The Click

March 7th - March 16th

Sweet holy symbolism and viscously vibrating things, it's The Click! It (and by association, myself) is back to rip open your tender brain and shove a whole seven days' worth of anime-on-TV goodness into the newly-created fleshy cavity. As it is often worth noting, however, that all dates and times are tentative, and that everything listed applies to the Eastern time zone. Even the Canadian ones.

I believe I've mentioned before my reasoning for ignoring smaller channels and networks that significantly feature anime; their relatively tiny viewer base for one, and the plain-sighted obviousness of anime being on an "Anime Network" for two. I do not, however, want anybody to think that I'm giving any of these networks the so-called short shrift: after all, if time permitted, I would honestly scour the globe for every last scrap of anime appearing on TV anywhere outside of its native land. I bring this up because recently I was put back in touch with the good folks at ImaginAsian TV, whom I have met before and have always been super nice people. I was handed a schedule of their anime programming for the coming month, and to my surprise it's quite impressive! Any fears I had of a channel teeming with terrible Indonesian Pokémon ripoffs were allayed by a robust schedule featuring the likes of the stunningly gorgeous Gankutsuou and the eerily philosophical Kino's Journey. So for those lucky few with the option of having ImaginAsian TV beamed into their homes, it receives my highest recommendation: Like Way, Totally.

Blood+
(Cartoon Network)
Sunday March 11 12:30am - Episode 1 "First Kiss" (Repeats Sun Mar 11 3:30am)

Taking the reins from the recently finished Trinity Blood, Adult Swim this week rolls out their not-so-mysterious "new anime." Blood+ is a great looking and fun series, which might sound like I'm damning it with faint praise, which is sort of true: if only Production I.G used the fuller, more dynamic designs from the 50-minute Blood "film" instead of the admittedly sharp but creatively drab art that wound up in the series! Oh, what could have been, indeed.

PREMIERES:

.hack//Roots
(Cartoon Network)
Saturday March 10 5:00am - Episode 18 "Limit"

Speaking of sharp but creatively drab, here's a new episode of "Dot Hack"! Wherein the protagonist confronts his inner demons in his unending quest for power, tertiary characters espouse exposition, and other such animated ways to utilize 22 minutes.

Basilisk
(Independent Film Channel)
Friday March 16 11:30pm - Episode 11 "On Their Own" (Repeats Sat 17 5:25am)

This week on Basilisk, a recap episode! Which is the television equivalent to those days before the final exam where the instructor hastily and haphazardly reviews in minute detail all the so-called "important" material to an audience of bored students.

Bleach
(Cartoon Network)
Sunday March 11 12:00am - Episode 25 (Repeats Sun Mar 11 3:00am)

Ichigo, our ever-intrepid Main Character, fully masters the ability to harness and materialize his ethereal "spirit energy," and later learns the all-too-tragic cause of Ganju's immense disdain of Soul Reapers.

(YTV)
Friday March 16 10:30pm - Episode 27 (Repeats Sat Mar 17 2:00am)

This week on Bleach IN CANADA: our posse successfully makes it into the Soul Society, but are separated and each face different opponents and challenges and such!

Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo
(Cartoon Network)
Saturday March 10 8:30pm - Episode 53 "Dancing and Training for Quickly Attaining the Enemy's Paining"

That title sounds it was one of the rejected subtitles for the successful "Borat: Cultural Learnings of Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan." Hopefully Bo-Bobo will abstain from said film's fascination with frequent and horrifying man-nudity.

Cowboy Bebop
(Razer)
Sunday March 11 9:00pm - Episode 12 "Jupiter Jazz, Part 1"

The Bebop crew typically abstain from two-part outings, which means for you Canadians that this is a very special episode that you should all watch. Also, in case you haven't already heard, Cowboy Bebop is a very, very good series. It involves gregarious hints of Spike's tragic backstory, features one of the series' benchmark action set pieces, and is just all around cool.

Eureka 7
(Cartoon Network)
Sunday March 11 1:00am - Episode 44 "It's All in the Mind" (Repeats Sun Mar 11 4:00am)

Is that a Parappa the Rapper reference I detect? No matter; Eureka 7 soldiers on to its stentorian conclusion as Holland risks life and limb to pilot his new LFO, and Anemone's super-secret plot-based revelation is discussed.

(YTV)
Friday March 16 11:00pm - Episode 26 "Morning Glory" (Repeats Sat Mar 17 2:30am)

This week on Eureka 7 IN CANADA: Holland's plans to reunite the pining Eureka with her beau Renton are stifled somewhat by the military presence, and things get especially crazy when a revenge-seeking Ray arrives.

Gundam Seed Destiny
(YTV)
Friday March 16 9:30pm - Episode 2 "Calling For a Battle" (Repeats Sat Mar 17 1:30am)

Gundam Seed Destiny places its big, metallic boot all up in YTV's grill, what with it's new main character, the orphaned Shinn, and tons of new mechs with which to throw into various scenes of robot violence! Also, Cagalli and Athrun, stalwarts of the original Gundam Seed series, score some face time.

Gunslinger Girl
(Independent Film Channel)
Friday March 16 11:00pm - Episode 11 "Tender Emotions: Febbre Alta" (Repeats Sat Mar 17 4:55am)

As Gunslinger Girl nears the end of its brief 13-episode life span, certain questions are raised, answered, and parlayed into more questions and answers and parlay-ing. Such as, who murdered the duo of Elsa and Lauro, what are the consequences, and is it possible for this series to have an even more muted, gray-shaded hue on every scene?

GUNxSWORD
(G4TechTV Canada)
-Monday March 12 8:30pm - Episode 13 "On the Way to Dreams"
-Tuesday March 13 8:30pm - Episode 14 "Swift Brownie"
-Wednesday March 14 8:30pm - Episode 15 "Neo Original"
-Thursday March 15 8:30pm - Episode 16 "Shines Like an Electric Spark"
-Friday March 16 8:30pm - Episode 17 "Pursue Coordinate X"

If I had but fourteen words to describe my feelings on this week's offering of GUNxSWORD premieres, it would be this: "Swift Brownie" is my new stage name/ jocular porn nickname/ World of Warcraft Guild.

MAR
(Cartoon Network)
Saturday March 10 10:00pm - Episode 3 "Jack's Battle Shovel in Action"

I imagine that given five minutes of digging around in my dad's toolshed, some hot glue, and acrylic paint, I could arrange my very own "Battle Shovel." Which means I can hastily put together my own "cosplay" that the kids are always talking about! Look out, Anime Expo Masquerade! Oh, and this episode of MAR involves a character named Jack, his battle shovel, and how he uses it to stand up for himself and beat bullies and save his mother's farm.

Naruto
(Cartoon Network)
Saturday March 10 9:00pm - Episode 78 "Naruto's Ninja Handbook"

With Gaara's transformation complete, the only chance our spiky-haired ninja moppet has of defeating the otherworldly misanthrope is to call upon the power of Gamabunta the Toad, using his Summoning Jutsu. If I had a joke prepared, it would go here.

(YTV)
Friday March 16 8:00pm - Episode 72 "A Mistake From the Past: A Face Revealed!"

This week on Naruto IN CANADA, the battle between the Third Hokage and Orochimaru reaches its zenith, as the tenuous past connecting the two together is slyly introduced to the puzzled but highly intrigued viewer.

One Piece
(Cartoon Network)
Saturday March 10 9:30pm - Episode 82 "Extra Innings"

This week on Puns Galore, Chopper has to use every trick at his disposal to defeat Mr. 4 and Ms. Groundhogs Day, who are playing a very rough game of batting practice using crewmate Usopp's skull.

Prince of Tennis
(Cartoon Network)
Saturday March 10 10:30pm - Episode 3 "The Seigaku Regulars Make Their Debut"

Tennis pro-in-the-making Ryoma totally disses on an upperclassman in a typical middle school fashion; rather than settling their differences using fisticuffsmanship, the two duke it out on the tennis court. Unfortunately for Ryoma, all the "Seigaku Regulars" are watching the game, and he's playing with a broken racket. Such uneven odds, of course, make for compelling viewing. Which this very well may be.

Samurai Champloo
(Razer)
Sunday March 11 9:30pm - Episode 12 "The Disorder Diaries"

Samurai Champloo, awesome though it may be, still needs to take a 22 minute breather now and then. Which is what this episode is; a "recap" episode.

Spider Riders
(Kids WB)
Saturday March 10 11:00am - Episode 17 "Return of a Friend"

Hunter and Shadow, which totally sound like covert CIA operatives' code-names if this weren't a simplistic Saturday Morning kids' show, have to stop their friend Igneous from challenging an old friend to a round of mortal combat. That's combat with a "c."

Zatch Bell
(YTV)
Friday March 16 8:30pm - Episode 60 "The Labyrinth's Angry Torrent"

Zatch, Kiyo, and a veritable gang of secondary characters continue their assault against the so-called "Millennium Mamodo" in order to preserve freedom and righteousness and crossing the street while looking both ways, and candy!

MOVIES/SPECIALS

Appleseed
(Encore Action)
Saturday March 10 12:00am (Repeats Sat Mar 10 3:00pm, Wed Mar 14 4:30pm)

The Weathering Continent
(Encore Action)
Sunday March 11 5:15am (Repeats Fri Mar 16 7:35am)

Jin-Roh - The Wolf Brigade
(Encore Action)
Monday March 12 4:35pm (Repeats Fri Mar 16 12:00am)

Gundress
(Encore Action)
Thursday March 15 2:35am

If I had to compare these four Encore Action features to pies, it would be as such: Appleseed would be a scrumptious strawberry tart, which would be tasty but in such small portions you would bemoan the price: The Weathering Continent would be a frozen Marie Calender's pie bought at the supermarket, which always end up slightly uncooked no matter how many eons they stay in the oven: Jin-Roh would be a banana cream pie, so filled with rich deliciousness you can't wait to start eating it but is so filling you're unable to properly finish it: while Gundress would be a pot pie, in the sense that it's scarcely a pie at all.

Now that The Click is finished, I can continue my typical weekend ritual of binge drinking and pagan Street Fighter II rituals. Below this line are repeats of shows, some of which are good and totally worth watching, maybe even more than once! I'll be back next week to talk some more about anime on TV, and the impending heat-death of the universe.

REPEATS/STRIPS

10 Tokyo Warriors
(Encore Action)
-Tue Mar 13 12:00am - Episode 1 (R Tue Mar 13 12:15pm)
-Tue Mar 13 12:30am - Episode 2 (R Tue Mar 13 12:50pm)
-Wed Mar 14 12:00am - Episode 3
-Wed Mar 14 12:30am - Episode 4
-Thu Mar 15 12:00am - Episode 5 (R Thu Mar 15 5:50am)
-Thu Mar 15 12:30am - Episode 6 (R Thu Mar 15 6:20am)

Big O
(Cartoon Network)
-Sun Mar 11 5:00am - Episode 10 "Winter Night Phantom"

Chrono Crusade
(Showtime Beyond)
-Sat Mar 10 4:05am - Episode 8 "Puppets" (R Mon Mar 12 12:10am, Fri Mar 16 12:50am)
-Fri Mar 16 9:00pm - Episode 9 "Joshua"

Digimon
(Toon Disney)
-Sat Mar 10 11:00am - Episode 13 "The Legend of the DigiDestined"
-Sun Mar 11 11:00am - Episode 14 "Departure for a New Continent"
-Sun Mar 11 9:00pm - Episode 152 "Shadow of the Beast King" (R Mon Mar 12 1:30am)
-Mon Mar 12 8:00am - Episode 203 "The Brothers Yin and Yang" (R Tue Mar 13 2:30am)
-Mon Mar 12 10:30pm - Episode 20 "Earthquake of Metal Greymon" (R Tue Mar 13 3:00am)
-Tue Mar 13 8:00am - Episode 204 "Lucemon on the Loose" (R Wed Mar 14 2:30am)
-Tue Mar 13 7:30pm - Episode 7 "Ikkakumon's Harpoon Torpedo"
-Tue Mar 13 10:30pm - Episode 21 "Home Away From Home" (R Wed Mar 14 3:00am)
-Wed Mar 14 8:00am - Episode 205 "End of the Line" (R Thu Mar 15 2:30am)
-Wed Mar 14 7:30pm - Episode 8 "Evil Shows His Face"
-Wed Mar 14 10:30pm - Episode 22 "Forget About It!" (R Thu Mar 15 3:00am)
-Thu Mar 15 8:00am - Episode 1 "And So It Begins..." (R Fri Mar 16 2:30am)
-Thu Mar 15 7:30pm - Episode 9 "Subzero Ice Punch!"
-Thu Mar 15 10:30pm - Episode 23 "Weregarurumon's Diner" (R Fri Mar 16 3:00am)
-Fri Mar 16 8:00am - Episode 2 "The Birth of Greymon" (R Sat Mar 17 2:30am)
-Fri Mar 16 10:30pm - Episode 24 "No Questions, Please" (R Sat Mar 17 3:00am)

Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex
(Cartoon Network)
-Tue Mar 13 12:30am - Episode 13 "Not Equal" (R Tue Mar 13 4:00am)
-Wed Mar 14 12:30am - Episode 14 "Yes" (R Wed Mar 14 4:00am)
-Thu Mar 15 12:30am - Episode 15 "Machine Desirantes" (R Thu Mar 15 4:00am)
-Fri Mar 16 12:30am - Episode 16 "Ag2O" (R Fri Mar 16 4:00am)

Gigantor
(Cartoon Network)
-Sun Mar 11 5:30am - Episode 10 "World in Danger"

Idaten Jump
(Cartoon Network)
-Thu Mar 15 6:00am - Episode 5 "Reveal"
-Fri Mar 16 6:00am - Episode 6 "Hidden"

Inuyasha
(Cartoon Network)
-Tue Mar 13 1:00am - Episode 89 "The Nursing Battle of the Rival Lovers" (R Tue Mar 13 4:30am)
-Tue Mar 13 1:30am - Episode 90 "Sota's Brave Confession of Love" (R Tue Mar 13 5:00am)
-Wed Mar 14 1:00am - Episode 91 "Suspicious Faith Healer and the Black Kirara" (R Wed Mar 14 4:30am)
-Wed Mar 14 1:30am - Episode 92 "Plot of the Waking Dead" (R Wed Mar 14 5:00am)
-Thu Mar 15 1:00am - Episode 93 "Mystery of the Lecherous Monk" (R Thu Mar 15 4:30am)
-Thu Mar 15 1:30am - Episode 94 "The Sacred Jewel Maker, Part 1" (R Thu Mar 15 5:00am)
-Fri Mar 16 1:00am - Episode 95 "The Sacred Jewel Maker, Part 2" (R Fri Mar 16 4:30am)
-Fri Mar 16 1:30am - Episode 96 "Jaken Falls Ill" (R Fri Mar 16 5:00am)

Naruto
(Cartoon Network)
-Mon Mar 12 5:30pm - Episode 40 "Kakashi and Orochimaru: Face-to-Face"
-Tue Mar 13 5:30pm - Episode 41 "Kunoichi Rumble: The Rivals Get Serious"
-Wed Mar 14 5:30pm - Episode 42 "The Ultimate Battle: Cha!"
-Thu Mar 15 5:30pm - Episode 43 "Killer Kunoichi and a Shaky Shikamaru"
-Fri Mar 16 5:30pm - Episode 44 "Akamaru Unleashed! Who's on Top Now?"

Oban Star-Racers
(Toon Disney)
-Mon Mar 12 2:30am - Episode 18 "Monstrous Like Muir"
-Tue Mar 13 1:30am - Episode 20 "Secret Like Sul"
-Fri Mar 16 9:00pm - Episode 21 "Ominous Like O" (R Sat Mar 17 1:30am)

Peacemaker
(Showtime Beyond)
-Sat Mar 10 4:30am - Episode 17 "Hollow" (R Sun Mar 11 11:40pm, Fri Mar 16 1:15am)
-Fri Mar 16 9:30pm - Episode 18 "Rain"

Pokémon
(Cartoon Network)
-Sat Mar 10 9:00am - Episode 466 "Home Is Where the Start Is"
-Sat Mar 10 9:30am - Episode 420 "Fear Factor Phony"
-Sun Mar 11 5:00pm - Episode 452 "Battling the Enemy Within" (R Fri Mar 16 5:00pm)
-Sun Mar 11 5:30pm - Episode 453 "Slaking Kong"
-Mon Mar 12 6:30am - Episode 414 "Sitting Psyduck"
-Mon Mar 12 5:00pm - Episode 448 "New Plot, Old Lot"
-Tue Mar 13 6:30am - Episode 415 "Hail to the Chef!"
-Tue Mar 13 5:00pm - Episode 449 "Going for Choke"
-Wed Mar 14 6:30am - Episode 416 "Caterpie's Big Dilemma"
-Wed Mar 14 5:00pm - Episode 450 "The Ole' Berate and Switch"
-Thu Mar 15 6:30am - Episode 417 "The Saffron Con"
-Thu Mar 15 5:00pm - Episode 451 "Grating Spaces"
-Fri Mar 16 6:30am - Episode 418 "A Hurdle for Squirtle"

Saiyuki Reload
(Encore WAM)
-Sat Mar 10 4:30pm - Episode 10 "Trick or Treat" (R Sun Mar 11 8:30am)
-Sun Mar 11 4:30pm - Episode 11 "Mother" (R Mon Mar 12 2:30am, 8:30am)
-Mon Mar 12 4:30pm - Episode 12 "Tiny Dream" (R Tue Mar 13 2:30am, 8:30am)
-Tue Mar 13 4:30pm - Episode 13 "Lovely Baby" (R Wed Mar 14 2:30am, 8:30am)
-Wed Mar 14 4:30pm - Episode 14 "Black Crow" (R Thu Mar 15 2:30am, 8:30am)
-Thu Mar 15 4:30pm - Episode 15 "Secret Ambition" (R Fri Mar 16 2:30am, 8:30am)
-Fri Mar 16 4:30pm - Episode 16 "Opposite" (R Sat Mar 17 2:30am, 8:30am)

Samurai Champloo
(Cartoon Network)
-Sun Mar 11 1:30am - Episode 18 "War of the Words" (R Sun Mar 11 4:30am)

Samurai Deeper Kyo
(Encore WAM)
-Sat Mar 10 4:00pm - Episode 12 "The Boy From the Deep Forest" (R Sun Mar 11 8:00am)
-Sun Mar 11 4:00pm - Episode 13 "Crossing Souls" (R Mon Mar 12 2:00am, 8:00am)
-Mon Mar 12 4:00pm - Episode 14 "Satan Again" (R Tue Mar 13 2:00am, 8:00am)
-Tue Mar 13 4:00pm - Episode 15 "Our Friend Red Tiger" (R Wed Mar 14 2:00am, 8:00am)
-Wed Mar 14 4:00pm - Episode 16 "Perfect Victory" (R Thu Mar 15 2:00am, 8:00am)
-Thu Mar 15 4:00pm - Episode 17 "The Secret Talk of Girls" (R Fri Mar 16 2:00am, 8:00am)
-Fri Mar 16 4:00pm - Episode 18 "Nurturing the Devil" (R Sat Mar 17 2:00am, 8:00am)

Shinzo
(Toon Disney)
-Sat Mar 10 4:00am - Episode 19 "Feathered Friend"
-Sat Mar 10 8:00am - Episode 3 "Web of Evil"
-Sun Mar 11 8:00am - Episode 4 "Day at the Park"
-Tue Mar 13 4:00am - Episode 20 "The Two Mushrambos"
-Wed Mar 14 4:00am - Episode 21 "A Battle of One"
-Thu Mar 15 4:00am - Episode 22 "A New Beginning"
-Fri Mar 16 4:00am - Episode 23 "Bear Claws"
-Sat Mar 17 4:00am - Episode 24 "The Nightmare Dream Center"

Transformers: Cybertron
(Cartoon Network)
-Mon Mar 12 6:00am - Episode 20 "Honor"
-Tue Mar 13 6:00am - Episode 21 "Primal"
-Wed Mar 14 6:00am - Episode 22 "Trust"

Voltron
(Cartoon Network)
-Tue Mar 13 5:30am - Episode 31 "The Captive Comet"
-Wed Mar 14 5:30am - Episode 32 "The Little Prince"
-Thu Mar 15 5:30am - Episode 33 "There Will Be a Royal Wedding"
-Fri Mar 16 5:30am - Episode 43 "The Sand People"

Yu-Gi-Oh!
(4KidsTV)
-Sat Mar 10 9:30am - Episode 31 "Keith's Machinations, Part 1"
-Sat Mar 10 10:00am - Episode 32 "Keith's Machinations, Part 2"