Shonen

More Worldbuilding for Demon Realm!

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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

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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

Welcome to the Demon Realm, Goku!

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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. I’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 man’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 we’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 he’s still Goku, though, he’s able to hold himself pretty well in a fight. Though that may have more to do with the fact that they’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, it’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, it’s revealed that access to the higher worlds is restricted behind barriers with those from the lowest unable to visit. What’s more, when Glorio and Supreme Kai make conversation, they bring up how Shin’s people come from the 2nd world of the Demon Realm. That alone is a major retcon for the Supreme Kai’s origins, but that’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. He’s guarded, able to handle himself in a fight, and seems to be hiding something from the others. I can’t say that he’s untrustworthy, but I’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 “Plane.” Guess they’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

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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.

Okarun Got that Dawg in Him

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Dan da Dan Ep 2 Review

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

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

These Two are Like Cats and Dogs

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

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

Of course, there’s still the matter of Okarun being possessed by Granny Turbo. Momo can’t surpress the spirit forever, and she’s already getting close to her limit. Then, to make matters worse, the two find themselves trapped inside some kind of Domain Expansion by this giant sumo alien that’s working for the ones they met in the first episode. They still want the pair’s bananas!

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

THIS IS THE DAWG!

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

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

I hate cliffhangers like this because I don’t want to wait another week to find out what happens. However, the fact that I want to know what comes next now just shows how good Dan Da Dan is. And while I could just read the manga to see what happens, I won’t. I want to enjoy it as it happens! That being said, we’re only two episodes in, and Dan Da Dan has already become one of my favorite anime of 2024. It’s likely going to be the series that everyone will be talking about for some time to come!

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

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

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Well, it’s official now. The voice of Goku shall be forever immortalized.

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

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

And you know what? I’m okay with that.

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

If I’m being perfectly honest, I’m glad that she’s agreed to this. Masako is 87 right now, and as much as we may want it, she can’t keep playing Goku forever. I think that she understands this, and so she doesn’t want to see the character of Goku die with her. By doing this, she’s making sure that Goku can continue to be voiced by her for as long people want to keep making stuff for Dragon Ball. Some voices are too powerful to let them fade away, and this is a prime example.

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

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Dan da Dan Episode 1 Review

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

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

Give Us Your Banana

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

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

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

Dan Da Dan is Gorgeous from Start to Finish!

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

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

I Love What Momo and Okarun Have Going On

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

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

And the best part? He shares the same name as Momo’s celebrity crush!

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

Watch this Now!!!

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

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

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

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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

I’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, it’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 that’s the case, I’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. You’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 won’t be a threat. In essence, it’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!

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Toriyama Decided to do GT, but Better

I know that this is supposed to be serious, but I still can’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. That’s essentially him saying “You’re doing it all wrong, you guys. Let the master show you how it’s done!” 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 I’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 Academia’s fourth film, You’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. I’m glad that I did, because while it doesn’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, You’re Next is set amidst the backdrop of a Japan that’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 Might’s successor, but nobody buys it. Especially not Deku and his friends. It doesn’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, they’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. It’s pretty telling how messed up this man is when Midoriya openly hates his guts. And I don’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 isn’t that interesting. We all knew that he wasn’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. He’s just a criminal who only cares about All Might’s power and not his ideals. And as strong as he is, he’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 film’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.

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As for the story itself, it’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. He’s got a cool cyborg arm, an eyepatch, and a motorcycle. It wasn’t hard for me to be reminded of Hajime from Arifureta. He also happens to be one of those movie characters that’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 doesn’t really add much to My Hero Academia, but to be honest, it doesn’t need to. Whenever I see a movie for a popular anime, the majority of the time, I know that it’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 there’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