The Human Instrumentality Podcast
A guided recap of excellent anime
About the show
The Human Instrumentality Podcast celebrates animated fiction from Japan - or, anime - that uses groundbreaking visual storytelling to tell unconventional and moving stories.
Season 2, now airing, tells the story of of beloved director Satoshi Kon, whose brief-but-brilliant oeuvre includes “Perfect Blue” and Paranoia Agent.” Kon’s psychedelic and psychological parade of images and characters celebrate the animated film tradition and critique the society that created it – and the fans that enable its existence. Hosts Ian Cory and Joseph Schafer cover Kon's entire career, from his humble beginnings as a background artist on "Akira" to his final cinematic dreamscape, "Paprika."
Season one, which finished in 2022, covered the animated television series "Neon Genesis Evangelion," unpacking its sometimes cryptic plot, and examining its unique place in pop culture history — it's so much more than a cartoon about teenagers and giant robots.
Follow the Human Instrumentality Podcast on Twitter at @AnotherEvaPod and on Instagram at @humaninstrumentalitypod
Our website is: www.instrumentalitypod.com
The Human Instrumentality Podcast on social media
Episodes
-
Perfect Blue
September 7th, 2022 | Season 2 | 2 hrs 4 mins
anime, movie, perfect blue, satoshi kon
Satoshi Kon's first movie, 'Perfect Blue' is an intricate psychological thriller that earned him international acclaim. It's the story of a B-tier pop star turned risqué TV actor, her stalker, and their shared descent into homicidal madness. Ian and Joseph unpack its revolutionary editing style and the uncanny series of events that led to its creation.
-
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure, and a Brief History of Shonen Anime
August 31st, 2022 | Season 2 | 1 hr 48 mins
anime, jojos bizarre adventure, satoshi kon
Shonen is the most popular sub-genre of anime. We chart the genre's meteoric rise in the 80s thanks to 'Dragonball,' then celebrate its manic deconstruction in 'JoJo's Bizarre Adventure.' Satoshi Kon's brief but memorable directorial debut in the original 90s JoJo's OVA gets a highlight.
-
From Hokkaido with Love - The Golden Age Of Anime In The 80s
August 24th, 2022 | Season 2 | 47 mins 1 sec
Satoshi Kon directed some of the most sophisticated and beloved animated films and series of the last twenty years, including 'Perfect Blue' and 'Paranoia Agent.' The second season of The Human Instrumentality Podcast will follow his remarkable, too-short career. This episode covers the earliest parts of Kon's adventure, from his time as an art student to his participation in Katsuhiro Otomo's beloved 'Akira.'
-
Bonus - Discordance Axis pt. 2 (Feat. Requiem Metal Podcast)
February 2nd, 2022 | 2 hrs 32 mins
anime, discordance axis, evangelion, gridlink, grindcore, heavy metal
Ian and Joseph discuss Evangelion, Bullet Hell games, and the War on Terror while unpacking the band Gridlink in this collaboration with Requiem Metal Podcast. This is the second of a two-part bonus episode and features quotes from Gridlink vocalist Jon Chang.
-
Bonus - Discordance Axis pt. 1 (Feat. Requiem Metal Podcast)
January 26th, 2022 | 2 hrs 52 mins
anime, discordance axis, evangelion, grindcore, heavy metal, inalienable dreamless
Neon Genesis Evangelion is a central influence on acclaimed grindcore band Discordance Axis. Ian and Joseph discuss the band's discography in this collaboration with Requiem Metal Podcast. this is the first of a two-part bonus episode and features quotes from Discordance Axis vocalist Jon Chang.
-
Unit 20 - Farewell to (All) Evangelions feat. Emily Yoshida
August 18th, 2021 | 2 hrs 21 mins
anime, cinema, eva, evangelion, movies, neon genesis evangelion
The podcast ends its series on Neon Genesis Evangelion with Evangelion: 3.0+ 1.0 Thrice Upon a Time, the long-awaited fourth, final, far and away densest Evangelion Rebuild movie. We're joined by the illustrious Emily Yoshida to discuss its deep emotional impact and to reaffirm that - yes - it's cool to like anime.
-
Bonus - Shin Godzilla (Feat. Kaiju Transmissions)
August 4th, 2021 | 2 hrs 32 mins
anime, cinema, evangelion, gojira, kaiju, movies, neon genesis evangelion, shin godzilla, shin gojira
Discussing Hideaki Anno's award-winning monster film Shin Godzilla with Kyle Byrd and Matt Parmley of the Kaiju Transmissions podcast.
-
Unit 19 - Piloting (Eva) is for Closers feat. Justin Charity
June 30th, 2021 | 2 hrs 4 mins
Covering 'Evangelion 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo' with special guest Justin Charity (The Ringer, Sound Only)
-
Unit 18 - Lost (in) the Sauce feat. Eric Thurm
June 23rd, 2021 | 1 hr 53 mins
anime, cinema, evangelion, movies, neon genesis evangelion
Fans like Evangelion Rebuild 2.0: You Can (Not) Advance. The H.I.P. hosts hate it. Writer and critic Eric Thurm (Fanbyte, New York Times, Vulture) comes to the movie's defense. Together, everyone just fast-forwards to the apocalypse.
-
Unit 17 - Ramiel (at) Lilith Fair feat. Logan Taylor
June 16th, 2021 | 1 hr 38 mins
anime, cinema, evangelion, movies, neon genesis evangelion
Logan Taylor (Fantastic Fest, Screen Media) joins the hosts to discuss Evangelion 1.0: You Are (Not) Alone - the first of the Evangelion Rebuild films.
-
Unit 16 - Misato's Mailbag After Party
May 26th, 2021 | 2 hrs 18 mins
anime, evangelion, neon genesis evangelion
In this wrap-up to the first season of The Human Instrumentality Podcast, the hosts correct a few errors and then answer questions from listeners. Plus – announcing the subject of season two.
-
Unit 15 - Smoking the Whole Pack
May 12th, 2021 | 1 hr 34 mins
anime, evangelion, neon genesis evangelion
Shinji comes to terms with his own mortality and Asuka takes her redemption shot in Hideki Anno’s action-packed second attempt to button up Evangelion’s story. Ian and Joseph traverse a gauntlet of inappropriate sexual advances and right-hand path magic in (the first season of? ) The Human Instrumentality Podcast’s conclusion. This episodecovers the Neon Genesis Evangelion film “The End of Evangelion.”
-
Unit 14 - It Prints Money
May 5th, 2021 | 50 mins 42 secs
anime, evangelion, neon genesis evangelion
Wait, there’s more? Oh yes, there is. At the behest of the almighty dollar, the Eva pilots return for a second run at the Third Impact, but not before subjecting Ian and Joseph to yet another clip show. Also, the hosts discuss the show’s cultural impact. This podcast covers the Neon Genesis Evangelion film “Death and Rebirth.”
-
An Important Message from Terminal Dogma
April 30th, 2021 | 11 mins 48 secs
anime, evangelion, neon genesis evangelion
Ian and Joseph solicit feedback for a special wrap-up episode of the first season of The Human Instrumentality Podcast and share news about the show’s future!
-
Unit 13 - Hold Your Applause Until the End Please
April 28th, 2021 | 1 hr 12 mins
anime, evangelion, neon genesis evangelion
Congratulations. We’ve reached Evangelion’s frustrating, psychedelic, perplexing, and ultimately beloved finale. Ian and Joseph immerse themselves in the show’s ending, it’s contentious reputation with fans and the often-misunderstood circumstances that birthed it. This podcast covers episodes 23 & 24 of Neon Genesis Evangelion.
-
Unit 12 - The Hardest Self-Destruct Button to Button
April 21st, 2021 | 1 hr 17 mins
anime, evangelion, neon genesis evangelion
Rei goes down swinging against a body horror-riffic angel. Then, a new Eva pilot prompts Shinji to explore his sexual orientation – at least in the correct translation. Ian and Joseph oppose queer erasure and endorse Eva’s use of Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony. This podcast covers episodes 21 & 22 of Neon Genesis Evangelion.