Otaku Host Club

Gigguk proved that anime dreams can become reality with Baan, so naturally we asked ourselves: what anime would we make? This week, the Otaku Hostclub pitches original anime concepts, builds worlds from the ground up, and competes for the most compelling series. No budgets. No limits. Just pure otaku imagination.

How many of us dream of creating our own anime? With enough passion, resources, and dedication, Garnt Maneetapho turned that dream into reality with the 2025 announcement of Baan at Anime Expo. So, just when we thought we were done talking about anime shorts, we decided to discuss Gigguk’s magnum opus, Baan.

From knights to goblins, today we explore what propelled the fantasy genre from its late-80s boom into modern anime like Frieren. We dive into how fantasy anime has evolved — from epic quests and high fantasy worlds to more mature, reflective storytelling. With so many high-quality fantasy series arriving in recent years, we ask the big question: are we living through a second renaissance of fantasy anime?

We conclude our STUDIO4℃ spotlight with a deep dive into Tekkonkinkreet. Even though Geoff and Amelia are both sick, nothing was stopping us from finishing this series strong. Join us as we celebrate the film’s 20th anniversary and explore why this bold, emotional classic still hits just as hard today.

Six years of watching anime, arguing about rankings, and building our taste — now it’s time to put it all on the board. We celebrate our anniversary with our 6x6 anime list, using only shows that aired since 2020!