Regarding "Aim to Be a Pokémon Master" and the 2023 anime.

This is arguably one of the most challenging times to address this topic I’ve experienced in years. However, after giving it some thought; I have finally figured out how I want to play this. Here is my plan regarding the miniseries “Aim to Be a Pokémon Master” and the upcoming 2023 anime series based on “Pokémon Scarlet and Violet.”

Promotional poster for "Aim to Be a Pokémon Master."

To close out “Pokémon Journeys” and celebrate the legacy of the series as a whole, a miniseries OVA known as “Aim to Be a Pokémon Master” (in reference to the original Japanese theme song) will be airing. The series will detail key events in the anime’s history, billed as the “final chapter” of the story… which should make an interesting transition to the next part of this.

In regards to the Generation IX series, that’s something else entirely. Though details remain sparse at this stage; the series will be led by new characters known as Riko and Roy… which is my primary concern at this stage. I’ve mentioned before that rebooting any series can be hit or miss in this day and age, much less something this successful and long-running. While adaptations that focus on different characters have worked as one-offs (with the Origins miniseries and Detective Pikachu’s live-action film being two examples I love), I have long believed changing the lead is a greater risk than most people realize or admit. I’m not the only one expressing this concern either: most of the talk I’ve heard has been mixed on the reboot. Hair decorations aren’t really as important to me as knowing who a character is and how they operate. 

Promotional image of Riko and Roy alongside Sprigatito, Fuecoco and Quaxly.

I also want to make clear that I’m not against the idea itself; just skeptical of the way they’re going about it. If they truly are going for the “Discard and draw” approach, I’m just surprised and confused that they’re not using Florian and Juliana from the games. I will need time to ruminate on this more. Just saying for now that Nemona, Arven and Penny were right there. It’s honestly the first time in ages that I legitimately don’t know what to expect from this iteration. Though the producers have claimed characters from the previous anime will show up; it honestly won’t surprise me if Riko and Roy end up as examples of a “decoy protagonist.” It would hardly be the first time a “final chapter” ended up as anything but.

Overall, though I have my doubts; I will cherish the time I spent with the series and this miniseries if the end of an age is truly upon us. As for the 2023 anime- that’s another story. I’m deliberately keeping my expectations low based on what I’ve been told. That way, if it works; I’ll be pleasantly surprised; and if it doesn’t, I won’t be disappointed. Either way, it won’t really affect what I have planned for the coming year; as I don’t plan on formally addressing either one till they actually release officially in North America. That will be all for now.

Honest Thoughts- It's Time For Pokémon to Leave Team Rocket Behind.

I have been wanting to make this post for ages, and now is as good a time as any. With Pokémon Scarlet and Violet proving a sales success (rough launch aside) and the anime set to be reversioned in 2023 yet again (I will address the matter in a separate post at a later date), here are my honest thoughts on why it's time for the series to leave Team Rocket behind.

While they've never been my favorite characters (the professors have held that distinction, with Legends Arceus and Generation IX furthering that), they have been among the few constants in the 25-year history of the series. They've even spilled over into the video games and other material from time to time. Sometimes they've posed a threat, but they're usually goofy supporting characters at the most. That out of the way,  I'm going to present a few reasons why I wouldn't object to the 2023 anime retiring their characters.

First, is the longevity they've had. Out of all the supporting characters in the anime, Jessie, James and Meowth have had the longest and most consistent presence throughout its run. While I personally would have done it much sooner (say, after Generation II); I think it's a good time to let other villains enter the space and leave as friends; which should make a good segue into my next reason.

Credit: Kiana Mai

Second, would be the opportunity to introduce new villains to the anime: while the video games have had a rotating range of antagonists from Generation III onwards; Team Rocket still remains as the villains after all this time. Not counting supporting roles or spinoffs, they have continued to be the main source of woe for the heroes. The usage of Team Skull, and Guzma in particular in the Sun and Moon series is a good example of what can happen when someone else drives the conflict (I have even more reviews I want to do to showcase this); and no matter what happens in the Generation IX anime; I am open to the possibility of Team Star being included.

Left- Ortega and Atticus. Center- Eri and Giacomo. Right- Mela.

The third reason to illustrate this point is just how significant the shakeups to the anime have been over just the last two generations. Much like the bestselling games that inspired them; the willingness to break the formula has led to some of its best moments in years. This screenshot I took during the World Coronation Series' Masters Eight shows how even if they give up their roles at Team Rocket; they can still have normal lives as podcasters.

Jessie, James and Meowth watching the Masters Eight finals.

However, beyond all this is the changing nature of the franchise itself. Despite claims otherwise, the whole series has been able to honor its legacy while also forging a path forward. The acclaim and success of Legends: Arceus is proof that you can make an entertaining title that makes the best case for both the series' past and its future (it's personally my favorite game of this year). Though I may have my reservations going forward about what the Scarlet and Violet series has planned; part of me does hope they're able to pull it off. If I do have legit problems with the story, characters or visuals; I am not above letting others know. However, if it all works and is success; all is well with the world. While I remain a skeptic about the changes sticking; if these characters can leave the story on a positive note, then maybe all the time they spent onscreen is worth it. It's not even the only continuity where it happened: the Electric Tale of Pikachu manga ended with Jessie and James leaving the organization; getting engaged and even expecting a child together. This collage also shows that while they might have started their relationship with our heroes as enemies, they could leave as friends.

Bottom line: it's okay to not only just have new antagonists in the series; but if they want to retire Team Rocket. They can have a normal life and just be podcasters if they want to. That's all for now, and I will see you all again soon. Take care everyone.

Pokémon: The Arceus Chronicles (2022) Review

Hello everyone- Season's greetings. Welcome to my full review of this year’s Pokémon: The Arceus Chronicles! The four parts of this special were combined into one handy package for its English dub; so let’s open it up.

We open on a narration about the “World of Pokémon,” leading us to our subject; Arceus! This leads Ash and Goh to Canaleve City in the Sinnoh region; which is taking part in a festival to celebrate Hisui. They’re met by Dawn; who is wearing a similar outfit to her counterpart Akari. Ash and Goh are given special outfits as well, courtesy of Cynthia!

The three are then given a special research task, but elsewhere, trouble is brewing with Galactic admins Saturn, Jupiter and Mars. Yep, they’re back, and they even brought back their voice actors. They end up capturing Heatran; and have a major plan with it.

Back with Cynthia, she shows everyone Pokémon from Hisui- along with variants of Growlithe and Braviary, we see Wyrdeer and my personal favorite of the bunch; Basculegion. 

She then hands Ash, Goh and Dawn a supply of Poké Balls modeled on the Hisui region; assigning them to take part in a game, with a preserve being the staging grounds. They’re given three minutes to catch the starters in ancient times: Rowlet, Cyndaquil and Oshawott. I honestly really like this sequence, and the clockwork design of the Poké Balls alongside the other Hisuian gear.

Their prize is a collection of tomes from Cynthia’s research: sounds good to me, and I do like how this anime applied more of the archeologist aspect of her character.

Back at Team Galactic’s hideout, their plan begins to take shape. Its purpose- to bring back their leader Cyrus from the Distortion World! As shockwaves emanate from their lair; the sky turns dark and red, which draws out Arceus along with Uxie, Azelf and Mesprit.

Heading towards a mine, Ash, Goh and Dawn discover some Chingling and a Bronzong going mad from the shockwaves; and after their encounter; they meet up with Uxie, Azelf and Mespirit. After getting a glimpse of Arceus, Ash and Dawn tell Goh about their past encounters in Sinnoh; then head to the Pokémon Center.

The injured Pokémon have their wounds treated, and Ash and Dawn meet up with their old friend Brock; and Goh introduces himself. Brock is still studying medicine; with his aides Blissey and Croagunk. They all agree to go to Mt. Coronet in Brock’s medical transport, which can fly. … Huh, and here I am trying to not get hospitalized this season.

Team Galactic activates the device they’re working on; and Dawn sends the information to Cynthia before it’s too late. A beam of light is fired into the sky over Mt. Coronet, and Brock gives chase.

The “Dimensional Gate” is opened as the device starts going haywire, causing their hideout to explode and launching Heatran outside! The heat melts the Dusk Ball it was captured in; sending it on a rampage cloaked in flames!

Brock’s transport arrives just in time to intervene with Heatran’s rampage; determining the beast is headed for the Spear Pillar! I must say that I really like how this special recreated the art style of the DP series with the advances made since then; and kept the rivalry between Brock’s Croagunk and Saturn’s Toxicroak.

Azelf, Uxie and Mespirit try to contain Heatran to the mountain; and Cynthia comes in responding to their message! The sky opens up and lightning cracks over the mountain range! Saturn, Mars and Jupiter try to attack the guardians; but they fight back as they reveal their plan to bring back Cyrus through the dimensional gate!

Goh sends out Cinderace to fight the Galactic admins, and in terms of animation; I really like how the presentation makes this look like a followup to the Diamond and Pearl series with modern production values.

Brock sends out his Steelix to hold off Toxicroak, Skuntank and Purugly; and Ash sends out Dracovish to contain the heat alongside Goh’s Inteleon! 

Cynthia arrives just in time with her Garchomp; and Officer Jenny calls in reinforcements. Brock goes to regroup with the others alongside Steelix; and Cynthia sends out her Roserade to do battle!

Brock comes in to help contain the fires; even taking off his shirt to do so, because reasons. With their combined efforts (and an assist from Dawn’s Mamoswine); they’re able to start cooling the beast down.

Arceus descends from the Dimensional Gate; and shoots down Team Galactic’s chopper! Cynthia restrains the admins with Power Whip; and we begin the final part as Arceus meets with Uxie, Azelf and Mespirit. 

There is only one last hope to contain Heatran and stop its rampage; and Arceus is up to the challenge! Encasing Heatran in a globe of water, Uxie, Azelf and Mespirit levitate everyone else inside! Dawn’s Piplup and Ash’s Pikachu combine their attacks, and have to break through to to Heatran to stop its rampage! This whole sequence is quite impressive for a web special.

Heatran makes it out, and Brock begins tending to its wounds. Saturn makes one last plea to Arceus from his bonds, as the deity ascends back to where they came with Uxie, Azelf and Mesprit. The Galactic admins are sent back to prison as Croagunk jabs Brock when he tries to flirt with Cynthia. Dawn remarks she “Hasn’t seen that in a while.” She high-fives Ash and we close this special on Rei working on his quest in Hisui.

That certainly was interesting, and given how long it took to come stateside; I’m guessing rights issues between rival services (Amazon Prime JP and Netflix US) kept it from happening sooner. 

This special is easily some of my favorite Pokémon anime content in recent memory; a testament to both its legacy and its future. Though I may have my reservations going forward, I am glad to experience this and share my thoughts with you all.

Hope you all enjoyed this present to me and you all, and I hope you all have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Season’s greetings!

Review- Pikachu's Winter Vacation (2022 Christmas Special)

Here it is folks- the last episode of Pokémon Chronicles I haven't yet examined. It's been a long year and longer endeavor to examine this spinoff; but thankfully, it's going to end on a much better note than it started. Let's open up "Pikachu's Winter Vacation."

The first half of this special is called Delibird's Dilemma, in which a Delibird helper has to help retrieve a missing bag on Christmas Eve! Interestingly enough, it belongs to none other than Santa Claus himself; who narrates this section. Before that, we get a shot of Bulbasaur and Chikorita joining the other Pokémon for a bit of ice bowling; as you do.

Strike- "Nice Throw!"

Elsewhere, we see Meowth and Wobuffet going to their lodgings; but they're both slapsticked into a foul-humored Skarmory and the aforementioned Delibird. They're not even being deliberately malicious this time; the conflict of this first part is basically a fetch quest. Meowth denies everything, saying "it wasn't me that did that." Here's the thing, they caught you red-handed creeping with the Skitty next door. Wonder if he's going to claim he'll be your angel or Mr. Boombastic next.

Noctowl catches the errant Delibird, now they must get its packages back together. There's a Grogu plush for John in Vernon, NJ; a WFC Kingdom Tigatron for Dan in Duluth, MI, a Blu-Ray of The Batman for Mike in Santa Rosa, CA; a ZAP Dragonzord for Jason in Dayton, NV and a Switch OLED for Sean in Cheyenne, WY. ... Moving right along, the Pokémon agree to help recover Delibird's cargo before St. Nick makes the big run. The whole sequence is set to the song from their Christmas album, and it's actually pretty nice. For a novelty song, it's one of my sillier traditions in the same vein as "The Night Santa Went Crazy" or Batman Returns (which I'm glad is getting more and more appreciated post-Nolan, post-DCEU and now post-Matt Reeves).

The first parcel is recovered from a passing barge. Noctowl finds the second in a tree, and the search for the third has them searching an alley that has a familiar-looking drink can. 

Johto Cola- taste the season!

They find the third gift hanging on overhead wires, but an Aipom snags it! It also acts like Ukiki from Super Mario 64; and only drops the package after a few snowballs to the face. With 10 minutes to midnight, all the parcels but one are found! Noctowl finds the last one in another tree, recovering it just in time with help from the Aipom from before. Yes, of course the sleigh is flown by Stantler- it would be years before they'd create Wyrdeer.

Now, we come to the final segment I'm reviewing of Pokémon Chronicles, one of the few I enjoy; "Snorlax Snowman." It's been a long time coming, and I will be glad to finally have this done.

While we don't see their trainers out of bed, the episode has a fairly straightforward plot- the Pokémon build the titular Snorlax Snowman; and what starts as a snowy day out becomes a much larger adventure.

That night, the Snorlax Snowman appears outside the window; and beckons the Pokémon to come outside. This is actually the moment I realized this is the Pokémon version of the classic children's story "The Snowman," and that is also another reason why I have an appreciation for the Pikachu shorts; with how effective the nonverbal storytelling is being why these are my favorite parts of Chronicles; and a wonder of what could have been.

The Snorlax Snowman picks an apple from a tree; and then everyone else goes sledding on his stomach before they take a shelf of ice on the water, with the Aurora Borealis above them.

"Aurora Borealis? At this time of year, at this time of day in this part of the country; localized entirely within your kitchen?!"

The ice shelf gets drawn into a whirlpool, and since they don't have the right HM to clear it; they try attacking it instead. The Snorlax Snowman freezes the whirlpool, and this leads to another quite pretty scene. For a Christmas OVA, it's actually a nice-looking short. There's even some water Pokémon in this sort of icy aquarium effect.

Snorlax Snowman helps everyone build an ice boat to get them back to shore, and they make it back with an assist from a couple passing Lapras! That's exactly what I needed after all the banality of this spinoff.

A whole bandshell of Snorlax Snowmen is here to greet this Snorlax Snowman; and he joins them while everyone else goes back to the shore. Though Pikachu and the others are unsure whether what just happened was all a dream; the episode still ends with everyone playing in the snow; and seeing the Snorlax Snowman on top of the hill one last time.

"Pikachu's Winter Vacation" is what this spinoff should have been all along- presenting a different perspective of the series that still understands how it functions. While later adaptations such as Origins, Evolutions, Generations and the Detective Pikachu were able to pull it off; there is little to no reason for me to revisit or recommend Chronicles as a whole. What I've been trying to get across is that save for this and "Pikachu's Christmas Vacation," the premise of this spinoff was effectively undermined by its execution. 

The silver lining is that the quality of future spinoffs improved from here; including what I will be addressing next. See you all Christmas Eve with my full review of Pokémon: The Arceus Chronicles.

Pokémon Scarlet and Violet (Switch) Early Impressions

Hello everyone- I just got Pokémon Scarlet and Violet earlier today, so here are my early impressions from the first couple hours of play.

I started with Fuecoco in Scarlet and Quaxly in Violet; naming the avatars I created Sergio and Valentin respectively. The gameplay builds on what’s been done in recent titles; with the exploration and world design paralleling “Pokémon Legends Arceus” in particular. Not a complete surprise; as both titles were likely in development around the same time. It does make a nice bridge between the franchise’s past legacy, and makes a good blueprint for the future. 

I am well aware of the challenge that comes with taking a video game into an open-world sandbox design for the first time; but I can honestly say that Game Freak took away the right lessons from contemporaries in that area (including both The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and games from Rockstar’s catalog of open-world games). Even at this early stage (I will be detailing more as I continue playing); I can tell I’m going to enjoy getting into Paldea well into 2023. 

Despite some of the talk I’ve heard online; I have no issues with the visual presentation or technical performance, definitely not any that negatively impacted play. The graphics definitely pull more from spinoffs like New Pokémon Snap and Pokémon UNITE for both the monsters and their human partners; but it’s still recognizably a title in this franchise. As a retro gamer who doesn’t put as much stock in visual fidelity as others; I can just remark at how far things have come since the original entries on Game Boy.

I will bring you more updates about my experience as time goes on, and will likely do a full review in the near future. Before I go, don’t forget what happened to the man who got everything he ever wanted: He lived happily ever after.

Pokémon Scarlet and Violet- "Celestial" Final Trailer Thoughts.

Sometimes, just because things don’t go as you’d expect; doesn’t mean you can’t find something to enjoy. Case in point- while we may not have official stage 1 and 2 starters; the final trailer for Pokémon Scarlet and Violet; set to “Celestial” by Ed Sheeran still has much to discuss. So, let’s open it up.

The spot shows off more footage of the Paldea region, the first fully open-world setting in the franchise. This is something that every main installment on the Switch has been building towards, and the influence from Rockstar’s titles to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is definitely felt. 

Though I’m not a huge fan of Ed Sheeran’s music, the song he contributes does have a similar effect as the one for the last game; “Brand New World.” The song definitely has a good chance of being remembered the same way as the soundtracks of the early movies are now. 

It has certainly been an interesting three years since the start of Generation VIII; and I look forward to seeing what this generation can bring. I look forward to picking these games up this Friday, and I will give you my first impressions after I start playing. See you all this Friday.

PS: Go see Black Panther Wakanda Forever, it really was that good.

Review- "We are the Pichu Bros." Trilogy (Pokémon Chronicles)

With Pokémon Scarlet and Violet nearly upon us to usher in the ninth main generation of the franchise; I give you my penultimate Pokémon Chronicles review, tackling all the Pichu brothers specials for the series in one review before I do the Christmas one I haven't before. Let's get this started and open them up. First up is "Big Meowth, Little Dreams."

This is the first of several that combined (to an extent) a couple 11-minute shorts into one 22-minute story. The first half starts with Meowth having a picnic in a city park; with him imagining a gold statue of himself. OK, I'll give them that one- the monster is based on the maneki neko after all.

However, a Kecleon absconds with Meowth's sandwich; though since I haven't seen the JP version; I can't verify if that was originally a rice ball. I can verify with the recent addition of Zorua and Zoroark in Pokémon Go; I can only imagine that Kecleon is only a matter of time.

Overhead, the Pichu brothers are gathering berries in a tree; and all things considered, the animation in this first half isn't too bad. After multiple off-model episodes; I will take the wins where I can.

Then, they drop from the tree and give chase; running afoul of an Azumarill preparing for the arrival of a visiting Azurill. The Kecleon trips on a rock, and the sandwich falls into the mouth of a Teddiursa. This is the first time I will be dealing with shenanigans in this review; and since I'm doing all three shorts here, it won't be the last.

Anyway, Meowth sees a mysterious print in the grass; and sets about finding the real thief. This actually isn't the worst story; just not sure why it had to be part of this spinoff as opposed to just a short on its own. Everyone chases Kecleon, and it hides in an alley covered in graffiti that matches its zigzag pattern.

Turns out it's an art installation being worked on by a Smeargle; but Kecleon outs themselves when they steal an apple from Smeargle's fruit basket. The chase resumes, and this first half honestly isn't the worst. Smeargle then splashes paint everywhere, and Kecleon is caught.

Turns out Kecleon was just watching over the Azurill that was coming in for a visit. OK, that's actually kind of cute.

With that mystery solved and a banquet held to celebrate, we move onto the second half of this short. Azumarill is setting the table, and Azurill is frolicking in the park with the Pichu brothers. 

Elsewhere, Meowth is wandering the city searching for a new purpose; and while I am still contemplating a piece about that subject, he vows to find one himself.

He starts pining for a Skitty in a window sill, and since Azurill has been in hiding; the Pichu brothers round up a search party. They find Azurill bouncing around through traffic, and I'm again reminded of the Buttons and Mindy skits on Animaniacs.

Because the other monsters have a bit more self-awareness, they take the crosswalk to give chase after Azurill. Back with Meowth, he decides to give Skitty some roses- which he steals from a dress in a wedding boutique. 

Moving right along, Azurill bounces across a river and onto the back of a Feraligatr... whose lower jaw is mistakenly colored blue like the rest of its skin instead of its usual cream color. For the most part, the animation in this short isn't as bad as other Chronicles episodes I covered; but there's still the occasional error like that.

After that encounter, Meowth takes a ladder to climb to Skitty's window; flowers in hand and mouth. Azurill then bounces into the air and over all the clotheslines in the vicinity. It's amazing how many people in this part of the city don't have dryers.

Because of Azurill's shenanigans, Meowth's ill-gotten bouquet is replaced with the laundry. Meowth remarks that no one likes being romanced by a pile of boxer shorts as Skitty scratches him. Personally prefer the spring-loaded boxing glove like in Lupin III.

Meowth, undeterred, tries again with a piece of cake; but Azurill snatches that too; leaving Meowth with a smashed plate and a window closed on him.

Meowth then goes for the Hail Mary on his last attempt; serenading Skitty with a variation of the Meowth's Party song. Of course, Azurill has to get in on that too, and Meowth then mistakenly smashes his guitar on Skitty. To think people thought Liam Gallagher had issues with requests.

As Azurill skitters off, the Pichu brothers nearly save the bouncy ball from falling off the roof! Azurill lands safely, and Meowth is bounced back to the ground. After being flattened by a Snorlax, Meowth just decides to take a rest. I think I will do the same before I start the next part- this wasn't too terrible; but I need to pace myself.

We're back with the second part of this trilogy, "Trouble in Big Town." Yes- yes we certainly are going to be in big trouble.

The narrator is trying to sell the setting; but it's just not working for me. As someone who has an appreciation for the Pikachu shorts; it's a shame the Pichu brothers haven't had as good a track record. I didn't care for this short in the past, and I still don't.

I mean, not only is my good friend Mike Pollock trying to punch up their call to action; but it's inherently clear the budget and animation limits are quite obvious. On top of that, this short doesn't really make that good use of the letterbox format. Reminds me of how much my Sega CD had to compress and shrink the video clips to get them to work.

This is legitimately the highest quality copy I could find to take this screenshot.

It doesn't matter how many quips Mike tries to insert into the narration; it feels like a lesser version of "Pikachu and Pichu," which it is. I'm also describing an abridged version of events, there's still 15 minutes left in this part.

A Wooper follows Pichu into the park on a roller skate, and with that; shenanigans ensue as they roll by an Azumarill. Do you understand how little there is here? Though I liked previous Pikachu shorts, even they had some structure to fall back on and could convey the plot without having the narrator spell everything out.

Anyway, once the younger brother realizes his sibling is missing; the search is on. Honestly don't know how two minutes can feel like two hours; but this short finds a way.

One admitted highlight is a Wooper that's part of the Pichu brothers' posse this time around. I'd even go so far to say this short should have been about Wooper; and we'll come back to that in a bit.

After finding the skates from earlier in the park, an Azumarill (no word whether it's the same one from before) points the search party in the direction of Pichu the elder. This may be a pretty mid short; but I might as well get it over with quick- like ripping off a bandage.

Teddiursa also runs afoul of a Murkrow after poaching its stash of acorns, because it would be a while before they came up with Greedent or even Pachirisu. I mean, shiny objects are fair game; but even anime crows don't really eat that many acorns to my knowledge.

Halfway through this short and this review, Pichu comes down from some balloons it grabbed in an earlier scene; and on its way down, it knocks over some paint cans on the Houndour from the third movie's short; and it honestly wouldn't surprise me if this was stock footage from said short.

The Feraligatr from last time looks on from a pipe; and I am at least glad that its lower jaw is the correct color this time. The errant Murkrow from before pops the balloons Pichu was holding, though Wooper is able to save him and scare Murkrow off. I reiterate this special should have been about Wooper.

Returning to their hideout, the Pichu brothers reunite and have it out as the narrator lets off a few more bad puns. Magby runs off to fetch Azumarill to referee, to no avail. At least Azumarill raging makes for one of the few amusing moments in this short not related to Wooper.

A fight ensues, and further underscores why this short didn't need to be made; let alone be included in this spinoff. Somehow, their fight results in an ice sculpture and the short ending on a song that sounds like the infamous Mac Tonight (I'm more into the Mooninites anyway). Just as well- I can definitely say I have had my break today, right now.

Now, after all that business; we reach the third and final short (thank Arceus), "Of Meowth and Pokémon." This is easily the weakest of the three, so let's get to it.

This last short also combines two vastly different sketches into one; so let's get to the first half. Meowth starts riffing on the Pichu brothers and their posse; which does nothing to help the situation in the slightest.

Seriously, there's a whole lot badgering about Meowth's stay in Millennium Town; and Meowth has an automatic Rube Goldberg coffeepot. I still prefer Pee-Wee's breakfast machine, to be honest.

Of course, Meowth still has a plan of wanting to make a giant gold statue of himself; and orders his split personality to make him lunch. ... Neglecting how it's not really proper to play DiD for laughs anymore, this part just makes me want to shut this off and rewatch Moon Knight instead.

As Meowth fantasizes about his monument in the city center, Teddiursa bumps into him. He also ends up swapping baskets with Smoochum; and I will do my best to grin and bear it over the next 15 minutes. He gets a basket full of party favors, while Smoochum got his order.

Meowth then busts into the Pichu brothers' hideout, and a game of pickle with his picnic ensues. I've been trying to hold off on this for a while; but it's enough to have Michael Palin go "Alright, stop that: this has just gotten silly!"

Meowth does reclaim his basket; but he ends up ticking off the Houndour from before. The basket again falls into Teddiursa's claws in the scuffle; and I would once again suggest this would be better on its own instead of being inserted into this spinoff.

The next day, Meowth begins a search for employment until more gainful opportunities arise. For now, he'll have to make do with being a pizza delivery driver.

Some of the group members Meowth enlists to help get jumped by the Squirtle Squad, though it's nowhere near as entertaining as before. 

Elsewhere, the Pichu brothers continue exploring the city, and this second half may not be terrible; but it's beyond dull. I may have built a lot of analyzing this franchise; but there are times when I'm not given much to work with. This is one of those times.

After once again bumping into Houndour (seriously, maybe their trainer should consider breeding it at a kennel); the Pichu brothers run out into the streets. Also not sure how Magby did enough damage to cause an explosion, as Houndour technically has 1/2 resistance against its own type. Needless to say, Meowth's tenure only ended up slightly messier than Papa John Schnatter.

Undeterred, he takes another job as a street cleaner; and everyone else lends a hand. Hijinks ensue, and everyone is somehow caught in a whirlpool via a destroyed fountain; leading to this memetic shot of Wooper smiling as everyone else nearly drowns.

Shockingly, Meowth's employers don't look kindly on flooding workspaces; especially in such a bizarre way, and he's fired. The Pichu brothers and their posse at least offer condolences and gifts to Meowth. Least they could do, and glad I'm finally done with this.

You know, looking at these specials in this post and in relation to the Pikachu shorts did at least make me realize how much I like the Pichu brothers... in supporting roles. While it may not be possible to officially watch it anymore; the one that opened the third movie did do a decent job of introducing them without making them overbearing. Though I can claim Pokémon Channel as my least favorite game in the series; the short they had there was easily the best part of the game. Here, these aren't characters that would justify having a whole special focus on them; let alone three. 

All I have left to say is that I'm glad I only have that last Christmas special to cover in December; then I can officially be done with it. I will be picking up Pokémon Scarlet and Violet on launch day, and you should see my first impressions not long after I start playing. That will be all for now.

Re: Jump Cut Online- Yo-Kai Watch Wasn't a "Pokémon Clone," but it also Wasn't Better.

With just a couple weeks left to Pokémon Scarlet and Violet; as well as the continued radio silence on an official localization of Yo-Kai Watch 4 (increasingly possible that it was quietly cancelled after the closure of Level-5 Abby); I thought I would offer a rebuttal to another article from Jump Cut Online. Written by someone who I'm only referring to as Jude, it claimed that "Yo-Kai Watch was More than a Pokémon Clone, it was better." It is because of that statement that I am once again writing a response instead of having this conversation in their comments section. Relevant quotes will be included as per usual, so let me open with this: Hey Jude, don't you get mad, I'll take your bad take and make it better; remember to hold the phone: Yo-Kai Watch wasn't a "Pokémon Clone," but it also wasn't better.

Quote: "While the world of Pokémon still grips my Zoomer heart well into adulthood — (it did for my generation what Harry Potter did for my Millennial predecessors) — it becomes harder to ignore that the core series’ release cycle is governed by a cynical ethos. Abundance takes precedence over evolution. While the number of catchable creatures listed in the Pokédex creeps towards quadruple digits, the games themselves strain to keep pace with their taxonomy. As I worked through my copy of Sword two holiday seasons ago, I felt as though I paid for a library of new CG models and locations with an obligatory smattering of gameplay and plot thrown in for good measure."

Glossing over his statement against capitalism (since it's nothing I haven't heard from listening to Jim Sterling); I fully admit to claiming seniority over Jude. I also disagree with multiple statements made in this paragraph alone: as someone who has logged well over 260 hours each into both Sword and Shield; I can verify that it's not like buying model and location assets from Turbo Squid (at least he didn't use the long-debunked "asset reuse" argument). Nor is it a mere smattering so much as it is a complete overhaul of the mechanics even as the core system remains intact. The only cynicism I see is in this "zoomer's" statement is claiming there isn't "evolution;" something I've gotten increasingly good at disputing over the years. I also take greater offense to being called a "Millennial" than a "'90s kid," I also am starting to own my status as a potential "30-year-old Boomer."

Quote: "Don’t get me wrong; drafting a team of six species and experimenting with different combinations never gets old for me, and that’s usually worth the price of admission alone. But it might be our attachment to Game Freak’s tried-and-true formula, with its gym badges, villainous doomsday cults, and starter trios — magic as it all may be — that limits our expectations of what a creature-collecting game can be. While Pokémon has struggled to incorporate its massive roster of monsters into an open-world, online-friendly context, now seems like the perfect opportunity for a newer, leaner title to revamp a genre that is now a quarter-century into its lifespan."

OK, Jude, I'm going to overlook the fact that you started one of your sentences with "but" here (one of my grammatical pet peeves as someone who graduated as an English major). This whole idea that the design "limits expectations" is simply not accurate; since it merely gives us a place to set them. Though the idea of a newer title into that space might sound enticing in theory; in practice it hasn't really panned out. Temtem was potentially viewed as such a game (I personally thought it looked like a mobile game, but I opted to address it as little as possible); but its console launch got splatted in sales by Splatoon 3.

As for the whole "open-world, online-friendly context," the bookend of both Legends Arceus and Generation IX has that covered. So, the franchise is more than capable of revamping on its own. Haven't even gotten to the real meat of this response and I'm already seeing this argument fall apart.

Quote: "Unfortunately, developer Level-5’s attempt to solve that very problem may have come too early. In 2013, three months before Pokémon X&Y hit the shelves, Yo-Kai Watch nudged its way in front of Goliath. After dabbling in familiar-collecting with 2010’s Ni No Kuni, Level-5 repurposed its own concept of raising supernatural creatures into a cuddly, smaller-scale context prophesied to be the Next Big Thing."

That's the funny thing about prophecies: this one misread, could have been. There were even concerns at the same time that Nintendo would stop making consoles altogether and focus on games like Sega. That thankfully didn't happen, and while cloud gaming has been hyped as the next stage of games; it has been much more niche than anticipated, the shutdown of Stadia not helping matters. I don't care about what others might claim, I am cutting this canard short right now. Level-5 did wasn't attempting to solve a presumed problem; the people in charge were marketing it as a solution in search of one. This is going to get worse as we go; especially as I consider Ni No Kuni to be a better Level-5 game.

Quote: "For a brief period of time, it looked like that prophecy might come true. Level-5 had clearly studied the successes of Pokémon’s initial launch, unveiling Yo-Kai Watch with an omnipresent multimedia assault on Japan. They had it all: a phantom feline mascot primed to be turned into marketable plushies, collectible toy medals that could be scanned via QR code to earn in-game rewards, and an anime with a viral theme song. Initially, that was enough to make Yo-Kai Watch an overnight hit. In 2014, its IP beat out Anpanman’s cast of bread-themed characters as the most-liked by Japanese children. The next year, dedicated Yo-Kai stores would open up across the country, just before the first game reached western audiences."

Again, that's the funny thing about predictions: sometimes even understandable and sound ones don't end up coming to pass. People thought Pokémon itself was just a fad back in the day and its appeal wouldn't last. They were wrong of course, and the article even admits it's become the biggest multimedia franchise ever; but I must continue.

Quote: "Flying in the face of globe-trotting JRPGs, the majority of the game takes place in a single town, Springdale — New Sakura Town before localization. There’s an anti-escapist streak running through the series, limiting the scope of its settings to universally familiar experiences. There are no tundras or deserts to explore, but you will get to explore the nuances of Springdale’s urban planning. There are corner stores to swing by in the protagonist’s suburban neighborhood, burger joints and arcades downtown, and unaffordable McMansions out in the hills. And if you’re planning to reach those locations on foot, be prepared to stop at the crosswalks to look both ways. In a Kojima-esque move, you’re punished or rewarded based on your willingness to wait at the traffic light."

OK, I seriously think we need to retire the "anti-escapist" selling point; especially as pandemic lockdowns have dramatically increased the desire for that kind of entertainment. Also, I don't consider traffic stops to be "Kojima-esque," especially as someone who has no problem understanding how a game he made with Norman Reedus making cross-country cargo delivery became a highly-acclaimed bestseller (whatever he has planned for Microsoft, I'm eager to see what it entails). Let's keep this thread going.

Quote: "What I loved about Yo-Kai Watch was that it wasn’t a world to dream about visiting. It was a new perspective on our own reality in which everyday incidents were triggered by karma or the whims of Yo-Kai — ghostly beings only visible to wearers of the titular watch. If you ignore an overarching plot regarding the spirit realm’s government, your average in-game conflict involves accidentally leaving an assignment at home due to a Yo-Kai’s curse or figuring out what’s making the museum’s suit of armor move on its own. The fantasy takes place within reality — not outside of it."

That's exactly the reason why I have a counterpoint that invokes reality is unrealistic- the last two years alone have had events far crazier than any Japanese spirit or enchanted wristwatch; so that perspective has been increasingly been undermined. Even at the time of its initial release in 2015; I was unimpressed by its approach. It felt less like Earthbound and more like Sesame Street Countdown, and I am well aware of this degree of comparison (I do love the Count, for the record). I also took issue with the unintended message that suggested it's better to blame problems on an external force rather than confront and fix them. Most people tend to not be that passive in regards to issues; hence why I chose the "conflict" playthrough rather than the negotiation route (basically playing it like regular RPGs) just to get through it.

Quote: "Even the design of the Yo-Kai themselves reflect Level-5’s hyper focused approach to worldbuilding.  While Pokémon’s strength comes from its diversity of influences, Yo-Kai watch pares its inspiration down to a few key elements. Japanese folklore, urban legends, and mundane annoyances. They’re not quite as cute as their Game Freak counterparts, but they make up for it in their uniformly creepy charm. There’s Noway, an anthropomorphic wall likely based on the Whomp-like Nurikabe, and Manjimutt, inspired by reports of man-faced dogs wandering the streets of Tokyo."

Again, "charm" is a relative term. Some people might see themselves as charming, when they're more likely to have a white van in their garage. I also found the setting decisively lacking compared to Level-5's previous works (I haven't played their whole catalog and don't plan to; but I understand the appeal at least). Of course I don't mind when Pokémon is willing to experiment in terms of creature design- Scarlet and Violet are going to have you traversing on a dragon cycle like a Kamen Rider. 

Quote: "While this cultural cohesiveness earns Yo-Kai Watch points for artistry in my book, it’s unfortunately the prime culprit for the series’ lack of success overseas, despite aggressive advertising and its inclusion in the Disney XD lineup. If you’re not well-versed in Japanese cultural traditions, much of the franchise’s humor gets lost in translation. While many of Level-5’s Yo-Kai shared the same name as their mythological yōkai counterparts (the in-game Nurikabe is a Murikabe, for example), localization efforts relied on awkward puns and overly-literal descriptors to help westerners identify their phantasmal companions. Creative as the Yo-Kai may have been, it’s tough to compete with the iconic, universal design of an Eevee or Jigglypuff. Even Jibanyan, Yo-Kai Watch’s own answer to Pikachu, wasn’t enough to foster anything more than a cult following. The series’ original 3DS release moved less than 500,000 North American copies in its first year of sales — about a third of the copies sold domestically in that same time frame."

This is actually a fairly solid admission of failure; with some annotations I'd like to add: even people who were well-versed in the folklore and yokai were turned off by the changes made in the localization of the anime and games. Changing the whole setting from Japan to Idaho (which has already aged as well as 7-year-old Russets) made the infamous "jelly donut rice balls" seem restrained by comparison. 

Quote: "Yo-Kai Watch has spawned three proper sequels in its eight-year lifespan, but the series’ popularity continues to diminish in all markets. Yo-Kai Watch 4 only managed to sell 291,000 copies in 2019, and its prospects for a future localization look grim."

This is also a solid admission of failure, with more annotations to add: in the year since this was posted, we have no word on a fifth main game (the troubled production of the next Inazuma Eleven and apparent flop of Y School Heroes not helping matters), the 2021 anime is just kind of there (I didn't see any point in reviewing it; since it's not giving me much material and nobody's really subbed it) and I haven't found much data on the toys. 

Quote: "Though Yo-Kai’s commercial impact may not have amounted to much more than a mid-10s trend, the IP deserves recognition for attempting to innovate a monster-collecting genre that hasn’t seen much diversity since its late-90s infancy. One can argue that the combat system was a bit too complex for its own good, but its ambition was admirable, augmenting the usual rock-paper-scissors dynamic with stylus gestures and strategic bonuses like team chemistry. Because the Yo-Kai’s actions were autonomous, battling made me feel more like a “trainer” than Pokémon ever did. I picked my roster, set my strategy, and left the fisticuffs to the phantoms."

I'm going to have to stop you right there, because you make quite a few mistakes in this paragraph alone. You do link to Digimon and Monster Rancher correctly as fellow entrants in that space (Survive finally came out after its troubled production, and Ultra Kaiju; a collab with the Ultra Series of toku is actually coming out stateside sooner than I expected); but this also glosses over other prominent examples. Shin Megami Tensei for example, predates most ones by several years and laid down a lot of the foundations for the subgenre; including its own most notable spinoff in Persona. The "rock-paper-scissors" balance is another oversimplification that's been increasingly mocked (even to the point of being outright featured in Pocket Mortys).  

Most of all, I can honestly say that the autonomy was a major issue I had with the combat system (I think Generation IX having the "Let's Go" for sentries could work, but I will have to try it to know for sure); and that it didn't feel like being a trainer to me at all. The partner dynamic has been one of the most vital aspects of the franchise since day one, and it's still major advantage it has over others. I wouldn't argue that Yo-Kai Watch has combat that's "too complex," if anything; it was far too simple for someone who's been playing RPGs almost as long as they've been playing video games as a whole. The "team chemistry" actually felt like a nerfing of type balances (fairy types coming to Generation VI gave me new appreciation for poison and steel from then on; two types I didn't previously play with that much), and the touch screen gestures felt like a mid-battle Wario Ware minigame.

Quote: "Pokémon has about as much reason to radically alter its own formula as Coca-Cola does. If audiences continue to shell out cash for the product, why fix it? But that doesn’t mean there still isn’t room for a Pepsi in the marketplace. As Game Freak’s franchise celebrates its 25th anniversary, perhaps it’s worth also giving the games it inspired a second look. While it’s not worth holding your breath for Yo-Kai Watch 4’s worldwide release like I am, why not bust out the old 3DS and give the first 3 games a try? You might just find another bestiary of best friends to fall in love with."

Not only did you start another sentence with "but," YKW is not even close to the Pepsi of this subgenre of RPGs. Given the times other "Yokites" have been in my mentions; I'd say it's more like the Faygo. Another hot take I have in this post is that I dislike the taste of Faygo, its association with the ICP and Homestuck fandoms not helping either. 

I did however, buy the third game; played through it; and even though I may never love this series the way I do Pokémon, even I agree it's the best of the trilogy. It also, in a bit of tragic irony; was the game that was meant to appeal the most to Western players and became the worst-selling entry in the franchise domestically. Not only did people move onto the Switch much sooner than expected; it launched right after both Kingdom Hearts III and the 2019 remake of Resident Evil 2. So, while "love" may be a strong word; it's become something of a worthy opponent in this space seven years on (at least in terms of the games- there's a reason I retired from addressing the anime after the Shadowside movie; since I'm not getting much to work with after the original).

Bottom line: even if you perceive a product as "better," it's not always the one that wins. Here's a classic example: while Betamax may have had better picture and sound quality, VHS had longer runtimes; more recording space and more people willing to manufacture them and back them. There's a reason why I remember checking out a lot of anime for the first time on VHS and only found out about Beta videotapes because they're vital to the story of Faye in Cowboy Bebop. Likewise, I never once considered Yo-Kai Watch a "Pokémon clone" (even as a YKW non-fan, I considered it a massive oversimplification); but I also don't consider it better.

Anyway, with two weeks left to Scarlet and Violet; it's going to be quite the exciting time as Generation VIII is giving way to Generation IX. As this marks the first fully open-world iteration of the franchise; I once again have this to say about potential competitors: Bring. It. On. That will be all for now, and I will see you soon.

Pokémon Scarlet and Violet- "Legendary Ride" Reaction and Thoughts.

Hey everyone- Happy Halloween. With November and the release of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet nearly upon us, I thought I would give you my belated thoughts on the games’ “Legendary Ride” trailer. Let’s open it up and talk about it.

The trailer, on top of effectively confirming the filming in Spain earlier this year; shows off a bit more of the open-world setting of the Paldea region. Even at this stage, it looks to be the culmination of everything the main series has been building towards since it went to the third dimension.

Highlights include a Tera Raid Battle against a Lechonk, showing off the starting hub of the Pokémon Academy; and most notably the traversal abilities of our legendaries: Koraidon and Miraidon. These dragons can use their legs and their wheels to cross over land and water, and even leap into the air. Though Cyclizar have yet to be shown in the same fashion; I am liking the detail so far.

Speaking of which, not only have recent promotions shown off more avatar gear; but the customization will be gender-neutral for the first time in the series’ history; much like in the Splatoon and Animal Crossing games. Though the series has been heading this direction as of Pokémon Go and Generation VII (slowly phasing out the memetic “Are you a boy or girl” question in the process); I believe the flexibility I’ve already seen of the customization system will open up countless doors for new and existing players alike. That, and I've always enjoyed customizing characters whether they're as complex as a Soulcalibur fighter  or as simple as a Mii.

I will be paying off the games within the first week of November; and I expect to enjoy them extensively well into 2023. One last thing- I will not send, nor will I accept any leaks about the game ahead of launch. That will be all for now, take care.

Why Digimon Ghost Game Worked Where the Adventure reboot Didn't.

Happy Halloween everyone- seeing as how the spooky season is upon us; I thought I would take the opportunity to not only cover an anime I've been wanting to for a while, but also explore how it succeeded where another recent one did not. Here's why Digimon Ghost Game worked where the Adventure reboot didn't.

1. A More Consistent Tone.

One of the major issues myself and others had with the 2020 reboot was the inconsistent tone. The story structure made it tough to know what attitude to adopt, and the events less believable than its senior. One episode can show the Digimon almost causing a naval flotilla to crash into each other because of their fight messing with the navigation systems; another has Izzy having to rescue Tai from an obsessive fan by solving puzzles like he's in a game of Myst. By contrast, that doesn't really happen in Ghost Game. Sure, it's not without silly moments or cute monsters; but when a serious situation is on screen, it's treated as such. Essentially, this anime is a Digimon horror story; and I will touch on this more in the other points made in this post.

2. How it parallels our world.

Another big missed opportunity of the Adventure reboot was how it could have addressed the change in the landscape since the original saw release in 1999. However, beyond a few cursory acknowledgements (a character on their mobile here, a skeptical online thread there); it just felt like window dressing. Fortunately, Ghost Game manages to fill that void by directly addressing both digital and natural events in current year. The decade is still relatively new and it's already been incredibly turbulent. I'm not saying this anime gets to the level of Black Mirror or Jordan Peele's films; but that is one distinction that sets it apart from the P-word (never made sense to me to compare them, still doesn't)- if the pocket monsters are the escapist fantasy; then the digital monsters are a more grounded breed of science fiction. It's far from the first incarnation of the franchise to hold a reflection of present day society; but it's among the most effective (way more than a glorified fanfic/cloud-yelling manifesto being passed off as a play). One key comparison that incorporates the story so far is that it resembles the previous Digimon Universe: AppliMonsters if its premise was played for horror rather than comedy. Not a tightly serialized story; but definitely one that builds over time. Though both anime have leads different from the series' usual archetypes and partners that can easily pass themselves off as costumed; candy-guzzling children on Halloween night, it's how the stories play out that sets them apart. I won't spoil why; but if you've seen both like I have; you'll know what I'm talking about.

3. Digital Horror Stories

One of my favorite things to do, especially this time of year is to consume and analyze horror stories; especially for younger demographics. As making the stuff of nightmares as well as the stuff of dreams has been a fixture of the franchise for ages; it was something of a letdown the Adventure reboot couldn't really pull that off. Fortunately, this anime managed to pick up the ball Adventure 2020 dropped; and pass it between monsters. I'm not saying this anime reaches the level of the 2018 Gegege no Kitaro; but it does a good job of basing its horror in both modern society, franchise lore and even offering its own take on classical monsters; both in Japanese legends and vintage horror (the picture of Mummymon I used was a far better mummy than Alex Kurtzman did). While horror for my age range tends to be the most effective for me when it's rooted in a real concern (no matter how fantastic it can be); horror for my younger self tended to work best when it's something clearly rooted in fantasy, but placed against a backdrop that resonates with the audience.

4. Terrors breed visual invention

While some of the designs in the reboot did do a solid job of capturing the letter of the franchise; on top of the other issues I mentioned, it lacked its creative spirit. Thankfully, by its very concept; Ghost Game has joined the list of the most visually-distinctive entries in the series. Not just with the new monsters (such as Angoramon and Jellimon in this picture); but with the setting and the human characters as well. Kiyoshiro, for example; has all sorts of charms to ward off spirits like an onmyoji (even wrapping his hand in bandages); and the setting actually makes the unique decision of having the digital world take less emphasis than the real world. Both traditional shrines and gardens and modern cityscapes of neon and OLED displays help make the setting integral to the story; a vital component of the franchise and any good piece of fiction.

5. Shaking up the character status quo

In series of this nature, it's good to have characters that the audience can identify with; even if said characters can be boiled down to archetypes as simple as the redheaded short-tank, the goggle-head or the one with the Brooklyn accent. I was very much not entertained by the caricatures in the reboot; especially as there was a genuine opportunity to expand on the characters in the original. Fortunately, this anime found a way to truly bring this franchise into the new 20s while still respecting its legacy for unique and compelling characters. I brought up Kiyoshiro in the last heading; but another great example is Ruli; whose role in the story is vital as she joins the cast. Even our protagonist, Hiro is motivated by finding out what led to his father's disappearance; and each encounter brings him closer to finding the truth. Yet, his absence still drives him to solve problems in ways that don’t always involve a massive fight. It's incredible how something as simple as giving a digital monster a chocolate bar left a bigger long-term story impact than yet another trip to the Adventure well.

6. Helping move the series in new directions

The last reason I stated for my disappointment with the Adventure reboot was how I genuinely believed it had potential to bring Digimon to a new generation; but it was never realized. So, making this a horror story was going to be a welcome change of pace on its own. That being said, the exact way Ghost Game sold and executed its premise is what Adventure 2020 should have been in terms of quality. Though not every experiment the franchise has tried has worked (I have nothing to add to a potential Frontier follow-up announcement); this is one that does. Though I honestly don’t know what to expect from the 02 movie (deliberately keeping expectations low as someone who wasn't a fan of the last one or the biggest fan of 02), I can say that this anime definitely helped add to the 20-year-plus legacy of the franchise the right way. The Vital Bracelets are even officially coming stateside after their release in Japan being successful (making it a smart toy is a natural progression from its roots in virtual pets), and the video games have been making their way back to NA (a new Digimon World game is coming to PC and console soon). Though not every experiment works, I'm not opposed to them when they do; especially since Ghost Game is exactly the kind of left turn that was needed after the Adventure reboot fizzled.

Anyway, I am prepping for Scarlet and Violet's launch in November; and no matter what happens with Masters Eight; I will have content in mind even if I don't plan on addressing the World Coronation Series at this time. That's all for now, take care.

Review- "The Sunlit Garden: Prelude and Finale" (Revolutionary Girl Utena)

Hey everyone- to lead off this part of my 10th anniversary on this blog; I just want people to know this about my look at "The Sun, the Sea and the Host Club:" if I had known the trajectory the last decade would take; I would have approached that differently. Second, rather than simply revisit those waters; I thought I would do something a bit different by looking at anime of that persuasion I actually like, which happens to be the classic Revolutionary Girl Utena. Let's open up "The Sunlit Garden: Prelude and Finale."

After the intro, the first part opens on a vast, ornate area. Inside, the titular Utena Tenju is dueling with a young man named Miki Kaoru for the "Rose Bride:" Anthy Himemiya. I actually really like the transition here, as Miki is revealed to be playing the piano in the BGM. The song he's playing is called "The Sunlit Garden," which has multiple meanings beyond the title.

Elsewhere, Utena and a classmate have to retake a math test they failed; and Anthy is accosted by others for allegedly causing Miki to pull out of a music competition. As we're about to find out; the truth is far more complicated than that. After Miki breaks them up, he discovers a sheet of music in with Anthy's books. 

Spotting them from the window, Miki is also found out later in the library by Juri of the student council. He's correcting one of the aforementioned math tests, and we'll touch on that more in a bit. It was Anthy's test; and this will be particularly important later. This is especially true as Utena realizes Miki is part of the student council.

Miki continues playing the Sunlit Garden; and we get a glimpse of one of the other meanings of the song: an actual garden where he played the song in years past; which will be vital in the next part of this story.

As Miki looks over a photo of Anthy, trouble begins to brew. This leads to one of the signature elements of this anime: the shadow puppets elaborating on the plot, which has been homaged many times over the years; as has Utena itself.

Miki arrives to help study for the makeup test, with another student named Nanami in tow. Inside their dorms; she makes her move to try and discredit Anthy as a weirdo. Her first attempt is to hide a snail in her pencil case.

This doesn’t work as planned, as her case is actually full of the mollusks! Moreover, Miki feels no differently towards Anthy.

Nanami's second plan is to plant a snake in the desk; having caught it for just such a purpose. Heading towards the desk, she makes her next move.

This also goes to pot when a mongoose that was in the desk eats the snake, and Miki's view on Anthy still doesn't change; much to Nanami's disappointment.

Nanami then goes for the Hail Mary on her third plan: to plant an octopus in Anthy's closet! What could possibly go wrong?

Surprise surprise! Rule of three means a much bigger octopus float is in the closet, with Miki's opinion of Anthy none the worse for wear.

To top it all off, a mouse named ChuChu eats all their refreshments, and while the others take a snack break, Nanami laments how much animals have it out for her. It's definitely something that comes up later; but I'm getting ahead of myself. After a round of shaved ice, Nanami finally lets slip why she's there; but Miki's reasons for his affections toward Anthy are much more complex than initially believed.

Anthy goes to play the piano, and the others (sans Nanami) are impressed by her musical ability. In particular, Miki recognizes the song as the "Sunlit Garden" that he used to play with his sister! To be continued, right now.

The second part of our story picks up about where the first leaves off, with a fencing match. Would you believe that actually isn't the most on-the-nose foreshadowing in this episode?

Miki defeats Juri in battle, leading us to our title card. After that, we see Anthy tending the garden as she's given a watering can by Miki. As she waters the roses, we get another flashback to when Miki was in the garden. Utena enters, following ChuChu on his skateboard. How is this not making sense to you all?

After Utena asks if she's interrupting anything, she watches Anthy practice the piano with Miki. It's honestly a pretty touching scene, all things considered. Especially as Miki recalls "The Sunlit Garden" while Anthy plays. One day, Miki was bedridden with measles; preventing him from playing a concert with his sister. His sister was so devastated that not only did she leave the venue, she never played the piano again after that. It was only when Miki met Anthy that he met the desire to make music again; and perhaps something more?

As Utena and Anthy wonder about this; Miki approaches the student council to call for their dissolution! Though kind of heady a scene, there is some good symbolism with the fruit; and I do like the music here.

After the council meeting (and a tense meetup with his sister outside the music room), Miki enters to find the councilor leaning over the piano with his shirt open; as Anthy comes in too. Before the councilor leaves and the next practice stars; he tells Miki that the fiancee of the Rose Bride can control their destiny. He also tells Miki that even if he did agree to the council's dissolution; he would still have to make his own play for the Rose Bride.

Utena continues studying for her makeup exam; and Miki has some fantastic dramatic timing, entering the room as people start asking who Utena is being tutored by. He hands Utena a white rose, saying he'll see her in the arena after class. Usually it's a gloved gauntlet, but other than that; no notes.

The shadow puppets return, this time in the livery of pirates. Having officially started Punk Hazard (about caught up on the manga), I can now vouch for this being only the second strangest sea I've sailed.

Honoring Miki's request, Utena shows up for the duel after class as promised. The ensuing fight is preceded by Utena's ascent up the chambers; and it's a great buildup. The duel between Miki and Utena also parallels the fencing match that opened this part perfectly, and the animation in this whole third act is simply incredible.

Utena wins the duel, and Miki realizes his error in the moments before the final blow is dealt! Though it would never work out between them, Miki agrees to better himself and Anthy says it's OK if they can still be friends; or at the very least study partners. We close on his sister continuing to practice; and Miki vowing to do more for his next duel.

Though I openly admit shojo isn't really my field, I do consider Utena to be a worthwhile anime; and "The Sunlit Garden: Prelude and Finale" is a great example of how. Everything from the art direction to the character work is what I wanted Ouran to be; and I again apologize if what I said in years' past hits differently now. Had I known what trajectory the decade would take, I would have approached things another way. My next review will be in a bit more familiar waters, but you'll just have to wait and see which ones. I will see you all again soon, take care.