Welcome back to Otaku Evolution! It’s 2025 and boy have I got things planned for you, the viewer! Assuming I’m not just screaming out into the void, that is.
Speaking of screaming, there sure is a lot of that in Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam. Maybe not as much as in G Gundam, but there’s plenty. Everybody seems to be a little on edge, which is one of the reasons I like it (but also a reason some people dislike it). Characters might just fly off the handle completely at any time. It’s neat!
Episode 14, “Taboo”
*****SPOILERS*****
Synopsis: King Gomah has his special forces gathered to protect his castle. The quirky group poses for their king, prepared for battle, but doubt that their coming enemies actually defeated Buu and the Tamagamis. Meanwhile, Goku’s group finds that Lord Warp has been shut off, blocking their way to get to the First Demon World. Goku attempts to get through the seal on the bottom of the realm, but can’t. Neva, however, can easily open the seal, having created it to begin with. Glorio flies the group into the tunnel to the First Demon World as Gomah’s special forces encounter Kuu and Duu in the palace’s convenient store. Goku’s group is forced to abandon their plane as it goes out of control, with Vegeta carrying Bulma and Hybis and Glorio carrying their two Dragon Balls. When they’re spotted by Gomah’s forces, they’re fired on.
Episode 13, “Surprise”
*****SPOILERS*****
Synopsis: Angry at the recent events, Gomah orders Dagasu shut off Lord Warp. Meanwhile, Goku and the gang’s ship crashes onto a planet of giants. There, they’re attacked first by giant hamsters, then a giant dog, then a giant grade-schooler. They are barely able to escape by using their ki.
Comments:
“Surprise”, indeed! Surprise: an episode of nothing but stupid bullshit!
We’ve seen giants in Dragon Ball before. The Fake Namek filler, GT, Anilaza in Super. I guess Toriyama wanted a dedicated giant planet, though, because that’s what this padded-to-fuck episode is about. Giant hamsters, giant dog, giant ticks, giant child. Small wonder. The idea of a giant planet is not a bad one in of itself, it’s very adventure-y, the kind of thing you’d see in early DB, and the concept has some charm, but here it just feels like a waste of time. Do I really care if Goku beats the big kid for no reward or advancement of the plot? Eh, not really.
Episode 12, “True Strength”
*****SPOILERS*****
Synopsis: Vegeta displays great power as he continues to fight Tamagami Number Two, so Neva uses an ability to make the latter stronger. The fight continues underwater, Majin Duu demands chocolate to continue fighting Tamagami Number One, which is delivered by Kuu. With renewed vigor, Duu defeats the Tamagami. However, the final test is that of mathematics, which Duu needs the help of Kuu to beat, finally gaining the Dragon Ball. Cornered in the water, Vegeta powers up to the third level of Super Saiyan, beating Tamagami Number Two. He also manages to guess the answer to the final quiz, too, gaining the Dragon Ball. King Gomah watches all this on monitors, greatly dissatisfied.
One last video for 2024! It’s been one heckuva ride, folks (especially the particularly bumpy patch towards the end). As usual, I’m here to look at all the English dubs of the anime I’ve covered in the second part of the year. The strongest by far was Black Lagoon‘s. I love that dub. In fact, I think it’s the final Grand Pantheon dub I hadn’t reviewed yet. What will I do from now on? Well, (un)fortunately, OE isn’t just about really good things.
As for my bookend material, it looks like while I’m busy griping (and sleeping), Pen Pen and some of my other colleagues are taking action against strongmen across the globe! I hope I don’t get pinned for this. All I did was arrest Putin! (Meanwhile, in real life, only the Claims Adjuster carries out justice.)
Dragon Ball Daima – Episode 11 Review
Episode 11, “Legend”
*****SPOILERS*****
Synopsis:
Comments: Everyone piles out of Hybis’ ship as Neva arrives. He explains to the group that he went to Earth with Gomah to gather the Dragon Balls. He expresses surprise that they already defeated one of the Tamagamis and collected a Dragon Ball. He requests to go with the group after they start to leave, and they reluctantly agree. Meanwhile, Arinsu returns back to Marba’s after Majin Kuu’s defeat, hoping for another Majin creation. They use the remnants of Buu and bury the new seed deeper, creating a new demon, the rotund Majin Duu, who demands chocolate. Duu challenge Tamagami Number One while Vegeta challenges Tamagami Number Two. Duu seems to have more luck, as he makes it difficult to keep up with him in battle, while Vegeta gets pushed down in the water, where a Kraken swallows him.
Episode 10, “Ocean”
*****SPOILERS*****
Synopsis: Majin Kuu challenges Tamagami Number One, fully confident in his skill. Meanwhile, Goku’s group goes through Lord Warp to the Second Demon World. They barely escape a Kraken, which devours their ship. Panzy manages to save the Dragon Ball with Goku’s help. They spot the old Namekian planet, which is abandoned. Goku senses Vegeta’s group, and leads them to the planet. Majin Kuu is unable to keep up with the Tamagami and admits defeat, disappointing Arinsu. Kaioshin reveals the origin of the universes. Both groups crowd into Hybis’ ship, just as an old Namekian approaches.
Look, I’m going to level with you. I’ve been terribly sick and depressed for the past month. Especially sick the past week or so. It’s been harder to get into the holiday joy mood this year than usual. I’m not a hopeless case, I don’t think, it’s just been a pain to get motivated to do anything. Fortunately, I did a lot of this video ahead of time.
As far as the video is concerned, while it is short, I’m rather pleased with it. I liked looking at the different anime studios that made a lot of my favorite anime. I didn’t have time to do honorary mentions this time out, but pay attention to studios like MAPPA, Khara, Trigger, and Science Saru.
Episode 9, “Thieves”
*****SPOILERS*****
Synopsis: Goku’s group stops at a hotel for the night to sleep. While there, thieves attempt to steal the Dragon Ball they obtained, but are quickly thwarted. Meanwhile, Vegeta’s group’s plane has been stolen in retaliation for his beating some thugs in a fight. An irritated Gomah is informed by Dagasu of the defeat of the Third Tamagami. Goku’s group meets up with Vegeta’s, but informs them there’s not enough room on their plane, so they get left behind. The ones who stole Hybis’ ship reappear with backup and are again taken down by Vegeta and Piccolo. Marba combines her creation with a Saibaiman and a creature named Majin Kuu is born. Arinsu orders him to take down the First Tamagami.
Episode 8, “Tamagami”
*****SPOILERS*****
Synopsis: Goku faces off with Tamagami Number 3. The battle is evenly matched until Goku transforms into a Super Saiyan and uses a Kamahemaha, then delivering a final blow. However, Goku has to pass a final test before he can claim the Dragon Ball: a shell game. Goku correctly points out that the Dragon Ball used in the game was thrown over a villager’s head at the last moment, winning the game. Glorio reports to Arinsu that they’ve obtained the first Dragon Ball. Gomah and Dogasu discover that Arinsu was at the scene of Vegeta’s attempt to bring down Majin Buu in the past. Arinsu is meanwhile enlisting the help of a witch named Marba, who created Buu for Bibidi, to make a new Majin monster. Hybis receives word of Goku’s victory and an order to go to Lord Warp.
