051: 5 centimeters per second & why lingering hope hurts | cryable anime with gabe (pt. 1)

This week, we're joined by Gabe (@daemoncorps), a cartoonist and letterer with "too many opinions on anime," for the first installment of our two-part cryable anime series.Gabe shares his journey re-discovering himself as an artist—including an anime convention horror story that accidentally made him go viral on YouTube—and how he found his authentic voice publishing video essays online.Nins then takes us through 5 Centimeters Per Second, Makoto Shinkai's heartbreaking animated film about first love, distance, timing, and the quiet grief of growing apart. Together, our hosts unpack Shinkai's melancholic storytelling, how nostalgia can become its own kind of heartbreak, and why longing for the past can stop us from living in the present.Note: this is part 1 of 2. Next episode, Arns brings her own anime to sob over. :')About our guest: Gabe is a Filipino American, Bay Area-based, self-taught artist. A talented writer, he draws us in with his compelling video essays: some hot takes, others deeply emotional, but all incredibly thoughtful. Visit Gabe's portfolio or follow along on Instagram to learn more about him and his work.In this episode:creative careers & viral YouTube successanime as emotional storytellingMakoto Shinkai's 5cm/slonging, distance & missed timinggrowing up and accepting changefinding happiness in moving forwardChapters:00:00:00 - Preview00:01:58 - Introducing this week's guest00:05:00 - Welcome, Gabe!00:06:32 - COVID: some people made sourdough, Gabe made a YouTube Channel00:09:03 - Gabe's journey toward making art again00:11:03 - An anime convention horror story that accidentally went viral00:16:21 - When art becomes performing vs. creating00:19:26 - The point of art00:25:43 - Nins' confession about anime00:27:14 - About 5 Centimeters per Second00:49:16 - How we choose to reminisce about the past00:54:29 - Why the ending of 5 cm/s was so emotional01:00:59 - When leaving the past behind *is* the happy ending01:07:25 - Outro: stay tuned for part 2!Referenced in this episode:Gabe's YouTube channel (@daemoncorps)Gabe's portfolio"Michael Brings Pam to Tears at Her Art Show - The Office"Gabe's "Making Art is Hard" YouTube essayGabe's "Drew Pickles is Trash and I Can Prove Why" YouTube essayMakoto Shinkai's 2007 animated film 5 Centimeters Per SecondMakoto Shinkai's Z Kai prep school commercialMakoto Shinkai's "She and Her Cat"Across Time and Space: The Films of Makoto ShinkaiJoin the brb crying community—a heartfelt, cozy comedy podcast about friendship, vulnerability, emotional storytelling, and all the movies, books, music, and life experiences that leave us in tears.Follow us:» Instagram: @brbcrying.podcast» TikTok: @brbcrying.podcast» YouTube: @brbcrying.podcastWant episode recaps, behind-the-scenes/community updates, and occasional emotional damage delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up for our newsletter at brbcryingpodcast.com.Have a sob story or cry recommendation that absolutely wrecked you? We'd love to be wrecked, too. Submit your story at brbcryingpodcast.com or email us at [email protected] crying—hosted by longtime best friends Nins & Arns—is a podcast where we explore the songs, books, TV shows, films, pop culture moments, and personal stories that help us laugh, cry, heal, and feel a little less alone. Crying is our superpower, and by sharing what makes us cry in a way that makes us laugh, we show how crying helps us connect with ourselves and each other.