Melody is the sole servant at an impoverished noble estate. In the span of a couple weeks, she’s completely transformed the dilapidated mansion, and then she helps the estate’s resident, Luciana, host a tea party. That about covers the first three minutes, and the rest of the episode is flashbacks, in which we learn about… Read More First Impression: Heroine? Saint? No, I’m an All-Works Maid (And Proud of It)!
For the fourth episode of season two, I had the pleasure of speaking with singer-songwriter Hana Hope. Anime fans may know Hana from her work singing themes* on Spice and Wolf, Fate/Grand Order, and most recently, my favorite anime of spring 2026, A Hundred Scenes of AWAJIMA. But while her music first drew me to… Read More Something Genuine Season 2, Ep. 4: Hana Hope on Music, Identity, and Finding Her Voice
Few artists have become as closely associated with anime music over the decade and a half as Eir Aoi. Since her breakthrough with songs like “Memoria” (Fate/zero), “Innocence” (Sword Art Online), “Genesis” (Aldnoah.Zero), and “Hello Hello Hello” (A Couple of Cuckoos), she has helped define the sound of countless anime memories for fans around the… Read More From “Memoria” to “Unrealistic” and “MONSTER”: A Conversation with Eir Aoi
For the second episode of season two, I had the pleasure of sitting down with voice actor and ADR assistant director, Ben Stegmair (Daemons of the Shadow Realm, Kaiju No. 8). What immediately stood out to me about Ben’s story wasn’t just the work he’s doing today—it was how intentional his journey has been from… Read More Something Genuine Season 2, Ep. 2: Ben Stegmair on Mentorship, a Manga Rushmore, and Living the Anime Dream
Happy Friday, otaku! Here I come again with another “old school” anime devo, but as Discotek Media says in all their sizzle reels, “Blu-rays are forever. So are the classics.” Speaking of them, they released today’s subject on Blu-ray a few years ago: Iria: Zeiram the Animation (1994). This six-episode OVA (original video animation) from… Read More A Relentless Enemy: Zeiram and the “Roaring Lion” Called the Devil
Serial Experiments Lain, the trippy, confusing, prescient techno-horror anime from the late 90s, is a milestone sort of series for my anime journey. I love the very audacity of the show—and I like talking about its ideas and concept as much as the anime itself! So you bet that I enjoyed joining our friend Melvin… Read More Let’s Love Lain! Twwk Joins the Cinematic Doctrine Podcast
People are more than numbers. This was part of my pedagogical philosophy when I was a high school history teacher (now many moons ago). Despite dealing with events long past and the frequent discussions of the numbers of people involved in those events, I hoped to help my students understand that they were studying the… Read More Rei Ayanami and the Imago Dei
Interested in watching thoughtful, human-centered conversations with people connected to anime?
Watch Something Genuine, our interview series that cuts through the noise and focuses on the people behind the costumes, in front of the mics, and watching anime, just like you and me. Season two premieres on May 27th.