The Click

July 22nd - 28th

Hi folks, me again. Welcome to another veritable cornucopia of dates, times, and channels telling you when and where those nuggets of anime goodness can be found amidst the vast expanse of US television.

But before we begin, I'd like to elucidate you all, good readers, as to what exactly goes into your weekly The Click column. No doubt, all ten of you who enjoy my column on a regular basis are cringing with anticipation upon reading every word, muttering under each heavy breath, “How does this madman do it?!?”

Fret not, gentle regulars! For you see, it all begins with a small but essential government stipend. This stipend is then funneled through various organizations until it becomes official property of the mafia. Kickbacks are enjoyed, international smuggling rings are established, reported to the FBI, and promptly raided; later, property is seized, sentences are filed, probation is offered and then denied, and finally everything resets back to normal after a wild and violent high speed prison escape/shootout.

Next, it is time to visit The Wizard. The Wizard then climbs atop his Studio Apartment of Sorcery calls forth dark powers, which bring to him news of plagues, disease, war, and other atrocities. Also, The Wizard summons websites like Zap2it to inform him of which shows are airing, and where and when. Once the week's data has been compiled, it is time to burn The Wizard. His ashes are then spread across the land, purifying and protecting it for the next one-thousand years.

Afterwards, it is time to choose the featured program. This is done through a highly scientific process involving several chickens on non-FDA approved brain hormone drugs. The chickens are shown the aforementioned data, and are instructed to agree upon, through democracy, the individual program most deserving of an accolade. This concept fails when the chickens only agree upon the tastiness of corn, and in fact turn in a 97-page .pdf file of nothing but “I LIKE CORN” in varying fonts and sizes. The chickens are then sold to slavery in those odd machines often found in rural county fairs, wherein the chickens must do a stupid dance whenever a kid is dumb enough to put two quarters in the slot. The actual Click Pick of the Week is settled upon by myself and several focus groups throughout the greater United States midwest.

Finally, the column's intro and commentary are written by myself inbetwixt various incarcerations, and the finished draft is submitted to dozens of lawyers, special interest groups, US politicians, and professional snowboarders pending approval. Then, something involving computers happens, and the finished column appears online!

Now that I've shared that experience, we should probably move on towards what I'm actually supposed to be doing; telling you what's on.

FEATURED PROGRAM(S)

Oban Star-Racers
(ABC Family)
-Saturday July 22 10:30am - Episode 7 "Treacherous Like Toros" (Repeats Sun Jul 23 10:30am)

(Toon Disney)
-Saturday July 22 8:30pm - Episode 6 "Playful Like Paradice"
-Sunday July 23 8:30pm - Episode 7 "Treacherous Like Toros"
-Monday July 24 7:30pm - Episode 8 "Agile Like Aikka" (Repeats Tue Jul 25 12:30am)

I've been seriously slacking in the past couple of weeks, missing all kinds of neat new stuff left and right. Oban Star-Racers is something I've been hearing about for a number of years – the short pilot film, which ran the rounds in numerous film festivals and accumulated a number of awards, was fun enough but hardly seemed like something that could be sustained as an entire series.

I was in for quite a surprise, then, when some mid-afternoon channel surfing led me to the Toon Disney channel. It's fun and engaging enough for the kids, but unlike many anime co-productions aimed at Western audiences isn't obnoxiously filled with obscene product placement and cookie-cutter characters (for shame, D.I.C.E and Spider Riders). Think of it like the similarly-excellent IGPX but for a much younger set.

OTHER PREMIERES:

Basilisk
(Razer)
Thursday July 27 5:30pm – Episode 4 "The Horned Owl" (Repeats Fri Jul 28 12:30am, 1:00pm)

One of the recent trio of extremely dark and moody Gonzo shows (the other two being Trinity Blood and Speed Grapher), Basilisk's recent and heretofore unbeknownst to myself appearance on Canadian TV caught me by surprise. Surprise, because us Americans won't be receiving the first DVD until early next month. Thus, I really don't have much to add here, as my exposure to this series has been very limited. Thus, to avoid any further embarrassment, I am simply going to move on...

Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo
(Cartoon Network)
Saturday July 22 10:30pm - Episode 37 "Holy Guacamole Land Isn't Just for Breakfast Anymore"

...moving onto much more familiar territory (for myself, anyway), Bo-bobo and his whacked-out crew of cartoonish cohorts find themselves in Holy Guacamole Land! Will there be anthropomorphic food characters spouting irreverent gibberish? You betcha!

Case Closed
(YTV)
Saturday July 29 12:00am - Episode 17 "A Loan Repaid"

Our plucky hero Conan, weary from his constant travails of crime-solving, settles down for some R&R. However, his plate soon becomes full... full of murder! Because, uh, a local antiques dealer is murdered by one of his own antique swords.

Chrono Crusade
(Showtime Beyond)
Friday July 29 9:00pm - Episode 24 "Chrono"

This is the very last episode of Chrono Crusade ever. In it, the various supporting characters recuperate from their battle with Aion, and Chrono and Rosette spend a little quality time together before time runs out.

Eureka 7
(Cartoon Network)
Sunday July 23 12:00am - Episode 15 "Human Behavior" (Repeats Sun Jul 23 3:00am)

Speaking of quality time, Renton and the rest of the Gekkostate stop for a breather in Renton's former hometown of Controland. No, not Contraland, where everybody walks around with those blitheringly incorrect “Konami Code” T-shirts purchased from Hot Topic – Controland, and Renton has a blast showing Eureka his old digs before they are so rudely interrupted by the United Federation Forces.

Fullmetal Alchemist
(YTV)
Friday July 28 10:00pm - Episode 22 "Created Human" (Repeats Sat Jul 29 1:00am)

Some good ol'-fashioned melodrama this week on Fullmetal, when Ed is lured into the belly of the hidden Laboratory 5 by a familiar face from his past. There, he learns of the true, terrible nature of the experiments contained therein, and must make a difficult choice regarding how far he is willing to go to accomplish his goal of acquiring the Philosopher's Stone. And if you don't like all that melodrama, there's bound to be a doofy commercial or two to lighten the mood.

IGPX
(Cartoon Network)
Saturday July 29 12:00am - Episode 22 "To the Place Meant to Be"

Dear forumgoers and IGPX fans,

Sorry I listed last week's midnight premiere as a rerun. I had assumed, which I am well aware makes an “ass” out of both “u” and “med,” that IGPX was simply gaining a repeat slot, much like Naruto and Zatch Bell before it, and its sabbatical from its normal Saturday prime-time slot was due to the four-hour Naruto marathon. However, thanks to your warnings, I now know what I did was a mistake, and a mistake I will never make again. Maybe. Hopefully.

Yer pal,
Brian H.

Inuyasha
(Cartoon Network)
Wednesday July 26 12:30am - Episode 156 "Final Battle at the Graveside! Sesshomaru Versus Inuyasha" (Repeats Wed Jul 26 4:00am)

Perennial fangirl-fave Sesshomaru brings his half-demon self to this week's Inuyasha, interrupting the evil Naraku's dire plans to steal the remaining Shikon Jewel Shard. Bullet points include: Inuyasha getting mad, Inuyasha and Sesshomaru fighting, other things.

(YTV)
Friday July 28 9:00pm - Episode 151 "Kagome's Instinctive Choice" (Repeats Sat Jul 29 2:30am)

To Kagome and everyone's surprise, Kikyo is still alive! But she won't be for long, unless Kagome puts her own life on the line to save another's.

Naruto
(Cartoon Network)
Saturday July 22 9:00pm - Episode 44 "Akamaru Unleashed! Who's on Top Now?"

After a few weeks of one-on-one bouts spotlighting the various secondary characters, the focus once again shifts to its titular protagonist, as Naruto and the dog-wielding Kiba square off in the preliminaries for the third round of the equally grueling and gruesome Chunin exam.

Pokemon Chronicles
(Cartoon Network)
Saturday July 22 7:30pm - Episode 9 "The Blue Badge of Courage"

The Pokemon series proper is in the midseason blues, so the only place to go for any sort of new-ish Pokemon fix is with... this. Misty, perhaps the only animated character to wear suspenders that was not created during the Great Depression, challenges two up-and-coming youngsters gunning for a Cerulean Gym Badge. She happens to be Badge'd out, so the three of them make a magical journey to visit the Badge Maker. Much like a Mother Goose fable, but with more product placement.

Samurai 7
(Independent Film Channel)
Saturday July 22 10:30pm - Episode 17 "The Remembrance" (Repeats Sun Jul 23 1:30am, 11:30am, Thu Jul 27 11:30pm, Fri Jul 28 2:30am)

The battle has subsided, but the veritable seven samurai have suffered heavy losses; in truth, they should now be known as the 1-dead, 2-MIA, 4-present Samurai. Katsushiro and Kikuchiyo take some time to mull over recent events, and any future plans.

(Razer)
Thursday July 27 5:00pm - Episode 4 "The Loner" (Repeats Fri Jul 28 12:00am, 12:30pm)

Lo, in repentance for having an english-dubbed version of Basilisk available on television weeks before their southern cousins would receive it on DVD, the nation of Canada must receive the excellent Samurai 7 a good 14 episodes behind where we currently reside. In the episode proper: two of the noble samurai, Kambei and Gorobei, make short work of a batch of assassins sent by the evil lord Ayamaro, who then dispatches his super-secret samurai bodyguard to exact retribution.

Trinity Blood
(Razer)
Thursday July 28 6:00pm - Episode 4 "The Star of Sorrow: Hunter's Banquet" (Repeats Fri Jul 28 1:00am, 1:30pm)

Adult Swim won't be receiving Trinity Blood until early September, but you crazy Canadians get it right now. In the same vein (oh ho) as the equally vampiric anime classic Hellsing, Trinity Blood involves the Vatican, vampires, and vampire killin' priests.

Yu-Gi-Oh! GX
(YTV)
Saturday July 22 12:00pm - Episode  "Hearts Are Wild"

Here's some totally meta stuff: in this episode of Yu-Gi-Oh GX, a show about cards, a mysterious character who calls himself “The Gambler,” uses a variety of poker-related tricks at his opponent in the Duel Academy. So, are they referencing the inherent silliness of battling with cards by using a bunch of crazy poker metaphors? Or am I reading too much into this? One thing I can say about this: Nyquil makes your head feel funny.

Zatch Bell
(Cartoon Network)
Saturday July 22 8:00pm - Episode  "Charge Into the Ruins; Kanchome's Strategy"

Goofy-looking pop-star Folgore and his goofy-looking mamodo in footy pajamas, Kanchome, storm the stronghold of the villainous Milordo-Z to aid the exasperated Zatch and Kiyo. There's probably a mamodo battle or two in there somewhere.

So that's what's new, but herein lies a veritable buffet of repeats and other goodies!

MOVIES/SPECIALS

Spirited Away
(Cartoon Network)
Monday July 24 1:00pm

Kai Doh Maru
(Encore Action)
Thursday July 27 12:00am

Gundress
(Encore Action)
Friday July 28 12:00am

Dead Leaves
(Encore Action)
Friday July 28 4:00am

I've seen each of these four features more times than I'd care to admit. Though I certainly wouldn't mind watching Spirited Away again, I'm afraid I, like many of you undoubtedly, would rather pop in the DVD. No commercials, no pesky logos and network bugs, no worries. Encore Action, meanwhile, steadily rotates their admittedly good catalog of anime features into oblivion, so no rush if you haven't seen them before.

I leave you with a bunch of reruns, in the good hope that you know what to do with them. I'll be back next week, folks!

REPEATS/STRIPS

Basilisk
(Razer)
-Sat Jul 22 10:00pm - Episode "The Onslaught of War" (R Sun Jul 23 1:00am, 11:00am)

Battle B-Daman
(YTV)
-Tue Jul 25 3:30pm - Episode "Enraging Bull"
-Thu Jul 27 3:30pm - Episode "Rebel Without a B-Daman"

Beyblade
(YTV)
-Sat Jul 22 5:30am - Episode "When in Rome..."
-Sat Jul 22 1:00pm - Episode "Under the Microscope"
-Tue Jul 25 5:30am - Episode "Deja Vu All Over Again"
-Wed Jul 26 5:30am - Episode "Darkness at the End of the Tunnel"
-Thu Jul 27 5:30am - Episode "Olympia Challenge"
-Fri Jul 28 5:30am - Episode "Majestic Battle"

Big O
(Cartoon Network)
-Tue Jul 25 1:30am - Episode 1 "Roger the Negotiator" (R Tue Jul 25 5:00am)
-Wed Jul 26 1:30am - Episode 2 "Dorothy, Dorothy" (R Wed Jul 26 5:00am)
-Thu Jul 27 1:30am - Episode 3 "Electric City" (R Thu Jul 27 5:00am)
-Fri Jul 28 1:30am - Episode 4 "Underground Terror" (R Fri Jul 28 5:00am)

Chrono Crusade
(Showtime Beyond)
-Mon Jul 24 12:00am - Episode 23 "The Noise" (R Fri Jul 28 12:20am)

Digimon
(ABC Family)
-Sat Jul 22 7:00am - Episode "Family Picnic"
-Sun Jul 23 7:00am - Episode "Guardian Angel"

(Toon Disney)
-Sat Jul 22 9:30pm - Episode "Dream a Little Dream" (R Sun Jul 23 2:00am)
-Sun Jul 23 9:30pm - Episode "O Partner, Where Art Thou" (R Mon Jul 24 2:00am)
-Tue Jul 25 9:30pm - Episode "The Storm of Friendship" (R Wed Jul 26 2:30am)
-Wed Jul 26 9:30pm - Episode "The Good, the Bad and the Digi" (R Thu Jul 27 2:30am)
-Thu Jul 27 9:30pm - Episode "His Master's Choice" (R Fri Jul 28 2:30am)

Dragon Ball GT
(Cartoon Network)
-Sat Jul 29 12:30am - Episode 3 "Terror on Imecka"

(YTV)
-Sat Jul 22 3:30am - Episode "Vegeta's Thirst for Power"

Eiken
(Encore Action)
-Sat Jul 22 12:00am - Episode 1 (R Mon Jul 24 12:00pm, Fri Jul 28 3:30pm)
-Sat Jul 22 12:30am - Episode 2 (R Mon Jul 24 12:30pm, Fri Jul 28 4:00pm)

Fullmetal Alchemist
(Cartoon Network)
-Sat Jul 22 11:30pm - Episode 18 "Marcoh's Notes" (R Sun Jul 23 2:30am)
-Tue Jul 25 12:30am - Episode 49 "The Other Side of the Gate" (R Tue Jul 25 4:00am)

Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex
(Cartoon Network)
-Sun Jul 23 12:30am - Episode 7 "Idolator" (R Sun Jul 23 3:30am)

(YTV)
-Sat Jul 29 12:30am - Episode 19 "Captivated"

Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex 2nd GIG
(Cartoon Network)
-Thu Jul 27 12:30am - Episode 20 "Fabricate Fog" (R Thu Jul 27 4:00am)

Gigantor
(Cartoon Network)
-Tue Jul 25 5:30am - Episode 9 "Face of Terror"
-Wed Jul 26 5:30am - Episode 10 "World in Danger"
-Thu Jul 27 5:30am - Episode 11 "The Smoke Robots"
-Fri Jul 28 5:30am - Episode 12 "Badge of Danger"

Gokusen
(Encore WAM!)
-Sat Jul 22 4:30pm - Episode "School in the Crosshairs" (R Sun Jul 23 1:30am, 6:30am)
-Sun Jul 23 4:30pm - Episode "Shin Drops Out of School" (R Mon Jul 24 1:30am, 6:30am)
-Mon Jul 24 4:30pm - Episode "Shirokin High Closing" (R Tue Jul 25 1:30am, 6:30am)
-Tue Jul 25 4:30pm - Episode "Yakumi's Final Act of Honor" (R Wed Jul 26 1:30am, 6:30am)
-Wed Jul 26 4:30pm - Episode "Shirokin Boy's Choir? Say What?" (R Thu Jul 27 1:30am, 6:30am)
-Thu Jul 27 4:30pm - Episode "Duel! Shin vs. Ojou?" (R Fri Jul 28 1:30am, 6:30am)
-Fri Jul 28 4:30pm - Episode "Kuma's First Time" (R Sat Jul 29 1:30am, 6:30am)

Gundam SEED
(YTV)
-Fri Jul 81 9:30pm - Episode 47 "The Nightmare Reborn" (R Sat Jul 29 1:30am)

Inuyasha
(Cartoon Network)
-Sun Jul 23 1:30am - Episode 141 "Entei, the Demon Horse Unleashed" (R Sun Jul 23 4:30am)

Kirby: Right Back at Ya!
(4KidsTV)
-Sat Jul 22 9:30am - Episode "Un-Reality TV"

Macross Plus
(Encore Action)
-Thu Jul 27 12:30pm - Episode 1 "A.D. 2040 (Deep Space)"
-Thu Jul 27 1:30pm - Episode 2 "Brain Waves"

Mew Mew Power
(4KidsTV)
-Sat Jul 22 7:30am - Episode "A Knight to Remember"

Mirage of Blaze
(Encore WAM)
-Sat Jul 22 4:00pm - Episode 5 "Endless Conflict" (R Sun Jul 23 1:00am, 6:00am)
-Sun Jul 23 4:00pm - Episode 6 "Golden Emblem" (R Mon Jul 24 1:00am, 6:00am)
-Mon Jul 24 4:00pm - Episode 7 "Memories of Hateful Anguish" (R Tue Jul 25 1:00am, 6:00am)
-Tue Jul 25 4:00pm - Episode 8 "At the End of Obsession" (R Wed Jul 26 1:00am, 6:00am)
-Wed Jul 26 4:00pm - Episode 9 "Endless Void" (R Thu Jul 27 1:00am, 6:00am)
-Thu Jul 27 4:00pm - Episode 10 "Sorrowful Betrayal" (R Fri Jul 28 1:00am, 6:00am)
-Fri Jul 28 4:00pm - Episode 11 "Eternal Blaze" (R Sat Jul 29 1:00am, 6:00am)

Naruto
(Cartoon Network)
-Sat Jul 22 8:30pm - Episode 43 "Killer Kunoichi and a Shaky Shikamaru"
-Mon Jul 24 9:00pm - Episode 24 "Start Your Engines: The Chunin Exam Begins"
-Tue Jul 25 9:00pm - Episode 25 "The Tenth Question: All or Nothing"
-Wed Jul 26 9:00pm - Episode 26 "The Chunin Exam Stage 2: The Forest of Death"
-Thu Jul 27 9:00pm - Episode 27 "Eat or Be Eaten: Panic in the Forest"

(YTV)
-Fri Jul 28 8:00pm - Episode 33 "Battle Formation: Ino-Shika-Cho!" (R Sat Jul 29 2:00am)

One Piece
(YTV)
-Sat Jul 22 4:00am - Episode 3 "An Unlikely Pair: The Pirate and the Pirate Hunter"

(Cartoon Network)
-Sat Jul 22 9:30pm - Episode 50 "Avalanche!"
-Sat Jul 22 10:00pm - Episode 51 "The Big Climb"

Peacemaker
(Showtime Beyond)
-Sun Jul 23 11:30pm - Episode 8 "Love" (R Fri Jul 28 12:45am)
-Fri Jul 28 9:30pm - Episode 9 "Ryo"

Pokemon
(KidsWB)
-Sat Jul 22 10:00am - Episode "Eight Ain't Enough"

(Cartoon Network)
-Mon Jul 24 5:00pm - Episode "Pokeblock, Stock and Berry"
-Tue Jul 25 5:00pm - Episode "Lessons in Lilycove"
-Wed Jul 26 5:00pm - Episode "Judgement Day"
-Thu Jul 27 5:00pm - Episode "Clamperl of Wisdom"
-Fri Jul 28 5:00pm - Episode "Really Really Relicanth"

(YTV)
-Tue Jul 25 5:00am - Episode "Deceit and Assist"
-Wed Jul 26 5:00am - Episode "Rhapsody in Drew"
-Thu Jul 27 5:00am - Episode "Island Time"
-Fri Jul 28 5:00am - Episode "Like a Meowth to a Flame"

Pokemon Chronicles
(YTV)
-Sat Jul 22 5:00am - Episode 4 "Pikachu's Winter Vacation; Deliberd's Dilemma; Snorlax Snowman"

(Cartoon Network)
-Sat Jul 22 5:00pm - Episode 1 "The Legend of Thunder, Part 1"
-Sat Jul 22 5:30pm - Episode 2 "The Legend of Thunder, Part 2"
-Sat Jul 22 6:00pm - Episode 3 "The Legend of Thunder, Part 3"
-Sat Jul 22 7:00pm - Episode 8 "Showdown at the Oak Corral!"

s-CRY-ed
(Cartoon Network)
-Tue Jul 25 1:00am - Episode 17 "Ayase Terada" (R Tue Jul 25 4:30am)
-Wed Jul 26 1:00am - Episode 18 "Straight Cougar" (R Wed Jul 26 4:30am)
-Thu Jul 27 1:00am - Episode 19 "Tokonatsu Three Sisters" (R Thu Jul 27 4:30am)
-Fri Jul 28 1:00am - Episode 20 "Kanami Yuta" (R Fri Jul 28 4:30am)

Samurai 7
(IFC)
-Sat Jul 22 5:00am - Episode 15 "The Gun and the Calm"
-Sat Jul 22 5:30am - Episode 16 "The Storm"

(Razer)
-Sat Jul 22 9:30pm - Episode 3 "The Entertainer" (R Sun Jul 23 12:30am, 10:30am)

Samurai Champloo
(Cartoon Network)
-Sun July 23 1:00am - Episode 12 "The Disorder Diaries" (R Sun July 23 4:00am)

Shadow Skill OAV
(Encore Action)
-Sat Jul 22 4:00am - Episode 1 (R Tue Jul 25 12:00am, 12:00pm)
-Sat Jul 22 5:00am - Episode 2 (R Wed Jul 26 12:00am, 12:00pm)

Spider Riders
(Kids WB)
-Sat Jul 22 10:30am - Episode "Princely Power"

Super Milk-Chan
(Cartoon Network)
-Sun Jul 23 5:00am - Episode 3 "Don't Give Up Sumi High Baseball Team!"

Transformers Cybertron
(Cartoon Network)
-Mon Jul 24 6:00am - Episode "Retreat"
-Tue Jul 25 6:00am - Episode "Revelations"
-Wed Jul 26 6:00am - Episode "Critical"
-Thu Jul 27 6:00am - Episode "Assault"
-Fri Jul 28 6:00am - Episode "Starscream"

(YTV)
-Sat Jul 22 1:30pm - Episode TBA

Trinity Blood
(Razer)
-Sat Jul 22 10:30pm - Episode "The Star of Sorrow: City of Blood" (R Sun Jul 23 1:30am, 11:30am)

Ultimate Muscle: The Kinnikuman Legacy
(4KidsTV)
-Sat Jul 22 10:00am - Episode "Bone Cold Day in Paradise"

Viewtiful Joe
(KidsWB)
-Sat Jul 22 11:30am - Episode "Captain Blue vs. the Squid of Inescapable Doom"

Yu-Gi-Oh!
(Kids WB)
-Sat Jul 22 7:00am - Episode "Child's Play"
-Sat Jul 22 7:30am - Episode "Down in Flames"

(YTV)
-Sat Jul 22 4:30am - Episode "Sinister Secrets, Part 3"
-Tue Jul 25 4:30am - Episode "Tomb of the Nameless Pharaoh"
-Wed Jul 26 4:30am - Episode "Spiritual Awakening"
-Thu Jul 27 4:30am - Episode "Memoirs of a Pharaoh"
-Fri Jul 28 4:30am - Episode "The Intruder, Part 1"

Yu-Gi-Oh! GX
(Cartoon Network)
-Sat Jul 22 6:30pm - Episode "The School Duel