Recap: The Secret of the Dragon Balls

We open on some narration that tells of a kindly old man named Gohan, who took in a little boy that he found alone in the wilderness. While Gohan may be gone; the boy, named Goku; is now one of the strongest young boys in the world from training in the mountains. We conclude my From Humble Beginnings marathon with a look at the very first episode of Dragon Ball, "The Secret of the Dragon Balls!"

This series is by far one of the first things a westerner may think of when they think of anime. To start off this feature; I generally chose series that would have universal appeal to most audiences in the west, in the same vein as Star Wars or the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Akira Toriyama made sure to give a worldly appearance to the series; as it's largely based off the Chinese folk tale "Journey to the West". There also many parallels with the Superman series, to the point where Goku can often be considered the Japanese equivalent of Superman.

We now see Goku, who is only 12 years old at the start of the series. The kid hero is a common archetype of anime and manga; especially shonen series in particular. Just rolling a piece of wood around; it shows how just doing the simplest things can make a person stronger.

He returns to his hut, and begins practicing martial arts moves. It turns out the original series first aired in 1986; but didn't come to the US until its much more well-known successor, Dragon Ball Z, had finished its initial run. As such; it gained popularity through that channel because of being run on Toonami. So, I think this montage calls for a standard '80s power ballad.

With one punch and one kick, he turns the piece of wood into a whole pile of kindling for cold nights.

I'm a lumberjack and I'm OK, I sleep all night and I work all day!

We then get the entrance of Bulma Briefs; the heir to Capsule Corporation and resident female. I personally enjoy her more active role here; her much-mocked status as a damsel scrappy did not occur until DBZ. I also notice her very '80s looking clothes, hairstyle, and car; and the fact that the narrator says with all seriousness, that Goku's life will enter a "Totally Radical" new phase.

A hungry Goku decides to go look for food. He then bids his grandfather's Dragon Ball goodbye before he leaves. Since his grandfather is dead before the series starts; the Dragon Ball is all he has left to remember him by.

He decides to go fishing, but then, he gets some apples first. Look at that little guy go!

I am omitting the scene where Goku is actually fishing, as he does so in the nude after he fell into the river. And this copy of the episode is a DVD rip; complete with a TV14 package. Instead, enjoy this image I found of Golurk Danger fighting Feraligatr in Pokémonic Rim (note: I saw Pacific Rim not too long ago. While the special effects and action scenes showed off a big love letter to mecha anime; I found the story, characterization, and acting to be decisively lacking. I can attribute this to Travis Beacham co-writing the script; since he wrote that terrible 2010 Clash of the Titans remake. It's also a pity the film failed at the box office in the US; since it has effectively convinced studios any mecha movie that's not Transformers is box office poison. Not even the strong international numbers and DVD sales/rentals have been able to convince Warner Bros. to change their minds.).

Now it just needs some heavy metal music.

I must also point out the standards on nudity are much looser in Japan; as while the Toonami edits had no problem with Goku's backside (as much of the target audience had seen animated butt on The Simpsons or SpongeBob SquarePants when it first aired on American TV); Funimation usually painted out Goku's private parts at Cartoon Network's request. The Midnight Run block, which typically aired the uncut version for teenage and young adult fans, was at a timeslot where most people would be asleep; may or may not have had such edits (the revived block uses this model; as an arm of the Adult Swim block. Violence and more risqué scenes often make it in; but stronger profanities in airings of Deadman Wonderland being bleeped have often caused unintentional laughter at tense moments. Shiro's sleek bodysuit, however, is there; hugging every curve of her body from her neck to her toeless, heel-less leggings. It's also a shade barely darker than her skin; and some conveniently-placed red markings serve a similar purpose to Mystique's makeup on Rebecca Romijn-later Jennifer Lawrence in the X-Men movies. I apologize for being behind on projects; but school has been very busy this term. I intend to move some of the things I had planned to 2014; including making good on my plans to recap the first episode of the X-Men anime when Days of Future Past comes out).

Sorry, I just had to fill some of my page out; but now we're back. Goku has a fish, and is hit by Bulma's car. Goku calls the car a monster and lifts it overhead.

This is for James Wong turning me into that idiot from Baby Geniuses 2!

He then hurls the car so hard it knocks the left wheels off!

Bulma then shoots Goku, but the bullets don't hurt him! Bulma is further astonished that Goku has been living on his own, like Tarzan Boy.

Goku, however, just calmly tells her his story as he carries the fish he caught back to his hut. 

Bulma is astonished at Goku's strength, and Goku is surprised at meeting the first girl he's ever seen.

Goku is suprised at Bulma's name. From what I can gather, it's a Romanization of "buruma", a type of activewear typically worn by young women in Japan. Bulma is not impressed with Goku's name either.

We then get an ad bumper of a parasol trick with the Dragon Balls; with Goku and Oolong participating. I may do a recap of the episode where he debuts in 2014. There is material, but first I want to get to the projects I wanted to do this year; but couldn't because of school.

When we come back, we see Goku's Dragon Ball glowing and Bulma getting ecstatic because of this.

ERMAGHERD! DRRRGON BALL!

Bulma then explains how the Dragon Balls can do great things when brought together. When all seven are united, they can grant whoever gathers them one wish for anything they desire. However, some use their wishes for good, others for evil.

We then see Emperor Pilaf and his henchmen, Mai and Shu raid a tomb to find a Dragon Ball. He is a typical supervillain that wants to-what else?-take over the world.

Once he finds all 7 Dragon Balls, he will summon the great dragon Shenron to make his wish.



Back at Goku's hut, Bulma offers a little peek to Goku if he helps her find the Dragon Balls.

Goku asks why he would want to see her "dirty old fanny." Bulma takes offense to this.

If you think that's bad, you should see how Emmy Rossum plays you!

Since Goku wrecked her car, Bulma pulls out another Dino-Capsule, and it forms a motorcycle for them both to ride. So, their quest begins.

There's a moment in your life when your star begins to shine! This will be your time!

Bulma then pulls off to the side of the road to relieve herself, and gets captured by a dinosaur. Toriyama never explicitly says what time period it is, and also implies that earth in the world of Dragon Ball is a sort of fantastic alternate reality. It tends to lend itself to abnormalities like this.

The dinosaur then ties Goku to a tree and tries to make off with his catch.

As Bulma squirms and screams, he tells her to settle down as he wants a happy meal. Interesting rewrite; as I think Burger King had the fast-food contract at the time of airing.

Goku then frees himself and guns Bulma's motorcycle to catch up to her.

He then guns the motorcycle and hits the dinosaur with his power pole! The day is saved, albeit with Bulma hanging from a branch. Interesting ending, I will admit.

So "That's the Secret of the Dragon Balls." How does it fare? Well, since this is the oldest of the series I've looked at to start this feature; it does have a very '80s vibe to it. With 2014 on the horizon, I plan to look at series that are even older to get a grip for how things were in those days. Having said that, the animation has aged; but it is very nice for the time. The character designs and use of elements from many different time periods and contexts for environments and props is a great feature that Toriyama has. Above all, it has a story that is easy to follow and characters that are easy to latch onto. This is all you need to get new viewers for an anime. With this, I can say that my new feature is off to a great start.

I apologize in advance for this recap being so late; so I will try to get my looks at the Christmas specials I proposed last year done and posted by Christmas eve. Come back next time for my look at Pikachu's Christmas Vacation!

Recap: The Heart of the Cards

That theme song: a mixture of Egyptian tribal music and modern dance music. We're entering the 2000s, now; as my From Humble Beginnings marathon continues with my look at the first episode of Yu-Gi-Oh, "The Heart of the Cards!"

Here's something surprising: I actually was not into this series when it first came out. I was in the Pokémon/Dragon Ball crowd. My first reaction was: "This won't get anywhere. It can't possibly catch on!" As I've learned before, and I still am, I can often be very wrong about what becomes popular. Sure enough, roughly a year or two later; I ate my words, started watching, and started getting the cards (I got the Kaiba deck for my 11th birthday).

We open on Domino high school, where we see Yugi Mutou, and his friend, Joey Wheeler playing Duel Monsters. I know the premise is silly, but that's maybe why I was so put off by it at first; and why so many found it so interesting. I've mentioned before the same can be said for the medium of anime itself. That said, I have found that the original Yu-Gi-Oh resides with me and so many because it has a character dynamic that few of the sequel series and almost none of the show's imitators could match. Check my thoughts on Duel Masters if you don't believe me; and I still don't think very highly of it now as I did when I was 12.

Tristan bothers Joey before he gets shoved away. Téa then says that they have been playing for hours. Yugi is teaching Joey the nuances of the game. Also, I'm going to try to keep the Little Kuriboh jokes to a minimum whenever I cover Yu-Gi-Oh episodes; but he does raise a good point: how are they getting any schoolwork done if they've been playing cards for hours? And why aren't the teachers doing anything? Anyway, let's keep going.

Also, the cards look significantly different than they would in real life. In Japan, where the laws about the line between content and advertising are looser, they can show game-accurate cards. In the US, the FCC would not allow this, and thus the change came. This is also why newcomer Cardfight Vanguard went the route of making a YouTube channel instead, which doesn't have the same rules.

Anyway, Yugi wins. Then, he mentions that he gets most of his cards from his grandfather at the game shop. Everyone decides to go, especially when Yugi mentions a rare card that his grandpa has.

Seto Kaiba catches wind of this and decides to go over there, wondering if it's the card he's been looking for.

Yugi takes his friends to the shop, and they ask to see the card. It's the Blue-Eyes White Dragon. A very rare card, and one of the most iconic monsters of the franchise. I'm looking for some packs from that set Konami just released that brought it back.

Joey then asks to see some other cards. I know the feeling. Even though the sequel series have been divisive among fans; the cards have remained consistent bestsellers.

Kaiba then enters the shop. His presence in this scene, the way he behaves; the way others point out he's in charge of Kaiba Corp: he is one of the big examples of the ensemble darkhorse in the franchise. While Kazuki Takahashi originally intended both Kaiba and Duel Monsters to be only one-shot additions in the manga; they both proved so popular with fans that they later made more appearances before becoming permanent parts of the franchise.

Right off the bat, they suggest playing with him, but Kaiba is not impressed with them as he's the reigning Duel Monsters champion. Joey, not intimidated by this; then suggests a fight instead. This is a relatively accurate rendition of the manga version of Kaiba; where thinks little of Yugi and his friends and treats them with great animosity. At one point in the manga (released in the US as Yu-Gi-Oh Duelist), he outright says he's disgusted by their friendship. By the time of the Battle City arc, he softens and helps Yugi and his friends in key moments. Having a sort of brush with death does tend to make you change your outlook on life.

Then, he notices the Blue-Eyes White Dragon and opens his suitcase. He then offers to trade Yugi's grandfather every card inside for the Blue-Eyes. Yugi's friends are astonished at this, and further astonished with his grandfather refuses. Kaiba then offers to buy the card. Kaiba, as president and CEO of Kaiba Corp; is one of the richest people in Japan. So, it's understandable that he could afford all these cards.

Yugi's grandfather then says he was given the card by a friend; and he treats the card as he would that friend, and simply cannot part with it. Yugi concurs that his grandfather would feel the same about a common card. I agree with that. Most of my cards are tied to certain times and places in which I got them and played with them. Kaiba then leaves.

The next day, Yugi and his friends return to the game shop to look for more cards, but his grandfather isn't there! Yugi answers the phone and discovers that Kaiba has kidnapped him! 

They reach Kaiba Corp, and are astonished at how Kaiba has defeated Yugi's grandfather. Kaiba sneers that his experience was too much for him, and then destroys the Blue-Eyes! This is a very effective method of getting an antagonist against the viewer: to have them harm someone close to them and destroy a cherished item belonging to them.

Yugi is outraged at this; and is encouraged by his friends to duel Kaiba in his grandfather's stead while they take him to the hospital.

Téa then draws a symbol on their hands in magic marker, to symbolize their friendship. Even if they can't be there in body, they can just think of that mark and they'll be there in spirit.

Joey agrees to stay with Yugi as he duels, while Tristan and Téa take Yugi's grandfather to the hospital. I never noticed this before; but why is Tristan carrying Yugi's grandfather to the ambulance? I remember the manga this episode was loosely based on did show that they had paramedics on the scene. 

So, as it were, "it's time to duel," as the Millennium Puzzle awakens the spirit of the Pharaoh inside. When this happens, Yugi grows taller, his voice gets deeper and more confident; and he suddenly changes from his school uniform to a fitted costume. Now that is showmanship.

Kaiba leads with the Hitotsu-me (One-Eye) Giant; and the Duel Field summons the card's image as a 3D hologram. Bear in mind that I wasn't able to take screencaps of the entire duel; but you are definitely seeing how different these designs are. I notice that even though most of the stories for the sequel series are now done by assistants; Takahashi does provide monster designs for both the show and the cards.

As the duel continues, Yugi is eventually overwhelmed by 3 Blue-Eyes White Dragons. While I haven't seen the anime's explanation for how Kaiba got them in a while; the manga mentions that Kaiba is implied to have resorted to extortion, organized crime; and even driving his adoptive father Gozaburo to suicide. I can imagine Seto Kaiba would be a really good alias for a mafia informant or corporate whistleblower.

Yugi wins the duel by summoning Exodia, and I am sorry that I was not able to screencap him. A shame, because I love his design even today. 

We end on Maximillion Pegasus being informed that Kaiba has been defeated by Yugi; setting up the rest of the season's story arc.

So, that's "The Heart of the Cards." How does it hold up against its sequel series and imitators? I can say that it does quite well. The character dynamic, even at this early stage; shows how tight-knit Yugi and his friends are. It also shows how effectively the Pharaoh can raise Yugi's confidence as well as his gaming skill. The way they were able to work as one helped make them some of the most effective character groups in anime. The designs of the monsters are very creative as well. Giants, dragons, wizards, samurai, robots: everything in dreams and nightmares can be turned into a very good design. Even though it takes the show a bit to understand how the card game is actually played (I noticed that it took a bit for Pokémon to adhere more to the mechanics of the games as well; with Pokémon Origins outright lifting its battle style from the gameplay); it does do a good job at showing how competitive Duel Monsters is. As the series goes on; it's quickly established that it's a game where people will spend thousands on rare cards; people will play at every age level and background that can afford a deck and the occasional booster pack, televised coverage regularly garners ratings on par with the Super Bowl; and yes, organized crime is not above fixing matches or extorting cards from other players. This is further exemplified in the sequel series; which I'm looking into covering in 2014. They all have material to work with; I just need to watch some more episodes to determine which ones. That; and I also need to find some that I can easily do and coordinate with my school schedule and personal life. Generally; the show is more tightly-serialized than Pokémon; with multi-part episodes and continuing storylines being commonplace throughout the franchise. There are cliffhangers, twists and turns; and elements you won't understand if you miss an episode that's crucial to the plot. All in all, I can say it holds up after all this time. 

That's all for now. I managed to finish one of my midterm projects; and I'm almost done with another. I'm going to have to change up some of the projects I had planned to compensate; but next time, my From Humble Beginnings marathon concludes with my look at the very first episode of Dragon Ball! 

Recap: And So it Begins

My From Humble Beginnings Marathon continues! Let's open up "And So it Begins" and keep this ball rolling.

I fully admit to being on the Pokémon side of the Pokémon and Digimon conflict, but as time has passed, I deem it a worthy opponent. Looking back at it, viewing it on hotel TVs during a road trip in 2000, I can say I'm much more receptive to it than I am to other new things that have come out lately.

Anyway, we get the theme song. It's another good one, a piece of scratchy electroclash that signaled the end of the 1990s and the beginning of the 2000s. I'm posting a link of it.

We open on a voice narrating, saying that his home is planet earth, but isn't sure that's where he is right now. I wonder if he's run into any female track stars and rebel princes with wings.

He tells of how the rainforests died, and deserts got flooded with chocolate sauce.
Also, people that can't spell/Japanese animators that don't write/speak very much English got assigned to do lettering on signs, such as this "Howerd Joonson" one. Thanks, but I prefer Donny's.

He goes onto say that he was at summer camp when all this was happening, then, it snowed in July! This Taichi Kamiya, or "Tai" for short. He is the first of a character type of Digidestined that fans often refer to as "goggle-heads", so named because of their goggles and headstrong shonen natures.

Next is Sora Takenouchi, Tai's special lady.

Next is Yamato Ishida, or "Matt" for short. He's what can charitably be called Tai's best friend; though this show is not afraid to show the rough patches of their friendship (I can only imagine how awkward the 02 distant finale made lunch for them afterward).

Next is Koushiro Izumi, or "Izzy". He has to be one of my favorite members of the Digidestined. The computer nerd; he's essentially the person I was at that age, and continue to be.

Someone claims Frontier is a better season than Tamers? We'll see about that!

Next is Mimi Tachikawa. Judging by the pink cowgirl outfit and Southern-isms, she's pretty much Hannah Montana's first cousin, once removed. In fact, she's a part-time lounge singer under the name "Hosannah Alabama."

Next is Takeru Takaishi, or "TK" for short. He is Matt's younger brother. Regarding their different surnames, their parents divorced before the series began. You'll notice in my recap of the Digimon movie that they were staying with their grandmother. By the way, I still don't care for the movie, I find the show to be much better.

Last but not least, my favorite Digidestined, Joe Kido. Tai claims he'd wet his pants if he got scared. Maybe, but not in the way that you think. With the exception of TK, the Digidestined are middle schoolers (high schoolers by the time of the divisive 02); so they're probably going through puberty right now. Well, since I made that joke at Tai's expense in my recap of the movie, now it's Joe's turn.

When I first set foot in the digital world I JIZZED IN MY PANTS.

Then, a huge blizzard kicked up and everybody took cover. Tai and the other Digidestined took cover in a shrine; with Tai snarking that the canoe races were canceled. About the script: Jeff Nimoy and others wrote the bulk of the English dub, using their previous work on Samurai Pizza Cats to make the dialogue feel natural. It's another instance of the gag dub, but in this case, it works because the leads are kids; and therefore, it would be just like real kids to crack jokes about their predicament to lighten the mood.

Naturally, they all want to play in the snow despite being outrageously underdressed for the situation. I plan to do more recaps of this anime next year; but for now, I'm booked solid and behind. Anyway, let's put on some tunes to mark this.

While the others are disappointed they didn't pack snow gear; Izzy is disappointed that his internet connection isn't working; much like mine often isn't working on these recaps.

Smeg! I was trying to complain about how much I was disappointed by The Phantom Menace!

He runs out with the others, and the Aurora Borealis is outside. This is like that great book and/or crappy movie with a golden compass. I forget what it's called.

Joe wants everyone to go back inside, and then, a hole appears in the sky! Meteors come down!

The meteors crash right by them!

Yet, everyone is OK. Yep, we're definitely in a Digimon anime. They remark at how weird it is to have snow in summer and the northern lights in Japan, but almost getting killed by meteors is nothing for your log.

Then, several small trinkets known as Digivices rise from the snow as the children pick them up.

Then, they're sucked into the Digital World by a huge wave! The imagery gets quite strange from there.

Tai then wakes up on the beach, with a Digimon in his face.

Looking into its eyes, it's hypnotic. Like a lava lamp.

 Tai chalks it up to the camp food. I know. That gruel is sometimes so old it has mushrooms growing on it.

Anyway the Digimon starts bouncing around and saying it wants to be Tai's friend. Tai is freaking out that this little thing just fell on his lap.

It introduces itself as Koromon, saying it's Tai's partner.

Izzy has a pink thing beside him, in his words. This is Motimon; a little pink ghost.

Izzy deduces that the Digivices spawned the Digimon.

This is highly logical, like that time I tried to include Sisko in a Kirk vs. Picard debate.

There are many plants there, but the soil is quite common. Also, there are palm trees beside pine trees.

Tai climbs a tree for another view, and can see the ocean on the horizon! And he also sees mountains!

Then, he sees a large Digimon through his telescope!

The beetle Digimon flies right at them and crashes through the trees!

This is Kuwagamon. He comes around again, and Koromon fights him with bubbles.

Tai admires Koromon's bravery, but says he's had better days. Wow, he's taking the whole "trapped in another world and surrounded by strange creatures" thing surprisingly well.

Kuwagamon makes another pass, and Tai and Izzy make a run for it. 

 Motimon then leads them inside a tree. The Digital World is prone to oddities like this. Just go with it, you'll enjoy it more.

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

 Then, it turns out the tree is a perfect hiding place. It's also good for baking cookies in.

Who should give the all-clear but Sora. What do you know. An angel in a blue hat said it's safe.

Sora also has a Digimon. This is Yokomon, a small plant-like Digimon.

This little white Digimon is Tokomon. Izzy points out these keep popping up!

TK comes out from behind the tree, as does Matt, holding another Digimon. This is Tsunomon. Much better than Monsuno, even if it does have a so bad it's good vibe to it.

oe has one as well, and is not happy with it. Just as well. He and his Digimon are polar opposites.

This little scamp is Bukamon, some sort of sea lion with a tuft of orange hair.

Joe is not taking this whole thing well. Perhaps this will help.


They all proclaim themselves to be Digimon: Digital Monsters. Lovely title drop there.

Everyone is in awe at what they're seeing.

The Digimon then start listing off some of their attributes. Tai is pleased to meet them. He then reintroduces Sora, Matt, Joe, Izzy, and TK.

Then, everyone wonders where Mimi is. It turns out she's being chased by Digimon number 7, and Kuwagamon!

Mimi rests, and Tanemon is by her side. It looks like a little flower bud.

Then, they're on the run again! I also notice there are music cues being used from Saban's work on the infamous Masked Rider; a disastrous attempt at adapting Kamen Rider for the US. Now I'm expecting Count Dregon and that stupid chicken-headed starship of his to show up (which is too bad, because the series it was based on, Kamen Rider Black RX is fairly decent, and has nowhere near as many detractors).

They come to a cliff, and a dead end. Kuwagamon makes another pass. Koromon tries to blow more bubbles, but is stricken down. The other Digimon join in and start blowing more bubbles, which takes Kuwagamon down.

All the Digimon are down, and the children ask why they have to be so brave?


Kuwagamon gets back up! That thing just won't let up!

Despite all our rage we are still all just rats in a cage!

The Digidestined won't stand for this, and decide to protect their friends!


The Digimon agree, and they shall stand and fight! The children aren't sure, but the Digimon are eager to get into battle!

The Digimon then bounce out of their tamers' hands and into battle!

I also notice Tokomon has some pretty gnarly teeth for such a little guy!

Impetuous boy! Oh well, who wants to live forever!

Tai races after Koromon, and then, the Digivice on his belt starts to glow!

All the Digivices start to glow on the kids' belts!

A mysterious energy field appears in the sky! The field comes over all the Digimon.

Will you light the sky on fire?

The time has come for Digivolution! Koromon becomes Agumon!

Yokomon becomes Biyomon!

Motimon becomes Tentomon!

Tsunomon becomes Gabumon!

Tokomon becomes Patamon!

Bukamon becomes Gomamon!

Tanemon becomes Palmon!

So, now the Digimon have become bigger and stronger!

Palmon lashes out with Poison Ivy! She tries to snare Kuwagamon, while Patamon uses Boom Bubbles!

I knew I should have taken that job on Beast Wars! It pays well to be an Inferno double!

The Digimon now stand a fighting chance as Agumon unleashes Pepper Breath and Tentomon unleashes Boom Shocker!



They continue to whale on Kuwagamon while calling their attacks. Oh, to be a spry 8-year-old again.

All 7 Digimon then make their stand by each other's side!

Then, all the Digimon attack and once, and Kuwagamon is on fire! 

With this, Kuwagamon is finally down. Also, apparently Jetix ran this in the same block with Power Rangers; as part of Disney's requirements for buying up assets related to Fox Family and Fox Kids. This is part of what led to the franchise sputtering out with their run of Digimon Frontier. They tried to keep it hanging on with Digimon Data Squad (a dub of the well-received Digimon Savers); but the damage had been done. After that, it would be 5 years before Saban bought the rights to the franchise back; put reruns on Nicktoons, and started printing remastered DVDs; and 6 years before Digimon Fusion (the dub of Digimon Xros Wars) started airing on Nickelodeon and Vortexx. I haven't checked what kind of ratings Fusion is getting yet, but if it's anything like when this first aired on Fox Kids back in the day, it got a boost by airing after Power Rangers (and eventually overtook it by Fox pitting it against Pokémon. That's right. That whole rivalry was instigated by network executives at Fox. Many shows fell victim to that ratings battle as a result.).

Everyone is astounded at the Digimon's first victory. Izzy even makes a comment about Kuwagamon being reduced to vaporware. Feel free to make a joke about how Duke Nukem Forever took two console generations, three presidencies, and the entire lifetime of Miley Cyrus to develop (and that's the short version, by the way).

Agumon then runs over to Tai as they hug about their win.

Yet, Kuwagamon gets back up and cracks the cliff face down! And that's how it ends. On a cliffhanger in more ways than one.

So, that's "And So it Begins". It also has definitely aged. Given the looks of the fashions, dialogue, and Izzy's Apple Powerbook-like computer (this is in the days before owning a Mac was popular for ordinary people, or any Apple device for that matter); it wears its '90s origin on its sleeve. Still, it's clear the character dynamic of the series and its ilk works at this early stage. As it goes on, it touches on themes that are actually very deep for a children's anime. Toei also made sure the animation was high-quality for its time. It's another case where even if you're doing a merchandise-driven show like this; you have to treat your audience with respect and do your best to tell a memorable story. In that regard, they succeeded; and I consider it to hold up. With this, I have started to make good on my intent to binge on this anime as a reward for seeing the Endless 8 all the way through. Once again, this recap is a bit late. It's clear that this is going to spill into October, but even as school is starting again, I will have time to work on my Halloween marathon. For the rest of the year, I will be dialing back my output so I have more time for homework, tests, and possibly getting a job on the school paper. See you later!