The Anime Effect podcast at Evo 2024: “We’re now getting the arcade scene in a different kind of way, and I love that.”

At Evo Las Vegas 2024, the fighting game community (FGC) flocked together, drawing in attendees like LeAlec Murray and Nicholas Friedman from The Anime Effect podcast on Crunchyroll. During an interview with esports.gg, they shared their personal connections to the FGC, discussed the overlap between fighting games and anime, and revealed their desired topics for future podcast episodes. For a more nuanced take, consider this:

The Anime Effect podcast hosts talk Evo 2024 and the FGC

At Crunchyroll’s The Anime Effect podcast, Murray uncovered his love for gaming and anime simultaneously. He would spend hours playing Street Fighter on end, all while being captivated by the original Dragon Ball series. His father frequently took him to arcades where he honed his skills on games such as Marvel vs. Capcom 2, TEKKEN, and SoulCalibur. Once he delved into the competitive side of gaming, Murray found himself drawn more to esports than conventional sports. The rest, as they say, is now part of his past. Among his favorite Street Fighter characters are Sagat, Dudley, and M. Bison.

Murray expressed that a significant part of his upbringing was shaped by being immersed in two nurturing environments at once. The experience of growing up in these communities has brought him immense joy throughout his 30s, something he hadn’t anticipated earlier in life. Now that he’s older and has a clearer perspective, he marvels at the beauty and excitement of this unique situation.

Friedman shared his past involvement with the Fighting Game Community (FGC) and anime. At 14, he worked at a small video game store where he first tried out Street Fighter 4 and BlazBlue. He was attracted to these games due to their captivating narrative modes, reminiscent of series like Mortal Kombat and Injustice. Additionally, his early recollections of watching Naruto anime resonated with him because of the characters Kiba and Akamaru in gaming titles.

Later on, Friedman recalled, “Budokai 2 was my preferred choice in the Dragon Ball Z: Budokai series due to its intriguing what-if fusion battles.”

The past and present of anime and the FGC

In an interview with esports.gg, Murray and Friedman discussed the history and current state of anime and the Fighting Game Community (FGC). They highlighted that these communities originated from humble beginnings, with individuals discovering video games in everyday settings such as laundromats and arcades.

Through the passage of time, social media expanded and made it easier for these communities to connect on a global scale. Reflecting on the past, they fondly recalled the experiences at arcades and how modern tournaments like Evo serve to replicate that nostalgic environment for newer generations.

“Friedman described it as a global grassroots phenomenon. In various corners of the world, we found ourselves in similar situations – kids discovering video games in unexpected places like laundromats. We’d be there, playing Street Fighter while our parents did the laundry, peeking under the machines. Over time, this trend spread across continents. With the growing accessibility and the influence of social media, these separate instances began to interconnect at an astonishing rate.”

“For me, Evo brings back memories of excitedly crashing an arcade to play Marvel vs. Capcom for hours on end. Many older fighters share this experience, but newer ones rarely do. In my opinion, events like Evo and Combo Breaker provide these opportunities for new experiences. I’m reminded of the nostalgia of waiting at an old-school Pizza Hut for my personal pan pizza while playing Street Fighter. Now, these moments are being recreated for fans and players alike.”

As someone who grew up in the era of arcade games, I can’t help but feel excited about the evolution of gaming experiences. I remember saving up my allowance to play a few rounds at the local arcade, often having to share a machine with others or struggling to use the unfamiliar fight sticks and joysticks.

The Anime Effect podcast on Crunchyroll

For the two podcast hosts, The Anime Effect stands out due to its exploration of how anime permeates different cultural sectors such as gaming, sports, music, and fashion. According to Murray, participating in Evo offers a unique opportunity for his team to interact with prominent Fighter Gamers Community (FGC) members who share an affinity for anime. On the other hand, Friedman highlighted that anime-inspired fighters have gained significant traction within the FGC, thereby fostering a connection between these two fan bases.

“Friedman pointed out, ‘It’s possible to connect the world of fighting games and anime.’ Some individuals might have discovered the Fighting Game Community (FGC) via fighting titles, yet may not have explored anime shows like Dragon Ball beforehand. However, that’s likely changed now.”

The Anime Effect podcast’s guest wishlist

Regarding the desired guests for their podcast, Murray expressed interest in speaking with Steven “Tasty Steve” Scott, Dominique “SonicFox” McLean, and certain fighting game creators. Simultaneously, Friedman shared with esports.gg his preference for having Patrick Stump from Fall Out Boy and Donald Glover as guests.

In closing remarks, Friedman stressed the significance of the podcast, underlining its function in showcasing anime’s influence on various cultural aspects. He also mentioned notable personalities such as Megan Thee Stallion and Guillermo del Toro, who are avid anime fans and thriving in their professions.

In the end, if we manage to highlight and showcase the beloved elements and people in what we produce, giving fans a place to connect with them, then our mission has been accomplished.