In Episode 17 of the Retro Pioneers Podcast, Byron and Justin sit down with Anime Addict 1999 (LJ Lowe) — a dedicated anime reactor, reviewer, and content creator who watches 40+ seasonal anime every season and built a growing platform off pure passion.
LJ breaks down his entire anime origin story — starting with Dragon Ball Z, watching Goku go Super Saiyan for the first time, and how a 2020 beach trip with friends unlocked his love for other anime like Hunter × Hunter, Sword Art Online, and tons of Netflix discoveries.
He talks about his grind as a creator: waking up early to record reactions, posting daily on YouTube & Instagram, building community with other anime creators, and why he focuses on reacting to the most popular shows first for growth.
We dive into Dragon Ball Daima — the highs, the lows, the lore, the Super Saiyan 4 moment, and whether Daima will connect to Super through a movie.
Then we go deep into his favorite genres, power scaling, why overpowered MCs always win fanbases, and why people secretly love the “Superman effect” in shonen anime.
On the gaming side, LJ talks about:
🎮 Growing up on PlayStation (PS1–PS5, PSP), GameCube, DS, Wii, Atari
🎮 His journey through Xenoverse, Kakarot, Jump Force & Demon Slayer games
🎮 Why he platinums story-focused anime games
🎮 Crash Bandicoot pain, Spyro nostalgia, and the truth about hard platformers
We also explore his worst anime ever, why time-loop episodes ruin pacing, his love for InuYasha (including the sequel Yashahime), his excitement for spring anime like Fire Force S3 & My Hero Vigilantes, and his dream of going to Anime NYC to meet his creator community in person.
This episode is full of anime passion, Dragon Ball debates, nostalgia, gaming talk, creator wisdom, and endless laughs.
⭐ Topics Covered
• How Dragon Ball Z sparked his anime journey
• Watching 40+ seasonal anime every season
• Daily content schedule & editing workflow
• Dragon Ball Daima review (+ SSJ4 moment)
• Overpowered MCs, Superman effect, shonen tropes
• Worst anime ever: The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya time-loop arc
• InuYasha, Yashahime, Cowboy Bebop, classics from the 80s–2000s
• Top shonen favorites: DBZ, Naruto, Bleach, One Piece, Hunter × Hunter
• Anime games: Kakarot, Xenoverse, Demon Slayer, Jump Force
• Childhood gaming consoles & E-rated upbringing
• Crash/Spyro remasters, remaster vs remake debate
• Spring anime hype: Fire Force S3, My Hero Vigilantes, 2B Hero X
• The Anime Association community & meeting creators IRL
• YouTube goals, monetization strategy & creator collaboration
🎮 About the Guest — Anime Addict 1999 (LJ Lowe)
Anime reactor, reviewer, and content creator watching 40+ seasonal anime every season.
Known for his Dragon Ball deep dives, daily reactions, reels, and community-driven reviews.
Follow him everywhere: @animeaddict1999
🎮 About the Retro Pioneers Podcast
Retro Pioneers blends gaming nostalgia, anime culture, community conversations, and creator interviews — with hosts Justin Hudson & Byron Jackson.