PODCAST · arts
Bento Radio
by Alex Holt-Cohan
After more than two decades of devouring every shonen, shojo, seinen, and josei anime he could find, this seasoned oldtaku is still watching—week to week, episode by episode—and he’s not stopping anytime soon. Join him every week for fresh takes on your favorite series, hidden gems you’ve never heard of, and the kind of anime reflections only years of obsession can bring. Follow the host here: Bluesky Instagram YouTube Hosted on Acast. See ac
Episodes
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Dramacon
In this episode of Bentail Radio, recorded on October 15, 2026, host Alex dives into Svetlana Chmakova’s acclaimed three-volume original English-language (OEL) manga Dramacon, unpacking its depiction of romance, creative ambition, and early-2000s American anime fandom. Alex examines how the first...
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Fall 2026 Watch list
n this episode, Alex offers his seasonal preview of what he’s watching for the Fall 2026 anime lineup. He kicks things off with a highly anticipated remake of a '90s classic, Magic Knight Rayearth, discussing the legacy of its creator, Clamp, and their early influence on the isekai genre. Alex...
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Mushoku Tensei Jobless Reincarnation Season 03 part 01
In this episode of Bentel Radio, Alex presents a detailed analysis of the third season of Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation and the controversial nature of its protagonist, Rudeus Greyrat. He argues that much of the fan criticism misses the point of the character, who is written not as an…
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daemons of the shadow realm
In this episode, Alex explores Demons of the Shadow Realm, positioning Hiro Arakawa’s newest manga and anime adaptation within the broader arc of her career—from the comedic, edutainment charm of Silver Spoon to the enduring legacy of Fullmetal Alchemist. After a plot overview featuring twins…
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The Ghost In The Shell (2026)
In this episode of Bentail Radio, host Alex offers an overwhelmingly positive review of the new Ghost in the Shell adaptation from Science SARU and director Mokaochan. Alex argues that this series finally breaks free from the self-serious, contemplative tone set by Mamoru Oshii's iconic 1995…
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Roujin Z
In this episode of Bento Radio, host Alex takes a deep dive into the 1989 anime film Rojuin Z, the lesser-known but fascinating follow-up project from Akira creator Katsuhiro Otomo. The discussion kicks off with a look at the central question: what happens after you create the work you'll forever...
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Mobile Suit Gundam Hathaway: The Sorcery of Nymph Circe
In this episode, Alex dives deep into Mobile Suit Gundam Hathaway’s second film, The Sorcery of Nymph Circe, examining how it confronts Gundam’s long-standing tension between “war is bad” and dazzling mecha spectacle. After a plot synopsis, Alex explores the franchise’s core moral ambiguity—where...
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Con Report: Anime 2026
In this episode, Alex explores the evolving experience of Anime NYC 2026, weaving together a relaxed Day 4 recap with broader reflections on convention culture. He breaks down a Crunchyroll multi-title screening—A Returner’s Magic Should Be Special (Season 2 Episode 1), Reincarnated as a Slime…
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Anime NYC 2026 Day One
Anime NYC is back for its second year as a four-day convention—but does it really need that extra day? After a much busier Thursday than last year, I break down the crowds, the Dealer’s Room, Netflix’s showcase, and why Sunday might actually be the best day to experience the con. Visit...
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Welcome to the Anime NYC experience
Visit https://bento-box.ghost.io/ for more anime thoughts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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The Ninth Jedi
In this episode, Alex examines “The Ninth Jedi,” the new full-length series expanding a beloved Star Wars Visions short, arguing that its relentless pace sacrifices the essential “ma” — the spaces in between — that make stories and characters resonate. Visit https://bento-box.ghost.io/ for more...
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Otome Yokai Zakuro
n this episode, Alex dives into Otome Youkai Zakuro (2010), a supernatural romance set in an alternate Meiji-era Japan where rapid westernization strains the relationship between humans and yokai. After a brief plot synopsis from I, Alex situates the series within a pivotal moment in anime...
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AVATAR AANG: THE LAST AIRBENDER
In this episode, Alex dives into the latest animated Avatar: The Last Airbender film, using its story about an adult Aang as a jumping-off point for a larger conversation about “American anime.” He traces how shows like Avatar and the original Teen Titans stood apart from traditional American...
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Tanya the Evil
In this episode, Alex contrasts Tanya the Evil with Jobless Reincarnation, exploring how isekai handles wish fulfillment, morality, and consequences. He examines media literacy around fascist imagery, the allure of “cool” war narratives, and what makes character growth feel earned. Visit...
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The legacy of Ghost in the Shell
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...
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My Hero Academia
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. Visit https://bento-box.ghost.io/ for more anime thoughts Hosted on Acast. See...
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Summer 2026 Watch list
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...
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Witch Hat Atelier
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,...
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His and Her Circumstances
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...
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Dead Account
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...
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Serial Experiments Lain
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…
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The Anime Awards
n this episode, Alex critiques the Crunchyroll Anime Awards, arguing they’ve become a popularity contest. He outlines concrete fixes to restore prestige, improve voting, and elevate winner publicity. Visit https://bento-box.ghost.io/ for more anime thoughts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy...
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Dungeon Crawler Carl
In this episode, Alex explores the litRPG phenomenon Dungeon Crawler Carl, the cross-pollination between anime and Western media, and why depicting raw, volatile anger in characters matters. Visit https://bento-box.ghost.io/ for more anime thoughts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more...
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Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc
In this episode of Bento Radio, Alex dives deep into Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc, exploring how Tatsuki Fujimoto uses explosive action, awkward romance, and emotional manipulation to tell a much darker story about loneliness, abuse, and growing up too fast. What begins as a discussion of the film’s…
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Macross plus
In this episode of Bento Radio, Alex takes a deep dive into Macross Plus and explores why this 90s sci-fi classic feels more relevant now than ever. From its incredible OVA-era animation and high-speed mecha action to the eerie presence of virtual idol Sharon Apple, the conversation examines how...
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Miss Hokusai
In this episode of Bento Radio, Alex takes a deep, reflective dive into Miss Hokusai (2015), using Keiichi Hara’s quietly powerful film as a lens to explore the realities of being an artist in Edo Japan. Framed by the moment when Hayao Miyazaki was publicly contemplating retirement—and the...
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Monster Musume
Monster Musume is often dismissed as just another fanservice-heavy monster girl series—but that surface-level read misses what’s really going on underneath. In this episode of Bento Radio, I take a closer look at how Monster Musume—and the broader monster girl genre—can be read as a quiet...
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Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3
This week on Bento Radio, I’m digging into Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3—and why it feels so different from everything that came before it. The Culling Game pushes the series into full chaos, but what really stands out isn’t just the scale—it’s the way the show is being made. The structure is looser…
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What Im Watching this Spring 2026 season
Spring 2026 anime is here, and instead of trying to keep up with everything, I’m focusing on three shows that actually feel worth watching. In this episode, I break down what I’m watching this season and why these picks stood out—from the emotional storytelling of Akane-Banashi, to the...
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Frieren season 2
This week on Bento Radio, I’m diving into Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End Season 2, a series that continues to prove why it’s one of the most compelling fantasy anime in years. Instead of focusing on spectacle alone, Frieren builds its story around memory, time, and the quiet weight of human...
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Sentenced to Be a Hero
This week on Bento Radio, I’m diving into Sentenced to Be a Hero—a seasonal fantasy that ended up being way more interesting than I expected. At first glance, it looks like another light novel adaptation, but the deeper you get, the more it reveals a surprisingly dense world built around penal...
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Live action One Piece season 2
The One Piece Season 2 trailer is finally here, and yeah… I had to sit with this one for a minute. In this episode, I break down everything the trailer is hinting at—from the bigger direction of the story to the smaller details that might end up mattering way more than they seem. It feels like...
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Yokohama Shopping Trip Log
Today on the show I’m talking about one of the calmest, strangest, and most quietly beautiful OVAs from the late 90s: Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou. This is one of those anime that almost feels like it exists outside of time. It’s set in a future where the world hasn’t ended with explosions or...
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Twilight Q
This week on Bento Radio, I’m talking about Twilight Q, a strange and largely forgotten anime OVA from 1987 that came out during the height of the experimental OVA boom. The two standalone episodes take very different approaches. The first, “A Knot in Time,” is a quiet time-loop mystery about a...
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Outlaw Star
In 1998, anime changed forever. The same year that gave us Cowboy Bebop, Trigun, and Serial Experiments Lain also gave us Outlaw Star — a sci-fi space western that deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as those classics… but rarely is. In this episode of Bento Radio, I revisit Outlaw Star…
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INU-OH
This week on Bento Radio, I take a deep dive into Inu-Oh — the electrifying historical rock opera from Science SARU. Set in 14th-century Japan after the fall of the Heike clan, Inu-Oh follows two outcasts — a blind biwa player and a physically deformed Noh performer — who transform forgotten war...
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Cosmic Princess Kaguya
This week, I’m breaking down Cosmic Princess Kaguya!, a hyper-stylized sci-fi fairy tale that feels like a collision between Hosoda-era digital optimism and modern influencer anxiety. From VR contact lenses and disco moons to AI identity and parasocial pressure, the film is packed with ideas—and...
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Love Through a Prism
In this episode, I talk about Love Through a Prism, a historical anime romance that surprised me by being far more about art, ambition, and loss than love alone. Set in early-1900s London, the series follows a group of art students navigating class, obligation, and creative pressure as they try…
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100 Meters
n this episode, I break down 100 Meters (Hyakuemu), a Netflix anime film that challenges nearly every expectation of the sports anime genre. Unlike traditional sports anime focused on destined champions and inspirational victories, 100 Meters explores burnout, athletic pressure, and the emotional...
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Kekkaishi
n this episode of Bento Radio, I’m revisiting Kekkaishi, a mid-2000s supernatural shonen that aired on Toonami and somehow became one of anime’s most overlooked gems. It’s a series I didn’t fully appreciate the first time around—but on rewatch, it surprised me in all the best ways. I dig into…
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FLAG
In this episode of Bento Radio, I dive into FLAG, a largely forgotten anime from 2006 that feels uncannily ahead of its time. Originally released as one of the earliest ONAs, FLAG experimented with web-first distribution, documentary framing, and POV storytelling long before streaming became the...
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What I'm Watching for winter 2026
Winter 2026 anime is already shaping up to be something special. In this episode of Bento Radio, I walk through what I’m actually watching this season—and why this lineup feels like a real shift in the air for anime. I talk about returning heavy-hitters like Jujutsu Kaisen, Frieren, Hell’s...
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Gachiakuta
In this episode, Alex examines how modern shonen has shifted from the perpetual optimism of Dragon Ball Z, One Piece, Naruto, and Bleach to darker, system-conscious stories like Jujutsu Kaisen, Chainsaw Man, and Gachiakuta. After a brief return from hiatus, Alex introduces Gachiakuta’s stratified...
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As an assassin obviously exceeds the hero's
In this episode of Bento Radio, I dig into As an Assassin, My Skills Clearly Outrank the Hero—an anime that looks stunning but left me frustrated once the story kicked in. On the surface, it delivers polished production, old-school fantasy character designs, and a visual style that feels lifted...
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Ranma 1/2 Remake Season 02
n this episode, I dive into Netflix’s reboot of Ranma ½, starting with a breakdown of Ranma’s wild curse, his explosive chemistry with Akane, and how the show blends slapstick martial arts, romantic chaos, and gender-bending comedy. I talk about the show’s massive “toy-box” cast—Shampoo, Ukyo,...
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The whole A.I Dub Mess
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…
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Hajime No ippo
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…
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Ruri Rocks
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...
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Secrets of the silent witch
In this episode of Bento Radio, I take an in-depth look at Secrets of the Silent Witch, one of the most underrated fantasy anime of the year. If you’re searching for anime analysis, anime reviews, best fantasy anime, or hidden gem anime recommendations, this episode breaks down why Secrets of the...
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A Conversation with Illustraitor and concept artist andrewcockroach
I talk with Andrewcockroach, a brilliant concept artist and illustrator whose work blends anime-inspired design, experimental color, and raw emotion. We dive deep into his journey — from studying music and sound engineering to becoming a full-time artist working with major studios like Supercell....
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
After more than two decades of devouring every shonen, shojo, seinen, and josei anime he could find, this seasoned oldtaku is still watching—week to week, episode by episode—and he’s not stopping anytime soon. Join him every week for fresh takes on your favorite series, hidden gems you’ve never heard of, and the kind of anime reflections only years of obsession can bring.
Follow the host here:
Bluesky
YouTube
Hosted on Acast. See ac
HOSTED BY
Alex Holt-Cohan
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Bento Radio have?
Bento Radio currently has 100 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Bento Radio about?
After more than two decades of devouring every shonen, shojo, seinen, and josei anime he could find, this seasoned oldtaku is still watching—week to week, episode by episode—and he’s not stopping anytime soon. Join him every week for fresh takes on your favorite series, hidden gems you’ve never...
How often does Bento Radio release new episodes?
Bento Radio has 100 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Bento Radio?
You can listen to Bento Radio on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Bento Radio?
Bento Radio is created and hosted by Alex Holt-Cohan.
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