The Click

July 19th - 25th

Smack-dab in the middle of the west-coast scamper of nerds in full sway during the crowded convention season, and I'm packing my things to visit the biggest one of all: San Diego Comic-Con! Which I've never been to before, but am eagerly looking forward to with no small amount of trepidation but also tremendous jocoseness, since I feel a little crowded at Anime-Expo, with it's teeming clamor of 40,000. Comic-Con has over double that, which is frightening. Also, there could be a very big and scary man dressed as a Dalek who might steal my things.

Regardless of the con proper, San Diego is also a very beautiful and fun city in its own right. Basically I just wasted everyone's time by talking about how much I really want to go on vacation. Great. Hey! Let's get to the rest of the Click now!

Zatch Bell
(YTV)
Saturday July 19 9:00pm - Episode 88 "A New Departure"

YTV kicks off its new Saturday-night anime lineup with new Zatch Bell! Exciting news for fans of the show, but somewhat bittersweet as well, considering that they reportedly stopped dubbing any new episodes some time ago, and DVDs have all but vanished, as though it were a slowly fading blip on Viz's radar. Sad.

Black Jack
(Sci Fi)
Monday July 21 11:00pm

Since I won't be around next week, I won't be able to properly convey the gravitas and the earth-shattering import that Sci Fi's airing of Tengen Toppa Gurenn Lagaan has. I'm not even a terribly huge fan of that show, but I think it's tremendously cool that it's airing on the Sci Fi network. A good fit, considering up until now they've been plundering Manga Video's back catalog, which can at times produce some quality work - like Osamu Dezaki's dark, drab, yet gripping film adaptation of Tezuka's Black Jack here - but generally means that people have to suffer through lame episodes of Street Fighter II V or, ack, Vampire Wars.

PREMIERES:

Bakugan Battle Brawlers
(Cartoon Network)
Saturday July 19 11:00am - Episode 21 "My Good Friend" (Repeats Sun July 20 10:30am, Fri July 25 8:00am)

The Bakugan Battle Brawlers may be down, but they're certainly not out! Though the tides certainly turn against them when the kids' stolen Bakugan are used against them. Which begs the question; if these guys are really up to some seriously bad deeds, can't these kids just throw a punch or two? I don't think throwing some cards and marbles around is really going to stop anyone from anything, except possibly also throwing cards and marbles around.

Bleach
(Adult Swim)
Sunday July 20 12:00am - Episode 73 (Repeats Sun July 20 3:00am)

(YTV)
Saturday July 19 9:30pm - Episode TBA

I'm fairly certain that YTV is airing new Bleach episodes; why wouldn't they, anyway? They have a whole new night with a whole new lineup, so it makes sense! They also have plenty of episodes, no doubt! THE EVIDENCE IS INSURMOUNTABLE. Nonetheless a man of my position likes to err on the side of cautious judgment, so "TBA" it is. On Adult Swim, meanwhile, Ichigo continues his crusade against some nasty, water-controlling "Bounts".

Code Geass
(Adult Swim)
Sunday July 20 1:00am - Episode 13 "Shirley at Gunpoint" (Repeats Sun July 20 4:00am)

Lelouch grapples with the knowledge that his recent "victories" have had bloody repercussions on those he knows and cares about, and later risks exposing his identity and connection to Zero and the Black Knights. For those of you who found the previous sentence far too foreboding and solemn: Bosomy fart pee-pee pants

Digimon
(Toon Disney)
Monday July 21 9:30pm - Episode "The Battle With Belphemon" (Repeats Tue July 22 2:30am, Fri July 25 9:30pm, Sat July 26 2:30am)

The incredibly complicatedly named MirageGaogamon melds his powers with the recently awakened Belphemon to create an unstoppable behemoth-mon of Godlike-mon power. Mon!

Kyo Kara Maoh
(ImaginAsianTV)
-Wednesday July 23 7:00pm - Episode 72 "That Which is Sealed" (Repeats Wed July 23 10:00pm, Thu July 24 1:00am, Sat July 26 5:00am)
-Wednesday July 23 7:30pm - Episode 73 "Dark Pulsation" (Repeats Wed July 23 10:30pm, Thu July 24 1:30am, Sat July 26 5:30am)

A big ceremony involving the opening of boxes, much like the hit series Deal or No Deal, is underway, and Yuri is once again thrust into a potentially lethal or at the very least volatile situation. Sometimes it sucks to be the king.

Naruto
(YTV)
Saturday July 19 8:30pm - Episode 146 "Orochimaru's Shadow"

No new Naruto (say that five times fast, with a mouthful of peanuts) in the US, because why show enjoyable if silly Naruto fillers when you can ride the coattails of Hellboy II's mild theatrical success by airing the two lame Direct-to-Video cartoons? Meanwhile, IN CANADA: Naruto is on the trail of the fugitive Mizuki, who, when cornered, undergoes a strange mutation.

Pokemon
(Cartoon Network)
Saturday July 19 9:30am - Episode 531 "Lost Leader Strategy!"

Ash and his grim company of compatriots finally arrive in Veilstone City, and almost immediately encounter the Gym Leader of the hallowed city. After some rigmarole and snide japes, they run into a most unexpected visitor.

Robotech
(SPACE)
-Saturday July 19 11:00am - Episode 83 "Reflex Point" (Repeats Sun July 20 7:00am)
-Saturday July 19 11:30am - Episode 84 "Dark Finale" (Repeats Sun July 20 7:30am)
-Saturday July 19 12:00pm - Episode 85 "Symphony of Light" (Repeats Sun July 20 8:00am)

Thus, Robotech ends his historic run of one of history's most historically significant anime series in anime's historied history, with a heap of extra histories for added historiness. "Rick Hunter" leads the "Robotech Expeditionary Force" to victory against the "Invid" in battle, and applause and plaudits abound!

Shin Chan
(Adult Swim)
Sunday July 20 1:30am - Episode 41 (Repeats Sun July 20 4:30am)

This week's Shin Chan episode makes fun of: the Swedish, Hostess Snack Cakes, Cormac McCarthy, alt-country singer Ryan Adams, heroin abuse, homosexuals, Unix-based operating systems, yellow food dye, Arbor Day, Former President Lyndon Johnson, Hustler magazine, and knee-high socks.

Speed Grapher
(IFC)
Friday July 25 11:00pm - Episode 21 "All Hail the Glutton" (Repeats Sat July 26 2:00am)

Kagura learns of the Prime Minister's evil, sick plans on the night of the sick Club's grand reopening, pouring out all kinds of sickness and depravity to the masses. And you get to watch it all on this week's Speed Grapher!

MOVIES/FEATURES

Pokemon 3: The Movie
(Cartoon Network)
Saturday July 19 4:00pm

Remember when Pokemon movies IN THEATERS were a yearly thing? Ah, good ol' 2001. Relive the not-quite-glory, with Cartoon Network's once-again airing of the third in a string of now-endless Pokemon features!

And, hey, I'm done. I'll be back in TWO WEEKS, and if you're at Comic-Con, I'll see you there! In principle more than in actuality, though, since it's going to be crowded as hell there. If only to state the obvious just once more. Bye everyone!

REPEATS/STRIPS

Bakugan Battle Brawlers
(Cartoon Network)
-Mon July 21 8:00am - Episode 17 "Best Friends Forever"
-Tue July 22 8:00am - Episode 18 "Evolution Revolution"
-Wed July 23 8:00am - Episode 19 "Julie Plays Hard"
-Thu July 24 8:00am - Episode 20 "A Little Help"

Cat's Eye
(ImaginAsianTV)
-Wed July 23 11:00pm - Episode 33 "The Goal is to Propose" (R Fri July 25 10:00pm)
-Wed July 23 11:30pm - Episode 34 "Did You See Hanz?" (R Fri July 25 10:30pm)

Death Note
(Adult Swim)
-Sun July 20 12:30am - Episode 2 "Confrontation" (R Sun July 20 3:30am)

Digimon
(Toon Disney
-Sun July 20 1:30am - Episode 188 "Ne'er the Twins Shall Meet"
-Sun July 20 6:30am - Episode 189 "Operation Free Ophanimon"
-Mon July 21 6:30am - Episode 148 "The Messenger"
-Tue July 22 6:30am - Episode 149 "The D-Reaper's Disguise"
-Wed July 23 6:30am - Episode 150 "When is a Mon Justimon?"
-Thu July 24 6:30am - Episode 151 "His Kingdom for a Horse"
-Fri July 25 6:30am - Episode 152 "Shadow of the Beast King"
-Sat July 26 6:30am - Episode 190 "Takuya and Koji's Evolution"

Dinosaur King
(4KidsTV)
-Sat July 19 10:30am - Episode 14 "Child's Play"

(Adult Swim)
-Sat July 19 11:00pm - Episode 22 "A Wicked Smile" (R Sun July 20 2:00am)
-Sat July 19 11:30pm - Episode 23 "Kagome's Voice and Kikyo's Kiss" (R Sun July 20 2:30am)
-Sun July 20 5:00am - Episode 141 "Entei, the Demon Horse Unleashed!"
-Sun July 20 5:30am - Episode 142 "Untamed Entei and Horrible Hakudoshi"
-Mon July 21 5:00am - Episode 143 "3,000 Leagues in Search of Father"
-Mon July 21 5:30am - Episode 144 "Hosenki and the Last Shard"
-Tue July 22 5:30am - Episode 145 "Bizarre Guard at the Border of the Afterlife"
-Wed July 23 5:30am - Episode 146 "Fiery Bird Master, Princess Abi"
-Thu July 24 5:30am - Episode 147 "Tragic Love Song of Destiny, Part 1"
-Fri July 25 5:30am - Episode 148 "Tragic Love Song of Destiny, Part 2"
-Sat July 26 5:30am - Episode 149 "Single Arrow of Chaos"

Kirby: Right Back at Ya!
(4KidsTV)
-Sat July 19 11:00am - Episode 7 "The Kirby Derby, Part 1"

Kyo Kara Maoh
(ImaginAsianTV)
-Sat July 19 10:00am - Episode 70 "The Forgotten People" (R Sun July 20 12:00pm)
-Sat July 19 10:30am - Episode 71 "Big Brother's Rampage" (R Sun July 20 12:30pm)

Oban Star-Racers
(Toon Disney)
-Sun July 20 2:30am - Episode 5 "Cruel Like Ceres"
-Mon July 21 2:30am - Episode 6 "Playful Like Paradice"

Orguss
(ImaginAsianTV)
-Fri July 25 11:00pm - Episode 5 "Lovers"
-Fri July 25 11:30pm - Episode 6 "Vanishing Point"

Pokemon
(Cartoon Network)
-Mon July 21 7:00am - Episode 284 "Taming of the Shroomish"
-Mon July 21 7:30am - Episode 285 "You Said a Mouthful!"
-Tue July 22 7:00am - Episode 286 "A Bite to Remember"
-Tue July 22 7:30am - Episode 287 "The Lotad Lowdown"
-Wed July 23 7:00am - Episode 288 "All Things Bright and Beautifly"
-Wed July 23 7:30am - Episode 289 "All in a Day's Wurmple"
-Thu July 24 7:00am - Episode 290 "Gonna Rule the School!"
-Thu July 24 7:30am - Episode 291 "The Winner by a Nosepass"
-Fri July 25 7:00am - Episode 292 "Stairway to Devon"
-Fri July 25 7:30am - Episode 293 "On a Wingull and a Prayer!"

Samurai 7
(IFC)
-Thu July 24 8:30pm - Episode 4 "The Loner"

Shinzo
(Toon Disney)
-Tue July 22 4:00am - Episode 21 "The Battle of One"
-Wed July 23 4:00am - Episode 22 "A New Beginning"
-Thu July 24 4:00am - Episode 23 "Bear Claws"
-Fri July 25 4:00am - Episode 24 "The Nightmare Dream Center"
-Sat July 26 4:00am - Episode 25 "Eilis of the Storm"

Sonic X
(4KidsTV)
-Sat July 19 10:00am - Episode 5 "Cracking Knuckles"

Speed Grapher
(IFC)
-Mon July 21 8:30pm - Episode 20 "Good Vibrations" (R Tue July 22 4:40am)

Transformers Animated
(Cartoon Network)
-Sat July 19 10:30am - Episode 8 "Total Meltdown" (R Sun July 20 11:00am, Wed July 23 6:00am)
-Mon July 21 6:00am - Episode 27 "Sari, No One's Home"
-Mon July 21 6:30am - Episode 28 "A Bridge Too Close, Part 1"
-Tue July 22 6:00am - Episode 29 "A Bridge Too Close, Part 2"
-Tue July 22 6:30am - Episode 4 "Home is Where the Spark is"
-Wed July 23 6:30am - Episode 5 "Blast From the Past"
-Thu July 24 6:00am - Episode 6 "The Thrill of the Hunt"
-Thu July 24 6:30am - Episode 7 "Nanosec"
-Fri July 25 6:00am - Episode 9 "Along Came a Spider"
-Fri July 25 6:30am - Episode 10 "Sound and Fury"

Yu-Gi-Oh! GX
(CW Kids)
-Sat July 19 11:00am - Episode 148 "Conquering the Past, Part 3"