Bakugan: Battle Planet

Bakugan: Battle Planet (爆 (ばく)丸 (がん)バトルプラネット, Bakugan Batoru Puranetto) is an American-Canadian-Japanese anime television series produced by Man of Action Entertainment, TMS Entertainment, Nelvana Enterprises and Spin Master Entertainment under the direction of Kazuya Ichikawa. The series acts as a reboot of the 2007–2012 anime series Bakugan Battle Brawlers.

Bakugan: Battle Planet
Japanese promotional image.
爆 (ばく)丸 (がん)バトルプラネット
(Bakugan Batoru Puranetto)
Anime television series
Directed byKazuya Ichikawa
Written byKazuhiko Inukai[1]
Music byVoodoo Highway (International)
Yasuharu Takanashi (Japan)[1]
StudioMan of Action Entertainment
TMS Entertainment
Nelvana Animation
Spin Master Entertainment
Licensed by
Original networkTV Tokyo
English network
Original run December 23, 2018 – January 19, 2020
Episodes50 (100 segments)[4]
Anime television series
Armored Alliance
Directed byKazuya Ichikawa
Written byKazuhiko Inukai
Music byVoodoo Highway (International)
Yasuharu Takanashi (Japan)
StudioMan of Action Entertainment
TMS Entertainment
Nelvana Animation
Spin Master Entertainment
Licensed by
English network
Original run February 16, 2020 – January 3, 2021
Episodes52 (104 segments)
Anime television series
Geogan Rising
Music byVoodoo Highway (International)
Yasuharu Takanashi (Japan)
StudioMan of Action Entertainment
TMS Entertainment
Nelvana Animation
Spin Master Entertainment
Licensed by
English network
Original run January 24, 2021 – present
Episodes26 (52 segments)[5]

The series launched in North America in December 2018 with a revamped toyline and a series of animated web-shorts following closely after. It later debuted in Japan in April 2019.

In October 2019, it was announced that the series has been renewed for a second season Bakugan: Armored Alliance (爆 (ばく)丸 (がん)アーマードアライアンス, Bakugan Āmādo Araiansu) which premiered on February 16, 2020 on Teletoon and aired on Cartoon Network on March 1, 2020.[6][7][8] It was released exclusively online in Japan on April 3, 2020.[9] The third season Bakugan: Geogan Rising started airing on January 24, 2021 on Teletoon in Canada.[10]

Plot

The series follows preteens Dan Kouzo, Shun Kazami, Wynton Styles, Lia Venegas, Ajit, and their dog Lightning. They are known as the "Awesome Ones" (later the “Awesome Brawlers”) and make videos on the website ViewTube. Eventually, they stumble across a race of battling biomechanical creatures called Bakugan. They soon befriend the Bakugan and begin to battle each other with them, all while defending their neighborhood from thugs who use the Bakugan for malicious purposes. They encounter many foes such as Philomena Dusk and the mysterious Magnus, bent on beating Dan in a Bakugan Battle to be the best brawler.

As the Awesome Ones continue to learn more about the Bakugan, they befriend the enigmatic billionaire Benton Dusk, Philomena's brother. Benton uncovers a mysterious underground world he dubs "The Maze", where the Bakugan are enhanced. When a Bakugan hunter named Strata kidnaps several Bakugan, a Bakugan named Phaedrus escapes and warns the Awesome Ones. They go to the Maze and rescue the others, but fall even deeper into it. As they try to make their way home, the Awesome Ones encounter a strange evil Bakugan named Tiko. Drago and the others find a powerful artifact called the Core Cell within the Maze and protect it from Tiko. However, when Drago is injured by the corrupting V Virus, he and Dan retreat into the Core Cell, and Tiko makes it inside. Drago is healed and experiences a power upgrade called a Bakugan Evolution. Drago evolves into Hyper Drago and defeats Tiko. The Awesome Ones then escape the Maze. Soon after, they learn that Magnus is working with Philomina, along with several other of their old rivals, as AAAnimus' publicity team, The Exit. In order to combat them, the Awesome Ones learn, one by one, to evolve their Bakugan without going inside the Core Cell. Eventually, they defeat the Exit and they are fired. Despite their efforts, AAAnimus learns that there are more Core Cells within the Maze, and they successfully extract one. They use it to take control of the Awesome Ones' primary Bakugan. Benton creates a plan to stop them. They break into AAAnimus' headquarters, and while Benton dismantles their network, the Awesome Ones act as decoys. The plan works, and they defeat Philomina. Benton informs the Awesome Ones of his plan to make all the Core Cells open-sourced, which sets them on an adventure around the world. However, even greater threats lurk in the shadows. Tiko survived his battle in the Core Cell, and hatches a plan of his own.

Development

News on a relaunch of the Bakugan property first broke in late 2015 through an investor presentation conducted by Spin Master.[11] Information on the project remained scarce until November 2017 when the company revealed that the new series would launch in 2018/2019.[12] Shortly after, it was discovered that Spin Master had filed a trademark for the name "Bakugan Battle Planet". The following January, Corus Entertainment confirmed its Nelvana subsidiary would again collaborate with TMS Entertainment on the animated series.[13]

In preparation for the relaunch, Spin Master filed patent infringement lawsuits against Alpha Group, GuangZhou Lingdong Creative Culture Technology and Mattel for allegedly violating Bakugan patents in their Screechers Wild, Eonster Hunter and Mecard toylines. Spin Master co-CEO Ronnen Harary stated that Bakugan would be reintroduced globally in 2019.[14][15]

In March 2018, Harary described the new animated series as utilizing an eleven-minute format.[16] This was done at the request of broadcast partner Cartoon Network, who felt the original's 22-minute episode runtime would not appeal to the current generation of kids. A decision to include more comedic elements was also made.[17] A promotional image for the reboot first surfaced in June 2018 through another Spin Master investor document.[18]

The company formally announced Bakugan Battle Planet on October 9, 2018. Spin Master revealed that the animated series would premiere the following December on Cartoon Network in the United States and Teletoon in Canada with the toys and online web-shorts following shortly after. Cartoon Network had also picked up the show for a 2019 launch in Latin America, EMEA, Australia and New Zealand. In Asia, the series would be distributed by TMS Entertainment with Takara Tomy handling the toyline.[19]

On October 16, 2019, it was announced that it was renewed for a second season titled Bakugan: Armored Alliance, which debuted in 2020.[20]

The third season Bakugan: Geogan Rising debuted in 2021.

Media

Animation
Main article: List of Bakugan: Battle Planet episodes

Like its predecessor, Bakugan: Battle Planet is an international co-production. The series is produced at TMS Entertainment with additional assistance from Nelvana Enterprises and Spin Master Entertainment. Kazuya Ichikawa directed the series. Kazuhiko Inukai as well as Man of Action Studios act as story editors. The episode scripts are primarily written in Japan, with American writers occasionally contributing.[2] The first season consists of 100 eleven-minute episodes that are also distributed as 50 twenty-two minutes.[21]

Bakugan Battle Planet debuted in the United States on Cartoon Network on December 23, 2018, with the first 20 episodes made available on the channel's video-on-demand services in the days prior. The series then had a five-day linear premiere event before settling into its regular slot on January 12, 2019. In Canada, the series launched on Teletoon on December 31, 2018 through a similar five-day premiere stunt before the show debuted in its regular slot on January 12, 2019. Reruns began airing on sister channel YTV on the 11th.[2] In the UK, the series premiered on Cartoon Network on 23 March 2019, with a free-to-air broadcast on Pop following on 2 September.[22][23] In Australia, the pay-TV premiere occurred on Cartoon Network on 6 April 2019 with a terrestrial broadcast on 9Go! beginning on 14 July.[24]

The first season launched in Japan on TV Tokyo and other TX Network stations on April 1, 2019.[1] The opening theme song is titled "Jounetsu Jamboree" (情熱ジャンボリー, Jōnetsu Janborī, "Passionate Jamboree") with the ending theme is titled "Be my story", both songs performed by HiHi Jets.[25] The Japanese version also features an entirely different musical score composed by Yasuharu Takanashi.[1]

Alongside the television series, Spin Master launched a series of animated web-shorts called Bakugan: Beyond the Brawl on YouTube. They feature the Bakugan creatures in comedic situations.

Game

Spin Master has launched a new tabletop game that mixes the traditional transforming Bakugan marbles with a full-fledged trading card game. Co-designed by Justin Gary, the game is intended to appeal to both younger audiences and those wanting a competitive scene.[26]

The game launched in January 2019 in Canada and the United States, with additional markets set throughout the rest of the year.[19][27]

Video games

In December 2018, Spin Master launched the Bakugan Battle Hub app for iOS and Android devices. It offers character profiles, videos and a simplified version of the tabletop game.[28]

On July 10, 2020, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment announced the Bakugan: Champions of Vestroia action role-playing game. Developed by WayForward, it is scheduled to be released exclusively on the Nintendo Switch in North America on November 3, 2020.[29]

References
  1. "「爆丸」新シリーズ「爆丸バトルプラネット」が4月開始！主人公・ダン役に高橋李依". Natalie. February 27, 2019. Retrieved February 26, 2019.
  2. "Bakugan: Battle Planet to debut on Teletoon on December 31st, YTV in January". WordPress. 2018-12-19. Retrieved 2019-01-02.
  3. "Bakugan Battle Planet". YTV. Archived from the original on 2019-03-27. Retrieved 2019-01-02.
  4. "Bakugan Battle Planet Schedule". Zap2It. December 23, 2018. Retrieved December 24, 2018.
  5. https://archive.fo/8gNL8
  6. Hodgkins, Crystalyn (November 23, 2019). "Bakugan: Battle Planet Anime Gets 2nd Season in 2020". Anime News Network. Retrieved March 7, 2020.
  7. "Bakugan: Armored Alliance debuts this February on Teletoon". I Miss Bionix. January 30, 2020. Retrieved March 7, 2020.
  8. Mateo, Alex (February 28, 2020). "Bakugan: Armored Alliance Anime Premieres on Cartoon Network on March 1". Anime News Network. Retrieved March 7, 2020.
  9. Hodgkins, Crystalyn (March 6, 2020). "Bakugan: Armored Alliance Anime Debuts in Japan on April 3". Anime News Network. Retrieved March 7, 2020.
  10. Milligan, Mercedes (January 21, 2021). "A New Season of Brawling Begins in 'Bakugan: Geogan Rising'". Animation Magazine. Retrieved January 24, 2021.
  11. Ressler, Karen (December 11, 2015). "Spin Master Plans New Bakugan Battle Brawlers Project". Anime News Network. Retrieved January 14, 2019.
  12. Baker, Bayleigh (November 29, 2017). "New Bakugan TV Series Planned for 2018 or 2019". Anime News Network. Retrieved January 14, 2019.
  13. "Nelvana boards new Bakugan, Hotel Transylvania season 2". ToonBarn. January 12, 2018. Retrieved January 14, 2019.
  14. "Spin Master sues Alpha Group for patent infringement relating to award-winning Bakugan toys" (Press release). Toronto: Spin Master. PR Newswire. February 12, 2018. Retrieved January 14, 2019.
  15. "Spin Master sues Mattel for patent infringement on patents relating to award-winning Bakugan® toy" (Press release). Toronto: Spin Master. PR Newswire. April 25, 2018. Retrieved January 14, 2019.
  16. "New Bakugan due out in 2019, set for 11-minute episodes". ToonBarn. March 23, 2018. Retrieved January 14, 2019.
  17. "Odds & Ends: Ocean rides Korean wave, Beyblade reruns, Bakugan bust". I Miss Bionix. December 5, 2018. Retrieved January 14, 2019.
  18. "Odds & Ends: Bakugan reboot gets first image, Yu-Gi-Oh Arc-V ends, Buddyfight Ace/Yo-Kai Watch dubs". I Miss Bionix. June 20, 2018. Retrieved January 14, 2019.
  19. "Spin Master Announces the Global Relaunch of "BAKUGAN" In Partnership with Cartoon Network, TMS Entertainment and Nelvana Limited" (Press release). Toronto: Spin Master. PR Newswire. October 9, 2018. Retrieved January 14, 2019.
  20. Milligan, Mercedes (15 October 2019). "MIP Bytes: Chapman Grows 'Farmer Mars,' 'Tuzki' Takes Off & Much More". Animation Magazine. TV News. Retrieved October 17, 2019.
  21. Whittingham, Clive (October 13, 2018). "Spin Master toon trio lands in Cannes". C21 Media. Retrieved January 14, 2019.
  22. "Bakugan: Battle Planet Premieres On Cartoon Network UK On 23rd March". RegularCapital: Cartoon Network International News. Retrieved 25 February 2019.
  23. Emsen, Scott (August 30, 2019). "Bakugan: Battle Planet to Start Broadcasting on POP! Next Week". AnimeBlurayUK. Retrieved October 12, 2019.
  24. "Australia's 9Go! adds new Bakugan, Mega Man". ToonBarn. July 13, 2019. Retrieved October 12, 2019.
  25. "HiHi Jets Perform TV Anime Bakugan: Battle Planet's OP & ED Themes". Moshi Moshi Nippon. March 8, 2019. Retrieved April 16, 2019.
  26. Asarch, Steven (January 9, 2019). "'BAKUGAN BATTLE PLANET' REINVENTS THE PLASTIC SPRING-LOADED MARBLES". Newsweek. Retrieved January 14, 2019.
  27. "Spin Master Introduces a New Generation of Kids to Bakugan on the 10th Anniversary of the Global Battling Phenomenon" (Press release). Toronto: Spin Master. PR Newswire. December 20, 2018. Retrieved January 14, 2019.
  28. "Bakugan Battle Planet starts brawling this weekend". ToonBarn. December 21, 2018. Retrieved January 14, 2019.
  29. Romano, Sal (July 10, 2020). "Bakugan: Champions of Vestroia announced for Switch". Gematsu. Retrieved July 10, 2020.
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