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cartermarcian 4 years
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4Kids Korner - Season 2 - Episode 3
I'm a bit late this week because I got caught up with work and school-related dread, but now I'm back to bring you more 4Kids products! This week we have an epic trifepic: Winx Club Magazine Issue one - the castle, Kirby Right Back at Ya - Ice Kirby (DVDouble-Shot) and Kirby Right Back at Ya - Kirby Comes to Cappy Town!
Let's start by getting the smallest one out of the way. Here's Kirby Right Back at Ya - Ice Kirby (2005)
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There's something I oddly like about DVDouble-Shot. Starting In 2005, the DVDouble-Shot line was introduced featuring two-Episode DVDs of 4Kids most profitable shows as a way of promoting 4Kids TV. As for the consumer, the main selling point is that you could buy them for a low price, collect and possibly trade them with your friends, kind of like Pok茅mon cards. I like the idea of one kid saying to the other on the playground, "hey, wanna trade your Ninja Turtles for my YuGiOh?" How successful they were, I have no idea, but they're fun and easy to review on this show. Given their small portion size, practically every DVDouble-Shot is the same. This one had the episodes "The Chill Factor" and "DeDeDe's Snow Job," in accordance with the ice theme of the disc. It also features assorted promos for then-current and upcoming 4Kids shows identical to those seen in the 4Kids TV September demo disc (which I will hopefully review some time in the future.) Before we move on, though there's one little thing I want to point out about the box art. You can't see it in the photos I've provided, but the ice monster on the cover is far more pixelated than Kirby, if you look closely at it, so it appears to me that they lifted it right out of the episode and placed it on the cover. I guess that's just what happens when no official art of a character exists for your graphic designers to use...
Now that we have that one out of the way, let's talk about the stars of today's episode, which actually turned out to have much more historical value than most of the other stuff in my collection. So say hello to the Winx Club Magazine Premiere Issue, The Castle (2005)
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This is a very special addition to my collection not only because it's part of what I consider to be 4Kids' absolute peak year, but since the book was presumably printed in January of 2005, it means this was one of the first pieces of of merchandise to feature the now-famous 4Kids TV logo. Heck it might have even been printed before then. As for the book itself, it's quite cute as it features everything an 8-11 year old girl wanting to be a hip and trendy 2000s teenager could want, and contains surprisingly few ads for Winx Club merch. And even more adorable, is the publisher's attempts to fit that description using words like "slammin'" in sentences. I call it a magazine, but it's really more dedicated to the comic included, "The Castle," which I would have read, but I needed to get some sleep the day I read it, so I skimmed the book's numerous activities, instead. But for those still interested, the comic is a retelling of Bloom's enrollment in Alfea, with original art that's pretty accurate to the actual show. But the book's real allure is the activities. Like the free trading card you'll see in the photo above. It even comes with a full-page description of what a trading card game is, making reference to YuGiOh in the process, which I thought was funny since 4Kids owned that, and also because it heavily implies that only boys play YuGiOh when the show itself has many female duelists. After that, you have a faux interview with Bloom taken from the perspective of a fellow Alfea Student. What I remember most clearly about that, is that Bloom says she listens to top 40's, which made me think "man, she's got some trash music taste," even though I, myself have said on multiple occasions off of tumblr that I listen to basically everything. Also included on the magazine are a paper fortune-telling toy, a best friend diary which includes a "secret crush" slot to fill in, a page for writing down predictions about the reader's future, and even a personality test which assigns your traits to a type of flower, as suggested by Flora on the page. The funny thing about this is that one question asks for the reader's favorite kind of movie, and one of the options is "anime everything," which I thought was funny since anime was just starting to get big at that time in America, and the online anime community was just starting to grow. Finally, on the last page, probably the most creative of all, is a step-by-step slumber party plan by Musa, which details inviting everyone over, having them show up dressed as their favorite popstar (like Brittany Spears, for example) and bring their favorite CD from said popstar, then taking turns playing them and talking about them. It sounds quite fun, and it made me smile imagining all the little kids who tried this. That's exactly what I think is awesome about children's entertainment: it makes them happy and builds their imagination. So that's the Winx Club Magazine, a really good buy, but I must admit they used the same art of the girls more than once on a few occasions, and also wrote in a plot hole in the interview with Bloom, where she says she discovered her powers as a child, but in the show she unlocks them at her current age when saving Stella from the first monsters of the series. So it may have a couple flukes, but still quite enjoyable.
And last, but never least, it's time for Kirby Right Back at Ya: Kirby Comes to Dream Land (2002)
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This one is also historically significant for two reasons. One is that it was the very first release of one of the more famous non-Pok茅mon/YuGiOh shows 4Kids had to offer, but it also played a part in promoting the very launch of the Fox Box, as you'll see on the box art. This disc may only have the first three episodes of the show, but it super makes up for it with a plethora of special features, more than any of the DVDs I currently own, and that they strangely enough don't tell you about on the box. And speaking of the box, though you might not see it, the episode descriptions on the back are written entirely in comic sans. Yeah, it's clear to see 4Kids wasn't quite as sharp as they would be in the next few years... and the DVD menus are also written entirely in this font. But that doesn't take away from the outstanding value. much like the Fright to the Finish DVD, this one's special features are split between two menus. For this one, there's "More Kirby" and "Added Attractions," which is the far superior one, but more on that in a minute. The More Kirby menu features a character gallary telling you about the main cast, set to music from the show. Then there's "Kirbyoke," which is there to teach the kids the words to the theme song. And finally, we have a preview for the next DVD in the series, which at that point hadn't a proper name, so Mike Pollock's voice just refers to it as "Kirby Right Back at Ya Volume 2." Then, in the "Added Attractions" menu, we have a promo for Cubix - Robots for Everyone's first DVD release, a short promo for the newly-launched FoxBox.TV website, and the star of this review by far, "What's Inside The Fox Box?!" This incredible 14 minute long promo (which you can find on Youtube, by the way,) previews every single show in the Fox Box's initial lineup as a way of hyping up the network for it's September 2002 launch. Well, kind of... You see, 4Kids made multi-minute promos for their own productions, complete with plot synopses by Mike Pollock and others and theme songs for the shows. Meanwhile, Stargate Infinity, a third-party show, only got a promo featuring still images of the main cast, a paper-thin explanation of the plot and no opening, all clocking in at under a minute. So, yeah, pretty lame move on 4Kids part, but at least we get to see HD footage of 4Kids lost Ultraman Tiga dub. Ultimately, it's a really fun promo from 4Kids' very beginnings as a dedicated children's entertainment company, even though it uses some uncut clips of guns in Fighting Foodons since the dub wasn't finished at that point. One last thing to point out: the promo for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (which hadn't even started production at the time,) features an unused theme song demo for the series which also made it's way onto the illusive Fox Box CD. So there you have it, one of the DVDs that started it all. Thanks for reading about it, as well as my other items this week. I will be back with more next week, so hang in there, and I'll see you all next time. Take care!
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cartermarcian 4 years
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4Kids Korner - Season 2 - Episode 2
Welcome back, everyone! Today we have two special items to showcase: Paleo Patrol Raphael (2006) and the G.I. Joe Sigma 6 comic book volume 1 (2006).
Let's start with Sigma 6, since I've had that one longer
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Among books based on 4Kids shows, this one is more unique as it features original stories written for the book. Each mini-story stars one of the G.I. Joes and one of Cobra's elites. For instance, the fourth story is about Tunnel Rat infiltrating a Cobra base and facing off against Overkill. There are 6 stories in all, giving each of the original 6 field agents a day in the sun. I only have one minor complaint, and that's that there's blood visible in one panel coming from a mouth. Take that away and you've got a perfect Sigma 6 book.One thing I liked about that same story, though, is how they represented Spirit's family. You see, in the show, Spirit is portrayed as the Native American stereotype known as the "peaceful savage," meaning he's at one with nature and serenity. He also wears a headband and war paint, as well as tribal-looking tattoos on his arms. In his story of the book, however, hemoces the war paint and wears regular clothes to go to a family reunion. All of his family members are normal people and act like normal people, free of the same racial stereotype, and I think that's a step in the right direction. Overall, this is a fun book that I'm glad I bought. There are more out there, too, so I'm gonna get to work finding them.
Next up we have the star of today's episode, Paleo Patrol Raphael!
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Thanks to power rangers, I've gained a bit of interest in dinosaurs as a children's entertainment icon. That's one major reason I bought this awesome figure. The first thing to mention is that before even opening it, you'll see that it has a sticker advertising the TMNT 100th Episode, which had it's own sweepstakes attached, as you'll see on the sticker to the left, so already this toy is a piece of history. Second, is the figure itself. Raph's livin' it up in a Dino-hyde armored vest, complete with a T-Rex jaw around his neck for additional awesomeness. He comes with three prehistoric weapons: petrified wood sais, a staff with two more said made of bone marrow on either end, and two "sure-fire shurikens," because I guess they ran out of ideas for that one, ha! And finally, there's the demo dvd you can see in the photo on the left, said to contain 1 of 2 "unaired episodes," which isn't actually true since promos for the episodes in question could be found on Youtube at one point. Still, that doesn't make them bad additions to the toy package. Along with the episode, it the disc comes with "4Kids TV previews" and "toys information." The 4Kids TV previews only includes two promos: one for the TMNT series as a whole, and one for the DVD "Mutants and Monsters." The toys information includes two commercials for the entire Paleo Patrol line, and the Shell Kickers series of figures. Really fun commercials, and they give me ideas on what to buy next, lol. Overall, this is a purchase that just radiates kid-energy for me, and that's it's greatest feature hands down. Great product, will add more of the line DOWN the line. Heh, see what I did there?
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cartermarcian 4 years
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4Kids Korner - Season 2 - Episode 1
Welcome everybody, to the very first episode of 4Kids Korner season two! To celebrate this 2 cool episode I have three products that came in 2 packages for you 2day.
First, is a big childhood favorite of the library. Your wish is coming true, because here comes Jirachi Wish Maker! (2004)
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I first saw this when we checked it out of the library when I was a kid. I was big into Pokemon movies back then, so I loved it. However, after watching it again all grown up, I must say, I never realized how boring it is. Maybe it isn't the biggest snooze fest ever, but practically nothing happens until the climax, it's just the Pokemon trainers hanging out with Butler and Jirachi until that, and the seven days they do that go by incredibly fast. Also, team Rocket only had a very minor role in this movie. However, that isn't say that it doesn't have good aspects, such as the fantastic animation and music. My favorite part of the movie has to be the end credits, thanks to the amazing song, "Make a Wish," which has a very impressive Japanese verse which the singer switches into seamlessly and performs perfectly. Speaking of Japanese, let's talk about the special features. Included is a short message from the film's director, talking about his trip to Canada for inspiration on his next Pokemon films. Next is a music video for the aforementioned "Make a Wish," this one being entirely in Japanese. Next is something called "original artwork." I don't see what's so special about this one, since it's merely a collection of stills from the movie, not production art like you'd think. Speaking of art, there's also a Pok茅mon artwork gallery, featuring prominent Pok茅mon from the movie. A "Set-Top Trivia Game" that I disn't get a chance to play, unfortunately. Finally, we have the main attraction of the special features: the exclusive short film "Gotta Dance!" Now, that one is something else, alright. It's by far the cringiest Pokemon short I have ever seen. Even at 12 years old I felt embarassed watching it in it's energetic absurdity. Simply put, it involves Meowth using a "Magical Dancing Pokebattan" to try and make Pokemon dance against their will in a big opening ceremony for the boss at Team Rocket's new base. What insues is so silly it's actually hard to watch. Though my memory could be playing tricks on me, since I haven't seen it in 6 years. In conclusion, although Jirachi may be my favorite Pokemon, this is not my favorite Pok茅mon movie. But at least I liked it when I was a kid. So much, in fact, that I ended up writing an anthro Pok茅mon fanfic called "Saving Jirachi," which is even clingier than Gotta Dance. I also made a propoganda comic where a Pok茅mon trainer finds and rejects three random legendry Pok茅mon before finding Jirachi and exclaiming "MY LIFE IS COMPLETE!!"
But enough of my distant past, let's talk about something totally new and awesome. Get ready for not one, but TWO G.I. Joe Sigma 6 Battle Tubes! (2006)
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These are the first Sigma 6 toys I'm adding to the collection, and I sure got a bang for my buck. included in each tube is three small posable action figures (which I can't open without wrecking the packaging, unfortunately.) in tube 1 is a very odd-looking Snake Eyes, A dot-eyed Heavy Duty (my favorite G.I. Joe character) with laser knives, and one miscolored B.A.T. unit (in the show they're gray but this figure is blue, but that doesn't mean it doesn't look good.) The second tube caries Pyro with a flamethrower and handgrenades, another weirdly posed Snake Eyes wielding a throwing star, and a soldier who I think is supposed to be Duke based on the colors, but it's hard to tell since I haven't seen him in this outfit in the show. Since I can't play with them without breaking the seal, there isn't a whole lot I can say about them. I guess you can never expect minifigures like these to be of incredible quality, but that doesn't mean I don't like them. They make a nice addition to my bookshelf, and that's good enough for me.
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cartermarcian 4 years
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4Kids Korner - Episode 13 - Season Finale
Well, my friends, we did it. We made it to 13 episodes - a whole season - of 4Kids Korner. To celebrate this momentous occasion, I have not one, nor two, but THREE awesome items that I want to share with you before we kick off the new fall season!
And let's bring out our first item. It's number 3 on our top 3, give it up for Sonic X: The Chaos and Shadow Sagas (2008)
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This nifty DVD was released the same year that 4Kids brought Sonic X back to 4Kids TV as part of their Game Station soft reboot. It has 12 episodes: 6 for Chaos saga and 6 for Shadow saga. There isn't oodles to say about this one, since it's pretty standard for 4Kids Home Video. It has an animated home menu, and previews for other 4Kids shows, most of them YuGiOh related. It's not much, but it's honest work.
And speaking of YuGiOh, let's introduce number 2 on the fabulous list. Put your hands together for YuGiOh the Movie: Pyramid of Light (2004)
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(I'd show you more photos, but tumblr only allows 10)
This is a marvel of a release compared to the others in my collection. First of all, the movie is great, even if there was a scene of Pegasus drinking red wine instead of juice, and also most of the movie takes place In one location. But this disc doesn't have just a movie, it also comes with two music videos: "One Card Short" and "Step Up," both great songs! Also included is an interactive memory game called the "YuGiOh Monster Challenge" which comes with it's own tutorial. The tutorial's voice over was done on a strangely poor quality microphone, but it was still cool. So in short, even though YuGiOh only got one theatrical movie, it was a pretty darn good one.
Finally, we have number 1 on the list, and that might very well be because of it's incredible worth. Behold, the Dinosaur King Deluxe Dino Holder! (2008)
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I've had my eyes on this baby for a long time. All the offers on amazon and ebay are $600+ But I got lucky and found this one for 191 bucks. It was a hard decision, but I'm glad I got it becausr it's got a lot to offer compared with the other toys I've gotten so far. It looks just like the Dino Holders in the show. It comes with three dinosaur cards: Stegosaurus, Velociraptor, and Barytonyx. When you swipe them through the lightning symbol you can hear Max yell "Dino Slash" as well as a universal dinosaur roar. It features other voice clips, too. With just a push of the buttons above the sensor you'll get more fun phrases from the show. Plus, if you press the maroon button next to the flip screen, a tray pops out to hold your cards with (hence the name, Dino Holder.) That's all the toy itself has to offer, but if you look on the back you'll find some things that are entertaining in a different kind of way... first of all is the very badly overlapping art of Max, Rex and Zoe. Second, is the official seal on the back that indicates this is an "officially licensed Dinosaur KOMG product," because 4Kids was that serious about making this the new pokemon. One last thing I thought was cool was that on the back is a short list of the different dinosaur and character minifigures available. Unfortunately, Chomp wasn't one of them, and that was lame because that little guy is the best part of the whole show, man. But despite this, my claim still stands, this is a great addition to my collection, and a nice way to end season 1 of 4Kids Korner. Thanks for sticking around all this time, everybody, it's so nice to get to share my expensive interests with you all. Keep on smiling and I'll be back in two weeks with the first episode of season 2 with Pokemon: Jirachi Wish Maker and two G.I. Joe hero tubes filled with righteous minifigures for everyone. See ya then!
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cartermarcian 4 years
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4Kids Korner - Season 1 - Episode 12
Welcome back to the Korner, everyone. Today, I have only one item for you, and it's unique to say the least. Let's get on with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Season 3 (2007?)
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So, I've been using unofficial uploads of TMNT to watch the series through, and I recently decided to stop being a thief and buy an official box set. I'm definitely satisfied having all of Season 3's episodes to watch on the big screen, but it's of rather questionable quality once you pop it into the player. As you can see, the box and discs look great, but the DVD menu is awful. Like, it's all the episodes lined up over what appears to be a scan of the box art, and the icons and text look stock in appearence. Now, there have been official DVDs with generic-looking assets, just look at the Legi Batman movie's home release, but this looks really cheap. Add to that the fact that that the episodes themselves don't exactly look DVD quality, and I'm now looking into whether this is a bootleg or not. I checked a list of official releases for the 2003 series and could not find this DVD on the list, at least not in the 2007 section, which is when this was made according to the box. Overall, I'll still watch it, but to anyone looking for this DVD, I say buyer beware. However, I suppose you could say this benefits me as it could help me decide Whether or not to include bootlegs in my collection. I was browsing Etsy once and found a (clearly bootleg) DVD containing every episode of Mew Mew Power in both 4Kids and Original. Sure it isn't an official 4Kids product, but the episodes included definitely are. I can tell you this, though; if I do buy any more bootlegs in the future, then they won't be eligible for review on my blog.
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cartermarcian 4 years
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4Kids Korner - Season 1 - Episode 11
This is going yo be a short one, but a sweet one, so let's dig into this week's two items!
First off is Dinosaur King: Downtown Showdown (2009)
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I fairly decent DVD. It's not much on bonus features but it's one bonus feature is an HD promo from 4Kids TV's The Game Station, so that's always a plus. All in all, I think this DVD's strongest asset is it's artwork. I really like the look of the box art and the inside also has a cool cityscape background. It has a good looking main menu, too, which matches the boxart's style. Overall, I'd call this a worthwhile purchase.
Next up is a very special addition to the collection. Put your hands together for Kirby Right Back At Ya!: Fright to the Finish! (2005)
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This DVD was one of my first exposures to 4Kids. It's lost now but I think my parents gave me another RBAT DVD for Christmas or something since we liked this one so much. We found it in a Redbox at Sheetz one day when we were kids, and it shaped my imagination when it came to the Kirby franchise for a long time.
As for the DVD itself, it's a very good one in my opinion. It sports the sacred 4Kids TV and 4Kids Home Video logos, and also features the sacred logo animation from 2005 at the beginning. Before you can access the main menu, there's just one trailer, and it's for One Piece. Don't ask me how, but somehow the picture quality on that promo is better than the official 4Kids One Piece DVDs that I own, it was really quite breathtaking. Before starting the movie I headed on over to the special features. This DVD actually has two special features sets: Kirby Specials and 4Kids specials as they are called on the main menu. The 4Kids specials are a reel of show promos for Sonic X, Winx Club, and a few others. It's not often that general promos for a series are included on 4Kids DVDs, usually the trailers just advertise upcoming home releases. That and the fact that the reel is called "4Kids specials" may be due to the fact that this DVD was originally released as the grand prize of the Kirby's Rainbow On The Go Sweepstakes, which was held live on the air in July of 2005. On the other side of the tracks, in Kirby specials, we have the bonus episode "Hour of the Wolfrath" (which is good, since the movie lacks the theme song,) and two promotional Music videos for the show: "What's Cookin' on Kirby" and "If you Can't Beat 'Em, Eat 'Em," the later of which features Eric Stuart doing an Elvis impersonation. Finally, I just want to say that movie is just as good as I remember it, and it actually is a full-length movie not comprised of episodes. So in the end, this is a momentous occasion for the show, and I'm glad I'be secured this DVD!
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cartermarcian 4 years
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4Kids Korner - Season 1, Episode 10
Sorry I've been gone awhile. The fall semester just started back up so it's gonna be a little harder to post regular episodes, but I'll do what I can.
This week, we have 2 new items: Cubix's Donut Disaster (2002) and Pikachu's Winter Vacation (2004)
Just because I want to save the best for last, let's start with Cubix
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I gotta say, I wasn't expecting much out of this one. All I was trying to do was to get my miscellaneous media addition out of the way, but this ended up being a lot better than the last two easy reader books I added to the collection. The first two: Pokemon in Disguise and I Challenge You, both were comprised of stills from their respective shows and bore no mention of 4Kids. This book, on the other hand, comes with some really nice original renderings of the characters on each page and features the 4Kids logo on the back, so it's got that going for it. I'm no avid reader of easy reader books, but when I do read them, I enjoy it. The simple, cute story of this one reminds me of the old Spongebob easy reader books that I read when I was a little dude. Overall, nice addition to my collection, albeit without very much replay value.
Next up is a very special DVD in my life. It may not be Christmas yet, but that didn't stop me from ordering the one, the only, the awesome Pok茅mon special: Pikachu's Winter Vacation DVD!
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Back before the days of all points broadband, and before I even understood 4Kids, it was always a joy to rent this DVD from the local library when I was young, especially around the holidays. When I review DVDs, I usually focus on the bonus content and design of the disc rather than the episodes included, but I just want to say that both Winter Vacations have awesome theme songs, and are just great in general. I actually remember taking this dvd to my grandma's house once and doing an improv voice-over narration of the fourth story included: Stantler's Little Helpers. I don't remember much of how it went, but I do recall it starting with the typical "t'was the night before Christmas" intro. I also remember voicing Vulpix in the scene where she finds berries to ease Stanrler's fever. In the best Vulpix voice I could muster as an 8 year old whose voice hadn't broken yet, I said "I found some! I found some!" As Vulpix jumped up and down to let the others know. This DVD may not have any special features, but it's one great buy and I'm glad it's mine forever
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cartermarcian 4 years
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4Kids Korner - Episode 10
Hey, everybody, what's up!? We're coming at you live to show you not one, not two, but THREE awesome items from 4Kids' hayday!
Let's start with a toy that will make this a truly MAGICAL experience, get ready for the Magical DoReMi Witchling Reanne doll!
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This piece of history is especially notable for two reasons. First, is that it was part the first wave of MDRM merchandise that 4Kids has such high hopes for. I've watched half of the show so far, and J can totally see why 4Kids saw such great potential in it. Unfortunately, things didn't pan out the way they'd hoped, and ratings dipped so badly that it got downgraded to being an online exclusive on WWW.4Kids.TV, but the toys are here to stay! As seen in the photo above, Reanne comes with her broom, her wandler, her witchling costume and her school clothes. I have yet to change her clothes or take anything other than the dvd out of the box, because as was made painfully obvious in my unboxing of my Zolo figure is that opening the box leads to irreversible damage if you're not careful. So that leaves me with not much else to say other than her wandler doesn't quite look like it does in the show. It does resemble the wand-a-whirl, but this was one of the first toys made for Magical DoReMi, made in 2005, so it actually being the wand-a-whirl is unlikely.
This all by itself is awesome enough, but as a bonus, it also comes with one of the only (if not THE only) DVD release of Magical DoReMi's 4Kids dub
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The fact that is says "25 minute episode" as opposed to the 4Kids standard 20 made me think that they placed episodes together to make a more effective introductory episode, but it turns out it was just episode 4. Still, it's a great episode to include for the kids of 2005 to get a taste of the show. And what makes it even better to me is that it opens with the 2005 4Kids logo animation before the episode. Also, it has a menu, which I was thinking it wouldn't have since a certain G.I. Joe Sigma 6 demo disc did not. Aside from the episode, this demo disc also features web links, which I can't use as intended because we don't own an old enough computer, which is also the case with the 4Kids $4000 4tune 4mula dvd which I also own, (more on that in season two.)
Guys, Halloween may be two months away, but that doesn't mean we can't celebrate now thanks to the Sonic X: Sonic's Scream Test DVD!
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Real great DVD here, the best kind as far as I'm concerned. It's got ads for other 4Kids shows both on the disc and in a pamphlet included, as you see above. The only problem I have is that they included ads for their uncut Shaman King and YuGiOh releases, which I think was a bad idea since any parent could find out about the uncut versions and get angry, and aside from that, I just prefer the edited versions, to be honest. It's got some great episodes on here from the first season of Sonic X, ones that are very special to me because, fun fact, this is one of the first 4Kids DVDs I ever watched. I used to watch a lot of Sonic X on Toonzai, so we picked this one up from a Redbox one day. I only remember watching the first episode included, but I still liked it. I'd love to talk about it more, but I don't think thers is anymore to talk about regarding this DVD, so I'll just sign off for now.
Coming up next: A Winter Holiday classic that I used to watch over and over after renting it from the library as a kid. And still to come, the 4Kids Korner season 1 finale, featuring one of the greatest products ever created by 4Kids Entertainment: the 4Kids $4000 4tune 4mula Demo DVD from 2005!!!
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cartermarcian 4 years
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4Kids Korner - Episode 9
This week I have only one item to show you. It's the Winx Club: The Power Of Dragon Fire DVD (2005)
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This is my fourth DVD in the collection to bear the 4Kids Home Video logo. One thing I like about it is that the back sports the message. "Watch 4K!DS TV - Catch Winx Club every weekend!" A true piece of history, right here. Unfortunately, this DVD doesn't have any special features or previews, but it does have some unique features to make up for it. In the pictures above, if you look, you'll see that this DVD comes with a unique introductory booklet which briefly introduces characters that are significant to the disc's 6 episodes. It also gives plot descriptions for the episodes. Also seen below are URLs for 4Kids' exclusive Winx Club website: Winxclub.tv. So that's another piece of history preserved By this DVD.
Before I go, I want to make an announcement. I've decided to turn my attention to buying singular DVD releases of Dragon Ball Z's Saban dub, another popular Saturday Morning dub that I want to complete my collection of. From here on out I will be ordering only one it to add to the collection per week instead of two. Have a good day, and I'll see you guys next time!
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cartermarcian 4 years
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4Kids Korner - Episode 8
Hey guys, sorry I'm late, I was busy this weekend, but now I'm back to bring you some really cool items that late so good, they came in a *package deal* (only the real fans will get the joke.
So, starting things off is my very first toy in the collection: the Rononoa Zolo Pi-ripz action figure!
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This figure, though the box says it hit stores in 2006, was actually manufactured in 2005 according to the instruction manual. I had a fun time carefully removing it from the box and putting it together. Zolo comes with his three swords, their respective holders (Which the toy swords don't actually fit in) a detachable coat and a rip cord which you are supposed to use to wind him up, but twisting him around with your hands works just fine. The toy's main feature is being able to spin around in circles from the waist up while swinging his swords around like a madman. Unfortunately, he can't stand up on his own, but he's still fun to pose as long as you have something to prop him up against.
And what's even cooler is the demo DVD that comes with it! The first thing to note about it is that it features an unused design for Sanji's lollipop. In early promotional art as well as the version of the Japanese opening, "We Are" made for a licensing expo in 2004, Sanji can be seen with a slightly more stylized lollipop which features Three blue stripes around the stick. I'm guessing the reason this was changed in the final cut was the original lollipop would take longer to draw. But still, it's cool to see it whenever it just so happened To slip through the cracks, and a clip included on the disc features it as well.
Speakinh of which, let's get to the meat of the disc. One Piece: The Hunt Begins features multiple videos to whet young viewers' appetites for the full show on TV. First of all is a video telling Gold Roger's history and Luffy's goal to find One Piece, which also includes the theme song. (fun fact: it's also the video I used to introduce my little brother to the show before we watched it together.) Next comes a set of videos labeled as "The Heroes." It includes introductory videos for Luffy, Sanji and Zolo (I.E. The straw hats who recieved action figures.) Each video explains the character's personality, their abilites, and their signature dreams. (Also included in Sanji's video is a short clip from the show which features an alternate edit for lollipop, whose stick appears larger and wider in the clip. Immediately after "The Heroes" is "The Villains" which introduces every villain introduced between episode 2 to episode 30 (Captain Morgan to Arlomg) in the same fashion as the heroes. Then comes music videos for the 4Kids One Piece songs "You Can't Turn The Tide" and "Be A Pirate" which both include footage from sagas that were never dubbed by 4Kids. Speaking of undubbed footage, up next is "Top 5 Battles Of One Piece," a set of condensed battles from the show that had been covered up to the production of the DVD. These include Luffy VS Buggy, Zolo VS Mohawk, Zolo VS the Meowban Brothers, Luffy VS Kuro, and Luffy VS Along, which interestingly includes a piece of footage that was cut from the fight for time, and dubbed for the demo disc by putting voice recordings and music from other episodes over the footage. Finally, there's "Luffy's Gum Gum Techniques," five different compilations of Luffy using his Gum Gum attacks. These include Gum Gum Blast, Gum Gum Whip, Gum Gum Rapid Fire, Gum Gum Balloon, and Gum Gum Rocket. Included in the Gum Gum Balloon compilation is another piece of cut footage dubbed in the same fashion as the Arlong video mentioned before. Also, a long version of the credits for the show is included, which features the 2005 4Kids TV logo animation, which I love.
Man! That was a lot! But we're not done yet. Next up is Shaman King: Master Of Spirits for the Game Boy Advance (2004)
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I haven't played the game much since it arrived late, but what I've experienced is pretty cool. Theres a ton of stages to unlock, which all branch out from each other on the world map as you progress. A lot of these stages involve abilities you must collect over the course of the game in order to progress. One feature I really like, gameplay wise, is the fact that you can collect a huge amount of special abilities by befriending various game-exclusive ghosts in each level. What makes this game really special, though, is that it features a whole slew of voice clips recorded at 4Kids using the show's voice cast. And let me tell you, they did a great job, this is a custom made game, after all.
That's all I've got for this episode. It was a big one, I know. But now you can relax until next time, when I reveal another toy with another Demo DVD.
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cartermarcian 4 years
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4Kids Korner Episode 7
Hey, guys! Sorry I'm so late, it's just that I recieved my latest item very late last week and I didn't have enough time to play it and review it. But now that I've played it I can give you my official 4Kids Korner review of F-Zero GP Legend for Game Boy Advance! (2004)
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I gotta say, this is a really cool game. It's kind of like Sonic Boom in that it's a game based on a tv show that's based on the same game series. This is the first F-Zero game I've ever played. Let me tell you, it's no Mario Kart. I had to learn some speed control and how to use my allotted boosters efficiently, and I definitely messsed up several times in doing so. The graphics look just like the show, which is especially cool in the game's cutscenes which are pretty much exactly like Legendary Starfy's cutscenes in that they advance by a string of short 2D animations advanced line-by-line with the A button. The only problem I have with the game is that it's Story mode is too short and too easy. You're only given 8ish stages land the final race is a pushover once you've got a hang of the controls. Besides story, there's also Grand Prix, which I tried out, and Zero Challenge, which I didn't try out. Zero Challenge is this game's special mission mode where you clear races given special objectives, which sounds fun. The last thing I want to mention is the music. The drums sound amazing, they got some great samples for those. And the rest of the soundfont sounds very similar to what you'd hear on old licensed games from the DS, which made me feel a little nostalgic.
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cartermarcian 4 years
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4Kids Korner, Episode 6.
We have two items up for review on this week's program: Sonic X: A Super Sonic Hero for Game Boy Advance Video and the G.I. Joe Sigma 6: First Strike DVD.
Let's start with Sonic X
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This is a really cool find that has more to offer than I was expecting. It has the first and second episodes of Sonic X which come with a main menu, scene selection, and event a staff credits x sex creep showing all the people responsible for putting the show on cartridge. While viewing the episodes you're given impressive control over the video with very quick rewind and fast forward, scene skipping and even screen brightness adjustment, this little guy can get it done! Two thumbs up for this outstanding item that I can't wait to collect more of.
And now, here's First Strike
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I gotta say, I never expected to be this disappointed with an item here on the show. But G.I. Joe was more like G.I. No this time around. The first let down was that there's no mention of 4Kids anywhere on the box even though the DVD was released in 2006. In fact, Hasbro had the AUDACITY to put THEIR Hasbro Studios logo on it and pass it off as their own. But don't worry, 4Kids was still credited at the end. However, there are a few small upsides that make this DVD a little better. For one, it's got a couple interesting special features including 4Kids TV promos for Sigma 6, and what else is concept art from the original production and a Storyboard animatic (with no sound.) The DVD had a few trailers, even though they weren't 4Kids, that I enjoyed since I haven't seen them in so long. I used to watch them on old Nickelodeon DVDs, and it was a nice walk down memory lane seeing them again. Among those trailers was one for a different G.I. Joe movie which wasn't even Sigma 6, the reason I mention this is because First Strike is actually The first five episodes of Sigma 6 welded together into a movie, and it includes an added scene with a flashback to that other movie tied into it. Speaking of additions, Duke and Scarlett's voice actors were changed after episode 5 in the show, so for this movie, the new actors went back and re-recorded all the previous actors' lines, so that was interesting, and shows that 4Kids put a little something into this DVD after all.
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cartermarcian 4 years
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4Kids Korner: Episode 5
This week we have two items: a novel based on YuGiOh GX and an Ultimate Muscle DVD
First, let's talk about YuGiOh GX: Shadow Spies
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This book, like the others, I's an adaption of an episode of a 4Kids TV show. This one was adapted by Tracy West, and I was delighted to find that he took a different approach than other adaptors, including screenshots from the episode in question as illustrations, which is good for me because I've never seen the episode. Overall it's a nice adaption that was well written. Even though there is no mention of 4Kids in it, it's still a treat to own.
Next is Ultimate Muscle: A Legend Reborn
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Oh man, now this is what I call a quality DVD! Before you even open the box you're met with the glorious Fox Box and old school 4Kids logos, and on the inside, pictured above, are awesome promotional images for other shows on the Fox Box lineup of 2004, which I always love to see because it's cool, and it gives me ideas on which video to buy next as an added bonus. But the actual disc is where the magic REALLY happens. Before you get to the menu, you get some assorted 4Kids promos, which I love to see, and once on the main menu, there are more waiting for you in the form of the "Added Attractions" box, including the "Fox Box Rox" promo. And there's even more cool stuff after that. You got a character bio set, which even includes a video all about Kid Muscle, and a series of short Ultimate Muscle promos called "Favorite Wrestler in the Universe" which are entertaining, even though their lack of music makes watching them kind of awkward. Top all that with some great episodes and you've got a real winner of a DVD, and a top-notch addition to my ever growing collection!
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cartermarcian 4 years
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Welcome to 4Kids Korner episode 5.
Today we have two video games to showcase for you. I accidentally broke my rule against buying from a single franchise twice in a row, but only because these two games are important for my collection. So let's start with One Piece: Grand Battle for Gamecube
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I unfortunately didn't get much time to play this game, or the other, but I'm gonna review it anyway. Grand Battle is an American exclusive game that came out in the 4Kids golden year of 2005. It features the same gameplay, graphics, music and voice clips that would later be featured in One Piece Grand Adventure a year later. This game does have some features that set it apart from it's successor. For instance, you can unlock every playable character to act as the game's announcer, and you can even set every Straw Hat to be the announcer at once, leading to some pretty entertaining interactions with each other over what the player is doing. The only thing I have a problem with is the arcade mode's voice acting. The 4Kids Dub of One Piece is notorious for having characters scream all the time. But in this game's arcade mode, everybody just talks without raising their voice in the slightest, leading to some pretty underwhelming line deliveries.
Next is Dinosaur King for the Nintendo DS
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This is the first item in my collection to come from the CW4Kids era, as indicated by the "as seen on the CW4Kids" emblem on the back. Dinosaur King came out just one year after 4Kids lost their rights to the Pokemon anime for good, and chances are they got Dinosaur King in an attempt to fill the void. Why? Because it's a huge Pokemon rip off. The anime rips of the Pokemon anime, while this game rips off the Pokemon games. I'm not saying that makes it a bad game, but, I mean, come on, they copied Zubat Caves of all things! I'll tell you something they didn't copy, though: the characters from the show. Max has a different face and a bandage over his nose. Chomp doesn't have a baby form like in the show, which is just disappointing because I love baby Chomp to death, for real. Zoe and Ursula wear different outfits with the same color schemes as their TV counterparts. Lastly, the alpha droids speak independently and can form full sentence, unlike in the show. Unfortunately I haven't made it very far yet, but one last thing I want to mention is the combat. Since it's a Pokemon rip off, there's obviously dinosaur battling involved. The combat system is very basic and has little to no strategy when you first begin. It's a literal game of rock-paper-scissors, actually, and all your opponent seems to do is try to beat your previous move, making them very predictable. This isn't exactly a deal breaker for me, but from a technical standpoint, it's the worst combat system you could possibly put in a game, maybe even worse than League of Legends.
Sorry to end the episode on such a sour note. That's just how honesty works. Anyway, Happy 4th of July, and I'll see you guys next time!
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cartermarcian 4 years
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4Kids Korner - Episode 4
This week I was lucky enough to get three different items to share with you guys, so let's get to it!
Our first item of the week is Dinosaur King: The Adventure Bdgins
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When I recieved this DVD, It arrived in startlingly poor condition. It was cracked almost all the way through, but it's thankfully still playable. Because of the damage, however, I could not access the special features. They don't seem that great, though. Other than that, the disc includes the first five episodes of this great show. And by the way, if you've never seen Dinosaur King, I recommend you do. It's very much a rip off of the Pokemon anime (gee, I wonder why 4Kids wanted this show,) but it's still a good show in it's own right, and I really enjoyed watching the whole series. This DVD is fun to own, but my daily cartoon schedule is kinda full so I have yet to use it.
Next up, we have Winx Club: Hidden Secrets
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This adaptation of a set of original Winx Club episodes was authored by Michael Anthony Steele, the man behind the One Piece adaptations, three of which I own. I don't discriminate when it comes to the shows I watch, and I enjoyed the first three seasons of Winx Club, so I enjoyed this book as well, even if I only read the first 30 pages so far. But don't worry, because I have other things to say about it despite that. Like how even though it was first printed in July 2005 (The pinnacle of 4Kids TV in my opinion) it has a "catch it on the Fox Box" logo on the back. During this time, 4Kids didn't transition from Fox Box to 4Kids TV instantly, and this is just one case of the Fox Box slipping through the cracks. I'm glad I was able to add another Mike Steele adaption to my collection, and I will in the future, too.
Finally, let's talk about One Piece for Game Boy Advance.
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I think this one is definitely the star of this week's goodies, because it's just so awesome. For those unaware, this was the first One Pirce game ever to be released in the united states. It's a fun beat 'em up game that takes you on a quicker, slightly cuter trip from Luffy's debut to the Straw Hats traveling to Reverse Mountain, which was as far as One Piece had gotten on TV at the time (this was 2005, by the way.) All of the 4Kids names and terminology are used in this game, but most of the censorship isn't. for instance, the end of the Navy base stage has the Navy logo from the dub plastered on the walls, but the wooden post Zolo was tied to still looks like a cross. The guns were left in their original form, but one pallette swap of the most basic gun using enemy in the game makes his pistol green, so I liked that they at least did that. The gameplay isn't all that different from other beat 'em up games, but the level design is rather nice, employing a nice blend of platforming and traditional "here's a group of enemies" areas. But what I like about the game the most are the bosses. For most of them, when the bosses attack, it leaves them open to counterattack, making the boss battles a fun dodge-and-weave fight like Punch Out. Lastly, I have a bit of trivia for you. What everyone knows about the 4Kids Dub is that Sanji sucked a lollipop all the time, but not everyone knows that his lollipop was originally supposed to have blue stripes on the stick, as seen in the 4Kids version of "We Are" which was shown at conventions early in the dub'a production. This striped Lollipop managed to slip through the cracks, however, and make it's way into the volume 10 DVD cover and this game, so that's a fun thing to notice.
Alright, that's all the 4Kids merch I have got for this week. Thank you for reading and supporting my series. Please follow me if you like it, and as always, I'll see you next time with even more cool stuff!
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cartermarcian 4 years
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Welcome to 4Kids Korner episode 3!
before today's show, I have an announcement to make. It has been a week, and I've only recieved one item of the three that I've ordered, so I can no longer tease the next items at the end of each episode, as I'd likely be setting you up for disappointment. I'll try to keep posting on a weekly basis, but even that might not work out.
Now, with that out of today, I'd like to introduce you to today's item. Make some noise for Fighting Foodons The Complete English Language Series!
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I don't judge a book by it's cover, but when I first opened this package, I was concerned when I saw a foodon on the side of the box smoking a cigarette, and to see Hotdoggonit on disc 3 holding his original, unedited pistols.
I put the discs in my DVD player to check them right after. Thankfully, it is the 4Kids Dub, edits and all. That was a relief, but it also made the box art weirder, since that means it doesn't match the episodes included. What's more is that I noticed there is no mention at all of 4Kids on the box, so that was a bit of a disappointment.
But I'll let it slide because Fighting Foodons is a great show! I especially love how , like Kirby Right Back At Ya, it's one of those 4Kids shows where the script is full of puns and jokes. These puns, in particular, are food based, so you got characters saying things like, "your pot-luck has just run out!" And "that was a piece of steak!" And I absolutely love that!
Plus, as a bonus, Disc 3 came with an assortment of promos for Fighting Foodons from the Fox Box. I always love that!
So, overall, I'd say that I've got a problem with a couple of things on the packaging, but otherwise, I'm satisfied with this purchase and I'm looking forward to getting my next one! But until then, thanks for tuning into Episode three of 4Kids Korner. If you liked it, and you want to see more, I'd really appreciate it if you followed me. It would be nice to feel supported. Stay cool, stay safe, and I'll see you next week for another great review. See you then!
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cartermarcian 4 years
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What's up, fam? Welcome to episode 2 of 4Kids Korner; the (hopefully) weekly series where we archive and review a cool piece of 4Kids Entertainment history. This week we take a look at 2004's Pokemon Advanced: Pokemon in Disguise. P.I.D. Is a condensed ready-reader version of the Pokemon Advanced episode, "Just in the Knicker of Time," and it is comprised of stills from said episode and text retelling the story while cutting it down to 33 pages in a moderately large font. I watched the episode way back when I used to borrow Pok茅mon DVDs from the Library, and I enjoyed being able to read it again after all these years, even if the way they cut it made Team Rocket appear suddenly and without warning. Overall, decent find. And that's gonna have to end this installment of 4Kids Korner, guys. Don't worry, though, because we're gonna bring you a huge episode next Saturday, so be there for more fun and surprises on 4Kids Korner!
Coming up next on 4Kids Korner: we review a hidden gem in the 4Kids four-tfolio, the first One Piece game to be released by 4Kids, and futuristic turtle that'll go crazy for, so stay tuned...
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