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 default way we watch anime.

What really drew me back to FLAG wasn’t just its war-torn political thriller plot, but the way it centers photography, journalism, and the ethics of image-making. The series tells its story almost entirely through cameras—photo lenses, video feeds, recordings—forcing you to think about who’s watching, who’s being seen, and what gets lost when history is reduced to an image.

I talk through FLAG’s unusual production history, why it slipped into obscurity despite critical respect, and how its formal experiments echo through modern anime and even contemporary streaming culture. This isn’t a show that failed—it’s a show that arrived too early, in an industry that didn’t yet know how to support it.

If you’re interested in forgotten anime, early internet releases, or series that took big creative risks before the medium caught up, this episode is a deep dive into why FLAG still matters—and why it’s worth remembering now.

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

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

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 Paradise, and My Hero Academia: Vigilantes, along with the one new adaptation that completely caught me off guard after seeing it at Anime NYC. This season feels confident in a way anime hasn’t always allowed itself to be lately—less interested in smoothing out rough edges, and more willing to embrace strong ideas, genre messiness, and point-of-view storytelling.

We get into why horror-adjacent shonen works so well right now, how fantasy anime is quietly evolving, and why some shows hit harder when they stop trying to be for everyone. If you’re looking for a thoughtful seasonal watchlist, an old-head otaku perspective, or just want help figuring out what’s actually worth your time this winter, this episode’s for you.

New episodes of Bento Radio drop every Thursday night.

If you enjoy grounded anime discussion, convention coverage, and seasonal breakdowns with context, I’m glad you’re here.

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 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 floating city that discards both waste and people into an abyss, then hands the mic to Ai for a tight plot rundown following Ruto—an orphan taught to repair and respect objects—who is framed, cast down, and reborn among trash mountains and the Cleaners. Alex explores Vital Instruments, tools powered by emotional attachment, and how these everyday objects become symbols of dignity and resistance. Along the way, he connects the genre’s evolution—bridge works like Soul Eater and Fire Force, seasonal pacing, and algorithm-shaped discourse—to Gachiakuta’s “trash punk” aesthetic and critique of hyper-consumerism, highlighting moments like low-waste merch at Anime NYC. He also dives into sustainability themes, Ruto’s “giver” ethos, and the naming of his gloves “R3” as reduce, reuse, recycle. Whether listeners are nostalgic for the classics or drawn to shonen’s grim present, Alex’s analysis blends world-building, social commentary, and character vulnerability into a sharp, engaging guide.

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

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