Herald Anime Club

The Herald Anime Club Meeting 112: How Heavy Are The Dumbbells You Lift? Episode 1


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?

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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!

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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.

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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?

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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!

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About the author

Samantha Ferreira

Samantha Ferreira is Anime Herald’s founder and editor-in-chief. A Rhode Island native, Samantha has been an anime fan since 1992, and an active member of the anime press since 2002, when she began working as a reviewer for Anime Dream. She launched Anime Herald in 2010, and continues to oversee its operations to this day. Outside of journalism, Samantha actively studies the history of the North American anime fandom and industry, with a particular focus on the 2000s anime boom and bust. She’s a huge fan of all things Sakura Wars, and maintains series fansite Combat Revue Review when she has free time available. When not in the Anime Herald Discord, Samantha can typically be found on Bluesky.

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