My Taste is Better Than Yours

50 - The Next Big Thing 2.0

What better way to kick off the year than by revisiting our favourite topic: What’s the next big thing in anime/manga? In this episode we revisit our picks from 2024 and go through our new ones for 2026. Timecodes: 0:00 Revisiting the topic: The Next Big Thing 3:25 Enzo’s #2 pick: Phantom Busters by Neoshoco 11:01 Samu’s #2 pick: Gokurakugai by Uto Sano 19:07 Checking in our preview picks for The Next Big Thing  19:21 Sakamoto Days and Gachiakuta - both had anime, neither became mega hits 24:45 Tokyo Aliens and Kindergarten Wars - neither have had anime yet 29:16 Spy X Family vs Chainsaw Man - which won in the long run and which do we prefer? 36:33 Apothecary Diaries vs Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End tight race as the current top hits 38:46 Refresher on the Enzo’s “Kaijuu” term 39:59 The Kaijuu Wall 55:04 Samu’s #1 pick: Kagurabachi by Takeru Hokazono 59:18 Enzo’s #1 pick: Ichi the Witch by Osamu Nishi, Shiro Usazaki 1:09:20 The Next (Next) Big Thing predictions for further in the future

49 - Best Manga of 2025

Just like last year, we’re ending 2025 with a ‘best of’ episode, going through various categories to shout-out as many titles that we think deserve recognition and added to your recommendations if you aren’t already familiar. Happy new year! Timecodes: 0:00 - Introduction to rules, carrying on from last year 1:14 Best new manga published in 2025 5:13 Best manga that finished in 2025 10:19 Best ongoing manga of 2025 13:53 Best manga we discovered in 2025 18:08 Best one-shots of the year 20:04 Up-and-comer manga to keep and eye on 23:10 Underappreciated gem of 2025 27:30 A newcomer mangaka to look out for 30:42 Best character of 2025 37:27 Best artwork of 2025 42:07 Biggest trend for manga in 2025 47:53 Which manga got the best adaptation in 2025 50:15 Our most anticipated manga to anime adaptation for 2026 53:58 Predictions for likely anime adaptations announced in 2026 57:10 The manga we think our counterpart should read 1:16:19 Wrap-up and reflecting on starting the podcast this year

48 - Dandadan by Yukinobu Tatsu

We’re covering Dandadan by Yukinobu Tatsu this week - a series both of us have followed since the manga’s debut. Our opinions might go against the mass opinion right now, as the series has reached new audience with its impressive anime adaptation. Check it out to see what we really think of the series, its origins, and its many characters. Timestamps: 0:00 Introduction - the kitchen sink action series we’ve read since the beginning 4:04 Tatsuki Fujimoto and his many successful assistants 11:19 Manga vs anime adaptation 17:34 Momo’s character and her objectified depiction 21:10 Golden Kamuy Effect - side characters that feel like main characters + our favourites 31:35 Spoiler discussion begins 31:44 Our problems with the manga’s repetitiveness and the current amnesia arc 40:20 How long do we think the series will go on for? 42:38 Enzo’s Recommendation: Bug Ego by ONE and Shitara Kiyoto 45:24 Samu’s Recommendation: Fire Punch by Tatsuki Fujimoto 49:48 Overview and final scores

47 - The Dangers in My Heart by Norio Sakurai

We’re finally tackling a series close to Enzo’s own heart: The Dangers in My Heart by Norio Sakurai - a junior high rom-com and coming-of-age story of an introverted boy with sinister thoughts and the extraverted and most popular girl in the class; an unlikely but adorable pairing which has gotten even more popular thanks to well-received anime adaptation.. It’s finally time to get into it and see just how much we differ in our takes. Timestamps: 0:00 Introduction - finally covering one of Enzo’s favourite titles 7:40 An unvarnished depiction of puberty 10:00 Kyoutarou as a romcom protagonist: chuuni, twisted, introverted 16:32 Anna and her role in the story: seemingly ditzy girl who is in on the joke, depictions of her sexuality 21:20 Anime vs manga comparisons 23:15 Supporting cast shout-outs: Moeko, Kana, Adachi, Kenta, Honoka, Hanzawa, Yukina 30:00 Spoiler discussion begins 30:32 Pre-relationship and post-relationship - comparing our feelings on both  34:25 Kyoutarou’s strong relationships with other girls in the series 40:15 Moeko’s character, her relationship with Kyoutarou and getting her own boyfriend 47:52 Our favourite moments of the series so far 54:08 The absence of Kyoutarou’s parents in the narrative 55:44 The sexualisation of Anna throughout the series and depiction of their physical relationship 1:10:58 High school entrance exams - how long will the series last + the anime adaptation? 1:17:28 Enzo’s Recommendation: Mysterious Girlfriend X by Ueshiba Riichi 1:19:18 Samu’s Recommendation: My Perverted Youth by Hata Takashi 1:21:03 Overview and final scores

46 - JUMPing to Conclusions (Gonron Egg, The Mage Next Door, Hero Girl and Demon Lord Call it Quits)

It’s the final serialisation round of the year for Weekly Shonen Jump, with three new series joining the party - Gonron Egg, The Mage Next Door, and Hero Girl and Demon Lord Call it Quits. We think this batch has some potential for commercial success, and a couple of entries that seem to be trying to expand beyond the usual Jump formula. Timestamps: 0:00 Introduction - our special guest this episode: Princess Usagi 2:25 Check-in on the previous serialisation round: Jujujutsu Kaisen Modulo 11:31 Series that ended: Kaedegami, Ekiden Bros, Ping-Pong Peril 15:48 Gonron Egg by Shuuhei Tanizaki 26:44 The Mage Next Door by Hideyaki Nabe 40:50 Hero Girl and Demon Lord Call it Quits by Hatsubina Matsuri 49:04 Prediction future hits and what will leave the magazine next 50:51 Our top 5 currently running series in Weekly Shonen Jump this year