Taking a break from Cartoon Network Month to answer a tagging post but you can still find today's entries on my second world Anime Walk of Fame as I add Tienshinhan & the Anime Powerpuff Girls; that will be up shortly, for now here is my tagging answers to questions courtesy of Nimbusoak.
1. David Tennant or Matt Smith?
Matt Smith was better
2. Do you ever eat lemonade mix plain?
I'm afraid that product is not available in my country
3. What's your favorite music genre?
It changes frequently, this week it's Celtic Metal
4. How many game consoles do you have?
8 Handhelds, 10 Games Consoles, 5 of those 10 are broken Dreamcasts
5. Do you use game emulators?
Used to back in the bad old days of Windows 98
6. Should we go back to vinyl?
No, those things are difficult to store
7. If I made a Star Wars reference, would you understand it?
Yes, although most modern references escape me
8. Are you good at MarioKart?
Yes, I'm a retired veteran of Mario Kart, I quit when the sport became less about the karting and more about the items
9. Favorite non-manga comic?
Toss up between Scott Pilgrim & Adventure Time both are identical in awesome
10. What accent is the coolest?
Spanish
11. How did you find TheO?
By accident while looking for Anime Wallpaper
That's all the questions answered, I shall update this post when I think of my own questions along with some people to tag.
This review is probably the most significant one I've ever done so read carefully, and as Dragonballz is huge I'll review this by Saga.
If you've been around Cartoon Network for a while then at one point you've probably seen Dragonballz but if you remember your history you'd realize it's been edited to suit a general audience so this review compares the edited version to it's full uncut release sort of done in a little contest.
1. Raditz
Edited: Obnoxious over confident and who can forget "Keep your eye on the birdy"
Uncut: More mature and more intimidating and more intelligent actually explaining the plot properly.
Winner: Uncut
2. Gohan's Journey
Edited: Cuts out the long dragging scenes and avoids a couple of death scenes.
Uncut: Actually explains some of the reasons behind some of the issues but are largely unneeded.
Winner: Edited
3. Goku's Snakeway Run
Edited: HFIL is a poor edit but it does cut out some bizarre scenes as well.
Uncut: I'm glad for the title HELL but the Russian Roulette scene is strange.
Winner: Tie
4. Training Scenes
Edited: Gets to the point and sets things up quickly.
Uncut: Shows more from different points of view most notably Tien & Yamcha
Winner: Tie
5. Nappa & The Saibaman Fight
Edited: Plays out just fine, no Tien arms don't grow back.
Uncut: Deaths are more believable when you see the bodies.
Winner: Uncut
6. Vegeta Fight
Edited: Again plays just fine.
Uncut: About the same, does a couple of time waster scenes but mostly the same.
Winner: Tie
7. Prelude to Namek Saga
Edited: Gets to the point very quickly and within a couple of episodes were already in space.
Uncut: Bulma's uncomfortable first meeting with Mr Popo doesn't help dispel the myth that he's a racial stereotype.
Winner: Edited
Results: It's a tie between the two, although I don't like many of Dragonballz's edits, I can also see why the scenes were left out and in some respects since watching the uncut version you realize just how much they pad out the episodes with pointless nonsense and unfunny humor.
You see a series like Dragonballz is heavily reliant on it's action scenes being packed to the brim with such extreme fighting. However it can't always create a story from it without either going extremely violent or sacrificing the action, while it is possible to do both, Dragonballz can't so it's frustrating when you have to go through an episode of Goku passing his driving test or playing tag with the Red & Blue Oni. The point I'm getting at is that if I was shown the uncut version first I wouldn't like it, so the edited version actually allowed me to enjoy whats there, while Dragonball Kai sets out to do the same as the edited version remember that I was watching this a good 15 years ago and that the whole franchise is older than me.
Final Verdict: It's a worthy start to a big series but tries to pad out too much with filler and that's where the edited version deserves it's credit.
It's Father's Day in my country so lets celebrate this with the top 10 fathers of Cartoon Network. Happy Fathers Day everyone.
It matches my eyes
10. Wendell from Mike, Lu & Og
Spare a thought for this guy, he tries really hard to govern the island but has to constantly deal with his spoilt daughter and numerous misunderstandings on the island.
9. The Emperor from Samurai Jack
Jack's father taught his son everything from sword play to honor. In my mind this guy doesn't get enough screen time.
8. Dad from Cow & Chicken
He's nothing more than a pair of legs and a pelvis but that doesn't stop him being the father to a cow & a chicken, although he seems to spend more time falling over while laughing.
7. Grandpa Max from Ben 10
Back in his day he was an intergalactic hero, nowadays he's retired and training his Grandson to continue his legacy but can still hold his own.
6. Doc Saturday from Secret Saturdays
He looks like a cross between a James Bond villain and the Samuel L Jackson, Nick Fury, but this guy is tough and has the brains to back it up.
5. Richard Watterson from Amazing World of Gumball
He's a stay at home dad with a keen eye for food, pranking and the odd game of Dungeons & Dragons. He even eats your homework.
4. Joshua from Adventure Time
Jake's father and Finn's adoptive father, a former adventurer who knows how to make a dungeon and how to bring out the best in his children, even if he does call them a whiny baby first.
3. Professor Utonium from Powerpuff Girls
I will not question technical reasons, Professor Utonium is practically the father of the Powerpuff Girls, a tough job being a single father to three super powered kindergartens but the Professor seems to manage just fine.
2. Father from Kids Next Door
Ironic that one of the highest entries is actually a villain but that's Kids Next Door for you. Apart from having a great voice he can unleash fire and stands well above the other villains in the show. You can expect that from Benedict Uno, Numbuh One's Uncle
1. Dexter's Dad from Dexter's Laboratory
But no one is more fun than Dexter's Dad, an over excited personality combined with typical father traits equals the most fun you can have from a parent. Just a few of his highlights include: The Muffin Episode, The Snowball Episode, The Speed Racer Episode & The Arm Wrestling Episode.
Moving on to a special of the mini guide and considering how big the works are, here is a guide to the works of comic group Man of Action. Adds up to 5 entries all together this time.
1. Ben 10 - 2005
A kid finds what looks like a watch is actually a device that transforms you into different aliens turns into a big adventure which was originally supposed to be a typical summer.
Verdict: I was ten years too late for this show, but that's not to say it's bad, it really connects to the psyche of a ten year old boy in so many ways.
Fact: Counting all it's series it's had more episodes than any other Cartoon Network show but it might want to look out for Adventure Time & Regular Show.
2. Ben 10 Alien Force - 2008
Continuing adventures of Ben 10 in teenage form alongside new allies and new aliens.
Verdict: A great example of character develop from kid to teenager and the addition of Kevin & Gwen as regular heroes was a nice touch
Fact: It still won't beat Ed, Edd & Eddy in terms of broadcasting length.
3. Ben 10 Ultimate Alien - 2010
Still continuing adventures of teen Ben 10 with more aliens.
Verdict: They seem to revert Ben back into a cocky brat neglecting all the development they had up til then.
Fact: One of few cartoons that can claim it has done every form of media including Live Action, 2D & CGI animation. Still hasn't been done in Anime form though.
4. Ben 10 Omniverse - 2012
Ben 10 in a new art style and more aliens.
Verdict: Adds a new dimension to the franchise but can't seem to accept that it's best days are over.
Fact: Cow & Chicken cameo in this series of Ben 10 which included their original voice actors.
5. Generator Rex - 2010
A group of nanites are infecting the world and mutating people and it's up to a teenager who uses the power of the nanites to save them.
Verdict: A worthy attempt at making a more mature cartoon but can't seem to stop making bad main characters.
Fact: When I was young I used to draw characters with giant metal fists. Makes you wonder doesn't it?
Onward to the third part of the mini-guide, 8 to cover today.
1. Whatever Happened to Robot Jones - 2002
Robot Jones attempts to understand humans while living in an 80s futuristic world.
Verdict: Quite a downgrade in animation didn't help this average series shine.
Fact: Held the title of shortest series until 2010.
2. Codename: Kids Next Door - 2002
Series about a group of kids fighting against adults in a secret agent inspired world.
Verdict: A very clever plot which surprisingly has never been done before, the mundane problems that kids face every day is taken up to maximum and executed very well.
Fact: The characters of KND have turned up a few times in Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy.
3. The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy - 2003
Two kids that have the personality traits of Pinky & the Brain trick the Grim Reaper into being their friend as they explore various supernatural worlds.
Verdict: Strangely addictive, characters I should find annoying are actually good.
Fact: One of the last Cartoon Network shows to reference Hanna Barbara cartoons.
4. Evil Con Carne - 2003
An evil genius is killed in an explosion only to be restored as a brain in the jar attached to a circus bear as he tries to rebuild his evil empire.
Verdict: Didn't have the same impact as Billy & Mandy, average at best.
Fact: Originally an in-universe cartoon (the same as I Am Weasel was with Cow & Chicken) back in 2001 before both series were split into separate shows, after Evil Con Carne's cancellation the characters migrated to Billy & Mandy.
5. Star Wars Clone Wars - 2003
The popular sci-fi film re-imagined in Genndy Tartakovsky's art style made famous by Samurai Jack.
Verdict: This was AWESOME! The last great Star Wars production until the CGI series happened. Samurai Jack's style of action over lots of dialogue really brought the tiresome franchise to life.
Fact: Oh how I loathe the 2008 CGI remake, this is why I hate this technology, it takes away something that was clearly better, don't fix what isn't broken.
6. Megas XLR - 2004
How a mecha series would look if made in America.
Verdict: The awesomeness of this series equals Gurren Lagann at times, the idea of a modified mecha painted with flames and a cockpit made from a muscle car takes this series to new heights of awesome.
Fact: The only show in Cartoon Network's library to begin life on Toonami.
7. Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends - 2004
Show about a home for Imaginary Friends abandoned by the kids who imagined them.
Verdict: Another clever idea but not executed as well, I find it kinda strange with the amount of clever designs involved they went with a rejected Pac-Man ghost for a main character, with Bloo in mind he is quite annoying.
Fact: One of only two Cartoon Network shows to appear in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, the other being Puffy AmiYumi.
8. Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi - 2004
Cartoon re-imagining of real life Japanese Pop band Puffy AmiYumi.
Verdict: I seem to enjoy female duos the most in Anime so Puffy AmiYumi was entertaining to watch despite using tried and tested plots.
Fact: The pop duo also sang the Teen Titans theme song, and despite the cartoon being about them, Puffy AmiYumi never voiced their own characters.
