Pokémon Legends Z-A Countdown- 120 Days Remaining

Hey everyone- with the launch window now in sight; I thought I would formally begin the countdown. With 120 days remaining till launch on the Switch family, here's an update regarding Pokémon Legends Z-A!

Though I can’t claim to speak for anyone else, I think the Lumiose City map should be more than enough for the game's setting given how important it was in X and Y. On top of the "wild zones" and "battle zones," I am eager to see how much I can explore with the parkour-inspired traversal.

As talk persists of new ones, I am glad all the previous Mega Evolutions will be returning to the game; what I have seen so far looks great.

While the Switch 2 port will have the expected boosts in frame rate and resolution, I honestly think the game will be a fantastic showcase across the Switch family as a way to send off this era of the main series. Even at this stage and details being kept close to the chest; it remains among my most anticipated games of the year.

With a new Pokémon Presents debuting next month, there is sure to be more revealed; and I will bring more details as I get them. That is all for now, and I will see you all again soon. Seek out all Pokémon.

Pokémon Horizons- Mega Voltage (JP) First Impressions: Horizons 02

Now that I have seen all the episodes I currently have access to, I present my first impressions on Pokémon Horizons' Mega Voltage. 

Even with the much-ballyhooed time skip, I'm not particularly impressed by it. Before I explain why, getting into my issues with this arc so far (especially with how I don't think the time jump has been that well-implemented); I will address the positives as usual. The animation is once again very good, especially in terms of battles. This is especially true when they're seen through to the end, something HZ has been oddly hesitant to do. Also, when they actually do adapt elements from the games instead of just hinting at them. I still maintain that HZ would have been way better if they had just directly adapted the video games. Scarlet and Violet would have been perfect for the character-driven story they're aiming for.

Now, onto the issues I have with it; which also tie into the ones I have the end of Rayquaza Rising. One constant I have with others is that when there's an issue with Horizons is not the ideas themselves; but their implementation. That's what tends to break willing suspension of disbelief, with one of Tinkatuff's hammers. On a basic level, the characters trying to clear their names and taking the fight to the enemy is not bad. It's everything else that's the issue- you're telling me all this happened in the span of a year? Get out of here. Personally, I don't think that's a substantial enough amount of time for things to have changed. 

It's especially not good when 5/6 of the Legendary Heroes fall into a crevasse, only for the preview to show the bad guy has them. Honestly, I'm starting to get bored with Spinel and the Explorers as villains- I personally found the AI variants of Sada and Turo; as well as the smaller-scale antagonism of Team Star and the rivals more interesting.

Inconsistencies aside (2/3 of the mains not having stage 2 starters and an offhand mention of Blueberry Academy without actually showing it), part of the supposed appeal of a time skip is to show a new perspective. I've never believed it was a solution in and of itself to anything in a story. It's just a storytelling tool to be used well or used badly, just like anything else.

It's a difficult thing to get right and an easy one to mess up, and it's very much a mixed bag. Some character behaviors have thankfully been dropped, but I honestly don't see that much different. The biggest difference I notice with these characters is they started dressing differently. As someone who took years to warm up to the costuming in the Advanced Generation; a new set of cosmetics isn't enough for me. 

Instead of clarifying what continuity this anime takes place in, things have been made even less clear with the presence of one new character. As you can imagine, I do not like Ult as a character personally. It is fine helped save Liko and Roy from Exceed, but apart from that, I find him obnoxious at best and a danger to himself and others at worst. I know it's wishful thinking to see "you-know-who" crossover with this cast, but Ult to me displays the worst qualities of Yamcha without any of the redeeming aspects. They especially crank the distrust of female characters up to 11- I've seen "shyness" and this isn't it. This is much worse- I also don't enjoy how he's functionally taking the place of Dot as tritagonist for most of what I've watched of this arc; especially as she was most actively trying to improve herself and has changed the most out of the main cast. I can't say I was impressed with the episode addressing "nuisance streamer" culture- personally think the 2018 version of GeGeGe no Kitaro did it better in its first episode. I would not have invited the prankster with the Stunfisk on my stream- I would have him turned into a tree. I really have a hard time buying even in this day and age that nearly everyone took Exceed's account at face value when I see mistakes about the Switch 2 and the new Superman addressed and corrected in real time.

You only get one chance at a first impression, and in my eyes at least; Mega Voltage and Ult in particular wasted theirs. I'm willing to entertain some details had to be changed because of the Tera Leak, it's just not a direction I personally would have taken. Honestly getting harder and harder for me to buy this was all planned out when the actual result suggests the opposite. I will have more to say when I review each arc (after the EN dub is out), but it will not surprise me at all if what I hear about Generation X going back to basics is true.

Despite everything, what Pokémon Horizons' Mega Voltage arc reminds me most of is Digimon Adventure 02- lots of interesting ideas; but they don't really come together as a unified whole. Honestly hope the plan for the Generation X anime is much simpler, I also won't be surprised if it's a hard reboot. Thankfully, I will have much more pleasant matters to talk about soon. That will be all for now, take care.

Bleach: The Thousand-Year Blood War (EN) First Impressions

Hey everyone- now that I've see the first four episodes; I thought I would go into detail more about this anime as I deal with the summer heat coming early. So, here are my first impressions on Bleach: The Thousand-Year Blood War.

Having read the whole of the manga, the anime does a good job of translating this arc from page to screen even with how much the market has changed in the time the franchise has been absent from the public eye. In many ways, the cancelation of the initial run now comes off like a prolonged hiatus.

Likewise, the anime also wastes no time in establishing what's at stake in the conflict. Much like its precursor YuYu Hakusho and more recent phenomena such as Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba (lowkey excited for the Infinity Castle movie); the plot armor is functionally off- anyone can die, or at least; they won't make it through entirely unscathed. The animation is also vastly improved from when the anime left our screens in the previous decade, and Kubo's penchant for memorable character design remains on trend. Admittedly, the idea of an enemy who wants to remove an entire bloodline they deem inferior from the gene pool isn't exactly a stretch these days... make your own assumptions.

Glad I have this out, and it won't be the only anime time jump I'm covering either. Just want you to know that I'm not just drinking Baja Blast and playing Capcom Fighting Collection 2 this weekend, though that's also true. That's all for now, take care.

Dragon Ball Daima Coming To Toonami This Weekend.

Once again, I apologize for not being able to get out as much as I wanted to- mixture of heat wave and getting stuff ready for when I have my molars out. Regardless, I have a pleasant announcement to share with you all.

The English dub of Dragon Ball Daima, the final Dragon Ball project Akira Toriyama had direct involvement in before his passing last year at age 68; will debut on Toonami this weekend after Lazarus at 12:30. As the franchise has been a cornerstone of the block since its origins in the 1990s and early 2000s; this was a natural move. Plus, I am very glad that Stephanie Nadolny is back as the voice of young Goku.

I will bring you more stuff as it's ready, and I will see you all again soon. Take care everyone.

Pokémon Legends Z-A Coming October 16 and More.

Hey everyone- with one week to the release of the Switch 2 and a whole slew of games launching alongside it; I thought I would give some updates to one in particular I've been looking forward to as well as its banner franchise. Yes folks, much as I guessed; Pokémon Legends Z-A will see release around the world on the Switch family this fall on October 16!

Courtesy: Nintendo/Game Freak/The Pokémon Company

This also coincides with a litany of details, with more to come at a new Pokémon Presents in summer. For now, we have received more and more details on the gameplay and presentation. The traversal bearing similarities to parkour still intrigues me immensely. I am also eager to experience the new active combat mechanics. I don't know about Xenoblade parallels as someone who is not a fan of that franchise; but I can identify parallels to Shin Megami Tensei and Persona in terms of gameplay.

While the Switch 2 version will of course get a higher graphical resolution and framerate; it honestly looks great to me no matter where I try it first. I am also confident the music will be fantastic, especially as Kalos had some of my favorite songs in the franchise upon its debut.

Finally, because it just amuses me so much, the now-iconic EN logo went through many revisions before its designer Chris Maple gave us the one we all know and love. That is just a testament to how the creative process can take interesting twists and turns sometimes. That is all for now, and I will see you all again soon. Seek out all Pokémon.

The Curiously Pleasant Case of Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time (and its success).

So, MI8 was pretty sweet- a more than worthy finale to the cliffhanger from the previous installment and nearly 30 years of storytelling. I also enjoyed the Outlaw festival last night- stumbling back to my ride afterwards; less so.

With that, it's time for another checkin with our old pals at Level-5; with one of their oft-delayed games coming out and actually turning out to be a pleasant surprise. So, let's dig into the curiously pleasant case of Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time.

Coming about a decade after the previous main title; there's been lots of competitors to fill the vacuum in terms of games that combine RPG mechanics with life simulators. Even with the tumult facing Level-5, (especially in having the physical release of the game canceled at the last moment); the game has actually proven to be a pleasant surprise. Early press is also uniformly positive, and it's among the bestsellers on the eShop charts alongside stalwarts such as Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and Minecraft.

I am of a belief there's room for multiple games in a genre, and even with more competition for life simulators than when the first game released; it's certainly proved to be fairly solid even with a development cycle rivaling Duke Nukem Forever and Beyond Good and Evil 2 in terms of delays. In fact, a free update is currently being sent out for players as you see this. I know I'm among many concerned for the future of the company; but I'm not so numb I'm incapable of mentioning when the company does something good.

Though it remains to be seen how the new Inazuma Eleven will do given a crowded launch month this August (including MGS: Snake Eater Delta, Gears of War Reloaded, Mafia The Old Country, Kirby and the Forgotten Land on Switch 2 among many others), it's nice to share something positive in between rounds of Power Stone via Capcom Fighting Collection 2. That's all for now, take care.

Honest Thoughts- Hino's Take on AI at Level-5 is Disappointing and Disillusioning.

(Sighs) Just when I think I've seen and heard it all; I find something that shows me otherwise and compels me to write about it. In a recent interview with Famitsu, Level-5 president and CEO Akihiro Hino shared thoughts on the use of AI tools in his company's games. It is because of this stance (which has not sat well with the company's fans) that I am writing this piece instead of having this conversation over his social feeds. Here are my honest thoughts on why Hino's take on AI at Level-5 is disappointing and disillusioning.

Image from Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch.

Before I get into the actual words he said, I thought it would be good to establish my point of view on the matter- though there may be a day when AI is not only ubiquitous but indeed capable of the lofty claims of its backers; it still needs a lot of work to get farther than a novelty for me (like those clips of DBZ by Balenciega). At this stage, there's too many ethical landmines for me to engage with it actively. 

However, that line of thinking and nuance is often lost on the executive class; and Hino is no exception despite claims otherwise. Now, let's share his quote from the Famitsu interview.

“Through this program, I hope many of you will get to soar to the global stage as game developers. While I am also actively working as a developer, I’ve recently found myself thinking that AI technology is encroaching upon the creative world. Currently, around 80~90% of codes are written by AI and then fixed up and finalized by human programmers. In other words, it means that right now, around 80~90% of games are made by AI. And it does not just stop at programming – AI technology is encroaching on art, music and even game design on a large scale. Not to mention that it’s already becoming common sense in the creative world to rely on the power of AI to boost work efficiency. That is why I believe that “aesthetic sense” is a necessary skill for game developers.”

There's a lot to unravel here, but apart from a few defenders; the overall response from longtime fans has not been good. Though he and Level-5 were once seen as the creative antidote to the likes of EA, Ubisoft and Activision; it's become increasingly clear Hino has become the very thing he swore to destroy, to paraphrase Obi-Wan.

First and foremost, the "80-90%" figure has been refuted by a number of developers. In particular, one anonymous developer (who I shall call Billy Cranston for the sake of argument) responded by saying that the claim is "completely untrue, bordering on libelous." As I stated above, the current builds work fine as an assist; but Billy soundly points out that they "are not yet anywhere near capable of producing usable code for games, despite what media hype might have you thinking."

As for how that figure applies to the games themselves; that's another story. We do live in an age where games get accused of/caught using generative AI elements with alarming frequency; but I do have a pretty solid eye for picking out the obvious dregs while looking for deals on PSN and eShop. I don't anticipate we'll be at the "push a button and make it happen" stage for a while; let alone have it produce decent results.

Next, let's break down Hino's comments on AI use in art, music and game design. As previously stated; while it may be funny to have SpongeBob or Hank Hill cover a pop song, using these models on a broader scale also opens it up to a broader level of scrutiny as well. However, Hino's blithe attitudes on the tech did not endear him to longtime fans of the developer's games; many of whom responded by vowing to never buy or play anything from Level-5 again. It also comes at a time where other games are coming under fire for plagiarism (with Bungie's Marathon especially facing backlash for such), so it's not the best idea to come out in favor of tech that relies heavily on data scraped from other sources.

I have never really bought into the "common sense" argument (especially since it's becoming rarer than the Dial of Archimedes), and the efficiency argument has been routinely disproven as people everywhere from Comcast to McDonald's have had to fix problems specifically caused by AI breaking things; let alone missing details humans would not. 

In all seriousness, the claim of "aesthetic skill" in the context of AI to me is analogous to pitching Arby's to a gathering of vegans- you're courting a group of people you're never going to reach. 

With that, I maintain that Hino's take on AI at Level-5 is disappointing and disillusioning. I was hoping that the negative response the fanbase had could at least give him pause to reconsider going all-in on the tech. Sadly, not only has that not happened, the developer has doubled down right as the latest Fantasy Life has debuted to a somewhat muted response. It's not that review codes were withheld, they just plumb are slow at sending them out. I will do my best to keep an open mind about what comes next from the developer; but I'm deliberately keeping expectations low to be safe. That's all for now, my copy of Capcom Fighting Collection 2 is finally coming soon and I got tickets to MI8. Take care.

Bleach: The Thousand-Year Blood War Coming to Toonami this weekend.

So, Oahu was enjoyable as I thought it would be; and my flight back went fine. The ride back from PDX and subsequent cough I got; much less so. As I continue tending to projects I've had going a while, I thought I would share this.

It seems the long-awaited anime adaption of Bleach: The Thousand-Year Blood War (which was the chronological finale to the manga) will bring its English dub to Toonami starting this weekend- Saturday, May 17 at 12:30AM.

Though I openly admit I'm a more casual fan of this and Naruto among this iteration of the Shonen Jump "big 3," I will have no problem adding this to my weekend viewings of One Piece (which remains my favorite of the trio to this day) and Lazarus. 

Seeing as this is functionally the Endgame of the franchise, I am open to talking about this anime more in the near future; and I will bring you more information on this and other topics as it becomes available. Later.

P.S.: Go see Thunderbolts*, it really is that good.

Lazarus (2025) First Impressions.

Well, this is interesting- I did my best to not prematurely judge this anime before it debuted; and it's been a pleasant surprise so far. So, let's talk about the latest from Shinichiro Watanabe (Cowboy Bebop, Samurai Champloo, Space Dandy); Lazarus.

Courtesy: Adult Swim

In the not too distant future of 2055, a miracle cure known as Hapna becomes a lethal drug that will wipe out all of humanity within 30 days time. With few options available, a group with the codename Lazarus is assembled to find Hapna's elusive creator; Skinner before it's too late.

I actually did something a bit different with this anime- even with the pedigree of its creative talent; I chose to not actively take in much prerelease material before it debuted earlier this month. With that in mind, the crew also contains the likes of Daiki Watanabe (no relation, but an accomplished figure in his own right) and Chad Stahleski of John Wick fame. So, as you can imagine; it's got style and showmanship aplenty.

Though Watanabe has a signature style to be sure, it's always interesting to see how it applies to different time periods and their respective methods of storytelling. This is no exception, especially as it applies to the music. Bebop had a mixture of classic rock and freeform jazz. Champloo infused hip-hop and rap music into a 17th century Japanese period setting. Space Dandy had island music and '50s rockabilly tunes to match a Dandy who was very much like an anime Zapp Branigan. Naturally, as this anime is a vision of the future we're potentially headed towards based on where we are now; so it's very much a cyberpunk new 2050s- less roaring 20s big bands and more EDM (and not just with this week's episode).

On top of the incredibly slick animation and distinct character types (I especially like Axel's backstory as a chronic prison breaker); I'm also glad that the pattern of naming each episode for a piece of music or other pop culture is intact. For instance, the episode cued up for next week is entitled "Pretty Vacant," and the one after that is called "Heaven is a Place on Earth."

It is a great example of not just the creators' talents; but also how you can make an animated series "adult" without exclusively relying on gratuitous violence and sex or whatever that terrible animated Good Times was doing last year.

Overall- while it remains to be seen if this will have the same impact as Watanabe's other works; Lazarus has more than enough to offer to recommend it. That's all for now, and I will see you all again soon (going to Oahu and Thunderbolts* next week). Take care, everyone.

Pokémon Legends Z-A Updates, Gamecube Classics on Switch 2+ More

Hey everyone- now that the dust has settled from the Switch 2 deep dive; I can say I am excited for the console. As the debate over everything from hardware niceties to how international trade could impact the rollout is ongoing; I have a clear through line I can address with confidence- the games. I intend to upgrade to the new system in 2026 at the earliest; since I'm waiting for a release date on Pokémon Generation X. So, I thought I would share some updates with the franchise that I've been meaning to.

Let's start with the newest title- this year's Pokémon Legends Z-A. Though there is still no concrete release date as of this writing (maintain that late 2025 suggests sometime in Q4 2025, so October is my earliest educated guess); the game had a host of new information revealed. It will also be among the titles that will get an upgrade on the Switch 2; with both higher resolution and frame rate confirmed. Even on my existing system, I am liking what the game is doing with Lumiose City; and I've never had as much issue with graphics as others. I can certainly appreciate visual flair whenever it's presented to me; but I still play and enjoy titles that released years if not decades ago.

On that subject, the worst-kept secret about the next legacy console to join the library of classic games has been confirmed to join the new one on launch day this June- the Gamecube. Among the titles that will be introduced in future waves; two in particular are of great interest to myself and others: Pokémon Colosseum and Pokémon XD Gale of Darkness.

Both games (despite being considered apocryphal by the current stewards of the franchise) have had considerable influence on future titles and the fandom as a whole. Speaking personally, they were the first major example of how a role-playing game with console-level processing could work for the franchise; and certainly far from the last. I especially like what the games did with the gameplay mechanics and world building. I notice a lot of similarities to the Dune cycle and the Mad Max films- in the latter case; it's not hard to see the colosseums as thunderdomes or the oases of Orre as the Green Place.

Lastly, even as yet more uncertainty faces WB Discovery; they have reaffirmed commitment to a number of IP under their roof. Specifically, not only is The Great Detective Pikachu still in active development; it is now going to be the first of a planned trilogy of live-action Pokémon adaptations. Can't say this is a complete surprise; given the surprise hit of Minecraft, divisive reception and rowdy guest behavior aside (I can wait till it comes to streaming for bad movie night). 

I will continue to bring you any information on the new console and games as it becomes available. No matter where I am; I intend to preorder Legends Z-A once I have a firm release date for it. That is all for now, take care.

10 Valid Critiques of Pokémon Horizons From Longtime Fans.

Hey everyone- given all the noise around Mega Voltage and the anime as a whole; I thought I would do something I've been contemplating a while. Despite what some have claimed otherwise, I have maintained the main deterrents to Pokémon Horizons were never the different "anchor" characters or new storylines in and of themselves. I have maintained that telling me you don't like HZ is not a controversial viewpoint and shouldn’t be treated like one. I in turn, have only seen HZ as just okay (something to leave on in the background while I'm doing anything from writing to playing my Switch); but I have no need to go after the show's supporters. With all of this in mind, there are valid points being raised by longtime fans about HZ (especially as the 30th anniversary and Generation X draw ever closer; with a new anime in the works). So, I thought I would go over the most common ones as firmly but fairly as I can. Here are 10 valid critiques longtime fans have with Pokémon Horizons.

First, I will establish that you obviously won't be seeing the obvious hot takes that have been repeated so often they've lost all meaning. Second, this isn't a formal "top 10" list, just ten critiques that have merit among all the fluff. Lastly, I thought I would lead with the honorable mentions; so I can establish what you can expect. Usually, I do that near the end; but in this case, I'll make an exception.

Honorable Mention- Furthering the "problem" it was intended to solve 

One common argument in favor of HZ is that it struck a balance between kids today and the older fanbase who were kids of yesteryear. While not untrue on a surface level, I'd submit that only really works if you look at it from a very specific angle. From another, this anime to other parts of the audience is a solution in search of a problem. I've argued this before, but audience clarity is key. Your average kid won't be interested in corporate smear campaigns, and your typical person my age won't be terribly invested in some internet celebrity's fans. 

Honorable Mention- Higher standards and more variety in family entertainment 

This point will be expanded on in the main list, but it's still worth mentioning here- Pokémon isn't built the same way as other shows of its ilk. It showed up exactly where it needed to be to succeed in pop culture and built its brand carefully over the years that followed. I'm of a mindset that HZ might have worked fine in the 2000s as a spinoff; but pitching it as the mainline option in a far more competitive landscape was always going to be tough. On top of how close it was to the end of the previous anime, simply having a different story structure and anchor character was only going to keep hold of the audience and critics for so long. With more and more offerings for families and demands for better options all the time, merely being "different" isn’t enough anymore. Not when everything from Adventure Time to Craig of the Creek to the Avatar-verse to Gravity Falls; The Owl House and Amphibia (along with numerous others) have been able to give so much depth to the same demographic HZ is targeting.

1. Inconsistent handling of the source material

One thing I have learned over the years in and out of this fandom is there are creative liberties that one will accept and others one will not. I would argue one not need capture the letter of the original work; capturing its spirit is even more important. Though my feelings on HZ remain complicated (why my reviews will be arc by arc instead of individual episodes); I maintain it works a lot better when it actually adapts the games instead of going off on its own. It's why Terastal Debut is probably the best of the arcs I've seen; though even that isn't without its caveats. I still believe changing Grusha as a character wasn't necessary as the other Paldea gym leaders didn't get that treatment. Likewise, if they wanted a character-focused story; the Generation IX games would have been the ideal template to follow. I understand earlier seasons embellishing details; but there's been an increasing willingness to accept the source material in another medium. We'll touch on this again later in this list; but the approach to adaptation feels like an overcorrection to a large portion of the audience.

2. Unclear placement in franchise canon

Far from the new anchor characters, a far greater deterrent myself and others faced with HZ is the lack of clarity in just where it fits in the near 30-year history of the franchise. I was among those hoping that the new direction would mean greater clarity of just how the anime functions in relation to its predecessors. Regrettably, that ended up not being the case. In fact, outside the Tera leak; there has been no clear official statement about just where the show is in relation to the previous anime or games. That isn't a problem other franchises have; and it would be appreciated if we all knew for sure whether or not it's an alternate universe.

3. Slower pacing

This is one of the more understandable criticisms of this anime, and one I've heard fewer people try to justify. When used correctly, a slow-burn pace can work wonders for a story; but when it makes the experience harder to invest in, it's a surefire way to have your audience take their business elsewhere. This ties directly into my next point; and these two are among the most common counterarguments towards reasons people have praised HZ. I know previous seasons weren't always the best about this either, but things were at least happening in episodes that weren't key to the plot. Here, every episode is plot-relevant and makes the experience as much of a stagger as Wo-Chien (using a turtle-based Pokémon or Regigigas' "Slow Start" would have been too obvious). It is possible to write a serialized story where it doesn't feel like it takes an entire arc to do one story event where other shows can have multiple; friendly reminder.

4. Mystery box storytelling not being for everyone

While the "mystery box" story device can and has been used to tell decent stories; I've never been a huge fan of the device being used in and of itself for a story. For a sizable portion of the audience, that was a bigger deterrent than the new leads and still is. At best, it's like the GS Ball 2.0. At worst, it's withholding basic story and character details for no reason. It's also among the plot devices that's trickiest to get right and easiest to screw up. I didn't drop the show outright over it; but I am among those who deliberately chose to wait for whole storylines to make it online. I'd personally find it easier to buy some of the payoffs if they didn't invoke the "somehow, Palpatine returned" meme on me. Won't be the only analogy I make here from JJ either.

5. Other options in the franchise doing more with less

To me and others, merely having a different lead and story structure isn't enough of a reason to check something out and never was to me. It's how those elements are used; and I found other areas of the franchise far more interesting in telling different stories in the same fictional universe. As pictured in this section, Pokémon Concierge presented a better understanding of the material and what I want out of it from an adult perspective than HZ did in a fraction of the time (I am looking forward to the next season soon). You'd be harder-pressed to find anyone who loved the neo-noir of the live-action Detective Pikachu more than I do; and that story did a better job to me of presenting the Pokémon world through an adult lens while also being fun for today's kids. Multiple web OVAs canon to the games are online with more to come. While this will continue in the second half, I will say this- you don't always need two years and over 100 episodes to tell your story. Sometimes, by doing less; you end up with a story that does more.

6. Heavy alterations to the world-building

On paper, adding an airship and a more consistent adult presence to the show is a way to help set it apart from its predecessors. However, the flip side to that coin is that it inadvertently made the world they were traveling seem a lot smaller. In all honesty, I am actually among those who were glad that Terastal Debut had the older characters as mentors and the children traveling Paldea at ground level; as the independent study program of the "Great Paldea Treasure Hunt" was one of my favorite aspects of the games. Even areas that would lend themselves naturally to the kind of storytelling HZ is aiming for aren't fully-utilized (Area Zero had less screen time than the anime-original Rakua) or outright omitted (Blueberry Academy has yet to make an appearance- not against it; but also not holding my breath for it). Overall, the world-building in HZ isn't the worst ever; but it lacks the same magic as its predecessors even when pulling from the same source material.

7. The utilization of the new elements

This applies to both the anime itself and its video game source material- I'm a person that argues and has argued that it's not just adding new elements to a work that is key; it's how those elements are utilized. In order to dispel the belief that it's nostalgic fans who disliked the idea of retiring the previous lead, I will mention my favorite seasons are from Sun and Moon and Journeys- the sagas that ended that 25+ year run. Both the former's slice-of-life elements and the latter's "anything goes" approach incorporating material from the whole show up to that point helped recreate the feelings I got spending afternoons and weekends watching the original series in days' past. I even appreciated implementing ideas from the games (both console and mobile) in unique ways and coming up with new stories out of whole cloth. In the case of HZ, I'm not among those that thought they went too far in shaking up the status quo. Given how the games have had more willingness to break from conventions, I'm among those that thinks it didn't go far enough. I'm not saying HZ would have had to have the leads collecting all the stakes to fight the Titanic Monarchs; but it would have been nice to see how the characters responded to the box legendaries or Ogerpon instead of putting everything on Terapagos. I'm also dismayed Arven wasn't given any lines, since Nemona and Penny were well-represented in the anime. Though others I've spoken with remain adamant that the HZ cast will remain as long as their seniors; I'm among those who will not be surprised if that ends up not being the case.

8. Downplaying the importance of battles

This has remained one of the more common critiques of HZ- though the battles that it does have are certainly standouts; this element seems to be significantly downplayed this time around. Whether it's fighting an enemy faction; rising through the ranks in the league or an Eastern-infused take on over-the-top Looney Tunes cartoon violence, it's a foundational element of the franchise. Yet, the way HZ has handled them has been a point of contention among the fanbase. Not only are they far less common than they once were; they don't necessarily hold the same impact in the overall story. Part of this can be attributed to the changes in character and story; but I would have preferred connecting personal growth to growth of skill rather than compartmentalizing it. 

9. The weight of comparison

This has been one of the juiciest nuggets to address; especially as someone who's gone out of their way to not compare HZ to the previous anime unless absolutely necessary. Yet, one of the major arguments in HZ's favor I'm glad is being disputed is its comparisons in other areas of the franchise. I've mentioned it before, I will mention it again- merely having a different character and story setup isn't a free pass for me to like something. It's doing something with those characters and setup that is the key. I will specifically state that I do not agree with the comparisons to the manga, with Adventures/Special in particular. Though I may not agree with every change made there either (changing some of the player characters' personalities, making Surge and Sabrina antagonists among numerous others); I can at least understand why they were made. I just find it strange how even after the games have proven that you can tell a story with the franchise beyond "there is opponent, fight on, now go and rest our heroes;" the main anime still remains hesitant to fully embrace that. The storylines in Scarlet and Violet and its expansions would have been perfect to adapt for Horizons, and the fact so little has is honestly a bigger disappointment than the change in lead cast. These alone are textbook examples of how the weight of comparison can crush a work before you even press play. If you were to ask me about why I prefer 2019's Detective Pikachu and the stop-motion Pokémon Concierge over Horizons; it's simple- they didn't sell themselves as a bold new take on the franchise, they sold themselves as stories with unique visuals and intriguing ways of implementing different genres into the Pokémon world... which just happened to turn out as bold new takes on the franchise. With both being followed up on in the near future, I honestly feel more confident in those than I do about HZ lasting till Generation X.

I also do not agree with the comparisons to the Avatar-verse or One Piece. In the case of the original ATLA, Mike; Bryan and everyone working with them knew what they wanted to do and then set about doing it over its three-season run. Even given the discourse over The Legend of Korra; I have argued it works in a different way, and I'm lowkey excited for what's next. Oda is also far better at planning to me than anyone working on HZ, even when not working with mains. Having recently rewatched it, the reason why Señor Pink dresses like an overgrown infant; complete with a bonnet and pacifier? Long story, but the short version is still heavy- He lost his wife and child.

10. An overall less memorable/enjoyable experience 

Regardless of what happens, it's clear that HZ has much to accomplish in order stick in the public consciousness to the same way its predecessors did. Though a core audience loves the new direction; it certainly is never good when my research process discovers that viewing figures stopped being reported sometime around Terastal Debut. Streaming numbers are also regularly outside the top 10, so what ends up happening for the 30th anniversary will be dependent on how Mega Voltage lands at the end. I'm hoping for it to stick the landing; but I won't be surprised if it ends up like the finale for "Lost" and the discourse around it (I'm among those who latched onto the "purgatory all along" theory, which is one of the most commonly accepted ones).

All the same, there's a reason why for every fan who has latched onto HZ; there's others that just moved on after JN (and by proxy; the last quarter-century of anime). In my and many others' case, it was simply the way To Be a Master and Distant Blue Sky said; "thank you for sharing this story with us- now go find a new one to enjoy!" With that being the case, there's also the sentiment that in its changes to the story and characterization; it made the anime less enjoyable compared to its seniors. I do not hate or even dislike Horizons, but it's less memorable to me and others; to the point where it's yet to rise beyond a "second screen" when I'm writing, editing or playing my Switch. It's fine, but it's not actively raising the cool factor or fun factor the way what came before has. I would more readily show my nephew the Indigo League or Journeys than Horizons any day; and I would do the same for myself.

Though the future of the anime after this remains uncertain (opinion remains divided whether or not this cast will be kept long-term or Generation X will have someone else); it is clear that Pokémon Horizons is not without valid critiques from longtime fans. I certainly will not be against bringing back past characters or using ones from the games; but I guess I will know more after I finish Rayquaza Rising and start Mega Voltage. All the same, I’ve never considered disliking HZ a controversial opinion and I would appreciate if it weren’t seen that way. I still think it’s all right, but I’ve never understood the more effusive praise others have given it. That will be all for now, and I will see you all again soon; take care.

Holy Horror Mansion- The Case For and Against It as a "New Concept" for Yokai Watch.

Hard to believe it's been 10 years since I first talked about this, yet; here we are. As development continues on this and other Level-5 properties (even as some of them are reaching Duke Nukem Forever/Beyond Good and Evil 2 levels of development Hell), I thought I might do my full thoughts in my own way. Here is a presumptive look at Holy Horror Mansion; presenting the case for and against it as a "new concept" for Yokai Watch.

Let's start with the case for the game. Though I will touch on my concerns of their "biggest IP ever" ambitions in a bit, I'm going to do my best to be as fair as I can. The premise bears some similarity to Yokai Watch; there are factors that do have potential. As a longtime advocate of user generated content, the "Ghost Craft" mechanic intrigues me the most.

On a wider level, the concept of exploring haunted locales is a sound one. From Luigi's Mansion to Resident Evil to even Fatal Frame; the means for doing so in games is endless. The idea that even a lavish high rise can be a vessel for horror is sound. If they pull this off, I think the game could succeed.

Of course, there are admittedly far more factors working against the game. Though there is an obvious flaw that has been addressed before and we shall touch on again in a moment; I thought I would address other major factors working against the game first.

So, here's the issue that's become an increasing problem over the past decade: Level-5 having numerous failed attempts to appeal to audiences in the West. Though it certainly isn't impossible for a developer to grow its audience over time (with both Atlus and RGG Studio having great success this way), Level-5 has continually tried to bypass this step and jump right to the instant success part. 

However, Level-5 has continually misunderstood the market they're aiming at. Personally, trying to homogenize the Japanese elements into something more broad was a major issue I took with the EN localization of Yo-Kai Watch; and attempting to double down on that broad "creepy and kooky" design is my main concern. To me, the Level-5 titles that appealed most to me as a Westerner were the ones that just made an interesting game and went from there. My personal favorites, the Ni No Kuni games; are functionally playable Studio Ghibli films (they were even directly involved with the first game and heavily influenced the second). The Professor Layton franchise (which itself is finally getting a new game) combined mystery adventuring with unique puzzles to great effect. I've also heard good things about Rogue Galaxy and the Dark Cloud games, might check those out on my PS Plus sometime.

On the other side of the coin, their obsession with trying to make all their games part of some transmedia franchise has honestly done more harm than good to their brand than anything. Inazuma Eleven is in a "make or break" moment with their newest main game. Maybe DECA Police will work, maybe it won't (have a liking for detective games and stories lately). Dragon Quest was never fully theirs in the first place. Megaton Musashi is still around for now, but who knows how long that will last. The Snack World tried to cash in on the success of Adventure Time; but apart from competition and the pandemic, it largely failed because Adventure Time itself had long since evolved past focusing on wacky catchphrases and shenanigans. Honestly hope Ushiro can work since it's being revived.

Yet, even with the developer rarely achieving more than cult status; they remain persistent in trying to give the West the "next big thing." Still, the game itself has hurdles to clear outside corporate drama. As has been mentioned before, the usage of AI art assets didn't sit well with their existing fanbase or detractors of these apps. I still maintain that if I am to pick up the game, these assets need to be gone.

Outside that blotch on the record (one of several that have tarnished Level-5's once-sterling reputation), there's also significant challenges for the game itself to succeed. Each passing year, it gets tougher to break through in an increasingly competitive market. Even with others trying to spin the game's concept as "managed risk," I would like to point out that aspect of the company has had a less-than-stellar track record in that area. To be more brutally honest, Level-5 hasn't been right about how to appeal to Westerners in the last 10 years. As previously mentioned, the fatal flaw has been trying to brute force their way in rather than building a relationship with their potential audience. Though early releases from Yakuza and Shin Megami Tensei as well as their respective spinoff titles didn't do gangbusters; they had enough of a cult following overseas and at home to grow more popular. This, combined with uniformly positive critical reception helped both RGG and Atlus grow both franchises over time. It's their obsession with multimedia franchises over the last decade or so that's been a problem, which should make a decent transition to my next point.

Talking about this company for a full decade as of this writing, it isn't just Yo-Kai Watch that Holy Horror Mansion has to prove itself for as a "new concept." In their increasing obsession with franchising their games, they've alienated a sizable chunk of their core audience and embraced a whole Jeopardy category's worth of industry pitfalls they once stayed out of. Aside from the AI art assets, there's been cryptocurrency-laden mobile spinoffs; loot box gacha mechanics and multiple (imitates Jimquisition) "live services" out the backdoor. That last one has been in rather critical condition lately. So, there's an uphill battle on this front especially.

Courtesy: Level-5

With all that in mind, it still remains to be seen how Holy Horror Mansion will fare as a "new concept" for Yokai Watch. Looking back a full decade, it's honestly staggering how it's gone from being a phenomenon to a footnote in pop culture history. Though I would not have said all the things I did if I had known what would transpire since then, I still am not a huge fan of the anime and have no need to address any of the subsequent adaptations. Nor do I need to address nameless parties who only see that and Attack on Titan as the only two series worth mentioning even as the latter is more or less over.

I can only imagine their reaction of the two crossing over in the PuniPuni puzzle mobile game spinoff.

That aside, it's inherently clear that there is lots of pressure for this to work; let alone succeed. Level-5 has also had issues with their other titles, with Keiji Inafune having quit the company in midst of the new Fantasy Life experiencing issues. He was brought on after the company bought out Comcept, but I have to wonder if their business practices spread to Level-5. 

All the same, I do not think that this plan to make this their biggest ever is a good idea. Trying to sell the predecessor as the next big thing didn't work out. Trying to sell this as the biggest ever before it even ships will make anything less a disappointment. I know people in this business aren't known for having realistic expectations (especially nowadays); but that doesn't sound like a good idea. Level-5 has also had a major problem getting things released in recent years; which suggests there are problems with scope, staffing and resource management.

Given how volatile the market has been in recent years (to say nothing of outside factors); I am seriously concerned for the company's future. Every scenario from being bought out by someone else to financial ruin is now on the table. I know the former scenario would potentially mean ceding creative control to someone else; but that would be minuscule compared to the loss of the studio itself.

I may have argued in years' past that Yokai Watch was beyond saving; but I don't think Level-5 as a whole is. In the off chance someone from the company sees this, I believe they should not try to shotgun Holy Horror Mansion into the next big thing. Just release it "when it's done," and let people make their own judgment. Also, get rid of the AI assets in the final game- obvious ethical landmines aside; results of integrating the generative tech into games have been decidedly mixed. Every potential decent use has been outnumbered by people treating glorified open beta tests as official launches, like that time they tried to charge $700 for a juicer.

Here is the overall bottom line- while I am not against the idea of Holy Horror Mansion as a "new concept" for Yokai Watch; I am concerned about how the game is being framed and what impact the game will have on Level-5 as a company, generative AI elements notwithstanding. Depending on what developments come next, I will likely address the game further as more details are revealed. As for the rest of Level-5, they've let slip there might be more delays. I do kind of understand making PS4 SKUs for their games as the console has been quite resilient nearly five years after the PS5 launched, but it's getting stuff out at all that's a concern I and others have at this stage. That will be all for now, and I will see you in April- take care.

Pokémon Horizons- Two Years Later

(Note: This has been written before the debut of the most recent episodes in Japan, and any potential leaks will not be addressed unless necessary for educational purposes only.)

Hey everyone- since today marks two years since the debut of Pokémon Horizons; I thought I would check in with it again to see where it stands as the latest story arc is winding down and to see what might be next.

From left- Perrin and Hisuian Growlithe, Briar, Carmine and Sinistcha.

As usual, let’s start with what works first. The animation and battles are highlights, and Rayquaza Rising is no exception. I especially like how the encounter with Kleavor remixed the boss warden battle from Legends Arceus. Even with the deviations from the games (which I will mention in a bit); the inclusion of Perrin from the Hidden Treasure of Area Zero is welcome. This last one is just a personal deal, but they’ve thankfully mostly relegated Liko’s inner monologues to the “previously on” recaps.

That’s not to say that I don’t still have concerns about what lies ahead. I’ve argued before if HZ hasn’t sold you by now; it’s unlikely it ever will. Neglecting the recent information that’s been buzzing around; I still can’t compliment anything about this anime without bringing up significant caveats. For every character that’s well-represented like Briar, there’s others like Carmine who lack the qualities in the games that made them so memorable. It’s not even clear whether or not the events of the DLC chapters took place; as her brother Kieran isn’t shown or even mentioned by her. I wouldn't be against a storyline at Blueberry Academy that features him, but I’m not holding my breath for it. At this point, I just would prefer if they wrapped it up soon; since continuing this past Generation IX isn’t really feasible.

As for what will happen after this arc is over, I cannot say for certain. Supposed leaks aside, I honestly hope what I’m hearing about the Generation X anime going back to basics is true. It is feasible we’ll get a web OVA for Legends Z-A; but beyond that, I just haven’t been able to step away from seeing HZ as a flawed (if necessary) experiment. 

Though a time skip personally wouldn’t solve my issues with the show (if anything, I can see just as many issues of its own arising); “Pokémon Horizons” has cleared many hurdles even if there are more lying ahead. Depending on the outcome of the finale, I have no plans to cover the current arc or the next before they release in the EN dub. That is all for now, take care.

Further thoughts on Pokémon Legends Z-A (Switch).

I know it hasn't been long since the Pokémon Presents, but the update on information was honestly so exciting for me I just had to keep going. So, here are further thoughts on the upcoming Pokémon Legends Z-A.

I'm mainly going to be addressing details I didn't before, though I will expand upon ones I have when relevant. For the sake of argument, I will lead with the new active battle system. This is one of the aspects that intrigues me the most, as it both builds on what was done in Legends Arceus and takes influence from other titles in the space. I'm especially noticing the influence of the SMT/Persona games, which I am pleased to see.

Though I will have to think about which starter I will choose, it's been confirmed that over 126 monsters from previous games will be returning to the game. I still maintain that I am eager to see how the "Wild Zones" and traversal apply to the city.

While story details remain scarce at this stage, something tells me Quasartico might have more going on with the "redevelopment program" for Lumiose City than they're letting on. It will be interesting to see how Jett and Vinnie fare as antagonists if that's what ends up happening. 

As for how the game relates to the upcoming Switch 2, I imagine it should work fine as it was announced to be for the "Switch family." Plus, the developers have a long history of making the most out of existing hardware before moving onto the next console. I personally don't plan on doing a full upgrade to a Switch 2 till Generation X releases, whenever that will be.

I will be following the development of this game and bring you any new information as it becomes available. Though there is currently no release date beyond later this year, I do intend to place my preorder from the Pokémon Center website once I have a concrete release date (as it will likely be after moving). That is all for now, take care.

#PokémonPresents 2/27/25 Reaction+ Thoughts.

Hello everyone- we’ve made it through another month; and with that, a new Pokémon Presents to mark 29 years of the franchise and what’s next. Here are my thoughts on what’s been revealed. Both Tsunekazu Ishihara and Takato Utsonomiya are presiding, so let’s begin.

Courtesy: The Pokémon Company

The presentation leads off with the second season of the hit stop-motion series “Pokémon Concierge,” which is coming to Netflix this September. As someone who enjoyed the first season, I am looking forward to going back to this resort.

The Pokémon Go Unova Tour is slated for the weekend of March 1, I am currently enjoying the preview events. There are also new events for both Pokémon Masters EX and Pokémon Cafe Remix, currently in progress. The Pokémon Sleep app will have a Cresselia VS Darkrai event coming soon, on top of the ongoing bonus event. I accidentally pushed the wrong button the morning of the stream, but I got the bonus anyway.

Pokémon UNITE is also introducing an array of new playable characters. The first, Suicune will be live on March 1. The second, Alolan Raichu will be live in April. The third, Alcremie, will be introduced later this year. All the current roster is now free to try for a limited time.

On top of the trading card game introducing a new Mega EX expansion, there’s a new update to the TCG Pocket mobile game. I have not played the latter yet, but I likely will when I next upgrade my device.

There are also a handful of events ongoing in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet; which have vastly improved since launch. On top of mass outbreaks of red, green and blue monsters (commemorating the original JP games); there are codes for Rotom Phone cases of the Scarlet Book in Scarlet (SB00KC0VER) and Violet Book in Violet (VB00KC0VER), respectively.

One pleasant reveal is an upcoming competitive game that acts as a spiritual successor to Pokémon Stadium, Colosseum and Battle Revolution. The game, entitled Pokémon Champions, is being developed by The Pokémon Works under supervision from Game Freak; is being developed for iOS, Android and the “Nintendo Switch family” (which implies the newly-revealed Switch 2 without directly addressing it, suppose we’ll know more in April).

Now comes the part myself and others were waiting for the most- more details on Pokémon Legends Z-A. On top of the leaked starters being accurate (contemplating Tepig or Totodile), I really love the new avatar designs and the traversal having aspects of parkour. A series of “Wild Zones” are how catching monsters outside the main hub of Lumiose City will work. I also appreciate the return of AZ and his Floette (as hotel owners, no less); and the new companions of Urbain and Taunee. I do have to wonder what the true motives of Jett and her partner Vinnie are though. The release window is in late 2025, and I plan to preorder the game once I have a more concrete release date. That is all for now, and I will see you all in March- take care.

Honest Thoughts- Pokémon Horizons Doesn't Need a Movie, The Anime Needs a Reboot.

Hey everyone- with Pokémon Horizons winding down its most recent storyline, I thought it would be a good time to talk about what comes next. Though the cast has expressed interest in a movie; I’m not certain about that for a couple reasons. The first is how the movies have been on hiatus since 2021; and the second is how the “Tera Leak” is suggesting the next one will be another reboot. More to the point, I thought that would be a good time to see how such an idea would fare in an age where anything is open to the concept at any time. Here is why I don't think Pokémon Horizons needs a movie; and instead, the TV anime could use a reboot.

Let’s start with the aforementioned hiatus the movies have been on for a few years. Though Pokémon Secrets of the Jungle (known as Pokémon Coco in Japan) was well-received; it ultimately underperformed financially in its homestead as a result of two major factors- the pandemic, and the juggernaut success of “Demon Slayer Kimetsu no Yaiba: Mugen Train.” It even surpassed Makoto Shinkai’s “Your Name” as the most successful Japanese language film ever. The “I Choose You” timeline as a whole was personally a more effective attempt at a character-driven story than HZ; and if/when Project Bauer (codename for the movie reboot) comes to fruition, something along those lines can be done to adapt the games.

This brings me to my next point- the source material. Though the discourse over both this anime and Journeys is ongoing; there is one constant between them. Whenever it adapts the source material, people tend to appreciate the story more than when it deviates from it. 

More than that, though there isn't anything inherently wrong with the story of Horizons; a sizable amount of the audience (Hello.) couldn’t really get into it. For every viewer that sees the “mystery box” as a benefit; there are others that see it as a detriment to the plot (Hello again.). That, and it’s not clear whether the movie would be a side story or canon to HZ. There’s also the fact that so many narrative threads that are reaching their end; especially the central storyline. Realistically, there’s a question about where the anime could even go after this last arc concludes; if anywhere.

With the “Tera Leak” informally confirming that HZ is in the same continuity of the previous anime; there has been persistent talk about how they might formally confirm it. I suppose if I did pitch a movie about HZ, it would be something of a “crisis crossover” to celebrate the vast legacy of the franchise.

Courtesy: The Pokémon Company/ShoPro/TV Tokyo

Barring that, I am very much open to the idea of rebooting the TV series. There are actually plenty of great animated reboots that not only honored their source material; but vastly improved on it. Even I, someone who still watches and enjoys the legacy seasons would love to see what could be done with modern animation techniques. I would keep what worked about previous seasons and leave the rest to tell the story, but that’s just me. One last thing- I would definitely not be above embracing the more out there elements of the source material; something that has been done with multiple recent video game adaptations to great effect.

 

The success of Dragon Ball Daima has proven that you can reimagine a beloved story while still retaining what made it memorable at the start; it is possible. 

In a time where many anime reboots can honor and even surpass their seniors; I think the time is certainly right to reboot this one. I will see you all after the Pokémon Presents, take care. 

Pokémon Horizons' Terastal Debut- The Most Conflicted I've Ever Felt about HZ.

Hello everyone- with this storyline entering the EN dub (a full review will follow once all its episodes are online); I thought it would be aa good idea to address this arc. Though it did do a lot to improve on the issues I had with the previous storylines; there are other areas that could still use improvement. Here are my thoughts on Pokémon Horizons’ Terastal Debut; and why it’s the most conflicted I’ve ever felt about this anime so far.

Let’s start with what works and what’s improved, as usual. The animation is still the strongest aspect; and though others have denied this, the “Tera Leak” suggests that a pivot did happen from their plans to an extent. 

I actually was in favor of using this storyline as a soft reset that not only brought in more aspects from the games; but it also seemed designed to take a sledgehammer to each issue I had with the new leads. Dot viewing social interaction as a waste of time? Iono being paired for one of her challenges had no choice but to crack that barrier open like an egg. Roy acting impulsive and rushing headfirst into scenarios without a plan? Ryme is able to easily read this line of attack and causes him to reevaluate why he’s on his adventure. Liko being hesitant to engage with others, especially in battle? Both mentors and enemies are not exercising restraint with her, which becomes a catalyst for the rest of the story thus far. I also appreciate the inclusion of Nemona; and Penny.

That’s not to say that I still don’t have issues with the story. Call me crazy, but I’m not among those who thinks HZ “fixed” the issues, real or perceived with the previous seasons (JN in particular). I’m among those who maintain they were exacerbated; or at least, manifested in different ways. The short reason is this- a child viewer likely won't care for boring dealings at Friede’s former workplace; and a viewer my age likely won’t be amused by scenes involving a Varoom absconding with a Nidorina costume. The longer reason starts with this- even kids can tell when a story isn’t like its source material; and there are older viewers like me who are not above overlooking Horizons’ flaws.

I mean, it’s odd that this anime still insists on using fan-favorite aspects from the games in such a perfunctory way (Arven not having any lines, the box legendaries of SV being conspicuous by their absence so far) and changing others in ways that didn’t need to be (Grusha being among the most divisive). I will touch on this further in a full review as well as when Rayquaza Rising concludes; but in lots of ways, this anime is doing a bigger disservice to Generation IX than its predecessor did to Generation VIII. I can’t say I’m entirely surprised about plans to wrap it up and go back to basics for the next anime. I will address that idea at a later date in the year; but for now, I think it’s unlikely that HZ will get a movie and more likely that the anime as a whole will get a reboot (like James Gunn is doing with Superman and the DCU).

You might also be wondering why I’m not mentioning ratings in regards to this storyline. It turns out that they actually stopped reporting the numbers nearly a year ago. I know there’s the whole transition to digital streaming; but the HZ anime hasn’t cracked the top 10 list on Netflix in ages. There’s only so much blame to affix to their staggered release schedule, as I did theorize (correctly) that people would direct their attention elsewhere if things continued this way. Other reimagined stories on Netflix alone that have gotten the audience HZ was targeting include originals such as Sonic Prime and Jurassic World: Chaos Theory as well as getting recent hits such as Tales of the TMNT and Star Trek Prodigy.

One last thing to mention is this- despite the creative license taken; this storyline is honestly the adaptation of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet that HZ should have been from the start. That has honestly been the bigger adjustment than the changes in “anchor” characters and story structure. The success of Sonic the Hedgehog 3 has proven that giving people what they want does have its advantages.

Overall, the “Terastal Debut” storyline demonstrates my overall feelings towards Pokémon Horizons- there are elements that really work; but many others that keep it from reaching its full potential. I am not certain whether the next anime will bring back “you know who” or just adapt the games directly (either of which I would support); but I personally don’t see the HZ model being duplicated for future iterations come Generation X. That is all for now, and I’m back to my 33rd birthday week.