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Shojo & Tell: A Manga Podcast
Ashley McDonnell
A manga discussion podcast focusing on shojo (and josei!) series that make your heart go doki-doki. Covering classics like CLAMP’s “Cardcaptor Sakura” and Yuu Watase’s “Fushigi Yuugi” to newer favorites like Kazune Kawahara’s “My Love Story!!” and Hiro Fujiwara’s “Maid Sama!” Shojo & Tell host Ashley McDonnell discusses one series per episode with a rotating shojo superfan. (And sometimes, a shoujo superfan.) Shojo [or shoujo] manga: Japanese comics made for young women. A breath of fresh air after reading 72 volumes of “Naruto.” The underappreciated sibling of all those same-y never-ending shonen titles.
- 52 minutes 48 secondsMiyuki-chan in Wonderland and The One I Love (with Asher Sofman)
This episode discusses Miyuki-chan in Wonderland and The One I Love by Clamp
A short episode to discuss two short Clamp works. Shojo & Tell host Ashley and her husband/journey-through-all-of-Clamp-buddy Asher recognize that hentai Miyuki-chan was perhaps.... just not at all for them. And also isn't meant to be taken seriously anyway. Which is good, because neither Ash really enjoyed it. Then there's The One I Love, which feels like a strange gender experiment gone wrong. To quote Asher: It feels gender essentialist and "homework-y." The best we can say is we did our homework assignments of reading these for our Clamp 101 course.
REFERENCES
- Miyuki-chan in Wonderland is available from Viz Media
- The One I Love is available from Viz Media
- You should probably listen to CLAMPcast instead
- Other Clamp works mentioned:
- Other manga/anime mentioned
- Back in our Digimon podcasting days...
- Read Miyuki-chan while listening to Miami 2 Ibiza by Swedish House Mafia
- Outro song: "The Streatham Hill Gods" by Danosongs
CONTACT US
17 April 2024, 4:00 am - 58 minutes 18 secondsLegal Drug (with Asher Sofman)
Covers all three volumes of Legal Drug by Clamp
Get ready to get high. And horny. And gay. And paid. Okay, to be honest, we're not sure what the drug is, or that it's legal, but hey, we're here to talk about it anyway. Shojo & Tell host Ashley and her husband Asher continue their Clamp journey with Legal Drug, which is technically complete, in the same way that QQ Sweeper is complete (which is to say: Not at all, because there's a sequel, Drug & Drop, and it's been on hiatus for forever). None of the central mysteries of Legal Drug is solved within the confines of the volumes. Well, whatever. We're all just here for Kazahaya and Rikuo being in provocative poses, right? The biggest question of the episode is: Is this queerbaiting? Get ready to hear our thoughts about Clamp's fiftymillionth JoJo's Bizarre Adventure fanfic (this one is basically the crappier version of xxxHolic).
REFERENCES
- Legal Drug is available from Dark Horse Comics
- You should probably listen to CLAMPcast instead
- Other Clamp works mentioned:
- Other manga/anime mentioned
- Figs need wasps
- The Ashes love Tales of games maybe too much
- There is only hitsuzen
- Archive of Our Own
- Outro song: "The Streatham Hill Gods" by Danosongs
CONTACT US
27 March 2024, 4:00 am - 1 hour 19 minutesThe Poe Clan (with Vrai Kaiser and Megan DeYarman)
Covers all of the original The Poe Clan series by Moto Hagio
It's time to talk about the gay vampires who built shojo manga. Year 24 author Moto Hagio, one of the most influential names in shojo, tells the tale of the Poe clan, a group composed of immortal vampirnella who turn the young siblings, Edgar and Marybelle, into one of their kind. Edgar turns his classmate, Alan Twilight, into a vampire, and the two go gallivanting through the forest like fairies. (Okay, they go on other adventures over the decades, too.) Vrai Kaiser, a managing editor at Anime Feminist, explains The Poe Clan's place within vampire literature, while Megan DeYarman, of the sites Manga Test Drive and Renaissance Josei, explains THE POE CLAN's and Moto Hagio's impact on the history and trajectory of shojo manga. Shojo & Tell host Ashley is just here to look pretty and facilitate.
REFERENCES
- The Poe Clan is available from Fantagraphics
- As mentioned in the episode, there is a rebooted Poe Clan series that Hagio started in 2016. Fantagraphics will also be releasing that starting in 2025.
- Other Hagio works mentioned:
- Previous podcasts with Megan and Vrai:
- Other manga/anime/artists mentioned:
- Vampires
CONTACT US
- Follow Vrai on Blue Sky @writervrai.bsky.social
- Read Vrai's work on Anime Feminist
- Support Anime Feminist on Patreon
- Follow Megan on BlueSky @brainchild129.bsky.social
- Follow Manga Test Drive on BlueSky @mangatestdrive.bsky.social
- Support Megan on Patreon
- Visit Renaissance Josei
- Read Megan's work on Anime Feminist
- Shojo & Tell on Bluesky, Tumblr, Instagram, and Twitter
- Ashley on Bluesky
6 March 2024, 4:00 pm - The Poe Clan is available from Fantagraphics
- 1 hour 2 minutesJuline Manga Discussion (with Megan DeYarman of Manga Test Drive)
This episode discusses all volumes (1-5) of Juline by Narumi Kakinouchi.
When you think "shojo manga," you typically don't think "ninjas." But that's just a stereotype, and we're here to defy stereotypes. Shojo & Tell host Ashley and Megan DeYarman, of the sites Manga Test Drive and Renaissance Josei, talk about Juline, a manga series from animator Narumi Kakinouchi (of Vampire Princess Miyu fame). The titular Juline, along with other young female ninjas Bakuya and Seika (and inevitable male love interest Kio), are looking for male relatives and lovers who have disappeared. They encounter a mysterious foe in Black Pearl (also known as Tamayo, also known as Mei). Is Tamayo a woman or a man? Can Juline, Bakuya, and Seika undo the spell that's been put on their loved ones? Ashley and Megan dive into the art style (and unfortunate lack of lettering skills from Tokyopop), the gender representation, and the overall ~vibes~ of this strange little series.
REFERENCES
- Juline is out of print. It was published by Tokyopop.
- There's a sequel called Shaolin Sisters
- Megan has been on episodes for The Key to the Kingdom and The Full-Time Wife Escapist
- Other anime/manga mentioned:
- Stu Levy is why everything is bad
- Archive of Our Own
- Outro song: "The Streatham Hill Gods" by Danosongs
CONTACT US
10 January 2024, 5:00 am - Juline is out of print. It was published by Tokyopop.
- 59 minutes 54 secondsCowboy Bebop Shojo Manga Discussion (with Asher Sofman)
We discuss the two shojo manga versions of Cowboy Bebop: Cowboy Bebop by Hajime Yatate [Sunrise staff] and Cowboy Bebop: Shooting Star by Cain Kuga
Ask an anime fan above the age of 30 what their favorite anime is, and chances are high they'll say Cowboy Bebop. The music, the animation, the mood — it's iconic. And then there are the two shojo manga iterations of Cowboy Bebop, which have largely been lost to the sands of time (and then, there's the Netflix live action version...). Shojo and Tell host Ashley and her husband, Asher, read both of these severely out of print manga adaptations, and discuss here. Topics of discussion include: Ed and gender, why the heck is Shooting Star the way it is, and why was it decided that this seinen anime needs not one, but two shojo manga adaptations?
REFERENCES
- Both Cowboy Bebop manga adaptations are out of print. They were previously published by Tokyopop.
- The Cowboy Bebop anime is still beloved by many who aren't the Ashes
- The Netflix live action version of Cowboy Bebop was fun
- Yoko Kanno's music is part of what makes the anime such a hit
- Other series mentioned:
- Tech bros trying to colonize space: Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and Richard Branson
- Outro song: "The Streatham Hill Gods" by Danosongs
CONTACT US
- Shojo & Tell on Bluesky, Tumblr, Instagram, and Twitter
- Ashley on Bluesky
28 December 2023, 5:00 am - 1 hour 45 minutesThe Vision of Escaflowne (with Asher Sofman) [Shonen Exception #5]
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.
REFERENCES
- Unfortunately (fortunately?), this manga is out of print. It was originally published in English by Tokyopop.
- The anime is available from Funimation
- As is the movie
- The shojo manga version has never been licensed in English
- Other Escaflowne things
- Other series mentioned
- Misc. memtions
- Avatar: The Last Airbender Fire Nation
- The Hunger Games
- Neo Yokio "Helena Saint Tessero is the plot."
- Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (Shredder)
- Outro song: "The Streatham Hill Gods" by Danosongs
CONTACT US
- Shojo & Tell on Bluesky, Tumblr, Instagram, and Twitter
- Ashley on Bluesky
13 December 2023, 5:00 am - Unfortunately (fortunately?), this manga is out of print. It was originally published in English by Tokyopop.
- 18 minutes 49 secondsPreview Guide 6: Lord Hades' Ruthless Marriage
Wondering if you should pick up Lord Hades' Ruthless Marriage by Ueji Yuho? Ashley and Asher discuss the first volume of this new manga published by Yen Press, in which Lord Hades has been shot by one of Eros' arrows and thus is fated to fall in love. But not without a lot of hijinks happening first, harem manga style.
This is a short review of Lord Hades' Ruthless Marriage volume 1.
REFERENCES
- Lord Hades' Ruthless Marriage is available from Yen Press
- Other Greek mythology-inspired media we mentioned:
- Misc mentions
- Morgana was a guest for the Pet Shop of Horrors episode, which you can listen to here
CONTACT US
23 November 2023, 6:57 pm - 1 hour 50 minutesSacrificial Princess and the King of Beasts Pt. 2 (with Mackenzie of Mac Loves Manga)
This episode discusses volumes 8–15 of Sacrificial Princess and the King of Beasts by Yu Tomofuji.
Sariphi has gone from ritual sacrifice to acting queen, but she's still working to gain the respect of members of beastkind. In this episode about the back half of Tomofuji's series, Mackenzie from Mac Loves Manga and Shojo and Tell host Ashley break down the highlights. We get to talk more about our favorite hyena boy, Lante, and his heartwarming worldviews; crotchety Anubis and the amazing journey he went on (where he got stabbed at least twice); the power of Sariphi, particularly in the arc with Fenrir; plus, we finally find out why the king is partially human, and meet some of the best side characters who should definitely have their own series.
- Sacrificial Princess and the King of Beasts is available from Yen Press in English
- There's a spinoff that's not licensed yet, The White Rabbit and the Beast Prince
- Be sure to check out Shoujo Sundae, Colleen's Manga Recs, and Basic Boi
- Other anime/manga mentioned
- Dub actors lobbying for better pay
- Mad Max
- Avengers: Endgame
- Outro song: "The Streatham Hill Gods" by Danosongs
CONTACT US
- Mackenzie on Bluesky, Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr
- Mackenzie's YouTube channel
- Shojo & Tell on Bluesky, Tumblr, Instagram, and Twitter
2 September 2023, 4:00 pm - Sacrificial Princess and the King of Beasts is available from Yen Press in English
- 1 hour 39 minutesSacrificial Princess and the King of Beasts Pt. 1 (with Mackenzie of Mac Loves Manga)
This episode discusses volumes 1–7 of Sacrificial Princess and the King of Beasts by Yu Tomofuji.
Sariphi goes from ritual sacrifice to acting queen consort in the span of only a few volumes. The real problem? She's a human living among beastkind, hiding the secret of the part-human beast king while trying to win over the hearts and minds of people who look nothing like her. Tomofuji's series pushes boundaries, and Mackenzie from Mac Loves Manga is here to fully break them down. Mackenzie joins Shojo and Tell host Ashley to discuss the political intrigue of this series, how refreshing Sari is as a heroine, how endearing the tsundere boys Anubis and Lanteveldt are, and, as is only natural, make inevitable comparisons to Beastars and Zootopia.
REFERENCES
- Sacrificial Princess and the King of Beasts is available from Yen Press in English
- Be sure to follow Shoujo Sundae and Colleen's Manga Recs
- Other anime/manga mentioned
- Other media mentioned:
- Anime Feminist review of Sacrificial Princess and the King of Beasts episode 1
- Hana to Yume magazine
- Mackenzie's video on Romantic Killer/performative shojo
- Outro song: "The Streatham Hill Gods" by Danosongs
CONTACT US
- Mackenzie on Bluesky, Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr
- Mackenzie's YouTube channel
- Shojo & Tell on Bluesky, Tumblr, Instagram, and Twitter,
27 July 2023, 4:00 am - 1 hour 25 minutesCodename: Sailor V (with Honey and Vixen)
Discusses all of the manga Codename: Sailor V by Naoko Takeuchi.
Before there was Sailor Moon, there was Sailor V. Or... maybe? Is that how the timeline lines up? Well, anyway. We're continuing our journey with the Sailor Guardians by discussing the prequel/sequel/???? to Sailor Moon, which is all about Minako/Sailor Venus. Minako superfans Honey and Vixen explain how Usagi and Minako differ, why Sailor Venus is their favorite Sailor Guardian, and why everyone should be on Team Minako. Shojo & Tell host Ashley has to admit that Minako makes a lot more sense after reading this superhero gag manga. If you liked the silliness of the 1990s Sailor Moon anime, then you should be reading Sailor V!
REFERENCES
- Codename: Sailor V is available from Kodansha Comics
- Be sure to listen to our Sailor Moon episodes with Anne LaRose
- The one true Sailor Moon fansite, Tuxedo Unmasked
- Other anime/manga mentioned
- Video games mentioned:
- Listen to fellow manga podcast, Manga Mavericks
- Check out Kodansha's new manga streaming service, K Manga
- Outro song: "The Streatham Hill Gods" by Danosongs
CONTACT US
29 June 2023, 4:00 am - 1 hour 29 minutesSailor Moon Pt. 2 (with Anne LaRose, creator of Shojo Power)
This episode discusses the second half of the Sailor Moon manga by Naoko Takeuchi.
We're back to talk about the Infinity, Dream, and Stars arcs of the beloved Sailor Moon series. Now that all the Sailor Guardians are here, Shojo & Tell host Ashley and Anne LaRose, who runs the Shojo Power blog analyzing Sailor Moon, reveal their vastly different favorite Guardians. As a n00b to the series, Ashley wonders what is even going on with the Sailor Stars. And why there's a creepy circus. And what the heck any of these villains really want. It doesn't really matter, because the Sailor Guardians kick ass, right? And Mamoru is Sailor Earth. Right. Fangirl ChatGPT agrees.
REFERENCES
- Sailor Moon is available from Kodansha Comics
- The 1992 anime is on Hulu
- Sailor Moon Crystal is on Netflix
- The Sailor Moon Cosmos movie is coming out in the summer of 2023
- Other manga/anime mentioned:
- Two-Spirit people
- Lindy West
- Lord of the Flies
- Fifty Shades of Grey
- Outro song: "The Streatham Hill Gods" by Danosongs
CONTACT US
9 May 2023, 4:00 am - Sailor Moon is available from Kodansha Comics
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About Shojo & Tell: A Manga Podcast
Links
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