The Click

November 18th - November 24th

Greetings! My optical time-sensors have indicated that another seven-day period of time, henceforth referred to as a "week," has passed. This is typically followed by a visit from court ordered officials who visit my home and - well, that stuff really isn't important. We're all here to read about anime on the TV, right? And it's my pleasure to announce that there are tons of it! Or at least, there will be, provided you remember that all dates and times are tentative and all times listed are Eastern. I can only hold your hand for so long, you know.

And while the listings may be plentiful for the coming seven days, I'm afraid the actual lineup consists of the same staid repertoire we've been seeing for the past half-dozen months. Not that any of this particularly phases me; like many of my nerd brethren, I'm currently acquiring the necessary materials for an overnight Best Buy stakeout come this Saturday. Normally I'm quite wary of buying new console systems at launch (did everybody enjoy Perfect Dark Zero and Kameo? No? Okay), but the promise of a full-fledged, seventy-hour Zelda epic is far too sweet a possibility to pass up. So while the networks staunchly lay bare their predictable slate, I'll be traipsing the fields of Hyrule, proudly wagging my "Wiimote" in encephalopathic glee.

Unfortunately I can't turn in some 1,500 words on how I think videogames are awesome and better than reading to my editors; I've tried that before and they refused to pay me. So let's get down to those listings:

Naruto
(Cartoon Network)
-Saturday November 18 9:00pm - Episode 59 "The Final Rounds: Rush to the Battle Arena"
-Saturday November 18 9:30pm - Episode 60 "Byakugan vs. Shadow Clone Jutsu"
-Saturday November 18 10:00pm - Episode 61 "Ultimate Defense: Zero Blind Spot"
-Saturday November 18 10:30pm - Episode 62 "A Failure's True Power"

Another semi-marathon of new Naruto episodes! Another chance for people on the internet to pretend they're mocking a "sacred cow" by using the term "Narutard" when in actuality there are cows far more sacred that aren't animated TV shows aimed at an audience of older children to college-aged adults!

During the two-hour spurt of new Naruto-ness, the hapless orange jumpsuit-wearing lad rushes off to fight in the first round of the Chunin Exam finals, squaring off against the natural-born Ninjutsu genius, Neji Hyuga. Along the way, he gets lost, receives some affirming words from Neji's coy familial relation, Hinata, and eventually finds his way thanks to the younger and pluckier Konohamaru. Also: ninja fights!

PREMIERES:

.hack//Roots
(Cartoon Network)
Saturday November 18 5:00am - Episode 2 "Twilight Brigade"

This week on Cartoon Network's "Why Bother? No One's Awake/Sober Enough To Watch Whatever We Put Here Anyway" designated timeslot, .hack//Roots continues with its sophomore episode. Tabby, a discomfortingly buxom feline player, joins a Guild and informs her other MMORPG-ing friends.

Basilisk
(Razer)
Thursday November 23 5:30pm - Episode 21 "With All Her Heart" (Repeats Fri Nov 24 12:30am)

In other ninja-related anime, sans orange jumpsuits of course, the historically-bound Basilisk continues in Canada with yet another new episode! That's about all I have to say. Really.

Bleach
(Cartoon Network)
Sunday November 19 12:00am - Episode 11 (Repeats Sun Nov 19 3:00am)

Ichigo and Rukia settle down long enough for a new character to be slyly introduced; meet Uryu Ishida, a bookish type who introduces himself to the Soul Reapers as a "Quincy," an ancient clan of Hollow destroying archers long since thought to be extinct.

(YTV)
Friday November 24 10:30pm - Episode 12

Ichigo and the newly introduced Uryu engage in a contest of sorts, seeing who can destroy the most Hollows in a set amount of time. Tagline: Whoever wins, we lose!

Daigunder
(Toon Disney)
Sunday November 19 10:30pm - Episode 24 "The Stand in the Sand" (Repeats Mon Nov 20 3:00am)

It's Daigunder! That show that maybe you might've one time kinda saw in the background one Saturday morning some years back. In any case, the unaired episodes are finally seeing the light of TV broadcast, so watch 'em if you got 'em.

Eureka 7
(Cartoon Network)
Sunday November 19 12:30am - Episode 30 "Change of Life" (Repeats Sun Nov 19 3:30am)

The Gekkostate arrive in Tressoir, a mystical place which mystically produced the mystical Nirvash Type Zero. Also: Talho and Eureka get makeovers!

(YTV)
Friday November 24 9:30pm - Episode 11 "Into the Nature"

Eureka, despite her deteriorating health, climbs aboard the Nirvash to fight the somewhat-mystical-but-mostly-menacing Nirvash Type "The End."

Fullmetal Alchemist
(YTV)
Friday November 24 10:00pm - Episode 38 "With the River's Flow"

Tensions mount between the metal-limbed and metal-bodied brethren, as their vehicle breaks down in the middle of the desert and the two angrily separate when they arrive in a nearby small village. SPOILER: Yes, they do make up and are friends again at the end.

Inuyasha
(YTV)
Friday November 24 9:00pm - Episode 166 "The Bond Between Them: Use the Sacred Jewel Shard, Part 1"

The penultimate episode of Inuyasha ever! The demon-slayin' gang run afoul of a man with acute demonic powers, and ponder whether they've stumbled across the latest reincarnation of their most hated villain ever, Naraku.

Naruto
(YTV)
Friday November 24 8:00pm - Episode 55 "A Feeling of Yearning, a Flower Full of Hope"

Special shout-outs and props go to Mozilla! No, not the Firefox internet browser precursor; rather, that fine forum fella who lives up in Canada, actually has YTV, and informed me, and now all of you, which specific episode of Naruto you will all be watching this coming Friday! And it's a good one, too; Sakura and Ino make a hospital visit to give flowers to the bedridden Sasuke and Rock Lee, and are surprised to discover neither one in their respective beds.

Oban Star-Racers
(Toon Disney)
Monday November 20 9:00pm - Episode 21 "Ominous Like O" (Repeats Tue Nov 21 1:30am, Fri Nov 24 9:00pm, Sat Nov 25 1:30am)

Here's what I would write if I wanted to say something like, "I haven't seen this episode yet, but this is a good show and you should watch it," but if I were a ROBOT:

This program is good! I have not seen it. They would have to watch towards the outside it!

One Piece
(YTV)
Friday November 24 7:30pm - Episode 38 "The Comeback Kid"

Luffy and his two live crew literally open the floodgates on Arlong Park, and begin kicking posteriors and taking names. So you don't have to ask; yes, I make a notch on my desk every time I work in a hip hop reference.

Pokemon
(Cartoon Network)
-Saturday November 18 9:00am - Episode 440 "Curbing the Crimson Tide"
-Saturday November 18 9:30am - Episode 441 "What I Did For Love"

Zut alors! This week isn't crowded full of insane amounts of Pokemon! The Poke-faithful have no need to fear, however; we still have the prerequisite full hour of new episodes. This week, Dem Pokemon-Franchise Boys enter contests galore, with an especially amorous Brock intent on winning a Ribbon in Aberia Town. That's two notches! Two!

R.O.D. the TV
(G4TechTV Canada)
-Monday November 20 8:30pm - Episode 11 "Goodbye Japan"
-Tuesday November 21 8:30pm - Episode 12 "Twilight of the Papers, Part 1"
-Wednesday November 22 8:30pm - Episode 13 "Twilight of the Papers, Part 2"
-Thursday November 23 8:30pm - Episode 14 "Paper Leaf Wood"
-Friday November 24 8:30pm - Episode 15 "In the Gray Light of the Abyss"

More paper-related violence then that time I was scolded in second grade for assembling notebook paper ninja stars, R.O.D. goes for another full five days of new episodes in Canada. This week: Nenene completes her new book and invites the Paper Sisters to attend a fancy-shmancy movie premiere in Hong Kong, wherein things soon become complicated when Nenene is kidnapped.

Samurai 7
(Razer)
Thursday November 23 5:00pm - Episode 21 "The Rescue" (Repeats Fri Nov 24 12:00am)

The Samurai have seemingly won their short-term battle, with Kambei released from his death sentence and the others spared as well. But has the End not even truly Begun to End? Find out!

Trinity Blood
(Cartoon Network)
Saturday November 18 11:30pm - Episode 11 "From the Empire" (Repeats Sun Nov 19 2:30am)

I'm always fascinated how Abel Nightroad's vampire transformation requires him to audibly pronounce some kind of math equation. "POWERS -AT- EIGHTY PERCENT!" It's like the GaoGaiGar of vampire shows! And I mean that in the best way possible, honestly.

(Razer)
Thursday November 23 6:00pm - Episode 21 "The Throne of Roses II: The Refuge" (Repeats Fri Nov 24 1:00am)

The Pope and The Pope's Subjugate (Who Is Not The Pope And Is Named Sister Esther) continue their plight in Albion, caught in the middle of an already-unstable uprising when those nefarious Rosen Kreuz guys decide to show up and ruin everything.

Yu-Gi-Oh! Capsule Monsters
(4KidsTV)
Saturday November 18 9:00am - Episode 11 "The True King, Part 1"

Am I reading this right? Yugi fights against the "spirit of Alexander the Great"? The face adorning much of my favorite flavor of Otter Pops? Man that's awesome!

Yu-Gi-Oh! GX
(Cartoon Network)
Saturday November 18 7:30pm - Episode 81 "Let's Make a Duel"

This is the sort of title I like. Straightforward. To the point. A pun, sort of. Kanda and Jaden have a duel. Keepin' it simple.

Zatch Bell
(YTV)
Friday November 24 8:30pm - Episode 46 "Ponygon's Close Call"

Ponygon, the odd, monosyllabic anthropomorphic horse Mamodo quests for his bookkeeper and, in truth, himself. Deep, deep stuff.

MOVIES/SPECIALS

Pokemon: Destiny Deoxys
(Cartoon Network)
Wednesday November 22 11:30am

Black Magic M-66
(Encore Action)
Monday November 20 5:45am (Repeats Fri Nov 24 7:00pm)

Karas: The Prophecy
(Encore Action)
Wednesday November 22 8:50am (Repeats Wed Nov 22 3:15pm)

I won't say much about this week's stable of features except that I elicited a long, drawn-out groan while listing them.

I suppose that about wraps it up on my end; there's some neat stuff to be found below, including an always welcome repeat of Macross Plus, Paranoia Agent, Samurai Champloo, and Voltron! See you guys next week!

REPEATS/STRIPS

Beyblade
(Toon Disney)
-Mon Nov 20 2:00am - Episode 105 "Invitation to Battle"

Chrono Crusade
(Showtime Beyond)
-Mon Nov 20 12:30am - Episode 16 "Believer" (R Wed Nov 22 8:00pm, Fri Nov 24 12:20am)
-Fri Nov 24 9:00pm - Episode 17 "Accomplices"

Digimon
(Toon Disney)
-Mon Nov 20 1:30am - Episode 133 "Goliath"
-Mon Nov 20 8:00am - Episode 120 "Back to Nature, Back to Battle" (R Tue Nov 21 2:30am)
-Mon Nov 20 10:30pm - Episode 145 "Homeward Bound" (R Tue Nov 21 3:00am)
-Tue Nov 21 8:00am - Episode 121 "Duel With the Deva" (R Wed Nov 22 2:30am)
-Tue Nov 21 10:30pm - Episode 146 "Reunion" (R Wed Nov 22 3:00am)
-Wed Nov 22 8:00am - Episode 122 "Digital Beauty" (R Thu Nov 23 2:30am)
-Wed Nov 22 10:30pm - Episode 147 "Beelzemon's Big Day" (R Thu Nov 23 3:00am)
-Thu Nov 23 8:00am - Episode 123 "Impmon's Last Stand" (R Fri Nov 24 2:30am)
-Thu Nov 23 10:30pm - Episode 148 "The Messenger" (R Fri Nov 24 3:00am)
-Fri Nov 24 8:00am - Episode 124 "Out of the Blue" (R Sat Nov 25 2:30am)
-Fri Nov 24 10:30pm - Episode 149 "The D-Reaper's Disguise" (R Sat Nov 25 3:00am)

Dragon Ball Z
(Cartoon Network)
-Sat Nov 25 12:30am - Episode 122 "Last Ditch Effort"

Fullmetal Alchemist
(Cartoon Network)
-Tue Nov 21 1:00am - Episode 6 "The Alchemy Exam" (R Tue Nov 21 4:30am)
-Wed Nov 22 1:00am - Episode 7 "Night of the Chimera's Cry" (R Wed Nov 22 4:30am)
-Thu Nov 23 1:00am - Episode 8 "The Philosopher's Stone" (R Thu Nov 23 4:30am)
-Fri Nov 24 1:00am - Episode 9 "Be Thou for the People" (R Fri Nov 24 4:30am)

G.I. Joe Sigma 6
(4KidsTV)
-Sat Nov 18 10:30am - Episode "Search"

Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex 2nd GIG
(Cartoon Network)
-Tue Nov 21 1:30am - Episode 15 "Pat" (R Tue Nov 21 5:00am)
-Wed Nov 22 1:30am - Episode 16 "Another Chance" (R Wed Nov 22 5:00am)
-Thu Nov 23 1:30am - Episode 17 "Red Data" (R Thu Nov 23 5:00am)
-Fri Nov 24 1:30am - Episode 18 "Chain Reaction" (R Fri Nov 24 5:00am)

Inuyasha
(Cartoon Network)
-Tue Nov 21 12:30am - Episode 144 "The Tragic Love Song of Destiny" (R Tue Nov 21 4:00am)
-Wed Nov 22 12:30am - Episode 145 "Single Arrow of Chaos" (R Wed Nov 22 4:00am)
-Thu Nov 23 12:30am - Episode 146 "The Mysterious Light That Guides the Saint" (R Thu Nov 23 4:00am)
-Fri Nov 24 12:30am - Episode 147 "Kagome's Instinctive Choice" (R Fri Nov 24 4:00am)

Kirby: Right Back at Ya!
(4KidsTV)
-Sat Nov 18 8:00am - Episode 51 "Air Ride-in-Style, Part 2"

Macross Plus
(Encore Action)
-Fri Nov 24 12:00am - Episode 1 "A.D. 2040 (Deep Space)" (R Fri Nov 24 12:00pm)
-Fri Nov 24 12:45am - Episode 2 "Brain Waves" (R Fri Nov 24 12:45pm)

Mirage of Blaze
(Encore WAM)
-Sat Nov 18 4:00pm - Episode 3 "An Imperfect Awakening" (R Sun Nov 19 8:00am)
-Sun Nov 19 2:00am - Episode 2 "Possessor From the Darkness"
-Sun Nov 19 4:00pm - Episode 4 "Premonition of a Chain Reaction" (R Mon Nov 20 2:00am, 8:00am)
-Mon Nov 20 4:00pm - Episode 5 "Endless Conflict" (R Tue Nov 21 2:00am, 8:00am, 4:00pm)
-Wed Nov 22 2:00am - Episode 6 "Golden Emblem" (R Wed Nov 22 8:00am)
-Wed Nov 22 4:00pm - Episode 7 "Memories of Hateful Anguish" (R Thu Nov 23 2:00am, 8:00am)
-Thu Nov 23 4:00pm - Episode 8 "At the End of Obsession" (R Fri Nov 24 2:00am, 8:00am)
-Fri Nov 24 4:00pm - Episode 9 "Endless Void" (R Sat Nov 25 2:00am, 8:00am)

Mon Colle Knights
(Toon Disney)
-Sun Nov 19 11:00pm - Episode 10 "Beginner & the Snow Ram" (R Mon Nov 20 3:30am)

New Dominion Tank Police
(Encore Action)
-Tue Nov 21 12:00am - Episode 1 "Use of Force" (R Tue Nov 21 4:35am, 12:00pm)
-Tue Nov 21 12:30am - Episode 2 "Disband the Tank Police" (R Tue Nov 21 5:15am, 12:30pm)

New Fist of the North Star
(Showtime Beyond)
-Thu Nov 23 1:00am - Episode 1 "The Cursed City" (R Fri Nov 24 11:00pm)
-Thu Nov 23 2:00am - Episode 2 "The Forbidden Fist"
-Thu Nov 23 3:00am - Episode 3 "When a Man Carries Sorrow"

Oban Star-Racers
(Toon Disney)
-Sat Nov 18 8:30am - Episode 12 "The Will to Win"
-Sat Nov 18 10:00pm - Episode 17 "Optimised Like Ondai" (R Sun Nov 19 2:30am)
-Sun Nov 19 8:30am - Episode 13 "Make Way!"

Paranoia Agent
(Cartoon Network)
-Sun Nov 19 1:30am - Episode 4 "A Man's Path" (R Sun Nov 19 4:30am)

Peacemaker
(Showtime Beyond)
-Mon Nov 20 12:05am - Episode 1 "Cherry Blossoms" (R Fri Nov 24 12:45am)
-Fri Nov 24 9:30pm - Episode 2 "Will"

Pokemon
(Cartoon Network)
-Sat Nov 18 7:00pm - Episode 422 "A Chip Off the Old Brock"
-Sun Nov 19 5:00pm - Episode 428 "Reversing the Charges"
-Sun Nov 19 5:30pm - Episode 429 "The Green Guardian!"
-Mon Nov 20 5:00pm - Episode 404 "Choose It or Lose It"
-Tue Nov 21 5:00pm - Episode 405 "At the End of the Fray"

Pokemon Chronicles
(Cartoon Network)
-Mon Nov 20 5:30pm - Episode 10 "Oaknapped!"
-Tue Nov 21 5:30pm - Episode 11 "A Date With Delcatty!"

Samurai 7
(Independant Film Channel)
-Sat Nov 18 8:00am - Episode 13 "The Attack"
-Sat Nov 18 8:30am - Episode 14 "The Offering"

Samurai Champloo
(Cartoon Network)
-Sun Nov 19 1:00am - Episode 4 "Hellhounds for Hire, Part 2" (R Sun Nov 19 4:00am)

Shadow Skill
(Encore Action)
-Thu Nov 23 3:05am - Episode 1 "Combat Skills"

Shinzo
(Toon Disney)
-Sat Nov 18 4:00am - Episode 2 "Bee-Ware the Hunters"
-Mon Nov 20 2:30am - Episode 11 "Clash of the Hyper Warriors"
-Tue Nov 21 4:00am - Episode 3 "Web of Evil"
-Wed Nov 22 4:00am - Episode 4 "Day at the Park"
-Thu Nov 23 4:00am - Episode 5 "Kiri"
-Fri Nov 24 4:00am - Episode 6 "Battling Daku"

Street Fighter II V
(Encore WAM)
-Sat Nov 18 4:30pm - Episode 19 "Special Orders to the Iron Men" (R Sun Nov 19 8:30am)
-Sun Nov 19 2:30am - Episode 18 "Beautiful Assassin"
-Sun Nov 19 4:30pm - Episode 20 "Unknown Explosive Force" (R Mon Nov 20 2:30am, 8:30am)
-Mon Nov 20 4:30pm - Episode 21 "Compulsion Towards Vengeance" (R Tue Nov 21 2:30am, 8:30am, 4:30pm)
-Wed Nov 22 2:30am - Episode 22 "Rising Dragon Into the Sky" (R Wed Nov 22 8:30am)
-Wed Nov 22 4:30pm - Episode 23 "The Icy Light of Their Eyes" (R Thu Nov 23 2:30am, 8:30am)
-Thu Nov 23 4:30pm - Episode 24 "Nightmare Reunion" (R Fri Nov 24 2:30am, 8:30am)
-Fri Nov 24 4:30pm - Episode 25 "Fight to the Finish (Round One)" (R Sat Nov 25 2:30am, 8:30am)

Texhnolyze
(Encore Action)
-Fri Nov 24 3:30am - Episode 2 "Forfeiture"

Transformers Cybertron
(Cartoon Network)
-Mon Nov 20 6:00am - Episode 15 "Detour"
-Tue Nov 21 6:00am - Episode 16 "Savage"
-Wed Nov 22 6:00am - Episode 17 "Sand"
-Thu Nov 23 6:00am - Episode 18 "Champions"
-Fri Nov 24 6:00am - Episode 19 "Ice"

Voltron
(Cartoon Network)
-Tue Nov 21 5:30am - Episode 5 "The Princess Joins Up"
-Wed Nov 22 5:30am - Episode 6 "The Right Arm of Voltron"
-Thu Nov 23 5:30am - Episode 7 "The Lion Has New Claws"
-Fri Nov 24 5:30am - Episode 8 "The Stolen Lion"

Yu-Gi-Oh!
(4KidsTV)
-Sat Nov 18 10:00am - Episode 3 "Journey to the Duelist Kingdom"