Meeting Date: 7/14/2019
Disclaimer: The Herald Anime Club discusses shows as they’re airing. Naturally, there will be spoilers for a given episode. You have been warned!
Samantha Ferreira: Hi everyone, and welcome to the Herald Anime Club! I’m Samantha, and I”m here with L.B. Bryant and Anthony Simpson
Anthony Simpson: Evening
L.B. Bryant: Hello!
Samantha Ferreira: Tonight, we’re kicking off the new season with a look at How Heavy Are the Dumbbells You Lift? – our Patreon pick for the season. We’ll be returning to Fruits Basket next week.
So, this is a show that, as I watched, I kept saying “this show has no business being as fun as it is.”
Anthony Simpson: It does, but I enjoyed what I watched in the first episode.
That said I do have a question. What is the number for Machio’s tailor because my god how does that body of his stay in a track suit like that?
L.B. Bryant: It needs to be said right off the bat… this series has annoyingly catchy theme songs lol
Samantha Ferreira: Agreed on both counts
On Machio: I don’t know, either. Like… that guy is a walking body horror – his tailor is either a magician or a saint, because he tames that mass of twitching muscles
Anthony Simpson: Why not both for the tailor?
L.B. Bryant: I remember before the episode started I saw a screencap of Machio and was instantly turned off. I thought I was going to hate the episode. I’m so glad this series turned out so much better than expected lol
Samantha Ferreira: I am so glad I went in blind
Like… outside of the key art, of course
Anthony Simpson: Before my health issue hit me back when I turned 21 I used to lift weights quite a bit since middle school. I wasn’t ever huge because I was still practicing martial arts and for a martial artist getting huge is not something we would want since it would slow us down too much.
L.B. Bryant: I’m on a Discord server that has some hardcore anime nerds on it who watch shows right as it’s released (hi fellas!) so it was hard for me to avoid screencaps.
Samantha Ferreira: I can definitely see that – like… the hugely muscular physique is just not for the agile
Anthony Simpson: Not that I ever had the body or desire to be a bodybuilder I never saw the appeal in it
Plus I know of a lot of Martial artist don’t do a whole lot of weight lifting for that matter or just skip it and use body weight exercises like push up for their strength training.
Samantha Ferreira: …That’s OK. I think Akemi Soryuin sees enough appeal for everyone in a 30 mile radius.
Anthony Simpson: Which of course I did a lot of that as well since we did push-ups for warm ups and what not.
Samantha Ferreira: That makes sense.
Anthony Simpson: True. That said I almost broke the push-up record in my Junior year of HS because of that but that is a story for another time.
Samantha Ferreira: \o/
On the note of school: I honestly did not expect this to be an educational show. Like… at all.
L.B. Bryant: It’s weird for this series to be both educational and also filled with fan service. It’s a very strange juxtaposition.
Samantha Ferreira: True that.
Anthony Simpson: Neither did. Well in regards to the fanservice there is something for everyone.
Samantha Ferreira: I dunno about that. Machio’s pretty horrifying
L.B. Bryant: lol
Everyone in this series is pretty horrifying.
Samantha Ferreira: True, lol
Well what do you expect from a series set in the same world as Kengan Ashura?
Anthony Simpson: Akemi seem to like it then again she likes the body builder type it seems.
Samantha Ferreira: Akemi’s… an exceptional case
Anthony Simpson: True, everyone got to be attracted to something.
Samantha Ferreira: Yeah.
Anthony Simpson: Machio reminds me if someone who got injected with G-Virus from the RE series but who didn’t turn into a horrible killing monster as a result.
Samantha Ferreira: Oh my god yeah. He’s Mr. X. lol
Anthony Simpson: I never though of it that way.
Samantha Ferreira: On that note: His head is way too small for his body
Anthony Simpson: It is when he is in beast mode (all due respect to Beast Wars).
When he is in his normal form his head is fine.
Samantha Ferreira: True that.
That said:
He is an amazing trainer
Super patient and helpful, and not afraid to tell his clients to dial back and take it one step at a time
Anthony Simpson: He is a great trainer.
Samantha Ferreira: And Hibiki is… well… she tries!
Anthony Simpson: She tries but she is new to weight lifting and she is doing the best she can.
Samantha Ferreira: True that
That said: That girl does not have 35% body fat – she’s skinnier than I am, for chrissakes, and I’m underweight!
Anthony Simpson: We have all been in her shoes when starting to just exercise.
I have to call BS on that as well Sam.
L.B. Bryant: I’ve said it before but I still think that the majority of her body fat is in her breasts.
She is a very well endowed young woman lol
Samantha Ferreira: Still… it’s just a weird thing, like…
“my clothes don’t fit well anymore D:” but… she looks identical in figure to her friend
Anthony Simpson: That kind of bothered me.
She’s not obese unless she intentionally wears too tight clothes.
Samantha Ferreira: Exactly
Like… I was obese – she is the furthest thing from it
Anthony Simpson: I’m overweight myself and she is no where close to me. I have a good 50 lbs or so on her.
Samantha Ferreira: Exactly
Samantha Ferreira: So, any final thoughts this week?
L.B. Bryant: I’m good for this week :smiley:
Anthony Simpson: Looking forward to watching more of this show.
Samantha Ferreira: Likewise!
Any other shows you’re looking forward to?
L.B. Bryant: I have a couple which are on my early winner list: Vinland Saga, Granbelm, Do You Love Your Mom in particular
Anthony Simpson: Granbelm is on my list and Do you Love your mom. That said O Maidens in your Savage Season was a surprise for me.
Samantha Ferreira: For me it’s been Your Mom, and I like what I’ve seen of Fire Force
L.B. Bryant: I didn’t love O Maidens but I did deeply appreciate how much maturity it showed when dealing with the subject of teenage sex :smile:
Anthony Simpson: Fire Force is on my list of shows to check out. Hopefully I will get to it tonight.
Samantha Ferreira: I haven’t seen it yet, but it’s on my list
L.B. Bryant: Fire Force is very generic from my POV
But that’s just my opinion
Samantha Ferreira: I liked what I’ve seen, but… it’s a long season yet lol
L.B. Bryant: This is very true
Samantha Ferreira: Aniwho, I think that wraps things up for tonight. Til next time, remember: Anyone could be bursting with a bodybuilder’s physique: even the small unassuming dude in the track suit.
Have a great night!
Anthony Simpson: Good night
L.B. Bryant: Night!