Month: October 2024

Watch ‘Murder Drones’ for Halloween!

Aside Roderick J "Jay" Friz Anime, Anime Reviews, Blog Music, Halloween , , , , , ,

Why Murder Drones is a Perfect Watch for Halloween (and Anime Fans)

As an anime blog, we here at D&A Anime tend to talk about anime and anime-related topics. That being said, whenever we find a show or something else that’s interesting enough, we don’t mind bringing it up. And with the Halloween season now upon us and the need to find creepy, kooky, spooky and scary stuff to watch and play, now’s a good time to talk about one of the best indie horror comedy shows online: Murder Drones.

Produced by Australian-based indie studio Glitch Productions, Murder Drones debuted on YouTube back in October 2021. It ended its run in August of this year, racking up eight episodes with an average of 28 million views per video. The series and its line of merchandise have proven to be extremely popular, and while it’s not an anime, if you look hard enough, you can find some anime influences in it. More importantly, though, it can get genuinely scary; TV tropes even points out how each episode outside the finale pays homage to a different famous horror film.

So, why not talk about it?

The Basic Plot

A thousand years from now, humankind’s spread out across the stars to create an intergalactic society. And to help them run it, they’ve created autonomous robots to serve as an easy source of labor, the Worker Drones. Then one day, on the exoplanet Copper 9, the core collapsed and left the planet a frozen wasteland devoid of organic life.

After that happened, the Worker Drones managed to form their own society and become self-sufficient and free. However, in what seemed to be a reversal of the “man vs. machine conflict,” the rest of humanity decided to destroy the remaining Drones using Disassembly Drones. AKA Murder Drones, AKA the gun-toting, sword-wielding, nanite-acid-injecting robots that feast on Drone oil like vampires do with blood. So the Drones all decide to hide behind three massive doors to survive. Then one day, Uzi, a young, angsty, and rebellious teen Drone decides to venture outside to fight the Murder Drones, only to discover that they’re part of something much, much worse.

Uzi Reminds Me of Eren Yeager, but Angrier

While Murder Drones isn’t an anime, I should point out that the initial plot has many similarities to Attack on Titan. A group of people hiding behind giant barriers from a seemingly unstoppable enemy. A rebellious youth that wants to free their people and wipe out their enemies. Even the part where they discover they have an eldritch power that’s both a blessing and a curse. The main difference is that unlike Eren Yeager, Uzi Doorman quickly abandons her “kill the Murder Drones and then all humans” mentality. She’s got bigger fish to fry.

I think Uzi Doorman is what everyone thought people who liked anime were like before it went mainstream. She’s an angry, rebellious goth who likes wearing Hot Topic, listening to nightcore, and pirating anime. Like I said, what people thought of those who liked anime before it was cool. But as the show, other characters, and even herself point out, a lot of her baggage stems from abandoment issues stemming from losing her mom at a young age and her dad neglecting her.

On the other end of the spectrum, we have N, the Murder Drone that Uzi befriends. Despite being supposed to kill the Worker Drones, N is easily the nicest character on the show. It doesn’t take much for Uzi to get him to quit his so-called “mission” after she points out how he’s just being used by whoever sent him. The two of them form that odd “opposites attract” friendship that serves as the heart of the show and provides much of its comedy.

Murder Drones is a Homage to Horror

Do not be fooled, though. Underneath the witty one-liners, jokes, and fights that wouldn’t look out of place in RWBY or a shonen series, Murder Drones is still a horror series. As stated at the start, almost every episode runs the gauntlet of horror films. We’ve got Alien, Carrie, Friday the 13th, and The Exorcist, and there are a ton of other horror tropes in effect. And that’s not even including the mystery surrounding the origin of the Murder Drones. And the more that gets uncovered, the more you start to realize that it goes beyond a man vs. machine conflict. It crosses the border into cosmic horror on a Lovecraftian scale.

All eight episodes of Murder Drones are now up on YouTube. If you’re looking for something that’s got clever writing, great action, a deep mystery that will keep you on your toes, and will downright scare you, then you should watch it. It’s good for a binge session during the day!

Welcome to the Demon Realm, Goku!

Aside Roderick J "Jay" Friz Anime, Anime Reviews , , , , , , , , , ,

Dragon Ball Daima Ep 3 Review

Toriyama was a mangaka, but his work extended beyond the pages and ink. He was also a noteworthy name in the industry of video games, having been the character designer for some of the most popular RPGs ever. Chief among them, we have the famous Dragon Quest series, often considered the grandfather of JRPGs. Iโ€™m not sure if Toriyama intended to do so when writing the story for Daima before his passing, but the third episode makes it seem like the series will take some inspiration from Dragon Quest. Given how Toriyama helped give that series its distinctive look, this feels like another appropriate tribute to the manโ€™s legacy. That, and it gives us some pretty funny moments.

Welcome to the Demon Realm

Having left Earth behind, the trio of Goku, Supreme Kai, and Glorio head to Warp-Sama, the entity that can give them passage to the Demon Realm. And from here, the episode largely becomes a means of providing lore and information about this new world weโ€™re going to see. From the outset, the Demon Realm is as breathtaking as fans had hoped, with the area the trio head to carrying a distinct fantasy setting. To further emphasize how much of a handicap Goku will be getting on this adventure, we even learn that the air in certain areas is heavier than normal, making it hard to move. The anime wants to make Goku return to his early days by making it as hard as possible!

Given how heโ€™s still Goku, though, heโ€™s able to hold himself pretty well in a fight. Though that may have more to do with the fact that theyโ€™re still in the starting area of the Demon Realm.

In many ways, this episode does feel like the opening to a JRPG. We get our initial party of heroes setting out for the first town, we see some of the enemies they may have to face, as well as the mechanics behind how this world works. If Toriyama wanted to channel as much of Dragon Quest into Daima, then so far, itโ€™s working.

Too bad the journey is already running into a few problems.

A Conflict Amongst the Demon Realm?

The episode makes it clear that the Demon Realm is a place that seems to be deeply divided, whether by nature or by design. There are actually three separate worlds that make up the Demon Realm (again, JRPG elements!), but the group has to start on the third and lowest one. In addition, itโ€™s revealed that access to the higher worlds is restricted behind barriers with those from the lowest unable to visit. Whatโ€™s more, when Glorio and Supreme Kai make conversation, they bring up how Shinโ€™s people come from the 2nd world of the Demon Realm. That alone is a major retcon for the Supreme Kaiโ€™s origins, but thatโ€™s besides the point. The point is that both Shin and Glorio are weary of each other, indicating some issues that remain unresolved.

To be fair, though, we still know little about Glorio beyond him being the Dragon Ball version of the scoundrel archetype. Heโ€™s guarded, able to handle himself in a fight, and seems to be hiding something from the others. I canโ€™t say that heโ€™s untrustworthy, but Iโ€™m hoping being around Goku will get him to open up more.

Those Jerks Stole Their Ride

To round out why Toriyama seemed to be pulling from JRPGs, the party manages to get their first quest before the episode ends. That quest being that some thugs that Goku beat up retaliated by stealing their โ€œPlane.โ€ Guess theyโ€™re going to get sidetracked!

This was a slow but fun start to the actual series, and if they keep using the JRPG elements, then I think that Daima is going to be one of the best things Dragon Ball has done in a long, long time. Also, those thugs are going to be so sorry when they realize who they stole from.

I Give “Daima” a 4/5

ATTACK OF THE CHIBI GOKUS

Aside Roderick J "Jay" Friz Anime, Anime Reviews , , , , , , , , , , ,

Dragon Ball Daima Ep 2 Review

Last time on Dragon Ball Daima, Goku and his friends were minding their business when the sky suddenly darkened. A trio of visitors from the Demon Realm had arrived to make a wish on the Earth’s Dragon Balls. Led by the new King of the Demon Realm, Gomah, who saw Goku as a threat, they wished for him and all his friends to be shrunk down to the size of kids! And now, we get to see the hilarious aftermath as Goku’s next adventure begins!

For all the fan artists out there, get your drawing utensils ready to draw the chibi doing silly stuff.

Cool Intro!

As the second episode marks the start of the series’s plot, it also marks the debut of the show’s OP, Jaka Jaan. And like many anime OPs tend to do, it hints at what to expect as the anime progresses. In this case, we get a good look at the Demon Realm, and the results are pretty promising. It seems that Toriyama did not skimp on making this new addition to his creation as unique as usual.

CHIBI DRAGON TEAM!

Picking up where the first episode left off, the episode wastes no time diving into the aftermath of Gomah’s wish. As he asked Shenron, everyone allied with Goku has shrunk to the size of pre-teens and babies. Seeing what everyone looks like as kids is entertaining enough, but how the characters react to it seals the deal for us. Bulma can’t help but admire how great she looks. Roshi wastes no time in enjoying his youth to hit on women. And the fact that no one recognizes Mr. Satan as a kid? Hilarious!

The good news is that Shenron refuses to grant any more wishes to Gomah, saying the extra ones are for repeat customers. The bad news? He and Degesu kidnap a now-baby, Dende, and take him back to the Demon Realm. Which somehow means that the group can’t use their Dragon Balls to undo everything

Typical Toriyama, retconning his own rules. I miss him.

The Demon Realm Awaits

At any rate, upon hearing the news, Goku and the others know they have to go after Gomah. If not because he’s planning something dangerous to get Dende back. Unfortunately, the Demon Realm is sealed off from the rest of the universe, and only a particular ship can make the journey there. The Supreme Kai has one, but it’s in such bad shape that it will take Bulma days to repair. Thankfully, that’s enough time for Goku to re-adjust to his new size, but whether or not he can control his transformations remains anyone’s guess. Thankfully, he might not need them yet, because there’s another weapon he can use: the Power Pole.

Return of the King!

The trailers at NYCC 2023 had already revealed that Goku would be taking the Power Pole out of retirement, so it wasn’t exactly a spoiler to see him get it back. However, it hits differently once we see Goku retrieve his old weapon from *Spoiler redacted because it’s too funny*. Toriyama meant for Daima to take the franchise back to its roots, including Goku being a character made in the image of Sun Wukong, the Monkey King. And unlike when Dragon Ball made its journey to the West 20+ years ago, more Western viewers are likely to be aware of who Sun Wukong is.

At any rate, the entire episode is pretty laid-back, as despite the apparent trouble, none of the heroes are panicking. At least, until another resident of the Demon Realm shows up and tells him who they’re up against.

New Character Glorio Appears

Meet Glorio, the mysterious new character that will likely play an essential role in Daima. Little is known about him beyond that he seems to oppose Gomah and serves someone else in the Demon Realm. Whether he’s trustworthy or not is up in the air, but he does have a ship/plane to get Goku and Supreme Kai to the Demon Realm. Vegeta and the others will have to wait.

Like I said before, this episode is pretty laid-back, and that’s perfectly fine. Dragon Ball can be a slow burn at times. It’s still a funny episode, and the only issues I had are a few plot holes that I’m choosing to ignore because they would stop the fun adventure we’re about to have. The next episode will see us finally see what the Demon Realm looks like, and given what we see in the preview (and the ED), it seems like it will be interesting.

Also…this. Thank you, Toriyama.

I Give “Glorio” a 3.5/5

By the way, here were those plot holes:

  • Beyond using him as a hostage, how does kidnapping Dende keep the group from using Earth’s Dragon Balls?
  • If Gomah planned to shrink down everyone who’s allied with Goku, how come Korrin wasn’t affected?
  • Couldn’t Goku and the others just head to New Namek and ask Porunga to undo everything? Or would it be too soon?
  • Popo has horns?!?

I’m just saying.

Uzumakiย is One of the Scariest Anime I’ve Ever Seen

Aside Roderick J "Jay" Friz Anime, Anime Reviews, Uncategorized , , , , , , , ,

Uzumaki Mini-Series Review

During the spooky season of the year, I like to ignore my usual tendency to avoid horror and find things freak me out. The problem is that there’s still that upper limit of what I can tolerate before I get too scared to sleep. I’ve gotten better at pushing that limit as I’ve gotten older, but that’s just made me look for even scarier things. And whether by fate or by coincidence, I managed to learn about Uzumaki, a mini-series on Toonami and based on a popular manga that people said would be terrifying.

They were not lying. I watched all of Uzumaki, and it’s one of the scariest things I’ve seen in years. An absolute cosmic horror from which there seems to be no escape.

A Horror a Quarter-Century in the Making

An anime twenty-five years in the making, Uzumaki was published as a short manga from 1998-1999 by mangaka Junji Ito. For those who don’t know who that is, calling him the “Stephen King of Japan” should be enough of a hint. Set in the fictional, Japanese town of Kurouzu-Cho, Uzumaki tells the story of high-school couple Shuichi and Kirie as a mysterious curse related to spirals (Uzumaki literally means ‘Spiral’ in Japanese) begins to corrupt the town. And the longer it goes on, the worse it gets as the town is slowly transformed by something that no one can fully explain, but everyone comes to fear.

The Uzumaki is Everywhere

One would think that a curse involving something simple as spirals wouldn’t be so scary, but if there’s one thing that I’ve learned watching this, it’s that Junji Ito can find a way to make things scary. And as the anime demonstrates, he made spirals pretty scary.

From the first few seconds of the anime, you are inundated with the image of uzumaki, both real and imaginary, in the form of the clouds in the sky to the bark on a tree to even some blades of grass. Things only escalate from there. As the anime progresses, viewers and people in-universe will start to see uzumaki in everything. Even the very inhabitants of the town start to morph and transform into grotesque abominations to conform to the spiral. Before long, you’ll be sharing in the paranoia of Shuichi, the first guy to realize something’s wrong yet refuses to get out while he can because of his family and girlfriend.

The brilliant part of this is the fact that the spiral is both natural and supernatural in nature. Spiral patterns are often found in nature in everything from shells to our fingerprints to even the part of our ear that helps us stay balanced. Spirals are also found in art and architecture, as though people have this unconcious desire to make things spiral-related. There’s something about them that gets people’s attention, and Uzumaki plays that up to levels that have to be seen to be believed.

Then again, that seems to be how the Uzumaki spread to engulf the town.  It’s like an Internet troll demanding your attention and doing crazy things to keep it, each more outlandish than the last. You have to actively resist looking at it, but the black-and-white world it’s in makes it hard to ignore.

They Had Five Years and Still Gave us Bad Animation?

One of the big draws to this series is the fact that it’s done entirely in black-and-white. This decision, plus the way the cast’s movement is animated, gives Uzumaki the feel of a motion comic…when it works, that is. The second episode managed to get flak from people for how poorly animated parts of it were near the end, and I have to agree. I usually either don’t notice bad animation unless it’s glaringly obvious, or just ignore it in favor of the story. But when I do see it, I’m going to point it out. What makes it even worse, though, is the fact that the studios had an extra five years to get it right, and they still messed up!

Just look at this in the final episode!

Uzumaki was announced at Crunchyroll Expo 2019, and was originally supposed to premiere on Toonami in 2020. However, like many things around that time, it got delayed by COVID-19 and then the delays just kept piling up.

Call the SCP Foundation if this happens to you.

Shortcomings in animation aside, Uzumaki seems to live up to the hype surrounding this terrifying manga. There were moments that didn’t just scare me but almost made me vomit in disgust. Word of advice: do not watch this alone at night if you don’t want nightmares. Uzumaki is as scary as any big horror film that you can think of. It might even be scarier since the antagonist is something that we can’t even fully comprehend or fight back against…unless you’re the SCP Foundation.

No, I’m not joking. After watching this show, the Uzumaki curse feels like something that you would have to call in the SCP Foundation to deal with. I can even see how they would handle it!

  1. Evacuate the remaining townsfolk via a non-standard method of transportation. Teleportation recommended as only viable means.
  2. Adminster amenstics to the surviving townsfolk so that they no longer remember the Uzumaki curse.
  3. Quarantine the entire town and create a false news story claiming that a disaster has rendered the area permanently uninhabitable to prevent any more victims from being taken.
  4. Monitor the town to confirm whether or not the curse is limited to the vicinity of the town.

Or if they had someone like Takatou, they could have him kill it.

I Give “Uzumaki” a 4/5

Okarun Got that Dawg in Him

Aside Roderick J "Jay" Friz Anime, Anime Reviews, Uncategorized , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Dan da Dan Ep 2 Review

Life is a box of chocolates. You never know what youโ€™re going to get. One day, youโ€™re minding your own business. The next, youโ€™re being abducted by aliens for your privates. Or a ghost possesses you and steals your junk. For Momo and Ken, though, both happened in the first episode of Dan Da Dan! Now Momo has psychic powers and Kenโ€™s going ghost against his will, and their troubles are far from over. To get Kenโ€™s junk back, they have to first fight another alien, and the boy has to learn how to unleash that dawg in him.

And Momo? She has to deal with the fact that her new friend has the same name as her crush.

These Two are Like Cats and Dogs

The second episode of the series starts where the first one left off: with Momo in denial that Ken shares the same name as her actor crush. Sheโ€™s so deep into denial that she immediately decides to call him Okarun from now on, a play on his alien otaku interests.

One of the best parts of the premiere was seeing how quickly Momo and Okarun establish their dynamic and relationship, and that trend continues in this episode. One minute, theyโ€™ll go from arguing like cats and dogs, and the next, theyโ€™ll be going out of their way to defend the other. Itโ€™s a very passionate and complex relationship, but thatโ€™s what makes it so enjoyable to watch. And despite how much they push each others buttons, itโ€™s easy to see how much they care for each other.

Of course, thereโ€™s still the matter of Okarun being possessed by Granny Turbo. Momo canโ€™t surpress the spirit forever, and sheโ€™s already getting close to her limit. Then, to make matters worse, the two find themselves trapped inside some kind of Domain Expansion by this giant sumo alien thatโ€™s working for the ones they met in the first episode. They still want the pairโ€™s bananas!

And this is where the episode absolutely cooks as Okarun learns how to let the dawg off the leash.

THIS IS THE DAWG!

When Okarun learns how to go ghost and use the curse to his advantage, he finds that dawg in him, and the resulting beatdown is amazing. Dan Da Danโ€™s animators cooked with the animation throughout the entire episode, but the moment when Okarun found his inner dawg cranked things up to eleven. And despite the Sumo alien cheating, Momo and Okarun outsmart them in a way that I think would make Joestar family proud. Unfortunately, immediately after the fight, Momo finally loses steam, and the curse of Turbo Granny fully takes over Okarun.

Now the dawg really is off the leash. Unfortunately, this is also when the episode chooses to come to a close.

I hate cliffhangers like this because I donโ€™t want to wait another week to find out what happens. However, the fact that I want to know what comes next now just shows how good Dan Da Dan is. And while I could just read the manga to see what happens, I wonโ€™t. I want to enjoy it as it happens! That being said, weโ€™re only two episodes in, and Dan Da Dan has already become one of my favorite anime of 2024. Itโ€™s likely going to be the series that everyone will be talking about for some time to come!

I Give “That’s a Space Alien, Ain’t It” a 4/5

‘Title-Kun’ Is Now a Thing for Crunchyroll

Aside Roderick J "Jay" Friz Anime, Crunchyroll , , , , , , ,

If you’re an anime fan, you might have heard of Truck-Kun. If you haven’t, it’s an internet meme used to describe the act of sending characters to another world via hitting them with a truck. Or anytime an essential moment in the plot is set in motion when someone’s hit by a car. Or when any character gets hit by a truck or vehicle in anime. It’s become so widespread that it’s now a universally recognized trope. Many even consider Truck-Kun to be their own character. However, thanks to Crunchyroll, Truck-Kun may be getting a younger sibling in terms of internet memes. Introducing…Title-Kun!

Origin of Title-Kun (I think)

Unless you prefer to watch it on TV, another streaming service, or pirate it, then you probably watch your anime on Crunchyroll. Ironically starting out pirating anime like many other sites, after going legit, Crunchyroll has become the go-to place to watch anime legally in the West. It’s not hard to understand why, though. They’ve got hundreds of titles that get constantly updated, their shop, are big enough to have panels at the most significant conventions, and a dedicated series of YouTube channels. They’ve pretty much cornered the market on anime in America.

Speaking of their YouTube channels, though, lately, people have started to notice a trend in how Crunchyroll names its videos.

The Work of Title-Kun

I don’t know when exactly it started, but the titles for many of the anime clips Crunchyroll posts on YouTube have gotten very creative. Sometimes, they’ll be perfectly normal sounding. Other times, they will be very descriptive regarding their content, to the point where it’s considered funny. For example, this clip showing Gear Fifth Luffy throwing Kaido’s attack back at him? “Uno Reversing Kaido’s Fire?”

The moment from “No Longer Allowed in Another World” when Sensei talks down the Dark Lord’s daughter? “Rizzing Up the Dark Lord With My Unwillingness to Live.”

A clip from Fairy Tail: Hundred Year Quest where Natsu fights a ghost Dragon Slayer? They gave it a Danny Phantom reference so overt, they had to change the name. The list keeps going on!

Many people who watch Crunchyroll’s YouTube channels have noticed the increasingly descriptive (and funny) titles the videos are getting. As a result, more than a few people have made jokes about it in the comments. Chief among them are saying that whoever comes up with the titles should be getting a pay raise.

Then a few days ago, I saw a clip for a new romcom anime called “Tying the Knot with an Amagami Sister,” and I saw what one of the comments said:

“Title-Kun is getting WILD these days… “

Spread the Word of Title-Kun

That’s when I knew that this was no longer a simple joke. It was ascending to meme status. And I am all for it!

Don’t ask me why, but I really enjoy how much fun Crunchyroll seems to be having with how they title their videos. Besides referencing internet slang and movies, it just shows a generally high level of creativity. That’s something I’m always looking to see in the things I enjoy. And if the history of Truck-Kun is any indication, then if the meme keeps growing, it will start to be used to describe shows with crazy, descriptive titles. It’s up to us to ensure the meme spreads that far!

Masako Nozawa, Voice of Goku, to be Immortalized in AI

Aside Roderick J "Jay" Friz Anime, Blogging, Dubs & Subs, Voice Actor Spotlight , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Well, itโ€™s official now. The voice of Goku shall be forever immortalized.

In recent years, the use of artificial intelligence has become increasingly widespread and controversial. Many people are pointing out how programs like ChatGPT and the like can easily be used to replace the jobs of actual people. Worse, many voice actors fear that their voices could be replicated and reused without them getting any form of compensation for it. So, itโ€™s pretty controversial in the entertainment industry.

Now it could get even more controversial. A few days ago, the management agency for Masako Nozawa, the legendary seiyuu for Goku, has teamed up with a company that specializes in AI voice technology. Nozawa will be among a group of people who will permit their voices to be used for various voice-related technology across multiple different languages. In other words, we could hear the Japanese voice of Goku being used for an Alexa in the future. More importantly, though, that would give the owners of Dragon Ball the means to keep voicing Goku even after Masako has passed on.

And you know what? Iโ€™m okay with that.

I normally do not approve of companies making AI copies of famous celebrities voices. Especially when they do it without their consent or deciding not to pay them. However, the difference here is that Nozawa has consented to this. Sheโ€™s agreed to let it happen! And sheโ€™s not the only celebrity Iโ€™ve talked about on here who has done so. A few weeks ago, I talked about how the late James Earl Jones, the voice of Darth Vader, had agreed to have his voice replicated by another AI company. He agreed to it, and so has Masako Nozawa. Thus, I have no right to complain.

If Iโ€™m being perfectly honest, Iโ€™m glad that sheโ€™s agreed to this. Masako is 87 right now, and as much as we may want it, she canโ€™t keep playing Goku forever. I think that she understands this, and so she doesnโ€™t want to see the character of Goku die with her. By doing this, sheโ€™s making sure that Goku can continue to be voiced by her for as long people want to keep making stuff for Dragon Ball. Some voices are too powerful to let them fade away, and this is a prime example.

Dan Da Dan is the Best Anime of 2024. CHANGE MY MIND!

Aside Roderick J "Jay" Friz Anime, Anime Reviews , , , , , , , , , ,

Dan da Dan Episode 1 Review

Everyone, I need to get real with you. I think I’ve found my favorite anime for 2024, and its not an isekai, or the new Dragon Ball anime. Its an entirely new anime series thatโ€˜s hilarious, surreal, full of quirky, memorable characters, and has some of the best animation that I’ve seen in years. Animation that’s on par with the original FLCL and the best of Studio Trigger; if you’ve seen the former and any of the latter, the you know how high praise that is. So what is the name of this new kid on the block thatโ€™s so good, Hideo Kojima himself is praising it? Its name is Dan Da Dan!

Thereโ€™s only one episode out by the time I’m writing this, but if you’re wondering why I’m already calling this the GOAT of 2024, read on.

Give Us Your Banana

Meet Momo Ayase and Okarun, two teenagers that couldn’t be more opposite if they tried. Momo is an extroverted gyaru-type quick to stand up for herself. Okarun is an introverted nerd who doesn’t have friends and a prime bully target. Even their shared belief in the strange is opposing: Momo believes in ghosts but not in aliens, while Okarun believes in aliens but not ghosts. They get so passionate that they bet each other to prove the other wrong.

Spoiler alert: not only are they both right, but they both get in trouble. Okarun gets possessed by a ghost obsessed with genitalia and becomes like Danny Phantom. Momo gets abducted by perverted aliens that want her โ€œbananaโ€ for reproduction and awakens psychic powers.

Did I mention that Okarun also got his junk stolen by that ghost? Or how the aliens were planning to molest Momo for the sake of propagating their species while also taking her junk? The anime doesn’t hold anything back. At all. Then again, the mangaka worked as an assistant on Chainsaw Man, so that explains a few things.

Dan Da Dan is Gorgeous from Start to Finish!

From the moment the opening credits start to the end credits finish, Dan Da Dan doesn’t hold anything back in terms of animation or storytelling. The series is animated by Science Saru, a studio that came to my attention last year for creating Scott Pilgrim Takes Off. However, that show feels like the studio was on training wheels compared to what they give us in the premiere of Dan Da Dan. To clarify what I said at the start, this show is what I imagine would happen if the original FLCL was made today. It has some of the best animation I’ve ever seen in an anime, and I’ve seen what Studio Trigger can bring to the table!

Nowhere is this shown better than with the OP, which wound up trending on YouTube. Anime OPs can exaggerate the show for the sake of hyping things up, but Dan Da Dan is one of the rare few that doesn’t do that. Because the animation in the show itself is just as crazy as in the OP. The fluidity of the characters as they make meme-worthy expressions is just amazing to look at.

I Love What Momo and Okarun Have Going On

But good animation doesn’t matter if the characters are flat and boring. Thankfully, Momo and Okarun are anything but, and quickly establish their personalities within seconds of screen-time. We see Momo getting dumped by her loser boyfriend for not putting out, then crying about she only dated him for looking like this brooding actor she has a crush on. While she may seem shallow, the premiere also reveals that she’s very insecure about herself. Her grandma is a famous psychic medium, and that got her bullied as a kid.

Then we have Okarun. He’s timid and mousy, but lights up when he thinks someone shares his interests in aliens. He’s basically Dib from Invader Zim, but somehow even sadder. He even admits that he wanted to meet aliens so they could be his friends. How sad is that? But to his credit, he steps up when he and Momo are in danger, showing a hidden inner strength.

And the best part? He shares the same name as Momoโ€™s celebrity crush!

This anime isn’t just a surreal shonen series, by the way. Its also going to be a love story, and Momo and Okarun seem to be the main focus.

Watch this Now!!!

This might be one of the best premiere episodes for an anime that I have seen in years. Dan Da Dan seems to check off all my boxes. Its hilarious, has a surreal plot, interesting characters, and watching the animation is like a spiritual experience. Weโ€™re only on the first episode, but I’m already putting it on my list of best anime of 2024. If you havent seen it yet, then please! Stop what you’re doing, go watch it on Netflix or Crunchyroll, and then come back for the next episode!

I Give “That’s How Love Starts, Ya Know!” a 5/5

Toriyama’s Last Gift in Dragon Ball Daima Starts Off Strong!

Aside Roderick J "Jay" Friz Anime, Anime Reviews, Crunchyroll, DBZ, Uncategorized , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Dragon Ball Daima Ep 1 Review

In memory of Akira Toriyama.

When Dragon Ball Daima was announced last year at NYCC, fans were thrilled. For the first time in years, Dragon Ball would be getting a new series, and Akira Toriyama was the one who wrote it. It felt like a dream come true!

Then, in the spring of this year, the world would end up losing Toriyama. Dragon Ball Daima would be the final work that he would contribute to the world that he had created. Suddenly, it became more important than ever that Daima was a huge success. And so, the world waited with bated breath for the day when it would premiere, ready to honor the memory of a man who inspired millions of its people. Th

Iโ€™m glad to say that Toriyama didnt disappoint with his final work. He cooked us a feast of thrills and laughs.

https://twitter.com/YapapaMirage/status/1845185951586238945

Welcome Back, Dragon Ball

Since this is the first time Dragon Ball has had an anime in a while, a good portion of the premiere is devoted to getting everyone up to speed with events up to the defeat of Majin Buu. While some might see it as an issue, itโ€™s essential for two reasons. Firstly, it establishes that this will take place before the events of Super, so no Super Saiyan God or Blue. Secondly, it introduces us to the leading antagonistic group.

https://twitter.com/xAuraZora/status/1844833008559206853

Meet Gomah, Degesu, and Dr. Arinsu, the new King of the Demon Realm, the Supreme Kai of the Demon Realm, and a Core Person of the Demon Realm. While much of the rest of Universe 7 and parts of the other Universes have already gotten fleshed out, the Demon Realm has remained notably unknown until now. I think Toriyama wanted to correct that by making the primary setting of Daima, and if thatโ€™s the case, Iโ€™m glad he chose to do so before he died. He even gave them their own Dragon Balls and guardians to protect them, and retconned the Namekians point of origin to be from the Demon Realm. So, congrats Piccolo. Youโ€™re now a slug alien demon!

The main plot of the episode is that Gomah has watched how powerful Goku and the others are and fears them to be a threat to his rule. So, he and Degesu (and another Namekian) travel to Earth to use the Dragon Balls to make Goku and everyone else kids so they wonโ€™t be a threat. In essence, itโ€™s the plot of GT but on a larger scale. By the time the credits start to roll, we can already hear everyone beginning to shrink down to the size of kids. And the kids shrinking down to the size of babies!

https://twitter.com/DbsHype/status/1844905014067855825

Toriyama Decided to do GT, but Better

I know that this is supposed to be serious, but I still canโ€™t help but find it funny. Toriyama took the plot of GT, the series that was made without his direct involvement, and made it ten times better. Thatโ€™s essentially him saying โ€œYouโ€™re doing it all wrong, you guys. Let the master show you how itโ€™s done!โ€ Given how Daima is meant to celebrate the franchise 40th anniversary, though, it makes sense why Toriyama would want to tell a story like this. He tried to get the series back to its roots, and it glad he got to do so before he died.

This was an excellent start to what will likely be one of the most giant anime of the year. I have no clue how long Daima will run, but I know that Iโ€™m going to enjoy it every step of the way.

I Give Conspiracy a 4.5/5

Deku Beats Up Anime Homelander in My Hero Academia: You’re Next

Aside Roderick J "Jay" Friz Anime, Anime Reviews , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

My Hero Academia: You’re Next Review

When I first saw the trailers for My Hero Academiaโ€™s fourth film, Youโ€™re Next, I had one thing on my mind: who the heck is this fake All Might? Was this Dark Might guy supposed to be an evil twin or clone of All Might? Did the series really need to resort to that for its next film? I was sure that there had to be some kind of explanation behind this faker, and that led me to go see the movie in theaters this past Friday. Iโ€™m glad that I did, because while it doesnโ€™t break new ground for the series, it does know how to deliver the spectacle. Plus, I got to see the anime version of Homelander get humiliated by the anime version of Spider-Man.

Anime Homelander Thinks he Can Be New All Might?

Taking place in between the sixth and seventh seasons of the show, Youโ€™re Next is set amidst the backdrop of a Japan thatโ€™s struggling to stay afloat. The chaos that All for One and Shigaraki have unleashed has forced the students of Class 1-A to work overtime helping the pro heroes capture criminals. Then out of nowhere, a man who looks to be the spitting image of All Might shows up! Calling himself Dark Might, he claims himself to be All Mightโ€™s successor, but nobody buys it. Especially not Deku and his friends. It doesnโ€™t take long for the imposter to show his twisted ideas of heroism as he takes countless people hostage and forces Class 1-A into a fight for survival while the pro heroes scramble to provide aid. And at the center of it all is a young woman with a mysterious Quirk and this gun-toting butler version of Hajime from Arifureta.

Dark Might is Basically the MHA Version of Homelander

I was going into this film with no context or clue about who this Dark Might was. As soon as I saw him make his public debut by dispatching a villain with no consideration for collateral damage, something clicked for me. He reminded me of Homelander from The Boys. Both of them claim to be heroes, but in truth, theyโ€™re bloodthirsty killers who only want to be worshipped and feared like gods. The main difference is that whereas Homelander continues to fool a good portion of America, no one in Japan buys what Dark Might is selling. Itโ€™s pretty telling how messed up this man is when Midoriya openly hates his guts. And I donโ€™t blame him, either. Much like Homelander, Dark Might is insufferable; a dark reflection of what it means to be a hero.

As for who Dark Might really is, that remains a mystery for much of the film, but the payoff isnโ€™t that interesting. We all knew that he wasnโ€™t going to be some clone or evil twin of All Might, but the reveal of his identity makes look even more pathetic than that. Heโ€™s just a criminal who only cares about All Mightโ€™s power and not his ideals. And as strong as he is, heโ€™s still a chump compared to the real All Might, like how Homelander is a chump compared to Superman. And just like Superman would wipe the floor with Homelander, Deku and the others eventually wipe the floor with Dark Might like the chump he is.

Great Fights, Decent Story

As for the fights, that is the only thing that I can say remains consistently awesome in the MHA films. With this taking place right before the final battle begins, we get to see Deku and Class 1-A near their peak. Most of the heavy lifting winds up being done by Deku, Bakugo, and Shoto, though. During the filmโ€™s climax, the three face off against Dark Might alongside their butler ally, Julio, and the animation is some of the best in the series. Wannabe All Might or not, Dark Might is still a strong opponent and hard for the heroes to beat. But he still loses.

https://twitter.com/GinnyTonicTV/status/1845238336614694986

As for the story itself, itโ€™s decent. The main plot revolves around Dark Might using this girl whose Quirk amplifies others Quirks at her own expense. Deku and the others team up with her butler best friend, Julio, who, again, reminds me of a red-haired version of Hajime. Heโ€™s got a cool cyborg arm, an eyepatch, and a motorcycle. It wasnโ€™t hard for me to be reminded of Hajime from Arifureta. He also happens to be one of those movie characters thatโ€™s had a lousy life and needs the main protagonist to regain his sense of optimism and hope. In other words, your standard Shonen film stuff.

Just a Lot of Good Fun

This film doesnโ€™t really add much to My Hero Academia, but to be honest, it doesnโ€™t need to. Whenever I see a movie for a popular anime, the majority of the time, I know that itโ€™s not going to have any bearing on the plot. WHO cares, though? We get to see an anime hero inspired by Spider-Man beat up a guy who reminds me of Homelander. That alone is worth the price of admission. Plus, since thereโ€™s a good chance this might be the last film the franchise will get (unless they decide to do an epilogue film), I want to enjoy it. Mainly since Justin Briner kills it as Deku once again!

Also, can you guys settle a bet for us: is All Might considered an expy for Superman? Aaron and I are debating about it.

I Give “My Hero Academia: You’re Next” a 4/5