman. Sir Allen is a knight who is nothingness. Dilandau is — well okay, Dilandau is still a pretty crazy delight, honestly. But a different kind of crazy delight. The Ashes discuss what this iteration of ESCAFLOWNE has to offer in comparison to the beloved TV anime and the gritty movie adaptation of the series.

Host Ashley McDonnell invites you into a space dedicated entirely to the heartfelt, dramatic, and wonderfully complex world of shojo and josei manga in Shojo & Tell: A Manga Podcast. Each episode dives deep into a single series, from foundational classics that defined the genre to contemporary hits that are shaping its future. You’ll hear Ashley and a different guest-each a dedicated superfan-break down the stories, characters, and artistic choices that make these series resonate so powerfully. It’s less a formal review and more like the energetic, detailed conversations you’d have with a friend who loves these stories just as much as you do, full of personal insights and genuine enthusiasm. Whether you’re looking to revisit beloved titles like "Cardcaptor Sakura" or "Fushigi Yuugi" or discover newer joys such as "My Love Story!!," this podcast serves as both a celebration and a critical appreciation. The discussions capture that specific thrill of connection when a fictional world feels utterly real, making every episode a chance to geek out over the narratives that make your heart race. Tune in for thoughtful analysis, shared nostalgia, and a welcoming community built around a shared passion for these impactful stories.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Shojo & Tell: A Manga Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Beast Master (with Asher Sofman) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:48
Covers both volumes of BEAST MASTER by Kyousuke Motomi "There is a beast inside of each of us that protects the things we hold dear." That’s the driving force behind this short story from Kyousuke Motomi (DENGEKI DAISY,…
That Wolf-Boy is Mine! (with letterer Sara Linsley) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:28
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Meteor Prince (with Asher Sofman) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:36
Covers both volumes of METEOR PRINCE by Meca Tanaka. A wild and whacky ride awaits in this super-short series about an alien named Io (who is essentially Tamaki Suoh from OURAN HIGH SCHOOL HOST CLUB) looking for his soul…
Preview Guide 4: Not Your Idol [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:46
This is a review of NOT YOUR IDOL volume 1, a new series by Aoi Makino that's going to be released by Viz. NOT YOUR IDOL tackles the ups and downs of idol culture in Japan (as you can probably tell from the title). It fo…
Basara Pt. 3 (with Caitlin) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:05:53
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Basara Pt. 2 (with Caitlin) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:43
Covers volumes 10–18 of BASARA by Yumi Tamura (the middle third of the series). The middle third of BASARA contains some wacky stuff, like a baby who's not really a baby and threatens to stab Sarasa. But honestly, we don…
Basara Pt. 1 (with Caitlin) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:07:32
Covers volumes 1–9 of BASARA by Yumi Tamura (the first third of the series) Strap in for a classic epic fantasy shojo series with BASARA. Though it never quite blew up in the United States, Yumi Tamura's manga is spectac…
Love in Focus (with Asher Sofman) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:03:00
Covers all 3 volumes of LOVE IN FOCUS by Yoko Nogiri LOVE IN FOCUS is a very cute and subtly subversive series about a high school love triangle between Mako, Kei, and Mitsuru and their experiences with a photography clu…
Girl Got Game (with Loyola Rankin) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:13:37
Covers all 10 volumes of GIRL GOT GAME (also known as POWER!!) by Shizuru Seino GIRL GOT GAME is a basketball manga about Kyo Aizawa, who’s pretending to be a boy so she can play on the men’s team and live out her father…