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This is another gift to Pals of the Penpen podcast. It’s a remix/mash-up/medley of several Pillow’s songs from FLCL. There were several contributions from Penpen guests & friends. The intent was to track the progression of the show while reflecting its surreal/hyper-culture feel. Tune in next week for the FLCLIMAX!!! ;;;.-)

John woo, South Park, Daicon! The references just won't stop in this episode and we try our best to add on our own! Alex's brother Jon joins us again and just might have a story about Alex.

Hey Furi Cudes and Kuri Cudettes! Today we've got a rockin' guest who's had some rockin' jobs editing for Adult Swim and Comedy Central. Join us for this psychologically intense episode, where we examine parental boundaries, curry pastries, and baseball! This Week we recommend Twilight of the Cockroaches, Housu (House 1977) and the works of Satoshi Kon. Check out Robert's work at: https://www.facebook.com/trashcancinema/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCd2jJUFhaZQpbkOdXL6r47g https://measlesmumpsrubella.bandcamp.com/ https://idealforms.bandcamp.com/

The Little Prince, Dmitry Kabalevsky’s Comedians’ Galop, and Puss in Boots. What do these three pieces of art have in common? THIS EPISODE of FLCL! Friend of the pod Nate joins us again to discuss the the curious case of Eri Ninamori and the one thing cats can't fix for her, her parents divorce. We also briefly discuss AMV's and Ben remember's a perfect one for the season: Perfect Drug set to FLCL https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NKU5orZSZ-0

Episode 2 brings us a character study of Mamimi Samejima and her curious manias. A new musician friend, BluuPanda, joins our white water rafting adventure down into the depths of an adolescent metamorphosis. Check out her work @bluupanda on instagram and under the same name on youtube (She does siiiiick omnichord work). Also, in the episode there is mention of an unofficial trailer for a Power Rangers gritty reboot. That can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vw5vcUPyL90

It's great to be back and we are excited to bring you another Gainax work: Kazuya Tsurumaki's ground breaking sexual satire FLCL! Join us for a discussion of the pivotal pilot as it issues questions and comments alike on masculinity, cycles of abuse, and the mysterious art of rock and roll. Check out the series (again) wherever you can find it (super easy these days), and (re)explore what it's like to be on the cusp of adolescence, and how robots factor into that. Also check out The Pillows wherever you can find their music. Also ALSO visit Brian's website if you need quality life coaching: www.lifejutsu.com

Greeting PenPenPals! We will be back next week(!) covering another fan favorite AND critically acclaimed series. In the mean time, please enjoy this track provided by our newest permanent fixture, Brian. Children Of The Black Moon is a super stretched, surreal soundscape and for about a week, Alex had it and its sister song (COTWM) playing on repeat. We hope everyone listening has some time to decompress and experience solidarity by talking about anime with a friend. Talk to you soon PenPenPals!

Instrumentality is in full swing... JOIN US! Brian comes back to dissect the last episode and share some last thoughts on the series as a whole. To our guests, thank you. To our listeners, we are with you. And to all the contributions Alex hasn't edited, farewell... for now. Congratulations everyone!

While Alex is struggling with Instrumentality, PenPenPals Presents this present from friend of the pod Brian! This addictive track was a gift for recording our season 1 finale. We hope you enjoy it with an anime loving pal and we hope you have the same detective novel "Ahha!" moment we did. Stay safe Pals!

Instrumentality beings!!! Beautiful, strange, and not at all what we were expecting, Nate and Oliver do a damn fine job sussing some meaning from the series' PENultimate episode. LoFi Cruel Angel's Thesis from Arthur Braga at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ORRXbrRlkbk

Please enjoy this full version of our outro, generously provided by local musician and guest on the pod Ed. This lovingly modified treatment of Rei I captured my heart and I hope it enlivens the jazziness in yours. Check out Ed's work at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCh2FeiCdG-Lyqb3onQONggA

Hey PenPenPals!! This time of year is hectic for many, and we here at the show are no exception. With that in mind, this week brings you not another episode, but the full version of our new intro and outro. This is the intro by local Fairfax musician Asher of MLEMON. Check out his work with his musical prodigy partner Mckinley at https://mlemon.bandcamp.com/ and stay tuned for our penultimate episode (for the season) next week!

Friends of the show Tonya and Cassie join us to ponder the mysteries of Kaworu Nagisa, The Fifth Children. We also get a visit from a dancing dog poet named Blake and Ben decides what kind of cult he wants to be in. Stay warm, stay fed, and be nice to your PenPenPals ;;;,-)

Asuka is out of comission, Misato and Shinji are unraveling emotionally. Can Rei defeat the next angel on her own? Join us and our new PenPenPal Damian for a delightful discussion about some horrifying imagery ;;;,-) 8-Bit Cruel Angel's Thesis found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MF5Wl4JDQjY

2 BROTHERS!!! This episode brings us an all too close look at Asuka, and why we should feel respect and sympathy for our multinational comrade. We remember NGE RE:Death (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JtXT-8C-6OE) and finally witness the throwing of Chekhov's Lance. Cruel Angel's Thesis from AniShin: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7BN-DPFGP1CASZ2BbgIV7

A couple of guests with shared work experience join us for this episode! This time we explore the origins of NERV, Seele and Project E.

The Third Guest Brian Returns for the THIRD TIME!!!! He brings the piano prodigy Ed (@MistaMewMew) along for the episode. Join us for a quantum mind bending Eva thought experiment and an extra long (and insightful) Spoiles Session. Happy Election day to all our PenPenPals in the US!

We bring you an experimental episode this week!!! Watch (or just listen) along with us and be our PenPenPal on another level!

Brian from Lifejustsu.com returns for another deep and dark discussion of the increasing confrontational framing and unrelenting trauma of the series' third act. The ride will only get faster from here! New music in the episode also courtesy of Brian. Let the punk sorcery BEGIN :::.-)

Double guest and a giant sized episode! Two childhood chums phone in from Seattle to discuss who the 4th Children will be, and what they might give up for that title. Title music cover from Eddie van der Meer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JKP013TOIQ