Recap: Digimon: The Movie

Digimon. It's been a while since I truly had to conduct myself with that

subject. I found the show to be decent, myself. I primarily watched it because I didn't have

access to Pokémon in some of the places where I stayed in 2000. My family was drifting from

place to place, and I was just along for the ride. I am not among the people that thought it was

better than Pokémon, and I fully realize that I may be in a minority saying this.

The show itself is not the reason I am writing. I am making a recap because of

a film that came out in 2000, “Digimon: The Movie.” From what I found, this was a combination of three shorter movies into a single feature-length film. They consist of “Digimon

Adventure,” a short OVA that serves as a launching point of the show; “Our War Game,”

a movie about a Digimon computer virus that is one's own little taste of Y2K paranoia; and

“Hurricane Touchdown,” which was the longest of these films in its native Japan, but was slashed up and had its plot simplified in an attempt to make these very different films tenuously

tie together.

And why, you ask? Well, in Japan, there are different ideas about animated movies. These ranged from 20 minutes for “Digimon Adventure” to an even hour for “Hurricane Touchdown.” These would only qualify them as extended episodes in America, as we expect

90-minute minimum runtimes of films. In a sense, Jeff Nimoy, head writer of the dub of

Digimon for its “golden age” from 1999 to 2001, took these three very different films, reduced

the runtime of “Hurricane Touchdown” from 1 hour to 20 minutes, and wrote a script that

attempted to tie the movies together with little success.

Unfortunately, it was a very crowded year for movies in 2000. While it was nowhere

near the onslaught of 1999's deluge of high-grossing films; it still featured blockbusters that

included, but were not limited to: “Erin Brockovich,” “X-Men,” “Dinosaur,” “Mission Impossible 2,” “Gladiator,” “Cast Away,” “Chicken Run,” and “How The Grinch Stole Christmas.” Fox put the movie out in early October, not quite ready for Halloween horror-scopes

or the Holiday rush, but too late for the field of summer movies where a single opening can

mean the difference between a multi-million dollar hit or a history-making bomb. Nimoy

was all set to put his adaptation out. The only problem: Fox put it against a movie called

“Meet the Parents,” a comedy that proved to be a big moneymaker, and became a franchise

with two sequels of dubious quality. As a result, the movie bombed and was quickly shunted

out to home video and DVD; where more children would beg their parents to sit and watch it

with them.

There is a simpler reason as to why this movie was a flop-it just wasn't very good. To put

this in perspective, let me list a few family films that made more than this movie at the box office; and note that they were negatively-received as well: “The Flintstones In Viva Rock Vegas,” “Thomas and the Magic Railroad,” “Godzilla 2000,” and “Pokémon The Movie 2000.”

I should also note starting this recap that this film has gained a significant number of fans. I

will come right and and say this: you never really liked this movie. You tolerated this movie. You accepted this movie. Saying otherwise is just your nostalgia talking. So, let's get started.

As the film opens, we get a remix of the Digimon theme song. This show had an

incredibly catchy theme song. It was a raw example of scratchy electro-clash that signaled

the end of the 1990s and the beginning of the 2000s.

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We then open on Kari giving us a bit of exposition on Digimon, the Digidestined, the

digital world, and other information on this franchise in case the off chance that someone

seeing or renting this movie had not been exposed to the show beforehand. She states that

while most Digidestined had one Digimon, there was a boy named Willis who has several.

We are not but two minutes in and the editing of the Hurricane Touchdown film has already

led to problems. The attempts to tie three clearly dissimilar films together will get more obvious

as the film goes on

The setting for the Digimon Adventure segment is an apartment complex called

Heighten View Terrace. The story takes place 8 years prior to the events of the first season of

Digimon Adventure. In effect, it would be about 1991 or so. Kari is describing herself and

her older brother, Tai as young children living in an apartment. It shows their mother going

off to buy groceries and leaving them alone, at which point Tai would be 3, and Kari would

be 2. I imagine this would be putting trust in them at that age in Japan, but in America, one

would probably hire a sitter.

Anyway, they notice their computer is acting strange, as are all the electronics in the

apartment. The monitor produces an egg. Tai is cooking eggs on the stove, and suggests cooking

that egg as well. Kari narrates that they could say it came from their chicken coop. I don't understand how one could have a chicken coop in an apartment. I know that people sometimes

have pigeon cages above apartment buildings, but a chicken coop would likely violate city

ordinances (note: where I live in Oregon, our town has tried unsuccessfully to get chickens

to be kept in the city limits, not just in rural areas. I don't know if people in Japan have similar

issues).  

The egg hatches, and a baby Digimon emerges from it. Most of this segment, Kari has

been blowing her whistle. She kneels under the bed where the Digimon is, and blows the whistle in tune with the Digimon theme. The Digimon blows bubbles all over the place.

Then the Digimon starts eating everything in sight. It Digivolves (at the time, Pokémon had

the term “evolution” on lock despite it being a word that dates way back) into a basic Digimon (forgive me if I'm not using the

right terminology). It hugs the faces of our heroes, and continues to eat.

The Digimon introduces itself as Koromon. Kari introduces herself and Tai, which

Koromon interprets as Kari Kari Tai Tai. Still not as good a play on words as Pickle Barrel

Kumquat Chimicherrychanga, but OK. The face hugging continues and reminds me that

I'd rather be watching Alien.

Note of a cut scene: before the transition, there is a bit in the Japanese version of their

father coming home, and he is clearly drunk. I will make note of scenes absent from the dub

as the recap goes on. The Digimon digivolves into Agumon, and Kari muses that it got bigger

than her Uncle Fred at Thanksgiving. Well I know people don't celebrate Thanksgiving in

Japan; it is entirely an American holiday. Agumon then crashes through the wall with Kari on

his back.

Agumon runs a riot throughout the town, and Tai gives chase. He smashes open some

soda machines, chases buses, and fries a phone booth. Yes, I am old enough to know what

a phone booth is.

"Do you think we're interrupting something?"

Tai is still after her sister and Agumon, as he states that it shouldn't be that hard to

find a huge dinosaur. I know. In Japan, if they aren't smashing buildings, they're being used

by prehistoric warriors or teenagers to defend the world.

We then are greeted by one of the most obvious CGI effects of the past 20 years.

While Studio Ghibli films can nimbly bend traditional animation and CGI, this just looks like

a bad blue screen effect. A bird Digimon comes through it, and it does not tell us its name.

Agumon digivolves into Greymon, and goes off to fight the bird.

The fight actually produces some good action. It seems Greymon is licked, but then

Tai remembers the whistle. Tai plays it, and Greymon arises to kick some bird tail. Now

let's use that thing to smash some pigs with a slingshot! Just kidding.

The Digimon disappear, and Kari states that this would not be their last encounter with

them. We cut to four years after the events of Digimon Adventure, with the Digidestined

having left elementary school and are now in middle school. It is here where the fact that

each segment was done by a different director becomes obvious, as there is little alert that

each segment is drawn in a different art style but a vortex of zeroes and ones. It can

charitably be described as the Japanese version of “Heavy Metal,” only with worse animation

and music.

Well, at least Roland Emmerich didn't make it.

We see Izzy, the computer nerd of the group, come across something that could threaten

the internet. In other words, Izzy found out about CISPA. No, he actually discovered a computer

virus that is doing strange things. Like post dirty pictures and videos all over FaceBook. The virus transforms into another Digi-egg.

Meanwhile, Tai is at home, mentioning that he's been having trouble with Sora; and no,

that's not the teenager who swings a Key-blade and hangs with Goofy and Donald Duck, this one is a girl. Tai says she's still mad about him throwing up in her hat. This is dub-only, as if

you couldn't already tell.

Tai writes it in an apology email, but accidentally ends with with “Love” instead of “from.” Kari comes in, and Tai quickly covers the monitor as if he were watching 2 Angewomon, 1 Ramen Bowl. Kari then sends the email, much to Tai's horror.

Kari mentions she's going to a friend's birthday party. Be sure NOT to sing “Happy Birthday,” the music rights will blow the budget. She says she got her a pink Power Ranger.

Yes, I am well aware that Saban handled the dub. Yes, I would like Digimon Xros Wars' dub

to be included under the venture of Saban Brands that includes owning Power Rangers (and Beetle Borgs, and VR Troopers) again. I notice the computer Tai is using has Microsoft Outlook

open, but a bunch of gobbledygook about Apple news. Tai starts doing pelvic thrusts against

the computer for no reason.

I watched the video for "Jizz In My Pants" a dozen
times, and I'm not stopping now!

We cut to a montage of the other Digidestined across Japan, set to Barenaked Ladies'

“One Week,” which dates the movie every bit as much as the plot of this segment. We see

Joe catching a bullet train to go to an achievement test readiness class. Other than that, he

doesn't do anything in this movie. That pissed me off, because Joe was my favorite of the original Digidestined. We then see Matt and TK, who are currently living with their grandmother in the countryside (their parents divorced prior to the start of the series).

Tai says how he doesn't get to have cake while his sister does. His mother then decides

to make a cake. What? He complains he doesn't have a cake and he gets one?

As Tai gets the eggs needed to make the cake, Izzy comes over and states the egg is about to hatch. Tai looks at the egg in his hand, dumbfounded. Izzy then explains that is a

Digi-egg. Any person could tell you that the eggs you buy at a grocery store are unfertilized

and can't hatch chickens, but the Digi-egg still surprises Tai.

They go over to the computer, and Izzy states that whatever is growing could delete

the entire internet and ruin their chances with Willis. That's not possible; and stop trying

to connect three different movies.

The virus, which has hatched into a Digimon, goes around causing all sorts of mischief.

Naturally, the TV comments in an incredibly coincidental news flash that checkout stands are

causing problems and confusion. This is overlaid with a guy in a convenience store buying

some chocolate and the cashier ringing it up for 1 million, 125 yen (About $10,001.25 at current exchange rates). I ever pay that much for chocolate, it better be the best I ever eat.

Tai's mother comes in with beef jerky shakes. In the Japanese version, it was oolong tea.

I've had oolong tea before. It is very good, especially when chilled. Tai and Izzy set up to network their computers together, and put the monitor on the floor. This might make sense

as all-in-one computers (computers where all the components but the keyboard and mouse

are built into the monitor) become more common, but this is a point in time where the computer

and the monitor are not the same thing.

Tai suggests calling the principal or Bill Gates. I don't know what's with this movie.

I stopped trying to make sense of it the first time I saw it. Izzy dictates that the Digimon's name

is Karomon. This is going to be a long 40 minutes. Tai states that if Karomon finds a fast food

website, it would Digivolve faster. No, it would probably Digivolve slower. Tai then vows to

stop it before it “eats the world out of house and homepage.” You clearly suck at making jokes.

\

Izzy's computer pings, and Agumon pops up on the screen. Great, they've entered Maple

Story. The other Digimon and Gennai come up to say that this Karomon is causing trouble. It

is up to Tai and Izzy to stop them, and the other Digimon vow to help.  

Tai and Izzy call the other Digidestined. They fail to reach Joe, and their attempts to

reach Matt and TK are fruitless as their grandmother has poor phone etiquette.

This line is for emergencies only.
WHAT, DO YOU THINK I'M ORDERING A PIZZA?!

Tai's mother then offers Izzy some potato juice, which is really more Oolong tea. She

also states that this is the first time she used flour to bake a cake. ...Call poison control.

They also try to get to Mimi, but she is also out, with her head in the clouds, like always.

They do manage to successfully get a hold of Kari, but she refuses to leave her friend's birthday

party. The last one is Sora, but she refuses to talk to Tai. Why? She was given a hair clip by Tai,

and Sora thought that Tai insulted her hat by giving it to her, so they're not speaking. Tai

and Izzy then realize they're on their own; and prepare to go after Karomon.

You better fasten your seatbelt, Dorothy,
because Kansas is going bye-bye!

So, Tai gets Agumon and Izzy gets Tentomon, and they go into the Internet to face

Karomon. The internet apparently resembles a bunch of cogs and wheels. We still have an

hour total left in this movie, people.

Tentomon says that they have to sneak up on Karomon. He does this by blasting him

with his Shocker. Makes sense to me. Agumon follows up with his Pepper Breath. Karomon

taunts them with “So, you like to play games, huh?” What are you insinuating?

I also note that throughout this fight scene, Agumon and Tentomon are missing a lot, which infers that they are incredibly lousy shots. Karomon digivolves into something that looks

like HR Giger threw up in a Doctor Dreadful Food Maker. The two then digivolve into

Greymon and Kabuterimon. They attack the Digimon, now known as Infomon, only to find

that it had a breach in etiquette by ignoring the Champion level, and going right for the throat

at Ultimate level. The two try to Digivolve to Ultimate, but Infomon is upon them and takes them out. Well, that could have gone better.

While Tai and Izzy try to recover from the attack, Infomon chokes the phone lines, cutting off their internet connection and leaving him free to halt travel by getting into land

and air traffic controls. Tai tries to get ahold of the people he tried to reach before, to no avail.

Even the operator (at least I think it's the operator, normally busy signals and disconnect

notices are prerecorded messages) gets angry at Tai. Infomon then uses his control of the phone

lines to call out the people of the world on his plans for conquest.

Oh, and people will die, starting tonight.
I'm a man of my word.

Tai then makes a quip about Infomon's control of the phone system running up

a long distance bill. Really? The whole world could go kaput and you're worried about

the long distance bill?

It is at that moment that Tai and Izzy make faces that really drive the point home on

how screwed they are.

Well, doesn't that beat all.

Yes, it is at this moment that data problems are worldwide. That's what we get for using

Xfinity internet. Matt and TK also notice the phone is not working as they try to contact Tai

and Izzy.

I'm looking for a Mr. Closeoff, first name Oliver.
What did you call me?

The Coincidental News Broadcast then states that there is an emergency contact system

used to send and receive voice messages by dialing 171. If only there were some method

of sending phone messages with text, so they could keep in touch with a few clicks of the

phone's keypad, but I guess that wizardry only exists in science fiction.

Tai then gets the reason he couldn't contact Mimi-she was in Hawaii, without a care

in the world. So, what else is new?

Baywatch: The Animated Series proved a big ratings flop.

Izzy achieves another way of getting online-satellite internet by tapping military satellites. This won't backfire at all!

America is now at risk from Infomon, and Izzy keeps drinking oolong tea. Matt and TK

get online with a computer in a barber shop. I tell you this because a scene was cut of them

running all over their town trying to find one.

Agumon and Tentomon go back in, with Gabumon and Patamon helping them. Izzy

drinks more oolong tea.

Infomon remarks that he is looking for the programmer. Matt insinuates that he is

teasing them. Agumon and Gabumon then Warp Digivolve to WarGreymon and MetalGarurumon.

We then get another fight scene across the rails of the web. No really, they look like

rails.

Mental wounds not healing, life's a bitter shame,
I'm going off the rails on a crazy train!

TK then tries to command Patamon to Digivolve, but then Infomon Digivolves into

the evil Diaboromon. Then, the fight scene gets worse and worse as Diaboromon captures

Tentomon and Patamon.  

Then, a feeling comes over Izzy that is far worse than the fact that a murderous

Digimon is after the world.  

I'm serious, it doesn't even look right. It looks like it belongs in a hentai anime. So, why

is Izzy acting like puberty is getting the best of him?

That's right! Izzy has to use the bathroom. Guzzling oolong tea will do that to you.

And this was before the days of poop-socking.

At that moment, the shit hits the fan as much as does the bowl. The Digimon are slowing

down. Tai slightly taps the monitor, and the computer goes into blue screen of death. He was

probably using Windows Vista. If you have your files backed up, an upgrade to Windows 7

will fix that. (Note: As I post this, Windows 8 is in development; with a release due this fall.)

No, instead of doing the much more logical thing of a hard restart, Tai starts shaking the

monitor like Tom Servo after a bad connection.

I WANNA GET ON THE INFORMATION SUPERHIGHWAY!
I WANNA GET ON THE INFORMATION SUPERHIGHWAY!

Izzy restarts the computer, and then berates Tai for screwing things up with Sora.

Things got worse, as it was pretty much Battleship Potemkin there. For those who

don't know what Battleship Potemkin is, go watch that instead.

Then, Izzy is getting emails from other children that were disappointed that their

Digimon didn't win. Sorry, this is not sufficient reason to be invested.

Diaboromon then delivers Tai and Izzy an ultimatum- “Who can count backwards from

10?” Look, you're not "Blade Runner." You have no chance of making this a significant experience for science fiction fans. Still, it tries to play this off as something interesting,

by having the US launch a nuclear strike on both Colorado and Japan. This might have

something to do with tapping military satellites, and now Diaboromon gave the Pentagon

a fingering to do this. Due to the unfortunate implications, I will move on with the knowledge

that Diaboromon is also copying himself in a 10-minute countdown.

Izzy gets more emails, and says the only way to stop Diaboromon is to destroy the original. This will be no easy task, as there are now 75,000 copies.

The emails are also slowing down their Digimon, so they must work with this in order

stop them. As they go forth, an upbeat rock song is playing in the background. This

is wrong. This is worse than “Quest for Camelot” playing “The Prayer” over an action scene.

Yet, they still choose to play a cheerful song over the impending doomsday. If you're

going to go that route, at least do it right. There we go.

They reach the Diaboromon, and there is now an incalculable number of copies.

The copies start beam-spamming the Digimon.

Izzy still struggles with the emails. Just hit “reply all”, let the server worry about it.

So, the Digimon are dead in the water, when suddenly...

Wait, what? What's going on?

They're heeeere!

I am not kidding. This image has not been doctored. Tai became digital because of his

bond with WarGreymon. Remind me to have the Chief smother me.

Tai says that he doesn't have whistle to wake him, but is here for WarGreymon. You

know what? Go back to being panicky, I think you're better that way.

And they get strength from all the kids' emails! I am glad you can't see me raging right now!

They made Omnimon! THAT HAS TO BE THE BIGGEST COPOUT EVER!

I'M AN ELK! SHOOT ME!

And Omnimon just starts slashing and shooting all the copies! THIS MOVIE CAN GO

TO HELL!

Oh, thank goodness, there's only one left. And one minute to go on all things going on in

this segment.

They have to slow down Diaboromon, but how? Izzy forwards all the emails to

Diaboromon, with a resounding “You've got mail!”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vhe3vSe-mmw

Okay. 1. There's another thing most people unfamiliar with AOL wouldn't get. 2.

I'm majoring in graphics design, not IT tech, but I'm fairly certain that if there were that many

emails going through, the servers would crash and they'd be more hosed than saved.

Amazingly, it works. After I recover from the aneurysms from this segment, we can

move on to the third, final, and most butchered segment.

We begin the segment based on Digimon Adventure 2, “Hurricane Touchdown.”

This is the one that suffered the most editing, with 40 minutes cut from the film and its plot

completely changed to suit the needs of the movie and tie it with the other two.

Tai is still into soccer, and made up with Sora. Izzy is still a computer nerd. Matt

is trying to be a rock star. The protection of the world now falls to TK with Patamon and

Kari with Gatomon, as well as a group of new Digidestined that include Cody and Fukumon,

Lena and Gorumon, and Davis and Veemon.  

For some reason, TK and Kari are in New York. They fail to get an internet connection

to contact the others, which makes Kari uneasy.

There is a bunch of commotion, and we cut to Willis being attacked by a Digimon

called Antylamon, but keeps referring to it as Kokomon. Willis has Terriermon, a Digimon that

would later appear in my favorite season, Digimon Tamers; defend him.

We then get a chase with a bunch of wall-running and jumping. I would say this is

ripping off Gundam Wing, but that would imply someone watched Gundam Wing. Which

you should, it got canceled and became a cult classic because you didn't watch it, you swine!

The chase goes on until Antylamon just disappears, remarking that he wants to go

back to the beginning. TK says that Willis is in danger. I know. They're making another

Cat in the Hat movie. AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!

No, TK tells him that he has to get away. So, Willis decides to go back to Colorado.

TK and Kari inform their parents of the change in plans, and go to Colorado as well.

I should point out that I cannot maintain a Wi-Fi signal on an AmTrak, yet TK and Kari

can get online just fine.

It turns out Willis and Terriermon are walking to Colorado from New York, which,

according to Google Maps, is about 1,841 miles. Or 2,962 Kilometers for countries viewing

this blog that use the metric system.

Meanwhile, TK states that Willis is confused and alone in this situation. Much like

people in the theater watching this movie.

TK and Kari then get this strange vortex that looks like the Star Gate from “2001:

A Space Odyssey.” TK asks if this is the entertainment portion of the ride. Another thing

that's changed-you're on your own if you want entertainment on a train now.

Kari then flops over on a seat due to a sudden movement on the train, and starts

squirming and shaking her rump for all the teenage and adult males.

Meanwhile, Davis, Cody, and Lena get a plane trip and a taxi ride (not really a taxi,

Japanese version just had some guy with a Volvo), and a single-engine plane trip. They cut so

much out of this segment.

They come across a field, but are still far away from their destination. They rest in

front of an ad for a Mazda MPV.

Conveniently, they find a truck that Willis just happens to be riding in. They are getting

close to Colorado, but I still have no idea where in the blue devil they are.

The truck reaches Colorado, but are still a bit far from Willis' house. Willis and Davis

argue a bit, and Willis decides to order a pizza to be delivered to his address; so they can

flag down the vehicle.

Amazingly, it works. Well don't knock what works...

Shit. As if Willis' and Davis' plight couldn't get any worse, Antylamon attacks again.

He even knocks Davis into a product placement for Northwest Airlines.

And I thought "Airport '79" would be the worst movie I'd
see advertising for them in.

Davis has Veemon Digivolve into Flamedramon, which, I'm not going to lie, has a really

cool design. This starts a fight scene, but it drags on to the point where it gets really lame.

Then, Terriermon Digivolves into Gargomon. Yes. I need to be reminded of Digimon

Tamers right now.

Gargomon simply blasts Antylamon enough to drive him off. Still, they need to get

to Willis' house. How do they do this?

Davis has him Digivolve into Raidramon, with the storm of friendship! Now we

shall love and tolerate our way there!

Cue “Hey Digimon,” a song that I truly admire. After much deliberation, Willis and

Davis reach Willis' home. Still, TK and Kari are not there.

One amusing thing about Willis' house is that there is just a pair of pants hanging there.

I wonder what went on in all the time he was alone with his Digimon.

I notice that there's only 18 minutes left in the movie. Woo-hoo! I'm on the home

stretch!

There's a stock speech about friendship and confidence, right before Antylamon finds

them and the final act begins.

And now the fact that they tried to connect 3 different movies goes from “necessity- borne edits” to “total clusterfuck.” On top of that, we go from a forest to a hill when the

scene begins. Consistency? What's that?

Antylamon changes to Lopmon. Another Digimon Tamers reference I'm thankful for.

Then comes Digmon. Before there was Gurren Lagann, there was Digmon. Hawkmon becomes

Halsemon. We then get a pretty damn sloppy fight scene.

Davis claims it's over. Not with 13 minutes left, it isn't. Antylamon takes a new

form that looks like it joined the Insane Clown Posse.

We then get another action scene. Why is it that even in 2000, every action movie

had to have nonstop action at the end?

Then, the cavalry arrives as TK and Kari come in with Angemon and Angewomon,

as they try to-I'm not kidding-extract the virus from Antylamon.

Soon, a dark void comes over the Digidestined, much like the one this movie left

audiences in. Then, they rip off The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and have them

age backwards into melonhead toddlers. Digi-Babies! We make our dreams come true!

Willis and Davis, now in jumpers and velcro sneakers, get two boxes that let their

Digimon Digivolve into Magnamon and Rapidmon. They go out blazing to stop Antylamon.

Antylamon dies because of the virus being gone. Willis is distraught, but is told Digimon

never really die. I beg to differ, this movie helped kill interest in Digimon.

TK and Kari go back to New York, and Willis starts his journey back home. I don't

even need to check this time, there are no mountain ranges in New York.

Willis then comes across a Digi-egg. It hatches into a new Antylamon. We then close

on “All Star” by Smash Mouth, a song so '90s it hurts. A song that was featured in close to

every movie in 1999 and the early 2000s.

Wow. With all the time I spent on this recap, I kind of felt bad picking on this movie;

with all the fans it has. Still, it had to be done.

“Digimon: The Movie” is not a good movie, but it was made worse by Fox's attempts

to turn it into something it's not. The “Digimon Adventure” segment fares best, since it

captures the imagination and whimsy of the series it starts off. “Our War Game” is effectively

a period piece on how the internet we love could have turned against us; but here we are

with a YouTube tab open at school or work and FaceBook on our cell phones. The director

of that segment later remade it into “Summer Wars,” which I recommend checking out.

As for “Hurricane Touchdown”-the problem with it isn't its lack of hurricanes or

touchdowns. The problem is that it just sucks. That was the segment that suffered the most

editing, but it isn't much better in the Japanese version. You have your pick of an incoherent

segment or a boring one depending on which version you watch.

I am not among the people that like this movie. Maybe it was because I didn't see it

until I was a college freshman, getting into the good version of “One Piece,” “Gurren Lagann,”

and “Death Note.” Even so, I doubt I'd look back on it even with that in mind.

I also apologize at how late this recap is. While my very first recap of “Love, Petalburg

Style” needed nine pages of notes and around 30 screencaps, this one took 11 pages and close

to 100. So, I will do another anime episode recap or two in June. Now if you'll excuse me,

I'm going back to Hayao Miyazaki films.