The Click

June 28th - July 4th

Ah, it's convention season! That wonderful, luscious time of year when everybody bands together in a grand, non-sexual orgy of assorted nerddom. Where you can spend five hours in line underneath the sweltering southern California heat, waiting to get your badge, underneath six layers of PVC and nylon outfitted to resemble one of the Oniwaban Group from Rurouni Kenshin! Where girls exposing any kind of flesh will be uncomfortably leered at and photographed by a cabal of skeezy men!

But I kid because I love. Anime Expo is this Thursday, and it should be a great time for everybody involved; a four-day liberation centered around our communal love of Japanese animation and such! I actually won't be in attendance for the first time in several years. Blasphemy, I know! But sadly it came down to having to choose either Anime Expo or making it out to the big San Diego Comic-Con, and, well, I hope nobody thinks ill of me for choosing the larger of the two pop-culture behemoths.

Still, I'll miss being out there and hanging with y'all, and do regret the missed opportunity to see some very cool people. Here is a video about Pikas.

Death Note
(Adult Swim)
Sunday June 29 12:30am - Episode 36 "1.28" (Repeats Sun June 29 3:30am)

(YTV)
Friday July 4 10:00pm - Episode 36 "1.28" (Repeats Sat July 5 1:30am)

Some major s*** is going down, as the Japanese Task Force meets with the SPK on January 28th, but of course Kira has knowledge of this little excursion. Will Kira succeed? Will he be discovered?!? Here is a video of a centipede killing a bat.

PREMIERES:

Bakugan Battle Brawlers
(Cartoon Network)
Saturday June 28 11:00am - Episode 19 "Julie Plays Hard" (Repeats Sun June 29 10:30am)

The Bakugan Battle Brawlers live up to their namesake, as in-fighting and various squabbles tear the union asunder, and each member goes it solo. Here is a video of an owl shrinking.

Bleach
(Adult Swim)
Sunday June 29 12:00am - Episode 70 (Repeats Sun June 29 3:00am)

Rukia and Ichigo's tender reunion is cut drastically short by the attacks from the vicious "Bount" creature-things, and later convene to discuss what they know about the Bounts, and what they can do to stop them. Here is a video of a dog entertaining itself with a ball-throwing machine.

Blue Dragon
(Cartoon Network)
Saturday June 28 9:00am - Episode 14 "Kluke's Wish"

Shu and his shadow-fightin' posse are hashing it out with Nene in some kind of evil castle. Here is a video of two cats fighting set to Star Trek music.

Code Geass
(Adult Swim)
Sunday June 29 1:00am - Episode 10 "Guren Dances" (Repeats Sun June 29 4:00am)

Lelouch needs to get his new fighting force, the Black Knights, up to snuff if he's going to save Japan from the forces of Whitey. So, with a new prototype Knightmare Frame at their side, Lelouch sends his Knights into battle against the Cornelian forces to test their mettle. Here is a video of a hippo being kept as a pet.

Digimon
(Toon Disney
Monday June 30 9:30pm - Episode 247 "The Norstein Family Secret" (Tue July 1 2:30am, Fri July 4 9:30pm, Sat July 5 2:30am)

One of the Data Squad guys' closest family members is stricken hideously ill, and only by siding with the enemy can he save her life. Here is a video of a talking Starling.

Kyo Kara Maoh
(ImaginAsianTV)
-Wednesday July 2 7:00pm - Episode 66 "The Power of Feelings" (Repeats Wed July 2 10:00pm, Thu July 3 1:00am, Sat July 5 5:00am)
-Wednesday July 2 7:30pm - Episode 67 "A Bridge to Tomorrow" (Repeats Wed July 2 10:30pm, Thu July 3 1:30am, Sat July 5 5:30am)

Normally, apparently, when you're whisked off to an alternate plane of existence that houses a magical fantasy kingdom, time on the real world stands still. And when it doesn't, well, something is horribly awry, so Yuri and his royal guard head to Switzerland on the real, non-parallel-dimension Earth to figure out what's up. Here is a video of a Lyrebird, mimicking the sound of chainsaws.

Naruto
(Cartoon Network)
-Saturday June 28 9:00pm - Episode 178 "Encounter: The Boy With a Star's Name"
-Saturday June 28 9:30pm - Episode 179 "The Remembered Lullaby"

(YTV)
-Friday July 4 8:00pm - Episode 143 "Ton Ton: I'm Counting On You"

More Naruto filler episodes! I can hear the thunderous, raucous clapping and joy from the teeming masses, ready to watch Naruto and friends interact with... lame second-string characters created by TV animators working under strict deadlines and stricter budgets. In the US of A, Naruto and some cohorts defend a falling star in the "Hidden Star Village," while in Canada, Mizuki escapes from the confines of imprisonment and takes Shizune, Lady Tsunade's loyal counsel, hostage. Here is a video of a giant slug eating a flower.

Pokemon
(Cartoon Network)
Saturday June 28 9:30am - Episode 528 "Hot Sprining a Leak"

Ash and company, along their journey to the famed Veilstone City, take a break at a Hot Spring that has mysteriously lost all of its precious, life-giving water! No doubt it involves Pokemon or Team Rocket or whatever. Here is a video of the mating rituals of two Jumping Spiders.

Robotech
(SPACE)
-Saturday June 28 11:00am - Episode 72 "The Fortress" (Repeats Sun June 29 8:30am)
-Saturday June 28 11:30am - Episode 73 "Sandstorm" (Repeats Sun June 29 8:30am)

An abandoned Robotech fortress becomes the stage of an epic struggle against the forces of good and the Invid, who tangentially represent the forces of evil in some small way. Here is a video of a three-toed sloth attempting to cross a road.

Shin Chan
(Adult Swim)
Sunday June 29 1:30am - Episode 38 "The Widow Breaker / Whitey's Man Burden" (Repeats Sun June 29 4:30am)

This week's Shin Chan episode mines the fertile ground of personal tragedy, the death of a loved one, and racist overtones for all of its innate hilarity! Here is a video of a raccoon stealing a cat's food.

Speed Grapher
(IFC)
Friday July 4 11:00pm - Episode 18 "Fates and Fists" (Repeats Sat July 5 2:00am)

Saiga and Kagura are ready to start a new life away from all the nasty bad-people that previously wished to kill them, but wouldn't you know it that once again they're whisked back into the turbulent times in Tokyo by a profoundly powerful new friend. Here is a video of a cat playing with a theremin.

Transformers Animated
(Cartoon Network)
Saturday June 28 10:30am - Episode 27 "Sari, No One's Home" (Repeats Sun June 29 11:00am, Thu July 3 6:00am)

Invading Constructicons are posing quite a threat to the Autobot's home base, and it's up to Sari (of the unfortunate pun-title above) to stop them! Here is a longer video of the deflating owl.

MOVIES/FEATURES

Street Fighter II: The Animated Movie
(Sci Fi)
Monday June 30 11:00pm

Topping this week's TV list like a soggy, forgettable cherry is Sci Fi's once-again airing of the Street Fighter II movie. Sadly, it still stands as probably the best Street Fighter adaptation ever - and will most likely continue to be so because, really, does anybody think that new Street Fighter movie is going to end up good?

You guys go out and have fun at AX '08 while I sit here and look at more dumb videos of animals. See you all next week!

REPEATS/STRIPS

Bakugan Battle Brawlers
(Cartoon Network)
-Mon June 30 8:00am - Episode 3 "A Fued Between Friends"
-Tue July 1 8:00am - Episode 4 "Dan & Drago"
-Wed July 2 8:00am - Episode 5 "Runo Rules"
-Thu July 3 8:00am - Episode 6 "Combination Battle"

Bleach
(YTV)
-Sat July 5 2:00am - Episode 16

Cat's Eye
(ImaginAsianTV)
-Sat June 28 11:00pm - Episode 25 "Tolls of the Bell"
-Sat June 28 11:30pm - Episode 26 "Love From Luna Island"

Digimon
(Toon Disney)
-Sun June 29 1:30am - Episode 182 "Stuck in Sakkakumon With You"
-Sun June 29 6:30am - Episode 183 "Darkness Before Dawn" (R Mon June 30 1:30am)
-Mon June 30 6:30am - Episode 130 "Kazu & Kenta's Excellent Adventure"
-Tue July 1 6:30am - Episode 131 "Motorcycle Madness"
-Wed July 2 6:30am - Episode 132 "Blame It on Ryo"
-Thu July 3 6:30am - Episode 133 "Goliath"
-Fri July 4 6:30am - Episode 137 "Rabbit Transit"
-Sat July 5 6:30am - Episode 184 "Phantasmagoric Sakkakumon"

Dinosaur King
(4KidsTV)
-Sat June 28 10:30am - Episode 11 "Alpha Bets it All"

Elemental Gelade
(ImaginAsianTV)
-Wed July 2 6:00pm - Episode 25 "Chaos Choir" (R Wed July 2 9:00pm, Thu July 3 12:00am, Sat July 5 4:00am)

Eureka 7
(YTV)
-Sat July 5 2:30am - Episode 33 "Pacific State”

Fullmetal Alchemist
(YTV)
-Sat July 5 1:00am - Episode 17 "House of the Waiting Family"

Gundam SEED Destiny
(YTV)
-Fri July 4 10:30pm - Episode 14 "Flight to Tomorrow"

Inuyasha
(Adult Swim)
-Sat June 28 11:00pm - Episode 16 "Mystical Hand of the Amorous Monk, Miroku" (R Sun June 29 2:00am)
-Sat June 28 11:30pm - Episode 17 "Cursed Ink of the Hell-Painter" (R Sun June 29 2:00am)
-Sun June 29 5:00am - Episode 114 "Koga's Solitary Battle"
-Sun June 29 5:30am - Episode 115 "Lured by the Black Light"
-Mon June 30 5:00am - Episode 116 "Exposed Face of Truth"
-Mon June 30 5:30am - Episode 117 "Inuyasha: Vanished Into a River of Flames"
-Tue July 1 5:30am - Episode 118 "Into the Depths of Mt. Hakurei"
-Wed July 2 5:30am - Episode 119 "Divine Malice of a Saint"
-Thu July 3 5:30am - Episode 120 "Fare Thee Well: Jakotsu's Requiem"
-Fri July 4 5:30am - Episode 121 "Final Battle: Strongest and Last of the Band of Seven"
-Sat July 5 5:30am - Episode 122 "The Power of Banryu: Duel to the Death on Mt. Hakurei"

Kirby: Right Back at Ya!
(4KidsTV)
-Sat June 28 11:00am - Episode 2 "A Blockbuster Battle"

Law of Ueki
(ImaginAsianTV)
-Wed July 2 6:30pm - Episode 25 "Resurrection! The Law of Mr. K" (R Wed July 2 9:30pm, Thu July 3 12:30am, Sat July 5 4:30am)

Naruto
(Cartoon Network)
-Mon June 30 10:30pm - Episode 142 "The Three Villains From the Maximum Security Prison"
-Tue July 1 10:30pm - Episode 143 "Ton Ton: I'm Counting on You"
-Wed July 2 10:30pm - Episode 144 "A New Squad: Two People and a Dog"

Oban Star-Racers
(Toon Disney)
-Sun June 29 2:30am - Episode 23 "Cruel Like Kross"
-Mon June 30 2:30am - Episode 24 "Canaletto's Revenge"

Pokemon
(Cartoon Network)
-Sat June 28 9:00am - Episode 527 "Tanks For the Memories"
-Mon June 30 7:00am - Episode 152 "Hour of Houndour"
-Mon June 30 7:30am - Episode 153 "The Totodile Duel"
-Tue July 1 7:00am - Episode 154 "Hot Matches!"
-Tue July 1 7:30am - Episode 155 "Love, Totodile Style"
-Wed July 2 7:00am - Episode 156 "Fowl Play"
-Wed July 2 7:30am - Episode 157 "Forest Grumps"
-Thu July 3 7:00am - Episode 158 "The Psychic Sidekick"
-Thu July 3 7:30am - Episode 159 "The Fortune Hunters"
-Fri July 4 7:00am - Episode 160 "A Goldenrod Opportunity"
-Fri July 4 7:30am - Episode 161 "A Dairy Tale Ending"

Shinzo
(Toon Disney)
-Tue July 1 4:00am - Episode 6 "Battling Daku"
-Wed July 2 4:00am - Episode 7 "Into the Jungle"
-Thu July 3 4:00am - Episode 8 "Reptiles"
-Fri July 4 4:00am - Episode 9 "Gyasa"
-Sat July 5 4:00am - Episode 10 "Mushrambo: The Ultimate Samurai"

Sonic X
(4KidsTV)
-Sat June 28 10:00am - Episode 2 "Sonic to the Rescue"

Speed Grapher
(IFC)
-Mon June 30 8:30pm - Episode 17 "The Reaper and the Nouveau Riche" (R Tue July 1 5:10am)

Transformers Animated
(Cartoon Network)
-Mon June 30 6:00am - Episode 21 "Velocity"
-Mon June 30 6:30am - Episode 22 "Rise of the Constructicons"
-Tue July 1 6:00am - Episode 23 "A Fistful of Energon"
-Tue July 1 6:30am - Episode 24 "S.U.V. - Society of Ultimate Villainy"
-Wed July 2 6:00am - Episode 25 "Autoboot Camp"
-Wed July 2 6:30am - Episode 26 "Black Friday"
-Thu July 3 6:30am - Episode 4 "Home is Where the Spark Is"
-Fri July 4 6:00am - Episode 8 "Total Meltdown"
-Fri July 4 6:30am - Episode 5 "Blast From the Past"

Yu-Gi-Oh! GX
(CW Kids)
-Sat June 28 11:00am - Episode 145 "The Forbidden Ritual, Part 2"