Anime Blog

Naruto is What the World Needs Right Now

Aside Roderick J "Jay" Friz Anime, Anime REvisited, Dubs & Subs , , , , , , , , , ,

Remember Naruto 10 Years After his Series Ended

November 10th, 2014 was an important day in my life. Not because I hit an important milestone or something good happened, but because a story that I had been following for the last nine years had ended. On that day, Naruto, one of the greatest Shonen manga of all time, came to an end as we saw that our guy, Naruto Uzumaki, had finally achieved his dream of becoming Hokage.

I learned about Naruto in 2005 when the English Dub made its way onto Toonami in the Fall. And while I thought the series was pretty interesting, it still took me a while to get into it. It didn’t help that I kept missing a few episodes or that more than half of the original series was filler. It wasn’t until I was in Middle School or High School that I became a hardcore fan, watching most of the episodes and reading the manga weekly. It became one of my favorite things when I went to lunch. I would go to the library, find a computer, and just read the newest chapter on whatever website I could find. And I’m pretty sure I almost cried on the day that the last chapter came out. These characters, who started no older than me, were now all grown-up and living their best lives, raising their own families and everything. And I went to my journal (I wrote in a journal then) and just poured out all my thoughts and feelings about the ending.

Growing Up in Unprecedented Times

I think the reason that I grew to like Naruto so much was not just because of the story or the flashy moves, but because of the message that I felt that it was trying to teach us. When we’re kids, we tend to see things as pretty black-and-white, good and bad, that sort of thing. As we get older, most of us tend to realize that things aren’t often as simple as they appear to be. Good people like Itachi can be forced to do terrible things to prevent something worse. Those with the best intentions can wind up being broken by the pain and suffering we all experience through life, just like Obito and Nagato. And some people just wind up being hated and spat on for reasons that they simply don’t understand, just like Naruto. The boy was born the son of the Hokage, but not only did he lose his parents within hours of his birth, but he didn’t even know they were his parents until he was in his teens. And everyone treated him like trash for something that, as the Third Hokage pointed out, should’ve been seen as a hero for. The world wasn’t always fair like that!

Such Pointless Hatred

I didn’t start getting full-time into Naruto until my teens, but I found it at the right time in my life. Because that was around the time when I began to realize just how bad the world could be for some people. I was reading up all these history books talking about atrocities like the Holocaust and all this other stuff, and I couldn’t understand why these people were being treated so harshly for, what I saw, the most trivial of reasons. And this wasn’t just an issue of the past, either. It was something that was affecting our world in the present day. Flash forward to a few years after the end of Naruto, and it seems like people are more divided than ever! People are being divided on all sorts of lines! And for my life, I still don’t get why everyone is making such a big deal about it. I understand rationally why there’s so much hate and discord. People are afraid of that which they don’t understand. We’re so scared of losing the things that we have because someone else is going to come and take them. We’re afraid that that new neighbor who moved here from another country will hurt us or our loved ones. And sometimes that does happen, causing that fear and pain to morph into hate. And that hatred leads us to continue the cycle of pain and hurt others in the process.  

I understand that, but I donโ€™t accept it.

Naruto himself would learn that all too well when he lost his master and father-figure, Jiraya. He was motivated to avenge his master, especially when he realized that his killer was once Jiraya’s own student. And that need for revenge almost made him succumb to his dark side until the fail-safe his Dad left brought him to his senses. Afterwards, instead of just killing Pain, he chose to hear out how his life fell apart and what made him the way he was. And while he understood why Pain became the way he did, and still wanted to make him pay for hurting his loved ones, he chose not to. He decided to spare Pain’s life, and that mercy and empathy led Pain to undo everything he did, albeit at the cost of his own life.

We All Need to be Nicer to Each Other

Naruto had always been a person who was capable of great empathy, because he knew what it’s like to be treated like garbage. But this was the moment when he really started working towards finding a way to end the hate that seemed to plague his world. He didn’t know how he would do it, but he knew he had to do it. Granted, many people have complained about his “Talk no Jutsu” over the years and called it a cop-out. And it can be a bit of a cop-out at times. The way I see it, though, Naruto is just really good at trying to find the good in other people, no matter who they are.

https://twitter.com/GreninjaGoat/status/1854530070217470123

I know that Naruto isn’t always the most realistic of characters because of how he views the world, but then I remember just what his world is like, and what our world is like. More and more people are living in fear and hatred of each other, and given current events, it might even feel like there’s no hope for the world. As bad as things are, and I know that they can get worse, I don’t want to give up hope that they can get better. When enough people realize that’s it better to love each other rather than hate each other, then we can change the world for the better. I know that many people may feel like they don’t have a place in this world, but they can’t let themselves think like that. They need to keep working towards making things better. And maybe, when enough of us come together to do so, we can end up changing things for the better.

Just look at what Naruto was able to do by the end of his series. He had managed to unite the majority of his world together through his empathy and kindness. Through his sheer tenacity, he managed to slap some sense into Sasuke and made him turn his life around. And it looked like the world was on the way to becoming a better place.

Choose to Follow Naruto’s Example

Granted, Boruto has shown that that’s not the case, and many people hate the series for that. But no matter how great you are, you can’t expect to solve all the world’s problems in your lifetime. But if you manage to pass on your ideals to the next generation, they can continue what you started. And right now, our generation is in the position to do just that.

Our generation came of age in very uncertain times, and it feels like things have only gotten worse. But, as bad as things are, I still hear stories about people going out and doing things to try and make the world a better place. It may not seem like much, but all those small acts of love and kindness can add up to something greater. And right now, the world needs more love and compassion.

So, as we celebrate ten years since the end of Naruto, I’ve gone back and reflected on the message behind the entire series. What Masashi Kishimoto was trying to do was teach kids the importance of hard work and never giving up on our dreams. That we should not hate each other, but learn to understand one another. And from that understanding, we can work together to build something more significant than we ever could on our own. With how the world is right now, heaven knows we need to remember that kind of message. This world needs more people like Naruto in it!

Happy belated birthday to Masashi Kishimoto, the creator of Naruto. It was an honor to get to see you at NYCC in 2015, even if I never got to speak to you!

https://twitter.com/NarutoVibe/status/1854916911651316002

More Worldbuilding for Demon Realm!

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

Dragon Ball Daima Ep 4

Last time on Dragon Ball Daima, Goku, Glorio, and Superme Kai arrived in the Demon Realm, a dimension full of wonder and danger. Unfortunately, whatever plans they had to quickly track down Gomah and rescue Dende are derailed by the loss of Glorio’s plane. Now they have no choice but to proceed on foot. However, what’s unfortunate for them is fortunate for the viewers, as it lets this episode take the time to further explain how things in the Demon Realm work. From the methods people use to get around to how they enhance their strength, this episode does the best thing it can do for a land fans know nothing about: it keeps worldbuilding.

SOMEONE STOLE THEIR RIDE!!

Picking up right where the last episode ended, Goku, Glorio, and Supreme Kai have woken up to find that their plane is gone. The thugs that Goku humiliated at the bar stole it as payback. Given the urgency of their quest to get to Gomah, one would think recovering it would be a top priority. Instead, Glorio opts to take the unexpected route and decides they’ll continue on foot.

And before any viewers can point out that they can fly using ki, the show reveals it already thought ahead. The dense air of the area makes it difficult to fly for extended periods, leaving Goku and the others stuck on Terra Firma.

It might not seem like a big deal, but filling up this potential plot hole demonstrates how much forethought the people put into Daima. When Toei said that it would be returning Goku to his early days, they meant it! They’re doing everything to ensure that Goku can’t steamroll his way through their quest. That’s a sign of good writing!

Good Worldbuilding

As an added benefit to traveling on foot, the episode gets to continue the series’ worldbuilding efforts for the Demon Realm. Most notably, their stop at a tea shop for supplies demonstrates new story mechanics in the form of medicines. The Demon Realm has a medicine that serves as its equivalent to Senzu Beans, and a herb that can allow people to fuse together! Then immediately afterward, we get a new method of transportation in the form of giant, rocket-like seeds.

In one scene, we get introduced to the equivalent to two kinds of potions and a method of fast travel. At this point, there’s no point denying that JRPGs inspired Daima.

Covering Up the Plot Holes

In addition to introducing these story mechanics, another big piece of information we get involves the Dragon Balls of the Demon Realm. Viewers already know from listening to Gomah, but no one has been able to use the Demon Realm’s Dragon Balls because three guardians protect them. If they can’t beat these guardians, the Tamagami, they can’t have the Dragon Balls. It’s not a new concept, since GT had the Shadow Dragons near the end. But it still feels novel because solves an issue that I think many fans might have with the concept of the Dragon Balls:

“If the Dragon Balls are so easy for everyone to find, then why aren’t they protected to keep them out of unworthy hands?”

Keep in mind, when they were made, they were supposed to be hard to find, but Bulma creating the Dragon Radar made that pointless. Having their location known but protected by powerful warriors seems far safer. That, and it makes it seem like Daima is doing its best to make it so fans like TeamFourStar can’t point out its flaws.

A New Party Member Appears

At any rate, Goku’s need to fight powerful opponents makes the group change course to find the first Dragon Ball, and that leads to yet another bit of worldbuilding. In this case, we see just what the Demon Realm is like under Gomah’s rule, and it’s not good. The self-proclaimed king has his own army that he uses to extort villagers. They either forfeit what little money they have, or give up part of their life-span. It’s a sadistic choice that leads to suffering no matter what happens. Goku naturally steps in to fight the soldiers, but not before someone else does. A young girl that we’ve seen in the OP and ED for the series.

We don’t get her name in this episode, but judging by the title for the next episode, it’s pretty obvious that her name is Panzy. And if it’s not obvious by now, Toriyama based the names of the Demon Realm characters on puns involving flowers. The man was nothing if not consistent. And even though she only appears in the episode’s final act, it does a good of establishing her character. She’s brave and inventive, but her creations don’t always work the way she wants to. She’s like a younger version of Bulma, which could make for some interesting character dynamics in the future.

This episode might not be as action-oriented as some people would like, with most of the action taking place near the end, but that doesn’t make it a bad episode. Far from it; fans should appreciate the amount of worldbuilding Daima continues to give us. This is a story taking place in a realm that, until now, we know almost nothing about. I, for one, want to learn as much as possible about the Demon Realm. If that means that the story takes its time to get where it wants to go, so be it. It will be worth it in the end.

I Give “Chatty” a 4/5

Momo and Okarun Play the Deadliest Game of Tag

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

Dan Da Dan Ep 4 Review

Remember playing tag with your friends on the playground? With all the running, jumping, and dodging involved, it must have seemed like the most epic thing in the world. But in the case of Momo and Okarun, it’s about to be the most epic thing in the world. In order to restore Okarun’s manhood and freedom, they need to get Turbo Granny outside the city. What follows has to be the most epic game of tag in the history of tag! Complete with ghosts, crab monsters, and outsmarting that would make a JoJo proud in the best episode yet.

OFF TO THE RACES!!

The episode goes full throttle right out of the gate and doesnโ€™t let off the gas. After getting trapped in Turbo Grannyโ€™s tunnel, Momo follows Seikoโ€™s advice and challenges the ghost to a game of tag. She falls for it, but right off the bat, TG cheats. First, she abuses the time she gives them for a headstart. Then, she tries to repossess Okarun, only to get trapped in him thanks to Momoโ€™s powers. After that, things just escalate. A giant crab spirit chases them, an army of ghost possesses the bystanders to chase them. Itโ€™s complete and utter chaos!

If I had to compare this extended game of tag best, I would say itโ€™s like a Stand Battle from JoJoโ€™s Bizarre Adventure on steroids, only sillier. One of the big draws of the fights in that series is that no two battles are similar, and in the end, it comes down to whoโ€™s smarter rather than stronger. Usually, itโ€™s the heroes who have to do the outsmarting, and Okarun and Momo manage to outwit Turbo Granny several times. Joseph Joestar would be proud of them!

LET STUDIO SARU COOK!

As usual, Studio Saru cooked with the animation. The chase scenes are incredibly fluid and well-animated, and the brilliant and extensive use of the color red emphasizes how dangerous things are for the pair. In addition, thereโ€™s also the choice of music. At one point, the anime uses a remix of the famous โ€œWilliam Tell Overtureโ€ and โ€œGalop Infernalโ€, AKA โ€œThe Can-Can Music.โ€ In other words, we got two pieces of music most often associated with chaos in one incredible scene.

The action and climax to this episode were superb, but what the anime handles just as well is the aftermath. The defeat of Turbo Granny and her giant pet crab leads to both dissolving, with the crab turning into the spirits of murdered, teenage girls. Later, Seiko reveals that Turbo Granny had a habit of visiting sites where girls met violent deaths. The anime treats the whole thing somberly and with dignity. And then makes a joke about the trio eating crab for dinner, much to Okarunโ€™s disgust.

They’re Still Friends

More importantly, though, with the curse seemingly over, it looks like Momo and Okarun no longer have a reason to spend time together. The episode baits us into thinking that the two are about to go their separate ways. However, as different as they are, the bond they forged is undeniable. So, they donโ€™t deny it. They intend to stay friends, with the two cheerfully promising to see each other at school.

But, as the title for the next episode shows, their troubles are far from over! Poor Okarun!

This was by far the best episode of the series to date! The action, the comedy, the animation. Everything was amazing from start to finish!

I Give โ€œKicking Turbo Grannyโ€™s Assโ€ a 5/5

Granny Supremacy is Real in Dan Da Dan

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

Dan Da Dan Ep 3 Review

In the Shonen genre, there are several golden rules that most series follow. One of the most prominent ones is that if a character is on the older side of the spectrum, they’ll tend to be super tough. Dragon Ball has Master Roshi, Part 3 of Jojo has Joseph Joestar, and One Piece has so many examples that it’s hard to keep track. And as of this episode of Dan Da Dan, that series has its own tough old woman in the form of Momo’s grandma, here to save her and Okarun from the wrath of Turbo Granny. Except she looks so young that it might be strangest thing in the series yet.

Yes, that includes the fact that ghosts and aliens are real! And yes, the Rule 34 fan artists will have a field day with Granny Ayase.

Meet Granny Seiko!

The episode’s cold opening serves as the series’ formal introduction to Seiko Ayase, Momo’s grandmother. At first glance, she seems to be every bit the fake psychic Momo thinks she is as she seems to get everything wrong about a famous celebrity. But before the intro even starts playing, we get to see just how wrong that assumption is.

Seiko’s introduction to the story was an absolute joy. She subverts everyone’s expectations. Instead of being a fake, she knows exactly what she’s doing by managing to trap Turbo Granny and get Okarun to a shrine to suppress the curse. Rather than looking like someone her age normally would, she looks young enough to be mistaken for Momo’s mom or sister. Even what she seemed to get wrong about that celebrity ended up right!

As tough and as smart as she may be (and no doubt fans will begin making fanart of her), Seiko has some depth to her. Her first interaction with Momo shows that her granddaughter calling her a fake hurt her far more deeply than the former thinks. After all, few things hurt more than a parent or guardian getting called a failure by their child. So seeing Momo get down on her knees and apologize for doubting her Granny is simultaneously satisfying and heartwarming to watch. They care about each other, regardless of their differences, including sharing Momo’s initial belief that aliens aren’t real.

Seiko does likes to tease her granddaughter about her growing feelings for Okarun, which are pretty obvious to everyone watching.

The Deadliest Game Awaits

At any rate, Granny Seiko explains the only way to stop Turbo Granny is to get her away from her stomping grounds to exorcise her. She wanted Momo and Okarun to wait a few days to train themselves, but that would mean Okarun can’t leave the shrine. Which leads to a hilarious scene when he has to race for the bathroom and the two women have to decide whether to let him go or not. Unfortunately, TG (Turbo Granny) decides to force their hands by demanding they come that night…or she’ll kill them all.

For all intents and purposes, this was a breather episode. The next episode is going to ramp the action back up to eleven as Okarun and Momo fight for their lives…and Okarun’s manhood. And given what we’ve seen from the action so far, I’m looking forward to seeing this confrontation!

I Give “A Granny vs. Granny Clash” a 3/5

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

‘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!

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