Latest episode
The legacy of Ghost in the Shell
36:02|In this episode, Alex explores the long, twisting legacy of Ghost in the Shell and why the newest 2026 series might feel “weird” to long-time anime-only fans. Framing the conversation around Masamune Shirow’s original manga, Alec contrasts its playful, pressure-releasing humor with Mamoru Oshii’s 1995 film, which delivered a tightly focused, somber, and self-serious vision centered on Section 9 and the Puppet Master arc. He then traces how Stand Alone Complex and 2nd GIG widened the lens—giving Batou, Togusa, and the rest of the team room to breathe, joke, and reveal personal lives—while still diving into chilling cyberpunk ethics like cyberbrain hardening and data addiction. Alec revisits Innocence as an ambitious but overly dour noir that sidelines the Major’s presence, and explains why Arise’s de-aging, cloak-and-dagger reset never quite felt right tonally. He also examines the live-action film’s star-power casting and “clip show” approach—blending Laughing Man, Kuze, and Puppet Master beats—arguing that Scarlett Johansson’s performance couldn’t capture Motoko’s towering physical presence and fluid sexuality as animation does. With the 2026 series already echoing manga-faithful beats (including early Puppet Master cues), Alec predicts broader audience whiplash—and makes the case that Stand Alone Complex still best balances Oshii’s gravitas with Shirow’s human, sometimes goofy heart.
More episodes
View all episodes
My Hero Academia
47:08|In this episode, Alex explores how My Hero Academia evolves from a hopeful shonen into a complex critique of hero society, systemic failure, mental health, and the cycles of violence that create villains.Summer 2026 Watch list
34:02|In this episode, Alex dives into his most anticipated shows for the Summer 2026 anime season, offering a thoughtful mix of returning heavy-hitters and daring newcomers. After a quick update on studio heat woes and a reminder to subscribe, review, and visit bento-box.ghost.io, Alex frames the episode around how early screenings at conventions like Anime NYC (which he’ll be covering with full press credentials in August 2026) often surface a standout series each year. First, he spotlights the return of Job Reinarnation (Mashiro no Tensei) Season 3, discussing its foundational role in shaping modern isekai, its unflinching portrayal of a flawed protagonist, and his excitement to see Studio White Fox’s adaptation of notoriously “troubled places” teased in the trailers; he notes this season will stream on Crunchyroll. Next, Alex breaks down a new Ghost in the Shell project that aims for a closer, quirkier manga-faithful tone—embracing the franchise’s gag-laden, sometimes offbeat roots—and flags the practical headache that it will stream on Amazon Prime Video. Finally, he introduces Jimo Psycho, an original series likely on Netflix, a darkly comedic slice-of-life set in a rough neighborhood where “cute girls doing cute things” becomes gang scuffles and drug-fueled Saturdays, probing broader questions about unvarnished depictions of real urban life. He closes with calls to subscribe, review, and visit his site for interviews and Anime NYC coverage.Witch Hat Atelier
38:54|In this episode of Bento Radio, I take a deep dive into one of the year’s most fascinating fantasy anime and explore why Witch Hat Atelier resonates so strongly with artists and creative people. We discuss its beautiful worldbuilding, its thoughtful magic system, the importance of apprenticeship, and what the series has to say about learning, teaching, and mastering a craft.Along the way, I compare its approach to creativity with series like Frieren and Chainsaw Man, examine how the show reflects real artistic education, and explore why its themes are surprisingly relevant to today’s conversations about AI and creative work.If you enjoy thoughtful anime criticism and discussions about storytelling, worldbuilding, and the creative process, this episode is for you.If you enjoyed the show, please consider following Bento Radio on your favorite podcast app and leaving a five-star review. It helps more anime fans discover the podcast.His and Her Circumstances
38:59|His and Her Circumstances is unlike any other romance anime from it's time but it's also how you get shows like Horimiya and out and I are Polar Opposites to name a few and that's befor you deal with the fact that it's the thing that Ginax made and Hideki Anno directed after Evangelion and you already have the reason to watch itDead Account
35:31|This week on Bento Radio, Alex takes a look at Dead Account, a supernatural battle shonen built around haunted social media accounts, digital ghosts, and internet culture. While the premise is surprisingly interesting, the series struggles under the weight of its influences.The episode explores how modern shonen evolved from Dragon Ball to Hunter x Hunter, Naruto, and Jujutsu Kaisen, and examines where Dead Account fits into that lineage. Along the way, Alex discusses anime’s relationship with technology, social media, and why borrowing great ideas isn’t enough if you don’t understand what made them work in the first place.A deep dive into one of the most fascinating misses in recent anime.Serial Experiments Lain
52:14|In this episode of Bento Radio, Alex finally dives into Serial Experiments Lain, a landmark anime that has spent decades building a reputation as one of the medium’s most challenging and prophetic works. What begins as a discussion of a quiet middle school girl drawn into the Wired quickly becomes an exploration of how Lain anticipated many of the questions that define life online today. From social media algorithms and digital identity to internet rabbit holes, online rumor mills, and the growing influence of AI, the series feels remarkably relevant nearly thirty years after its release.Along the way, Alex reflects on his own relationship with technology, why he avoided covering Lain for so long, and how the show’s portrayal of the internet as both a tool for connection and a source of isolation mirrors the modern online experience. The conversation explores the dangers of confusing online life with real life, the ways digital spaces shape our beliefs and relationships, and why Lain remains one of anime’s most effective examinations of loneliness in the connected age.Part anime review, part meditation on the internet itself, this episode looks at why Serial Experiments Lain continues to resonate with new generations of viewers and what it can still teach us about the technology that increasingly shapes our lives. New episodes of Bento Radio release every Thursday.