Baka Banter Anime Podcast

MAPPA has become one of the biggest powerhouses in the modern anime landscape, growing rapidly from a studio founded for creative freedom to a corporate site for large franchises. Ionatan and Ravi discuss the studio's varied productions as well as its reputation for tight schedules, egregiously low pay for animators, and a culture of overwork that is, unfortunately, representative of the state of...

'Hunter x Hunter' is a standout battle shounen that blends unique worldbuilding, endearing characters, and one of the best power systems in all of anime. Ionatan and Ravi dive deep into the series, discussing each arc in the 2011 anime adaptation of Yoshihiro Togashi's manga from the Hunter Exam to the 13th Hunter Chairman Election. Along the way, they give an explainer on the basic concepts in Ne...

Ionatan and Ravi give their thoughts on every show they're watching this winter! They discuss the return of 'Vinland Saga,' the production issues plaguing 'NieR:Automata,' and the revitalization of a classic in 'Trigun Stampede' before debating whether or not this is a slow start to the year for the anime industry.

Ionatan and Ravi take a look back at anime in 2022! 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.

Ionatan and Ravi are joined by CHEFPK to discuss the intersection of food and anime. They cover CHEFPK's journey from culinary school to cooking on YouTube as well as how traveling to and eating in Japan shaped his career. Then, they dive into CHEFPK's creative process, including the methodology for making recipes based on anime and other projects such as Food Fight Academy and the FoodTaku podcas...

Ionatan and Ravi round out 2022 by answering listener questions from the mailbag. They discuss animation industries outside of Japan, video game anime adaptations, their favorite characters in the medium, and much more! Finally, they take a look back at the second year of the podcast.

Ionatan and Ravi ring in the holiday season with a Christmas anime special! They begin by discussing their own Christmas memories and giving some background on how the holiday is celebrated in Japan. Then, they pick their favorite Christmas anime episodes and movies to watch this time of the year including Kyoto Animation's 'The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya' and Satoshi Kon's 'Tokyo Godfathers...

Ionatan and Ravi share their convention stories from Anime NYC 2022! They discuss the exciting events they were able to attend this year, from Hajime Isayama's interview about 'Attack on Titan' to various Studio Trigger, Wit Studio, and Studio Orange panels to a special 'Kaguya-sama' preview screening. Then, they break down their first live podcast appearance including the application and preparat...

Ionatan and Ravi are joined by Colleen's Manga Recs to discuss shoujo and josei anime and manga. They cover the rapid rise of Colleen's YouTube channel, lessons that audience members can learn from shoujo, and misogyny in the anime and manga community. Then, they dive into why 'Chihayafuru' is such a special series and what other shoujo and josei people should watch and read.

Ionatan and Ravi give their thoughts on every show they're watching this fall! They begin by discussing 'Cyberpunk: Edgerunners' and 'Tatami Time Machine Blues,' two series that already finished airing. Then, they dive into an incredibly stacked season of anime, from the highly anticipated 'Chainsaw Man' and 'Mob Psycho 100' to the return of 'Bleach' to a surprise anime of the year candidate in 'B...

Ecchi is a Japanese slang term for playfully sexual actions which has over time come to be used as shorthand for works with erotic content and fanservice. Ionatan and Ravi discuss their own experiences with ecchi before traversing its history from Japanese erotic art to modern anime. Then, they dive into why 'High School DxD,' 'Kiss x Sis,' and 'High School of the Dead' are considered classics in...

Ionatan and Ravi are joined by Daryl Harding, Senior Japan Correspondent at Crunchyroll News, to discuss covering the anime industry in Japan. They talk about Daryl's move from Australia to Japan, how running an anime news website called Fighting for Nippon as well as his YouTube channel influenced his career path, and how Daryl's reporting focuses on the intersection between anime, pop culture, a...

Ionatan and Ravi prepare for the 'Chainsaw Man' anime adaptation by discussing the mangaka behind the series: Tatsuki Fujimoto. They first recount their experiences reading manga and how it differs from watching anime before diving into Fujimoto's rise as one of the youngest stars in the manga industry. Then, they analyze how Fujimoto is able to craft complete narratives in 'Look Back' and 'Goodby...

Wit Studio's rise over the past decade has been meteoric, driven by large-scale adaptations like 'Attack on Titan' and 'Vinland Saga.' Ionatan and Ravi discuss the studio's consistently excellent productions on a technical level and how it has transitioned to choosing smart, often anime original, projects in recent years. Then, they pick their top five Wit Studio anime including 'Spy x Family' and...

'Shinsekai Yori' tells a complex coming of age story set in a dystopian society with unique fantasy elements. Ionatan and Ravi dive deep into the series, breaking down how mystery, time skips, and unreliable narration are utilized in its worldbuilding and analyzing its core themes of systemic oppression and control. They discuss the entirety of the plot as well as the cast of morally gray characte...

Ionatan and Ravi give their thoughts on every show they're watching this summer! They discuss a variety of sequels including 'Made in Abyss,' 'Overlord,' and 'The Devil Is a Part-Timer!' before covering this season's standout original 'Lycoris Recoil.'

Ionatan and Ravi dive deep into two influential works by ONE: 'One Punch Man' and 'Mob Psycho 100.' They break down ONE's career arc including the way he self-published his webcomics, discuss how both of his most widely known series tackle themes such as what it means to be a hero embedded in a social hierarchy, and explore the standout moments from each anime adaptation.

What does it mean for an anime to be underrated? Ionatan and Ravi discuss the term before giving their personal recommendations for shows that have not been featured much on the podcast but they hope more people give a chance to, from older classics like 'Serial Experiments Lain' to newer masterpieces like 'Shouwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu.'

Ionatan and Ravi are joined by the co-founder of Azuki Evan Minto to discuss what it's like to build a digital manga service. They cover Evan's introduction to anime, how his degree in computer science led to a job at Crunchyroll, and the multitude of roles that Evan has worked in throughout his career including his podcast Ani-Gamers and writing for sites like Anime News Network.

The use of computer-generated imagery (CGI) in anime is often controversial due to the way it can be perceived to clash with traditional hand-drawn animation, but it can simultaneously aid animators in their work and open up new stylistic choices for creators. Ionatan and Ravi discuss the history of CGI in anime, from its introduction to the industry in 'Golgo 13' to its revolutionary usage in Mam...

Studio Trigger has made a name for itself with a distinct, over the top style that employs both action as well as comedy and often escalates plot to absurd scales. Ionatan and Ravi discuss the studio's roots at Gainax making 'Gurren Lagann' and how Studio Trigger is unique in both the anime it produces and its interaction with fans. Then, they pick their top five Studio Trigger anime including 'Ki...

'March Comes in Like a Lion' is a masterpiece that beautifully delivers on character-driven stories via internal monologues, nuanced dialogue, and effective imagery centered around the world of shogi. Ionatan and Ravi dive deep into the series, discussing the strengths of Chica Umino's writing and Akiyuki Shinbo's adaptation, the realistic depictions of depression and bullying, and how the message...

Ionatan and Ravi give their thoughts on every show they're watching this spring! They discuss the continued high quality adaptation of 'Kaguya-sama,' the blend of wholesome family moments and comedy in 'Spy x Family,' and the sleeper hit of the season 'Ya Boy Kongming!'

Romantic comedies have broad appeal, often mirroring emotions and circumstances that are present in our own relationships. Ionatan and Ravi take a look at what tropes and themes make a good rom-com as well as the history of the genre. Then, they dive into three of the modern iterations that showcase distinct aspects of romantic comedies in anime, from best friends falling in love in 'Toradora!' to...

Ionatan and Ravi are back for another tournament arc, this time filling out a husbando bracket! They discuss the meaning of the word and what traits they look for in an ideal husbando before debating which of the top 32 male characters deserves to come out on top.