Baka Banter Anime Podcast

How does the spring season follow up one of the most hyped anime seasons in recent memory? Ionatan and Ravi give their thoughts on every show they're watching in a surprisingly exciting season of anime.

Ionatan and Ravi are joined by Marisa Duran, the voice of Hori in 'Horimiya,' to discuss the show and voice acting in the anime industry. They also cover Marisa's career, including her other work in theater and film, as well as her personal connection to anime with shows like 'Fruits Basket' and 'Nichijou.'

Makoto Shinkai is one of the most commercially successful modern anime directors known for his visually stunning films. Ionatan and Ravi discuss the filmmaker's career by picking their top five Makoto Shinkai movies and breaking down how the combination of interpersonal relationships and supernatural elements makes his work resonate with such a broad audience.

Ionatan and Ravi break down Kyoto Animation's 'Violet Evergarden' by discussing the beauty of the show's character writing, its stellar animation, and their personal connections to the series. Then, they weigh in on the 'Eternity and the Auto Memory Doll' side film as well as the sequel movie.

Ionatan and Ravi are joined by Billy Tringali, editor-in-chief of the Journal of Anime and Manga Studies (JAMS), to discuss the intersection between anime, manga, and academia. They also cover Billy's personal connection to and taste in anime, anime convention culture and cosplaying, and LGBTQ+ representation in the medium.

Ionatan and Ravi dive deep into two classic Shinichiro Watanabe works: 1998's 'Cowboy Bebop' and 2004's 'Samurai Champloo.' They break down how both shows blend multiple genres and discuss the sound design, story structure, plot, and legacy of the western space opera and the Edo-era samurai epic.

How does one start watching anime themselves or convince others to give it a shot as an established fan? Ionatan and Ravi discuss what makes for a compelling gateway anime and give their personal recommendations for getting into the medium.

Ionatan and Ravi tackle their first seasonal anime preview by giving their initial impressions for every show they’re watching in one of the most stacked anime seasons ever.

The 'Big Three' set the standard for shounen anime as early as the mid 2000s, particularly for a western audience. Ionatan and Ravi explore how the battle shounen genre has developed into the modern era with current standouts like 'My Hero Academia,' 'Demon Slayer,' and 'Jujutsu Kaisen.'

Ionatan and Ravi take a look back at anime in 2020, breaking down the shows they watched each season. Plus, they rant about the Crunchyroll Anime Awards and hand out some awards of their own.

In the inaugural episode, Ionatan and Ravi talk about why they started an anime podcast, plans for the podcast going forward, and their anime origin stories. They wrap up the show by giving some initial reactions to what they're currently watching.