How's it going my gumdrops? Last week, I learned that Swimnami acquired the rights to Dragon Ball Kai. I'm sure most DBZ fan boys and girls are rejoicing, while some of us Swimnami viewers cringe.
It really wasn't until Cartoon Network aired Sailor Moon, that I began watching the Toonami block. I was originally exposed to Anime in the 1980's as a little girl, when Robotech aired on local TV networks.
Robotech 1982-1984 (In Japan)
During
the 1980's, Cartoon Network never existed. Adults my age, who are
now in our 30's and a little older were exposed to Anime years before the Dragon Ball franchise. Of all the Anime titles, Adult Swim wanted to win over the Dragon Ball fan base by purchasing Dragon Ball Kai.
It was the only way to stop the nostalgic fan boys from throwing temper tantrums. The portions I've seen of Dragon Ball are generic-looking in art quality. That's along with the series being as obnoxious as most of its fan base.
Most DBZ fans have this tendency to hold that franchise on a pedestal, as if DBZ is the best Anime to ever exist. I don't think those fans realize, that they make other Dragon Ball fans ashamed to be fans of the franchise and Anime in general.
I understand that DBZ was their so-called "Gateway to Anime." Meanwhile, there are adults like myself, who watched other titles, long before the Dragon Ball franchise existed. As I already said, Robotech was my "Gateway to Anime" during the 1980's.
It wasn't until my college junior year, that I watched
more Anime, which was mostly on Adult Swim. Throughout the rest of my 20's, I watched 100's of Anime
titles both on TV and online. Cartoon Network and Adult Swim usually overlook better titles. I still watch Anime in my early 30's. Although, I
don't watch as much anymore.
Nowadays, I
spend most of my time on social media sites, blogging,
watching other shows outside the Anime genre (not that I didn't already), and of course working on It's Not All Gumdrops & Unicorns, when I'm not sleeping and job hunting.
Last
week, I happened to locate Jason DeMarco on stalkbook. I personally sent him a
message about potential Anime titles, that are worth airing on Adult Swim's so-called Toonami block. I don't know if DeMarco
read my message or not.
The Anime titles I suggested to Jason DeMarco are the following:
5) Hellsing [both Anime series and OVA's] (Seinen Horror Action)
7) Tenjho Tenge [including the last 2 episodes] (Seinen Action)
Speaking of Robotech,
I happened to find the series online. YouTube is missing the pilot
episode of the series, which made me hunt for it. I happened to
stumble upon Robotech's pilot episode on Crackle. If Robotech wasn't such a complex Mecha series, I would explain more about it. Rather than me explain the series, you can read about it for yourself.
Anyway, this Cartoon Sunday, I present to you Robotech's pilot episode.
Robotech: The Macross Saga "Booby Trap" (Pilot)
What was your gateway to Anime?
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