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A Ranking of DB on DB: Part 2

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  https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/death_battle_logo_1.jpg 7) Gogeta Vs Vegito (December 21st, 2022) h ttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2H32rORUeo&ab_channel=DEATHBATTLE%21 https://deathbattle.fandom.com/wiki/Gogeta_VS_Vegito I’ll admit, while the lower half of this ranking was relatively easy to determine, I had more difficulty with the following episodes. The simple truth is that “Death Battle” has honed their craft over time, and one can expect their current animations to be, at the very least, well staged. I eventually decided to place “Gogeta Vs Vegito” as seventh, which is a bit unfortunate since this was an interesting idea. Almost all of DB’s matchups feature opponents from different fictional universes. Obviously, Gogeta fighting Vegito is an exception, and perhaps even a wish fulfilment for many “Dragon Ball” fans wondering which fusion is superior. Also, since this fight was released as a season finale, and followed a losing streak for the series, it does...

A Ranking of DB on DB: Part 1

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  https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/death_battle_logo_1.jpg I’ve told many people about my fondness for “Death Battle”, the long running Youtube series pitting fictional characters mano a mano. I owe that show a great deal, not just for providing entertainment, but also introducing countless franchises to my unversed palate. One of DB’s selling points is its custom produced fights, which have become increasingly complex and impressive over the years. And since my blog is dedicated to animation, I thought they were fair game for a review. The sheer number of episodes and represented media, however, would make for a lofty analysis of the entire show. Therefore, I’ve decided to isolate a single franchise in DB’s roster to talk about - “Dragon Ball”. For those that aren’t aware, Death Battle has covered a character from the series a whopping fourteen times! So clearly, the crew loves themselves some Toriyama, or at least sees “Dragon Ball” as a treasure trove of powerful fi...

What's in an opening: Guren no Yumiya

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  There are several ingredients to a successful or popular Anime franchise; Compelling characters, a good story, crazy fight sequences…all vital aspects for many viewers. Another crucial element, I would argue, is a memorable opening. Oftentimes, these sequences are the hook for their given series, and much like a film trailer, they help sell to an audience what they will experience. And among the most recognizable OP’s of modern Anime, few took the world by storm more than Guren no Yumiya from “Attack on Titan''. The song was initially performed by Linked Horizon, and is also known in German as “feurroter pfeil und bogen”, or “crimson bow and arrow”. As of me writing this post, Cruncyroll’s Youtube publication of the scene has an incredible forty four million views. Why did this sequence make such a splash, and why has it continued to be so regarded? Well, I think there are a few reasons. Let’s start with the titular track, and how influential it became among fans and fellow m...

"Surprised to be Dead": A humble start to the terrific series that is "Yu Yu Hakusho"

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As with numerous franchises, I once again have to credit Youtube’s “Death Battle” for introducing me to a series. This specific instance involves a matchup between Sasuke of “Naruto”, and Hiei of the older “Yu Yu Hakusho”. I enjoyed that episode and its animated fight, though DB’s verdict was one of their hotter takes in recent memory. Regardless, that versus pairing was where I first heard of the character Hiei, and his aforementioned show. Right off the bat, “Yu Yu Hakusho” is a cool sounding title, and roughly translates to either “Ghost Files” or “Poltergeist Report” (It also sounds like somebody sneezing backwards). That name is certainly fitting, given the show’s broader focus on spiritual beings and their impact on the human world - both good and bad.  Written by Yoshiro Togashi, who later penned the much beloved “Hunter X Hunter”, the series is one I definitely connected to. I didn’t grow up with the Anime genre, but there was a period in my adult life where I binged many r...