Year of the Mon: 2010

Anime really can be magical; full of fun, charming, and interesting characters. Late 2010 two similar yet popular anime franchises launched with more bang then ever. This is the first time since my early childhood that Digimon and Pokemon recaptured my interest. I was aware of Pokemon's on-going continuation of well over 500 episodes and more then 10 years running. Digimon continued to run variations on its own theme but I just had never wanted to watch it. This was several years ago, but in the last five or six years I discovered just how terrible English dubs are. Anime isn't at all the same when watching original releases with English subtitles, it's far better. Both these shows for now are only available subtitled but its best that way. Each show brings on some of the most exciting creatures of their respected universes.

Pokemon/Pocket Monsters Best Wishes is the 14th season of our trainer and his Pikachu but it's really a re-launch of sorts. This series is based off the Pokemon Black And White Nintendo DS games. Only latest generation of creatures (except) Pikachu are featured. Only returning characters are Pikachu, Satoshi (Ash in the US), and Team Rocket. Team Rocket is more involved behind the scenes now and they do want to catch Pikachu but no longer seek it. They actually have multiple missions now. Satoshi is still a hero being experienced but now he has a lot to learn as the new pokemon battle quite differently. Pikachu still throws down with classic moves and new ones and is still the best part of the series. Same concepts return as he meets a traveling trainer and befriends a gym leader but it's done in a refreshing way. The new cast and all new pokemon allow you to get back into it; it's matured a lot since 1995 when pokemon was first released.

Digimon Xero Wars is the newest reincarnation of the anime franchise, and it's unlike anything before. It isn't at all like pokemon; it's darker and has far more violence. This series is all about fusion, the digidevice allows for the tamer or general in this series to fuse his monster friends into more powerful ones. Basically it's about an evil army and the heroes who have to form their own army to free the digital world. To me this is the best Digimon anime and worth a watch if you like this sort of thing.

Who and the Despicable - A On-Screen Christmas

Christmas this year went well, enjoyable even without gifts. Anymore it’s just about family time, and that actually makes it better. Last Christmas we could not celebrate really as I was badly ill and wasn’t aware due to heavy sedation. We faced the possibility that I may not make it; however, I did and here I am telling you about it.

Besides Christmas dinner the big highlights involved a TV special and a movie. It started with the Doctor Who: A Christmas Carol TV special, this was the first special I have seen on X-Mas actually. It was a brilliant and cleaver take on scrooge complete with the charm of the 11th Doctor. Matt Smith really shined here, the first true moment that I didn’t miss David Tennant who was the 10th Doctor. Thankfully Amy Pond only had a small role. It starts with a ship from Earth almost crashing on a clouded alien world. The Doctor appears from a chimney all Santa like, his TARDIS landed on the roof and well he just wanted to as he says “Christmas Eve on a rooftop. Saw a chimney, my whole brain just went "What the hell!" He meats an old man who controls the sky but the man cares not even as the doctor pleads for help. The old man is the only one who can save the crashing ship and many people. So the Doctor goes Christmas past on him to try and convince him. I won’t spoil it, but it’s a fantastic story even non Who fans would enjoy.

After that I watched Despicable Me and while not a Christmas movie it has a great message. In short a evil villain who has failed many times discovers a way into his rivals lair. He adopts three young girls who sell cookies. But he ends up loving them and showing he has a warm heart. At the end he turns out to be a hero and the dad they always wanted. It’s tastefully funny and really jus a cute animated film.

To me this quote captures the sprit of Christmas quite well.

“On every world, wherever people are, in the deepest part of the winter, at the exact mid-point, everybody stops and turns and hugs. As if to say, "Well done. Well done, everyone! We're halfway out of the dark." - Kazran Sardick