The Anime Effect

This week we’re exploring all of the new and returning anime titles we're excited to watch this Spring 2026, we BLIND RANK anime plot twists and we preview Union Arena's latest anime drop with Solo Leveling voice actor Michelle Rojas! Welcome to The Anime Effect, the weekly podcast hosted by Crunchyroll's own in-house, resident anime experts – Nicholas Friedman, LeAlec Murray, and Leah President. The show is a lively mixture of roundtable news and discussion with Crunchyroll hosts and special guests as they debate hot topics, provide recommendations, and tackle fan questions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week we’re getting our shovels out to dig news this week, like a live-action Samurai Champloo in the works, some of our fave anime artists planning festival appearances and MORE! Plus, we share what anime we're watching RIGHT NOW and we hear from y'all in Fan Service. Welcome to The Anime Effect, the weekly podcast hosted by Crunchyroll's own in-house, resident anime experts – Nicholas Friedman, LeAlec Murray, and Leah President. The show is a lively mixture of roundtable news and discussion with Crunchyroll hosts and special guests as they debate hot topics, provide recommendations, and tackle fan questions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The ICONIC Veronica Taylor (Ash Ketchum's English Voice Actor) joins the podcast to discuss the impact Pokemon has had on her life, her advice for aspiring voice actors and so much more. Welcome to The Anime Effect, the weekly podcast hosted by Crunchyroll's own in-house, resident anime experts – Nicholas Friedman, LeAlec Murray, and Leah President. The show is a lively mixture of roundtable news and discussion with Crunchyroll hosts and special guests as they debate hot topics, provide recommendations, and tackle fan questions. Have a question for The Anime Effect? Ask it here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hosts LeAlec Murray, Nicholas Friedman and Alex Lebl are weathering the news tornado this week with headlines like the latest Crunchyroll Manga drop, the release of a special Evangelion anime short, Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World- Season 4 updates, a new Sword Art Online game and Dorohedoro coming to Crunchyroll. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Seattle Storm forward Gabby Williams takes a break from the WNBA court to gab about her gateway anime, what she’s watching now and why she fell in love with anime. PLUS she builds her DREAM TEAM made up of her favorite anime characters. Welcome to The Anime Effect, the weekly podcast hosted by Crunchyroll's own in-house, resident anime experts – Nicholas Friedman, LeAlec Murray, and Leah President. The show is a lively mixture of roundtable news and discussion with Crunchyroll hosts and special guests as they debate hot topics, provide recommendations, and tackle fan questions. Have a question for The Anime Effect? Ask it here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices