The Click

April 22nd - April 28th

Before we begin this week's edition of “The Click,” I'd like to share with you all a letter I wrote to some very important people in response to the list of unaired anime I published in last week's column.

“Dear [name withheld],

To begin with, thank you in advance should this letter find its way into your hands and hopefully those of your superiors at the [withheld] Network. I was worried that my admittedly poorly-planned single person letter writing campaign to produce another season of 'The Snorks' episodes would send any further letters under my name directly to the shredder. Which is exactly where all those letters ended up. But I'm not upset!

Instead, I'm very disappointed in your decision to pass on airing the wonderful 'shojo' comedy anime Kodocha, but after contacting one 'kaibafan_1992' (a pleasant but grammatically-challenged chap I met on an internet forum, who assures me he has several contacts within Funimation's 'inner circle' so to speak), I'm pleased to present to you a totally reworked and revamped version of Kodocha that I think you'll be thrilled with. Here's why!

First, I gathered together a focus group consisting of my cat and a local hobo, whom fully represent both the traditional kids 6-11 and 9-14 demographics, as well as the burgeoning and disposable income-heavy demographic of 'tweens' and teens 12-47 that are infected with cholera. The tests went literally through the roof, which caused major structural damage and is probably due to the complimentary bottle of Wild Turkey and can of Friskies offered to the group.

Additional changes to the series include a type of 'Battle Monsters' subplot that features heavily in every episode, where characters challenge each other to a collectible card game where the cards are actually monsters that are robots, and the robots 'transform' into such action-packed forms as armoires and ottomans. I am also in contact with hip-hop artists such as Gangsta Murder and others for the soundtrack.

Furthermore, production is starting on an entire line of Kodocha merchandise. A line of collectible handmade wax figurines and car mufflers have already been produced. The car mufflers unfortunately seem to cause somewhat fatal incineration, but we have our Quality Assurance team (the aforementioned hobo) working on that.

I'm looking forward to any additional input/notes/million dollar cash advances you may have toward this revolutionary, surefire success!

Sincerely,
Brian Hanson of 'Lord Awesome of Sextopia Productions'”

With any luck, we'll be seeing Kodocha on American television yet! Now for what's new this week:

Naruto
(Cartoon Network)
-Saturday April 22 9:00pm - Episode 30 "The Sharingan Revived: Dragon-Flame Jutsu!"

Those of you with sharp eyes may have noticed that the previous episode of Naruto had some, shall we say, rough spots in regards to the animation quality. In other words, it sucked. Odd, off-model characters and jerky, arrhythmically animation abounded. Not so in this episode, however, as Sasuke's fiery battle with a certain serpentine ninja in the Forest of Death is rendered in lush, flowing detail. Why Studio Pierrot sent only a small fraction of the workload to the animation team that handled this episode is beyond me.

If slick ninja fightin' isn't exactly your thing, take a look at what else propagates your TV this week:

OTHER PREMIERES:

Case Closed
(YTV)
-Friday April 28 10:30pm - Episode 4 "Fish Marks the Spot"

On a very special Case Closed, Conan falls in with a rough street gang known as the “Junior Detective League,” whom embark on especially troublesome pre-adolescent activities such as crime solving and treasure hunting, with disastrous results. Parents, make your kids watch this episode! You'll be glad you did.

Chrono Crusade
(Showtime Beyond)
-Friday April 28 9:00pm - Episode 11 "Beast"

Collette and the others learn a very special lesson about pet care and responsibility this week, as a ravenous black hound terrorizes and fatally mauls several people in New York.

Duel Masters 2.0
(Cartoon Network)
-Saturday April 22 7:00pm - Episode 7 "Triple-Threat"

Okay, I'll admit it, I smirked a bit when I read the episode notes that one of the opponents the intrepid gang of Duel-ers challenges in this episode is named “Your Mama.” Whether that signifies any comedic improvements in regards to the show, or simply my own immaturity, I'll leave up to you.

Eureka 7
(Cartoon Network)
-Sunday April 23 12:00am - Episode 2 "Blue Sky Fish" (Repeats Sun Apr 23 3:00am)

After Eureka and her sky-surfing mech “Nirvash” stir up trouble with the armed forces, Renton, being the adolescent, plucky protagonist of this series, recklessly sets off to her rescue. Yes, the premise of this series is still ridiculously silly, but it is good! I swear.

Fullmetal Alchemist
(YTV)
-Friday April 28 10:00pm - Episode 9 "Be Thou for the People" (Repeats Sat Apr 29 1:00am)

During a routine mine inspection, Ed and Al undo a crooked Lieutenant's scheme to bleed a small mining down dry through taxation. Sadly, the boys don't begin advocating a Marxist revolution; rather, they use their alchemy to show the Lieutenant the folly of his ways.

Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex 2nd GIG
(Cartoon Network)
-Sunday April 23 12:30am - Episode 21 "Embarrassment" (Repeats Sun Apr 23 3:30am)

Bateau, The Major, and the rest of Section 9 remains hot on the heels of a refugee group with ties to Kuze, the terrorist wünderkind – that is, until they escape. Nevermind the socio-political ramifications of this, what an embarrassment! Hence the title.

Inuyasha
(YTV)
-Friday April 28 9:00pm - Episode 138 "Mountain of Demons: Survival of the Duo" (Repeats Sat Apr 29 2:30am)

Kagome and the ancestor of her would-be beau in the present, Akitoki, somehow become separated from the rest of the group. Then, ninja demons attack! And yes, I'm totally serious about that last part.

Naruto
(YTV)
-Friday April 28 8:00pm - Episode 33 "Battle Formation: Ino-Shika-Cho!" (Repeats Sat Apr 29 2:00am)

“Ino-Shika-Cho” is a reference to a high-scoring card combination in the 19th century Japanese card game known as Hanafuda. Thanks, wikipedia! Historical references aside, Ino, Shikamaru, and Chouji defend Sakura against the Sound Village ninja, but can their teamwork win out against their bloodlust? That is a question that can only be answered by watching the episode.

Pokemon
(KidsWB)
-Saturday April 22 10:00am - Episode 406 "Numero Uno Articuno"
-Saturday April 22 10:30am - Episode 407 "The Symbol Life"

By now, I'm certain everybody knows the formula to any given Pokemon episode, so is it okay if I just phone this one in? Something like, “this week, Ash and his Pokemon prove themselves against a tough new rival! And what about the scheming Team Rocket?” For accuracy's sake, though, this week's “powerful new rival” is named “Noland.”

Samurai 7
(Independent Film Channel)
-Saturday April 22 10:30pm - Episode 4 "The Loner" (Repeats Sun Apr 23 1:30am, Tue Apr 25 6:30pm, Wed Apr 27 11:30pm, Fri Apr 28 2:30am)

After handily making short work of a villainous feudal lord's assassins, Kambei and Gorobei face a new threat – said feudal lord's personal samurai bodyguards. More anachronistic sci-fi samurai fun!

Sonic X
(4KidsTV)
-Saturday April 22 10:00am - Episode "The Light in the Darkness"

I forgot to mention this last week, but thanks to one of our intrepid forum-goers, I finally learned that the reason notes and synopses for these new Sonic X episodes are scarce is due to the fact that these episodes haven't previously aired anywhere outside of Europe, I think. So, aside from the wild speculation that Sonic and Tails and his anthropomorphic pals are sure to be animated and doing things, my guess is as good as yours.

Viewtiful Joe
(KidsWB)
-Saturday April 22 8:00am - Episode 22 "Cleanliness is Next to Escape-liness"

Sylvia, the Princess Peach to Viewtiful Joe's Mario, manages to escape the evil clutches of Jadow and joins Joe and Co. in their trek across Movieworld. Er, Movieland. Actually, it's been forever since I played the games, so I'm lost in that respect.

Yu-Gi-Oh!
(KidsWB)
-Saturday April 22 11:30am - Episode 217 "The Dark One Cometh, Part 3"

The “Duel of Darkness” continues, as does the eventual Cometh-ing of the Dark One, in Part 3 of this five-part episode. Yu-Gi-Oh is slowly sauntering towards its series finale, which is likely to cause jubilation in many and sadness in not-quite-as-many.

Yu-Gi-Oh! GX
(YTV)
-Friday April 28 6:00pm - Episode 32 "Field of Screams, Part 2"

Yet more exclamatory dialog, ridiculous exposition, and finger-pointing characters lie in Yu-Gi-Oh GX, as “Zane” duels in a “Shadow Game” against “Camula.” The quotation marks are necessary, as the Yu-Gi-Oh nomenclature is still quite unfamiliar to me.

Zatch Bell
(YTV)
-Friday April 28 8:30pm - Episode 31 "The Cute Transfer Student"

Zatch and Kiyo stumble into a mysterious shard of a mirror, and then inconspicuously bump into Shion, a colorful girl with odd ties to the broken piece of glass. Plot points abound!

All in all, a relatively low-key week, but don't let that stop you from gorging yourselves on the abundance of repeats listed below. I'll see you all next week!

REPEATS/STRIPS

Battle B-Daman
(YTV)
-Sat Apr 22 7:30am - Episode 12 "Invasion of the B-Dasnatchers" (R Sat Apr 22 2:00pm)
-Tue Apr 25 3:30pm - Episode 7 "A Fistful of B-DaBalls"
-Thu Apr 27 3:30pm - Episode 8 "Yamato vs. the Masked Marble"

(Cartoon Network)
-Fri Apr 28 6:00am - Episode 16 "Everybody's Got a Hungry Heart"

Beyblade
(Toon Disney)
-Tue Apr 25 2:30am - Episode 57 "The Magtram Threat"
-Tue Apr 25 9:30pm - Episode 58 "The Reunion Begins" (R Wed Apr 26 2:30am)
-Wed Apr 26 9:30pm - Episode 59 "Return of the Bladebreakers" (R Thu Apr 27 2:30am)
-Thu Apr 27 9:30pm - Episode 60 "La Isla Bey-Nita" (R Fri Apr 28 2:30am)
-Fri Apr 28 9:30pm - Episode 61 "The Island of no Return" (R Sat Apr 29 2:30am)

(YTV)
-Sat Apr 22 5:30am - Episode 123 "Under Pressure"
-Sat Apr 22 1:00pm - Episode 7 "Thirteen Candles"
-Tue Apr 25 5:30am - Episode 124 "Sibling Rivalry"
-Wed Apr 26 5:30am - Episode 125 "Ray and Kai: Ultimate Face Off"
-Thu Apr 27 5:30am - Episode 126 "Down Under Thunder"
-Fri Apr 28 5:30am - Episode 127 "Max Attacks"

Chrono Crusade
(Showtime Beyond)
-Mon Apr 24 12:00am - Episode 10 "Horn" (R Fri Apr 28 12:10am)

Cowboy Bebop
(Cartoon Network)
-Sun Apr 23 1:30am - Episode 16 "Black Dog Serenade" (R Sun Apr 23 4:30am)
-Fri Apr 21 12:30am - Episode 20 "Pierrot Le Fou" (R Fri Apr 21 4:00am)

D.I.C.E.
(YTV)
-Sat Apr 22 2:30pm - Episode 4 "Countdown to Impact"

Digimon
(ABC Family)
-Sat Apr 22 7:00am - Episode 34 "The Eighth Child Revealed"
-Sun Apr 23 7:00am - Episode 35 "Flower Power"

(Toon Disney)
-Sat Apr 22 9:00pm - Episode 174 "You Want Fries With That?" (R Sun Apr 23 2:00am)
-Sun Apr 23 9:00pm - Episode 175 "From Dawn to Duskmon" (R Mon Apr 24 2:00am)
-Tue Apr 25 7:30pm - Episode 160 "Ladies and Gentlemen: The Beetlemon!" (R Wed Apr 26 12:30am)
-Tue Apr 25 10:00pm - Episode 24 "No Questions, Please" (R Wed Apr 26 3:00am)
-Wed Apr 26 7:30pm - Episode 161 "A Molehill Out of a Mountain" (R Thu Apr 27 12:30am)
-Wed Apr 26 10:00pm - Episode 25 "Princess Karaoke" (R Thu Apr 27 3:00am)
-Thu Apr 27 7:30pm - Episode 162 "Island of Misfit Boys" (R Fri Apr 28 12:30am)
-Thu Apr 27 10:00pm - Episode 26 "Sora's Crest of Love" (R Fri Apr 28 3:00am)

Dragon Ball GT
(YTV)
-Sat Apr 22 3:30am - Episode 43 "Look out Goku!"

Dragon Ball Z
(Cartoon Network)
-Sat Apr 22 7:30pm - Episode 91 "Namek's Explosion, Goku's End"

Fullmetal Alchemist
(Cartoon Network)
-Sat Apr 22 11:30pm - Episode 5 "The Man With the Mechanical Arm" (R Sun Apr 23 2:30am)
-Tue Apr 25 12:30am - Episode 36 "The Sinner Within" (R Tue Apr 25 4:00am)

G.I. Joe Sigma Six
(4KidsTV)
-Sat Apr 22 10:30am - Episode 6 "Race"

Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex
(YTV)
-Sat Apr 22 12:00am - Episode 5 "Decoy"

Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex 2nd GIG
(Cartoon Network)
-Thu Apr 27 12:30am - Episode 7 "Pu239" (R Thu Apr 27 4:00am)

Gundam SEED
(YTV)
-Fri Apr 28 9:30pm - Episode 34 "Seen and Unseen" (R Sat Apr 29 1:30am)

Inuyasha
(Cartoon Network)
-Sat Apr 22 11:00pm - Episode 132 "Miroku's Most Dangerous Confession" (R Sun Apr 23 2:00am)
-Wed Apr 26 12:30am - Episode 143 "3000 Leagues in Search of Father" (R Wed Apr 26 4:00am)

Magical DoReMi
(4KidsTV)
-Sat Apr 22 7:00am - Episode 11 "You Don't Bring Me Flowers"
-Sat Apr 22 7:30am - Episode 12 "He Ain't Pele, He's My Brother"

Mew Mew Power
(YTV)
-Sun Apr 23 7:30am - Episode 3 "Mew Two" (R Sun Apr 23 1:30pm)

Naruto
(Cartoon Network)
-Sat Apr 22 12:00am - Episode 28 "Eat or Be Eaten: Panic in the Forest"
-Sat Apr 22 8:30pm - Episode 29 "Naruto's Counterattack: Never Give In!"

Neon Genesis Evangelion
(Cartoon Network)
-Sun Apr 23 1:00am - Episode 25 "Do You Love Me?" (R Sun Apr 23 4:00am)

One Piece
(Cartoon Network)
-Mon Apr 24 10:00pm - Episode 16 "The Cat's Ninth Life"
-Tue Apr 25 10:00pm - Episode 17 "The Scrub in the Shrub"
-Wed Apr 26 10:00pm - Episode 18 "Zolo's Pledge"
-Thu Apr 27 10:00pm - Episode 19 "King of the Busboys"

(YTV)
-Sat Apr 22 4:00am - Episode 16 "The Cat's Ninth Life"

Pokemon
(YTV)
-Sat Apr 22 12:00pm - Episode 392 "Hi Ho Silver Wind!"
-Tue Apr 25 5:00am - Episode 341 "Love, Petalburg Style!"
-Wed Apr 26 5:00am - Episode 342 "Balance of Power"
-Thu Apr 27 5:00am - Episode 343 "A Six Pack Attack"
-Fri Apr 28 5:00am - Episode 344 "The Bicker the Better"

Pokemon Chronicles
(YTV)
-Sat Apr 22 5:00am - Episode 15 "Training Daze"

Samurai 7
(Independant Film Channel)
-Tue Apr 25 6:00pm - Episode 3 "The Entertainer"

Samurai Champloo
(Cartoon Network)
-Tue Apr 25 1:00am - Episode 3 "Hellhounds for Hire, Part 1" (R Tue Apr 25 4:30am)
-Wed Apr 26 1:00am - Episode 4 "Hellhounds for Hire, Part 2" (R Wed Apr 26 4:30am)
-Thu Apr 27 1:00am - Episode 5 "Artistic Anarchy" (R Thu Apr 27 4:30am)
-Fri Apr 28 1:00am - Episode 6 "Stranger Searching" (R Fri Apr 28 4:30am)

Street Fighter II V
(Encore WAM!)
-Sat Apr 22 4:30pm - Episode TBA (R Sun Apr 23 1:30am, 6:30am)
-Sun Apr 23 4:30pm - Episode TBA (R Mon Apr 24 1:30am, 6:30am)
-Mon Apr 24 4:30pm - Episode TBA (R Tue Apr 25 1:30am, 6:30am)
-Tue Apr 25 4:30pm - Episode TBA (R Wed Apr 26 1:30am, 6:30am)
-Wed Apr 26 4:30pm - Episode TBA (R Thu Apr 27 1:30am, 6:30am)
-Thu Apr 27 4:30pm - Episode TBA (R Fri Apr 28 1:30am, 6:30am)
-Fri Apr 28 4:30pm - Episode TBA (R Sat Apr 29 1:30am, 6:30am)

Transformers Cybertron
(Cartoon Network)
-Mon Apr 24 6:00am - Episode 29 "Starscream"
-Tue Apr 25 6:00am - Episode 30 "United"
-Wed Apr 26 6:00am - Episode 31 "Cybertron"
-Thu Apr 27 6:00am - Episode 32 "Balance"

(YTV)
-Sat Apr 22 1:30pm - Episode TBA
-Fri Apr 28 7:00pm - Episode TBA

Trigun
(Cartoon Network)
-Tue Apr 25 1:30am - Episode 3 "Peace Maker" (R Tue Apr 25 5:00am)
-Wed Apr 26 1:30am - Episode 4 "Love and Peace" (R Wed Apr 26 5:00am)
-Thu Apr 27 1:30am - Episode 5 "Hard Puncher" (R Thu Apr 27 5:00am)
-Fri Apr 28 1:30am - Episode 6 "Lost July" (R Fri Apr 28 5:00am)

Vandread
(Encore WAM!)
-Sat Apr 22 4:00pm - Episode TBA (R Sun Apr 23 1:00am, 6:00am)
-Sun Apr 23 4:00pm - Episode TBA (R Mon Apr 24 1:00am, 6:00am)
-Mon Apr 24 4:00pm - Episode TBA (R Tue Apr 25 1:00am, 6:00am)
-Tue Apr 25 4:00pm - Episode TBA (R Wed Apr 26 1:00am, 6:00am)
-Wed Apr 26 4:00pm - Episode TBA (R Thu Apr 27 1:00am, 6:00am)
-Thu Apr 27 4:00pm - Episode TBA (R Fri Apr 28 1:00am, 6:00am)
-Fri Apr 28 4:00pm - Episode TBA (R Sat Apr 29 1:00am, 6:00am)

(Encore Action)
-Sat Apr 22 12:00am - Episode 13 "First Stage: To Feel the Fire"
-Sat Apr 22 12:30am - Episode 14 "Second Stage: Red Angel"
-Sat Apr 22 1:00am - Episode 15 "Second Stage: Be My Baby"
-Sat Apr 22 1:30am - Episode 16 "Second Stage: Blossoming Path"
-Wed Apr 26 12:00am - Episode 17 "Second Stage: Everything"
-Wed Apr 26 12:30am - Episode 18 "Second Stage: Somedays"
-Wed Apr 26 1:00am - Episode 19 "Second Stage: Original Smile"
-Wed Apr 26 1:30am - Episode 20 "Second Stage: Please Kiss My Cheek"

Yu-Gi-Oh!
(YTV)
-Sat Apr 22 4:30am - Episode 134 "Clash in the Coliseum, Part 6"
-Sat Apr 22 8:00am - Episode 209 "Village of Vengeance, Part 1"
-Tue Apr 25 4:30am - Episode 135 "Battle for the Bronze, Part 1"
-Wed Apr 26 4:30am - Episode 136 "Battle for the Bronze, Part 2"
-Thu Apr 27 4:30am - Episode 137 "Battle for the Bronze, Part 3"
-Fri Apr 28 4:30am - Episode 138 "The Final Face Off, Part 1"

Yu-Gi-Oh! GX:
(Cartoon Network)
-Mon Apr 24 5:00pm - Episode 1 "The Next King of Games"
-Tue Apr 25 5:00pm - Episode 2 "Welcome to Duel Academy"
-Wed Apr 26 5:00pm - Episode 3 "A Duel in Love"
-Thu Apr 27 5:00pm - Episode 4 "Making the Grade"
-Fri Apr 28 5:00pm - Episode 5 "The Shadow Duelist, Part 1"

Zatch Bell!
(Cartoon Network)
-Mon Apr 24 4:30pm - Episode 16 "The Invulnerable Robnos"
-Tue Apr 25 4:30pm - Episode 17 "Kiyo's Curry Camping Trip"
-Wed Apr 26 4:30pm - Episode 18 "London Calling"
-Thu Apr 27 4:30pm - Episode 19 "The Dark Lord of the Cursed Castle"
-Fri Apr 28 4:30pm - Episode 20 "The Flowers of Evil"