Manga

The Fight We all Wanted to See in Daima!!!

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Dragon Ball Daima Ep 8 Review

Now this…this is more like it! We’ve been waiting eight episodes now for Dragon Ball Daima to give us a fight that’s truly worthy of the franchise’s name. We’ve gotten plenty of good action scenes and sparring matches, but we have yet to get the kind of fight where Goku shows us why he’s one of the GOATs of anime. However, all of that has changed with his fight with the first of the Tamagami as the entire Demon Realm watches. More importantly, though, this episode offers us some surprising lore regarding the Demon Realm, Majin Buu, and what it is that Dr. Arinsu could be after.

Goku vs the Tamagami

The long-awaited fight between Goku and the first of the Tamagami begins in earnest, and it was worth the wait. While not to the level of power that fans have grown used to in Dragon Ball, Daima is quick to remind us that, kid or not, Goku remains a formidable foe. As his fight against the Tamagami attracts the nearby villagers, they’re stunned to see him not only match the guardian of the Dragon Ball blow for blow, but begin to dominate him. For longtime fans of the franchise, though, this shouldn’t come as a surprise. Goku is like that, after all.

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Since we know that Goku will inevitably win, the fans should be paying attention to how the fight plays out rather than the overall outcome. And Toei managed to do a good job of animating it. From Goku blocking a hammer with his Power Pole to going Super Saiyan and having a beam clash, the series makes this a fun watch. But what was even funnier was how Goku ultimately wins the Dragon Ball.

This Was Classic Toriyama!

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I have to admit, I wasn’t expecting Goku to have to win the Dragon Ball by playing a version of the Shell Game, but…it feels like something Toriyama would want to do. Remember, Akira Toriyama was known just as much for his sense of goofy humor as he was for all the action. Having the Tamagami test Goku using the Shell Game, only for him to effortlessly point out the being’s attempted con, just screams Toriyama. It’s nice to see his imprint on Dragon Ball, but it’s a little sad, too, since he’s no longer with us.

At any rate, Goku ultimately manages to do what no one in the Demon Realm ever has and wins the first Dragon Ball. With that in hand, they head toward Warp-Sama to meet with their arriving comrades and head to the Second Demon World. As it turns out, the fight isn’t the episode’s highlight. It’s what comes after.

Dr. Arinsu Has a Bigger Plan in Store

As Gomah and Degesu are looking over old footage of the Z Warriors fights, they notice something when watching the moment when Vegeta blew himself up trying to kill Majin Buu. As the pieces of Buu began to reform, a lone figure managed to grab one of them before it could merge with the others. That person was none other than Dr. Arinsu. She was there during the Buu Saga!

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It only gets crazier from there. While everything else is happening, Arinsu goes to a mysterious witch named Marba, currently brewing some kind of creation in a cauldron using that fragment of Buu. It’s not made clear right away, but the audience meant to guess that Arinsu is trying to create some kind of clone of Buu. That’s not even the craziest part, though. The crazy part is that Arinsu reveals that Marba is the one who created Majin Buu! As in, the original, psychotic, virtually feral, black air force wearing menace that pushed Goku and the others to the brink!

Buu Was Created by Who?!?!?

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This is a major retcon to the world of Dragon Ball. From his inception, fans have believed that Majin Buu had one of two origins: either Bibidi created Kid Buu, or Kid Buu was this entity that existed for eons that Bibidi found. Now we know that both of those aren’t true, with Marba being Buu’s creator. And even though everything worked out and Buu (the good part of him)is now Goku’s friend, that still makes Marba indirectly responsible for countless deaths over millions of years. And now she’s helping Arinsu make a clone of Buu, the main difference being that this one will actually obey its master.

I’ve had my suspicions before, but now it’s becoming clear that Arinsu might be the real big bad of Daima. She’s set everything in motion by manipulating Gomah and bringing Goku to the Demon Realm; if she has her own Buu, she will be trouble. Keep in mind that at this point in time, Goku could only beat Buu because of a Spirit Bomb. Imagine how tough it would be for him to fight another Buu in his kid form!

Dragon Ball Daima is starting to heat up, and I’m glad I’ve stuck around for it this long. It’s a little sad knowing that we’re almost done with the First Demon World, but with most of the quests done, it’s time to move on. I can’t wait to see what the next world looks like.

I Give “Tamagami” a 5/5

Finally, Supreme Kai Cooks!

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

Dragon Ball Daima Ep 7 Review

Dragon Ball is the template for the modern Shonen manga, and that means most mangaka learned from its successes as well as its shortcomings. And one of the franchise’s biggest shortcomings has to be how Goku comes to outshine almost every other character. That’s expected since he’s the main protagonist, but at some point, the franchise’s default strategy for dealing with the big bads became “wait for Goku.” Even TeamFourStar pointed this fact out in their abridged series. Thankfully, the franchise has started to learn from this in recent years by giving other characters the chance to show what they can do. And with Goku reduced to chibi-sized for the duration of Daima, his party can show that they’re not just there to keep Goku on the right path. They can fight, too, as Supreme Kai proves in this episode!

So I was Wrong about the Plane

At the end of the last episode, I speculated that Kibito’s prescence had something to do with Shin’s plane not working. However, it was something simpler. A rock used for the energy converter isn’t working, thereby making the plane useless. Which also makes me question why they even bothered to have it? Thankfully, Hybis, one of King Kadam’s men, shows up to give them a ride. Before the episode’s out, the team of Hybis, Bulma, Vegeta, and Piccolo have made it to the Demon Realm. Kibito stayed behind to watch the Lookout with Popo.

Honestly, this is much better than having to wait longer to see how Bulma and the others make it to the Demon Realm. Even better, it solves the issue of not having the right pin # for Mr. Warp. Way to think on your feet, Toei!

Meanwhile, Goku’s party continues to have a string of bad luck as the Gendermerie return looking for Goku. He’s able to elude them thanks to his Instant Transmission, but then they try to arrest Panzy because they (rightfully) suspect her for attacking them in that village. Another fight ensues, and the trio of Goku, Shin, and Glorio proceed to beat everyone unconcious. However, their plane gets destroyed in the process, once again hindering their travels…

…is what you’d think I’d say! However, they find an extra Gendermerie plane and decide to steal that instead. As a bonus, this will mean that fewer people will try to stop them.

Supreme Kai is Mattering Now

This fight, while nowhere near as epic as what we’re used to in Dragon Ball, is still good. The reason being that, unlike in most cases, Goku can’t handle everything on his own. For the first time since he was a kid, he’s in a position where he has to rely on his friends to help. And after years of being considered weak compared to the Saiyans, Shin reminds us just why he’s a Supreme Kai in the first place. He may be young by his race’s standards, but he’s still fairly capable.

As if to highlight the greater emphasis Shin has in this series, the next thing that he does is get rid of the collar Panzy’s forced to wear around her neck. The series already implied it, but this episode confirms that the collars the Third Demon World resident’s wear suppress their magic and can be used as tracking devices. Dr. Arinsu created them back during Dabura’s reign, so this is something that’s been going on for a longtime. It further emphasizes how unfair a place the Demon Realm is, and that it’s high time for a regime change. Given how this is a Shonen series, there’s a good chance that by the time Daima ends, those collars will be a thing of the past. Especially since Shin tells Panzy that the magic he used to break her collar can be used by anyone. Shin and Panzy could be the key to liberating the people of the Demon Realm in the near future!

In addition, this episode also reveals Shin’s true Glind name, Nahare. Just like Goku has his Saiyan name, Shin has a Glind name. Neat!

The Real Fun is Coming

The series is now seven episodes in, but it feels like the pacing hasn’t picked up at all, though that’s about to change. The episode ends with Goku and the others making it to the first of the Tamagami warriors that guard this dimension’s Dragon Balls so that he can fight them. Given what the preview for the next episode has to say, it looks like we’re in for a good fight. And while I don’t doubt the strength of the Tamagami…it’s Goku. The man is going to fight actual gods in the near future, can solo most characters in all of fiction, and has fought Superman three different times. He may not have won any of those fights, but he did put the Man of Steel through his paces. He can handle the Tamagami.

I Give “Collar” a 3.5/5

Goku & Luffy Share Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade 2nd Year in a Row

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You know, considering how much Goku and Luffy eat, it feels appropriate that they’re balloons at the Thanksgiving Day Parade.

This year marks the hundredth anniversary of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, though it’s only the 98th. It got canceled from 1942-44 because they needed the rubber for World War II. In that time, countless cultural icons have had their likeness be a part of the parade, reflecting what is considered popular in the US. And with anime having gone mainstream, that now includes the likes of Shonen icons such as Goku and Luffy.

This year, Goku appeared at the parade with a new balloon. Rather than the Super Saiyan Blue balloon that’s been used since his 2018 debut, Goku was shown off in his base form, smiling as he gives a two-finger salute to those watching. Considering how his new series, Daima, has him returned to a child form, this is very timely on the part of whoever makes the balloons. It should also be noted that this is first time Goku’s in the parade without his creator due to Akira Toriyama’s passing earlier this year. It should be noted that NBC’s hosts for the parade did not make any mention of Toriyama as Goku went by, though. It feels like a missed opportunity.

As for Luffy, this year marks his second year of being a part of the Macy’s parade, having debuted in 2023. Unfortunately, the future Pirate King’s debut was marred when his balloon got blown into a tree as it passed by. The branches tore open the brim of his iconic straw hat, making it resemble a bucket hat instead. Fans took this in stride, though, as many jokingly called him “Bucket Hat Luffy” and even made fanart of it.

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Unlike last year, this year had no branches or trees to get in Luffy’s way. Considering how the One Piece anime had its 25th anniversary this year, it’s good to see this happen to him. It’s a reminder of how much people love One Piece and support its creator, Eichiro Oda. Oda has had to take frequent breaks from the manga in recent years for his well-being, but many fans have been understanding of his needs.

Did you see the parade this year? Any other anime characters you hope to see join someday? Let us know!

Oh No, We Got a Chunni Magical Girl

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

Dan Da Dan Ep 6 Review

The chuunibyou, AKA that one person you know who thinks that tries to act as cool as they think they are because they want to be special. When, really, all they’re doing is making themselves look like obnoxious, delusional numbskulls. It is a recurring theme that pops up in many anime, and often-times, they can come off as insufferable. Why are we bringing this up? Because as Momo and Okarun search for the latter’s missing balls, one of them winds up in the hands of a familiar girl…and the delusional teenager turns into a chuunibyou.

Aira the Delusional Idiot

Meet Aira Shiratori, AKA the pink-haired popular girl that decided to mess with Okarun and got hit by a wash tub, courtesy of Momo. Since she’s in the OP, that means she’s going to become a part of the main cast, but if your opinion of her wasn’t already low, then it’s going to get there in this episode.

The last episode established that Aira is that one girl in high school that tries to act all pure, sweet, and innocent so she’ll be popular. However, as her interactions with Okarun demonstrate, she may look sweet on the outside, but she’s not so sweet on the inside. As if her messing with Okarun wasn’t bad enough, it turns out that she puts up that sweet and cutesy act to get everyone else’s hopes up that they have a shot with her. In truth, though, she’s the kind of petty and spiteful girl who was willing to spread false rumors that Momo gets around as payback for hurting her. Thankfully, it only partially worked, as one of the guys who bought into got intimidated by an irate Okarun.

Bottom line, Aira, as she is, is the kind of girl that you shouldn’t touch with a thirty-nine-and-a-half foot pole. And as this episode demonstrates, she’s also a chuunibyou who’s in over her head after finding one of Okarun’s missing balls.

Is this Girl Serious?

As revealed in flashback, Aira found one of Okarun’s balls when it fell off the train during that epic game of tag. It gave her the power to see spirits and Yokai, and the girl becomes convinced that she was chosen by heaven to save the world from evil. And that her enemy is Momo Ayase, who she’s convinced is an evil demon.

*SMH in disappointment*.

For the record, not every chuuni character in fiction is going to be insufferable by nature. But as she is right now, Aira rubs me the wrong way. Not only is she full of herself, she’s also delusional and foolish enough to think she’s a magical girl. She even lures Momo to an abandoned warehouse and tries to exorcise her, much to Momo’s incredulity. But then an actual yokai shows up wanting Aira to call her “mommy.” And then tries to eat her, Momo, and Okarun when she refuses.

Turbo Granny Finally Being Helpful

This yokai is called an “Acrobatic Silky” according to Turbo Granny, who has now taken to following the duo around in cat form. Given how Okarun’s holding her power hostage until he gets back what she stole from him, she has a vested interest in keeping them alive. While she can’t actually help in a fight, it’s still interesting to see how she interacts with the teens by providing exposition. Plus, even in her reduced state, she still thinks highly of herself, as shown when she mocks Silky for underestimating Momo and Okarun. She’s right, too; thanks to Momo’s quick thinking, they manage to escape Silky. Unforutnately, the episode decides to end right as the second round is about to start.

I don’t know what it is about Aira that rubs me the wrong way right now, but I think it’s because I’ve seen what these “jerks in sheep’s clothing” type characters are like that make me weary of her. I doubt that she’ll be like that for long, but for now, I’m left shaking my head at her chuuni traits. At least she saved Momo and Okarun time by giving them one of the missing kintama!

I Give “A Dangerous Woman Arrives” a 4/5

Who Said Being Friends Was Easy?

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

Dan Da Dan Ep 5 Review

Looking back on my teen years, I am torn. On the one hand, I never had that many friends that I was super close to, but that was due to my own choices and/or the fact that they weren’t within walking distance of my house. On the other hand, that meant I never had to deal with any of that teen drama that you see on TV and in books. That meant that I never had to deal with drama with the friends I did have, as opposed to Okarun and Momo. Now that they’ve forged their friendship through the bonds of conflict, they have to face the real challenge: maintaining said friendship. And when you’re a teen, misunderstandings can happen. A lot.

Awkward Friendships Ensue

So, Okarun and Momo have become best friends after fighting off aliens and ghosts together, but once they get back to school, they have to deal with the realization that they have opposing personalities. Momo is pretty, popular, extroverted and outgoing. Okarun, though, is introverted, shy, and has a hard time asserting himself. So despite the two clearly wanting to stay friends, a series of events ensues that nearly leaves them back as square one: at each other’s throats.

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To be fair, its not entirely their fault. This is probably the first true friendship both have had (I’m saying this because Momo’s friends seem pretty shallow), and they don’t how to properly communicate. It’s like what happened with Rudeus and Eris in Mushoku Tensei, only not as heartbreaking. Thankfully, though, fate conspires to ensure that the two of them make up before the damage becomes irreparable.

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This other girl with pink hair bumps into Okarun, and she starts acting all cute and nice to him. However, as soon as she’s out of range, Momo hears her bragging to her friend about how she was messing with the guy. And Momo’s response? Watch.

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Admit it. We’ve all met that kind of person that needs to get hit by a washtub once in their lives. And afterwards, the two of them reaffirm their friendship. However, there’s one problem. Okarun…lost his balls.

How is Turbo Granny Still Around?

If it weren’t for the fact that he lost another important part of his anatomy, Okarun’s suffering would make for good black comedy. Either way, Momo can’t stop laughing over it.

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It doesn’t take long for Momo’s grandma to get to the bottom of whose behind this: it’s Turbo Granny. Right before she disintegrated, she jumped back into Okarun’s body to hide until she regained her strength. Unfortunately for her, the trio’s exorcism forces her into a porcelain cat but leaves all her power inside Okarun. In other words, she’s powerless and at their mercy, while Ken Takakura can become Kenny Phantom.

The bad news? Turbo Granny lost Okarun’s stones. And according to the preview for the next episode, guess who finds one of them? The pink-haired girl!

So, after some fun teenage drama, it becomes clear that Momo and Okarun’s troubles are far from over. Now they’re stuck working with Turbo Granny until they can get the man’s junk back! So, expect things to get even crazier from here. This episode was basically a cooldown before the insanity continues, and I am all for it.  

I Give “Like, Where are Your Balls?!” a 4.5/5

Panzy, New Party Member, Acquired!

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Dragon Ball Daima Ep 5 Review

Last time on Dragon Ball Daima, the trip of Goku, Shin, and Glorio witnessed the cruelty of Gomah’s reign first-hand as they extorted a village for their money. Or worse, for their very life essence. Thankfully, a mysterious little girl with a penchant for engineering provided enough of a distraction for Goku to do his thing. The question is, who is this girl who seems oddly similar to the likes of Bulma? Fans, meet Panzy, the next party member and the Demon Realm’s equivalent to Bulma…in more ways than one.

Meet Panzy, the New Bulma

After escaping the hopeless soldiers in the village, Goku’s party gets a formal introduction to the mysterious girl seen in the OP and ED, Panzy. A native of the Third Demon World, Panzy is, for lack of a better term, a younger version of Bulma. Young being subjective here, since we learn that Demons can live a thousand years. At 82 years old, she’s basically the human/saiyan equivalent of an 8-year-old.

Regardless of her age, though, I wasn’t joking when comparing her to Bulma. She’s incredibly smart, resourceful, and extroverted for someone her age, being the one who made her failed bombs that she tried to use. She’s also able to get the group a faster route to the castle they’re headed to, which her father rules.

Did we not mention that she’s a princess? Bulma may not be a princess (unless being married to Vegeta counts,) but with how rich she is, she might as well be! The only difference between her and Panzy is that Panzy has magic telekinesis!

A Good Old-Fashioned Goku Beatdown

At any rate, now that they’re at the castle, it’s revealed that Panzy’s father, Kadan, hired Glorio to bring the guy who beat Majin Buu to him. This was so that that person could defeat King Gomah and allow Kadan to become the new Demon King. While the man may be a bit arrogant, even offering to let Goku marry Panzy (lol), given what we remember about Dabura and what we’ve seen of Gomah, he’d be an improvement.

Speaking of Gomah, we get an update as to what he’s doing. Instead of holding Dende captive, he’s treating him like he would any baby: with love and care. Granted, it’s pretty obvious he’s only raising him so that when he gets big again, he can make Gomah more Dragon Balls.

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At any rate, Kadan is obviously unsure as to how strong Goku is given his current state. So, he has Goku fight the entire castle garrison on his own. What follows is a…well I wouldn’t even call it a fight for Goku. It’s more like him just getting a warm-up in as he wipes the floor with the soldiers. In the episode’s best moment, he even flexes by briefly assuming his Super Saiyan form just for the heck of it!

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As someone who binge-watched the original Dragon Ball online during high school, this fight was incredibly nostalgic for me. It harkens back to the days when Goku fought enemies like the Red Ribbon Army on his own or with his friends. Good times!

By the end of the episode, Kadan gives his full support to the group as they set off on the next leg of their journey, giving them a new plane to use in the process. They even offer to leave a message for the second group of Vegeta, Bulma, and Piccolo that will be following them. The most significant thing that happens, though, is that Panzy decides to join the group as their fourth party member.

New Party Member Acquired

This entire episode easily cements Panzy as the best girl of Daima. Everything about her reminds viewers of how Goku and Bulma’s friendship formed in the early days, and it looks like history will repeat with him and Panzy. Unfortunately, the group’s bad luck doesn’t seem to let up. First, Shin continues to think that Glorio is sus. Secondly, their plane goes down as they’re headed to…wherever it is they’re going to. It looks like this is going to be one of those long Shonen series.

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Who cares, though? That just means more Dragon Ball for everyone! Great introduction to a new character who will no doubt become a waifu.

I Give “Panzy” a 4.5/5

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 don’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.

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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 doesn’t let off the gas. After getting trapped in Turbo Granny’s tunnel, Momo follows Seiko’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 Momo’s powers. After that, things just escalate. A giant crab spirit chases them, an army of ghost possesses the bystanders to chase them. It’s complete and utter chaos!

If I had to compare this extended game of tag best, I would say it’s like a Stand Battle from JoJo’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 who’s smarter rather than stronger. Usually, it’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, there’s also the choice of music. At one point, the anime uses a remix of the famous “William Tell Overture” and “Galop Infernal”, AKA “The Can-Can Music.” 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 Okarun’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 don’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 “Kicking Turbo Granny’s Ass” a 5/5

Granny Supremacy is Real in Dan Da Dan

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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