Baka Banter Anime Podcast

Ionatan and Ravi give their thoughts on every show they're watching this winter! They discuss the popularity of 'Solo Leveling,' the combination of classic fantasy and cooking in 'Dungeon Meshi,' the continuation of their shoujo adventures with 'A Sign of Affection,' and why 'Metallic Rouge' has been such a disappointment.

Ionatan and Ravi prepare for the season of love with a Valentine's Day anime special! They begin by discussing their dislike of the consumerism surrounding Valentine's Day and giving some background on how the holiday is celebrated in Japan. Then, they pick their favorite anime episodes to watch this time of the year from series such as 'Toradora!' and 'Hyouka.'

Ionatan and Ravi take a look back at anime in 2023! They give their final thoughts on each season from the previous year, engage in their annual rant about the Crunchyroll Anime Awards, and pick their winners for each award category from best opening to anime of the year.

What makes for a particularly compelling anime movie? Ionatan and Ravi discuss how they approach critically watching films compared to television series before giving their personal recommendations for the best standalone movies that the medium has to offer. They cover a pair of Satoshi Kon works in 'Tokyo Godfathers' and 'Perfect Blue,' Mamoru Hosoda's heartfelt story of paren...

Ionatan and Ravi round out 2023 by answering listener questions from the mailbag. They discuss the differences between original works and manga adaptations, the best and worst casts in anime, their favorite first episodes in the medium, and much more! Then, they take a look back at the third year of the podcast.

Ionatan and Ravi discuss highlights from Ionatan's recent trip to Japan! They first cover Ravi's weekend at Anime NYC 2023, including spending time with the podcast community and attending panels for series like 'Lycoris Recoil' and 'Great Pretender.' Then, they break down the cultural experiences, food, and encounters with anime content from three incredible weeks visiting...

CloverWorks is a relatively new studio that has established itself quickly within the anime industry over the past few years. Ionatan and Ravi discuss the studio's origins at A-1 Pictures and subsequent combination of co-productions, adaptations, and original works. Then, they pick their top five CloverWorks anime, from the massively successful 'Bocchi the Rock!' and 'Spy x Family&...

'Attack on Titan' is one of the most important anime franchises of the modern age, telling a dark fantasy epic that is responsible for bringing anime into global mainstream culture. Ionatan and Ravi dive deep into the series, breaking down each season in the anime adaptation of Hajime Isayama's manga from the Fall of Shiganshina to the War for Paradis. They discuss the characters and l...

Ionatan and Ravi give their thoughts on every show they're watching this fall! They discuss a pair of anime of the year contenders in 'Frieren' and 'The Apothecary Diaries,' whether 'Spy x Family' needs constant plot progression and character development, and the visually stunning but otherwise lackluster 'Undead Unluck.'

Ionatan and Ravi prepare for the spooky season with a Halloween anime special! They begin by discussing their own Halloween memories and giving some background on how the holiday is celebrated in Japan. Then, they pick their favorite anime to watch this time of the year, from 'Soul Eater' and 'Hellsing Ultimate' to 'Mononoke' and 'Devilman: Crybaby.'

Ionatan and Ravi are joined by Roland Kelts, a writer and professor at Waseda University, to discuss the global influence of Japanese pop culture. They break down 'Japanamerica,' his book detailing the American experience with anime and other Japanese cultural exports. Then, they talk about his recent book 'The Art of Blade Runner: Black Lotus' as well as academic life in Tokyo mor...

'Akira' is one of the most important science fiction films of all time, with an unmatched cultural impact that changed the anime industry and paved the way for the growth of Japanese culture in the west. Ionatan and Ravi dive deep into the movie, breaking down its animation and production as well as its themes such as the cyclical nature of destruction and the struggle of surviving in a dy...

Ionatan and Ravi are back for another tournament arc, this time filling out a seiyu bracket! They discuss what stands out to them from their favorite voice acting performances and the history of the industry in Japan before debating which of the top 32 anime voice actors deserves to come out on top.

'Haikyu!!' uses volleyball to expertly showcase what draws people to participate in sports and how athletic competition can lead to personal growth via hard work, being part of a team, and overcoming adversity. Ionatan and Ravi dive deep into the series, breaking down each season of the anime adaptation by discussing the training arcs and matches that defined Karasuno's trajectory from...

White Fox is known for the quality of its visual and light novel adaptations, often demonstrating an understanding of the source material and its appeal to fans. Ionatan and Ravi discuss the studio's founding as well as its success with two massively popular franchises in 'Steins;Gate' and 'Re:Zero.' Then, they pick their top five White Fox anime, from existential science ficti...

Ionatan and Ravi give their thoughts on every show they're watching this summer! They discuss sequels for 'Jujutsu Kaisen' and 'Mushoku Tensei,' the return of 'Horimiya,' and pleasant surprises such as 'Zom 100' and 'Undead Girl Murder Farce.'

Soundtracks are one of the most important but often underappreciated parts of anime production, having the ability to underscore scenes and characters in an adaptation while evoking strong emotions in the audience. Ionatan and Ravi break down the technical process for score composition as well as the historical context for music in the anime industry. Then, they discuss the most prominent anime co...

Ionatan and Ravi are joined by Shawn Gann, a voice director and actor at Crunchyroll, to discuss anime dubbing. They talk about Shawn's advocacy for diversity in the industry, the process for voice directing from getting assigned a series to working with actors in the studio, and particularly memorable experiences directing titles such as 'Fruits Basket' and 'Horimiya.'

Ionatan and Ravi prepare for the upcoming months with a summer anime special! They begin by discussing their own summer memories growing up and giving some background on the seasonal customs in Japan. Then, they pick their favorite summer anime episodes and movies to watch this time of the year that make use of tropes like beach and fireworks scenes including 'Fruits Basket,' 'A Silent...

Mamoru Oshii is one of the most influential anime directors of all time whose dense and layered works constantly pose thought-provoking questions and touch on philosophical concepts such as dreams and reality, the illusion of peace, and identity. Ionatan and Ravi dive into Mamoru Oshii's filmography, ranging from his early career working on 'Urusei Yatsura' to his surrealistic artwork...

'Spice and Wolf' is a unique fantasy that blends adventure and romance with a focus on historically accurate economics in the medieval period. Ionatan and Ravi dive deep into the series, breaking down each season of the anime adaptation in terms of Lawrence and Holo's relationship development and the trading concepts that drive the plot of each arc before discussing their hopes for the upcoming an...

Ionatan and Ravi give their thoughts on every show they're watching this spring! They discuss their opinions on Makoto Shinkai's 'Suzume' at the top of the episode before diving into a stacked season that includes new standouts like 'Oshi no Ko,' 'Heavenly Delusion,' and 'Skip to Loafer' as well as the return of series like 'Demon Slayer' and 'Ko...

Ionatan and Ravi are joined by Lynzee Loveridge, executive editor at Anime News Network, to discuss the role that news sources play in the anime industry. They talk about Lynzee's career trajectory in different departments at Anime News Network, how news sources serve the broader anime community, and her other work writing, covering conventions, and hosting the ANN After Show.

What does it mean for anime to be labeled as trash? Ionatan and Ravi discuss the term before giving their personal recommendations for anime that they concede are lacking from a critical perspective but like anyways, from the magical girl Fate spinoff 'Prisma Illya' to isekai like 'No Game No Life' to various ecchi like 'Food Wars!' and 'Prison School.'

Music anime deliver emotional stories about human relationships and character development tied together by vivid and memorable sound. Ionatan and Ravi describe their personal connection to instruments and music before looking at what common themes underlie anime about music and make it resonate with people so deeply. Then, they dive into three series that highlight the diversity of the genre, from...