Bakugan:
Battle Planet - Origin of Species
(2019/Cartoon Network/Warner DVD)/Mr.
Tonegawa Middle Management Blues/Tada
Never Falls In Love (both
2018 Complete Collection
Sentai Blu-rays)
Picture:
B/B+/B+ Sound: C/B+/C+ Extras: D/C/C* Main Programs:
C+/B+/B+
Now
for the latest Anime and Animesque releases...
It's
been 12 years since the Bakugan have arrived on Earth. Dan and his
friends learn and discover Bakugans can turn into giant robots and
are used to battle one another. They are AO (a.k.a. Awesome Ones)
and they fight against anyone who abuses the Bakugans and use them
for evil in Bakugan: Battle
Planet - Origin of Species
(2019).
Dan,
Lia, Wynton and Shun find Bakugans and become Bakugan Brawlers.
Together, they just want to have fun, make friends with Bakugans and
make cool online videos ...however the rest of the world wants to use
them for lesser reasons. Unfortunately, others use the Bakugans for
selfish reasons and there are greedy adults who secretly want to
control the Bakugans and their advance technologies. The bad guys
fight, cheat and lie to win and steal Bakugan from others while Dan
and his friends believe Bakugan and human can co-exist and protect
one another. Together, they fight the forces of evil protect their
hometown from evil Bakugan players.
This
was your typical battle cartoon series based on video games like
Pokemon and Yu-gi-oh. The series is about children who
can control giant robots (that can cause mass damage) and battle.
The heroes learn how not to be like their enemies and opponents and
to be more responsible and rise above them. The moral of the story
however teaches the audience to fight fair and the power of
friendship can overcome any difficulties.
No
extras, but the episodes are:
Origin
of Species Parts 1 & 2 - Dan and his friend find Bakugans and
become first Bakugan Brawlers.
Burger
Run/Monkey See, Monkey Do - Dan and his friends learns other
Bakugan players use their Bakugan for crime, stealing and breaking
the law. Dan meet three 5 year olds and must teach them how to use
their Bakugans responsibly.
Bully
for You/Trolling for Laughs - The AO face a bully who uses his
Bakugan to force others to whatever he wants. Wynton learns he is
bully for humiliating his Bakugan in all his prank videos.
Local
Heroes/Pegatrix - A woman tries to create anti-Bakugan propaganda
to make them unpopular, but secretly she is stealing the Bakugans
from the children. Lia battles another girl who cheats in all her
Bakugan Battles.
Frenemies/Strata's
Fear - Magnus tries to join and spy on the Awesome Ones. A
bounty hunter named Strata tries to steal kids Bakugan.
Dog
Daze/In Focus - Dan's dog Lighting gets a new Bakugan. Lia's mom
interviews AO, but Strata the Bakugan bounty hunter is back and
causing trouble.
The
Exit/The Lost and the Cost - Team Exit challenges Dan. The banks
tries to use the Bakugans for illegal battle gambling and profit.
Mister
Moon/What's Up with Dan? - Wynton gets a new Bakugan but military
tries to steal the Bakugans from them. Magnus masquerades as Dan to
break up the AO's friendship and teamwork.
Babysitting
Bedlam/Rubbed the Wrong Way - Dan and Wynton fight with a spoiled
rich boy. AO learns that Bakugans can get sick from over use and
abuse.
Mask
of Power/Story Holes - Dan learns Magnus and the other players
use artifacts and tech to make their Bakugan more powerful and to
evolve. AO learns adults are capturing Bakugan and making them into
slaves.
Home
on the Run/Top Slot - Shun's family try and force him to return
home. Dan learns training means hard work and leadership means more
than thinking about just himself.
Fathers
and Friends/Midsummer Nightmare - Dan and his friends must
convince Shun's father to let him stay. All the Bakugans in the
world are summoned by a mysterious Golden Bakugan.
Dawn
Before Dusk - The AO learn there is another secret world within
the world of Bakugan and they have been spying on them collecting
their data ...and trying to take over the world.
Mr.
Tonegawa is the right hand man to Hyodo Kazutata, the most ruthless
President of the Teiai Corporation. So when the sadistic president
says he is tired of the usual methods of collecting debt, he orders
Mr. Togegawa to come up with 'special' games to amuse him. Now, Mr.
Tonegawa and his army of men with black suits must organize games of
life and death, can Mr. Tonegawa come up with some crazy ideas that
are profitable and find a way to motivate the troops too in
Mr.
Tonegawa Middle Management Blues
(2018).
Mr.
Tonegawa is the second in command of the mega-corporation Teiai, he
works however for the sole purpose of pleasing his crazy, sadistic
and paranoid mob boss Hyodo. Hyodo is bored and wants to see various
debtors not only broke, but also broken in spirit in life and death
'games'. Mr. Tonegawa must come up with ways to satisfy Hyodo's
unreasonable demands while still keeping the Teiai corporation
functional and find ways to increase his men in black's
effectiveness.
This
is a comedy series making fun of Japanese Mafia/Mob, it is a story
about the 'bad guys' and how they really aren't so bad ...it is
really just their bosses and they are just doing their 'jobs'. The
main character Mr. Tonegawa is the one responsible for coming up with
ideas and do the REAL work with an army of men in black suits,
however the men in black are not paid to think but to follow orders,
and when it comes to being creative and pleasing the big boss they
are clueless. Extras include clean opening and closing animations
and trailers.
Episodes
include:
Start
Up - President Hyodo bored of the all the 'fake' entertainment
out there orders Mr. Tonegawa to come up with ideas for real life
death games and get those in financial debt to bet and gamble their
lives.
Conjecture
- As Mr. Tonegawa brainstorms with the Men in Black (as well as learn
all their names) he must come up with a presentation for Hyodo, but
after all his effort and troubles President Hyodo has fallen asleep
while he tries to present his idea.
Griddle
- Mr. Tonegawa tries to motivate his men with a office party/BBQ.
After a series of mishaps, they are unaware they used torture devices
to help make the party a success.
Adult
- Mr. Tonegawa and his Men in Black come up with a death game called
'Human Mahjong', but then question if everyone know how to play
Mahjong and Mahjong is limited with the number of pieces and players
to the game.
Serious
Soul-Searching - Mr. Tonegawa must find a day to present his
ideas to Hyodo, but first they must catch Hyodo in a good mood or at
least learn the president's signs between his good and bad days.
Self-Destruction
- The Men in Black and Mr. Tonegawa present their idea of Restricted
Rock, Paper and Scissors to Hyodo, but unfortunately catch him on a
bad day in a bad mood.
Transmission
- Mr. Tonegawa and his Men in Black continue to revise and update the
details to their game. Unfortunately, they all come down with the
flu.
Shrimp
- Ebitani comes up with an idea with lobsters but when it turns out
to be horrible tasting the plan backfires and they discover they have
a ton of frozen lobsters.
Fried
Cutlets - Mr. Tonegawa enters a pork cutlet restaurant and
discovers he is entered into huge pork cutlet challenge. He manages
to be the only one to complete the challenge, but the Hyodo asks Mr.
Tonegawa to taste test their company's newest product, the Teiai
cutlet.
Rehearsal
- Mr. Tonegawa and the Men in Black must come up with a was to create
a functional Restricted Rock, Paper and Scissors game in where the
Men in Black are hiding in the boxe tables. Also, for the dress
rehearsal Mr. Tonegawa must find a way to motivate the Men in Black
in pretending to act like desperate gamblers.
Business
Trip - Mr. Tonegawa is on a business trip on a train but he keeps
getting cut off on his phone with his boss when he enters tunnels
which creates misunderstandings and he struggles to call him back as
soon as possible. Mr. Tonegawa gives a lesson on fashion to the Men
in Black.
Fake
- Hyodo believes his is being targeted for assassins and asks
Tonegawa to find a body double for him. Mr. Tonegawa and Yamazaki
find a perfect look alike, but complete opposite in personality. Can
they train the body double to be dark and evil as the president?
Set
Sail - The Restricted Rock, Paper, and Scissors games begin but
Mr. Tonegawa must find a way to have motivational speeches for the
players and on the second day Mr. Tonegawa looses his voice and must
find a stand in for him.
Going
Out - Otsuki Taro is a debtor and he enjoys life on his day off
from forced labor under the Teiai corporation. While he is heavy in
debt, it seems like he has no problem with enjoying life as a debtor.
Spree
- Mr. Tonegawa tries to prove to Otsuki how he is the scum of the
earth and 'break' his spirit of positivity and how he belongs at the
bottom of the social totem pole. However, Mr. Tonegawa somehow ends
up in a food eating competition with Otsuki and they both end up with
upset stomach aches.
Natural
Enemy - Mr. Tonegawa and Hyodo end up at the horse racing tracks,
but Hyodo keeps on insisting his 'horse' is always the winner even
when it isn't his horse.
Unofficial
Announcement - It's October and time for office performance
evaluations and when people are layed off or transferred. However,
everyone is on edge on who will be transferred out.
Conformity
- Mr. Tonegawa annual health check up show him to be over weight and
now he must change his lifestyle and diet. Can he give up all his
favorite foods and beer? The Men in Black helps him with his new
diet. Otsuki meets someone who seems identical to him in his food
choices.
Newcomers
- The first FEMALE in black joins the ranks of the Teiai company and
Mr. Tonegawa warns all the men to avoid all forms of sexual
harassment, but everything they do seems to be sexual harassment.
Saemon, a Men in Black begins to fall for her.
Entertainment
- Mr. Tonegawa attends an underground Teiai gambling ring to find out
why they are losing money, but the manager assures all the machines
are rigged. Hyodo speaks English to praise Yaotome which worries
other that he may be a future rival ...for Mr. Tonegawa.
Slander
- Tonegawa is order to find out who is trolling and spamming on the
company twitter accounts.
Conclusions
- Otsuki tries to undermind another company by doing a secret merger
behind the Teiai company. Mr. Tonegawa discover who is behind the
spamming of the company's twitter accounts.
Remonition
- Mr. Tonegawa attends a 15th year class reunion and discovers what
happened to his old classmates and he runs into an old flame.
Final
Destination - Hyodo comes up with an idea of a death game
himself. Tonegawa attends the wedding of one his men and they
remember what motivates them all in the first place.
Everything
starts off with one picture. Tada-kun dreams of becoming a
professional photographer and fate brings him to meet Teresa. And
what started out as one picture, Teresa turns out to be his new
transfer student living in the hotel next to Tada's family cafe along
with Alec her bodyguard. But secretly, Teresa is a princess and
wants to life as a normal girl before she has to return home to
become the queen and an arranged marriage. After meeting Tada they
begin to become close and she has to choose between her heart and her
loyalty to her country in
Tada
Never Falls In Love: Complete Collection
(2018).
Tada
is just an ordinary Japanese student dreaming of becoming a
photographer, but his world is turned upside down when he runs into
Teresa. Secretly she is a princess of a small country and love
Japanese culture, specially from her favorite TV drama the Rainbow
Samurai. Tada, Teresa and their friends are all members of the
photography club, and enjoy photography and various adventures
together. They all begin to become close friends and relationships
form between them, but when Teresa begins to develop feelings for
Tada she becomes conflicted between her duty to her country and her
feelings for Tada.
This
series was like an anime version of Roman Holiday. A princess
in hiding who secretly wished to be a normal girl, but after falling
in love with a normal commoner can she remain true to her heart?
*Extras include clean opening and closing animations and trailers,
but a much larger Premium Box Set adds a larger number of extras (as
pictured with this review) and can be purchased while supplies last.
Episodes
are:
I
Can't Just Leave You - Tada meets Teresa and she and Alec are
transfer students and his new neighbors next door.
Well,
She's Not Wrong - Tada and Teresa join the photography club and
learn the joy of taking pictures.
You
Love That - Tada's cat, Nyanko Big tell a tale of a day in life
with Tada.
I'll
Pretend I Didn't See This... - Hajime get a chance to meet his
favorite gravure idol Hina, totally unaware it is really Hinako his
classmate who also has secret feelings for him too.
It's
Okay. They Don't Exist - It's the anniversary of the death of
Tada's parents, Kaoru treats everyone to his cooking and makes a
banquet. Afterwards, he takes them all out to the public bath house.
I'm
Not a Rain-bringer - Charles, Teresa's fiance comes to Japan to
visit Teresa and meets her new friends, but hides the fact Teresa is
a princess and their arranged marriage.
It's
Better Than Crying - Nyanko Big goes missing and everyone goes
searching for him.
Did
You Say You Were a Rain-bringer? - Tada and Teresa and their
friends go on an outing to countryside. Teresa realizes she has
fallen in love with Tada.
I
Don't Have One Now... - After Alec confronts Teresa about her
feelings for Tada, Teresa is determined to not let it show. Everyone
realizes Teresa has feelings for Tada ...except for Tada. Tada
catches a cold after lending his umbrella to Teresa, Teresa nurses
him back to health and steals a kiss.
It
Isn't the Real One - Teresa and Tada meet where they first met
and spend the day together as a date. However the next day Teresa and
Alec returned to their home country.
Not
Really - Several months have passed and Tada finally realizes he
loves Teresa and he decides to visit Teresa in her home country, all
his friends and family support his decision.
Sorry
For Surprising You... - Charles tells Teresa to tell Tada the
truth, but after learning the truth and why they never could be
together Tada leaves broken hearted.
I'll
Never Forget it, Either - Tada attends Charles and Teresa's
engagement ceremony and then returns back to Japan. Few weeks later
they learn Charles has broken off his engagement with Teresa. As
Tada continues life with taking pictures, as it suddenly starts to
rain he takes shelter ...only this time Teresa is there waiting for
him.
All
the releases have the same framing and look really good, starting
with the anamorphically enhanced 1.78 X 1 image on Bakugan
which is as good as it can look on the old DVD format, so we'll see
if it gets a Blu-ray, but this is fine. The
1080p 1.78 X 1 digital High Definition image transfers on the two
Sentai releases look even better and have some great shots in each
set. We can imagine 4K editions down the line. Color is great,
detail fine and depth impressive.
Both
Blu-ray sets offer Japanese and lesser English DTS-HD MA (Master
Audio) 2.0 Stereo lossless mixes that should have had some kind of
surrounds, but disappoint at times and are sometimes flatter than
expected. Maybe 5.1 or even 7.1 mixes would have helped, which begs
the question, when will we get anime with 12-track sound like Dolby
Atmos or DTS: X? Otherwise, they tie as the sonic champs here in
their native language.
The
lossy Dolby Digital 5.1 on Bakugan is not as warm or rich as
the others, but more lively and that is why it is able to compete to
some extent. Bet this would be nicer in a lossless mix.
-
Ricky Chiang