Baban Baban Ban Vampire – Anime Review & Episode Guide

Ranmaru Mori is a 450-year-old vampire who works at the Koi Bathhouse. He cleans the place after it closes at midnight. The job suits his nocturnal lifestyle perfectly. He works at night, sleeps during the day, and avoids too much social contact. Mori has kept this job routine for nearly ten years.

Baban Baban Ban Vampire has a scary reputation, which you should be aware of before watching this series. *lowers voice* They call it the Very Problematic Anime with the pedo vampire. *sharp exhale* It became infamous enough in BL circles that I wanted to judge for myself. After watching the anime remake and live-action movie adaptation, I can confirm Baban Baban Ban Vampire is offensive, gross, perverted, and morally depraved to the point of blasphemy. And worst of all, the story is shockingly entertaining.

In my opinion, Baban Baban Ban Vampire is damn funny. This anime leans heavily into dark humour and finds comedy in controversial scenarios. It's cut from the same cloth as South Park, Family Guy, or It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, making you laugh at all the inappropriate jokes on your way to hell. The story also thrives on many comical misunderstandings. Everyone has the wrong perception of each other, and their over-the-top delusions can be stupidly hilarious. Despite the dumb antics, the writing feels clever. These ridiculous gags come from someone with one hell of an imagination.

Some people would disagree with me. How dare you!? No, this shit isn't funny! The polarizing anime might upset viewers, especially with its disturbing plot. Mori is a 450-year-old vampire who desires the blood of 15-year-old Rihito. The story emphasizes that Mori sees the teenager as a future meal, like raising Bessie the Cow to slaughter her later for steak. He obsesses over Rihito's virginity, claiming the body must stay pure. It becomes one of the recurring gags in the series. Mori makes many hilariously absurd remarks, such as comparing Rihito's innocence to the Mona Lisa.

The anime's controversy comes from multiple issues. One, it blurs the line between thirst and lust. The story pretends that Mori only wants Rihito's blood, but his desire almost feels sexual. Many suggestive jokes and visuals imply that Mori is physically attracted to Rihito's body. Two, their relationship has close parallels to grooming. Mori doesn't look after the young boy out of the goodness in his heart. He's a predator with an ulterior motive. And three, how can you defend his erections!? The dude literally pops a boner when fantasizing about a minor. What a fucking creep!!!

As for the BL content, there isn't much. Mori's relationship history includes a same-sex romance, which ended in tragedy many years ago. The backstory is brief, so don't expect juicy scenes. With that said, this homoerotic anime takes every opportunity to undress the male characters and showcase their muscular physiques. They're often found in intimate situations to stir your imagination. I also want to clarify that Mori never kisses Rihito or anyone else. The series makes crude jokes and teases creepy scenarios, but that's as far as it goes in terms of explicitness.

Every episode brings new twists and developments, so Baban Baban Ban Vampire avoids falling into a repetitive formula. While Rihito's storyline gets the most focus, the series also juggles lively subplots with the supporting cast. Each character is a wacky caricature with a colourful personality. Their messy relationships and silly antics add plenty of chaos. Overall, I had fun with Baban Baban Ban Vampire, but the toxic tropes make me uncomfortable. Although I won't give it a loud and proud endorsement, this anime entertained me enough to get an okay-ish review.