I wasn’t looking for anything serious, just something light to kill time during lunch. That’s when ‘Baban Baban Ban Vampire’ caught my eye on Netflix. The title itself felt weird, but interestingly, and before I knew it, I’d clicked play mid-scroll. I wasn’t expecting anything from the story, but I wasn’t expecting a clueless plot either! Visually impressive, awkwardly funny, and far weirder than I bargained for.
Awkward? Absolutely. Entertaining? Weirdly, yes.
Baban Baban Ban Vampire – what’s with the title?
The title Baban Baban Ban Vampire (ババンババンバンパイア) sounds odd on purpose. It’s essentially a stuttered version of the word “vampire” (banpaia), reflecting how Ranmaru blurts it out in the anime.
So, not a deep thought while choosing a name/title for the manga, and it’s cool and fits for the plot, that exist for fun!
A signal to viewers: get ready for something weird, funny, or totally off the rails!
The Plot :
The plot is, frankly, absurd and proudly so. It follows Ranmaru, a 450-year-old vampire who fixates on a high school boy named Rihito Tatsuno. Ranmaru develops a bizarre obsession not with his blood, but with preserving his “virginity” until he turns 18. Why? Because in Ranmaru’s logic, virgin blood tastes better. Instead of draining him, he decides to let the “delicacy” mature.
Until then, his self-proclaimed mission is to protect Rihito’s innocence by any means possible. because, according to him, losing his virginity would “ruin the flavour.”
What Makes It Different?
It’s not your typical vampire comedy; it leans more toward parody and satire than traditional vampire stories combined with Japanese humour. Ranmaru follows his own made-up vampire rules – garlic, sunlight, holy crosses? They barely matter.
There’s no grand story here, just misunderstandings and bizarre gags. Yet, the animation style, character designs, and overall visuals are quite clean and polished for something this silly. Ranmaru’s flamboyant, centuries-old vampire character is surprisingly sharp. It often makes the visuals become a true spectacle.
It’s loud, unfiltered, and never tries to make sense, and that’s kind of the point. Baban Baban Ban Vampire thrives on its sincere plot for a silly quest.
Characters :
All the characters are purely lives in ‘Gintama’ tales, so no one stands out that much. They all have their own serious and cringeworthy moments, which fit the comic- narratives of this anime. Still, they deserve a mention:
Ranmaru Mori: Flamboyant, theatrical, and he treats Rihito like a rare delicacy and takes his self-assigned guardian role way too seriously. Age 450 but body of a 25-year-old ( That’s what he says!)
Rihito, Aoi, Franken (Ken) , and Kaoru: High schoolers caught in Ranmaru’s madness, each with their own silly, delusional Wattpad plots
Umetarou Sakamoto: Sakamoto sensei- 31, Rihito’s teacher and a vampire hunter with a weird obsession with Ranmaru. Comedic gold with a straight face
Nagayoshi Mori : Ranmaru’s younger-looking (but older?) brother. Goth vibes, full of irrational fears, mostly inspired by vampire movies.
Community Reactions :
Reddit:
Anime fans on r/anime and r/boyslove call it “weirdly addictive” and “like Gintama met BL tropes and took nothing seriously.” One commenter described Ranmaru as “a vampire Himbo with a fetish for innocence and bath towels.”
While some viewers found the anime “so dumb it loops back to genius,” others dropped it after the first episode, calling it “chaotic energy with no payoff.” Still, the character designs, especially Ranmaru’s extra flair and Aoi’s sparkly eyes, got praise even from casual watchers.
Why You’ll Love It ?
It’s an offbeat anime with surprisingly good visuals and beautiful character designs. The plot might seem awkward or even nonsensical at times, but that’s anime for you! As fans, we should ask ourselves: what hasn’t been explored by our lovely authors yet? Sure, the humour can be immature, but the anime knows exactly what it’s doing
If you’re okay with some mature jokes and bold, edgy humour, ‘Baban Baban Ban Vampire’ is a funny one-time watch. It doesn’t take itself seriously, and neither should you.
What Holds It Back?
Let’s be honest, the whole plot is kinda silly! While that’s part of the charm, the anime toes a line that won’t sit well with everyone. The age-gap jokes can get a bit much, especially when it revolves around a centuries-old vampire obsessing over a teenage boy, even if it’s played for laughs. Not everyone’s going to vibe with that kind of adult-teen dynamic, and depending on your tolerance, that can be a turnoff.
The Final Rating: 3/5 – Enjoyable for the right audience
Fun, weird, and wild, but definitely not for everyone. This anime might challenge your patience. It’s entertaining, but it relies heavily on being effortlessly shameless, just like Ranmaru’s golden goal. That can get old after some time, but you probably get used to it if you stay enough in this gang’s company!
Recommended if you like :
- BL
- Can’t resist vampire tropes.
- Adult humor!
- Shows like Gugure! Kokkuri-san, Binbougami ga!, or Level 1 Demon Lord and One Room Hero
Skip if :
- Like logical plots
- You’re not into age-gap humor or awkward jokes.
- You want something serious, emotional, or meaningful.
Staff & Studio Notes*
- Original Work: Hiromasa Okujima
- Animation Studio: GAINA
- Directed & Written by: Itsurō Kawasaki (Magical Girl Ore, The Foolish Angel Dances with the Devil)
- Assistant Director: Takahiro Tamano
- Character Design: Yukiko Ban
- Chief Animation Directors: Yukiko Ban, Shunsuke Masuda, and Satoru Kiyomaru
- Music: Jun Ichikawa (Julydex)
- Runtime: 12 episodes, ~23 mins each
- Rating : U/A 16+
Baban Baban Ban Vampire
*All information presented in this section of the article has been compiled from publicly available sources and official materials to the best of my ability. However, some details may be incomplete or subject to change. If you notice any inaccuracies or have verified updates, feel free to share them. Your input is always welcome.
Over to You!
- Would you recommend this bathhouse comedy to a friend?
- Have you watched “Baban Baban Ban Vampire‘ live-action adaptation? 😏
Let us know in the comments! 🚀 SYA!
Animexon 
