Jason DeMarco describes making a Lord of the Rings anime as the hardest and most proud moment of his career.
The episode features an interview with Jason DeMarco, co-creator of Toonami and senior VP of action and anime at Warner Brothers Discovery. Hosts Sketch and Kuro welcome him back after a long hiatus. DeMarco reflects on his approximately ten years producing anime, starting with IGPX and FLCL sequels. He notes his approach has evolved, moving from original stories to more IP-based projects like Shenmue, Blade Runner, and Lord of the Rings due to market demands. DeMarco expresses pride in the Lord of the Rings anime, calling it a dream come true and his mountaintop achievement. He discusses working with Shinichirō Watanabe on Lazarus, clarifying a mistranslation about Space Dandy Season 2 and revealing its initial failure in Japan. DeMarco explains his role in connecting Watanabe with musicians like Kamasi Washington for Lazarus. He details his current job at Warner Brothers Animation, developing shows based on IP and original ideas for third parties. DeMarco shares anecdotes, including being turned into a character in Ninja Kamui without his knowledge. He talks about the challenges of licensing anime for Toonami, citing increased control from Japanese distributors. DeMarco addresses his retirement from social media and the possibility of a Pre-Flight revival. He expresses gratitude to Toonami fans for enabling his career. The interview covers topics like dubbing studios, animation styles, and efforts to diversify Toonami's programming with female-led shows.
