Top 13 Anime I Will Never Recap

Hello again. I know I was planning on making my final post of the year my top 13 anime villain top and my first of next year my top 13 Pokémon villains; but the documents that had my lists went missing on my computer, and as such, will have to be delayed until I can track them down. You may see them further on down the line; possibly in a revised form. 


In the meantime; I thought I would do something for my 200th post that I've been meaning to for a while. I am compiling a list of anime that I simply refuse to recap on this blog. So, here are 13 I will never do recaps of for many reasons.


13. Space Dandy

In addition to being Cowboy Bebop's polar opposite in almost every way (and rightfully so); this series is off-the-wall hilarious. It's also very good; and I have no reason to do a recap something unless it's bad, subjective; or I can give a good-natured ribbing. From time to time; I do positive recaps, but my primary focus is giving negative criticism to show issues I have with a given work. Thankfully, Space Dandy proved to be a great addition to the new Toonami and perfect for Shinichiro Watanabe to sendup one of his more notable works. So, no need to worry about it, baby.



12. Any Goro Miyzaki film

Now here's a name that often gets tossed around. Goro Miyazaki; the son of famed director Hayao Miyazaki, is a highly polarizing figure in the community for his films. Notably, many are divided on his skill as a filmmaker beyond name recognition. Frankly, I don't consider the man or his movies to be as bad as folks say; and I do not wish to stir the pot by giving an opinion on something that will inevitably displease anyone who doesn't share this notion. I know there are a few that do; but all the same, I'd rather not risk it.

11. Zatch Bell/Gash Bell

Here's one that would rattle some cages if I looked at it. Not only did I never watch the anime due to its concept in initial run; I wound up disliking it as an adult when I tried watching it this year. Even so, it's actually one of the more popular anime of its type. It even got to the point where Mr. Enter did an Admirable Animation on "Kolulu" solely so he could do a review of an anime. Frankly, who am I to take that away from him? What could I gain from telling people their favorite anime is a piece of shit that's not worthy of being a coaster for my drink? I may have gone after pieces I dislike to prove a point before, and I will probably do so again; but doing this solely to bash the concept when so many others love it is just a cross I cannot bear. Sorry folks, this is one time where it's never gonna happen.

10. Any Hentai or Ecchi

Not only does it clash with my personal sensibilities, Google's content policies pretty much mean it's totally off the table. Anyone expecting me to do La Blue Girl or Strawberry Panic is pretty much out of luck, and I suggest they head elsewhere for that. It's the internet, I'm sure you'll find something.

9. Sgt. Frog or Shin Chan (Tie)

These are gag dubs that are intentionally silly; with the latter show even deliberately choosing episodes to dub based on what they can work with, and turning a somewhat off-kilter show into a vulgar bucket of laughs with more black comedy and pop culture references than a typical episode of South Park or Family Guy. I simply could not do the humor in these justice; because they are downright hilarious. Just go watch them sometime, and you'll see why.

8. Mistudomoe

In a similar case to the previous entry, the work is one I enjoy with humor and a style that I find incredibly funny. The only catalyst I would have is the fact that it didn't do well in Japan; which isn't sufficient enough when I laugh this hard at something.

7. Any "Super-deformed" Mecha series

Again, like with Zatch Bell; even if myself or others dislike the concept, I can't really do a recap unless I have more than that to work with. So for those possibly wanting me to do SD Gundam or MD Geist will have to look elsewhere.

6. Sonic The Hedgehog: The Movie (1999)

Let me make clear that I like this movie, and while there are elements that could irk some (such as the Blue Blur giving the finger to Dr. Ivo "Eggman" Robotnik; there really isn't enough I could put together to make something that I would want to write or you would want to read. It's also better than many live-action video game movies, which have a reputation for being horrible (though I admit Duncan Jones' planned "Warcraft" movie might be interesting. We'll see.).

5. Attack on Titan

This is one of many series that has gotten both huge praise and many detractors. I personally fall in the former camp; and I generally don't fall in the latter unless I find genuine fault in something like that. It's not like Code Geass R2, which I do plan on finishing, Popularity isn't enough reason for me to dislike something; as much as bad writing, voice acting or animation is. Believe me when I say I will finish what I started for R2, but you won't see me writing about one of my favorite dark fantasy anime in recent years.

4. Any version of Full Metal Alchemist

I like both the 2003 series and Brotherhood; and I am in the process of reading the manga. It's one of the series that helped cement my fandom, and I don't have much that I can work with; even with Edward's scoffing at his Napoleonic stature.

3. Broader Shojo series

This just isn't my field, guys. As a male, I tend to skew more towards the shonen (young man) crowd; with some dabbling in seinen (adult male) series as well. While there are few shojo (young woman) series I enjoy like Kimi ni Todoke; my Ouran recap made it clear that in addition to my faults with the story, I was in over my head. Barring more episodes of that or Sailor Moon; the wider range of shojo is simply an impenetrable maze. Sorry.

2. Any version of Jojo's Bizarre Adventure

While the concept is admittedly unique; the story is a bit confusing; and the fight scenes don't make a whole lot of sense to me. Plus, I haven't seen all that much of it; and it's a highly complex narrative. So, it would require more time and energy than I've had lately to do.

1. The 4Kids Version of One Piece

It's honestly a relic of just how bad some dubs can be. With the uncut and subbed versions now getting the recognition they deserve, I honestly have no need to give it further attention. When this was made, many others found it best not to beat a dead horse after Shaman King angered a lot of the moral guardians. Kahn thought, "wait a minute guys, I bet there's some good whipping left in that horse." These men of vision, who violated dead horses; went on to create this textbook example of how not to dub a series for the west. It even got the point where Eichiro Oda, the creator who normally has the same idealistic spirit as Luffy, pulled the rights from them on the grounds they made a mockery of his series. Furthering this was the fact that when Funimation licensed the show, Toei didn't forget the previous disaster and gave them free rein to make a dub that's truer to the original Japanese version; blood, booze and yelling "bastard!" abound. I still want to some positive recaps of character introduction episodes; but for now, I feel no reason to dig up memories that are best left forgotten.

Coming in 2016: More Top 13s! More Yo-Kai Watch! More Pokémon movies and material for the 20th anniversary! My final Mega Man NT Warrior recap! My first recap of a Yu-Gi-Oh spinoff series! All this and much more await! See you space cowboy! 

Recap: The Strongest Mega Evolution Act IV

The Strongest Mega Evolution Act IV. After a year and a half, we’ve finally reached the last part of this series. I may have been critical of parts of the other three acts, but this is the first one I’ve outright disliked. So, let’s get this over with.

Arceus, they had three specials to establish this part of the ‘verse, and they’re still opening by reminding us of all that happened with this dick sauce Alan? This is going to blow.

Aw, damn it, now Maren apparently knows the professor? Also, why the Hell couldn’t these specials have been about Steven Stone?

So, rather than delve into why Alan behaves this way; we’re instead given 10 battles to prove he’s the strongest. For those who claim that the very first gym battle in Pewter City was the worst; I think many misunderstood what happened. With Ash, we got to see the emotional states he went through upon his arrival in the city: excitement, determination, disappointment over losing, desire to better himself for the next match; sympathy towards Brock’s love for his family, and satisfaction when Brock gave him the badge since he made him realize that his path was not the one he should be following. Even amid all the spectacular animation; the ultimate irony is that first gym battle is more interesting to me than 10 of these Mega Evolution battles.

Even after all these specials; all we know about Alan is that he wants to be strong. Even with the bet that he must give up the Key Stone and Mega Stone after one loss; I don’t really care about that. Before we actually get to the meat of these battles; I still think that Jonathan Silver is a terrible voice actor and I never wanted to have a hipster douchebag like Alan representing me as an older fan.

Also, as Malva looks on; I must point out that I was initially excited to see her here. Sadly, she’s wasted here; since she easily could have played Maren’s role in the story much better. That’s been the fatal flaw of the Mega Evolution Specials for me. While the animation and battles may have been good; compared to the writing and characterization, I can officially say I liked these specials better when they were called Origins.

His first opponent appears to be a mixture of Weevil Underwood and The Penguin; and he favors Mega Venusaur. I really don’t care what happens to these people. Also, his key stone is in a pocket watch for some reason. I’m done trying to hide my displeasure for these specials; so let’s go.

Also, NOW Alan’s VA learns to actually voice act. Way too late for that, dude.

So, now we’re given the first of 10 mindless battles; and from the word go, there are some inaccuracies with the games. First off; Mega Venusaur doesn’t gain immunity from fire attacks. It gets some defensive stat boosts; but it can still be harmed. Second; Venoshock doubles the damage to an opponent that’s already poisoned, it doesn’t poison the opponent by itself. Come on, you got the latter mechanic exactly right with the Roxie battle in Best Wishes. Have you really forgotten that much in three years? 

Also, Maren is at the facility for some reason; and apparently doesn’t know what a globe is.

Even the special can’t seem to focus on the battles; hence part of why I think this is the weakest of these specials. The unnamed rivals he faces just. Will. Not. Stop. Talking! In the words of Sam “The Falcon” Wilson: “Man, shut the Hell up.” 

The next opponent certifies this, as he’s essentially a clone of Great Tiger from Punch-Out.  Even his Mega Alakazam cannot satisfy me now. Thus; here is why this special is where the Mega Evolution Specials have officially failed as alternatives to the mainline series: while there are technically things going on, without any attachment to the characters, there’s no reason to be invested. This really isn’t helped by the special alternating between the battles and trying to tie up the loose ends before XYZ officially starts.

Even then, the battles are reduced to montages; which is something that was one of the few problems with Origins. The key difference is in Origins; we cared about the characters. Even when Maren asks Alan outright why he’s doing this, he flat-out refuses to tell her! Again, what did people see in this man? Am I really supposed to just “fall in love with him” because he’s another character? He’s an asshole! He even tells Maren to go home when she tries to reason with him! Even though I may not be a fan of that character either, was it really necessary to tell her that and leave her crying on the steps of the facility? That is a massive dick move! Well, fans, MarissonShippers, I hope it was worth it to have a character relationship that’s now more dysfunctional than NERV. I still think even Gendo would find this to be too far. 

Then, Chespy stumbles upon something that officially kicks off the events of XY and Z: the Zygarde core. She wastes no time in freeing it; but is injured in the process! Don’t worry, I have a bit prepared for later.

Now, comes the final battle against Malva. While I should be invested; I honestly find Alan so unlikable that a large part of me wants him to lose and hang up the Key Stone and Mega Stone. Do you understand this? When I’m actively hoping a character will fail at the task at hand; you’ve done something wrong.

Amid all the spectacular animation and flawless choreography between Mega Charizard and Mega Houndoom; we are told things about these characters but rarely shown any of it. Even after Alan wins; it’s clear he may have been introduced, but in no way established. Even his finding out about Chespy’s condition comes completely out of nowhere because of how he’s spent three specials as a dour loner, rarely showing emotion until the final moments! 

What’s more however, is the fact that this character was created solely to appeal to my demographic; as were these specials. My biggest problem is these elements aren’t what got me into Pokémon. Despite Alan and Malva’s claims; Alan has utterly failed as a protagonist and as a human being. 

The dub more accurately has Malva say he’s irritating; backhanded compliment afterwards be damned. Despite his claims; I don’t trust him to accomplish this goal of curing Chespin’s illness, since what little development he’s been given here feels like an afterthought as the special ends with him engaging in yet another fucking battle against a trainer with a Mega Banette.

Thus ends The Strongest Mega Evolution, a sometimes-entertaining but ultimately flawed take on Pokémon. While a bit better than Chronicles; especially The Legend of Thunder; it lacks a lot of the fun or likable characters that made the franchise enjoyable to me in the first place. The spectacular animation and battles are hampered by the fact that I never was able to latch on to Alan or Maren as characters, and I probably never will. Characters like Han Solo and Princess Leia work because we can put ourselves in their stead; and we can see strains of ourselves in the characters with their flaws and motives. Luke Skywalker works because we see his dreams and goals very early on; which makes it that much more satisfying when they’re accomplished. 

Therefore; I now totally reject the idea of Alan or these specials being all that necessary, given how Ash, Pikachu and their kin over the years are better characters and better people. Anyone can relate to them, regardless of where they fall as a fan. Characters like Goku, Luffy, Sailor Moon, and the Elrics from Full Metal Alchemist work because people can easily relate to them and want to see their journey through. Their thought process is easy to follow; and we get a sense of satisfaction whenever we see them take another step on their journeys. I can’t “fall in love with” a character that barely seems capable of expressing love himself.

Despite this; I think there’s an opportunity for XY and Z to learn from these, as with any future specials. They honestly aren’t the worst of their kind; even if they’re not what I was hoping for. They did at least try to genuinely give older fans something different. It may not have always worked; but the Mega Evolution specials can definitely be used as teaching tools for any people who want to work on a new version of the anime in the future.

I think I need to watch some of the stuff I like to detox from this. Whatever happens next, I shall simply say this: The future is now, so let’s make it a good one. Bang.

Recap: Present

Hello again, and Merry Christmas everyone! As a special treat, I’m going to do a recap on something i’ve been wanting to for a long time; but never got a chance to. I will be looking at the slice-of-life series Ichigo Mashimaro; and it will be equal parts a gift to myself and you all this season. So, let’s all have fun and open up “Present;” true in every sense of its title.

The show opens with a light and bouncy title theme; by its own admission. Have a listen for yourself and see. 

We open on Miu, one of the girls in this quartet of school-age children; waking up her friend Chi with a snowball. I know it’s tradition in Japan; but why would she be barefoot on the roof? Her toes would be frozen in no time.

Also, their den mother; Nobue, uses the cold to simulate cigarette smoke. Little side note: while Nobue is 16 in the manga, she’s 20 here. This grants her a bit more leeway with things like this.

The title card is also enjoyably simple; much like a child’s writing.

Generally, the premise is built on finding humor in everyday life; such as when the girls would rather build a snowman than help Nobue shovel out the driveway. Ah, youth.

Everyone then goes inside to play dolls; as little girls often do, and Matsuri observes that it’s a “Riko-chan” doll; a take-off on the real-life brand Licca-Chan.

Over the course of their playtime; we see the premise of this episode start unfold: how will Matsuri receive her present if she no longer believes in Santa Claus?

It is here that Miu reveals how she learned the truth.

One year, she asked for a stoplight, and got three flashlights tied together.

Another time, she asked for a sumo wrestler and got a costume. Those are pretty fun.

The year after that, she asked for a spa and was given bath salts; until she was given a letter that explained everything. More on that later. 

So, as we enter the second half; Miu dresses up like Santa as Chi, Ana, and Nobue back her up as reindeer. Their objective: to leave a Harry Potter book for Matsuri and give her something to believe in.

They find she already has the book; but all the same, still keep her Christmas spirit alive and full of wonder.

As everyone heads home, Matsuri falls asleep with the book in her grasp; and she has accepted the belief even though she knows what I do: Santa Claus lives inside everyone that wants to embody his image of goodwill and generosity. My mother, my father, my brother, me and everyone else. That is the key reason why I decided to do this episode; as it manages to capture the feeling of being in this stage of life as a child; regardless of where you come from.

Time passes, and everyone heads back to school; including Nobue.

Also, there’s this strange running gag where their homeroom teacher sends a male student out in the hall for increasingly minor infractions; and it gets turned on its head in this last episode, with the teacher instead. I guess that he just doesn’t like that kid.

So, all the same, we close this episode and this series on Nobue having a smoke by the riverbank. Sorry about how short this recap is; but I think it’s ideal to take a breather this way, knowing what lies ahead.

“Present” is exactly that: a beautiful gift as the final episode of Ichigo Mashimaro in its initial run. The animation is beautiful, and the series’ relaxing vibes shine through in this lovely episode. It’s the ideal end to a great series. I simply cannot make clearer how much I enjoy it; so please go watch it if you haven’t already. 

After Christmas, however; is another story. Check back with me then as I bury the hatchet on one of my biggest disappointments ever: Pokémon The Strongest Mega Evolution Act IV. See you space cowboy. 

Recap: Baffling the Bouffalant

Hello again. To those who have seen the new Star Wars: what did you think of it? To those that haven’t, I shall simply say this: Stop worrying… it’s amazing! 

As such, it’s given me just the motivation I need to work on this recap for oxen in my Chinese Zodiac theme! While my quota for Tauros had previously been filled by the banned “Legend of Dratini/Legend of Miniryu” episode; I did find a close cousin in the Bouffalant line in Unova. So, let’s open up “Baffling the Bouffalant” and have us a funky good time! 

We open on Ash, Iris and Cilan having lunch with their Pokémon on their way to Mistralton City. I’m just going on record to say that I like Iris and Cilan. I’m going to type this again to make sure you understand: I like Iris and Cilan. I just thought that would be good to know before I continued. 

As Ash tries to break up an argument between Tepig and Oshawott; a Bouffalant comes charging through the area like the First Order was wrecking up Jakku!

Everyone manages to escape, but they get separated as a result! So, this episode is pretty much the Best Wishes version of the Johto episode “Forest Grumps;” and we’ll probably get to that one sometime.

While the Rival Destinies theme doesn’t stand out that much at me; I do like how fancy the title card art is. The art department for the BW series definitely took advantage of the flashy toys at their disposal, and I love them for that.

Ash checks his Pokédex for information on Bouffalant, which reveals they are very territorial Pokémon. Well, that’s convenient for this episode!

Iris then chastises Tepig, Oshawott and Snivy for arguing with each other; saying they need to get out of this mess together!

Also, I don’t know why; but Best Wishes had to have some of my favorite facial animations of any saga up to that point. Just look at Iris’ face! It fits her snarky, neo-Misty personality perfectly. 

Then, Nurse Joy comes by with Audino; and here is the one of the primary reasons why I decided to recap this episode: the only way to be safe from the Bouffalant is to wear an afro, but the dub renders this as a “curly wig;” creating an unintentionally hilarious stigma against the word “afro” in the dub.

Regardless; everyone is given the wigs, and Tepig and Oshawott must try very hard not to laugh at each other as a result!

Somehow, Axew gets separated from everyone; but is able to elude the Bouffalant because of getting a bush stuck on his horn!

Nurse Joy then tells the whole story to Ash and Cilan, and provides everyone else with the “curly wigs.” Ash’s expression when he puts his on is priceless.

Through a freak accident, Axew loses his bush; but gets a new one from Iris as the journey continues. 

Amid all the chaos; Iris and the Pokémon lose their wigs in order to get medicine for an injured Bouffalant! Why? It turns out with all their roughhousing, the Bouffalant injure themselves constantly! Kind of dark for such a lighthearted episode, to be frank. 

To thank her, the Bouffalant then protects Iris from its kin; all while Iris sports hair that almost makes her look like a puffed-up Wookiee!

Everyone reunites, and they find their way out of the forest.

After returning the “curly wigs;” everyone continues on their way to Mistralton City! By jove, that was a confusing day.

“Baffling the Bouffalant” is a fun and silly adventure in Best Wishes; and not just because of the dub’s bizarre stigma against the word “Afro.” I didn’t even show you half of how busy this episode was; because it’s a comic goldmine. The colorful animation and snappy characters are perfect to fit the mood. I’ve been enjoying this episode again and again for a while now, and hope to do so again in the near future.

Now, I will once again have to change up what I wanted to do, bumping my planned recap for tigers in the cycle to another time. Instead, I have a special surprise planned for Christmas eve; and you’ll just have to wait and see what it is. See you, space cowboy! 

Hoopa and the Clash of Ages to Air Saturday on Cartoon Network, The Strongest Mega Evolution Act IV Coming December 26.

Hello again. I've begun work on my recap of "Baffling the Bouffalant," and I hope to have it out soon; so I can get started on my other recaps I want to do this month. Plus, I'm seeing Star Wars: The Force Awakens when it opens Friday night; so I'll be preoccupied with that.

That said, my other notable childhood obsession is getting its latest movie aired soon. "Pokémon: Hoopa and the Clash of Ages" will be airing on Cartoon Network on Saturday evening; marking the 18th film installment in the long-running series. The film officially introduces the new Pokémon Hoopa to the franchise as a crisis involving a myriad of Legendary Pokémon breaks out in Tahara City, with Ash; Bonnie, Clemont and Pikachu getting caught in the crossfire.

Having seen the film when its Canadian airing leaked online; I would definitely be willing to watch it again for when it officially comes stateside.

There is also another matter to address: The Strongest Mega Evolution Act IV, the final installment in the Mega Evolution specials; will also air on December 26. I plan to finish what I started; which is once again making me change my plans for this year. I still want to recap things for my Chinese Zodiac theme and have something planned for Christmas Eve; but I want to finally be done with these specials.

While I am optimistic about where XYZ goes (having seen up to the debut of Ash-Greninja in Japanese); unless Alan can be fleshed out more as a character, he's beyond saving and must be stopped. I think Andre of Black Nerd Comedy said it best in his look at this year's reboot of Fantastic Four: "There's a difference between making something serious and making something lifeless!"

Despite Alan's words at the end of the Japanese version; it's clear to me that everything that's happened in the Mega Evolution specials is entirely his fault. If he had never taken the Key Stone and Mega Stone from Lysander; none of this would have happened. He was meant as a character that appeals to my demographic; but I honestly don't see the appeal in a dour-faced asshole with little to no justification for what he does. The fact that Kensho Ono and Jonathan Silver are such terrible voice actors really doesn't help.

While not the worst parts of the Pokémon universe I've seen; The Strongest Mega Evolution has been highly insufferable because of the potential it had and never truly took advantage of. There were some great battles and spectacular animation; but they were ultimately bogged down by dull scripts and flat characters that lacked the joy and wonder that I liked about it in the first place.

As for being "darker," here are a few Pokémon anime and manga adaptations that are better than The Strongest Mega Evolution: the Japanese version of the first movie, Mewtwo Returns; the Diamond and Pearl series; Episode N, Origins, Adventures/Special, Diamond and Pearl Adventure, and The Electric Tale of Pikachu. All of these contain better writing and characters than Alan; and they're in many ways, a lot better made.

At best, I could see this rumored interplay between Ash and Alan being handled akin to the former's dynamic with Paul; and to a lesser extent, Trip. Otherwise, I could be totally fine if it never happened at all.

Let me make clear that I'm not against the idea of having new characters or entries in something I love.  I'm eager to see what Finn, Rey, and Kylo Ren bring to the table in this new movie as I am for the return of Luke, Leia, and Han Solo. It's just that a character needs to be more than just new if we're going to follow them on their journey. We need qualities that we can sympathize with; so we could theoretically want to associate with them, let alone battle them. I've made it quite clear that I don't think Alan has those qualities; I think Ash does. Even when he battles an Elite Four member or Champion informally; he sees them as friends as much as he does opponents. Alan just looks at someone like Siebold or Malva and sees them as obstacles. I still mean what I said in prior writings about the franchise: if people like Alan become the primary focus of the series; it will inevitably turn the next generation of fans into nihilists if they don't have more idealistic trainers to put themselves in the shoes of.

With the 20th anniversary of the franchise looming over 2016; there will be much to see from everything. Depending on what happens over the course of XYZ; I still find Alan so unlikable that I honestly want to flash-fry him with a well-placed Scald from Volcanion. That is why I am still daring him to prove me wrong. That's all for now. See you space cowboy.

Recap: The Apple Corp

Hello again. By the time you read this; I will be on Christmas vacation. Given how past holiday seasons have turned out rather well; I thought I would do some recaps that are equal parts presents to myself and to you all. It also happens that I managed to find a silly little Johto filler for my Chinese Zodiac theme; this time with rats! While Pichu may be once again fudging the rules a bit; I thought it would be nice to share something that my 10-year-old self found quite amusing. So, let’s open up the “The Apple Corp,” regardless of whether it’s being run by someone played by Michael Fassbender, Leonardo DiCaprio, or even Ashton Kutcher! 

We open on Ash, Misty, and Brock continuing on their journey across the Johto region when Pikachu smells something delicious.

Ash concurs, and they come across a large apple orchard. While everyone thinks it looks delicious; they decide against having a taste for the obvious reason it doesn’t belong to them. Now those berries that grow outside each city: those are usually up for grabs even if the citizens have yet to master the concept of a deadbolt.

One by one, the apples start disappearing; and Pikachu is fingered as the culprit! Brock then tries to come onto the farm girl. 

Ash then examines the teeth marks on the apple; and determines that Pikachu couldn’t have made them, since his teeth are wider than the bite marks!

The farm girl, Charlene; invites everyone into her home, and points out that it’s time for the harvest; which means it won’t be easy on her own to gather the apples in the orchard!

Which means, say it with me now: She needs help. They’re the only ones who can do it, they don’t have the time in their schedule; but they’re going to anyway! See, I knew you could do it.

With baskets on their backs; Charlene points out the noisemakers she rigged to trip up any thieves after her crops.

Of course, Meowth uses this claw to bypass the noisemakers; and gather more of the apples as well!

Then, Meowth has the apple he ripped off get ripped off!

The noisemakers all start going off at once, just as some little yellow thieves are leaping across the trees! 

COULD YOU TRY NOT TO HIT EVERY SINGLE ONE?!

Pikachu catches up to the Pichu; and promptly chastises him and his comrades for their actions.

Pikachu! (Translation: Explain yourselves, or I'll bury you deeper than Super Mystery Dungeon buried Yo-Kai Watch!)

However, it turns out there’s a whole bunch of Pichu around; and they’re in danger of a Fearow!

Ash scans the Pichu with his Pokédex, confirming that they’re Pikachu’s pre-evolution; and can’t attack without shocking themselves! It’s true, and I’m glad they finally removed that mechanic in games from X and Y onward.

Even so, it still remains when they try to hold off the Fearow; only having the ability to stun it before getting tuckered out!

Pikachu saves them; and the Pichu return the apples out of gratitude. However, Charlene agrees to let them have some of the apples due to wild fruit being scarcer than usual. This also presents a conundrum: if they partake, will they be willing to leave?

More on that later, as Team Rocket starts formulating a plot to take the apples for themselves!

Back at the orchard; Ash starts leading the Pichu with his Pikachu to protect the fruit from a bunch of Pidgey. 

Pikachu then shows the Pichu how to gather the fruit for everyone! That way, they all get something to eat; and everyone gets their share!

Charlene is quite pleased with the help from the Pichu; and rewards them with fresh apple slices!

Just then, Team Rocket comes in with a plan to seize the apples and the Pichu with a giant vacuum; or as they call it, their Super Sucker! 

Commence operation Vacu-Suck!

They nip Pikachu, and start sucking the electricity from him; which powers all their gadgets! Also, am I the only one that finds it weird that James is somehow watching a Pokémon anime on his TV in THIS Pokémon anime? It’d be like Mario playing a Mario game in his timeline! … We’ll talk in a little while.

In moments, Pikachu is totally drained, and they enact the next phase of their plan.

They start gathering the apples with their device!

Everyone calls them on their behavior, saying this will not stand! This aggression will not stand, man!

The Pichu try to help, but they’re not strong enough!

Then, they switch their machine from suck to blow; but the Pichu are undeterred! 

One by one, they form a chain and power up Pikachu with the last of their strength!

With his energy recharged, Pikachu gleefully smiles in satisfaction!

Their combined strength is enough to send Team Rocket blasting off! How unprofessional. You should always get a good surge protector for your devices.

While everyone is a little cooked, they’re OK. With all this said and done, everyone continues along their way!

“The Apple Corp” is one of the more delightfully silly Johto fillers that I enjoyed in my youth. While one Pichu is always pretty fun for me; a whole gaggle of them is much more so. I can see why I breed so many of them; and plan on Wonder Trading them as gifts for any new trainers this Christmas.

With oxen being next in the cycle after rats; check back soon for my look at “Baffling the Bouffalant!” See you, space cowboy! 

A Long December, There is reason to believe this year was much Better than the last.

Hello again. Well, finals are Monday; but after that, I should be able to do a few more recaps before the year is out. It's been my most productive year yet for this blog even if I once again couldn't do everything I wanted to.

Nevertheless; I intend to do a few more recaps with my Chinese Zodiac theme (I want to be finished before the actual Year of the Monkey occurs in 2016); with rats being next in the cycle, closely followed by oxen and tigers.

I also have something planned for Christmas; but you'll have to wait and see what it is. Rest assured, these will all be positive recaps; and you'll probably see more critical ones in 2016.

Last but not least; I couldn't help but notice I haven't done a Top 13 list in a while, so to help closeout 2015 and the first half of the new tens; my plans for New Year's include revised versions of my personal top 13 anime villains, both Pokémon and non. There are to be two separate lists as such; to be posted as 2015 ends and 2016 begins.

So, in between studying for finals; I will probably get to my recap for rats in the cycle. You should see it soon; and I hopefully won't have to forgo the screencaps like I did with my look at "Guardian of the Disks." See you, space cowboy.

Recap: Guardian of the Disks

Before I get started, I’d like to ask a question: Who reading this, besides me remembers Monster Rancher?

It’s really kind of funny that I’m just now getting around to covering this. I’ve been wanting to for a while; and not just to illustrate how in all likelihood; Yo-Kai Watch will probably remembered the same way in another 16 years. 

Based on the video game of the same name by Tecmo (Ninja Gaiden, Dead or Alive); it’s essentially what Pokémon would be like if the metagame aspects were brought to the forefront. As such, it’s a shame it got snuffed out when the DS rolled around; since I think it could benefit with the competitive circuit in Pokémon now being more prominent.

As for the anime; it’s time to see how this is easily the most ‘90s of the ‘90s gaming anime. It was essentially, for the uninitiated; that generation’s Sword Art Online. Let’s open up “Guardian of the Disks” and find out why. 

The intro is easily the most ‘90s thing you will see in a long time. It’s filled with monsters battling; fantastic imagery, kids playing video games while dressed in baggy clothes and backward hats; all set to this strange alt-rock/techno fusion track. I’m posting a link of it for you to see for yourself.

We open on our female lead; Holly, scoping out where the next Mystery Disk they need is; while Genki (in his words from the pilot, “means ‘energy’”); Suezo and Mochi look on.

After she determines the direction on her Mystery Stone; Genki pulls on his boots and emphatically declares nothing will stop them! Yep, looks like we have another all-loving hero on our hands. 

So, they set off on their way; with Mochi lamenting the fact that he’s hungry, Suezo even taking the opportunity to chastise him for the fact. He even outright asks “when are you ever NOT hungry?”

They come to a fork in the road, and try to determine which way to go.

They take the left path; and an old farmer warns them of a frightening enigma that lives down that path. While the others are not sure; Genki isn’t scared in the slightest.  Of course not. A man playing the game he got sucked into (long story, won’t get into it right now) would feel that way!

Even though there are bits of reused animation here and there; and the voice acting may not be as good as its contemporaries in that time (Pokémon, Digimon, Dragon Ball Z, et al.), the story is actually surprisingly creative in a manner that sets it apart from the usual “gamer insertion” shows of that time. Yeah, I'm talking to you, Captain N!

The other characters are understandably confused by Genki’s reaction.

After going through the woods; they determine they’re lost. Genki; undeterred, continues to tease his friends about the “enigma!” 

At that point, Genki then has to ponder what an Enigma is.

Enigma: noun. Oxford English definition: a person or thing that is mysterious, puzzling, or difficult to understand.

Sounds like you fellas are on a roll. Why not set up camp?

They come across a large castle; and they of course have to search it based on the reading from the Mystery Stone. This should be interesting.

Bathed in flashes of lightning, the Enigma has arrived in the form of Golem! No, not the Stage 2 form of Geodude: this one is kind of like a mix between The Iron Giant and the Rockbiter from The Never-ending Story; and I’m going to tell you why in a little bit.

The Golem leads everyone to a small glen where the disks are held; and stops Genki from stepping on a flower. I must say that the gentle giant has to be one of my favorite character types. Even if he must fight; it’s to protect the ones he cares for. Being someone who’s 6’2”, 215 pounds as of this writing; I love the idea behind a creature or person of large stature and even larger heart.

As everyone goes to bed, I must point out this little ditty that points out the monsters one can unlock; and in true 90s fashion, in rap no less. While not as memorable as the Pokérap, it does have a solid amount of 90s cheese to the whole thing. It’s a key reason why this anime is a bit underrated in my opinion; at least among gaming anime.

The next morning, we see Golem getting water for the flowers as a small bird lands on his shoulder. I would make a Team Four Star Android 16 joke; but I feel this scene is a key example of Golem’s character. That’s why I feel that even though there are many elements that would become fixtures of “mons” anime; this has an edge over Yo-Kai Watch for how it slowly draws you into the world it’s built rather than hammer you into submission. 

Golem then shows everyone the way out of the forest; but declines to join them on their journey for the Mystery Disk. You probably know where this is headed, but let’s keep going anyway.

Then, a group of strange blue shapeshifter arise as their captain (marked by his helmet) points out there are many mystery disks in the area.

The captain even laments that even if his minions are “worthless pieces of blue slime, they’re all he has to work with.” Dry humor, ha!

So, even though they are dismayed Golem would not join them; everyone continues on their journey. 

Then Genki steps in a puddle of monster seeking the disks; then decides to settle for them all. Then, in the scuffle; the monster accidentally crushes himself under a rock. No wonder the captain is disappointed in him. 

The Blue Slimes have found out the garden; and prepare to attack Golem! What are you preparing? You're always preparing! Just go!

I must say, their attacks are highly ineffective. While I can understand not being able to adapt the complexity of the games; the Slimes dog piling him aren’t even making him flinch.

Then, when the Captain launches his jewel at Golem, he’s tied down with the roots of his own garden as the Slimes loot the disks.

Just then, Genki comes rollerblading in to confront the Slimes! Oh, 90s cheese, don’t ever change.

He even reams out the Slimes for their actions even before he battles them! Atta boy! You may not have the synergy Ash or Goku do; but you do share their willingness to do the right thing, no matter the cost! 

At the sight of his friends’ struggles, this is the moment that finally causes Golem to spring into action; and here is the Iron Giant comparison I drew earlier: while normally friendly, this is what happens when Golem or those close to him are in high duress. This is why he’s reluctant to fight unless he absolutely has to. 

With one punch, he returns Captain Slime and his minions to disk form in the garden they were ironically trying to pillage! Yet, Genki stops him from eliminating the last guard from before!

Golem then realizes what he has done; and finally decides to join Genki on his quest.

Also, much like a phoenix, his tears have healing powers. In fact, the disk they’re seeking is even called the Phoenix Disk. What do you know?

With a kind shake of his finger; Golem officially decides to join everyone on their quest to restore peace to the land!

“Guardian of the Disks” is a solid entry in Monster Rancher; one of the lesser-known “mons” anime today despite its popularity in the midst of Pokémon fever. With decent animation and a surprisingly good story; I can imagine Yo-Kai Watch will be remembered similarly in another 16 years or so. Sorry it took so long to post this; but I’m going on vacation and I hope you’ll enjoy reading this as much as I did writing it. See you in December! 

Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon Sizzles, Yo-Kai Watch Fizzles.

Hello again. I've been very busy with Spanish lately; and I also plan on going on vacation soon; so I hope to get the recap I've been working on posted before I leave.

Even so, I have a couple things to tell you. I just got Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon a few days ago; and I'm enjoying it so far. Despite not being familiar with prior entries (I had only played Red Rescue Team on GBA a while ago) or the "roguelike" subgenre of RPGs as a whole; I can honestly say the latest entry in one of the more successful Pokémon spinoff series is the best Mystery Dungeon title yet in terms of graphics, gameplay and story.

Now comes the part where I must once again address Yo-Kai Watch. There was an aura of doubt that the latest Japanese video game juggernaut could go toe to toe with Pokémon in the US; and it seems that my skepticism has once again been justified.

In its first two weeks on the market in the US; the title has only managed to sell slightly over 30,000 units, far less than even the initial launch in Japan. As I pointed out before, it doesn't help that the game was put against a murderer's row of anticipated entries from established franchises. Super Mystery Dungeon alone quickly snatched the eShop crown it briefly held (meaning my statement of being an eShop novelty may have been too generous); and launching against Call of Duty: Black Ops III effectively left the title dead in the water. This is further compounded by Fallout 4 launching the following week (note: westerners have often had "cute" RPGs that aren't Pokémon be a bit of a hard sell; tending to skew towards darker ones or ones that take themselves with some degree of seriousness like Fallout); and things could potentially get worse once sales for Star Wars Battlefront come up.

It's one thing to bring up stuff from VGchartz, though. How does the "sitch" sound coming from an ordinary person like me? Well, I wish I could say that my area took to it like a duck to water; but that is not the case. When I went to get minutes for my phone at Walmart, there were seven copies of the game in stock; as well as 2 of the 2DS bundles. When I came back a week or so later; they were still there. Nobody touched them.

At Gamestop; when I went to preorder Super Mystery Dungeon, there were two copies of the game and 2 more 2DS bundles on the shelf. When I picked it up; only one copy of Yo-Kai Watch had sold compared to most of the ones of Super Mystery Dungeon being gone.

Furthering this was the fact that on my Streetpass function; only two tags out of at least 170 users had the game in my area, factoring folks from multiple counties and other passersby. All of this, on a handheld which has sold 15 million units at minimum; points to the fact that using the same strategy as Japan to launch Yo-Kai Watch may not have been the best idea.

Despite this; Hino still plans to bring over the sequels in the near future, and the game has been doing a bit better on eShop than it has at retail. Still, it doesn't really inspire all that much confidence when Inazuma Eleven flopped in the US; and Ni No Kuni sold well enough to get a "Greatest Hits" label on PS3.

Personally, I still don't plan on buying the game anytime soon. I might pick up a used copy later on down the line, but that probably won't be till 2016 at the earliest. I'll probably recap more of the anime then too; because I'm stretched thin with the rest of this year and I want to see what happens with the toys in spring 2016. Since retailers are now taking preorders; only time will tell if it will be as big for Hasbro as Star Wars, Transformers, GI Joe and Marvel have been; but as for "the next Pokémon:" with that series turning 20 next year, the writing's on the wall. Bang.

My Thoughts on Pokémon The Strongest Mega Evolution Act IV+XY and Z Early Impressions.

You know, after watching The Strongest Mega Evolution Act IV, I can officially I liked these specials better when they were called Pokémon Origins. I may have been critical of parts of these specials before, but this is the first time I can say I didn't like Act IV.

This post is going to be addressing both Act IV and XY and Z, but I do like the latter. There will be some spoilers. Read no further if you intend to watch Act IV or XY and Z.

I can officially say that Alan had his chance as a character. He doesn't represent me at all as an older fan.  This isn't helped at all by the fact that Kensho Ono finally learned to voice act. Way too late for that, dude.

This could have been the moment where he could have been fleshed out more as a character. Instead, they decided that since this was the last special; they made it way too difficult to go back and do more. This is the special that will be officially tasked with killing the Mega Evolution specials.

He decides to have 10 battles with barely any rest between them; he doesn't treat anyone besides his Charizard with any decency, and rather than try to comfort his associate Maren in her time of need (I hesitate to call them friends at this point); he runs off seething with rage for no adequately explored reason at all, which comes completely out of nowhere since I don't know anything about these characters; hence I don't really care about them at all.

I mean, N acted the way he did because he wasn't used to being around humans; generally preferring the company of Pokémon. Alan, however, is never given a reason why acts this way. I don't think he will be at this point.

Generally, with characters like Ash, Goku, Monkey D. Luffy, and the Elrics from Full Metal Alchemist; we get to see what they want to do, see how they set about doing it and all the things they go through as a result. That is basic storytelling. While Alan has technically been introduced, he has been by no means established. Without any positive or redeeming qualities, he's just there.

Memo to the people involved: a distant, emotionally void character is not how to appeal to older viewers. He turns me off as a fan, and I also think he's a terrible role model for children.

Now for the XYZ series: the first couple episodes were pretty good, complete with a new opening and ending, with the latter involving Bonnie and the Zygarde Core (I got tired of the Little Glee Monster song a long time ago).

Team Flare has also been distinguished from their game counterparts; channeling Lysander's energy into the rest of Flare; especially in the case of the scientists. They seem downright gleeful of the fact they're willing to harm children to accomplish their goals. Xerosic in particular has this very creepy, Josef Mengele-type voiee that gives me chills every time I hear it.

It's also just as well that Alan kept walking at the end of the pilot; since I personally don't want him and Ash to meet, much less battle. If the opening is any indication; there could be a whole Civil War/Dawn of Justice type situation going on, with the cynical Alan contrasting the idealistic Ash.

It may not have been as good as the pilot of XY in general, but like I said; it should be an overall satisfying series.

If the Mega Evolution Specials could not show what Alan was capable of, then XY and Z is going to be their last chance. The 20th anniversary is coming soon, and at best; I could see their dynamic being handled similarly to Paul, and to a lesser extent, Trip. He may be an asshole, but at least he's not 100% a dick.

He may not be a sociopath like Paul; but with Origins and the mainline series, Red and Ash are at least written like leads. Alan was written more like a rival or even a villain. After four specials, I really don't know anything about him. Thus, I am forced to conclude that I don't consider Alan to be a relatable character, I consider Ash to be one. Overall, I can say the Mega Evolution Specials were an interesting experiment; but compared to Origins as potentially replacing the mainline series, they failed. At least they're better than Chronicles, especially in the case of The Legend of Thunder. To quote the Agony Booth, "it committed movie-suicide in only one installment."

Tell me what you think of this arc; and I'm going to get back to work on this project I was working on when I'm done with my Spanish homework. See you space cowboy.

Pokémon Red, Blue and Yellow Coming to Virtual Console for 20th Anniversary. Childhood enhanced.

It's not a joke this time. For the 20th anniversary of their original release; Pokémon Red, Blue and Yellow are finally coming to Virtual Console on 3DS. The announcement came out of tonight's Nintendo Direct and had a trailer uploaded to the official Pokémon YouTube channel.

While the selling point is in itself monumental; the fact is made all the more remarkable by the fact the games are being presented entirely in their original form, with the exception of the link cable on the Game Boy now making way for full wireless trading.

In every sense imaginable; this development will not only allow people like me to relive their favorite adventures, but also appeal to a new generation of players as well.

With this on the table, you can bet your booty that I'll be downloading these the moment they go live on 3DS Virtual Console on February 27, 2016;  20 years after the original release in Japan. Nostalgic fun: I choose you. Bang.

Recap: The Dancing Digimon

Hello again. It seems that early US sales and reviews for Yo-Kai Watch are surprisingly favorable; even given how the game has launched amid a season filled with a myriad of anticipated titles. I can’t be sure how things will be in the long term; especially as my data is based on checking online review sites and Nintendo eShop (as physical sales will more than likely have Call of Duty: Black Ops III lead by a country mile; Activision’s whoring be damned).

So, I still don’t plan on doing any more Yo-Kai Watch right away. Rather, I shall take the opportunity to illustrate how some competitors of Pokémon were once everywhere; then nowhere just as quickly. Also, I’ve mentioned I wanted to do this recap for Halloween; but I was ill and busy with schoolwork. Now, however; I can finally get this out. So, let’s open up “The Dancing Digimon” and see another part of the fandom rivalries I’ve been engaged with in the past!

Again, we open on a “previously-on” recap of a prior episode involving Mimi and Izzy having to work together to get out of a maze. I’m personally not doing that one, as I don’t have enough material to give it a recap. Besides; I like it enough that I don’t think a positive recap or even a good-natured ribbing is necessary. 

Then, we once again get that great electro theme song; a tune that easily signaled the end of the 90s and the beginning of the 2000s. Gives me chills every time I hear it. 

We open on Devimon sending out his minions to stop the Digidestined. Not merely being satisfied with separating them; he wants to defeat them individually so they can’t reunite File Island! That’s actually a nice tactic: to undermine the teamwork of one’s enemies by not only separating them, but demoralizing them as well.

We cut to Joe, my favorite member of the Digidestined lamenting his seasickness as he quips that “beds don’t make good boats.”

I haven't felt this bad since the last time I watched Yo-Kai Watch!

Gomamon has unfortunately eaten all the rations; leaving the bag as empty as a theater showing Jem and the Holograms! Joe, of course, reams out Gomamon for this.

You fool, the packaging said PER SERVING!

Yet, he seemingly has the dry heaves as he continues to vomit off the side of the bed. Please, you could show him his role int he movie and it would have the same effect.

Then, who should show up in a crate but Ogremon in a foul humor! 

Your package of Ogremon has arrived!

Joe, of course, is less than pleased about this encounter.

Look, when I said I wanted to die in bed; I kind of meant my own!

Gomamon then digivolves into Ikkakumon in order to rescue Joe! 

Get on my back, Atreyu- I mean Joe!

Yet, they end up getting fished out by Sora; who was trying catch dinner herself. He’s even delirious as he tries to recover from almost drowning.

Oh Queen Amidala, let me live in your castle on Naboo!

When he comes to, Sora and Gomamon suggest him being an interim leader to help boost his morale. Joe is unsure of the idea.

Me a leader? I can't even tie my shoelaces! You have any idea how hard it is to find velcro Jack Purcells in my size?

Yet, after some encouragement; he does decide to lead them. 

By the power of Skullgreymon, I HAVE THE POWER!

They come across a creepy church in the middle of the island. Joe quickly deduces where there’s a party, there’s bound to be food!

Even amid all the spooky imagery; Sora pushes her “leader” further. 

Go on, you goony! Take a look!

So, Joe and Sora sneak around the back, and discover the party.

Then, everyone is led into the church itself by a very suspicious looking priest.

Aside from the cheap Halloween mask; his speech patterns are just a step above Torgo in articulation.

There IS no way OUT of here. It WILL be DARK soon. There is NO way out of HERE.

Of course, there’s a reason for that: he’s really a Bakemon! In hindsight; that’s actually a pretty clever way of introducing westerners to one of the Japanese terms for monster, “Bakemono.” Also, little side note; I want to finish Bakemonogatari so I can work on the other Monogatari series as well. Definitely would recommend them. 

Forgetting you is the thing that I'd rather do...

It turns out the church is full of Bakemon, as they were the guests in disguise! Joe and Sora run from the premises as a result! 

Well, good thing my trousers are brown!

The Digimon try to fight, but they’re out of energy from a lack of food!

Then; Joe and Sora are captured and taken back inside to be eaten by the Bakemon!

I'm not supposed to die like this! I'm supposed to die licking whipped cream off Carrie-Anne Moss's fingertips!

They’re also taken in Gomamon and Biyomon, presumably to be made into seconds! They start formulating a way out!

First I plan to soil myself, then come up with another plan!

Of course, things are much easier since they’re only left in with one inept guard! “I’m just going to leave them in an easily escapable situation and assume the whole thing went to plot!”

They trick one of the Bakemon into giving them some food; then bust out the door with their regained strength just as the other Bakemon are performing some sort of rite to make the Digidestined taste better! 

We, Bakemon, beseech thee to make our new movies hits, unlike that crappy one from 2000!

Ikkakumon and Birdramon then rescue Joe and Sora; but the next step is stopping Bakemon! Joe decides to try a chant of sorts to stop him. Also, I have watched the Japanese version for a frame of reference, so I thought I’d let you know that it is indeed different depending on which version you watch.

To give it a boost, Joe then borrows Sora’s hat to use as a makeshift drum! Yeah, it’s weird like that. Sometimes it’s a helmet, other times it’s all squishy. This is the former.

Sure enough, Bakemon is now cowering before the combined might of Ikkakumon and Birdramon, as if he were just another guy just waiting to be run in by these Scoobies.

I would have gotten away with it too, if it weren't for you meddling kids and your Digimon!

Also, I know I keep mentioning this; but all the fashions in this anime seem very ‘90s. Sora here appears to be sporting a variant of the Rachel haircut with her hat off.

With the day saved; Joe and Sora then vow to find their friends and send Devimon back where he came from! 

Joe and Sora will return in Captain America: Civil War.

“The Dancing Digimon” is one of the better episodes in the early days of Digimon Adventure; consisting of several episodes where the Digidestined must reunite with each other and reunite File Island as well. This episode has enough of a genuinely scary atmosphere and solid animation to make a fun way to closeout my lapsed Halloween festivities. As such, I will definitely be working on another recap to illustrate how competition in the industry is nothing new; and how Yo-Kai Watch is just another newcomer in a crowded market even if I’m not doing any more of Yo-Kai Watch itself right away. See you, space cowboy.