DVD Review: Bakugan Battle Planet : Origin of Species

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The anime series Bakugan Battle Brawlers ran from 2007 to 2012 on the Cartoon Network. The series launched a successful battle toy line that included games that involved spinning marbles for domination instead of merely slapping down cards. While the show wasn’t a major hit in Japan, it caught fire in the United States and Canada. Not to make you feel old, but after seven years off the air, the series is back in a revamped form with freshly designed characters and more advanced toys. Bakugan Battle Planet: Origin of Species is a DVD with the first 13 episodes.

The new series updates the way the kids interact with each other and their Bakugan. The first episode “Origin of Species” sets up the fresh variations to the series. “The Awesome Ones” are a pack of kids that include Dan Kouzo, Shun Kazami, Wynton Styles, Lia Venegas, and Lightning (a dog). The kids and dog are all about making videos they post online to show off their awesome-ness. One night they sneak into a park to track down the truth of The Great Collision. This is where they encounter the Bakugan. They are thrilled to connect with these powerful creatures that can ball up and emerge for battle. “Awesome Ones” learn how to balance their online videos with their new identities as Bakugan Battlers. They quickly catch on to the responsibilities that come from being caretakers of such powerful creations. The update works for these new times. Each episode contains two adventures although many of them are two-parters.

Bakugan Battle Planet caught on quick with Josie since she likes watching various YouTube channels and anime about kids with strange creatures. Here’s here review of Origin of Species and one of the new Bakugan toys.

The video is 1.78:1 anamorphic. The transfer brings out the detail in the new Bakugan. You can sense the updates to characters and creatures. The audio is Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo. The mix is fine for the kids making their videos and the big battles. The episodes are subtitled.

No bonus features.

Warner Home Video and Cartoon Network present Bakugan Battle Planet: Origin of Species. Rated: Unrated. Running Time: 286 minutes. Released: October 22, 2019.

Joe Corey is the writer and director of "Danger! Health Films" currently streaming on Night Flight and Amazon Prime. He's the author of "The Seven Secrets of Great Walmart People Greeters." This is the last how to get a job book you'll ever need. He was Associate Producer of the documentary "Moving Midway." He's worked as local crew on several reality shows including Candid Camera, American's Most Wanted, Extreme Makeover Home Edition and ESPN's Gaters. He's been featured on The Today Show and CBS's 48 Hours. Dom DeLuise once said, "Joe, you look like an axe murderer." He was in charge of research and programming at the Moving Image Archive.