2020 Wrap-up, Here's to 2021.

Hey fellas: I will admit this year was definitely not the best start for the decade I or others hoped for. That said, I remain hopeful that the decade will improve from here; and while I didn’t do quite as much as I was hoping for this year, I still managed to accomplish quite a lot with my work here; and I aim to continue experimenting in 2021.

Seeing as the year 2021 marks the 25th anniversary of Pokémon; I look forward to what potentially lies ahead after the live sunrise from space, especially with a full review of “Pokémon: Secrets of the Jungle” after the film is officially dubbed and released in English-speaking regions. Though I’m still trying to get an issue resolved with my Zarude event, this is ultimately a minor setback in the grand scheme of things. 

Though in the past, others looked down on my hobbies; now, I’m glad to see that working through my anime and video game backlog has helped leave me better equipped to deal with this situation. So, I will continue to do that in between writing; and I look forward to sharing more with you all over the next 12 months. Happy New Year to you all, because we’re all going to need it. Bang.

Presenting a "Pokémon Presents" Christmas Eve riff.

Hey fellas: I would have liked to give you all something more substantial; and I once again apologize for the delays I’ve been facing. However, I would also like to take the opportunity to do something a little different for this Christmas: a riff on this year’s “Pokémon Presents” presentations they had earlier this year. They were both held this past June; and with the 25th anniversary being set in motion as we speak, I think it’s only right I give my belated thoughts on the matter in lieu of a full review of “Pokémon: Secrets of the Jungle” (which will happen after its English release). So, let’s go over all the announcements and I will give you all me brief thoughts on them.

Let’s start with the announcements on the June 17 presentation; which, in a year where E3 was off the table for fairly obvious reasons, was welcome. The announcement included games that were available shortly after the livestream finished: I’ve already addressed the “Isle of Armor,” which went live after the livestream finished, and I found it to be enjoyable; and still do. “The Crown Tundra” was announced for release that fall, later confirmed to be October 22: I’m almost done with that; just need to finish catching the Regigigas forms and then I can enter the Galarian Star Tournament! Once I do, my full review of both chapters will follow. Two new apps were also announced for release after the stream: one was on both mobile and Switch, known as Pokémon Café Mix. Much like previous titles such as “Pokémon Shuffle” and “Pokémon Trozei,” it’s a puzzle game that’s essentially the Pokémon version of “Bejeweled;” and surprisingly relaxing and addictive one at that. Another one is “Pokémon Smile,” while targeted at younger fans and kids; is a reminder/game that helps people brush their teeth and catch Pokémon in the process. Yes, folks; we’ve reached a point where they can sell us anything, including dental hygiene. 

Now, comes the biggest announcements from both this presentation and the one the following week on June 24. One was met with enthusiasm and excitement; the other, much less so. The big announcement from the June 17 presentation was “New Pokémon Snap”, a sort of sequel/re-imagining of the classic “Pokémon Snap” on Nintendo 64 with more monsters from the entire history of the series. The game is set to be developed in partnership with Bandai Namco, who will be taking the reins from HAL Laboratories. Though no release date has been confirmed as of this writing, the game looks great as a big fan of the original game. As for any comparisons to Generation VIII visually, personally; I think the art direction of both works for different reasons. Comparing the two would be akin to comparing Age of Calamity to the Breath of the Wild sequel they’re working on.

More infamously, a MOBA spinoff was announced in a partnership with the Chinese companies Tencent and TIMI: “Pokémon Unite.” I can’t go so far as to compare it with the infamous reveal of “Diablo Immortal,” but I will say that I at least have mixed feelings toward the prospect; though not for the reasons you might think. While the skepticism towards the companies involved is warranted to a degree; personally, I’ve seen far worse games come out this year. I have not played that many MOBA games personally (I know people that have), so I have nothing to compare it to. I will state that I don’t say “yes” to anything I cover until I have enough details in front of me to do so; and right now, I don’t have sufficient details to do that beyond the fact the game is coming to both mobiles and the Switch. That, and the announcement was the same day that both Ninjala and the HD rerelease of Star Wars Episode I- Racer came to Switch. I know many people were expecting the next main game or at the very least, a reversion of Gold and Silver in the vein of “Let’s Go Pikachu and Eevee” (talk persists of Sinnoh remakes); but personally, I’m indifferent to the spinoff even as someone who’s willing to at least try it whenever it does release.

That will be all for now, and I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year; because we all will need it. Later.

Kirby Morrow dies at age 47.

It is with great sadness that I report on the death of Kirby Morrow, who has died at age 47 according to his brother Casey. This Canadian actor was the voice of Goku in the Ocean dub of Dragon Ball Z, Miroku in Inuyasha; and was the voice of Rad White in Transformers Armada and Energon; as well as the voice of Hot Shot in Transformers Cybertron. Other roles outside of anime included the voice of Cyclops in X-Men Evolution and recurring roles in Stargate SG-1, Atlantis and Universe.

As someone who has enjoyed Morrow's work, I wish the best for his friends; family and fellow voice actors at this difficult time. May he rest in peace.

"Pokémon: Secrets of the Jungle" Coming in 2021.

Hey fellas: this update came up just as I was finishing one of my other posts; so I thought I might share it with you all. It turns out that on top of all the recent developments for “Pokémon Coco,” the 23rd animated film in the series in Japan; the movie finally has a brief taste of what to expect from its English dub release. The film will see a release in English in 2021 under the name “Pokémon: Secrets of the Jungle.”

The first dubbed trailer dropped a few days ago, and I can now further verify the summary I’ve pieced together from promotional materials. In the Okoya Forest, a young man named “Koko” (much like the title, the romanization was likely changed to avoid legal issues with Pixar) has been living alongside a new Pokémon known as Zarude after apparently being orphaned as an infant. Crossing paths with Ash and Pikachu, they must form an unlikely bond to save the forest from disaster. This news comes along with a host of tie-ins being released as well, including Zarude itself being given to US players who are subscribed to the Pokémon Company’s newsletter; which will be distributed on December 11 (I have already opted in).

Though there is still more to be revealed, I will bring you more information as I get it. While the film doesn’t have a concrete release date for the dub as of yet beyond “2021” (which makes sense to me, given how the release patterns are still kind of touch and go right now); I look forward to telling you all about the movie and reviewing it in full when it does come out. That will be all for now, and I am drafting plenty of material for the next two weeks. Later.

#PokémonSwordShield at 19M sold, Switch at 68M sold!

Hey fellas: with the year having gone the way it has so far (hopefully the decade will improve from here), I thought I would do my best to once again be the voice of optimism and good news at this time.

With that out of the way, I give you the latest sales updates for “Pokémon Sword and Shield” and the Switch as a whole; as today marks one year since the release of the former. The games have now sold a combined 19.02 million copies since then; surpassing the 18.99 million sold by even “Super Mario Odyssey!” That is incredible, given how it’s beaten Mario but also sold more in one year than all the 3DS titles did in that console’s entire lifecycle. This places the games right in the top 5 bestselling Switch titles to date; alongside “The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild” at 19.74 million, “Super Smash Bros. Ultimate” at 21.1 million, and “Animal Crossing New Horizons” at 26.04 million, with “Mario Kart 8 Deluxe” still leading at 28.99 million. 

The Nintendo Switch has also now sold 68.3 million units worldwide; surpassing the 61.91 million the original Nintendo Entertainment System sold in its lifecycle. This makes the console second to not only the original Wii as their most successful home system, but if handhelds are considered (as the console has properties of both); it’s in their top three most successful overall since the original DS. The system is likely on track to outsell the 3DS in the near future, with that system bowing out at 75.9 million sold worldwide in its nine-year lifecycle.

I will have more to tell you tomorrow; and it’s something I’ve been wanting to for a long time. You’ll just have to wait and see what it is, and that will be all for now. Later.

Yo-Kai Watch Jam: Yokai Academy Y- Can a Cat Really be a Hero? (2019) First Viewing Thoughts.

Well, I can see why this movie bombed even in Japan. It's all right I suppose; but between the box office returns and the ongoing pandemic, it's probably going to be the last movie this franchise will get for a while. So, with that said; here are my first viewing thoughts on the pilot movie for "Yo-Kai Watch Jam: Yo-Kai Academy Y."

There will be some spoilers; but seeing as I'm probably not going to review this movie anytime soon, I wouldn't have much of an outlet to tell you otherwise, so let's get started. 

This movie, as previously established; features humanized versions of the yokai characters, with the watch in this continuity turning them into superheroes. Key ones to this setting are Jibanyan's counterpart, Jinpei Jiba; Komasan's counterpart Koma Sandayu, and a new character that's essentially our audience surrogate; Tamada Mataro. The film features the three among a cast of characters trying to stop a group of creatures known as "Onryo" from taking over the academy and causing chaos in the world. This is on top of how the slice-of-life elements have now taken a backseat to what I have charitably described as a smaller-scale My Hero Academia by way of My Little Pony Equestria Girls.

So, much like the TV series it acts as a feature-length intro to; it's all right all things considered. The plot structure is not on the same level to me as Shadowside or Forever Friends (still not reviewing that one either), but it's all right as far as riding the coattails of superheroes and tokusatsu series goes.

There are admittedly some cringeworthy scenes (such as a mecha doing something that wouldn't be out of place in one of the Michael Bay Transformers movies); but I can at least understand what everyone's end game is on paper. Once again, the animation is the strongest element in play here. Everything is colorful and sharp, and aside from some rough-looking CGI (including the aforementioned mecha); the movement on the action is quite energetic. The design work on the hero forms is actually pretty neat and has lots of variety (though some in the show proper, such as Fubuki's hero form and Jinpei's "Wild Boy" form kind of look like Overwatch characters, to the point where I half expected to hear an announcer say "play of the game" before an instant replay).

In many ways, this easily ranks among the most insane movies not just in this franchise; but in my lifetime of viewing movies to date, and I've seen Jupiter Ascending. Though, all things considered; much like that film's concept (essentially The Matrix meets Star Wars on $176 million of mind-bending visuals); this one is as advertised. It's not the best thing that I've covered in the series; but it's far from the worst. 

Unfortunately, while not as big a bomb as that film was; it still is the lowest-grossing entry in the franchise to date; making about only half as much as the previous year's film. It was met with competition from the hit "Shijin-sou no Satsujin" along with the Japanese releases of "Star Wars: Episode IX- The Rise of Skywalker," "Frozen II" and "Jumanji: The Next Level." Combine that with continued uncertainty from audiences and distributors alike in adjusting to a new cinematic climate in the age of COVID-19 (some releases are still being reshuffled, others have taken advantage of an accelerated rise in embracing PVOD/streaming); it's highly unlikely we'll see another new "Yo-Kai Watch" movie anytime soon.

I know I just posted something about this franchise; but I'm still getting used to the new Blogger layout and I will probably need a moment to think about my next review, so I will probably do another simple article like this next time. With Mewtwo Strikes Back Evolution now coming out on Blu-Ray, I submit it's only a matter of time before Viz says something about M23 being dubbed in English; maybe around when the JP movie finally comes out at Christmas time. The game hasn't done too well, and I still haven't found much data on how the toys or TV anime are doing either. I will let you know if anything else comes up about the proposed localization of Yo-Kai Watch 4; but so far, nothing else has come up in any of the Nintendo Direct Partner Showcases this year. That will be all for now. Later.

The Real Reasons Behind Yo-Kai Watch's International Failure.

Hello everyone: it certainly has been an interesting experience as of late. While I'm mostly retired from this blog and recapping this subject today, there are still plenty of things I can address. Case in point: about five years ago, when an individual that I referred to simply as "Murdoch" announced their support for Yo-Kai Watch in lieu of other offerings around that time; I offered my rebuttal within the same day why I wasn't into it; as "the man who just didn't get it."

Courtesy: Destructoid

Five years have passed; and the franchise still sees an uncertain future. Though at the time; fans tried to explain the real reasons behind the series' success, to this day; others still rely on the same disproven talking points. Some common variations include "Pokémon fans think it's just a ripoff," "westerners only want to play AAA games," and one relatively new one that cropped up after the release of YW4 and Generation VIII goes so far to suggest that "Switch owners only picked up Sword and Shield because it's Pokémon." None of these claims are accurate. As I've pointed out before, if people keep bringing up these arguments; I'm just going to keep debunking them. It's also troubling one of the notable sites for the series in the West has seemingly gone inactive (the copy I linked to was thankfully archived on the Wayback Machine). Update As of 12/6/20: The article, and the website as a whole are back up, as linked here. Nevertheless, as they tried to outline the real reasons for the series' success; they asked readers collectively what they were going to do. I will tell you: I once again offer my rebuttal as we mark five years since the launch of the original game domestically; and explore the real reasons behind Yo-Kai Watch's international failure.

1. A "Relatable premise" gets lost in translation

One of the major selling points for the series in Japan was as follows: unexplained phenomena are caused by mythological Japanese creatures known as "yokai." Essentially, if you misplace something or your GPS gives you misleading directions, a yokai may be the cause. Though normally invisible, the titular "Yo-Kai Watch" allows the wearer to see and confront them. This worked well in Japan given how yokai are about as ubiquitous there as zombies are here; but proved to be a problem on multiple levels here. In hindsight, it was definitely a mistake to suggest that yokai were "not ghosts, monsters or spirits" when they are in fact; all of those things and more in the original Japanese myths that inspired the game. On top of this, what's "normal" and "expected" in one country might be considered "odd" in another. 

I'm no city planner, but I'm fairly certain there aren't any sakura trees or gashapon machines in Idaho.

These are by no means deterrents on paper: if audiences can get behind a 10-year-old kid traveling around the world with an electric mouse, it's not impossible when done right. "Kid Icarus Uprising" not only presented a unique take on Greek mythology, but also respected the original game that it draws influence from. Unfortunately, you can't just take a distinctly Japanese setting and mindset, then try to transplant them into a place like Idaho and expect people to understand. When generations of gamers have casually run over stoplights and pedestrians without a second thought in Liberty City; being forced to wait at a crosswalk or get eviscerated by a beast in a kabuki mask isn't something that sounds too enticing. Yet, this is just one of the many roadblocks the series had in the journey overseas.

2. The anime gets "tuned out"

In October of 2015, "Yo-Kai Watch" began airing its English dub on Disney XD. While this posed challenges as opposed to airing on the main Disney Channel (let alone Nickelodeon or Cartoon Network); it's clear that the network was banking on the anime to be the breakout hit it was in Japan. This ultimately never happened, with the anime only pulling in 500,000 viewers at best; less than half of the ratings it got in Japan typically. 

Dramatization of English dub team upon finding out the series they localized is tanking in ratings.

The humor wasn't too accessible to those not familiar with Japanese mythology, and the changes made in the English dub didn't endear it to those who were familiar with yokai and Japanese folklore. I don't claim to be an expert by any means, just an observer. I also concede that I don't think the idea of "everyday life with yokai" failed because it was "too weird," I'm more in the camp that didn't find it weird enough. 

A one-shoed Thai-American student in a world of frog people: sounds good to me.

On top of the show becoming less of a priority when Disney XD began broadcasting Pokémon as well as Beyblade Burst, it soon emerged that Disney's own shows (both acquired and in-house IPs) were getting better ratings. This led to the English dub being recast in its third season due to budget cuts, and eventually the anime being dropped altogether in early 2019. As of this writing, the series has had intermittent reruns scattered across this year; with no official word on more content airing. There is also just the first movie and first 26-episode streaming on Netflix; and while I will address this further later down the list.

3. Misreading the market

I've mentioned this before, but this is a major recurring issue that has plagued the series outside Japan: fundamentally misreading the market about how much people would be interested in the series. Sure, the fanbase was quite eager to see the series come stateside even before the official announcements; but for the most part, it wasn't that there were any "drill bits" rooting against the series actively: rather, it was that mainstream audiences as a whole were simply not interested. Even as the first game only sold 400,000 copies domestically during its initial year on sale; Level-5 was too eager to see the problem. In particular, Akihiro Hino believed once "Yo-Kai Watch 2" launched in English in September 2016 that the series would follow the same pattern as in Japan and "bloom like a flower" within a year's time. He even expressed interest in getting content from the same time as or before Japan; which ultimately hasn't happened. Instead, the release gap has gotten further and further away; with the release date for the fourth game officially in limbo as over a year has passed since the informal announcement of the localization at Anime Expo in 2019. Though I do not personally blame the company for this state of affairs, part of this problem can be linked to the nature of how they're still trying the same tactics that have been long since proven ineffective and have continued to release their titles in the same time frame as much bigger games.

I also understand that Pokémon hasn't totally been without this issue either. In hindsight, I'm glad the proposed idea to turn Pikachu into a Jellicle cat was rejected.

As for the over-optimistic "bloom like a flower" comment: in hindsight, it's not the worst statement I've seen about misreading the situation, since Ken Kutaragi's "work extra hours to afford the PS3" happened; but it's definitely become a go-to example I've cited in how maybe they reached their arm further than their sleeve in this area. 

Space travel and superhero comic books should make our game appealing to American audiences, right? Well, maybe not.

As time passed, there was more than enough time to re-evaluate their plans amid increasingly diminishing returns; but the people in charge insisted that the series would find its audience eventually. Even so, there was a series that also debuted stateside in 2015 which was thought to be a niche concept; but quickly grew into one of Nintendo's biggest series yet: it was called Splatoon. Though it too has trappings of Japanese culture in the game, the concept itself proved to be a much-needed hit not just for the Wii U; but for the company as a whole. When its sequel released in 2017; it managed to improve on its senior in nearly every way and continues to be enjoyed on the Switch. The main gameplay mechanic of that series centers around ink-shooting "turf wars." This is a much easier idea to convey to the uninitiated than "everyday life with yokai" outside Japan. Least of all, a "comfy" description isn't really a selling point that most fans of JRPGs would be interested in; though if they had embraced the insanity instead of trying to homogenize the game into something it wasn't meant to be; it could have been a much different story. Through sheer coincidence, that's a key factor that so many "Doom x Animal Crossing" memes have been in my feed; part of a mixture that involves a pandemic and shared release date. Yet, that's still only one of the reasons behind the series' international failure.

4. Toys in the attic

Ah yes, one of the big pieces of dramatic irony for the series outside Japan: the failure of the toyline. Though Hasbro was initially eager to push the series as its next big license; this goal was ultimately never realized. The toyline initially released in January 2016 (though some markets got them in late December 2015); but even though the merchandise was one of the key cornerstones of the brand in its native Japan, that element simply did not translate to the same level of success here. Despite the claims in the archived article, the way they were marketed was one sample of how the series never really established its own identity beyond "yokai cause hijinks, hilarity ensues." Though I agree that the license's world-building can enhance the appeal of a tie-in product; the key difference is how to convey that to newcomers. Even if someone is a relatively new fan of the material, someone could instinctively understand the purpose of a lightsaber, a gauntlet covered in Infinity Stones or an alien robot that can fit a semi-truck. A wristwatch that lets people befriend and summon ghosts? Not so easily, and thus the toyline floundered outside Japan. Expanding on the toyline also proved unsuccessful, leaving numerous products not being officially released outside the series' homestead. 

A common place where the titular Yo-Kai Watch is found, taken from my last visit to 99 cents Only in Berkeley, CA.

Though Hasbro originally planned more merchandise as of 2018; the company quietly moved onto other licenses (such as acquiring Power Rangers); with some wares only being released in Europe. As shown by that photograph I took, the toys are a common staple of bargain bins; dollar stores and crane games. While this isn't totally uncommon for stock of some toys (again, Pokémon briefly went through this earlier on in its run); it's honestly astounding how quickly this happened.

5. Not "the next Pokémon," but just another game?

Now, comes where it all began: the video games. While the "Pokémon killer" narrative did not sit well with fans, as time passed; it also proved to never come to fruition. Once the international release took place, not only did it not kill Pokémon; it didn't even wound it. It was like trying to use a Magikarp against Eternatus. For the record, I never really bought into the "ripoff" narrative as it didn't make much sense to me: that's like saying Fire Emblem is a Zelda ripoff just because they both have Warriors/Musou spinoffs and their protagonists use swords. Nor I do I think the Japanese culture motifs are a deterrent in and of themselves (I love the Yakuza games, for example): I do believe however that maybe the people in charge tried to turn the game into something it wasn't; which in turn stopped the momentum of the series' localization cold. 

This is what happens when you leave your door to the spirit world unlocked.

The series did not grow as expected, nor did the plans to get content at the same time or before Japan ever happen. Each subsequent game sold less than the one before it in North America. The first game sold 440,000 copies; the sequels cut those sales in half at 220,000 copies domestically in the span of just under a year. When "Psychic Specters" launched, the game sold 120,000 copies; another significant drop and notably less than previous-generation versions of that year's FIFA. The "Blasters" spinoffs (changed from the Japanese "Busters" to avoid legal issues with Sony) launched the same day as Spider-Man on PS4; which had a record launch (looking forward to the Miles Morales spinoff on PS5) that easily dwarfed the yokai, and the spinoff only sold 70,000 copies stateside. The third main game, which was ironically developed to appeal to American audiences ended up having the lowest sales in the entire series at just 4,000 copies in North America, not helped by launching just after both Kingdom Hearts III and the remake of Resident Evil 2.

Insert "who wore it better?" joke here.

Yet, that same summer, after six months of delays; there was a chance that the next main series game could return the series to its former glory: "Yo-Kai Watch 4: We're Looking Up at the Same Sky" released on the Nintendo Switch on June 20, 2019. The game launched at the top of the Japanese bestseller charts: while marking a decline from the previous installments; it still sold a respectable amount of 150,000 copies. Eight days later, however; the game would be outsold by Super Mario Maker 2: building on the success of the Wii U and 3DS versions of the game, it sold 2.4 million units in its first three days; more than YW4 sold in its first five months.

Though Hino did express interest in localizing the game as well as the anime films that were key to its plot, there was another factor in play in the form of another game: "Pokémon Sword and Shield." Despite skepticism to the changes made from previous games (not to mention some controversial behaviors in the fandom), the games have ultimately proven to be successful, selling over 19 million copies to date.

A "G-Max Gold Rush" in both battle and sales, so to speak,

If anything, the series declining so rapidly in Japan and not catching on elsewhere can be linked to several factors. Despite the claims otherwise, "charm" is not enough to sell a concept to someone. Even if a game world is influenced by our own, without any connection to that world; it's not likely to entice players unless the world is presented in a way they can make it their own. It also doesn't help the human characters in the series aren't as relatable as suggested. Even with the jokes that I keep seeing about the trainer avatars in Pokémon, since character customization entered the series in Generation VI onward; it's become much easier for myself and others to feel like part of the world with their own playstyles and behavior. Even though some people are mixed on the limited distribution window among other factors; reactions to Super Mario 3D All-Stars have been highly-positive to finally return to some of the best entries in the Mario series. Even before Breath of the Wild featured in-game dialog (not counting the infamous CDi games); characters in Zelda could pack a whole game's worth of character into a single expression. Put simply, when the player feels like a stranger in a strange land and finds no relatable qualities in the characters; the premise of the series just doesn't work.

Then there's the market saturation that ended up damaging not just the international release, but the brand on its home turf as well. Though the series was never shy about releasing spinoffs and revisions, the year 2019 saw the release of not only the base version of Yo-Kai Watch 4, but the Switch port of the first game; an expansion to the game only a few months after release and a port of said expansion to PS4 around the same time. As someone who's old enough to remember when Sega released the Sega CD, 32X and Saturn in the span of just three years; this led to a similar outcome of disappointing sales, as they were effectively competing against themselves as well as other titles. There are now even reports of the western operations ceasing altogether; which will be important for my last point.

6. Lack of a consistent identity.

On top of all this, there is an underlying problem that has now reared its head in light of the recent content that's come out of the franchise, with the Jam project being a big example of this: a lack of a concrete identity. With other series, there is a clear idea of the basic concept even as said concept has been applied in different ways over time. Pokémon has always been quite clear about the adventure aspects of its series, and I'm eager to see what's done with the open-world designs they're introducing. Even though I'm not the biggest Dragon Quest fan (personally more of a Chrono Trigger guy), I understand its appeal and significance. Though this series hasn't been as experimental as Paper Mario has (I can understand how others feel even if I personally don't have a problem with the creative decisions made in the recent games), it is clear that each main installment has tried to appeal to new players by shaking up the gameplay each time rather than simply expanding on what works and refining what doesn't. Granted, I admit the second and third main games were improvements over the original; but the gameplay at its core would have been fine if they just kept fine-tuning the mechanics instead of essentially trying to use foreign parts to modify a GM car. 

Gob Bluth: "I've made a huge mistake..."

This is especially evident in the anime, which; while showing the potential of taking the series beyond the slice-of-life genre; never really stuck for long. "Shadowside" was one that I actually preferred, largely because it played up the supernatural horror elements of the story; and had a more coherent plot and consistent characters. The "Forever Friends" movie, which I still don't plan on covering; was also quite good as a prequel, excellent even for focusing on the bonds that I wish were more emphasized instead of the jokes and toys (which I don't have anything against within reason). I still have not seen the Jam Project movie, but what I have seen of the TV series is all right. Not the best thing I've ever seen; but it works fine as a sort of smaller-scale version of My Hero Academia by way of My Little Pony: Equestria Girls; where the yokai are humanized and the watch turns them into superheroes that wouldn't be out of place in one of my tokusatsu series.

That is ultimately the biggest problem the series faced outside its own country; and even within it: a lack of a real identity beyond "charm" and "yokai cause wacky hijinks." It's why I declined the offer to join the proposed community on the grounds that there wouldn't be one unless the games sold enough to make an impact on our shores, let alone a profit; and I was right. I also made a counteroffer to have people vote with their wallets. To those who doubt the power of the popular vote, let it be clear: to the tune of millions of copies, people in my position voted to not only stick with Pokémon; but also alternatives that went in completely different directions such as Persona 5. That is how things have transpired over the past five years: the stigma of being a "ripoff" has long since passed for this series. In its stead, is a different stigma and the real lasting impact of "Yo-Kai Watch" outside Japan: an international failure.

As for what will happen with the proposed localization of "Yo-Kai Watch 4," I cannot say for certain, especially given the news of Level-5 Abby closing down. If they actually position the game and its anime films as a soft reboot of the brand outside Japan, then there might be a chance it could be more successful than it was before. If it flops, though; then nothing will have changed. That is what I have decided, and that will be all for now.

"Punishment Awaits: The House of Fortune is a Monster Mansion" Review (Sailor Moon Uncut)

Happy Halloween everyone: seeing as how this year has brought about many frights from things we cannot see, I thought for this review; I would look at one of the Sailor Moon episodes that was never seen in the original Dic/Cloverway dub (now both divisions of Media DHX), only seeing the light of day when the subtitled/uncut dub was released in 2014. I shall get into why below. So, let's open up "Punishment Awaits: The House of Fortune is a Monster Mansion!"

After the intro song, an introduction to Usagi Tsukino ("Serena" in English) and a brief summary of what's about to go down; we open proper on a scene in the city of an old fortune teller. Jadeite ("Jedite" in English) then sees this an opportunity to get at the Silver Crystal; observing the line while wearing a black hat; black trench coat and sunglasses at night. Maybe he's just trying to keep track of visions in his eyes?

Anyway, while Queen Beryl is still skeptical of Jadeite's intentions; he assures her that the plan he has to get the crystal is sound.

The next day, Umino ("Melvin" in English) bumps into Usagi at school; who has very amorous feelings for Usagi, even going so far to make his own LCD dating simulator game! ... It was 1992, probably not that different than all the, shall we say; candid Splatoon fan art I've seen over the last five years.

Yet, Umino is told to go to the "House of Fortune" in the Juon district that just opened. Because those aren't red flags at all: a place that just opened in a location that has a similar name to a now-iconic Japanese horror film!

That night, while Umino goes to the "House of Fortune," Usagi goes to see the fortune teller across the street; who is reporting a dip in business since the new place opened. Still, Usagi gets to have her palm read, and is told of a handsome man in her future! She wonders if it's Motoki ("Andrew" in English) from the arcade.

On that note, Motoki is just about to start his shift and they have the new "Sailor V" game! Usagi starts playing it, and Motoki even shows her a few tricks! You may not be able to unlock Sheng Long, but it's a nice little nod to Takeuchi's other Sailor; who would later become a key part of the cast in this anime as well.

Luna meets Usagi at the arcade, reminding her that she needs to get home. However, Usagi wants to have her fortune told again; but the old man from before is gone! She then is torn between waiting for him to come back or going to the House of Fortune. Her way to decide is by doing her own fortune telling by kicking off her shoe: rather than good weather, if it lands on tails; she'll try the new place; on heads, she'll wait for where she went before. Her result? Well, it lands on "heads," but not the one she's thinking of!

Her shoe accidentally bonks Mamoru ("Darien" in English) on his head, and after addressing her as "Bun Head" (a literal translation of "Odango" in reference to her hairstyle), he asks why she can't be more ladylike. Usagi only responds by angrily taking back her shoe from Mamoru, razzing him and putting it back on before storming home. As it turns out, she really ends up dodging a proverbial bullet by not having her fortune told again, as Umino is about to find out the hard way.

The next day, several students that went to the House of Fortune; most notably Umino, are exhibiting very strange side effects. Umino is just casually reading gag manga in class; and rather than his uniform, has come to school in a suit that makes him look like an extra from Vice City. Here is the scene that is also most responsible for this episode being omitted from the original Dic/Cloverway dub: when their homeroom teacher Ms. Haruno demands Umino stop acting this way, Umino responds by flipping up her skirt; and she's wearing smiley-print shorts! Ms. Haruno then breaks down crying, and depending on which version you're watching, she says that at best, she'll never live this down; or at worst, she'll never get married! 

I would also like to point out that as Umino and other students that went to the House of Fortune start throwing rocks at the school's windows; that they are NOT role models. They're not even human, they're anime: some of the things they do can get a person hurt, expelled, arrested and possibly deported. To put it another way: don't try this at home.

Usagi realizes something isn't right; and goes to investigate the House of Fortune alongside Luna. Before that, she has to get away from Umino's advances; and when Umino tries to force a kiss on her, she breaks free by crying! This also is a nice way of showing how the real Umino is still in there: he may have an affection for Usagi; as many do and did, but even he wouldn't go that far! I will also note before I continue that while the first kiss is a rite of passage for many; in Japan, it's even more impactful, hence Usagi's emotional reaction.

Usagi and Luna have found out the House of Fortune, and at Luna's reminder; she transforms into Sailor Moon to go find out the trouble, and sure enough; it finds her! 

The fortuneteller turns out to be one of Beryl and Jadeite's followers; having possessed Umino and the others with cursed tarot cards; and she begins throwing more at Usagi like she's a discount Gambit (hopefully that spinoff finally gets made as part of Disney integrating the X-Men into the MCU, especially if Channing Tatum still wants to play him).

The tarot cards then turn Umino and the others into zombies; just like the fortuneteller's true form! I know this is an obvious gag; but: you guys have really let this year get to you, you all look a little green.

The monster, whose name is Balm by the way; is stunned when she's hit by Tuxedo Mask's rose; along with the students, leaving her open for Sailor Moon's finisher: Moon Tiara action! 

So, with Balm defeated and Umino back to normal, we close on Naru ("Molly" in English) telling Umino what a fool he was acting like; and Usagi remarks on the strange days she just went through.

"Punishment Awaits: The House of Fortune is a Monster Mansion" is another fascinating sort of artifact of a previously unseen episode that I've looked at, turning what would normally be just a fun filler episode into a curious piece of history; and not just because of how Umino was misbehaving being why they didn't dub it. I may be mostly-retired; but it definitely does fit the similar mold the original dub was pitched to syndication: by using the action as a selling point for male viewers. I guess it worked for me: it became a hit after Power Rangers, but before Dragon Ball Z, so there you go. 

I will see you all in November with something I've been drafting for a while. Happy Halloween, and don't forget to vote by this Tuesday. That will be all for now, later. 

"Hard Fights for Yusuke" Review (YuYu Hakusho)

Happy All Hallow's Eve everyone: after how long and mindbending my look at "Paranoia Agent" was, I thought I would review a couple nostalgic treats to help enjoy a couple nights in. Two years ago, I recapped my favorite episode of YuYu Hakusho; "Kuwabara's Spirit Sword," so I thought that I might as well review the next episode. Cracking open a Mountain Dew and Reese's Pumpkin pairing isn't really too different a plan when viewing something spooky; so let's open up "Hard Fights for Yusuke!"

Picking up where we left off, Yusuke is still in battle with Kabano; but while the fight is in complete darkness; Kabano is wearing a mask that focuses his energy and that of his opponent! Not only that, Kabano has more experience fighting without sight than Yusuke does!

Kabano asks if Yusuke wants to concede; but Yusuke of course refuses; to which Kabano says he'll kill him instead! He's been dead once before, you might think of it as ... therapy. Sorry, I couldn't resist.

However, Genkai believes Kabano is underestimating Yusuke; and she also flicked her cigarette in the last episode; and we'll get to that when the time comes. Kabano takes a swing at Yusuke, and the two grapple together! I remember how this fight worked in the manga pretty well; it's just been a while since I saw how the anime did it.

Kabano again offers Yusuke the chance to concede, and Yusuke again refuses and instead suggests Kabano do it instead. To think people wonder why I didn't watch the debates and just chose to play the Crown Tundra when it went live instead.

Moreover, when Kabano asks if it's late for Yusuke to bluff; Yusuke just brushes it off and accuses HIM of bluffing instead. Kabano powers up for one last attack; and Yusuke lets off the one Spirit Gun he had saved; shattering Kabano's helmet and defeating him!

How did he find Kabano in the dark? Easy: Yusuke planted Genkai's cigarette in Kabano's belt; which he never noticed behind the mask and how thick his clothes were. In the manga, it was one of Yusuke's own smokes; but I guess the people working on the anime either didn't want to potentially encourage teen smoking or just thought they'd met their quota on characterizing Yusuke as an archetypal delinquent with a heart of gold. Either way, one of my major deterrents is cost: carton of a better brand costs as much as a new game does; and I'd definitely get much more long-term enjoyment from Pikmin 3 Deluxe and Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity.

Yusuke has won the match; so he advances to the next heat. He is set to face Kazamaru, while Kuwabara is up against Shorin. Now, the fight comes out of the darkness; and into the light!

The fight location is where the spirits intertwine with the living, which has the side effect of bringing out the fighters' spirit energy! While Yusuke gets a little energy recovered, Kazamaru harnesses even more strength!

The two fighters take the stage, and Genkai signals the start of the first semifinal match! After a brief interlude with Koenma, Yusuke gets quite a few blows from Kazamaru's end.

Though Kazamaru eludes most of Yusuke's attack, his face ends up getting cut just from wind shear of Yusuke's movements! I guess you could say Yusuke used Razor Wind?

Kazamaru then pulls some shuriken from his clothes; and opts to fight long-distance! Ooh, you devious little squirt!

Yusuke is able to dodge the shuriken, but they can come back like boomerangs! Seriously: is Kazamaru like some video game boss that keeps pulling new moves out of nowhere?

Yusuke then tries to take cover behind a tree, but then some of the shuriken explode! I rest my case.

As Kazamaru readies his own spirit gun (already established to be more powerful than Yusuke's); Yusuke then runs toward Kazamaru, diving out of the way at the last moment as Kazamaru is defeated by his own attacks!

Yusuke, just barely making it out by hiding in a marsh; has won his match; and we close on Kuwabara preparing to face off against Shorin; who by process of elimination, is actually Rando!

"Hard Fights for Yusuke" is an easy recommendation for me, as a great follow-up to "Kuwabara's Spirit Sword" from a couple years back and as a way of celebrating "Devil's Night." Tomorrow is Halloween, and I have one more treat to review as I work on the encore Halloween Splatfest and The Crown Tundra. You will just have to wait to see what is. That's all for now, stay safe; reject fear, embrace facts; and don't forget to vote by this Tuesday. Later.

Paranoia Agent (2005) Review- Why This Satoshi Kon Anime still Resonates 15 Years Later.

Warning: This review contains spoilers for the events of Paranoia Agent. It contains content and subject matter not suitable for younger audiences. Read at your own risk.


"The whole world is about to end because of a goddamn puppy."

These words are among many that are a part of a series that has become another cult classic of sorts in the works of the late Satoshi Kon. While met with mixed reception upon its initial airing in 2005; it gained a devoted following in the vein of his theatrical films, and has since undergone a re-evaluation that places it among Kon's best works. I've been experimenting a lot given the circumstances this year; and with that in mind, this review is one that will be perfect for the time. So, to explore why this anime still resonates 15 years later; let's open up "Paranoia Agent."

From the opening sequence alone, it's clear that nothing will be as it seems; and while the images and characters shown might be random at first, as the series goes on, each one has a purpose in the story. The anime follows a mystery centered around an assailant known as "Lil' Slugger," a young man who attacks people with a bent baseball bat; identified by his small stature and golden rollerblades. The first episode is appropriately enough, titled "Enter Lil' Slugger."

The story wastes no time in establishing itself, following the creator of a new anime series known as "Mellow Maromi," named Tsukiko Sagi. She is one of the many key figures of the story; and ends up being the first target of Lil' Slugger. It has been noted that Sagi is a sort of older subversion of Ayumu "Osaka" Kasuga of Azumanga Daioh. As someone who enjoyed that anime as well, I like the questions raised by this. What would she be like as an adult with the same eccentricities as she had in high school? What if there was even darker meaning to the now-memetic scene of her half-asleep with the knife? Most of all, what if there is a more troubling undercurrent to the "cute" persona and image?

Sagi's attacks gain the attention of the authorities and the press; both of whom wonder if there's something else behind the attacks, until they too become targets of Lil' Slugger. Sounds familiar, doesn't it? As I shall get into over the course of this review, the title has multiple meanings in the story.

Further proof of this lies in the following episode, "The Golden Shoes." This one centers around a young man named Yuichi Taira, known as "Ichi" for short. He's a student who seems to have it all: popularity, good looks, athletic and academic ability; and a promising future as class president. Unfortunately, there is one issue he's dealing with: a classmate who isn't as bright, pretty or active whose name is Ushiyama Shogo. This is isn't helped further by him being accused of attacking Shogo in connection with Lil' Slugger. His social status takes a dive as a result, with only his mother and his tutor; Chono Harumi still trusting him. He even tries to discard his own gold rollerblades in connection with Lil' Slugger; to no avail: the skates, and Lil' Slugger find their way back to him.

Ichi's attack leads into the events of the next episode, "Double Lips." Though Ichi being attacked does clear his name, it turns out Harumi has her own dark side: an alternate identity as a working girl under the alias "Maria." This is also another one of the major recurring themes of the anime: how Lil' Slugger attacks people in a state of mental duress. Sounds familiar, doesn't it? As I shall continue to elaborate; the very title of this anime is one that has multiple meanings.

As the two personalities clash in more ways than one, Harumi's attack again leads to the next episode, "A Man's Path." This episode focuses on a police officer named Hirukawa Masumi; who has a connection to Harumi's identity of "Maria" the working girl. Like many, his image as a "family man" is not what it seems. In truth, his dealings with her among other working girls get him into trouble with the Yakuza; who don't take kindly to not having their debts paid. Their leader, an "oyabun" named Makabe then makes an example of him by burning his forehead with a cigarette and demanding he work off his debt! Just glad he didn't cross the "Dragon" Kiryu (side note: looking forward to Yakuza Like a Dragon later this year, should be cool).

Amid all his "side work" with the Yakuza, Lil' Slugger attacks Masumi; but since Masumi isn't knocked out; he's able to bring him in, leading to the next episode, "The Holy Warrior." The suspect of Lil' Slugger is Kozuka Makoto, a student in 8th grade who fancies himself as a knight of his favorite fantasy RPGs. Given his demeanor towards the detectives interrogating him; his train of thought is at its core quite simple: He's really not that different than everyone who was giving the developers such a hard time over The Last of Us Part II.

Makoto being pegged as a suspect for everyone but Tsukiko leads into the next episode; "Fear of a Direct Hit." The episode takes place during a typhoon; and the title, much like others in the series has multiple meanings; one of which being related to the storm. After Tsukiko is questioned by the authorities, the episode also deals with a teenage runaway named Taeko; who is Hirukawa's daughter. They're not on the best terms, especially given the reason she ran away: Having inappropriate videos taken of her without her knowledge.

Taeko is attacked by Lil' Slugger, which leads us into the next episode, simply called "MHz." As more victims are targeted, the authorities continue to question Makoto; to no avail. There's even the speculation that there may be more than one assailant, which isn't entirely accurate; but still not without any impact on the story. Makoto is then found dead in his holding cell; but it's not the end for Lil' Slugger.

Now, the story comes to a point where things really go off the rails: "Happy Family Planning." On top of the title not being shown till the end, on a prophylactic dispenser no less; the main plot revolves around a suicide pact between three people only known by their online screen names: an old man named "Fuyubachi," a young man named "Zebra" and a young girl named "Kamome." The episode is a mixture of genres, blending dark comedy; drama and psychological horror in the span of 30 minutes. One of their attempts even had to be edited for the UK airing of the episode, with their hanging cutting a total of 80 seconds of footage. Their pilgrimage takes them to a bath house; which leads them to a chance encounter with Lil' Slugger!  Adding to the atmosphere of this episode is the fact that it's never explicitly made clear whether their attempts were successful: their lack of shadows in a photograph is one of the only implications; and it's more or less up to the viewer to interpret their fate. I've always had a soft spot for those kind of endings.

Next up is "ETC," which revolves around four housewives telling their own stories about Lil' Slugger. This kind of storytelling is another kind of narrative that has been passed down for ages; with the concept of the unreliable narrator  and "Rashomon" style in particular being used to great effect here. One of their stores tells of a student overworked to the point of vomiting up his math problems like that horrible "Sick" PSA. Another tells of a young married woman with a mother-in-law who badgers her in a passive-aggressive fashion until she's attacked. The third is a rather unsettling ultrasound, and the last turns out to be a script editor who's the last of several major focal points in increasingly insane stories. The title card is the last shot from the roof of their apartments; but now things are really getting crazy.

Further compounding how Lil' Slugger impacts the story on multiple levels is the episode "Mellow Maromi," centered around the production of the in-universe anime of the same name. While not the most lighthearted production; it overall presents a harrowing contrast between the cute puppy dog that's the subject matter of the anime and the members of the production team all being mysteriously killed one by one. Eventually, only the production coordinator Saruta Naoyuki remains; and while he does get the master tapes of the finished anime to the network; he too is claimed by Lil' Slugger. I still have three more episodes to go over in this review, but for now; it's one of many that makes the lyrics to Eminem's "Stan" make sense, especially given the meaning of that term nowadays as shorthand for obsessive fans.

The denouement of the series starts to take hold in the episode "No Entry." Ikari is now just a security guard; and his wife Misae is growing increasingly disenchanted with him. Yet, she won't give in even with Lil' Slugger in her midst; even as Ikari becomes a laborer. Ikari laments that he just wanted to go after common thieves; not get wrapped up in Lil' Slugger's mind games. 

As Ikari is given his simple world, the second to last episode sees the emergence of a new persona: "Radar Man." Maniwa is told to "dance with the rabbit" in the dying words of an old man; taking up the mantle of Radar Man to not just confront his former colleague; but to get to the truth about Lil' Slugger. As it turns out, their conflict leads to a startling realization before the end: Lil' Slugger and Maromi are one and the same! ... Before I finish this, that's one of the most fascinating reveals I've ever seen; as someone who has examined both family-friendly works about video games and a dark post-apocalyptic epic that's one of my favorite films and one of the best of all time.

Now, the conclusion; fittingly titled "The Final Episode." Here, we learn the truth behind all of the events of the series and how they led to this; and why I chose to lead with this line: "The whole world is about to end because of a goddamn puppy." It turns out the true nature of Maromi and its hold on not only Tsukiko; but the entire country stemmed from a real puppy dog Tsukiko had as a child; before the dog was hit by a car, killing it. Rather than let her family know the truth;  she created Lil' Slugger as an assailant to cover it up. As such, it makes a chilling kind of sense as to why Lil' Slugger is the manifestation of everyone else's hardships; and the flip side to Maromi's coin. It's only when Tsukiko finally opens up about what happens to her inner child that the conflict finally ends. The series then closes on a time skip two years after the events of the story; with Ikari having returned to work as a security guard; Tsukiko now working an office and the country having moved onto a new mascot to obsess over. Fifteen years later; that ending has lost none of its relevance. In fact; to lead off my final thoughts in this review; it's actually gotten more relevant as of its recent rerun on Toonami earlier this year.

In a year that has been wracked with a global pandemic; environmental uncertainty and social unrest at home and abroad; the very limits of the human mind have been tested in ways that arguably haven't been experienced in ages. Everyone has found a method of coping; and this has been one of mine. Though in the past, my hobbies have been looked down on by others; now, having the same recreation habits since I was 13 has arguably left me better equipped to deal with all this than others might be.

With that said, the themes and stories presented by "Paranoia Agent" still help it resonate 15 years later. While Satoshi Kon may have sadly succumbed to pancreatic cancer in 2010; this anime is another piece of his legacy. Much like his anime films; this TV series has left an impact in how it blends the simplicity of the everyday with the mindbending and boundless potential of the human psyche. The animation style is also the ideal way of exploring this concept: real enough to make the scenario believable, yet fantastic enough to let the audience know things aren't what they seem. Though much has changed about the world since the series initially aired in 2005; its themes in every aspect from pop culture obsession to the loss of innocence have remained every bit as relevant, if not moreso in the time since its original airing. That is why I'm glad the series has gotten more of the recognition it deserves since it first released. 

I know I have taken a while to get this done, and given the time I'm posting this; I'm glad I've been able to share it with you all. Happy Halloween, and don't forget to vote by next week. That will be all for now. Later.

#PokémonSwordShieldEX #TheCrownTundra (Switch) First Impressions+Beta Thoughts

Hello everyone: as of 7PM Pacific time last night; #TheCrownTundra chapter of #PokémonSwordShieldEX has gone live. So, here are my first impressions from my first couple hours of playing; and some of my thoughts on the Generation VIII beta that have come to light as I began playing and started drafting this. Once again, if you don’t have both versions like I do; make sure the pass you’re getting corresponds to the version of the game you have or else it won’t work. So let’s get started.

After obtaining the Crown Pass, you take a train to The Crown Tundra; where your adventure takes place under the eccentric Peony; a former gym leader in Galar. In addition to the new Dynamax Adventure being a fun challenge right out of the gate (I caught Suicune trying it out; but I had to do the challenge twice in Shield after my Joycon drifted to the wrong rental Pokémon); there are three central mysteries to solve for Legendary Pokémon: Calyrex, the “King of Bountiful Harvests,” the temples with the new Regi forms; and the tree that granted new forms to the Kanto Legendary Birds. I will do my best to keep things as spoiler-free as I can; so now that I have a brief summary of your main objectives; let’s talk about other aspects.

Further building on what the base game and the Isle of Armor chapter did; I really like The Crown Tundra and your central hub as a setting. The area is another extension of the Wild Area design; and it’s heavily-based on Scotland and ancient Gaelic myths. As someone who’s been fascinated by those stories for ages; I really enjoy that. Visually, I love how your base camp is in an old village in the snow; frozen in time in more ways than one. I’m eager to explore more of the tundra very soon; as it’s one of the most graphically-lush locations I’ve seen to date, juxtaposing snowy mountains with ancient temples. The gameplay builds on what these titles have already accomplished (especially looking forward to taking part in the Galarian Star Tournament after I clear the story), providing a good challenge for newcomers and true believers alike.

As for the leaks of these games’ beta as I began drafting my notes: I think it’s a fascinating reveal as someone who’s always been intrigued by game development. It’s more than just the monsters and concepts they used this time around: much like past titles, it’s a great look at how often that a game in its final release can be completely different than what it started as. A great example is how The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild changed from its initial reveal in 2011 to the game’s release in 2017. For fairly obvious reasons, I won’t be showing the leaks; but I will describe them briefly. Some of these builds date back as early as 2017, which does line up with the timeline we already have. Though many concepts from previous titles ultimately didn’t make it back in initially; the basic ideas are there in much earlier forms. There are rough layouts of the Wild Area, Dynamax Battles, the game’s setting; and other mechanics such as character customization and the Pokémon Camp. More information is coming as I type this; but it’s still quite the fascinating insight into game development. One of my favorite aspects of this series and other games I play is finding out what secrets they hold; whether or not they’re intended to be there.

That will be all for now: I will let you know more about this chapter as I continue playing it. Stay safe, reject fear; and embrace facts. 

Further Thoughts on Digimon Adventure: Last Evolution Kizuna (Dub Viewing Thoughts)

So, for today's unpopular opinion: I don't think this movie is the "Toy Story 3" of Digimon; I don't even think it's the "Cars 3" of Digimon. I deliberately chose to wait and let this movie sit for a while before deciding what to do next, and though I will not be formally reviewing this movie at this time; I thought I would give some further observations now that I have seen the dub of "Digimon Adventure: Last Evolution Kizuna."

Again, while this isn't a bad movie on its own; nor a bad standalone "Digimon" story, I submit your feelings as a series finale will probably be directly proportionate to your emotional investment in the original "Digimon Adventure" and the series as a whole. In my case, I was hoping it could be the sendoff everyone said it was. However, as previously stated, that wasn't the case for me: I couldn't put this movie on the same level as "How To Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World," I can't even put this in the same wheelhouse as "Madagascar: Europe's Most Wanted." Don't get me wrong: there are plenty of things in this movie to like; and plenty of things in this movie I really enjoyed. It's just that for me: it never really goes as far as I would have liked; nor does it feel like more than the sum of its parts as one whole. 

Heck, part of me still thinks it might have been better to do this as an OVA miniseries instead of one 94-minute film. In order to explain this, I'd like to compare it to a finale that I really enjoyed: Samurai Jack. Its final season not only fit the brand of the new Toonami as one of the few Western-made shows that aired there; they made the right call to air it on Adult Swim and take advantage of its later time slot: not just from what they could do in terms of content, but in story as well. That also had material that wouldn't have flown in the original run on Cartoon Network, but also took the time it needed to wrap up the story over the entire season. Tartakovsky originally imagined it as a movie, and it comes off as one in terms of production value, writing and characterization.

Yet, even though I could tell this movie was trying to go for a similar impact; I feel it only went halfway, and half a finale is hardly a finale at all. I mean, you ever hear that analogy about trying to fit 20 pounds of fertilizer in a 5 pound bag? At times, this movie feels like trying to fit an entire TV series' worth of resolution and story into a single movie.

Admittedly, as previously stated; there are things I rather enjoyed about the movie: the animation is very good. The opening fight; a sort of reimagining of the one that opened the original "Digimon Adventure" OVA is breathtaking (even bringing back the snippet of "Bolero" that the infamous 2000 dub omitted). The music and voice acting are strong (especially in terms of the returning cast), and as a standalone movie and Digimon story; it's certainly not the worst thing I've ever seen. Some of the characters also have some interesting paths in the story; as Izzy has become the head of his own company and a vital aid to the other heroes. Basically, imagine him as Tony Stark or Bruce Wayne (or at least Lucius Fox) and you have him.

That said, (sighs) in many other ways; the film isn't quite what I was hoping for in a finale. Granted, it's not the worst anime finale I've addressed; since Code Geass R2 happened; but it certainly is a far cry from Cowboy Bebop.

For everything this film does that I like, there are others that could have used more refining. It feels like they tried to mash together a coming of age finale with an overblown and overproduced final battle. Though I may not have as much emotional investment in Digimon as I do with other series; I do respect it for the most part. That said: given what the people in charge of this film said about "moving on," I will go a step further and state that I do not acknowledge this as a finale the way I did the one to the original TV series. Seeing as Red Letter Media's "Plinkett" series is still a big influence on my writing style; just think about his look at "Star Trek Nemesis"; then replace that film with this one; and "All Good Things" with the finale of "Digimon Adventure" and you have what I prefer as a finale.

Even with what this film tries to say about age, I find the problems faced in this movie rather silly given how in reality; I've dealt with numerous conflicts at home and abroad, two economic downturns and a currently-ongoing pandemic; the last of which caused the theatrical release of this film to be canned in favor of going straight to VOD. At the risk of recalling my mention of "Reality Bites" from before (to say nothing of Lindsay's take on the film); I shall once again reiterate that I do not share this film's message. The idea that age is the end of the adventure is utter nonsense; especially how other parts of the franchise have dealt with subjects such as the human psyche (Tamers), war (Xros Wars/Fusion) and even genocide (Savers/Data Squad). I also don't want to hear that it was necessary, given how other franchises have been able to retain their spirit without stumbling in execution. Two big ones as of late are the Wano arc of One Piece (which is giving fantastic life to the stories from the manga) and Lupin III: The First (an all-CG reversion of Lupin's first major caper that still captures what made the original work).

While the premise isn't a bad one, in execution; it feels less like a finale to the story and more like a glorified "monster-of-the-week" story at feature length. In that regard, the final battle just doesn't have the resonance I was hoping for at all. It does kind of remind me of that new Godzilla movie last year; but that was something I at least found entertaining. Granted, the family drama got heavy-handed there too; but the film knew what it wanted to deliver in terms of monster fights and it did that (here's hoping Godzilla VS Kong is good after all the delays). 

Even the departure doesn't really have the impact they were aiming for: it felt less like Return of the King or Deathly Hallows (nothing personal, Rowling) and more like one of those Maze Runner movies. Others may have teared up at the denouement, but I felt nothing. I pinched the bridge of my nose, and the credits roll left me drier than one of those Ben Stein Clear Eyes commercials.

The stingers in the end credits didn't help either: it gave the impression that the film couldn't even commit to its own premise. That's why I invoked the "These Are the Voyages" comparison before: this film has a similar issue of being torn between its past legacy and ending its own story. It feels more uneven than it should, especially since the blueprint to a good finale was right there not only in the original TV series; but an OVA short called "To Sora." It's at least better than the infamous distant finale of 02 (which this film retcons even more than the Tri movies did); but beyond that, it's better as a standalone story and one-off Digimon movie than a series finale. As I said before, it's less "Logan" or "Avengers Endgame" and more "Dark Phoenix" in that sense.

I don't know what shape the franchise will take in the future (reception to the reboot has been more divisive than hoped); but I have decided for the time being; I will not be reviewing this movie. Just thought I would give you something while I work on my other stuff in this quarantine; and I will tell you all about The Crown Tundra as I play more of it. That's all for now: don't forget to vote, and be sure to wash your hands. Later.

Pokémon Sword and Shield: The Crown Tundra Prerelease Details and Thoughts.

Hey fellas: first off, I once again apologize for how busy I’ve been lately; rest assured, larger content I have planned will be published when it’s complete. Second, as I type this, it is two weeks to the release of The Crown Tundra chapter of “Pokémon Sword and Shield,” so here are my thoughts on the details ahead of release.

Once this chapter goes live, for those who have opted in; the games of Generation VIII to date will have a total of 640 monsters across both versions from all the regions so far. On top of existing monsters having new special forms (such as Regigigas and the Kanto Legendary Birds), the new monster Calyrex will play a key role as you explore the Crown Tundra under the guidance of a man named Peony. 

Other key pieces will be new modes such as the “Dynamax Adventure,” a gauntlet of Dynamax Raid Battles (something I already enjoy doing on my own); and the “Galarian Star Tournament;” which allows you to battle with all the major trainers you encounter in your journey and learn more about them in the process.

As someone who has enjoyed the Isle of Armor chapter heartily (as it’s pushed my playthrough past a combined 350 hours); I look forward to seeing the second half of the series’ first-ever expansion. Given how this chapter’s setting is heavily-influenced by Scotland; I am eager to see how that factors into the graphics; gameplay and story as someone who’s been fascinated by Gaelic myths for years. If all else fails, I can’t imagine it going over worse than WWE2K Battlegrounds.

Just thought I would give you something before I work on finishing my other writings; and I will let you know more after the chapter goes live. That will be all for now. Later.