Do you know what’s more metal than fighting giant monsters inside a giant robot? Absolutely nothing! The Mecha and Kaiju genres are some of Japan’s oldest and most respected cultural exports, and they’ve gained popularity with people around the world. Since DanDaDan is essentially a giant love letter to all things sci-fi and supernatural in Japanese pop culture, including the two is a no-brainer. And with a Space Kaiju baring down on the teens of the series, it only makes sense that they fight it off with a giant mecha for the season finale. And it is everything that the nerdy Konya ever wanted…when it works at least.
YOU! DIG! GIANT ROBOTS!!
In order to fight off the giant, thunder-breathing Space Kaiju trying to kill them, the quintet of Takakura, Momo, Aira, Jiji, and Kinta resort to turning the Ayase House (made out of nanobots) into a weapon that can fight back. Fortunately for everyone, Kinta’s love of mecha anime comes in clutch, turning the house into a buddha-themed combiner robot in the style of Voltron, Power Rangers/Super Sentai, and later versions of Gurren Lagann. That’s the good news about this situation, at least if you’re Kinta.
The bad news is that the Family lacks the teamwork needed to pilot the thing.
I’m not sure how often this is an issue when it comes to combiner mechs, but teamwork is often the most essential thing for making them work right. The Power Rangers and Voltron may make it look easy, but in real-life, coordinating to pilot a giant robot would be very difficult. If one member isn’t in sync, it could derail everything. Case in point, this surprisingly realistic outcome results in Okarun getting ejected, the Evil Eye busting free without caring about what’s going on, and the remaining three getting their butts kicked.
But this is where Kinta starts to show what he is truly capable of, and how there’s more to him than his appearance would suggest.
Don’t Mock Mecha
He just obsessed with Robots just like how okarun is obsessed with aliens 😭 i felt so bad for him.
Much like Okarun before he met Momo, Kinta lived a very lonely life, mocked for his nerdy interests; in his case, for his love of mecha and giant robots. Before anime became mainstream, and even now, that is something that many an unfortunate nerd has had to experience. However, like a true nerd, Kinta refuses to feel bad about liking what he does. Because he knows that at the rate that technology is progressing, the possibility of being able to pilot a giant robot is becoming more and more likely. That’s not even a joke: companies are working on real-life mechas capable of being piloted by humans, and if they got mainstream, they will need capable pilots. And it’s people like Kinta, who understand mecha and sci-fi and trained for them, that will be first in line.
And it is with these burning feelings in his heart that we see Kinta become the mecha pilot he always wanted to be. And it is awesome!
The fight between the Great Kinta and the Space Kinta is nothing short of epic! It’s the kind of fight that makes any fan of either genre just want to grin from ear to ear. And the way the girls use their own powers to help enhance the Great Kinta mecha! Absolutely insane! And the other two boys manage to be a comedic duo the entire time since all they can do is watch everything! The comedy and action don’t stop!
In the end, the group manages to beat the Space Kaiju, but they come back to reality in the middle of the city. So, they have to hoof it back to the Ayase property with their fallen opponent. And Momo and Aira have to puke from motion sickness, LOL. Besides that, though, Kinta managed to solidify himself as a member of the group. His mecha skills are something else! But believe it or not, the giant robot vs Kaiju fight wasn’t the biggest surprise of the episode. It’s what the boys find inside the Kaiju. Or rather, Kaiju suit.
This whole time, the Space Kaiju was really a suit, and the person piloting it will surprise you.
DanDaDan now has a new waifu. Manga readers have been waiting for her for a while now, but sadly, anime watchers will have to wait until season three. Thankfully, it’s already been confirmed that there will be a third season of the anime. When it will come out, though, is anyone’s guess.
DAN DA DAN Season 3 is CONFIRMED!
Thank you to all the fans for your support, and we hope you look forward to what's in store. Stay tuned for #DANDADAN Season 3! ✨ pic.twitter.com/waCLb6e3C2
If there is an afterlife, then there better be a special place in Hell for adults who abuse kids, especially if it’s their own. Thanks to Makina (AKA Bitch II), any attempts to end the liberation of Q’ten Lo without bloodshed are for naught. Shildina has been ordered to go back and fight Raphtalia and Naofumi’s forces, making her their last obstacle to the Capital. And the only way they can get past her without killing anyone is by beating her one-on-one. And the only person she’ll fight? Her sister, Sadeena.
Oh, dear.
Sibling Inferiority Complexes are Hard to Handle
From the outset of this fight between sisters, Shildina makes it clear that she has no illusions as to how things will turn out. She fully expects to die facing down her older sister. However, her decision to do this goes beyond following orders, no matter how unfair they are. It’s because she has a personal grudge against Sadeena.
A showdown between two generations of Water Dragon priestesses.
Left with no choice, Zodia challenges Sadeena to a duel as thunder and wind clash…?✨
As this episode reveals, Shildina was only born after Sadeena left the country. Their parents and clan created her for the sole purpose of taking up her sister’s role as the Water Dragon Priestess and the Emperor’s executioner. They put her through hell for that, not even treating her like her own person. And now, Shildina is using her suicide mission as a means to let out all the hate and anger in her heart against the person she deems responsible.
#shieldhero I just wanna say, I love Sadeena, rather human or beastman form, she is sexy af. Also, Shildina is fucking KYOGRE lol Plus, we get a twisty twist, that is very twisted. Good episode and look forward to the next episode pic.twitter.com/jLCQxWTKAL
Ever since the group arrived in Q’ten Lo, the show has implied that a part of Sadeena regrets leaving without trying to change things for the better. However, no one can fault her for leaving. Many people who grew up in an abusive household don’t look back after getting out. If anything, the only regret that Sadeena has after meeting her sister is that she wasn’t able to beat some sense into her deadbeat family. But now that she has Raphtalia and Naofumi by her side, she can change all of that.
Ultimately, Shildina is technically the person who wins the duel, managing to overwhelm her older sister thanks to a trump card she had in place. That victory proves hollow, though, as Naofumi and the others all rush to her aid while Shildina has no one. The only person who cares about her as a person is the Heavenly Emperor, and he was powerless to stop her from going to her death. Thankfully, Shildina doesn’t die. Something just as bad happens to her, though. Somehow, she gets possessed by a spirit!
It’s not really explained that well in the anime, and the light novel doesn’t offer as much of an explanation as to why this transformation happens. Given how this new form is the spitting image of Raphtalia, though, it’s safe to say that Shildina has been possessed by the spirit of Raphtalia’s ancestor. On the one hand, she doesn’t continue the fight with Sadeena and immediately flies back to the Capital. That’s when she proceeds to give Makina the karmic justice she deserves.
On the other hand, though, Raphtalia’s ancestor is possessing the body of a kid against her will. That’s not good. If they want to save Shildina, then Naofumi and the others are going to have to fight this spirit.
As is the case with many of the fights this season, it wasn’t the most exciting thing to watch. However, what it lacked in excitement, this episode made up for in raw emotion. It really wants you to feel for Shildina when you hear her backstory, and make you want nothing more than to beat her parents faces into the ground. If we’re lucky, we’ll get an anime-exclusive scene of that next week during the finale. Until then, though, we have the battle against Raphtalia’s ancestor to long forward to. After that, we crown our Tanuki Goddess!
You know who we hate? Witch, AKA Bitch, W***, and formerly known as Malty S. Melromarc. She might be one of the most loathsome, contemptible, and disgusting excuses for a sentient being in all of anime. And as this season has revealed, Q’ten Lo has its own version of Witch in the form of Makina, AKA the one running Raphtalia’s ancestral homeland into the ground. Bitch #2 is such a waste of life that even when it’s obvious she’s going to lose, she’d rather drag everyone else down with her, even if they’re just kids like Sadeena’s little sister.
You Can’t Negotiate with Jerks
At the end of the last episode, Naofumi, Raphtalia, and the other rebels had made it to the gates of the Old Capital of Q’ten Lo. Right when it looked there would be a huge fight, Sadeena’s little sister, Shildina, AKA Zodia, asks to talk things out. Despite her future subjects calling it a trap, Raphtalia agrees to go, and alone at that. It’s rather sweet to see that Naofumi and Sadeena trust Raphtalia to take care of herself, even when their followers act paranoid.
As it turns out, it’s not a trap. Shildina does want to end the civil war peacefully, asking the rebels to lay down their arms so their lives will be spared. She even offers Raphtalia a job in the government. As we’ve seen about her character, she’s completely sincere about her offer. She hates seeing people suffering as much as Raphtalia and wants to end things without any further bloodshed. With how hard it can be in real life to get people to talk things out, I can’t help but respect the young priestess’ willingness to know when it’s time to compromise.
Unfortunately for Shildina, her efforts to end the war without any more fighting were doomed from the start. I didn’t need to be Naofumi to see that fact plain as day.
Is this Woman Witch’s long-lost relative?
◥◣🛡ご視聴ありがとうございました🛡◢◤
TVアニメ「#盾の勇者の成り上がり Season 4」 第10話『祈り』 ご視聴ありがとうございました🛡
— TVアニメ『盾の勇者の成り上がり』@Season 4 2025年7月9日(水)放送開始！ (@shieldheroanime) September 10, 2025
First of all, it’s implied, and later confirmed, that Shildina is acting of her own accord. Her master, the horrid Makina, is like Cersei Lannister from Game of Thrones: if you’re not with her and doing what she wants, then you’re an enemy to be crushed. Needless to say, she is neither understanding nor willing to even entertain the thought of peace. Not that it would matter for her. After allowing Raphtalia to become an orphan, be enslaved, and then have assassins sent after her, any peace deal Naofumi would want would involve her facing justice.
Second of all, this episode pretty much confirms that the child Emperor is a figurehead with no real power. Even when he tries to speak up for Shildina’s, likely his only real friend, Makina shuts them both down. Any attempts to act in good faith are never going to work with her in charge. Case in point, when Shildina comes back having given up the Old Capital to Naofumi’s forces, she proceeds to verbally abuse the girl, playing on her feelings of inferiority towards the sister she’s never met. In other words, she’s a horrible woman and the world will be better off when she’s dead.
All Hail Empress Raphtalia!
The good news, though, is that thanks to the government abandoning the Old Capital, the group’s able to perform the ritual to make Raphtalia the new Heavenly Emperor of Q’ten Lo. Or Empress, in this case; the story doesn’t make it clear if “Emperor” is gender-neutral here. Regardless, the important thing is Raphtalia is now able to perform the blessings of the Heavenly Emperor. Even better, the Cardinal Heroes manage to learn a new way to power up that basically amounts to the use of Ki. With the Phoenix’s arrival on the horizon, they will need all the power-ups they can get.
The bad news? The road to the new capital is now blocked by Shildina. And judging by the amount of sake she’s drunk, she’s not here to negotiate.
We are nearing the end of this season of Shield Hero, and knowing what the story is like, we can expect at least one climatic fight before the dust settles. In the meantime, here’s hoping that the next episode won’t see Sadeena or anyone else forced to fight Shildina.
Also, we saw a glimpse of Motoyasu, and it looks like he’s raised some Filolials into potential queens like Filo
Episode 12 and 13 of New PSG is officially in the books. There is so much to unpack here in terms of this new season of an old show, so I’ll be doing a speed run ‘spoiled-rotten’ review of the show as a whole, NOT segment by segment (cuz’ that’s too damn long)! Hope you got your runnin’ shoes on, cuz’ HERE WE GO!!
Oh…hello.
[NPSG Episode 1 & 2: SEGMENTS #1, #2, and #3]
We pick up where we left off 15 years ago (5 minutes in PSG time). Brief, Garter, and the Demon Sisters set off to collect Panty’s pieces. We find out that Stocking is NOT a damn demon, she’s just brainwashed by Corset. He tries to control her more, but ends up becoming “Super-Sized Bitch” (Her ghost form). Corset said “Fxck Plan A”, and went with Plan-B; have Stocking open up Hell’s Gate. Brief and the others collect 665 pieces of our bitch angel (as well as a TON of other tomfoolery), only for the last piece to be inside chuck. He spits it out, Brief and the others bring that piece to Panty, the BITCH is back, and she and Stocking have a Godzilla-vs-Kong style battle. Corset dies for good, the angels are back to normal, the Demon Sisters are now part of the main cast. MOVING ON!
Episode 2 is a remix of episode 1 of the original series. The cast is reintroduced, a ghost appears, there’s now Heaven and Hell coins to collect, and we get a remix of “Fly Away” and “I Want You” from TeddyLoid; during the angels and demons transformation. The ghost dies, there’s 420 in the air, and we move onto segment 3! If you like Magic and Yu-Gi-Oh, then you’ll probably like this one. Panty owes the American equivalent of $3 billion, so she shakes up Brief as he tells here there’s a rare card worth that amount. A ghost shows up as a vengeful card player, Panty beats it with “Blue Eyes White Uncle”, end of story! I told you we’re speed running through this, so watch the season for more in depth info.
Panty and Stocking have another beef, so Garter send Stocking and Scanty to handle a samurai ghost. They master the ways of the samurai, while having a moment about big sisters, and why they’ll always look out for their younger siblings. Stocking and Scanty lock in, and kill the ghost. (Panty and Stocking make up afterwards.) The next segment is basically what happens when you give an anime/cartoon character a cellphone, and an IG page. The third one of episode 3 is a “Fast & Furious” parody, and they even did THAT scene in the end. (Real ones know.)
Episode 4; Stocking is in the running to become president, so Brief and the others get a campaign going—only to lose to See Through. (Stocking gets a solo trans formation and kills the ghost by the way.) Next segment; Panty destroys a gravestone that belongs to a cat, and Panty bonds with it—only for it to be purified and its soul goes to rest. (This is the most heartwarming side of Panty all season.) Next segment is a tribute to Jack Kirby, so go watch it, I don’t have time to explain it!
Episode 5; straight Scanty and Kneesocks segment, as Scanty gotta take a sh!t, while a ghost is causing a fuss. Her and Kneesocks lock in and kill it, while Scanty finally had a flush. Next segment; Garter protects a ghost that looks like Mikey from TMNT—only to be possessed by it. Panty and Stocking kill the ghost and save Garter…or so we thought. Next segment; a big homage to B-Movie Horror flicks, as well as ‘the-dumb-blondes-always-die’ troupe.
The Cotton Candy Twinks Are Here!
[NPSG Episode 6: SEGMENT #13]
The Poly Boys are HERE!! Polyester and Polyurethane pull up (Gen-Z slang and all), and give their cousins (YES COUSINS) Panty and Stocking a hard time—and NOT in the good way. The cotton candy boys thought sh!t was sweet, but they FORGOT whose name is on the title card! We’re then treated to the most beautifully-executed and sexually-charged transformations, that’ll make any virgin bust a nut. The boys lose, we’re introduced to Ramie (you’ll find out why I hate him later), and we get some plot that will become important to the story later.
Garterbelt, Brief, and Check get sick and tired of the angels and demons bossing them around. They go to Casino City, meet the Poly Boys again, face a ghost—only for the Poly Boys to steal their kill. The end! Next segment; Panty and Stocking do 25 to life, but play some NFL Football to get acquitted. (I’m taking Scanty over Mahomes any day!)
Episode 8; its pretty much “Inferno Cop” but as a parody, and its like this for the next 2 segments. The third one is a musical, where Panty’s tongue gets cut off for saying bad words. That is until ghosts possesses her mouth and gives her the ability to sing. Go watch the episode for more, cuz’ again—I don’t have time to explain it!
Episode 9. WE FINALLY GET A STOCKING SEGMENT!! Stocking gang, RISE UP!! So best girl awaits for a legendary treat at the top of a summit. She has a Rock-Paper-Scissors battle, but loses. Then 100 million Stocking-variant ghosts pull up, and so does Polyurethane—but dips mid flight, leaving Stocking pissed off and calling Gunsmith B!tch for help. Let’s just say Stocking won the battle, but lost the war. Next segment; the Poly Boys try to figure out Panty and Stocking’s weaknesses, so they pull up to the church to do so—and it doesn’t go as planned. (At least to them, anyway.) Next segment; a rather touching episode featuring Kneesocks, as she turns 666 this episode. Panty becomes an adoptive big sister, they fight another ghost who eats the Poly Boys, and Scanty gets her sister new glasses. Episode 10 is pretty much an Alien/Species parody, with the second segment being Conan the Barbarian. MOVING ON!!
[NPSG Episode 11: SEGMENTS #24-#26]
This one’s a Brief and Chuck segment! There’s not much to say about it, so go watch the episode if you wanna know more. Next segment; Indiana Brief, Pangelia Jolie, and Stocking are in an ancient ruins looking for a pen!s rock. They run into the Demon sisters, they have a Season 1 Episode 6 battle, the ghosts appears and absorbs Brief, and the Poly Boys do a cameo. Next segment; another STOCKING SEGMENT!! LET’S GO!! Honekoneko’s torn, Tom Croose Jr. appears from the future 2049 (or something), Stocking fights him, then looks for Gunsmith to travel back in time. They find a younger Garterbelt who was the one who made Honekoneko, and fixes the one that Stocking brought to him. Somehow—Stocking messed up the timeline, and hilarity ensues.
Episode 12 is a Christmas special centered around Kneesocks, as she and the gang are trying to go to Lingerieland. This segment is pretty much the calm before the storm. Next segment; Panty, Stocking, and the rest of the gang go to Heaven, and meet the Anarchy sister’s parents—who got caught in a scandal. Ramie appears with the Poly Boys, steals the crown to become the King of Heaven, turns Panty and Stocking’s parents to stone—and ‘seemingly’ kills them.
Episode 13 picks up where episode 12 left off. Ramie is in his ‘Uncle Scar’ arc, and plans to overthrow Heaven, and start a war with Hell. Brief and Garterbelt find their way back into Heaven, Panty and Stocking try to stop their uncle and the Poly Boys, but end up getting turned to stone. Final segment—all hell breaks loose in Heaven. Panty and Stocking seemingly ‘died’ at the hands of their uncle and the Polys, and thought sh!t was sweet. Once again, they FORGOT whose name is ON THE TITLE CARD!! Plot armor gets explained by Garterbelt, as the Anarchy and Demon sisters run the fade with Ramie and the Poly Boys. Studio Trigger does Studio Trigger things, Ramie and the boys get a vacation, the king and queen of Heaven are back on the throne, and the gang go to Lingerieland. Brief confesses his love to Panty, so that ship has finally sailed. Happy ending right? Nah. The king of Hell pulls up, drags Panty and Brief down with em’, and we get another cliffhanger of an older Stocking who is now a priestess; with the son of Panty and Brief, and the daughter of…well you’ll have to wait another 15 years.
Ok, I’m done!
…No I’m not!
[Praise and Grievance]
While the second season of New Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt didn’t miss a beat when it came to the animation and action, as seen in the original series. It didn’t go without a praise as well as a grievance from the OG fans, and the new fans. So, here it is.
PRAISE: We Got A Second Season!
After the cliffhanger from the original series, fans were begging for a second season. They waited years and years, as the team that worked on the original series, left to form Studio Trigger. With PSG in Gainax limbo, a second season didn’t seem possible—until Studio Trigger got the rights back in 2022. The year after that we got a promo, and the year after that we got a teaser and the main trailer, and this year, we got the second season!
GRIEVANCE: The OG Cast Got Recast!
This one is one of the biggest grievances if you’re an OG fan of the OG season. Jamie Marchi and Monica Rial do NOT return as the beloved title characters from the first season, as they and the rest of the cast got recast. Why? Because Amazon bought the streaming rights, and thus took the dub to L.A. (meaning its dubbed by a different studio, that being Pixelogic Media). Believe me when I say this ruffled the feathers of OG fans, while many newer fans admitted they were going to miss the original cast, but hoped OG fans would at least give Courtney Lin and Cristina Vee a chance. They both know how legendary the OG dub is (thanks to Jamie and Monica), and that they were going to work twice as hard to match their energy. Me personally, they didn’t do too bad, but for many OG fans—they know what’s in their heart; they want a redub/director’s cut with Jamie and Monica! (Also the writing didn’t hit the same since Jamie is not the lead writer.)
In Conclusion…
The 15 year wait was worth it, and we hope we don’t have to wait another 15 years.
As of this post, I’ll be taking a break from reviewing anime and posting about it. Like I said, I post whenever I feel like it.
All over the world, people are raising the Jolly Roger of the Straw Hat Pirates, and those in power are afraid.
In its nearly three decades of publication by Shonen Jump, One Piece has become an international phenomenon. Eichiro Oda’s legendary manga has become the most successful of all time, making the man himself one of the most successful authors in history. He’s up there with the likes of Shakespeare, and it’s not hard to see why. People from all walks of life love One Piece for its action, sense of adventure, and the beloved characters that make up the heart and soul of the story. And at the heart of the story are the Straw Hat Pirates, known in-universe and without for their Jolly Roger featuring their captain’s iconic straw hat. For Luffy and the crew, it’s a symbol of the fun to be had in their adventures. For their many, many friends, it’s a symbol of joy and hope. But for those who abuse their power, it’s pretty much their worst nightmare.
That last bit is especially important, as lately, that is what the flag of the Straw Hat Pirates has come to represent to those who stand to lose their power.
How this All Started
It started this past summer in Indonesia. People were fed up with the numerous issues facing their country, especially regarding corruption among those in power. People stopped flying the country’s flag. Instead, they started flying the Straw Hat Pirates’ Jolly Roger in protest. Some government officials saw this as acts of treason and sedition and tried to have it banned. But the flag stayed.
cnn talking about people in protests using the straw hats' flag. i'm glad people can associate it with resistance pic.twitter.com/yeZNV9EVTs
Then came the events in Nepal, one of the poorest and demographically youngest nations in the world. In September 2025, the Nepalese tried to ban two dozen social media platforms. They claimed it was due to them failing to meet new rules, but many believed it was because social media was being used to show just how unfair life was for those not born into privilege. In response, people took to the streets, and among them were those waving the Straw Hat Pirates flag. Once again, it became a rallying symbol for those fed up with how things were going for their nations. Look on the protests Wikipedia page at the time of this writing, and you’ll see an image of the Straw Hat Jolly Roger on there.
Since then, the flag has continued to spread. At protests around the world, people are waving the Straw Hats Flag, uniting people under its banner. It’s becoming more than just a symbol of the popular manga and anime. It’s becoming a real life symbol of rebellion, defiance, and freedom.
The Straw Hats have Always been about Freedom
The crazy thing is, all of this is in line with what One Piece is about: freedom.
There are several major themes behind the story of One Piece, but one of the biggest is that of freedom. All Luffy and the Straw Hats want to do is live their lives however they see fit, no matter what the rules may say. Fortunately for the world, the Straw Hat Pirates are naturally friendly and don’t seek to use their freedom to take it away from others. In fact, everywhere the Straw Hats go, they end up changing people’s lives for the better, bringing joy and saving them from oppression. At first, it was assumed that they were doing this simply because they were just that nice. But as One Piece has continued, their actions have take on a more significant light.
As the series has progressed, it’s become increasingly clear that the world they live in is one shrouded in darkness and misery. From other pirates to the government that rules the world under a false guise of benevolence, there are too many people who oppress and hurt others for their own gain. The World Government, in particular, is one of the most corrupt organizations in all of fiction. They’re willing to let most of the world be swallowed by the sea to keep themselves in power, deluding themselves by thinking they’re gods. And their corruption inspires others to follow suit, creating a chain of misery that keeps most of the world enslaved without realizing it. But the Straw Hats keep getting in the way.
It’s eventually revealed late in the manga that there’s a reason why Luffy has his powers and seems to change things for the better wherever he goes. As it turns out, his powers mark him as the incarnation of an ancient sun god, Nika, the Warrior of Liberation. Nika is said to go around playing the fool, using his rubbery body to defy the laws of the world and bring smiles to all those who are oppressed. In other words, Luffy is the second coming of Pirate Jesus. Thus, his flag becomes more than just a pirate flag: it’s the embodiment of freedom itself.
And people in the real world are taking a page from Luffy’s book.
Maybe the World Needs the Straw Hats right Now
There’s no getting around it: the world kind of stinks right now. It’s becoming increasingly difficult for people to stay afloat, while those in power continue to accumulate wealth and gain more influence. Many people likely wish for the chance to change things for the better, but either don’t know how or are scared to try. That is why Luffy and the Straw Hats have become so popular amongst younger generations. Luffy may not care about changing the world for the better, his willingness to call everyone he meets a friend means that he and his crew will inevitably get involved in fighting whatever tyrant is making people miserable. People see Luffy as an inspiration, and the growing popularity of One Piece proves how much of an impression the series is leaving on the younger generation. Thus, it’s inevitable that when fans take to streets to fight oppression in real life, they use the flag of the Straw Hat Pirates as a rallying cry. More than any one nation or ideology, One Piece is uniting the world. And the world is starting to notice.
Different nations, same flag. 🏴☠️ Freedom everywhere — from Indonesia & Nepal to Gaza, Italy & France. Who’ll raise it next?#ONEPIECEpic.twitter.com/RriLOtfwx9
There’s no telling where things will go from here, but the more people use the Straw Hats Flag, the more it gets attention. It’s doubtful that Oda intended for the protagonists he created to become political symbols, but the fact that their flag is unifying people across the world is a testament to how much he’s changed it for the better. Who knows? Perhaps by the time One Piece concludes, it will have brought about world peace. At this point, not even that sounds impossible!
Japan may not have invented the concept of giant monsters, but it turned it into an art form, complete with its own name: Kaiju. Since 1954, Japan has cemented itself as the giant monster capital of the world, with names like Godzilla gaining international fame long before anime established a foothold in the West. With DanDaDan essentially being a love letter to all things supernatural and sci-fi, it was only a matter of time before we got ourselves a Kaiju. And just like how most humans are in the movies, Momo, Okarun, and that new guy Kinta are completely outclassed as they face down this terror from the stars! They’re going to need all hands on deck just to survive this fight!
Or maybe a giant robot.
Kaiju Approaching!
Just when Momo and Okarun thought they had a lead on the latter’s missing nut, not only did it turn out to be a dud, but it’s led them to be facing down some kind of alien Kaiju. The upside is that it doesn’t shoot atomic breath at them. The downside? It shoots bolts of lightning like it’s a thunder god. And with tagalong Kinta unable to defend himself, the pair are forced onto the backfoot until Aira and Jiji show up. While Jiji takes Kinta away, since neither of them can fight, Aira, Momo, and Okarun try to fight the Kaiju…with disastrous results.
Will the gang's supernatural abilities be enough to stop this colossal creature?? 😰#DANDADAN Episode 23, "Hey, it’s a Kaiju" streams tomorrow at 9am PT! 💚 pic.twitter.com/RHZVhR1pYk
There is a lot of unresolved tension between this growing group throughout the season, and a lot of it has to do with Aira. She’s kept insisting that she’s the leader of this “Family,” something that the others have either ignored, like Okarun, or flat-out rejected, like Momo. Thanks to that, their lack of team coordination means they’re not able to fight as effectively as they can. Not that that matters, since they’re fighting a Kaiju. You have to be as freakishly strong as a Saiyan, ninja, or a pirate with Conqueror’s Haki to take that down.
It also doesn’t help that there’s the tug of war that Aira and Momo are caught in over Okarun. Look at what Aira did this episode to one-up Momo!
Meanwhile, Jiji fares no better with Kinta. Thanks to the latter’s stubbornness, Jiji winds up turning into the Evil Eye, and he doesn’t change back. For the rest of the episode, he’s serving as comic relief, complaining about wanting to fight someone, but he can’t. It’s not Tuesday! Admittedly, it is funny to see the Evil Eye acting all pouty because he can’t fight Okarun, but since he can’t fight the Kaiju (Takakura points out this is a bad idea), comic relief is all he’s good for. Which is fine in this case.
As entertaining as this, though, there’s still space-Godzilla headed straight for them. And with Turbo Granny nowhere to be found and Seiko a guest on some show, they’re on their own. Luckily for them, they have the means to fight back!
Even if I didn’t know the basics from the manga already, I would’ve guessed that rebuilding the Ayase house out of memory-shape nanomachines was an important plot device. Technology like that plus raw imagination means someone could think of anything, and the machines would make it a reality. And there’s only way to stop a Kaiju without getting another one to fight: giant robots. And this is when Kinta comes in clutch, using his otaku knowledge of all things mecha to create this!
This is Voltron meets Pacific Rim with the Buddha thrown in, for good measure! Some people may say that giant robots are a waste of time and money, but they’re probably just jealous they don’t get to use one. This could make for an amazing finale next week as the gang fights the giant Kaiju! I’m looking forward to seeing what happens! Assuming, that is, they can pilot it!
When the hit Shonen manga Jujutsu Kaisen came to an end last year, fan reactions were mixed. On the one hand, people were happy to see the protagonists come out on top over Sukuna and the corruption of Jujutsu society. On the other hand, the final chapters did little to wrap up the emtional loose ends. That, and people were upset over Satoru Gojo dying. That man was basically Kakashi 2.0, and many likely won’t forgive the mangaka for taking him away from us.
Now, Gege did make an effort to provide the fans with further closure with an epilogue omake, but that can only do so much. And with a world as interesting as the one created by Jujutsu Kaisen, there were more stories to be told. And Gege Akumatai has delivered! Much like its predecessor, Naruto, Jujutsu Kaisen has a sequel about the next generation, Jujutsu Kaisen Modulo. And this time, aliens are involved!
Welcome to the Future!
It’s now the year 2086, 68 years since the Culling Game and the defeat of Sukuna. In that time, Jujutsu society has reformed as Gojo wanted, free of the archaic ways of the past and the corruption of the leadership. Yuji, Gojo, and their generation of Sorcerers have gone down as legends, but most of them are now either dead or super-old. The task of protecting people from Curses now falls to the next generation.
Meet Yuka and Tsurugi Okkotsu, the twin grandchildren of Yuta Okkutsu and Maki Zen’in. The two are following in their late grandparents’ footsteps as Jujutsu Sorcerers, but there’s a little tension between them due to the older generation’s beliefs. Then all of a sudden, a group of aliens called the Simurians arrive on Earth asking for refuge, and they can also use Cursed Energy. In order to see if Earth would welcome them, they send one of their own, Marulu Val Vol Yelvori, to observe the Okkotsu siblings. And this is where our story begins.
To be clear, there is only one chapter of Modulo out at the time this was written, and the series will not be that long. At best, Gege intends for it to last around three volumes, meaning about 30 chapters, if we’re lucky. Yet even with the one chapter already out, we’ve already got a pretty good idea of what Jujutsu Society is like in the 2080s.
Gojo, Your Dream Came True
Those who read the original series and watched the anime already know this, but the Jujutsu world was a fairly corrupt one. The higher-ups in charge were explicitly self-serving, archaic, and refused to change with the times. Needless to say, Gojo was right to want them gone, and while he didn’t live to see it, the students he trained would change Jujutsu for the better. These days, Yuji and Gojo are considered legends who people still try to measure up to. Which isn’t exactly a good thing, as Jujutsu Sorcerers are getting weaker.
The downside to the peace that Yuji, Yuta, and the others fought for is that the following generations won’t face threats like Sukuna or Mahito. As a result, Yuta and Tsurugi, while strong, are nowhere near their grandparents level yet. Which makes their job of fighting Curses evil Curse users, and protecting good Curse users harder.
The other big change to the Jujutsu world is the fact that it’s no longer a secret. The Culling Game has made the entire world aware of the existence of Cursed, Cursed Energy, and those who wield them. The upside is that it means Jujutsu is more widely accepted by the public, and Japan is considered the global expert on the paranormal. The bad news? Because Cursed Energy is found almost exclusively in Japan, and it’s a great alternative to fossil fuels, Japanese citizens are a hot commodity. So now, Sorcerers have to protect anyone with a modicum of Cursed Energy who can’t look out for themselves, like kids. It’s dealing with this very problem that serves as the catalyst for Yuka and Tsurugi meeting Maru. But that’s only part of what it looks like the series will be about. The other half seems to be focused on the legacy of Yuji and Yuta’s generation and how it’s affecting Jujutsu Sorcerer’s in the 2080s.
The Next Generation of Sorcerers
By the time Modulo starts, Yuta Okkotsu and Maki Zen’in have passed away, and while there’s a chance that members of their generation, like Yuji and Megumi, might pop up, there’s a good chance that most of the cast of Jujutsu Kaisen is dead. Yet their accomplishments were so incredible that they’re still idolized as heroes. Much like their mentor, Gojo, they came to be considered the peak of Jujutsu Sorcery, one that their descendants are struggling to surpass, with Yuka and Tsurugi being examples of this.
When they were kids, Yuka and Tsurugi were close to a different grandparent. Yuka adored her grandfather, Yuta, and loved spending time with him. The feeling was mutual, as Yuta chose to entrust her with his most prized possession: the engagement ring he got from Rika when they were kids. Now a Cursed Object, Yuta hoped Rika’s Ring would protect her like it did him. However, this sentimentality flew over the rest of the Gojo clan’s collective heads, as after Yuta died, they took the ring and gave it to Tsurugi, who they saw as the stronger of the two. But Tsurugi didn’t see it that way.
Like his grandmother Maki, Tsurugi was born with a Heavenly Restriction, basically giving him great power in exchange for nerfing his cursed energy. He wanted to prove to everyone that he could make it as a Jujutsu Sorcerer like his grandma on his own terms. So when the clan gave him Rika’s Ring, he took it as an insult with them saying he wasn’t strong enough on his own. So while Yuka’s goal is to take the ring back by proving she’s stronger, Tsurugi’s is to prove he doesn’t need it, sparking their sibling rivalry.
Here’s a Bright Idea…
I understand the driving force behind this conflict, and it does sound interesting. Yet, I cannot help but be reminded of the many times in anime and manga where poor communication leads to unnecessary drama. There are probably rules in place, but from my perspective, there’s a simple solution to this problem: Tsurugi just gives his sister the Ring, and if the Clan objects, tell them off. It probably won’t work, but it feels like the best solution possible. Then again, I’m sure that the series will give us further reasons why this won’t work, but for now, I just wanted to make my opinion known.
At any rate, I’m probably going to end up reading Modulo as it progresses over the next several weeks. I was never that big a fan of JJK, but with the third season of the anime coming up, I feel like it’s worth paying attention to. But what do you guys think? Let’s talk in the comments!
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Infinity Castle Review
When it was announced at the end of the last season of Demon Slayer that the finale would be a movie trilogy, we all knew we were in for a good time. When Mugen Train came out in 2020, it managed to break the global box office despite COVID-19 shutting everything down. The series was so awesome, not even the dreaded Coronavirus could stop it! And with how this young anime franchise has risen to become one of the most popular in the world and stand shoulder-to-shoulder with giants like Naruto,Dragon Ball, and One Piece, the grand finale that is Infinity Caslte and Sunrise Countdown were going to be major events. Come opening weekend in the US, I got my Tanjiro haori on, grabbed a prop sword I had from One Piece, and headed to my nearest AMC to see Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Movie: Infinity Castle.
And it was worth every last penny that I spent.
LET THE WAR BEGIN!
After a brief flashback revealing how Kagaya, the head of the Demon Slayer Corps, told the Stone Hashira Gyomei about his plans to sacrifice himself to kill Muzan, the film picks up right where we left off. Muzan teleports the Demon Slayers, save for a few non-combatants, into his base, the Infinity Castle, in the hopes of wiping them out for good. With everyone capable of fighting separated within this pocket dimension and surrounded by hordes of Demons, their mission is clear: find Muzan and kill him. With the stage now set and all the players in place, the final battle between humans and demons begins, and what a battle it is!
Right from the start, Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle makes it clear it’s not going to wait for the gate to open: it’s just going to break it and come out charging like Inosuke trying to fight a train. By that, I mean that the film knows that this is the start of the grand finale, and that it can’t afford to hold anything back. Ufotable has always been consistent about providing the series with cinema-levels of animation, but for the second time in its history, the franchise gets to play out in actual cinemas. So it holds nothing back in regards to everything. It continues to blur the line between 2D and CGI animation to the point where it doesn’t exist anymore. It knows when to inject some of the series’ irreverent comedy when needed. Above all else, though, it knows how to get the most out of the fights to keep audiences on their toes, cheering one minute…and then crying out the next in anguish.
If you have read the manga ahead of time, then you know that not all of the heroes are going to live to see the end of this fight. Even anime-only people will go into this film expecting for some of the Demon Slayers to die. Losing Rengoku in Mugen Train made it abundantly clear that it doesn’t matter how likable someone is; that won’t save them. If anything, the film only makes the anguish of seeing what the heroes get put through feel even worse thanks to its frequent use of flashbacks for both parties. As a result, when something bad does happen to one of the heroes, you are going to feel awful watching it and knowing that nothing can be done. I will not name names, but if you read the manga, you know. We should just be grateful that the body count was light in the film, because the proceeding films will not be so kind.
Speaking of flashbacks, a good chunk of the film’s 2-hour, 35-minute runtime is made up of flashbacks. Like many good Shonen anime, these flashbacks are designed to flesh out the backgrounds of certain characters, revealing their motivations, perspectives on the world, and driving forces. Some people have complained about their prescence in the film as it takes time away from the action people came to see. However, they serve an important purpose that ties back to the series themes of overcoming adversity and facing impossible odds. Many of the demons we meet were people who saw the ugliness in the world and allowed it to corrupt them, turning them into the monsters that they are. Some of them even have downright sympathetic backstories. It doesn’t excuse them for what they do, but it’s meant to help contrast with the Demon Slayers, who refuse to give up despite the odds.
Hence, the flashbacks stay, even if they make Infinity Castle run longer than some would like.
Demon Slayer Deserved to be a Movie. Again!
Having seen the movie for myself, I can honestly understand why some people complain about its length and pacing. Demon Slayer has released compilation films in the past, and at times, Infinity Castle can feel like one. In fact, its sheer size and pacing makes it feel less like a film at times and more like an excuse to get the first six or so episodes on the big screen. At which point you start to ask whether or not making the finale a movie trilogy was even necessary.
To all those who think question this logic, I offer this rebuttal: It is necessary, because it’s Demon Slayer.
One of the most important aspects to any story is its ending. If the ending is good, then people will talk about it for years to come. Maybe even generations, if lucky. Given how much flak Demon Slayer got for the manga’s ending, it’s not inaccurate to say that it’s up to the anime to redeem things. And for something as grand and epic as Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, a simple TV or smartphone isn’t worthy of what’s going to happen. In all fairness, Demon Slayer has earned the right to end on the big screen. And so far, it’s justifying its right to be there, again! It’s the biggest opening for an anime film in the West to date!
So, to summarize, this movie is awesome. I consider it the last big movie of the summer season, and if you’re a fan of Demon Slayer, don’t wait for it to show up on Crunchyroll or another streaming service. Do yourself a favor and get your cosplay, go to the nearest theater, and get your butts in a seat. You will thank yourself later.
Just hope you have better luck getting the collectible popcorn bucket or cups than I did. They sold out where I went days in advance.
I Give “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Infinity Castle” A 5/5
Bryce Papenbrook, AKA Kirito, Cat Noir, Eren Yeager, and many other roles. I have been a fan of him since his Sword Art Online days, but the last thing that I expected was for him to appear in DanDaDan. Nor did I expect him to be voicing the latest addition to the cast, a boy who’s somehow nerdier than Okarun and more of a Chuunibuyo than Aira was during her introduction.
He’s gonna fit right in!
A New Chuuni Has Appeared
DanDaDan – Kinta Sataka كيتنا صار شخصية مشهورة عالميا بسبب دخوله الأول لاغنية شخصية شار من مسلسل جاندام#جاندامpic.twitter.com/U16JjAxUlz
Meet Kinta Sakata, even more of an all-around, stereotypical nerd than Okarun was when we first met him. He likes reading sci-fi about mecha, he acts like a chuunibuyo, and he does JoJo poses like it’s second nature. Unfortunately for him, he lacks the one thing that enabled Okarun to start growing out of his shy and nerdy exterior: rizz. He’s got no rizz whatsoever, and he’s jealous of Okarun for having that.
The first few minutes of the episode are a retelling of Momo and Okarun’s first day back to school after their initial fight with Turbo Granny. The anime wants us to think that he’s been there the entire time watching them, but it’s so obvious that he’s shoehorned in that it’s hilarious. Which I feel like was kind of the point: the series is trying to make him seem like this guy who’s always been there in the background, but now he wants to take the spotlight.
In a nutshell, Kinta has one goal and one goal alone: to get girls to notice him. The problem is that he’s even more socially inept than Okarun was at the start. So when he tries to ask Okarun how a fellow nerd like him is now getting attention from beautiful girls like Aira and Momo, Ken has no idea how to respond. As if to drive the point home, Okarun’s class rep and Momo get into an argument over him because the latter keeps disrupting their studying. And since Kinta has no clue about the golden balls, he mistakes what they’re saying for spicy talk and tries to emulate it, only to come off as a total creep. It’s hilarious!
As a fellow nerd, I can recognize when one of our number is turning people off by trying too hard. And Kinta is trying way too hard! If I were to give the guy any advice, it would be that you can’t force yourself to have charisma. Okarun has rizz without even trying because he’s not trying to be someone he isn’t. He’s a naturally nice person, and so attracts people to him.
We’re Going Kaiju Now!
In any event, Kinta ends up getting more than he bargained for when he follows Okarun and Momo after school. They’re trying to find what they think is Okarun’s remaining nut, only for them to be unable to catch it once it starts flying around all over the place. Yet, despite him being more or less clueless about everything, Kinta does manage to prove to have some value. Thanks to his knowledge of sci-fi, he’s able to figure out that their enemy is using cloaking and finds a way to get past it. And it works! They’re actually able to stop this invisible enemy…for a second. Then they get to see its true form.
That’s right, people! In a series filled with ghosts and aliens, it was only a matter of time before we got one of Japan’s most famous cultural icons, the kaiju! There’s only way to fight a kaiju without summoning another one, and that requires a giant robot. Next week, expect some kaiju on mecha action! But in the meantime, I stand by what I said about Kinta. He might be awkward as they come with his chuuni ways, but he’s going to fit right in with this cast.
Hey, you! Yeah, you! Assuming that we got this up on time, do you know what’s happening in the world of anime and manga this week? Starting on Thursday, September 11th (or 9th for Crunchyroll subs), an anime film that fans have been waiting to see for a year now makes its way west. Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba The Movie: Infinity Castle is making its way to theaters in America.
While commemorative popcorn buckets have been around for a while, the last two years or so have seen them surge in popularity. Movie theaters have been going crazy releasing collectible popcorn buckets and cups as tie-in merch for major movies. I’ve even gotten into it by getting tins for Superman and Fantastic Four earlier this summer. And now, its Demon Slayer’s turn.
As you can see, AMC theaters is releasing this collectible tin made to look like the Infinity Castle, complete with characters from the movie itself. In addition, they’re also releasing collectible drinking cups based on the swords of four characters from the movie: Tanjiro, Zenitsu, Giyu, and Shinobu.
They’re not the only theaters releasing buckets, though. Cinemark is also getting in on the action, but their bucket isn’t as cool as what AMC has. Japan got this cool looking bucket with straps and artwork on it.
But none of them are as cool as what fans in Malaysia got. They’re getting one with an infinity LED lid that simulates the interior of the Infinity Castle itself.
I have already made plans to go see Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba The Movie: Infinity Castle, albeit alone due to everyone I know being busy. Whether or not I buy any of the buckets or cups is up in the air, but I cannot deny that they do look pretty cool. More importantly, the fact that theaters are making buckets for an anime film is an encouraging sign of how far anime has come in pop culture. With fans in Japan raving about the movie, it’s up to us in the West to make sure that it meets the same reception.
So what are you waiting for? Go get your tickets!!
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