Pokémon Scarlet and Violet- New Monsters, Three Stories and More

Hey everyone- I’ve been meaning to address this for a while now; and now is as good a time as any. Here are my belated thoughts on this month’s updates for Pokémon Scarlet and Violet.

One major detail that I’ve been eager to address is the three storylines in the game. First is the gym challenge, which I will be pursuing first. Under the guidance of Chairman Geeta; your gym challenge can be done nonlinearly. On that subject, we have a new gym leader in Artazon: Brassius, our grass-type specialist with a literal vine whip. I definitely know who I’m facing first.

The next quest is the Search for the “Herba Mystica,” where you join your classmate Arven to find rare herbs that can bring out the qualities in those who consume them. This also involves new Titan-class monsters; building on the Totem Pokémon from Alola and Dynamax battles in Galar.

Lastly, there is the story of our villain faction: Team Star. Known as “Starfall Street,” this story will pit the player against delinquent students that left the academy to form the team. Though more details are still being revealed; I like the idea of them being presented as a horde battle, and how it continues the idea of villains being societal outcasts from Team Skull and Team Yell.

There are also multiple new monsters, including a wormlike relative of Diglett that was just revealed as I finished drafting this- the water-type Wiglett; who might be a nematode to go with Diglett being a mole. There are also the version-exclusive Ceruledge and Armorouge. The former is Ghost-type, the latter is Fire-type. My favorite is still Klawf; and even as the official forms of the Stage 1 and 2 starters have yet to be revealed; I still look forward to what these games have to offer. I’m not the kind of guy that plans out their whole play through before they even turn the game on- I usually just need enough details to get started and then I’ll go from there. 

I will bring you any further information as it is revealed, and I will see you all in October. That will be all for now. Later.

"Putting the Air Back in Aerodactyl" Review (Pokémon Chronicles)

Hey fellas- now that I've dealt with my 650th post; it's time to resume work on the remaining episodes of Pokémon Chronicles. This is thankfully a better episode than the last, but still not without issues. Let's open up "Putting the Air Back in Aerodactyl."

 

The episode opens with Professor Oak and Tracey Sketchit boarding a ship to see Gary; who's on a research expedition on an island in the sea. They're greeted by a lab worker named Jared. I know there's a joke here; but I'm not going there.

They're also being tailed by Butch and Cassidy, who are being sent by Professor Namba to case what Gary has discovered. Fitting- not long after I come off looking at Lupin III The First; I deal with far less likable thieves. 

They reach Sayda Island (a location I'm not familiar with); and I also note how we're more than halfway through this anime and it took this long to get an episode featuring Gary. I reiterate what the point of this spinoff is if you're not going to justify its existence. I continue to be baffled how Ritchie and Casey got more showcases than Gary (believe me when I say I have more to discuss in the near future), while numerous others didn't even appear at all.

I digress: Oak, Tracey and Jared disembark on Sayda Island; and the experiment Gary was working on breaks out- an Aerodactyl! Insert Dr. Ian Malcolm scene here. 

Other colleagues trying to contain Aerodactyl are Dora (no relation to the infamous explorer) and her younger sister Crystal. Ironically, despite being a borderline Deus ex Machina; she's actually closer to the game's depiction of Crystal than Marina (age lift notwithstanding).

Butch and Cassidy make landfall, and the latter mixed up the measurements on Aerodactyl, confusing feet for inches. .,. This joke was funnier when they did it in This is Spinal Tap, to be honest.

Back with Gary, Professor Oak and the others; one subplot that doesn't make much sense is Gary having his confidence shaken by his new post as researcher, as it never came up before this episode; and never came up again after.

Crystal can even summon Lapras as sentries with a simple whistle! Already liking her better than Gilbert, honestly. She can also summon Farfetch'd, and warn about Aerodactyl without moving her lips like a ventriloquist!

Crystal has managed to help track the Aerodactyl with the aid of the Farfetch'd sentries; tracing it back to where the fossilized egg was found. They find it sleeping on top of the mountain, but Crystal falls over; and the beast is spooked. Tracey grabs ahold of Aerodactyl, who carries him around the island!

Crystal sends the Farfetch'd to tail Aerodactyl, and I honestly wish we had more characters like her and less like Gilbert in this spinoff.

Tracey lets go of Aerodactyl, and it turns out he was only a few feet off the ground. Butch and Cassidy make their move against Aerodactyl; catching it in a net to take it back to HQ. Gary sends out Umbreon, and Crystal sends out Ivysaur to do battle against Houndour and Hitmontop. Hit flashes aside, it's a good sequence.

Aerodactyl breaks out of its bonds, and once again escapes. Everyone tries to find a way to settle Aerodactyl down, about as easy a task as dealing with my nephew- He's back in town; and got digestive issues. 

Speaking of which, Gary deduces they could try finding food to calm down Aerodactyl; and Dora concurs as they found seeds in the other fossils where they found the fossilized egg. They're able to find the fruit they belong to; and not a moment too soon as Butch and Cassidy make one more play for Aerodactyl. They fly up in a chopper, but Gary sends out Dodrio to fight it off! Aerodactyl, refueled from the fruit, sends Butch and Cassidy blasting off!

We close on Gary continuing his research path, and Professor Oak returning to the mainland with Tracey. Not a great episode, but not a godawful one either.

"Putting the Air Back in Aerodactyl" is an under-inflated outing for Gary's showcase; but better than the previous episode I wrote about involving Professor Oak and Tracey. The plot is a bit more coherent, and it helps that the animation is better this time around (I've been quite open about my enthusiasm for Masaki Iwane). Not great, but not a total disaster either.

Post-review follow-up: most annoying characters of the episode go to Butch and Cassidy. I did intially consider Crystal during the writing process; but ultimately decided she was more fun and useful even as a deus ex machina.

Next Chronicles review will be on "Luvdisc is a Many Splendored Thing," another showcase for Misty that gets wasted on a plot that would barely pass for a cheesy romantic comedy from the 2000s. That's all for now.

Pokémon: The Arceus Chronicles (2022) Thoughts.

I have been wanting to address this special for a while, and now the time has finally come: Here are my thoughts on Pokémon: The Arceus Chronicles.

This OVA, whose four parts have been combined into one single special for its English dub on Netflix (I can now officially submit it was rights issues with the JP branch of rival Amazon Prime that were holding things up here) has many elements from the smash hit video game “Pokémon Legends Arceus.” The story follows Ash and Goh on assignment in the Sinnoh region; meeting up with Dawn and Cynthia to do research on the ancient past of the Hisui region. They also encounter Brock as well as Team Galactic admins Saturn, Jupiter and Mars; the latter of whom seek to use Heartran and Arceus to recover their leader Cyrus.

I have been enjoying how the anime has been more willing to experiment in recent generations; and this anime is no exception. I really enjoy how the visual presentation was kept consistent with the DP series; and how they got the same voice cast back for the Galactic admins. 

I intend to give this special a full review in the near future (before the end of the year, ideally), but first I want to finish other material I’ve been working on a while. That’s all for now, take care.

Lupin III The First- How to Craft the Perfect CGI Anime Revival

I have been wanting to address this film for nearly two years; and now, that time is finally upon me. Let's open up Lupin III The First, and see how to craft the perfect CGI anime revival.

From left- Daisuke Jigen, Arsene Lupin III, Goemon Ishikawa.

The story is a retelling of Lupin III going on his first major caper, where Lupin and his associates Jigen and Goemon are after an artifact known as the "Diary of Bresson;" whose contents can lead the reader to great fortune. Also in the mix are the dogged Inspector Zenigata, the lovely Fujiko Mine and a policewoman named Laetitia, all seeking the diary for themselves. Also in the mix is a weapon known as the "Eclipse," with all parties involved seeking the treasure. Even the title itself is one that has multiple meanings. I will not say why, but if you watch the movie (which is streaming both its dubbed and subtitled on Hulu as I type this); you'll know what I'm talking about.

This film is an absolute delight, and easily the gold standard for how to adapt a beloved anime in CGI form. While many adaptations have been dogged by budget and artistic limitations (the 2016 Berserk being the most infamous example), this film managed to bypass those barriers and surpass expectations to become what myself and others consider to be easily the best CG anime adaptation to date. 

Though obviously not having the same budget as the likes of Pixar; it's a film that makes its source material work with the new dimension rather than against it. It's the little details that make it work- Jigen rarely showing his eyes from under his hat, Fujiko being equal parts romantic as she is deceitful; even something as simple as Lupin pulling up his boxers after a scuffle with museum security has the DNA of Ghibli running through each frame. 

Using the action and the story drawing parallels to the urban legends about Argentina; this movie also makes a great unofficial Indiana Jones adventure, especially as another new film is seeing release next year.

Overall, "Lupin III The First" represents the apex of CGI anime adaptations; and is one I can easily recommend. I had given lots of thought to the topic of my 650th post; and this is ultimately what I settled on. You should see my other candidates in the near future. For now, I have some unfinished business to "chronicle" in more ways than one. That's all for now, take care.

Cyberpunk Edgerunners is Peak Studio Trigger (First Viewing Thoughts)

You see, Tekken Bloodline creators? THIS is how you make an anime adaptation out of a video game. Now that the first 10 episodes are streaming on Netflix, here are my first viewing thoughts on this year's Cyberpunk Edgerunners.

Courtesy- Netflix/Trigger/CD Projekt RED

Set in the same fictional universe as the Cyberpunk 2077 video game and the Cyberpunk 2020 tabletop game that it was based on; the anime follows David Martinez among other "edgerunners" in Night City trying to make their way and one day become legends. The opening scene, which shows a shootout between the NCPD and a "cyberpsycho" via a "braindance" sequence at a local "ripperdoc," manages to set the stage with not only the best of its source material; but of Studio Trigger as well. 

As a big fan of the source material and the animation studio associated with this anime, I am quite pleased with the results. One of the greatest strengths of the material has been its worldbuilding; and I'm glad this anime has retained that. The video game and tabletop game have immense attention to detail; with its vision of a near-future city in Northern California and an alternate history that goes back decades.

Of course, as one would expect; the series is visually stunning. It was a natural move to adapt this game into anime format; as the source material has many thematic and artistic parallels to Akira and Ghost in the Shell. As a longtime fan of Trigger's work, it's truly top-tier animation. Standout sequences include David getting back at a condescending classmate before leaving Arasaka Academy; and his first meeting with the enigmatic Lucy on the subway train.

Having poured extensive time into my first playthrough of the game (even with the rough launch); I can say this definitely works as both an adaptation and as an anime on its own merit. Honestly earns its TV-MA rating for sure: not just because of very not kid-friendly violence and language (as well as a very erotic BD implant in the first episode); but plenty of concepts younger audiences likely wouldn't find fun (including corporate corruption, institutionalized classism and the nature of humanity in a mechanical age, to name a few). Much as how the Street Kid, Nomad, and Corpo lifepaths were the natural progression of the classic archetypes of warrior, mage and thief in RPGs, David and Lucy are very much in the same creative vein as Trigger's body of work. I was already onboard from the first two, but the third episode, "Smooth Criminal" officially sold me (Joe Pesci workshopping his entry into the Lethal Weapon series not included). 

Bottom line: if you have Netflix, this anime is peak Studio Trigger; and a "preem" companion piece to the source material. I am also very close to a decision about my 650th post; which you should see before the month is out; most likely. I intend to give an update about Generation IX before I do the remainder of Chronicles as well; so that's another reason. That's all for now, samurai.

"There Are Monsters Among Us" Review (Digimon Savers/Data Squad)

(Note: Due to recent events, this review has been reworked so as to not cause further problems at this time.)

Hey everyone- for this review, I thought I would take another different, more experimental approach to this anime. It's one I've been wanting to address a while now, and now that time is upon me. Let's open up the first episode of "Digimon Savers" (aka "Digimon Data Squad"), "There are Monsters Among Us."

We have a lot to unpack in this episode, so I'll give you all a bit to get any potential "Among Us" jokes out of your system.

First, let's get the obvious out of the way: as the first Digimon anime to see release on both sides of the Pacific after Frontier's disappointing reception, there was clearly a lot to win back the crowd. Though initially more successful in Japan than in the US, the series has since undergone a reevaluation in the latter region. Though the way Tamers handled its dark tone and characterization was like lightning in a bottle (still working on a piece on why it doesn't need a sequel); this one took away the right lessons from that anime. Not by copying it outright, but by using it as a base. There are admittedly some silly aspects to the dub, but whenever a serious situation is onscreen, it's treated as such. So, let's begin.

The theme song is already a vast improvement over Frontier, having much more of a hard rock sound to it. Have a listen for yourself.

After the intro, we open on an underground bunker where a familiar-looking Digimon is on the run. The buildup of this sequence does a good job of establishing the tone and setting, much like Tamers did. The opening scene is in central command of DATS, and their commander is voiced by Gary Chalk. Well, that's just prime!

Within moments, the surrounding areas are evacuated; and DATS has the police use a "gas leak" as cover. Hopefully there won't be any robotic ice cream trucks speaking in ebonics. 

Most of the people in the vicinity are evacuated, but one outlier remains. DATS Agent Yoshino enters the space, and finds 15 people unconscious! The human inside the quarantine zone is revealed to be our protagonist, Marcus Damon! He contrasts heavily with other protagonists in the series before and since, both in looks and personality.

I mean, it definitely stands out to have your lead be a former gangster and aspiring UFC fighter; and his introduction is getting into a fight with an Agumon. Said Agumon happens to be what DATS is after. He predictably refuses orders to vacate the area; and the scrap he has with Agumon already does a great job establishing his character.

On top of the animation being good for the time, I also like how we're actually seeing the blows Marcus and Agumon throw make contact as opposed to using impact cuts or hit flashes. Back in DATS central command, everyone in the control room is shocked that Marcus can still stand after taking Agumon's claw to his face!

Their brawl continues to sunset; and neither one is ready to give up even though they're both on the ground exhausted. The closest Agumon gets is saying Marcus is "not bad for a human." 

After Marcus compliments Agumon, the two decide to call it a draw. The two officially meet, and Agumon declares Marcus "boss" from then on. Yoshino has had enough, and "realizes" her partner; Lalamon. Hey, I never said there was no silliness in this anime.

Marcus and Agumon then flee the scene, since Agumon would essentially be "derezzed" if DATS brought him in. Hiding out in a closed building after hours (another tipoff about Marcus' character); Marcus agrees to protect Agumon from "the institution." 

First, Marcus has to find Agumon some food; but orders Agumon to stay hidden, lest DATS come after him again. I will keep elaborating on this as I go; but Marcus definitely has less in common with previous "goggle-heads" and more with a character from the Yakuza games (which I have been very open about my enjoyment of).

However, he's intercepted by Yoshino; who demands he come with her for questioning. He reluctantly goes along, and we're formally introduced to the commander of DATS, Samson. It's explained that DATS are effectively keeping the peace between worlds. Marcus just wants to get back to Agumon, who the agents keep referring to as "Raptor One." I don't know about that codename- the body type doesn't really say "raptor" to me; even the deinonychus would be pushing it.

At any case, DATS refers to Agumon as a "renegade," a description that Marcus objects to. He also is not onboard with DATS' plan, placing Agumon's needs above the agency's. This also does a good job establishing Marcus as a character that has both distinct and familiar qualities as a protagonist in this franchise. Certainly beats the caricatures we got in the 2020 Adventure.

Bottom line- Marcus agrees to take responsibility for Agumon before asking for some food for him. Just then, the alarm blares in the command center yet again. A hamburger stand is being attacked; and before Marcus heads toward it; it appears to be a WcDonalds (I personally prefer Burger MP or Dairy Archduchess).

While DATS tries to blame Agumon, Marcus and Yoshino searching his hiding spot turns up empty. He also didn't cause a second attack; as he was eating out of a trash can! Well, no worse than Guilmon subsisting on day-old bread and peanut butter. No, the culprit is Kokatorimon!

Gotta say- I do enjoy this scene of Marcus and Agumon running towards Kokatorimon amid all the fire and smoke. While not the exact same letter as Tamers, it does capture the spirit effectively.

The ensuing battle not only shows how capable Marcus and Agumon are at working together; it also catches the attention of Samson back at DATS command about who's really responsible! I especially like the scene of Marcus taking on Kokatorimon himself after Agumon takes a fall.

Also, that fisherman that was evacuated at the beginning of the episode? He gives Marcus his Digivice, which allows Agumon to become Geo Greymon! Way cooler than Geo Stelar.

Kokatorimon is dispatched in short order, and as Marcus finally gets a chance to feed Agumon; Yoshino is recalled to DATS as Samson intends to recruit Marcus himself. We close on Marcus covering for Agumon by claiming responsibility for the guys he attacked; and getting something to eat.

"There Are Monsters Among Us" makes a solid argument for how Digimon Savers (AKA Data Squad) is much better than you remember, and just what the doctor ordered after the reception to Frontier. While some at the time had issues with Marcus' design; more felt that he was simply trying too hard to be serious in a franchise meant for younger audiences. Over time, the series has been increasingly recognized as the ideal spiritual successor to Tamers in style and tone (and one of the arguments on why I don't think Tamers needs a sequel). Likewise, Marcus has gone from mere edgy teen going "it's not a phase, mom" to one of the most capable and powerful leads in the eyes of the fandom. Not saying we get to Goku or Kamina levels, but it would not be out of place for him to fight someone from the Omi alliance by smashing a bicycle on their head; if he's willing to punch Kokatorimon like someone in a UFC cage match.

I also just started a preorder on Generation IX, and I will address the new information that just dropped; but that can wait for now. I'm rooting through potential ideas for my 650th post while also watching my nephew and prepping for the launch of Splatoon 3; so don't be surprised if things take a bit to come out (this post was initially planned for summer; but was postponed due to real-world events causing me to rewrite the review from the ground up). That's all for now, take care.