Ben 10 Marathon and Generator Rex Preview!

If you love watching Ben 10, you'll probably like Generator Rex. Generator Rex is another animated series from Cartoon Network and it was created by the creators of Ben 10, Man Of Action! Starting January 9, 2011, Generator Rex will be air on Cartoon Network in Asian countries except Korea. Another news is that for locals, Generator Rex will be on TV5 starting January 1, 2011 (Saturdays). My guess is that TV5 will air that series before CN Philippines. Generator Rex will start around 11:00 AM on TV5


Another marathon of Ben 10 is coming and this time that show will start on January 1st. It will start on 9:00 AM. Uhh, the channel will air those Ben 10 episodes again as usual...

Cartoon Network on TV5

If Spongebob Squarepants moved to ABS-CBN (and Q), there goes Ben 10. What? Yes, it means that TV5 got the rights for airing animated shows from Cartoon Network and that means Ben 10 is one of them. If you watch any trailers on TV5 this week, you'll notice that there are new shows that will air. Usually, they'll air on weekends.

Cartoon Network is one of the cable channels that can be available to our TV's. It is also the rival network of Nickelodeon and Disney Channel. In the other side, TV5 will air new shows like The PowerPuff Girls, Dexter's Laboratory, Ed, Edd & Eddy and Camp Lazlo. They're expected to air around September next month. In Ben 10, you can still watch it in weekday and weekend mornings and in replays afternoon. Like shows from Nickelodeon, the Cartoon Network on TV5 will be in Tagalog-dub. Right, I know some people will be pissed when they heard it's on Tagalog version.

El Tigre: The Adventures of Manny Rivera

Starting from clockwise: Grandpapi Rivera/Puma Loco, Manny Rivera/ El Tigre, and Rodolfo Rivera/ White Pantera

Before I will start about this entry, let me apologize for having a long-term waiting to see my new post. It's just because I'll have to fix my college subject classes starting this week.

When I saw this cartoon show on TV5 and Nickelodeon cable channel, I was suddenly amazed and I thought it's Nickelodeon's cartoon rivaled for Cartoon Network's Mucha Lucha. Maybe I'm wrong and Nick Jr's. Dora the Explorer is not only a cartoon with Mexican language. El Tigre: The Adventures of Manny Rivera (sometimes nicknamed as "El Tigre") is another Nickelodeon show aired around year 2007 to 2008. Set in fictional place Miracle City in Mexico, El Tigre tells about the adventures of 13-year old boy Manny Rivera. He has superpowers and deals whether if he's going into good or evil side. His father Rodolfo Rivera (a.k.a White Pantera) is a superhero and wanted his son to be like him, but Granpapi Rivera (a.k.a. Puma Loco) likes his grandson as a super villain.

For us, we can say that we are on the good side but sometimes we are in the clutches of doing bad things. For El Tigre, while his villains show up to do crime his conscience is his real challenge. He has to learn to distinguish what's right and what's wrong. Like does Manny use his father's money to buy a tattoo maker instead of a can of guacamole? Or letting his prized animal die and revive it in a horrible way? Those are examples of issues that Manny deals with it.

Manny is just like a tween who never know what responsibilities are and instead to have fun. While he decide which side he will be, he makes trouble along with his best friend Frida Suarez as happy time. Manny also likes to fight for good or worst. He transforms into El Tigre by spinning his buckle belt. He (sometimes along with his family) face many villains including El Oso, Sartana the Dead, Titanium Titan and many super villains in order to protect Miracle City from ruin.

Another exciting reason why El Tigre is that the animation uses Flash plus the hand-drawn animation for effects. The creators and staff of the show added many Mexican culture stuff - from costumes up to famous Mexican people. Whether if your not a Mexican resident, you'll still like to watch it's action and comedy moments. There's even one moral lesson you'll learn in El Tigre , not even Grandpapi Rivera can't resist this value - "Family comes first, whether you're a superhero or not".

If you wanted to find out more about El Tigre: The Adventures of Manny Rivera, you can check out the creator's DeviantArt account at http://mexopolis.deviantart.com/ and their Blogger account at http://tigreroar.blogspot.com/.

End of TV5 Animega? Oh My!

Last year, TV5's Animega seem like a hit for Filipino anime fans for airing anime shows every weekday nights and weekends as replays. But now this year, it's schedule will fade away sooner. According to Zen Otaku Honbu's latest news here, TV5 officially announced that Animega will temporarily go off-air starting May 31, 2010. I'm sure this will be much
dissappointment for anime fans and worried if the anime schedule will be gone in evenings.

Before I found out that news, last week I really enjoyed Shrek, Shrek 2 and Shrek the Third on 5Max Movies which they were aired around 7:30 PM. Then, I found out that there are some major changes in Animega. First of all, Clannad which was aired every 6:30 PM and now it is completely finished then Yatterman was moved in 3:30 PM from 6:00 before Street Fighter. Another one, Casshern Sins was moved in 6:00 PM because at this week will completely finish while D-Gray Man is still on air but on 7:00 PM. Last one is that Fullmetal Alchemist still air every Friday nights from 7:30 PM up to 8:30 PM before Midnight DJ. Sounds like a major difference, right? Even at their Facebook fan page, many fans are complaining about the movement of schedule and some of them suspected if the line-up will replace Koreanovelas.

In my observation and opinion, TV5 should not remove their Animega line-up because it is one of the main reasons why the station reach it's success. Animega is also different because every 6:00 PM up to 8:00 PM is the time where news from other stations air while viewers will enjoy anime (especially while they're eating dinner). Best of all, TV5 Animega is the home of requested popular anime shows like Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, Code Geass and Lucky Star. From 2008 starting with Yamato Nadeshiko: The Wallflower and Shakugan no Shana, viwers are following the anime timeslot and supported that TV5 should air more anime shows.

While the school time is near, I can't imagine what will happen if the kids will not enjoy watching adult primetime shows like news and dramas and have no time for anime slot. It will be very dull and boring! We also wonder what will happen if many stations especially ABS-CBN, GMA 7, Studio 23 or even TV5 itself place full of Koreanovelas and other dramas over shows for young ones like anime.

Yatterman Remake

Just after TV5's Masked Rider Hibiki ended, another new anime replaced called Yatterman. Suprisingly, when I search about this anime it was indeed a remake of the original Yatterman which was created in year 1977 up to 1979 by Tatsunoko Productions. Before the 2008 remake, the 1970's Yatterman was the 2nd longest show created by Tatsunoko Productions after Time Bokan. It was also the part of Time Bokan series.

Up: (from left to right) Gan-chan and Ai-chan .Down: Yatta-wan the Robot Dog, Dice and the Yatterman

Yatterman 2008 remake

Yatterman tells about the two young mechanic heroes who are trying to stop the Dorombo Gang from searching their boss' Dokuro Stones which it has an ability to grant wishes whoever gets it.From the original series, Gan-chan and Ai-chan transforms into Yatterman with the help of their mechanic robot dog named Yatter-Wan and travel diffrent parts of the world in order to search the Dokuro Stones. But everything is not on their direct way if there are Dorondo Gang, lead by Queen Doronjo and her wacky troublesome henchmen Boyacki and Tonzra trying to stop the heroes and get what they wanted. In the end, the Yatterman always win the battle and found the stones.

Since am I talking about the remake, Yatterman was created in year 2008 with it's new changes but still the original character design are still there. One of the changes about the anime is that instead of Dokuro Stones, both teams are searching Dokurobei Rings that is scattered all around the world. Gan-chan is also given a personality for him as a slacker and not quite serious unlike his friend Ai-chan.

In the first episode, a genius but slacker mechanic Gan-chan tries to repair his old Yatter-Wan which is meant as a promised gift from her friend Ai-chan. In return, when the Dorondo Gang appeared to create trouble, Ai-chan displays her appeal in order to convince Yatter-Wan to awake from his sleep. The rest of the episode plots got the similar format - the Dorondo Gang creates a scam to earn money, summoned by their boss Dokurobei and tell where to get the next Dokurobei Ring; the Yatterman found about the plot and call their Yatter-Wan to follow the evil gang, Ai-chan feeds Yatter-Wan with "Mechatonic" which helps summon mini-mechas. At the last scene, the Dorondo Gang flew away from the explosion of their mechas (like the ones in Pokemon's Team Rocket) and being punished by Dokurobei.

Hmm, does this remind me of a Super Sentai show especially the original Yatterman was created during the time Himitsu Sentai Goranger was produced?

Batibot Will Be Back!

One of the reasons why I'm so happy on TV5 is that according to this Pep.ph website here, TV5 will pick up the Philippines's oldest popular children's show Batibot. For people who grew up in 80's up to 90's will also glad about this. For those who want to know about the show, you can look my blog entry here which I posted last year.

I'm sure nobody will forget the memorable chacaters in Batibot like Pong Pagong, Kiko Matsing and the storyteller Kuya Bodgie. I also hope that original puppet chacters and the original song will return :)

Lucky Star

I first heard this kind of anime which is called Lucky Star around 2008 and I was so curious about it aside from The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya. I also heard that many (or let's say millions) of anime fans that they are excited to see that anime because of comedy and a mix of slice-of-life genre. In the opening theme of the series which I first found it in Youtube, the characters are cute and cartoony plus showing their funny facial expressions. Now when I first saw it in TV5 for real, I realize that their looks can be really deceiving....

The Lucky Star manga was created by Kagami Yoshimizu back in 2004 and published in Kadokawa Shoten's Compiq. It later published in other magazines like Shonen Ace. The anime version was created in the year 2006 by Kyoto Animation. The story tells about the daily life of four girl friends who are both in high school - Konata Izumi, Miyuki Takara and the twin girls Kagami and Tsukasa Hiiragi.

When I saw Lucky Star in on Philippine TV , it seems that they fell apart when it comes to storyline especially the show was dubbed in Tagalog. It doesn't mean that the dub is horrible than the original Japanese. If you ever watched few episodes of Azumanga Daioh, you'll know what I mean. Of all of the twenty-four episodes in anime, all you can see is that the main chacters meet in school, talk to each other about certain things, making jokes and do hang-out. In other words, they are just a bunch of vignettes. Plus before the ending credit of an anime, there goes a mini segment called the Lucky Channel which adds the taste of comedy and squeaking the fans.

The problem of the many viewers who watch Lucky Star (especially if the a viewer is a manga of anime first-timer) is that they must be familiar in Japanese video games, anime, and other Japanese pop culture stuff so they will understand the conversation of the characters. Else,the comedy will be terrible to them. Aside from less comedy slices and humor, I also think that the main character's personality doesn't change or develop as the episode goes on. Konata Izumi , is a smart and sporty gal who has blue hair and green eyes. Sometimes she can be lazy in school work and instead she likes to play video games every day which is the reason why she's not good at school. Kagami Hiiragi, one of the Hiiragi twins with a long purple hair is a smart, stubborn one but not good at household chores. Tsukasa Hiiragi, twin sister of Kagami who has a short purple hair is the opposite of her sister - nice but an airhead. Miyuki Takara, a girl with pink hair and glasses is intelligent but sometimes she can be clumsy.

As I watch the few episodes of them on TV5, I felt like I've wasted every 30-minutes and I'd rather switch the channel to watch the news like 24 Oras or TV Patrol. There are few things I really impressed about Lucky Star are the music like the opening theme here and the clean artwork design. I also the like the show's impression of making cameo appearances of other anime shows and characters like Sgt. Frog and Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya.

In the end, I'm quite enjoyed watching the series. It may have a weak plot but I'm interested as well because of their modern culture like anime and manga. Lucky Star is just like the junior version of Azumanga Daioh where a bunch of random high school girls are present and experience situations, either can be fun or frustrating as long as they're friends. It can be a good comedy series, only if you understand the Japan's entertainment culture.

...and The Gang Jumps to University

Did you watch the last episode where the wacky student friends from Lokomoko High went to vacation after their graduation in high school? Yes, it really means they are going to university and enroll Lokomoko University. The title of the show will be call Lokomoko U. According to this Pep.ph website here, TV5 (the station where the original Lokomoko and Lokomoko High aired) announced that they will soon present their new entertainment - oriented shows including Lokomoko U. Not to worry, the original cast of Lokomoko High like Alex Gonzaga, Empoy Marquez, JC De Vera, Valerie Montenegro, their classmates and the teachers will return with their funny gags and jokes that make sure we will laugh of.

Hope they don't add too much toilet humor....

Ranma 1/2

Ranma 1/2 Volume 1 © Viz Media

One of the most popular anime in the early 90's and it's still love by many fans. I mean to say it's Ranma 1/2. It was created by Rumiko Takahashi, who is also known for her InuYasha series and currently one of the richest mangaka in Japan . The manga was published in Shokagukan's Shonen Sunday from year 1987 to 1996 in 38 volumes (although in US published 36 volumes). According to Rumiko in an interview, she wanted to make a story that aimed for younger children but as a twist her creation was targeted by many teenage boys and girls.

The story revolves a teenage boy named Ranma Saotome who was trained martial arts since childhood under his father, Genma. Until one day (in early few chapters and episodes, that is), while in the middle of training Ranma and Genma fall into cursed springs in Jusenkyo which located in Qinghai, China. When splashed in cold water, Ranma turns into a girl while his father turns into a panda. The only way to reverse their form is to douse hot water on them, but unfortunately it lasts temporarily. Post soon.

Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya

Believe it or not, it finally happened! The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya officially air in the Philippines on TV 5 this week. Many teens especially the anime fans are waiting this moment just to see the show air locally. Starting this week, Haruhi and the rest of her SOS Brigade members let us watch them every 6:00 P.M. weekdays, replacing Code Geass R2.

Before Haruhu Suzumiya air on TV 5, it was known to be one of the most-popular anime shows since it released in 2006 because of it's unique storyline about a (weird) high school girl who believes in espers and extraterrestrial life. The show also popular because of their own official dancing song and video "Hare, Hare Yukai!". The song was performed from anime conventions up to prisoners in Cebu, Philippines.

I think TV 5 really give a chance to their viewers a request for airing this anime. I really agree to it's station despite they succesfully gain high ratings mostly from anime shows. What a good timing I mean! TV 5 originally intended to air Haruhi Suzumiya last year, and then last month but according to this anime blog here, the Filipino-dubbers of Haruhi Suzumiya work hard just progress the translating and dubbing the show. Currently, they finished 3 episodes but still we need to expect it might go back to episode one like what happened to Toradora! and Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood (another anime aired in TV 5).

I would like to say "Kudos to TV 5!" for granting many anime viewer's request for airing Haruhi Suzumiya! Catch Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya weeknights at 6:00 PM and Saturdays as replay at 1:00 PM on TV 5.

Networks In The Philippines - Part 6

Another continuing bump in the last part of Networks In The Philippines segment...I may not know other small networks so I'm trying to figure out their distributions and their progress.

TV5
Before TV5, it was known as the Association Broadcasting Company or ABC back in 1960. A fine and well-made success had improved of the station since 1994. ABC was known to show many local programs, foreign shows and cartoons. One of the success in that station was the popular Sailor Moon franchise which ran about late 90's to 2002. Then in 1996, Wow Mali was created and it is still considered as the longest running comedy show in the Philippines including it's successors and alternate versions: Wow Maling Mali (2003), Wow Mali Bytes (2005) and Wow Mali Express (2008). In 2003, ABC made it's renovation including the broadcast of Philippine Basketball Association or PBA and WWE.

In August 2008, the name ABC was changed into TV5. The changed was showed by it's final sign-off featuring previous local programs that ABC succeed. After the sign-off, a timer countdown was showed until TV5 was launched one day later. A lot of fresh and new programs are shown in this station. TV5 operates 24 hours a day provided with the music-video show All Hot Music.

At first I wonder myself when it comes to available children's shows, I jump into TV5 first. Well for one thing, TV5 put up many schedules mostly for children and teens. Some shows from Nick on TV5 (previously Nick on ABC), and new anime shows success them. Not only for children, many new-local programs are also available too like Lokomoko (formerly Wow Mali), Ogags, Shock Attack, etc. At the early months since the launch of the new station, TV5 became the third station to received higher ratings from the AGB Nielsen survey. TV5 turned into good-start moment in televisions today.

Net-25
Launched in February 1999, Net-25 is owned by Eagle Broadcasting Network which contains local and foreign programs though not as much as Studio 23 or QTV have. That network is best known for for having detailed coverage of EDSA III and receive seven Anak TV Seal Awards in 2002. It also air shows about information technology like Conevrgence which considred as the number one I.T. show in the Philippines.

Net-25 also aired few television programs for children mostly from PBS like Zooboomafoo, Between the Lions and Lil' Horrors. They also aired Cyber Dodo which is the 5-minute animated show that features a "dodo" as a main character and promotes how to save the environment from extinction. Currently, the network aired a children's show made from Japan which airs every Saturday mornings.


UNTV 37
(reads the article in Wikipedia)
It doesn't really mean that there is no children's programming there. UNTV 37 is a 24-hour operating network that provides shows for public service like Checkpoint and D'X-Man. I guess Ang Dating Daan returns it's company which made UNTV 37 into a top-notch show. There is only one religion show (and current) that fits for children, The KNC Show or "Kawad ng Cordero".

UniversiTV
This network was dedicated and operated by the college and university students back in 2006. UniversiTV was first started as a free-network. There are few good shows that air which the hosts are the students like the Chopsuey segments, Kabataan News Network, U-Turn and others. In April 2008, UniversiTV moved as a cable TV network. No wonder why they decided to turn the network in cable TV, then?

ACQ-Kingdom Broadcasting Network
It is a channel mostly promote religious programs via broadcast, satellite or cable. ACQ is under the name "Sonshine Media Network International". Since it's released in year 2003, ACQ produced religion-theme programs under the supervision of Kingdoms Programs which includes Tagalog and English. Like in UNTV 37 there are also religion-theme children's programs like Batang Kaharian and the special program Christmas from the Heart.

I guess that's all. If I have any networks that I never wrap here you can search others in Wikipedia. In the meantime, airing foreign or local children shows seems to be minimized or shown for the sake of the ratings. But then, they really progress the prime time or scheduled block for showing children and teen programs. There are lot of network stations which usually lined-up a lot of cartoons like Cartoon Network, Disney and Nickelodeon. By observing and remembering the year's progress, it's like in the blink of the eye there's a part of something to be watch and later turned ourselves into nostalgic.