The highly anticipated anime series, Baban Baban Ban Vampire, has released a new promotional video showcasing its ending theme song, “NE-CHU-SHOW,” performed by the popular VTuber and singer, Botchi Boromaru. This latest preview arrives just ahead of the series’ premiere, building excitement for the supernatural comedy.
A Bloody Good Premise
Baban Baban Ban Vampire, adapted from the manga by Hiromasa Okujima, centers on Ranmaru Mori, a 450-year-old vampire working part-time at a traditional public bathhouse. Ranmaru has a particular craving: the blood of an 18-year-old virgin. His target is Rihito Tatsuno, the young son of the bathhouse owners, whom he has been watching over since childhood. The plot thickens as Ranmaru strives to protect Rihito’s virginity until the boy reaches the desired age, leading to a series of comedic and chaotic events.
Key Characters
- Ranmaru Mori: Voiced by Daisuke Namikawa, Ranmaru is the centuries-old vampire with a craving for virgin blood. He works at the bathhouse to be close to his intended target, Rihito.
- Rihito Tatsuno: Voiced by Yūsuke Kobayashi, Rihito is the young and innocent son of the bathhouse owners. He is the object of Ranmaru’s desires.
- Umetarō Sakamoto: Voiced by Katsuyuki Konishi, Umetarō is a new character appearing in the anime.
- Aoi Shinozuka: Voiced by Mayuko Kazama.
- Ken Shinozuka: Voiced by Taku Yashiro, also known as Franken.
Production and Release Details
The anime adaptation is produced by Studio GAINA, with Itsuro Kawasaki serving as director and scriptwriter. Takahiro Tamano is the assistant director, while Yukiko Ban handles character design and serves as chief animation director. Jun Ichikawa, of Julydex, is composing the music.
The series premiered on January 11, 2025, on TV Asahi’s new programming block, IM Animation, airing Saturdays at 11:30 p.m. JST. For international audiences, the anime is available for streaming on Netflix, beginning January 12, 2025. It is also being broadcast on the BS Asahi channel every Monday, at 1 am JST, starting January 13, 2025, and on CS TV Asahi channel every Sunday from 9:30 pm JST, starting January 19, 2025.
Staff:
- Director/Scriptwriter: Itsuro Kawasaki
- Assistant Director: Takahiro Tamano
- Character Designer/Chief Animation Director: Yukiko Ban
- Music Composer: Jun Ichikawa (Julydex)
- Animation Studio: GAINA
- Sub-Character Design: Manami Minakata
- Prop Design: Emi Ikemori, Shunsuke Masuda, Ryōta Tamura
- Color Design: Chie Yoshimura
- Art Directors: Hiroshi Katō, Hirofumi Sakagami
- Background Art: Hiroshi Katō, Yuichi Asami
- Director of Photography: Rieko Koike
- Editing: Daisuke Hiraki
- 2D Design: Sho Ikeuchi
- 3DCG Director: Masaru Kaise
- Effects: Tomomi Ishihara
- Sound Effects: Yasumasa Koyama
- Sound Production: Bit Grooove Promotion
“NE-CHU-SHOW” Takes Center Stage
The newly released promotional video not only reveals the ending theme, “NE-CHU-SHOW”, but also offers a glimpse into the comedic and chaotic world of the anime. The song by Botchi Boromaru perfectly complements the series’ blend of supernatural elements and humor. The video provides a taste of what viewers can expect from the series, highlighting the unique animation style and the dynamic between the main characters.
A Blend of Humor and Supernatural Elements
The anime is described as a “Bloody Love Comedy,” blending humor with supernatural themes. The story explores the complex relationship between Ranmaru and Rihito, using the vampire’s desire for virgin blood as a comedic plot device. However, some viewers may interpret the story through a different lens, seeing the relationship between an older vampire and a young boy as having undertones of grooming. This interpretation stems from the use of vampires and blood-sucking as common metaphors for sexual relationships.
Despite the potential for darker interpretations, the anime is clearly aware of the sexual themes it brings up. The series embraces a lighthearted and comedic approach, promising a fun and entertaining viewing experience for its audience.
From Manga to Screen
The Baban Baban Ban Vampire manga began serialization in Akita Shoten’s Bessatsu Shōnen Champion magazine in October 2021 and currently has eight volumes. The manga’s success has led to not only the anime adaptation, but also a live-action film slated for release in Japanese theaters on February 14, 2025. The live action film will feature Ryo Yoshizawa as Ranmaru Mori. The film’s theme song is “Ii Yu da na 2025 imase x mabanua MIX,” a remix of a classic 1966 song.
A Winter 2025 Highlight
With its unique blend of supernatural comedy, engaging characters, and now a catchy ending theme, Baban Baban Ban Vampire is shaping up to be a standout series in the Winter 2025 anime season. The anime’s release on Netflix makes it accessible to a global audience, promising to bring laughs and entertainment to viewers around the world. The anticipation for the premiere is palpable, and fans are eager to see how the animated adaptation brings Okujima’s manga to life.
