The Click

January 20th - January 26th

Hot diggity profanity! It's another bone-chillingly fantastic week, which means The Click descends from upon high to slather all the good little children with highly nutritional bits of televised fun! But only if the good little children are well-behaved, go to bed on time, and are aware that all dates and times are Eastern, and subject to change.

Before we get into the thick of it, allow me, if I might, to plug The Animation Show? The city wherein I reside was lucky enough to be among the first cities to roll out this outstanding feature-length program of international animated short films. If I might be so bold to suggest that those of you who are watching anime might also enjoy other forms of animation, then The Animation Show is chock full of unique and entertaining films one would otherwise be unable to see properly on the big, theater screen it deserves. Yes, I am, in addition to being an austere television column writer and matador, a professional shill.

Now: Japanese animation on the television!

Cowboy Bebop
(Razer)
Sunday January 21 9:00pm - Episode 5 "Ballad of Fallen Angels"

Mad props to professional Canadian and loyal The Click reader Jenna Singleton, for handily pointing out that Razer's new anime premieres occur on that most Sabbath-y of days, Sundays, instead of the previously listed Wednesdays. A highly professional thumbs-up to you, Jenna!

Again, this is another situation of an anime masterstroke simply overshadowing the entertaining but meager lineup. Episode five of Bebop perfectly distills precisely how compelling and brilliant even TV animation can be, with top-notch presentation at virtually every angle - be it the writing, design, editing, dubbing, what have you. Spike and Jet and Faye are hot on the trail of a bigwig with ties to Spike's unspoken past in a ruthless crime syndicate, all of which ends with a spectacular gunfight set to amazing music by the untouchable Yoko Kanno.

PREMIERES:

.hack//Roots
(Cartoon Network)
Saturday January 20 5:00am - Episode 11 "Discord"

Haseo, scarred by his battles with some of the literal heavies of The World, achieves a sort of fame in The World's bustling, rumor-mongering community. I mean, as famous as MMORPG players can be without engaging in the kinds of self-immolation or gang violence that permeates much of South Korea's tabloids.

Afro Samurai
(Spike TV)
Thursday January 25 11:00pm - Episode 4 "Duel" (Repeats Fri Jan 26 12:30am, Sat Jan 27 1:30am)

The Afro Samurai, colloquially known as simply "Afro" to his peers, engages the ruthless Empty Seven Clan in the kind of rugged, blood-filled battle that this series was essentially created for. So for those with a hankerin' for fountains of animated crimson erupting from animated extras, enjoy!

Basilisk
(Independent Film Channel)
Friday January 23 11:30pm - Episode 4 "The Horned Owl" (Repeats Sat Jan 27 5:15am)

Gennosuke and his ninja superiors deceive the Iga clan by promising to have a nice, quiet, assassination-free dinner, on them, but one lone ninja who objects to the idea of splitting the check when he only ordered an appetizer ruins everything.

Bleach
(Cartoon Network)
Sunday January 21 12:00am - Episode 18 (Repeats Sun Jan 21 3:00am)

Since Rukia's departure, Ichigo grows restless as the rest of his carefree high school class has seemingly lost all memories of Rukia's existence, prompting the lad to return to Uruhara's slightly gruesome training in order to launch an all-out assault and rescue mission against the Soul Society.

(YTV)
Friday January 26 10:30pm - Episode 20

Meanwhile, in Canada, Ichigo wraps up his grueling training under Uruhara while Orihime, Chad, and Uryu complete their own training regimens and depart for the Soul Society as well. The moral of the story is friendship.

Eureka 7
(Cartoon Network)
Sunday January 21 12:30am - Episode 37 "Raise Your Hand" (Repeats Sun Jan 21 3:30am)

The insidious but not-very-aptly-named Dewey introduces a devastating new attack force derived from the Corallian that he mistakenly, albeit popularly, attributes to one Adrock Thurston; which, for you boys and girls playing at home, would be the late father of Eureka 7's protagonist, Renton Thurston.

(YTV)
Friday January 26 9:30pm - Episode 19 "Acperience 2"

Eureka's seemingly incurable malaise continues, frustrating an already frustrated Gekkostate, until the cause of said malaise is tied to materials lining the mines in which they are currently hiding amongst. Sadly, my personal dreams of a character shouting "Eureka! It's in the mines!" during the episode never come to fruition.

Fullmetal Alchemist
(YTV)
Friday January 26 10:00pm - Episode 46 "Human Transmutation" (Repeats Sat Jan 27 1:00am)

While Ed treks to Dante's mansion to settle more than a few scores with the Homonculi, Alphonse meets with the disgraced Shou Tucker to discuss his acquired Philosopher's Stone; meanwhile, the recently exposed Fuhrer King Bradley sends Roy Mustang and the effervescent Armstrong on a mysteriously perilous campaign to the North.

Gunslinger Girl
(Independent Film Channel)
Friday January 26 11:00pm - Episode 4 "Doll; Bambola"

Treila, one of the many mentally manipulated marksman, is ordered to protect an important defense witness in a high-profile court case in Naples. Which, in addition to being a delicious cookie, is a large European city!

MAR
(Cartoon Network)
Saturday January 20 10:30pm - Episode 13 "Nanashi vs. Orco at the Underground Lake"

Ginta and his companionably cohorts traverse the eponymous Underground Lake to fight more of those evil Chess Piece guys. Still no word as to the rhyme or reason for the jumbled episode order, however.

Naruto
(Cartoon Network)
Saturday January 20 9:00pm - Episode 70 "A Shirker's Call to Action: A Layabout No More"

"Shirker" and "layabout" refer to Shikamaru, the utterly unenthusiastic ninja companion to the overly optimistic Naruto, who decides to bravely rise to the occasion and protect his ninja pals through a hare-brained scheme designed to throw off track the elite ninja villains that are pursuing them.

(YTV)
Friday January 26 8:00pm - Episode  "Dancing Leaf, Squirming Sand" (Repeats Sat Jan 27 2:30am)

As the Chunin Exams roar ever onward, the crowd grows listless and belligerent as Sasuke's scheduled match against Gaara of the Sand Village seems impossible due to Sasuke's unscheduled disappearance. Meanwhile, Naruto and Shikamaru witness firsthand Gaara's bloodlust.

Prince of Tennis
(Cartoon Network)
Saturday January 20 10:00pm - Episode 9 "The Hard Day"

Ryoma continues his assault on the bourgeois Seigaku High Tennis Team establishment, as this final match will determine if the talented rookie will be allowed amongst the team's regular lineup. One might take this episode as something of a metaphor as to whether Prince of Tennis can prove itself worthy of joining among the regular TV lineup, but one would have to read pretty far into things for bizarre reasons. In other words, one would have to be me.

Samurai Champloo
(Razer)
Sunday January 21 9:30pm - Episode 5 "Artistic Anarchy"

The bickering trio of Mugen, Jin, and Fuu continue their somewhat trite journey across Tokyo, until the sprightly Fuu is conned into being a model for a gaunt painter with a somewhat seedy ulterior motive.

Tenjho Tenge
(G4TechTV Canada)
-Monday January 22 8:30pm - Episode 4 "Suspicion"
-Tuesday January 23 8:30pm - Episode 5 "Punishment"
-Wednesday January 24 8:30pm - Episode 6 "Illusion"
-Thursday January 25 8:30pm - Episode 7 "Breakthrough"
-Friday January 26 8:30pm - Episode 8 "Dragon's Eye"

After their humiliating defeat at the hands of the sisterly Aya and Maya, Nagi and Bob recoup their losses by deciding to train under the two girls who had knocked them senseless. All goes well until a fun night at the bowling alley is rudely interrupted by some thugs from the "Executive Council" with an axe to grind against our intrepid fighters.

Trinity Blood
(Cartoon Network)
Saturday January 20 11:30pm - Episode 18 "The Night Lords IV: The Palace of Jade" (Repeats Sun Jan 21 2:30am)

Amidst the usual chaos and destruction and all that, Ion and Esther discover that they are merely patsies for a bigger, grander operation of chaos and destruction. You'd think the Vatican would combat this menace with the mobile-armored Pope-Mobile, but alas.

Yu-Gi-Oh! GX
(Cartoon Network)
Saturday January 20 7:30pm - Episode 88 "Blinded by the Light, Part 2"

The previous week's card battle is extended to and, with any luck, concluded by this second part! Chazz and his opponent settle the score by talking of things such as hit points, monster types, and official Yu-Gi-Oh Mail Order Catalogs.

Zatch Bell
(Cartoon Network)
Saturday January 20 9:30pm - Episode 77 "The Return of Sherry and Brago"

Zatch Bell returns to the TV scene with more new episodes, featuring the return of the frilly Sherry and the braggadocious Brago, but what of their motives? What of, indeed.

MOVIES/SPECIALS

Digimon: The Movie
(Toon Disney)
Sunday January 21 12:00pm

My memories of this film are hazy - which perhaps might be for the best - but I do remember some bits of snazzy and uncharacteristically stylized animation betwixt ludicrous soundtrack decisions such as the ubiquitous Smash Mouth and Barenaked Ladies. And lots of talk of "digi-" prefixes.

Akira
(Encore Action)
Tuesday January 23 12:00pm (Repeats Wed Jan 24 12:00am)

Steamboy
(Encore Action)
Thursday January 25 12:00am

A Katsuhiro Otomo double feature! Except not quite, considering the films are airing on two separate days. Nonetheless, a neat idea to pair Otomo's bizarrely groundbreaking 1988 masterpiece with his unfairly maligned 2005 flop.

Thus ends The Click's patented color commentary; I'll be around next week to inform you of obscure film festivals featuring treatises on the nature of man animated entirely using pipe cleaners and interpretive dance! See you then!

REPEATS/STRIPS

Big O
(Cartoon Network)
-Sun Jan 21 5:00am - Episode 3 "Electric City"

Chrono Crusade
(Showtime Beyond)
-Mon Jan 22 12:00am - Episode 1 "Sister Rosette" (R Fri Jan 26 2:35am)
-Fri Jan 26 9:00pm - Episode 2 "Contractor" (R Sat Jan 27 5:00am)

Digimon
(Toon Disney)
-Sat Jan 20 11:00am - Episode 1 "And So It Begins..."
-Sun Jan 21 11:00am - Episode 2 "The Birth of Greymon"
-Sun Jan 21 9:00pm - Episode 145 "Homeward Bound" (R Mon Jan 22 1:30am)
-Mon Jan 22 8:00am - Episode 168 "Better an Egg Than an Egg Shell" (R Tue Jan 23 2:30am)
-Mon Jan 22 7:00pm - Episode 206 "Revenge of Diaboromon"
-Mon Jan 22 7:45pm - Episode 207 "Battle of Adventurers"
-Mon Jan 22 8:45pm - Episode 208 "Runaway Locomon"
-Mon Jan 22 9:30pm - Episode 209 "Island of Lost Digimon"
-Mon Jan 22 10:30pm - Episode 190 "Takuya and Koji's Evolution" (R Tue Jan 23 3:00am)
-Tue Jan 23 8:00am - Episode 169 "No Whamon" (R Wed Jan 24 2:30am)
-Tue Jan 23 10:30pm - Episode 191 "Ice Ice Baby" (R Wed Jan 24 3:00am)
-Wed Jan 24 8:00am - Episode 170 "Beastie Girl" (R Thu Jan 25 2:30am)
-Wed Jan 24 10:30pm - Episode 192 "Cherubimania" (R Thu Jan 25 3:00am)
-Thu Jan 25 8:00am - Episode 171 "The Swiss Family Digimon" (R Fri Jan 26 2:30am)
-Thu Jan 25 10:30pm - Episode 193 "It Can't Be! Lucemon Reappears" (R Fri Jan 26 3:00am)
-Fri Jan 26 8:00am - Episode 172 "Bizarre Bazaar" (R Sat Jan 27 2:30am)
-Fri Jan 26 10:30pm - Episode 194 "The Man In the Moon Is You" (R Sat Jan 27 3:00am)

Fullmetal Alchemist
(Cartoon Network)
-Tue Jan 23 12:30am - Episode 38 "With the River's Flow" (R Tue Jan 23 4:00am)
-Wed Jan 24 12:30am - Episode 39 "Secret of Ishbal" (R Wed Jan 24 4:00am)
-Thu Jan 25 12:30am - Episode 40 "The Scar" (R Thu Jan 25 4:00am)
-Fri Jan 26 12:30am - Episode 41 "Holy Mother" (R Fri Jan 26 4:00am)

Gigantor
(Cartoon Network)
-Sun Jan 21 5:30am - Episode 3 "Sting of the Spider"

Gokusen
(Encore Action)
-Fri Jan 26 12:00am - Episode 1 "Rookie Teacher With a Secret is Born!"
-Fri Jan 26 12:30am - Episode 2 "Duel! Shin vs Ojou?"
-Fri Jan 26 1:00am - Episode 3 "Kuma's First Time"

Idaten Jump
(Cartoon Network)
-Thu Jan 25 6:00am - Episode 5 "Challenge"
-Fri Jan 26 6:00am - Episode 6 "Palace"

Inuyasha
(Cartoon Network)
-Tue Jan 23 1:00am - Episode 25 "Naraku's Insidious Plot" (R Tue Jan 23 4:30am)
-Tue Jan 23 1:30am - Episode 26 "Secret of the Jewel of Four Souls Revealed" (R Tue Jan 23 5:00am)
-Wed Jan 24 1:00am - Episode 27 "The Lak eof the Evil Water God" (R Wed Jan 24 4:30am)
-Wed Jan 24 1:30am - Episode 28 "Miroku Falls Into a Dangerous Trap" (R Wed Jan 24 5:00am)
-Thu Jan 25 1:00am - Episode 29 "Sango's Suffering and Kohaku's Life" (R Thu Jan 25 4:30am)
-Thu Jan 25 1:30am - Episode 30 "Tetsusaiga is Stolen! Showdown at Naraku's Castle" (R Thu Jan 25 5:00am)
-Fri Jan 26 1:00am - Episode 31 "Jinsei, Kind Yet Sad" (R Fri Jan 26 4:30am)
-Fri Jan 26 1:30am - Episode 32 "Kikyo and Inuyasha, Into the Miasma" (R Fri Jan 26 5:00am)

Mirage of Blaze
(Encore WAM)
-Sat Jan 20 4:30pm - Episode 4 "Premonition of a Chain Reaction" (R Sun Jan 21 2:30am, 8:30am)
-Sun Jan 21 4:30pm - Episode 5 "Endless Conflict" (R Mon Jan 22 2:30am, 8:30am)
-Mon Jan 22 4:30pm - Episode 6 "Golden Emblem" (R Tue Jan 23 2:30am, 8:30am)
-Tue Jan 23 4:30pm - Episode 7 "Memories of Hateful Anguish" (R Wed Jan 24 2:30am, 8:30am)
-Wed Jan 24 4:30pm - Episode 8 "At the End of Obsession" (R Thu Jan 25 2:30am, 8:30am)
-Thu Jan 25 4:30pm - Episode 9 "Endless Void" (R Fri Jan 26 2:30am, 8:30am)
-Fri Jan 26 4:30pm - Episode 10 "Sorrowful Betrayal" (R Sat Jan 27 2:30am, 8:30am)

Naruto
(Cartoon Network)
-Sat Jan 20 8:30pm - Episode 69 "Village in Distress: A New A-Ranked Mission"
-Mon Jan 22 5:30pm - Episode 8 "The Oath of Pain"
-Tue Jan 23 5:30pm - Episode 9 "Kakashi: Sharingan Warrior"
-Wed Jan 24 5:30pm - Episode 10 "The Forest of Chakra"
-Thu Jan 25 5:30pm - Episode 11 "The Land Where a Hero Once Lived"
-Fri Jan 26 5:30pm - Episode 12 "Battle on the Bridge! Zabuza Returns!"

Oban Star-Racers
(Toon Disney)
-Sun Jan 21 8:30pm - Episode 5 "Cruel Like Ceres" (R Mon Jan 22 2:30am)
-Mon Jan 22 9:30am - Episode 6 "Playful Like Paradice"
-Tue Jan 23 1:30am - Episode 10 "Resistant Like Rush" (R Fri Jan 26 9:30am, Sat Jan 27 1:30am)
-Tue Jan 23 9:30am - Episode 7 "Treacherous Like Toros"
-Wed Jan 24 9:30am - Episode 8 "Agile Like Aikka"
-Thu Jan 25 9:30am - Episode 9 "Surprising Like Super-Racer"

Paranoia Agent
(Cartoon Network)
-Sun Jan 21 1:30am - Episode 11 "No Entry" (R Sun Jan 21 4:30am)

Peacemaker
(Showtime Beyond)
-Sun Jan 14 11:45pm - Episode 9 "Ryo" (R Fri Jan 19 4:40am)
-Fri Jan 19 9:30pm - Episode 10 "Quiet"

Pokemon
(Cartoon Network)
-Sat Jan 20 9:00am - Episode TBA
-Sat Jan 20 9:30am - Episode TBA
-Sun Jan 21 5:00pm - Episode 438 "Ka Boom With a View"
-Sun Jan 21 5:30pm - Episode 439 "King and Queen for a Day"
-Mon Jan 22 6:30am - Episode 379 "Claydol Big and Tall"
-Mon Jan 22 5:00pm - Episode 432 "Queen of the Serpentine"
-Tue Jan 23 6:30am - Episode 380 "Once in a Mawile"
-Tue Jan 23 5:00pm - Episode 433 "Off the Unbeaten Path"
-Wed Jan 24 6:30am - Episode 381 "Beg, Borrow and Steal"
-Wed Jan 24 5:00pm - Episode 434 "Harley Rides Again"
-Thu Jan 25 6:30am - Episode 382 "Absol-ute Disaster"
-Thu Jan 25 5:00pm - Episode 435 "Odd Pokemon Out"
-Fri Jan 26 6:30am - Episode 383 "Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snorunt"
-Fri Jan 26 5:00pm - Episode 436 "Spontaneous Combusken"

Saiyuki Reload
(Encore WAM)
-Sat Jan 20 4:00pm - Episode 20 "Chase" (R Sun Jan 21 2:00am, 8:00am)
-Sun Jan 21 4:00pm - Episode 21 "Don't Cry" (R Mon Jan 22 2:00am, 8:00am)
-Mon Jan 22 4:00pm - Episode 22 "Pain" (R Tue Jan 23 2:00am, 8:00am)
-Tue Jan 23 4:00pm - Episode 23 "Dawn" (R Wed Jan 24 2:00am, 8:00am)
-Wed Jan 24 4:00pm - Episode 24 "Go Ahead" (R Thu Jan 25 2:00am, 8:00am)
-Thu Jan 25 4:00pm - Episode 25 "Nothing to Give" (R Fri Jan 26 2:00am, 8:00am)
-Fri Jan 26 4:00pm - Episode 26 "Run" (R Sat Jan 27 2:00am, 8:00am)

Samurai Champloo
(Cartoon Network)
-Sun Jan 21 1:00am - Episode 11 "Gamblers and Gallantry" (R Sun Jan 21 4:00am)

Samurai Deeper Kyo
(Encore Action)
-Sun Jan 21 10:30am - Episode 1 "Road to Armageddon"

Shinzo
(Toon Disney)
-Sat Jan 20 4:00am - Episode 16 "The Giant Robot"
-Tue Jan 23 4:00am - Episode 17 "The Great War"
-Wed Jan 24 4:00am - Episode 18 "Secrets of the Seven"
-Thu Jan 25 4:00am - Episode 19 "The Feather Fiend"
-Fri Jan 26 4:00am - Episode 20 "The Two Mushrambos"
-Sat Jan 27 4:00am - Episode 21 "A Battle of One"

Spider Riders
(CW Kids)
-Sat Jan 20 11:00am - Episode 1 "The Inner World"
-Sat Jan 20 11:30am - Episode 3 "First Impressions"

Texhnolyze
(Encore Action)
-Sat Jan 20 12:00am - Episode 19 "Heavenward" (R Sat Jan 20 12:30pm)
-Sat Jan 20 12:30am - Episode 20 "Hades" (R Sat Jan 20 1:00pm)
-Tue Jan 23 12:00am - Episode 21 "Encephalopathy"
-Tue Jan 23 12:30am - Episode 22 "Myth"

Transformers Cybertron
(Cartoon Network)
-Mon Jan 22 6:00am - Episode 51 "Beginning"
-Tue Jan 23 6:00am - Episode 52 "Inferno"
-Wed Jan 24 6:00am - Episode 1 "Fallen"

Voltron
(Cartoon Network)
-Tue Jan 23 5:30am - Episode 15 "Surrender"
-Wed Jan 24 5:30am - Episode 21 "Bad Birthday Party"
-Thu Jan 25 5:30am - Episode 25 "The Witch Gets a Facelift"
-Fri Jan 26 5:30am - Episode 16 "Yurak Gets His Pink Slip"

Yu-Gi-Oh!
(4KidsTV)
-Sat Jan 20 9:30am - Episode 16 "The Scars of Defeat"
-Sat Jan 20 10:00am - Episode 17 "Arena of Lost Souls, Part 1"

Yu-Gi-Oh! GX
(Cartoon Network)
-Sat Jan 20 6:00pm - Episode 85 "Rah, Rah, Ra!" (R Thu Jan 25 4:30pm)
-Sat Jan 20 6:30pm - Episode 86 "The Art of the Duel" (R Fri Jan 26 4:30pm)
-Sat Jan 20 7:00pm - Episode 87 "Blinded by the Light, Part 1"
-Mon Jan 22 4:30pm - Episode 82 "Magnetic Personality"
-Tue Jan 23 4:30pm - Episode 83 "Schooling the Master"
-Wed Jan 24 4:30pm - Episode 84 "Generation neXt"