AI has been a looming threat on the horizon of anime for a while now, however, with the hype cycle of the AI bubble intensifying and the opportunities to make money inside of that hype cycle in increasing Amazon has made a huge, although not the first attempt at using AI to eliminate people’s work in the process of English dubbing of several major shows. The results are beyond subpar, and under no circumstances should audiences ever accept this kind of integration of AI tools into a creative process. Below are the links mentioned in the course of the video. I think they offer a bit of a roadmap to how we got companies that have time and again devalued the content they claim to give us as a product to such an extent that they would do something like this.

Bloomberg article:

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-12-20/sony-s-crunchyroll-finds-its-early-lead-in-anime-under-attack

Decoder episode:

https://www.theverge.com/2024/2/26/24081180/crunchyroll-president-purini-anime-funimation-shutdown-sony-merger-decoder-interview

Visit https://bento-box.ghost.io/ for more anime thoughts

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Alex dives into Hajime no Ippo, blending a thoughtful plot overview with personal reflections from his own time training at a boxing gym. After a brief update on Bento Radio’s schedule, site, and artist interviews, he hands the mic to his assistant for a succinct synopsis of Ippo’s rise—from bullied kid helping his mother’s fishing business to a disciplined featherweight contender shaped by Coach Kamogawa’s guidance and the influence of rivals like Miata and friends like Takamura. Alex then explores why combat sports resonate with him, discussing how boxing provides an outlet for frustration and a framework for growth, community, and discipline. He highlights the show’s realistic emphasis on training—endurance, technique, and body control—while noting its rare bursts of exaggeration during fights. From Ippo’s Dempsey Roll to the show’s second-act evolution introducing new gym members, Alex compares Hajime no Ippo with other sports anime like Haikyuu, Kuroko’s Basketball, Hinomaru Sumo, Ashita no Joe, and Megalobox, praising Ippo’s grounded approach without power systems. He also shares how his physical experience shaped his understanding of training, rhythm, and in-fighting. Whether you’re into anime, boxing, or stories about quiet perseverance, this episode lands squarely on the chin.

Visit https://bento-box.ghost.io/ for more anime thoughts

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Alex examines Ruri Rocks through the lens of Studio Bind’s mission-driven production, tracing the studio’s origin—built by White Fox and Egg Firm for Jobless Reincarnation—to its off-season projects and niche-first strategy. Alex unpacks the rise of “softly horny” media and how Ruri Rocks pairs a sports/hobby framework with an unapologetically gaze-heavy portrayal, creating outsized reactions in a climate where mainstream sexualization has receded. He introduces “hobbyganda”—Iyashikei with a hobby hook—drawing comparisons to Yuru Camp, Flying Witch, Thermae Romae, and even sports anime like Kuroko’s Basketball and Slam Dunk to show how craft and detail make specialized passions feel aspirational. Along the way, Alex challenges the myth that great art requires perversion, arguing that constraint, experience, and craftsmanship—illustrated through Ghost in the Shell, Gainax/Trigger, and Yasuomi Umetsu’s career—drive excellence. He spotlights Ruri Rocks’ characters, including Ruri, Nagi, Imari, and Shoko, and praises the show’s focus on the “middle” phase of learning, from school career sheets to realistic mineralogy paths. The episode closes with a practical nudge: embrace incremental growth—whether 3D printing, coding, hunting opals, or meteorite sleuthing—and enjoy the journey as much as the destination.

Visit https://bento-box.ghost.io/ for more anime thoughts

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.