From Dragon Ball Z to Berserk: A1Popi Talks Anime & Gaming

Описание: Welcome back to the Retro Pioneers Podcast 🎮🔥

In this episode, we sit down with A1Popi — anime aficionado, gamer, graphic designer, and member of the Anime Association — for a deep dive into anime culture, retro gaming, Berserk, and modern vs old-school storytelling.

A1Popi breaks down his journey from growing up on classic consoles to becoming a creator rooted in art, anime, and gaming history, while keeping it real about modern trends, cash-grab anime, and what makes stories timeless.

🎙️ In This Episode, We Talk About:

✔️ Growing up with retro gaming (Atari, NES, Sega, PlayStation)
✔️ Why Berserk is his #1 anime of all time
✔️ Dragon Ball Z, Bleach fillers, and anime storytelling
✔️ Retro anime vs modern animation & CGI
✔️ His journey as a graphic & character designer
✔️ Influences like Akira Toriyama, Joe Mad, Jim Lee, Kentaro Miura
✔️ Elden Ring, Final Fantasy VII, Xenogears & RPG classics
✔️ Why Demon Slayer & Solo Leveling feel like cash grabs
✔️ Anime Association, community building & creator culture

This episode is pure nostalgia mixed with real talk — perfect for anime fans, gamers, and creators who love depth over hype.

🎯 This Episode Is For:

✅ Anime fans who love deep storytelling
✅ Retro gamers who grew up on classic consoles
✅ Berserk, Dragon Ball Z & Bleach fans
✅ Creators interested in anime, art & community building
✅ Anyone tired of shallow, flashy anime trends

🔗 CONNECT WITH THE GUEST

📸 Instagram: A1Popi
🎥 TikTok: A1Popi
🌀 Anime Association: Follow for anime discussions, live readings & community drops

🎧 LISTEN TO THE PODCAST

Available on YouTube, Spotify, and all major podcast platforms.

👍 If you enjoyed this episode, LIKE, COMMENT, and SUBSCRIBE for more anime, retro gaming, and creator conversations.

👇 Drop a comment:
What’s your #1 anime of all time — and why?

Chapters

00:00 Intro & Guest Welcome
02:30 How A1Popi & Anime Association Connected
05:20 Growing Up in New York & Virginia
07:45 Discovering Art, Comics & Graphic Design
11:30 Influences: DBZ, X-Men, Joe Mad & Jim Lee
15:10 Retro Gaming Roots (Atari, NES, Sega)
20:45 PlayStation Era & RPG Classics
25:40 Xbox, Halo & LAN Party Memories
30:10 Souls Games, Elden Ring & Hardcore Gaming
36:00 Anime Fillers vs Storytelling Debate
40:15 Berserk: Why It’s His #1 Anime
46:30 Top 5 Anime of All Time
50:20 Modern Anime vs Old-School Animation
55:10 Top 5 Games of All Time
01:00:30 Art, Anime & Game Industry Dreams
01:05:40 Anime Association & Community Building
01:09:30 Final Thoughts & Outro