The Click

May 19th - May 25th

Ah, summer. A cacophony of unsupervised, possibly feral children echo deep through the dry air; the explosions and sophomoric humor of big-budget summer movies invades and kills the precious neurons in the human brain; and The Sun returns to seemingly destroy all who are foolish enough to venture outside. Television, meanwhile, can be enjoyed in the comfort of ones' own home; proper insulation and air conditioning keeps out all that unwanted noise, Hollywood idiocy, and Solar Death Beams.

And though the Sci-Fi channel, as well as the lilliputian Fuse network, have yet to start their own anime blocks, there's still a choice selection of content this week, both new and old. It's an exciting time to be sitting at home and watching TV while probably ignoring other, more important things!

Naruto: Mission - Protect the Waterfall Village
(Cartoon Network)
Saturday May 19 7:00pm (Repeats Sat May 19 10:00pm, Fri May 25 4:00pm)

Kids love that Naruto, hence why it seems that the Cartoon Network, desperate to relive their former Dragon Ball Z success that launched their ratings far above their rivals, can't seem to go one month without scheduling a Naruto marathon or two. This week's Naruto-thon caps off with something resembling a feature presentation - an hour-ish long OAV spinoff, wherein Naruto and his ninja chums come to the aid of the cowardly leader of the Waterfall Village, and combat a rival band of ninjas from stealing the Waterfall Village's hidden treasure. Nothing terribly flashy, important, or at all meaningful; simply a fun diversion for all those kids and kids-at-heart, restless during the beginning of summer break, to see Naruto and his friends run around and do that ninja thing they do.

PREMIERES:

Basilisk
(Independent Film Channel)
Friday May 25 11:30pm - Episode 21 "With All Her Heart" (Repeats Sat May 19 5:50am)

What's a dour, tragically-in-love-with-the-enemy female ninja to do? Alas, all the smoke bombs, secret scrolls, and throwing stars in the world can't mend a broken heart. Although they certainly help.

Beck: Mongolian Chop Squad
(MuchMusic)
-Monday May 21 12:00am - Episode 21 "Write Songs" (Repeats Tue May 22 7:00pm, Wed May 23 12:00am, 4:00pm)
-Monday May 22 12:30am - Episode 22 "Performance Eve Festival (Repeats Tue May 22 7:30pm, Wed May 23 12:30am, 4:30pm)

Those rinky-dink raconteurs of the Mongolion Chop Squad are invited to show their chops to the massive audience of the Greatful Sound Music Festival, wherein the normally-shy Koyuki pitches his first songwriting effort to the band's leader, Koyuki. Will they make it? Will Pitchforkmedia.com give them a 6 out of 10, and call their performance condescending things like "breezy" and "insignificant"? Watch!

Bleach
(Cartoon Network)
Sunday May 20 12:00am - Episode 34 (Repeats Sun May 20 3:00am)

After last week's mindless filler excursion, we now re-join the actual plot, already in progress. This week: Ichigo and Renji continue, and finish their massive duel! There will be lots of blood and stuff! Violence!

Blood+
(Cartoon Network)
Sunday May 20 12:30am - Episode 10 "I Want to See You" (Repeats Sun May 20 3:30am)

Speaking of Blood, vast amounts of crimson are guaranteed to gush forth during the 30 minutes it takes for Blood+ to tell its tale, wherein Saya, having received a mysterious blue rose, may have finally located the Phantom Kidnapper.

Bobobo-bo Bo-Bobo
(Cartoon Network)
Saturday May 19 8:30pm - Episode 59 "Enemy Cruisin' For a Bruisin? Then Just Try Fusion"

Bobobo-bo Bo-Bobo and his curious cohorts encounter... bad guys, from... things. Then they, uh. Fight them. With, powers?

Cowboy Bebop
(Razer)
Sunday May 20 9:00pm - Episode 22 "Cowboy Funk"

Also known as, "the episode that Adult Swim skipped for nearly two years," due to the mad-bomber-destroying-twin-skyscrapers plot that didn't quite sit well with people after 9/11. Al-qaeda references aside, this is a surprisingly goofy episode, one that gives a wonderful foil for the cool and collected Spike - the charmingly daft Cowboy Andy.

Elemental Gelade
(ImaginAsianTV)
Tuesday May 22 5:00pm - Episode 17 "The Troublesome Chance Meeting" (Repeats Tue May 22 8:00pm, Wed May 23 12:30am, 12:00pm)

Cou and Ren have only recently reunited, when it seems like all hope is lost yet again, after Cou is poisoned by an unidentified adversary! Also, more made-up words, such as Edel Garden!

Gankutsuou: The Count of Monte Cristo
(ImaginAsianTV)
Tuesday May 22 6:30pm - Episode 17 "Confession" (Repeats Tue May 22 9:30pm, Wed May 23 2:00am, 1:30pm)

Just in case anybody has forgotten that Gankutsuou is a sci-fi pastiche of Dumas' novel, this week features the duel between Albert and The Count... in space. With robots.

Gundam SEED Destiny
(YTV)
Friday May 25 9:30pm - Episode 12 "The Sea Dyed With Blood" (Repeats Sat May 26 1:30am)

This week on the animated adventures of those melodramatic Gundam pilots, a resigned Athrun decides to re-join his old unit, ZAFT, for the good of mankind. Maybe.

Human Crossing
(ImaginAsianTV)
Monday May 21 9:30am - Episode 1 "Injury"

Hey, remember a few weeks ago, when Human Crossing was my Click Pick of the Wick? I mean, Week? Yeah, ImaginAsian never actually aired any episodes, at all. Repeats of King of Bandit Jing aired in its place. Which is a shame, since this is a great show. Anyway, their usually-reliable but sometimes erratic online schedule shows Human Crossing starting this Monday, with episode 1, only to disappear for a week or so and reappear on the first week of June. So basically what I'm saying is that you should watch this episode, maybe? If it actually airs? Sure.

Kyo Kara Maoh
(ImaginAsianTV)
Tuesday May 22 5:30pm - Episode 17 "I'll Remarry" (Repeats Tue May 22 8:30pm, Wed May 23 1:00am, 12:30pm)

Nothing spells out "summer" quite as lovely as as a weddin'! That's "weddin'" with an apostrophe at the end, instead of an "s". There is a subtle difference. A "weddin'" is almost guaranteed to have less karaoke.

The Law of Ueki
(ImaginAsianTV)
Tuesday May 22 6:00pm - Episode 17 "The Law of the Two Powers" (Repeats Tue May 22 9:00pm, Wed May 23 1:30am, 1:00pm)

Ueki once again finds himself in a tight spot, as he fights against Myoujin, who has not one but two special powers. Maybe if he didn't spend every episode fighting people, this wouldn't happen.

Naruto
(Cartoon Network)
Saturday May 19 9:00pm - Episode 88 "Focal Point: The Mark of the Leaf" (Repeats Thu May 24 5:30pm)

Naruto, like many ADD-addled children in today's hectic society, has a hard time concentrating, which means difficult times lie ahead for our spunky ninja-lite, as he endures the ribald Jiraiya's rigorous training.

(YTV)
Friday May 25 8:00pm - Episode 82 "Eye to Eye: Sharingan vs. Sharingan"

Sasuke's brother Itachi arrives to kidnap Naruto, but Kakashi along with Gai attempt to stop him. And if you don't know what any of those names are, uh. Then, you probably shouldn't be reading this.

NieA_7
(ImaginAsianTV)
-Monday May 21 8:30am - Episode 12 "Niea Under Seven Bath, Part 2" (Repeats Tue May 22 5:00am)
-Tuesday May 22 8:30am - Episode 13 "Time Flows By In Enohana Bath" (Repeats Wed May 23 5:00am)

Yoshitoshi ABe's slice-of-life-sci-fi-alien-family-drama-comedy comes to a close on ImaginAsianTV's peculiarly early anime block. Does NieA ever get along with her fussy housemate? Will they ever get around to re-opening the bath? Are there more questions involved with this show that I may have forgotten? Find out!

One Piece
(Cartoon Network)
Saturday May 19 9:30pm - Episode 90 "Live and Let Dry"

Man, I simply can't wait for August. Newly dubbed One Piece, on TV! This time, without changed music, dozens of inappropriate character accents, and pathetic attempts at added "humor"! That'll be just awesome! Until then, though, slog through the remainder of 4Kids' detritus, with the slight hope of better things to come. This week, Luffy takes on Crocodile for a second time. Then, puns.

Samurai Champloo
(Razer)
Sunday May 20 9:30pm - Episode 22 "Cosmic Collisions"

In this very strange episode of Champloo, the trio wind up in a strange mine, and are put to work by a creepy dude with a fascination with the stars. Not the best episode, but the epic, three-part conclusion is up next, so keep an eye out for that.

Shin Chan
(Cartoon Network)
-Tuesday May 22 12:30am - Episode 18 (Repeats Tue May 22 4:00am)
-Wednesday May 23 12:30am - Episode 19 (Repeats Wed May 23 4:00am)
-Thursday May 24 12:30am - Episode 20 (Repeats Thu May 24 4:00am)

Shin Chan's initial 20 episode order wraps up this week, with many, many more repeats slated, in case you've been missing out the other fifteen times I've told all of you to watch this surprisingly funny and engaging show. I know it's "cool," "hip," and "dippity darn awesome" to ignore advice from us lame adults, but seriously. Here's hoping for 20 more Shin Chan episodes in Adult Swim's future!

Zatch Bell
(YTV)
Friday May 25 8:30pm - Episode 70 "The Four Supreme Mamodo"

So-called "Supreme Mamodo" because they come with sour cream and guacamole, with a side of cinnamon twists. Anyway, Zatch and his stalwart consociates take on these Supreme Mamodo while hunting down current Villain of the Month, Zofis.

MOVIES/SPECIALS

Pokemon: Lucario and the Mystery of Mew
(Cartoon Network)
Saturday May 19 12:00pm

Pokemon: Destiny Deoxys
(Cartoon Network)
Saturday May 19 2:00pm

Pokemon Ranger
(Cartoon Network)
Saturday May 19 4:00pm

Goodness, that's a metric buttload of Pokemon. Could this perhaps be a response to news that the most recent Pokemon games sold nearly two million copies in a matter of weeks? Impossible to believe, almost, that money sometimes makes things happen like that.

Karas: The Prophecy
(Encore WAM)
Sunday May 20 7:20pm

Akira
(Encore Action)
Wednesday May 23 12:00am

Nothing terribly noteworthy here, however. Witness the disappointing non-conclusion to Karas: The Prophecy, as poor Tatsunoko studios requires more money to finish it! Behold Akira, again! For like, the tenth time this month! As much as I love Akira, and poo-poo on the naysayers that say Akira is a poorly-plotted mess of a film that just happens to look gorgeous, it isn't really the sort of thing that holds up to repeated viewings.

I suppose that rounds out all the comments, pitiful references, and other complete wastes of mine and others' time for this week. Although for a real waste of time, there are about ten-thousand Digimon episodes below, alongside other, less-time-wasting repeats! I'll be back next time, with more anime-on-TV commentary and detailed analysis of the In-n-Out Burger Secret Menu!

REPEATS/STRIPS

.hack//Roots
(Cartoon Network)
-Sat May 19 5:00am - Episode 6 "Conflict"

Big O
(Cartoon Network)
-Sun May 20 5:00am - Episode 20 "Stripes"

Chrono Crusade
(Showtime Beyond)
-Sun May 20 11:40pm - Episode 20 "Temptation" (R Fri May 25 1:00am)
-Mon May 21 12:05am - Episode 21 "Mary Magdalene" (R Fri May 25 1:25am)
-Fri May 25 9:00pm - Episode 22 "Sayonara"
-Fri May 25 9:30pm - Episode 23 "The Noise"

Digimon
(Toon Disney)
-Sat May 19 11:00am - Episode 36 "City Under Siege"
-Sun May 20 11:00am - Episode 37 "Wizardmon's Gift"
-Sun May 20 9:00pm - Episode 161 "A Molehill Out of a Mountain"
-Mon May 21 12:00am - Episode 110 "O Partner, Where Art Thou"
-Mon May 21 8:00am - Episode 56 "The Digiteam Complete" (R Tue May 22 2:30am)
-Mon May 21 9:30pm - Episode 85 "Opposites Attract" (R Tue May 22 2:00am)
-Tue May 22 8:00am - Episode 57 "A New Digitude" (R Wed May 23 2:30am)
-Tue May 22 7:30pm - Episode 132 "Blame It on Ryo"
-Tue May 22 9:30pm - Episode 86 "If I Only Had a Heart" (R Wed May 23 2:00am)
-Wed May 23 8:00am - Episode 58 "Iron Veggiemon" (R Thu May 24 2:30am)
-Wed May 23 7:30pm - Episode 133 "Goliath"
-Wed May 23 9:30pm - Episode 87 "Chance Encounter" (R Thu May 24 2:00am)
-Thu May 24 8:00am - Episode 59 "Old Reliable" (R Fri May 25 2:30am)
-Thu May 24 7:30pm - Episode 137 "Rabbit Transit"
-Thu May 24 9:30pm - Episode 88 "Destiny In Doubt" (R Fri May 25 2:00am)
-Fri May 25 8:00am - Episode 60 "Family Picnic" (R Sat May 26 2:30am)
-Fri May 25 9:30pm - Episode 89 "Cody Takes a Stand" (R Sat May 26 2:00am)

Elemental Gelade
(ImaginAsianTV)
-Sun May 20 10:00pm - Episode 16 "Memory of a Wildbird" (R Mon May 21 2:00am, 2:00pm)

Gankutsuou: The Count of Monte Cristo
(ImaginAsianTV)
-Sun May 20 11:30pm - Episode 16 "Scandal" (R Mon May 21 3:30am, 3:30pm)

Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex 2nd GIG
(Cartoon Network)
-Sun May 20 1:00am - Episode 3 "Night Cruise" (R Sun May 20 4:00am)

Gokusen
(Encore WAM)
-Sat May 19 4:30pm - Episode 10 "School In the Crosshairs" (R Sun May 20 2:30am, 8:30am)
-Sun May 20 4:30pm - Episode 11 "Shin Drops Out of School" (R Mon May 21 2:30am, 8:30am)
-Mon May 21 4:30pm - Episode 12 "Shirokin High Closing" (R Tue May 22 2:30am, 8:30am)
-Tue May 22 4:30pm - Episode 13 "Yakumi's Final Act of Honor" (R Wed May 23 2:30am, 8:30am)
-Wed May 23 4:30pm - Episode 1 "Rookie Teacher With a Secret Is Born!" (R Thu May 24 2:30am, 8:30am)
-Thu May 24 4:30pm - Episode 2 "Duel! Shin vs. Ojou?" (R Fri May 25 2:30am, 8:30am)
-Fri May 25 4:30pm - Episode 3 "Kuma's First Time" (R Sat May 26 2:30am, 8:30am)

Idaten Jump
(Cartoon Network)
-Thu May 24 6:00am - Episode 3 "Rush"
-Fri May 25 6:00am - Episode 4 "Trap"

Inuyasha
(Cartoon Network)
-Tue May 22 1:00am - Episode 2 "Seekers of the Sacred Jewel" (R Tue May 22 4:30am)
-Tue May 22 1:30am - Episode 3 "Down the Rabbit Hole & Back Again" (R Tue May 22 5:00am)
-Wed May 23 1:00am - Episode 4 "Yura of the Demon Hair" (R Wed May 23 4:30am)
-Wed May 23 1:30am - Episode 5 "Aristocratic Assassin, Sesshomaru" (R Wed May 23 5:00am)
-Thu May 24 1:00am - Episode 6 "Tetsusaiga, the Phantom Sword" (R Thu May 24 4:30am)
-Thu May 24 1:30am - Episode 7 "Showdown! Inuyasha vs. Sesshomaru" (R Thu May 24 5:00am)
-Fri May 25 1:00am - Episode 8 "The Toad Who Would Be the Prince" (R Fri May 25 4:30am)
-Fri May 25 1:30am - Episode 9 "Enter Shippo Plus, the Amazing Thunder Brothers" (R Fri May 25 5:00am)

Kyo Kara Maoh
(ImaginAsianTV)
-Sun May 20 10:30pm - Episode 16 "Maoh's Investigation Note" (R Mon May 21 2:30am, 2:30pm)

The Law of Ueki
(ImaginAsianTV)
-Sun May 20 11:00pm - Episode 16 "The Law of Neo" (R Mon May 21 3:00am, 3:00pm)

Naruto
(Cartoon Network)
-Sat May 19 5:00pm - Episode 82 "Eye to Eye: Sharingan vs. Sharingan!"
-Sat May 19 5:30pm - Episode 83 "Jiraiya: Naruto's Potential Disaster!"
-Sat May 19 6:00pm - Episode 84 "Roar, Chidori: Brother vs. Brother"
-Sat May 19 6:30pm - Episode 85 "Hate Among the Uchihas: The Last of the Clan" (R Mon May 21 5:30pm)
-Sat May 19 8:00pm - Episode 86 "A New Training Begins: I Will Be Strong" (R Tue May 22 5:30pm)
-Wed May 23 5:30pm - Episode 87 "Keep On Training: Pop Goes the Water Balloon"
-Fri May 25 5:30pm - Episode 1 "Enter: Naruto Uzumaki"

NieA_7
(ImaginAsianTV)
-Wed May 23 8:30am - Episode 1 "Alien and Launching UFO Bath" (R Thu May 24 5:00am)
-Thu May 24 8:30am - Episode 2 "Alien and Violence Cosmic Bath" (R Fri May 25 5:00am)
-Fri May 25 8:30am - Episode 3 "Alien and Radio Noise Bath" (R Sat May 26 5:00am)

Oban Star-Racers
(Toon Disney)
-Sat May 19 8:30pm - Episode 13 "Make Way!" (R Sun May 20 2:30am)
-Sat May 19 11:30pm - Episode 25 "Unlikely Alliances"
-Sun May 20 8:30pm - Episode 14 "Welcome to Oban!" (R Mon May 21 2:30am)
-Sun May 20 11:30pm - Episode 26 "The Moment of Truth"
-Mon May 21 9:00pm - Episode 17 "Optimized Like Ondai" (R Tue May 22 1:30am)
-Fri May 25 9:00pm - Episode 18 "Monstrous Like Muir" (R Sat May 26 1:30am)

Peacemaker
(Showtime Beyond)
-Fri May 25 8:30pm - Episode 24 "Iron"

Pokemon
(Cartoon Network)
-Sat May 19 9:00am - Episode 435 "Odd Pokemon Out"
-Sat May 19 9:30am - Episode 436 "Spontaneous Combusken"
-Mon May 21 6:30am - Episode 412 "Rough, Tough Jigglypuff"
-Mon May 21 5:00pm - Episode 451 "Grating Spaces"
-Tue May 22 6:30am - Episode 413 "On Cloud Arcanine"
-Tue May 22 5:00pm - Episode 452 "Battling the Enemy Within"
-Wed May 23 6:30am - Episode 414 "Sitting Psyduck"
-Wed May 23 5:00pm - Episode 453 "Slaking Kong"
-Thu May 24 6:30pm - Episode 415 "Hail to the Chef!"
-Thu May 24 5:00pm - Episode 454 "May, We Harley Drew'd Ya"
-Fri May 25 6:30pm - Episode 416 "Caterpie's Big Dilemma"
-Fri May 25 5:00pm - Episode 455 "Thinning the Hoard"

Pokemon Chronicles
(Cartoon Network)
-Mon May 21 4:30pm - Episode 20 "Trouble in Big Town"
-Tue May 22 4:30pm - Episode 21 "Big Meowth, Little Dream"
-Wed May 23 4:30pm - Episode 22 "Christmas Night; Kanga Games"
-Thu May 24 4:30pm - Episode  "The Legend of Thunder, Part 1"

Samurai 7
(Independent Film Channel)
-Sat May 19 8:20am - Episode 1 "The Master"
-Sat May 19 8:50am - Episode 2 "The Pupil"

Samurai Deeper Kyo
(Encore WAM)
-Sat May 19 4:00pm - Episode 19 "Thunderbolt Attack" (R Sun May 20 2:00am, 8:00am)
-Sun May 20 4:00pm - Episode 20 "Far Away, to Absolute Zero" (R Mon May 21 2:00am, 8:00am)
-Mon May 21 4:00pm - Episode 21 "The Demonic Mibu Castle" (R Tue May 22 2:00am, 8:00am)
-Tue May 22 4:00pm - Episode 22 "The Machine Made Dolls" (R Wed May 23 2:00am, 8:00am)
-Wed May 23 4:00pm - Episode 23 "Scorching Ecstasy" (R Thu May 24 2:00am, 8:00am)
-Thu May 24 4:00pm - Episode 24 "The Last Muramasa Awakens" (R Fri May 25 2:00am, 8:00am)
-Fri May 25 4:00pm - Episode 25 "The One That Surpasses Tach" (R Sat May 26 8:00am)

Shin Chan
(Cartoon Network)
-Fri May 25 12:30am - Episode 14 (R Fri May 25 4:00am)

Shingu: Secret of the Stellar Wars
(ImaginAsianTV)
-Mon May 21 6:00am - Episode 16 "Calmly, But Suddenly" (R Mon May 21 9:00am, Tue May 22 4:30am)
-Tue May 22 6:00am - Episode 17 "Chaotic Apology" (R Tue May 22 9:00am, Wed May 23 4:30am)
-Wed May 23 6:00am - Episode 18 "Inherited Sorrows" (R Wed May 23 9:00am, Thu May 24 4:30am)
-Thu May 24 6:00am - Episode 19 "Virtuous Fist" (R Thu May 24 9:00am, Fri May 25 4:30am)
-Fri May 25 6:00am - Episode 20 "Impatient Optimism" (R Fri May 25 9:00am, Sat May 26 4:30am)

Shinzo
(Toon Disney)
-Sat May 19 4:00am - Episode 5 "Kiri"
-Sat May 19 8:00am - Episode 23 "Bear Claws"
-Sun May 20 8:00am - Episode 24 "The Nightmare Dream Center"
-Tue May 22 4:00am - Episode 6 "Battling Daku"
-Wed May 23 4:00am - Episode 7 "Into the Jungle"
-Thu May 24 4:00am - Episode 8 "Reptiles"
-Fri May 25 4:00am - Episode 9 "Gyasa"

Sonic X
(4KidsTV)
-Sat May 19 10:00am - Episode "Missile Wrist Rampage"

Special Duty Combat Unit: Shinesman
(Encore Action)
-Sat May 19 8:05am - Episode 1 (R Tue May 22 12:00am, 4:35pm)
-Sat May 19 8:40am - Episode 2 (R Tue May 22 12:30am, 5:05pm)

(Encore WAM)
-Mon May 21 11:45am - Episode 1
-Mon May 21 12:20pm - Episode 2

Submarine 707 Revolution
(Encore Action)
-Sat May 19 12:00am - Episode 2 "Mission: 02"

Texhnolyze
(Encore Action)
-Thu May 24 12:00am - Episode 1 "Stranger"
-Thu May 24 12:30am - Episode 2 "Forfeiture"
-Thu May 24 1:00am - Episode 3 "Texhnophile"
-Fri May 25 12:00am - Episode 4 "Synapse"
-Fri May 25 12:30am - Episode 5 "Loiter"
-Fri May 25 1:00am - Episode 6 "Repetition"

Transformers Cybertron
(Cartoon Network)
-Mon May 21 6:00am - Episode 50 "End"
-Tue May 22 6:00am - Episode 51 "Beginning"
-Wed May 23 6:00am - Episode 52 "Inferno"

Trinity Blood
(Cartoon Network)
-Sun May 20 1:30am - Episode 1 "Flight Night" (R Sun May 20 4:30am)

Voltron
(Cartoon Network)
-Sun May 20 5:30am - Episode 8 "The Stolen Lion"
-Tue May 22 5:30am - Episode 50 "Give Me Your Princess"
-Wed May 23 5:30am - Episode 51 "Bridge Over Chozzerai"
-Thu May 24 5:30am - Episode 52 "My Brother is a Robeast"
-Fri May 25 5:30am - Episode 53 "Zakron is Dying"

Yu-Gi-Oh!
(4KidsTV)
-Sat May 19 10:30am - Episode 49 "Dungeon Dice Monsters, Part 4"