A popular scanlation site has shut down, Comic-Con International updates its policy on AI materials, and Gundam Hathaway is to be snowed in at the Sapporo Snow Festival?! Also, the Japan Fair Trade Commission releases a report on issues in the anime industry, Netflix in a new streaming deal with Sony, and Uma Musume anime cosplayers make the local news for their pro football fandom! Meanwhile in Japan, a man was arrested for violating Japan’s anti-dueling law in downtown Tokyo, and Kitkat pizza... Yep. That's all you need to know.

We're back for 2026! And check out what we're talking about on tonight's show! China’s largest comic convention, COMICUP, bans anime & manga, an idol was replaced in a stage play due to a manager, and KPop Demon Hunters wins 2 Golden Globes! Manga artist apologizes for an AI-edited photo, Scooby-Doo is getting a short anime series, and an Uma Musume anime girl plushie recalled for having parts she absolutely should not have?! Meanwhile in Japan, researchers give a mouse glowing sperm, a train station gets a new stationmaster cat, and a ramen restaurant prices differently based on the menu language?!

We're keeping it casual with a few stories tonight, like how Santa Claus delivered Christmas presents to penguins, Gainax is now fully dissolved, turning a train platform into a sake bar, and the deal with KFC and Christmas in Japan! We also have fun Christmas questions for the hosts!

The first permanent Gundam store in the US opens in Illinois, Crunchyroll ends ad-supported streams, and Go Nagai gets to pilot a new Mazinger Z figure! Also, Silent Mobius gets a Marvel crossover series, counselors in costumes testing anime therapy for depression, and restored versions of Studio Ghibli films coming to theaters in 2026! Meanwhile in Japan... A civil servant is arrested for misusing access to run a detective agency, a Japanese town sues a local resident for being a jerk, and KFC opens a pop-up restaurant specifically for non-fried chicken Christmas meals in Tokyo?!

Political tensions cause cancellations of Japanese media in China, Shonen Jump pop-up shop opens in NJ, backlash over Prime Video's Banana Fish AI dub has voice actors speaking out, and Amazon.com has quietly removed the dub tracks?! Also, J-Hip Hop group m-flo to stop public activities after their February concert, Toei Animation head producer explains Super Sentai ending, and the newest Dragon Ball Z and KFC collaboration hits! Meanwhile in Japan... A Wakayama senior uses AI to identify wild mushrooms and gets poisoned, and a train company lets you buy ticket gates!

Our host, DJ Ranma S, reviews his first PAX Unplugged, so you definitely want to check that out! Also, Tokyo court orders Cloudflare to pay over $3.2 million for manga piracy sites, animators call out critics of One Punch Man season 3, and Pokémon wins Google Play's Best Game for 2025! Meanwhile in Japan, an immersive samurai theme park has an opening date, and the theft of toilet rubber parts is baffling... And a special tribute to Orange Lounge Radio!

New anime announced for Hideo Kojima's Death Stranding video game, the latest Super Sentai show replaces the main character partway through the series, and Hello Kitty teams up with BanG Dream Girls Band Party! Also, Love Live CD is delayed due to the jacket art, the official Attack on Titan concert is coming to the US in 2026, and entry into part of the Pokémon theme park will come with some physical fitness requirements! Meanwhile in Japan, a company mascot is "graduating", and the Japanese Government is considering charging more to leave the country by plane?

Kodansha (講談社) establishes a Hollywood studio, Kill Bill extended director's cut to include unseen anime footage, and school Idols to become reality! Also, the full Love Live tribute album song list has dropped, the newest Studio Trigger anime is streaming free on YouTube, and Hello Kitty learns sign language in a new collab! Meanwhile in Japan... The newest toy car is a bit fishy, the newest theme hotel lets you take the driver's seat, and a package delivery was delayed due to... Da Bears?!