Pokémon TV returns on YouTube, Aardman Collaboration Coming in 2027.

Hey everyone- I know that I have bigger things cooking; so here’s a little taste while you’re waiting for that.

As of December 6, Pokémon TV has returned as an official YouTube channel uploading full episodes of the legacy seasons; starting from the Indigo League. This is honestly the approach I was hoping they would take; as multiple other shows have put up their archives online this way (including Transformers, Power Rangers and various Sonic the Hedgehog shows). It would be safe to presume that more material will be added on a regular basis.

On that subject, it’s been revealed on their official feeds that a collaboration with celebrated stop-motion studio Aardman (Wallace and Gromit, Chicken Run, The Pirates: Band of Misfits and many others) is set to release in 2027. As a longtime fan of their work, I am eager to see what the partnership brings.

That will be all for now, and I wish you all good tidings. Going to put focus on my next major pieces in between going to opening day for Sonic 3. Season’s greetings.

The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim (2024) Thoughts

Hey everyone-  this weekend, I saw The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim; an anime adaption of the Middle Earth saga from director Kenji Kamiyama. Though it may not reach the heights it aims for, it is still a film that I can address here; so let's get started.

Courtesy- Wingnut Films/New Line Cinema/WBD

The movie takes place during the Second Age; nearly 200 years before the events of The Fellowship of the Ring. As former childhood lovers become opposing leaders of warring factions, a decisive founding battle for the fate of Middle Earth is set to begin.

Kamiyama has worked on a number of projects I've enjoyed, which include Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex, Blade Runner Black Lotus (which I've been meaning to take a look at); and "The Ninth Jedi" segment of Star Wars Visions. The animation of the film, while no Ghibli or Ufotable level of quality, does a great job of capturing the overall look and feel of the Peter Jackson films on a smaller scale. That said, I do admit some of the CG backgrounds do make me wonder if I misplaced my Playstation controller at times.

Of course, one thing that bears mentioning is the production of the film. While Kamiyama and his team clearly had enthusiasm for the project; the business side is where things get interesting. While MGM and Amazon currently hold the rights to the books, New Line and WBD still hold a stake in the Peter Jackson films made in years past. One key reason why this film was made is to maintain that stake, something known as the ashcan copy in industry terms. It wouldn't even be the first time this happened with a Tolkien adaptation- just over a decade before the Rankin/Bass animated version of The Hobbit (which featured numerous future alumni from Studio Ghibli in the crew), there was an animated pitch from Bill Snyder that ran all of 12 minutes of storyboards. You see this all the time in the comic adaptation sphere, with the most well-known being the Roger Corman-produced version of the Fantastic Four. That never saw official release (with copies often circulating online), and was made solely to fulfill a contract.

Still, while there are familiar aspects you will recognize (most notably a posthumous appearance from Christopher Lee as Saruman from archive recordings); it does work as an expanded universe story. It's not the biggest movie I've covered or will cover here; but I have no regrets over spending time to watch it. It's no Boy and the Heron, but I give it a 4 out of 5. That's all for now, take care.

Gundam and Voltron: The Curious Case of the Languishing Live-Action Adaptations.

This was certainly not the year I envisioned, and I will have no choice but to deal with what lies ahead as it comes. So, I thought it would be interesting to revisit topics I have touched on before; with live-action anime adaptations that have gone through decades of development Hell. Here's a double bill for you all- Gundam and Voltron: the curious case of the languishing live-action adaptations.

Let's start with Gundam first- over the last couple decades; there have been numerous failed attempts to reboot the franchise in live-action after the poorly-received G-Savior (might even consider reviewing it in the future). I still maintain seeing the RX-78-2 in Ready Player One actually made me less excited about the idea. Still, it bears mentioning as 2018 was the year the most recent attempt started development with Netflix and Jordan Vogt-Roberts ("Kong: Skull Island") attached as director. I even expressed concern about what could happen, if anything at all.

Six years passed, and even with the success of the live-action One Piece (more interested in the second season of that); their version of the project ultimately did not come to fruition. Jordan ultimately moved on to other projects, and the project then was given to Jim Mickle of the highly-acclaimed series "Sweet Tooth." The news was first broken by Deadline last month. Though I admit I consider "Sweet Tooth" to be quite good, it remains to be seen whether or not anything comes of this version. As I have previously stated, some form of live-action adaptation has been in development Hell longer than I've been alive.

On that subject, let's talk about Voltron. Yes, even with the discourse around the last show's highly-controversial finale and its delisting from Netflix (which the creators have maintained is not because of the reboot); the brand as a whole still commands sizable influence among humongous mecha franchises. Granted; it might not be as prolific as fellow IPs, but it does have multiple generations of fans. 

That said, not even the casting of talented performers that includes Henry Cavill ("Man of Steel," "Mission Impossible: Fallout"), Sterling K. Brown and singer/actress Rita Ora is selling me. This most recent pitch is just one of many that has been floated in my lifetime alone (with scripts dating back through the franchise's early days), with Rawston Marshall Thurber only being the most recent director attached. Even as someone who openly admits to not being a huge fan of his work; him at the helm is honestly the least of the concerns I have.

Though the director describes it as a "new generation," his inability/unwillingness to confirm which characters are being used is a major deterrent for myself and others. Even the short-lived "Third Dimension" CG show had the core cast in it. (Side note- that was actually my first exposure to the franchise that I have an admitted soft spot for. Not as good as Reboot or Beast Wars, but you make do in a house that didn't have cable at the time.)

Whether or not anything will come of these latest pitches remains to be seen. However, I only have one modest request: please stop announcing adaptations before you've actually started making them. One adaptation I addressed here had six years of nothing before starting over again; the other has been claimed to be in development so many times the words have lost all meaning. At this point, the most surprising thing would be if they actually got cameras rolling... which is finally happening in Australia. Forget the robotic lions and vehicles, I think pigs are flying.

"Will you be hyped for these adaptations now, sir?" "Hm, no, I still prefer not."

Given how even superhero comic book adaptations are going through another rough patch (with Sony functionally confirming Kraven will mark the end of their SSU), I'm not as confident as I once was in anime and manga adaptations taking their place. For every One Piece or Detective Pikachu we've gotten (Alita Battle Angel and the 2008 Speed Racer have also garnered cult followings), we've had notorious bombs like Dragonball Evolution and the 2017 Ghost in the Shell. Though there have been many saying the movie will be the next Transformers or Power Rangers; I'm not convinced. In my experience, going right for a franchise has never ended well. The idea of simply making and releasing a movie and letting people make their own judgement is becoming increasingly rare. While they're promising a first-run theatrical release; lots of streamers this year have had mixed results in that field, including this film's new distributor.

Until the time comes that they actually release these cursed adaptations (honestly wouldn't put it past these suits to shelve them for a tax write-off), I will not be actively addressing them. That is all for now, take care.

Yo-Kai Watch 4 Localization Likely Dead (And Other Revelations from a Former Level-5 Designer)

Well, this is certainly equal parts disappointing and relieving. After roughly half a decade in limbo, we now have confirmation from a former designer who worked at the Level-5 Abby as revealed in an online interview. The long-dormant localization of Yo-Kai Watch 4 and all that accompanies it is likely as dead as the company branch that was working on it. While this alone is not entirely surprising, it turns out this isn't the only detail to just now be revealed after years (as they sometimes do). Here is why the international localization of Yo-Kai Watch 4 is likely dead; along with other revelations from a former Level-5 Designer.

Before I get started, I would like to thank the Massviews interview with the designer in question, Matthew Matoba. The video is here,  Matt's primary job was working on logos and graphic design; and the words said also seem to corroborate the details shared in the Glassdoor reviews of the Abby. I won't be retreading all the ground covered in the interview; but I will be sharing the key points I need, including the less flattering details about the company. I am well aware the developer still has fans, but even they're realizing lots of the same things I have. 

Right out of the gate, Matt reveals a number of interesting details. On top of corroborating that several projects were pitched to Nickelodeon (who ultimately declined them), it is a relief that he's managed to find work. In this economy, you take your wins where you can.

In what's one of the more troubling revelations, Level-5 was rather hesitant to credit Matthew despite his contributions being quite favorable. He also was never considered for a full-time position (with all the benefits that would entail), and had to interview for the same position each time (which is an alarmingly common occurrence I would appreciate being done away with).

We will touch on this more in a bit, but it's rather alarming that the Abby and Level-5 International weren't in active contact with each other. It's certainly never a good sign when multiple parties on a collaborative work aren't always talking to each other. When that happens, the results can be disastrous (see the massive failure of Concord, which we're still finding out details about as you see this).

On that subject, let's talk Hayakawa Yukari. Of the 20 or so people involved with the company, she was Akihiro Hino's liaison, who was the one most frequently talked to for matters... which ended up as a major problem as time progressed. In fact, she had a habit of giving others and Matt in particular the runaround on top of the aforementioned communication problems. Hayakawa habitually gave people conflicting information, if she gave any at all; and from what Matt said, it just gives off a very unprofessional vibe. That especially applies to the waning days of the Abby; where just one person was on hand until the lights shut off for the last time. I was hoping that fewer companies would be aping the tactics of latter-day Konami; but this seems to suggest the opposite happened. 

Even the localization process itself got less focused and more frenzied after the Yo-Kai Watch original trilogy. The simplest thing of choosing what to bring over got increasingly varied and much less focused; something that got increasingly clear as time went on. Still, Matt is proud of his work on design for YW3; even if it saw release when the Switch had largely overtaken the 3DS in the public consciousness. It took three years of work to happen, with the "Sukiyaki" port being the definitive release that features content from both the "Sushi" and "Tempura" releases (essentially our Yellow, Crystal or Platinum if you will). In fact, in the waning days of the Abby's business, they were giving it their all no matter what. Even with stiff competition from Kingdom Hearts III and the Resident Evil 2 remake; I still maintain they easily made the best game in the trilogy.

Regrettably, after YW3's disappointing sales; Matt also verifies the GI article at the time was accurate, and that Hayukawa quit the company before the Abby as a whole closed down. Though it was initially believed that Nintendo were the ones mishandling YKW outside Japan, it turns out that according to Matt; Level-5 made the self-publishing decision after disagreements about revenue shares and promotion. He also specifically cited the time Perlmutter threatened to fire RDJ from the MCU; which was the final straw for Feige, who successfully got Bob to side with him. (Side note: Ike's tenure at Marvel was controversial for a multitude of reasons; but for the sake of argument, I tend to focus on his volatility as a businessman.) Matt suggests it was a 30% revenue share, which is fairly standard in this business.

Now comes the big title that many have been waiting to hear about. Though there was indeed a plan to localize Yo-Kai Watch 4, Matt divulged that it was functionally canceled when the Abby closed. He said, "Yo-Kai Watch 3's failure was too severe, combined with Snack World's and a generally declining game state. Shortly after the announcement, we all knew it was canceled. Wasn't the intent to lie, ever. Regarding whether I think they'll bother in the future- sorry, I know they won't." Had a feeling after five years of silence, but now someone on the inside gave us the clearest de-confirmation we're likely to get.

Hearing the revelation that the YW4 localization functionally died with the Abby from a former employee  definitely brings mixed reactions. On one hand, it's certainly disappointing that a game that could have been a much more promising return to the West has been shelved in favor of a project that has more pitfalls of its own (we'll talk more another time). On the other, it's relieving that people can stop pining over the matter after years of silence and find other titles to fill the void.

Yet, there's still more details revealed by Matt. YW4 wasn't the only cancelation, but it was the most prominent. There were the aforementioned pitches Nick passed on (to be fair, they have a habit lately of not pushing stuff that isn't related to SpongeBob, TMNT, The Loud House and now Sonic), but beyond that; there were smaller pitches that never really made it.

The withdrawal of Level-5 from US markets in 2020 also scuppered porting the second Professor Layton trilogy to mobile phones. Matt was assigned logo design before that happened; and as he also said, "COVID ended plans for a lot." He even at one point compared his experience to an under-appreciated mother; which is a fair assessment based on other accounts from former employees.

Matt also laments the use of AI in design; including within the company he used to work for. I do not know what the long-term impact of such apps will be. In the short term, though; I am relieved to see the public response to both Toys "R" Us and Coca-Cola remaking their vintage ads in AI be a near-universal rejection. Good a time as any to wrap it up then.

It is admittedly disheartening to see a company once viewed as an antidote to the likes of EA, Ubisoft and Activision fall into many of the same ethically dubious practices of those companies. It's another story that definitely falls under the "sausage principle"- as in, many people like to eat it; but not as many like to know how it's made. It's not a total surprise the office was in the same area as Riot Games of League of Legends fame; who have had a litany of controversies of their own.

Honestly, it will be a miracle for Level-5 to regain the respect they once had; let alone the success. It will certainly not be the last time this comes up in regards to Holy Horror Mansion either. That will likely not be until spring 2025 at the earliest; I mainly wanted to address this while the information was still new, and so you all don’t just think I'm playing my Switch and watching Moana 2 (which is also true). That will be all for now, take care.

Review- "Detective Drizzile" (Pokémon Master Journeys)

Dedicated to the memory of Billy Kametz

1987-2022

I have been contemplating how to do this episode for a while; as well as to pay tribute to Billy Kametz after he succumbed to cancer at age 35. Now, that time is upon me- let's open up "Detective Drizzile."

We open on Cerise Labs in Vermilion City one night, where Drizzile is still adjusting to its Stage 1 form- no longer a basic Sobble, not yet the Stage 2 spy Inteleon. Elsewhere, trouble is brewing inside the lab. 

The EN opening theme, "Journey To Your Heart" may not be the bop the last season's dub theme was; but I think it works fine in capturing the spirit of adventure and fun they're going for.

The next morning at breakfast time, it's discovered that one of their databanks was stolen! The files contained the research they'd collected up to that point. Ash starts searching on the ground, with Goh telling him that "data doesn't just fall out." Tell that to WB Discovery and DC Comics.

Anyway, they set about backing up the files and encrypting them. However, as Ash and Goh try to determine their next move; there's still a plant inside the lab who anticipated this.

Goh then feeds Drizzile, and this edgy water lizard is prepping their own plan of action. Elsewhere, an individual is watching through a hidden camera; already working on cracking the encryption.

Sure enough; the lab has been hit again, but now they know for sure the culprit will try again. The lab prepares another backup; this time with the specific purpose of catching their data thief. As the night comes again, Drizzile has been training for this moment.

As Goh and the others search the lab, the culprit slips in to make a move on the newest backup. However, this time; they're ready for it as Drizzile stops the thief from taking the latest backup! Undeterred, the culprit attempts to escape to the roof of Cerise Labs!

It's a Kecleon that's been made, but it turns out that it was only an accomplice for the real thief! His name is Gizmo Bilt, who sounds kind of like the Teen Titans character and acts like Baxter Stockman from the original TMNT. An "all hands" is called as the thieves are confronted on the roof!

Gizmo's intent is to use the stolen data to start his own laboratory; though given his IT "L33T HAXXOR" skills and gear, he certainly could market his skills legitimately. More on that in a moment, as Kecleon and Drizzile clash on a lower floor!

Up against the wall in more ways than one, a bright glow fills the space as Drizzile evolves into Inteleon! Renewed with its signature move, Snipe Shot, he's ready to defend the lab and his friend.

After nailing Gizmo's jetpack, shooting him out of the sky; Cerise confronts Gizmo. He can also tell right away he still has the files, and after demanding their return; he agrees to give his autograph in exchange. Now if only the "Tera leak" had this easy a resolution.

We close on Goh bonding with his newly evolved Inteleon, vowing to keep improving and reaching new heights together.

Once again, what I intended for a much quicker turnaround ended up taking much longer than I expected. All the same, I'm once again glad it's finally done.

While he may not have had a long life; the roles he had definitely left an impact in that time. Outside this anime, he was also the voice of Josuke in Jojo's Bizarre Adventure: Diamond is Unbreakable, Nevareth in The Owl House and Durham in BEASTARS.  His roles as Ren and Inteleon are among many contributed to this anime alone; and why I am glad to finally have this done. That's among the many reasons why I enjoyed JN, and why I recommend "Detective Drizzile." That will be all for now, take care.

Pokémon Horizons Volume 4 (EN) Thoughts.

Well, this took longer than I hoped; but here it is- now that I've seen it, here are my thoughts on Volume 4 of Pokémon Horizons' English dub, along with preliminary thoughts on the Rayquaza Rising storyline.

Though I still maintain I have nothing personal against the show; especially concerning the new lead characters and story structures, it's their implementation that's keeping me from fully investing in the anime the way others have. I have yet to formally begin the Rayquaza Rising arc (save for a few summaries I read); but it's another instance of predicting where the story is headed and getting it right nearly every time. Perhaps I feel this a bit harder as someone who immensely enjoyed the storylines in the Generation IX games; but I would have preferred a direct adaptation of those instead of just using a few elements to bolster the stories of the Explorers and Rising Volt Tacklers. I also would have been more onboard from the beginning if they had clearly established HZ as part of the existing continuity as opposed to having that detail outed by the Tera Leak. It would be like Sonic 3 not divulging the use of Shadow and his backstory until the movie actually came out.

That's not to say there aren't qualities I like about it- the animation (especially on the battle scenes) is very good; and when the story actually commits to adapting the video games, it works... for the most part. With the second season of the English dub coming in early 2025; I will have much more to discuss. I do legitimately think that the Terastal Debut storyline is good overall; but I shall see what happens with the "Search for Laqua" branding they're going with.

Likewise, though I don't think they'll go with every single plot detail revealed in the "Tera Leak" (I personally don't think this supposed betrayal sounds like a good idea), but with only one of the Legendary Heroes left to capture; I could honestly see them using the Rayquaza Rising storyline to wrap up HZ before the release of Generation X and Legends Z-A (talk persists of an upgraded model of the Switch). I know I'm just coming back from my hiatus, just thought I'd give you something that proves I'm not just watching One Piece and playing the Marvel VS Capcom Collection (which is also true).

I will do my best to make my December a fruitful one, and I hope to see you all again very soon. That will be all for now, take care.

Review- The Stun Spore Detour (Pokémon- Adventures in the Orange Islands)

 Dedicated to the memory of Rachael Lillis

July 8, 1969-August 10, 2024

Hello everyone- I have been contemplating a look at this episode for ages; and with the passing of Rachael Lillis earlier this year; I thought it would be the ideal way to pay tribute with a posthumous parting gift. Let's open up "The Stun Spore Detour."

On their way across the Orange Archipelago, Ash and Tracey wind up succumbing to paralysis after falling face-first into the flower of a Vileplume. With no Paralyze Heals in their inventory and no Pokémon Center for miles; the only viable option for a cure is Salveyo weed. Fortunately, there is an abundant supply growing in bodies of water on the island.

Elsewhere, Jessie has also fallen ill from inhaling Stun Spore; falling to James and Meowth also needing to find the plants to cure her. I was planning on doing this for a while, and given the events of this year; it's now or never.

As James and Meowth start poking around in nearby lakes adjacent to where Misty is, a Poliwag enters the scene. Its swimming abilities can help find the plant where no human could safely enter.

After a battle sends James and Meowth packing, Misty partners with Poliwag to find the plants they need. Sure enough, they find all they need at the bottom of the lake.

Though attempting to trick Misty proves fruitless, they do get just the amount they need from the batch nearby. Turns out she left it for them so they could help Jessie. I would also like to point out I have no regrets over what I did- if anything; I like to think I helped extend Rachael's life or make her remaining days more comfortable.

In their respective cabins, the antidote to the paralysis is prepared by boiling it in water. Though the villain teams typically don’t tend to be my favorite characters; this episode does do a great job of showcasing how they care for each other in ways unique from the main cast.

After everyone consumes the cure, it's back to the matter at hand! I once again apologize for the hiatus; but it was necessary after a long night near the start of the month and intermittent flu-like symptoms in the weeks that followed.

With the battle won, everyone thanks Misty for her help; who in turn thanks her Poliwag. Said Poliwag would later become a prominent member of her roster. It's even creator Satoshi Tajiri's favorite of the original 150- who knew? We close the episode on everyone continuing their voyage to the Orange League. This time, the song featured for Pikachu's Jukebox is "Viridian City."

"The Stun Spore Detour" was already an episode I enjoyed quite a bit; but the events of this year have made it even more worthy of being one of my favorite episodes of this season and the franchise as a whole. It's not a conventional way of celebrating the season; but then again, I've never been one for convention.

While Rachael may be gone, what she left behind will hold a special place in my heart and countless others. In addition to her work here, she also voiced the title role of Revolutionary Girl Utena and Cocco in the 2011 version of Hunter X Hunter. With that, I am glad I finally got to share this with you all. As long as we remember the ones that left an impact on us all; no one is ever really gone. I will see you all again soon, take care.

Important update- Please Read

Due to circumstances beyond my control; I will be taking a hiatus effective immediately for health reasons. Thank you all for your support.

Uzumaki (2024) Thoughts- A Flawed Adaptation That I Had Fun Watching.

Happy Halloween everyone- now that I've seen the whole event more than once; I thought I would finally unpack this latest attempt at adapting a manga by Junji Ito into an anime. I have not seen every attempt; but I'm noticing that they're recurring proof of not everything on the page working on the screen. Here are my thoughts on Uzumaki, a flawed adaptation that I had fun watching.

Courtesy: Adult Swim/Production IG/Junji Ito

The anime follows the same premise as the manga- in a small town known as Kurouzu, an ancient curse involving spirals seeks to engulf the whole area. At its center, a young woman named Kirie Goshima and her partner Shuichi Saito are caught in an increasing tour of horrors.

Before I get into my thoughts on each individual episode; I thought I would address the spiraling elephant in the room- the troubled production of this anime. Translating what's arguably Ito's most well-known manga to TV was never going to be easy; especially as a previous live-action film adaptation was not well-received. 

Of course, the clearest factors behind the delays and artistic "quality" moments are the ones most outside the crew's control- the COVID-19 pandemic and Adult Swim's parent company changing hands twice. First was the AT&T partnership, then there was the much more infamous WB Discovery partnership. The latter one was especially not willing to offer any more delays, even threatening to shelve the whole thing for a tax write-off as they had controversially done before to a number of projects. There was of course a considerable time crunch just to get the project done. We'll get into how this impacted the anime itself over the course of this post, but for now; it was initially believed that David was running WB like Judge Doom. Others later realized the same thing I did- He was running the company like Mr. Krabs.

Now, let's get into each individual episode; starting with what's easily the best- the first. The whole show uses a mixture of traditional animation and rotoscoping interspersed with digital effects; even making the show in black and white to recreate the look and feel of the manga. The unnerving dread caused by the spiral curse ("Uzumaki" literally translates to "spiral") is an increasing source of fright throughout the episode, culminating in Shuichi's father contorting himself to fit in a washtub and the smoke from his cremation causes the curse to spread further. It is easily one of the most effective pilots I've seen all year; and the opinion I hold that's most consistent with everyone else.

It's the second episode onward that everything (ahem) spiraled out of control behind the scenes. When both Jason Demarco and Henry Thurlow said as much on their social media feeds; I believe them. Admittedly; the show as a whole is faithful to a fault to the source material, in the sense of cramming an entire volume of A Song of Ice and Fire into two hours is.  The subplot with the "Jack-in-the-Box" was never my favorite; but even I noticed how truncated it was from page to screen. At least Kirie's monstrous hair got a full whack, off-model animation aside.

The third episode centers around Kirie being hospitalized alongside her cousin. Her name is Keiko Nakayama. In addition to her and others expecting children, an outbreak of mosquitos has them all drilling people's blood... no, I am not making that up. After her return, a wave of storms break out in Kurouzu, leading us into the fourth and final episode.

As the storms engulf the town, no one in Kurouzu can get in or out; save for a lone reporter. With Kirie and Shuichi making a failed last-ditch effort to escape; I'm actually glad the anime retained the manga's ending of Kirie wanting to stay by his side till the end. However, right before that; we get Shuichi falling into an abyss, represented by Shuichi.png being dragged across the frame. I didn't really notice it on my first watch because it was after midnight (and waiting for Demon Slayer and One Piece to start); but people online certainly caught it. Kind of reminds me of the infamous scene from that terrible Kong game last year of Gaw.jpg. 

Still shot of Shuichi aside, it does wrap things up conclusively enough for the cycle to start anew; and also makes a solid enough time for me to finish.

Admittedly, this isn't the first time an adaptation from Ito has yielded mixed results from myself or the viewing public. I personally found the Gyo OVA to be decent, but found the Junji Ito Collection to be a much bigger mess than this. Maybe there will be an anime that does Ito's work justice one day, but that day has yet to come.

Despite everything, I actually had fun writing about this anime. While I certainly hope conditions improve going forward across the board, there are more than enough moments that entertained me even with or even because of its flaws. I am among those in the "so-bad-it's-good" cult followings Morbius and Madame Web have gained. Overall, the anime version of Uzumaki is a flawed adaptation I had fun watching. Sitting here typing this, I will certainly keep it in rotation. Happy Halloween once again, and don't forget to vote by this Tuesday. Later.

Zom 100- Bucket List of the Dead Season 1 Thoughts.

“When there’s no more room in Hell, the dead will walk the Earth.”

 George A. Romero, 1940-2017 

Hey everyone- with spooky season upon us, it’s finally time to address an anime I’ve been wanting to a while. The premise is what sold me- for most people, a zombie apocalypse would be a waking nightmare. For overworked salaryman ad executive Akira Tendo, it’s a dream come true. Now that I’ve finally seen the entire first season (and begun reading the manga); here are my thoughts on Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead.

Much as how previous works in this subgenre of horror have put a darkly humorous spin on society’s flaws against.this backdrop; this is no exception. Even before the dead walk the earth, the story acts as a savage takedown of corporate culture and overwork in particular. Viral pandemic aside, it’s all too common that people find themselves in a workplace that takes advantage of their ambitions; functionally locking them into a vicious cycle of exploitation that isn’t found out until literal years of their life go by. Suffice to say, the scene where Akira tells off his (now-zombified) boss before tackling him out the window is indeed satisfying. Also, said boss had a female coworker as his (also now-zombified) mistress, because of course he did.

Even the three-part finale manages to find a way to justify a human antagonist in the form of Higurashi and his followers. I’m typically not a huge fan of human villains in these stories, considering what role the zombies play; but this anime makes it work, and their fates incredibly gruesome and karmic. I won’t be spoiling them here, which should give you an idea of how graphic yet satisfying their ends are. That, and it differs between the anime and manga.

The UK has Shaun of the Dead, the US has the Zombieland, and now Japan has their own darkly humorous zombie work to call their own. It has also managed to fill the void left by High School of the Dead, since any chance of that getting a proper ending died with Daisuke Sato. This will not be the only anime I will be celebrating Halloween with; and my crates of Mountain Dew Voodoo (flavor this year is a citrus cotton candy blend, in case you were wondering) will be at my right hand watching. That will be all for now, and enjoy yourself any way you can.

About the Pokémon "Tera Leak.'

This wasn’t my intended plan, but I might as well have a go while this is still fresh. Since there are all manner of leaks making the rounds (presumably with more to come); I thought I would give a few moments to address them. Here are my thoughts on the recent “tera leak” impacting the Pokémon Company and Game Freak, as well as what it might mean for the near future of the franchise.

First, a disclaimer as a 25-plus-year veteran fan- I will not be showing the leaked information; but I can describe it for you all. Also, please be aware this information is subject to change; and I will bring you any official details as they become available. Finally, I will not be addressing details about past works that are coming out; I will be mainly focusing on the potential near future. Some of the details here also corroborate information that’s been circulating a while; and when it falls under that; I will mention it.

Case in point- the highly anticipated Pokémon Legends Z-A. Not only is Lumiose City the main hub of the game; but both it and Generation X (the latter of which is known under the codename “Gaia”) are being developed for both the existing Switch and its eventual successor (codename “Ounces”). Legends Z-A was also going to be out this year; but was pushed to 2025 in light of the Generation IX launch and its fixes.

There is also a new multiplayer title codeveloped with ILCA, codenamed “Synapse.” The gameplay will reportedly be similar to the “Splatoon” games, which I really enjoy. Though not much is known about the game, it will be interesting to see what comes out of this; if anything.

Now, onto the anime and other adaptations. I cannot be certain if all the details about the remainder of Pokémon Horizons are true, but I’m not entirely surprised they’re planning to wrap it up before the next generation. Though it remains to be seen what will happen to the main anime; this, along with other projects (more on that in a bit) seems to corroborate the plans of going back to basics.

Apart from that, Studio Colorido is developing a 12-episode OVA for TV, with all the episodes being the standard 22 minutes. As someone who has an appreciation for their work, I am intrigued.

Even with the current management at WB Discovery (talk persists of a potential breakup), I am glad to mention a sequel to the 2019 hit Pokémon Detective Pikachu is still being developed as The Great Detective Pikachu; with Jordan Vogt-Roberts (“Kong: Skull Island”) set to direct. I never thought it was shelved, just waylaid by strikes and the pandemic.

The live-action Netflix event is also still being developed (codenamed Discovery). The first season is the standard eight episodes, and there is said to be a pickup for about five at least. Whether or not they make it a period piece (they could for the ‘90s what Stranger Things did for the ‘80s in tone and presentation) or bring the story into the present day; I’m open to the idea. The only detail I know for sure is that they’re going to be adapting the original games, which brings me to the final topic I will mention today.

Lastly, there is an in-development reboot of the anime movies, codenamed Project Bauer. Tentatively focusing on the original 151 monsters (with Mew being a major focus), this very much fits the mold of the back to basics approach I was hearing about after HZ ends. Not certain about a whole new protagonist- if this is one of the proposed adaptations of the original games, I would just use Red (or at least, a new variant of him for this continuity). Kobun Shizuno is currently attached to direct, and he does have plenty of experience. Honestly, I'm open to the idea; especially as the movies have been on hiatus since M23 and previous ones largely escaped the video game adaptation curse. If it works, then similar films about the other regions could follow. At worst, I honestly can't imagine it being a disaster. That’s all for now, take care.

Regarding the Level-5 Vision and Holy Horror Mansion.

It's been quite a stuffed month of anime and video game announcements as well as releases. Though last week, the Sony State of Play and Sonic Central took up the lion's share of attention; one other oft-delayed presentation finally got livestreamed- the Level-5 Vision. This naturally resulted in a myriad of announcements for delays; and one new direction (or concept as they call it) for a franchise now over a decade old that didn't exactly get the reaction they were going for. So, let's get to it.

Though an animated avatar of Akihiro Hino tries to suggest otherwise, I will respectfully decline the use of the "To The World's Children" branding. In my case, it's less a singular inner child and more like a group of them representing different aspects of my personality (think the emotions from the Inside Out 'verse, with Anxiety becoming my spirit animal for this year).

First is that Fantasy Life I: The Girl Who Steals Time has been delayed from October 10 of this year till April of next year. This is actually one delay I can respect; as while this October may not be as stacked as last year's was; it still has more than a few games that are highly anticipated (with my primary target being Sonic X Shadow Generations). Regrettably, this will be the first of many delays announced; not counting Professor Layton and the New World of Steam as that already got bumped to 2025.

DecaPOLICE, the game that arguably has the most potential out of all of these; has now been bumped to 2026 on all its intended platforms (Steam, Switch, PS4, and PS5). The growing length of developmental cycles aside; the delays are already causing concerns in the fandom and I'm not even halfway through this presentation. At least the new events in Megaton Musashi Wired are coming out on time and are well-received.

Now, it's time for Inazuma Eleven: Victory Road, once again. I did try the open beta earlier in the year; and despite openly admitting to not being a fan of the anime or franchisee as a whole, I did my best to keep my feedback respectful. That said, even though it was first announced in 2016 for release in 2018, it is being delayed yet again for June 2025. I've mentioned the previous delays before, so there's a couple major ways of looking at this. If it gets pushed back again, I won't be surprised. If it does keep its release date, it will have June mostly to itself; but it's not likely to stay that way. As for this remake of the first game (which I haven't played and don’t plan to)- we shall see how that goes in 2026. For every one like Resident Evil 2 or FFVII Remake; we get scores of ones like Warcraft III Reforged or the 2020 version of XIII.

Here is the title that arguably had the most eyes on it; and the most scrutiny as well- the latest concept for Yo-Kai Watch. Originally under the working title "Ghost Craft," it is now known as Holy Horror Mansion. The "Ghost Craft" is now how crafting will work in-game.

The aim to be their largest project ever is making me and many others uneasy. I'm noticing many longtime fans of the developers in particular souring on their obsession with multimedia IP and just want them to make interesting games again. I'm having flashbacks to the Dark Universe reading that byline myself. Also like to be blunt that my party pop music I'm fashionably late to is less PIKOTARO and more Post Malone.

Though not without potential, one element in particular cast a dark raincloud over the reveal trailer- the usage of generative AI art. 

I thought there was something off about the cookware in this kitchen.

While it's still early, meaning it can change from here; it definitely seems like an unforced error, and those who are against the idea of AI in games likely are not onboard by design. There's also a sizable chunk of the existing fan base that isn't invested in the new concept at all. In theory, a new direction should have been just the thing to jolt the games. In practice, the first impression on the new game has been decidedly mixed.

Scene depicting a cake in Holy Horror Mansion.

Scene depicting Peach's Cake in Mario Party (1999).

However, this still leaves arguably the greatest risk- once again attempting to appeal to Western markets at the expense of their core audience. As someone who hasn't played every game that Level-5 has made, I'm arguably one of the people they’re trying to reach. Yet, despite other people online attempting to tell me otherwise, trying to nearly jettison the previous audience for a new one has never gone well. It's one thing if existing fans don't take to Holy Horror Mansion; but if the more general audiences they're aiming at don't respond to the game; it's curtains.

Not quite "When it's done," but it's close.

Though the concept admittedly isn't the worst (everything from Luigi's Mansion to Resident Evil to even Fatal Frame have made use out of exploring haunted locales); I do not plan to cover Holy Horror Mansion beyond this point unless Level-5 removes the AI art, real or perceived from the final game. I have much more to talk about in October; including more satisfying topics. That will be all for now, take care.

The Rick and Morty Anime Series is an Absurd Fever Dream (Honest Thoughts)

Well, that is certainly interesting. Much like the parent show it spun off from, the discourse is quite exhausting even as someone who likes it. So, with all the ballyhoo, let's talk about Rick and Morty: The Anime and why I enjoy it in spite and because of being an absurd fever dream.

The anime is helmed by Takashi Sano, who previously did the one-shot where the title characters faced a monster known as the "Genocider." There was also the short where Rick bemoans his lab in Akihabara has been overrun with maid cafés and video game stores (not to mention one spoofing the classic Lone Wolf and Cub); so there is precedent at least for this becoming one of the many timelines the title characters have traversed.

Like a great many episodes of the main show, this anime has gathered something of a love it or hate it reputation; with not much of a middle ground. As you might expect, I fall in the love camp. I'm not one to say no to a pilot where Morty gets a VR game that functions as both an existentialist experience and an over the top combat encounter straight out of a Ryu Ga Gotoku game.

I definitely would not put this on the same pedestal as Scott Pilgrim Takes Off or Terminator Zero; but I can certainly do worse as a lead-in for One Piece and Demon Slayer. Admittedly, it's actually quite interesting to see how it remixes elements from the main show; especially concerning Jerry. His inclusion in this anime sees him identify with the mythical Sisyphus, gain a superhero transformation that resembles the infamous Chargeman Ken; and undergo endurance training that I'm fairly certain would make up at least a tenth of someone's "Kinktober" art prompts. Yes, I am well aware of the Justin situation; and I totally understand why they had to let him go (even the characters' appearances in MultiVersus were recast).

Though I do not know what will happen with this anime going forward (the most recent episode had a lot to take in, and not just because of the story and concepts it contained); it certainly is interesting to think about and give my honest thoughts. Of all that's happened; I'm not one for giving a canned answer to a topic- I'm one that gives you my actual takes; and I do not address something unless there's something I can contribute to the conversation. With that in mind, I have much to celebrate come October; but first, I have unfinished business with a topic I've dealt with before. That's all for now, take care.

My Complicated Relationship With Dragon Ball GT.

Hey everyone- with Dragon Ball Daima set to debut this October; I thought I would take a look back at another anime that I have a rather conflicted view of. So, here is a post on my complicated relationship with Dragon Ball GT.

Courtesy: Toei/Fuji TV

Though I did watch the anime at the time, there ways always something about it that felt off; and not just because of its dubious canonical status even now. Before I get into the story and character aspects; I will go over the aspects I like about it. Though not spectacular, the animation is solid; and while the late, great Akira Toriyama was largely hands-off with writing; the designs he contributed certainly bear his artistic fingerprints. The music is also decent, and I especially like how the voice cast reprised their roles (especially Stephanie Nadolny as young Goku- glad she's coming back for Daima).

Regrettably, it's the story and characters that end up coming up short this time around. Though it's not as rife with issues as, say, Digimon Adventure 02 is personally; it has a similar core problem. Namely, there are lots of ideas recycled from earlier stories; and the new ideas break suspension of disbelief more than the fighter balance in the Final Bout Playstation game. Yes, I played that back in the day (the second printing, not the rarer first printing).

Admittedly, the heroes and antagonists carried over from past incarnations are fine for the most part. It's  additions this anime that don't really stand out, with Lord Luud, Super Baby and the Para Para brothers being among the least memorable. Regarding the last ones, they're apparently named after a dance trend that had already faded by the time the anime got dubbed. Heck, even Dazzler had a better time adapting to changing times.

As for characters we know, a large part of me was excited to see how Pan would grow as a person and fighter after the epilogue of Z. Let's just say that the depiction of her is not what I was hoping for. I do like the outfit at least, but not so much how she's acting more childish than her grandfather; who's reverted to his child self after a wish gone awry. (sighs) 

While I have never had an issue with young Goku outside this anime; I submit it's not merely having him in the story that makes him work- it's how you use him. That's something this anime didn't really understand until it was too late. He is the most obvious example of the character going through the hits like your favorite band playing the fairground circuit; then trying new material that doesn't quite land.

Case in point- The Last Oracle of Luud. This was a particularly tedious experience; and that's not a word I typically associate with this material. Fighting a personified whip is not something that should be this mundane; and that is among the reasons why I decided against reviewing or recapping any episodes in favor of this instead.

Somehow, it creates more arc fatigue than the canon entries ever could. Also find "The Beginning of the End" an ironic title when it comes up at less than halfway through. The visit to sector 2814 does somewhat amuse me; as it makes me joke about the Green Lantern Corps being in the vicinity.

Of course, there's the robotic companion Giru; who honestly ranks quite low in my view of machine characters in the franchise. If the tin can hadn't bonded with the Dragon Radar, there really wouldn't be much reason to exist. Not even his backstory could convince me otherwise. Pan's gambit that follows is also much more "meh" than "WHOO! I'M ABOUT TO MAKE A NAME FOR MYSELF HERE!"

As my rewatch pressed on, characters such as Rilldo and Dr. Myu lacked the memorable qualities even less universally-revered antagonists of the franchise have, especially the latter. He's functionally Gero without the charisma, and we'll come back to his creations in a bit.

Though most of the updated character designs are passable; my least favorite redesign would have to go to my favorite character: Vegeta, who gets saddled with a truly awful mustache that makes him look like infamous adult film star Ron Jeremy. Thankfully, he has the sense to shave it off about a third of the way into the show.

In all honesty, the "Saiyan Hunting" is a larger part of Baby's body surfing between hosts, and it takes up a sizable chunk of his saga. As previously stated, he's a villain who may share the power absorption of Cell; but not his charisma or memorable menace. Him attempting to takeover Trunks and Goten's date isn't quite the same as consuming people whole, skin and all.

While Android 17 and 18 have never been my favorite characters; even I understand why they have fans. Still, I was not pleased with how this anime handled them. Their new designs weren't the worst; but the way they were written was the Achilles' heel as usual. The way this anime turned them into little more than living weapons is far less satisfying than to see 18 be figuratively and literally humanized by Krillin's love; or 17 learning that protecting and giving life can be every bit as gratifying as taking a life.

Though the distant finale may not be as contentious as Digimon 02, it is still easily my least favorite finale to any of the anime adaptations. Original Dragon Ball ends with Goku and Chi Chi getting married. DBZ ends with Goku helping train Uub (the reformed personification of Buu's evil side) as a fighter. Super ends with Goku victorious in the Last Universe Standing and peace being restored to each of the universes. However, even factoring in that it's non-canon; GT ends with Goku and Shenron disappearing for a century, something that is more understandable than TK's novelized account of his friends (though no less disappointing).

So, while this anime might not be the disaster I remembered it to be; it's also the least memorable adaptation of Dragon Ball by far. For all the faults of Evolution, at least that was a spectacularly awful trash fire. This is not only not canon, but the biggest gripe I have beyond that is that it's just average. I am glad that Super managed to more effectively remix ideas from the whole franchise. I also admire it for striking the right balance of the high stakes of Z and the wonder of the original. Though some took issue with this, I always like how it nailed (at least personally) how Goku never lost his sense of adventure with age, nor his sense of humor as shown.

Age 12: "What do I care about seeing your dirty old fanny?"

Age 42: "I wouldn't come here just to see your boobies- they're too saggy now."

I mean, as someone who has ventured into other parts of the author's work even before he passed; him meeting Arale from Dr. Slump is a concept that holds water- a fun breather before things get serious. By contrast, I never knew what mindset to adopt for GT; and watching it again for the first time in ages (going over every episode to make sure I have the details correct); I still don't. Whatever transpires with Dragon Ball Daima, I have more confidence in that as a posthumous parting gift (along with the Sand Land anime and game).

Overall, I cannot go so far to say I outright hate Dragon Ball GT; but I also can't go so far as saying I like it. If I may borrow a line from Schaffrillas, I consider it painfully average. I found it better than Digimon 02, but my relationship is complicated with it all the same. That is all for now, take care.

Thoughts on the Transformers 40th anniversary video by Studio TRIGGER.

Hail- well met, everyone: this weekend, I saw Transformers One and I absolutely loved it. As both a new movie and a reimagining of the franchise's origin story; it is well worth your time and money. So, I thought I would do something else to help celebrate the milestone. Here are my thoughts on the Transformers 40th anniversary video by Studio TRIGGER.

Courtesy: Hasbro/Studio TRIGGER

The video incorporates characters and elements from the entire legacy of the franchise. From the WFC Trilogy on Netflix all the way back to the original entry from the 1980s. Even the live-action films, divisive as they often are (and the butt of jokes from this studio's animators) get represented. I'm noticing more and more willingness to not only embrace adaptations that are well-liked in major franchises; but also to both remix ideas that weren't as well-executed (up to and including self-deprecating gags).It's also backed by the song "Mayday" by Bump of Chicken, and it pairs incredibly well. Overall, a great way of celebrating a vast legacy of capturing the imaginations of children and the young at heart.

I also will apologize in advance for the lateness and brevity of this post; but I've been working on a larger post I've been wanting to do for a long time. For now, go see Transformers One; and I will see you all again soon. Till all are one...

Pokémon Horizons Volume 3 (EN) Thoughts, Volume 4 Coming November 22.

Hey everyone- whether or not Netflix makes good on the plan to delist the JN seasons today (the “leaving soon” message is gone on my profile); I am drafting my full look at the first HZ storyline. With that out of the way, here are my thoughts on Volume 3 of Pokémon Horizons’ English dub.

Courtesy- Netflix/The Pokémon Company

This volume contains the final two episodes of “The Departure of Liko and Roy” storyline, and the first nine of the “Terapagos’ Shine” storyline. I still don’t know why they didn’t just include them in the last volume; but I’m just glad the next volume will contain the rest (at least going by online summaries I could find). Also, the next volume streams November 22. I know that date has plenty of pop culture events already (the new Moana and the Marvel VS Capcom collection being my most anticipated); so let’s focus on this one for now.

Though there still issues carried over from previous volumes, the “Terapagos’ Shine” storyline does have better pacing than “The Departure of Liko and Roy.” The infectious energy of Iono is indeed welcome, as is Liko’s grandmother Diana. They even managed to streamline some dialogues that bugged me in the subtitled episodes.

While I do still wish they would incorporate more material from the games into the story and characters (just reading summaries of the most recent episodes, I can say I am very much not a fan of the anime’s variant of Grusha; who was one of my favorite Paldea gym leaders); the animation is still a highlight. I may have plenty of issues to talk about with these storylines; but at least I can agree that the anime looks great. 

I am roughly 40-50% done with my full review of “The Departure of Liko and Roy,” and once that is done; I will begin outlining all the episodes of “Terapagos’ Shine” once the English dub comes stateside. I still don’t know what will happen after this anime is over; but I’d be fine with “you know who” coming back. Most likely, I could see the next anime directly adapting characters from the games. That will be all for now, take care.

The Boy and the Heron is a Masterpiece (First Viewing Thoughts)

 For my cat,  Amy

2005-2024

I have wanted to address this movie for a very long time, and now that time is upon me. Here are my first viewing thoughts on the award-winning hit anime film from Hayao Miyazaki; "The Boy and the Heron."

Taking place in Japan in the 1940s, the story follows a young man named Mahito Maki. As he tries to adjust to a new living situation and the loss of his loved ones; he is taken on an adventure to the land between living and dead, with an enigmatic heron and a cast of characters that parallel his extended family as his guides. 

Courtesy: Studio Ghibli/GKIDS

In many respects, this movie is the reverse of Spirited Away. Whereas that film was about Chihiro finding herself in maturity by getting caught in parallel world of spirits, this one is about Mahito willingly going into another world of many layers to prove himself. However, there are two major constants between them. The first is that they both show the limitless potential of animated storytelling (with their Best Animated Feature Oscar wins being well-deserved). The second is that the fantastic journey undertaken also serves as a personal one.

The film's Japanese title, "How Do You Live" is a question that comes from an in-story journal left to Mahito by his mother; and one that the movie explores to answer. Though many critical moments in the story were leaked to me online (something I certainly did not appreciate), seeing them for myself is always something I know I need to do to make sure they're true.

With that said, the acclaim and success the film has garnered is well-deserved. Every story moment and piece of character growth is animated in colorfully vivid and striking detail. From a hospital fire that kicks off the plot to the ending moments in the Japanese countryside; it is certainly worthy of being Miyazaki's final film. 

Not only is it a spectacular animated fantasy to cement his vast legacy, it is a well-rounded and nuanced portrayal of grief. The only definitive story and character details I will reveal ahead of a full review (at a later date to be determined) are these- not only does Mahito care deeply for his surviving family despite everything; this is one film I've seen that accurately captures the more subtle and numbing details of grief. The scene where he deliberately hits himself in the head with a rock just to feel something again resonates with me more than you know.

I have every intention to watch this movie again for a full review in the near future, as it has joined the list of my all-time favorite movies (in the process of revising it for 2025). Before I do that, I have unfinished business with an anime nowhere near as good as this. That will be all for now, take care.

Terminator Zero (2024) First Viewing Thoughts.

This started as another first impressions post, but it turned into something even bigger after I once again binged the whole event. So, here are my first viewing thoughts on the anime Terminator Zero.

Courtesy: Netflix/Production IG/Skydance

Helmed by Masashi Kudo of "Ghost in the Shell" fame and Mattson Tomlin; the anime takes place parallel to the canonical judgment day on August 29, 1997. As the hour draws closer to Skynet becoming self-aware, mysterious beings known as Misaki and Kokoro seek to prevent catastrophe with an enigmatic programmer named Malcolm Lee and his three children. What follows is a story that not only pays homage to the franchise's 40-year legacy; but presents its core ideas in fascinating new ways.

As a longtime fan, I am pleased to say that not only does it contain a large amount of thrilling action scenes and visual wonder I've come to expect; it also re-imagines the lore in a time where it's arguably needed most. Some of the iconography and story elements are familiar. Others are remixed in new and unique ways. Though the franchise has varied wildly in terms of quality over the years, I have found something to enjoy even in the more divisive installments.

Without any major spoilers, the anime definitely did a fantastic job at remixing the many twists and turns the franchise's timeline has taken over the years. It's also visually-stunning, with Production IG turning in some absolutely fantastic animation. I am not exaggerating when I say this is honestly my favorite installment since T2, which remains my favorite of the films (a sentiment shared by my late brother).

Overall, 'Terminator Zero" is an ideal way to celebrate 40 years of the franchise, blending its flair for thrilling sci-fi action and horror with thought-provoking statements on everything from the ethical debates surrounding AI to the conflict between predestination and free will. This will be far from the only IP to be addressed in the remainder of this year. You will just have to wait and see what it is next. That will be all for now, and I'll be back.

Digimon 02: The Beginning is a Symbol of Everything Wrong with 02 and Modern Digimon (First Viewing Thoughts)

 CW: Domestic abuse, mental illness, trauma

Spoilers for: A Silent Voice, Spider-Man Across the Spider-Verse, Other Digimon franchise installments 

So, I just watched Digimon Adventure 02: The Beginning; and even with my low expectations from the previous installment and my mixed feelings towards 02, it honestly went below the bar I set and kept digging past the bedrock. There will be spoilers to explain why, and also spoilers for other iterations of the franchise.

Before I get to into the major problems with the movie, I will again go over the positives I have. The animation is indeed impressive, and I did enjoy the music score as well. Regrettably, I cannot say much positive about the plot and characters apart from a scene early on that suggests they walked back the end of the last movie (with Tai in public office attempting to open up relations between the real world and digital world like in the TV anime).

As mentioned at the top; the real focus of the movie is quite heavy, centering around Ukkomon and its tamer Rui. I will likely get into more detail in the future, however; the bottom line is this- Rui claims to be the first human to partner with a Digimon, with the timeframe being right before the Highton View Terrace incident in the OVA. This would be an intriguing idea... were it not for the other side to this backstory.

Rui was raised in a household with a terminally ill father and an abusive mother when Ukkomon entered the story. Though at first it seemed his life was improving, it was later revealed that Ukkomon's solution was to take control of Rui's parents like human puppets. I intend to flesh this out more in the future; but this is just the worst way to handle this storyline. It's not like it's impossible for this franchise to do it well- one of my favorite aspects of my favorite season; Tamers made the trauma build naturally over the course of the story. Ukkomon's actions in this movie still pale in comparison to Dr. Kurata functionally committing the digital world equivalent of genocide in Savers/Data Squad.

Here, it feels misguided at best and downright harmful at worst; indirectly suggesting that the model Ukkomon set forth is beneficial, if not vital for the concept to work. Clearly, they aimed at my heart and hit me in my stomach, to paraphrase the famous muckraking piece.

There's another piece from FilmInk that goes into the film's mishandling of abuse; and it was a major help for writing this. To put this into further context, this would be analogous to A Silent Voice being a work about perpetuating the cycle of bullying based on disability rather than trying to break it. It's not a movie for the faint of heart, but it's also one I consider excellent and a far better story about this topic than this. It's a story that actually explores the effects these acts have on not just their victims, but their perpetrators.

I'm not saying it's impossible for a Digimon story to be a parable for toxic relationships alongside its spectacle; just that I've had specific issues with 02's handling of them in the past. Here, however; is where it's inherently clear to me their additions to the canon have done more harm than good. It especially doesn't help that there other re-imaginings that avoided this movie's pitfalls; one of which came out the same year as this movie.

Since I invoked Into the Spider-Verse in comparison to Last Kizuna; I think it's only fitting I do the same here for Across the Spider-Verse. Not only did that film succeed in every area this one failed in, it also proved to be the ideal counterargument to Rui's dilemma here. Specifically, I would like to highlight the scene where Miles openly rejects the idea that tragedy is helpful; let alone necessary to be a better hero.

MILES: "So we're supposed to just let people die because some algorithm says it's supposed to happen?!"  (Lyla shockingly says "whoa, whoa") "You realize how messed up that sounds?!"

MIGUEL/2099: "You have a choice between saving one person or saving an entire world, every world."

MILES: "I can do both! Spider-Man always..."

PETER B. : (Dejectedly) "...Not always."

Right after that, under the subtle guidance of Hobie Brown/Spider-Punk; Miles breaks off from Miguel's leadership; inspiring numerous other variants to follow suit. This is a scene that not only makes for a compelling moment in the story; but shows how well it understands the characters.

By contrast, this movie plays out less like a movie focused on the 02 cast and more like "The Tragedy of Rui and Ukkomon, featuring the cast of Digimon 02." Despite the movie's attempts to claim otherwise, it is not a happy ending. Whether or not you consider the changes made to the timeline, Ukkomon was still complicit in Rui's trauma and actively made the problem worse with the misguided attempts to solve it. Likewise, Rui is likely facing down time in jail or a psychiatric hospital for what he's done; if not both.

Again, hate to repeat what I said during my posts on Last Evolution Kizuna; but how do you make the distant finale of the 02 season look like a more coherent ending? What is the point of trying to use these characters again if you're going to continually make them feel like supporting players in their own story?! It's just simply and completely unbelievable!

While this is far from the first time a Digimon adaptation has dealt with dark subject matter; this is the first time I've been utterly disgusted by how it fundamentally mishandled the story. Not even Frontier's mixed results with their season bungled things this badly.

This season never had a universally-loved reputation; but this movie is easily a symbol of everything wrong with 02 and modern Digimon in a single 87-minute package. It's another story that likely would have fared better as an OVA miniseries with more time to flesh out the characters and plot. As it stands, Digimon 02: The Beginning is functionally the end of any further desire to see this iteration of the franchise. A full review will follow after I watch the English dub and post thoughts on that as well. That is all for now, and I really need something to drink,