Baka Banter Anime Podcast
Baka Banter is a deep dive into the world of anime. Hosts Ionatan Kuperwajs and Ravi Pancholi break down the latest in anime through a critical lens, dish out their hottest takes, and sit down with guests from across the anime industry.
Episodes
Ionatan and Ravi are joined by PaperDawN, a cartoonist and graphic designer, to discuss his career as an artist. They break down the creative process for a variety of illustration work, the experience of attending conventions as an artist, and his webcomic. Then, they talk about his YouTube channel and its focus on video essays.
Ionatan and Ravi prepare for the upcoming months with a spring anime special! They begin by discussing their feelings about spring and giving some background on the seasonal customs in Japan. Then, they pick their favorite springtime anime series and movies to watch this time of the year including 'The Tale of the Princess Kaguya' and 'I Want to Eat Your Pancreas.'
What anime is most deserving of a sequel that hasn't received one? Ionatan and Ravi discuss which aspects of a series dictate whether they'd like to see a continuation produced or not before giving their personal selections for highly desired sequels in the medium. They cover action-filled franchises like 'Jojo's Bizarre Adventure' and 'Magi' as well as other favorites like 'Chihayafuru' and 'Black Lagoon' among various other picks...
Science Saru are responsible for some of the most creative and visually appealing anime in the medium, often working with talented directors and a global staff to bring these works to life. Ionatan and Ravi discuss the studio's founding by Masaaki Yuasa and Eunyoung Choi as well as the direction it has taken in the years since then. Then, they pick their top five Science Saru anime, from personally impactful works like 'The Night I...
'Death Parade' is an exploration of the moral ambiguity that comes with attempting to judge human life after death. Ionatan and Ravi dive deep into the series, discussing the short film that it's based on as well as how it attempts to balance an episodic format containing various independent narratives, lore and worldbuilding, and fulfilling character arcs for its protagonists.
Ionatan and Ravi give their thoughts on every show they’re watching this winter! They discuss sequels for 'Solo Leveling' and 'The Apothecary Diaries,' underwhelming adaptations and originals like 'Sakamoto Days' and 'Zenshu,' and a few hidden gems such as 'Flower and Asura.'
Ionatan and Ravi take a look back at anime in 2024! They give their final thoughts on each season from the previous year, compare between different annual anime awards, and pick their winners for each award category from best opening to anime of the year.
'One Piece' is one of the largest franchises in anime and manga, following the journey of Monkey D. Luffy and the Straw Hat Pirates as they search for the world's greatest treasure. Ionatan and Ravi dive deep into the series, starting at the beginning with the East Blue saga. They outline their plans for covering Eiichiro Oda's story in its entirety, share their personal experiences with 'One Piece,' and break down every arc from R...
Ionatan and Ravi round out 2024 by answering listener questions from the mailbag. They discuss their least favorite anime, guests they would love to interview for an episode, their ideal anime productions, and much more! Then, they take a look back at the fourth year of the podcast.
Anime song is a genre of music originating from Japanese pop and released primarily for the anime market. Ionatan and Ravi break down the history of anime song, from early influences resulting in the theme for 'Astro Boy' to the massive global popularity of tracks such as 'Homura' and 'Idol' in recent years. Then, they discuss the production process for anime opening and ending sequences, including the logistics for music selection...
'Land of the Lustrous' is a masterpiece that tells a complex and multifaceted story about what it means to be human. Ionatan and Ravi dive deep into the series, breaking down Haruko Ichikawa's work by discussing both the anime adaptation by Orange and the entirety of the manga, themes of change and existentialism accompanied by Buddhist philosophy, and the journey of an incredibly compelling protagonist in Phos.
Ionatan and Ravi give their thoughts on every show they're watching this fall! They discuss the highs and lows of the season, from popular new series like 'Dandadan' and 'Blue Box' to the return of 'Re:Zero' and 'Ranma ½' to massive disappointments such as 'Uzumaki' and 'Blue Lock.'
A-1 Pictures has produced a wide variety of anime, from series designed for mass appeal to more experimental works where creators are allowed to push the boundaries of the stories they tell. Ionatan and Ravi discuss the studio's connection to Aniplex as well as its reputation within the anime community. Then, they pick their top five A-1 Pictures anime, from personal favorites like 'Kaguya-sama' and 'Shinsekai Yori' to popular entr...
Ionatan and Ravi are joined by Andrew Liptak, a historian and member of the 501st Legion, to discuss the history of cosplay. They break down 'Cosplay: A History,' his book detailing how cosplay became a mainstream force and what it says about the relationships fans have with the stories they love. Then, they talk about the intersection of cosplay and anime as well as his other work as a journalist and writer.
Ionatan and Ravi dive deep into the anime adaptations of two works by Taiyo Matsumoto: 'Tekkonkinkreet' and 'Ping Pong the Animation.' They discuss Matsumoto's career as a mangaka, including the broad range of topics he covers and how he crafts narratives that are simultaneously grounded in reality and remarkably imaginative. Then, they explore the themes and characters in two of his most well known stories thro...
Ionatan and Ravi discuss Ionatan's weekend at Anime NYC 2024! They cover panels for 'Dandadan' with Kensuke Ushio and 'Haikyu!!' as well as a screening of 'Macross Plus' with Shoji Kawamori. Then, they have a broader conversation about what they look forward to most when attending anime conventions and plans for future live podcast appearances.
What makes an original work stand out as opposed to an adaptation? Ionatan and Ravi discuss their love of original projects where artists can creatively express themselves before giving their personal recommendations for the best original anime that the medium has to offer. They cover various original titles including popular entries such as 'Death Parade' and 'Lycoris Recoil' and idiosyncratic experiences from dire...
Ionatan and Ravi give their thoughts on every show they're watching this summer! They discuss a surprisingly deep season full of incredible productions, from the return of 'Oshi no Ko' and 'Monogatari' to romantic comedies like 'Alya Sometimes Hides Her Feelings in Russian' and 'Too Many Losing Heroines!' to adaptations that elevate their source material like 'Wistoria' and 'The Elusi...
Science fiction makes use of futuristic concepts in order to deliver prescient stories about humanity and the trajectory of society. Ionatan and Ravi discuss the history and development of science fiction both globally and in Japan. Then, they dive into three series that highlight the diversity of the genre, including explorations of the intersection between personal identity and technology in 'Serial Experiments Lain,' mem...
Ionatan and Ravi are back for another tournament arc, this time filling out a couple ship bracket! They discuss what aspects of romantic relationships in anime resonate with them and why shipping can be a contentious topic among many fandoms before debating which of the top 32 couples deserves to come out on top.
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