Mr. Idea Box

Today begins a new month, and next Saturday gives us Two Piece and the Ninja Kamui finale. Seeing as though Toonami is effectively booked through til November, I thought I should make some early predictions. Invincible Fight Girl: 9/10 I wouldn't want this show to be on Adult Swim, but if Canada's getting it in the Fall, we should brace ourselves for this. My Hero Academia Season 7: 9/10 Between their current path of MHA reruns and how they breezed past the Demon Slayer reruns in summer, I think Season 7 may finally come to Toonami in November. I'd even say the month of October will have three episodes of Season 6 a night, just to get through the old season before premiering the new one. I mean, it's only airing reruns at 2 in the morning... Toonami loses 3 AM: 7/10 By my calculations, there will be a minimum of four open slots that Toonami must fill on Saturday nights. As such, it wouldn't surprise me if they decided to give 3 AM back to regular Adult Swim programming. Boruto returns: 6/10 My apologies for those who want more original properties, but there is a vacancy in the Hokage timeline. Now that Shippuden has ended and OG Naruto is on a different night, maybe it's time to get reintroduced to his son. Besides, there does seem to be a renewed interest in the manga recently. Something from Viz, Aniplex, or HiDive: 6/10 If they were to partner with one of their regulars, it would likely be at 1 or 1:30, assuming IFC, MHA, and One Piece remain on the block. Considering the options, it could be anything. Urusei Yatsura (2022): 5/10 Do I expect this to happen? Not really. But I'm still holding out hope. Reruns of Lycoris and/or Zom 100: 4/10 I know these two would be out of season, especially Zom 100, but they've gotta fill up space somehow. That should do it. Hey, wait a second! If my episode calculations are correct, Dragon Ball Z Kai will have caught up to the Saturday reruns! SCREW IT, REWIND BONUS ROUND! DBZ Kai airs the same episode two nights a week: 6/10 In the year 2024, it wouldn't surprise me if DBZ Kai repeats an episode twice in different timeslots. I would prefer if they didn't do that, but I'm not in the programming department. DBZ Kai becomes exclusive to one block: 5/10 This is a realistic hope, but I'm at a crossroads. Does Kai become exclusive to Toonami Rewind and free up another open slot on Saturdays, or does it become a Saturday exclusive and free up a Rewind slot? Whatever happens, I hope they choose a direction. Toonami Rewind moves to early Sunday mornings: 5/10 This has become a legitimate fear of mine when it comes to Toonami's future. If Rewind merges into the Saturday lineup and becomes its new back half, say goodbye to tolerable ratings. And yet, it would answer the question of how to fill an equal slot here. Double Naruto (no gap filled): 5/10 Whichever road Dragon Ball Z Kai takes, I feel like it would degrade into the same repetition as Checkered Past normally goes through, devolving into two Sailor Moon episodes and two Naruto episodes. If Kai moves directly to Saturdays, that's what it becomes. If the whole Rewind block moves there, it fills space easier. Toonami Rewind adds a fourth show: 4/10 I think it's safe to say that most things under the Discovery umbrella aren't what we want to happen, but they are what we don't want to see. As a result, I have doubts we'd get more than Sailor Moon, Dragon Ball, and Naruto as Rewind programming. Naruto: The Missing Episodes or IGPX Season 2: 4/10 On par with Rewind getting a fourth show, filling the gap with the missing Naruto arc or the slightly-overdue IGPX second season isn't as likely as I once thought. If it looks like I'm unsure on what the end of the year holds for Toonami in 2024, that's because I am. I just hope their lineup isn't as bland as other months are, but I know better than to hope for things that are directly handled by Z*****'s whipping mule of a film studio.

As the East Coast begins tonight's Toonami broadcast, let me just say this. I am completely surprised that Naruto somehow aired the entire story on Toonami's airwaves. Sure, there have been some setbacks throughout history, the four-year gap that allowed for Disney X.D. to scoop up the rights being chief among them, but at the end of the day, I'm kinda glad we can send this Hokage out to the tune of "Here Comes the Bride", or whatever the Japanese equivalent is. On the other hand, even when the Attack on Titan finale ended at the beginning of this year, I still thought this was an impossibility. Now that it's actually going to happen in a few hours, I will send out my own words of parting. PARTY NO JITSU! FREE RAMEN FOR ALL! BELIEVE IT! (with apologies to the Japanese seiyuu)

I admit missing some protagonists was on me, but I didn't want to make it too long of a post. At least I gave someone a lasting impact here. No comment.

Between Rick and Morty, Demon Slayer, Uzumaki, and My Hero Academia reruns, it's safe to say Toonami is booked until November. And when a programming block is booked for two months, I get bored. And when I got bored this time, I thought I'd get you guys in on the act... If all the Toonami protagonists (as of October 2024) were shoved into a fighting ring at maximum power, who would survive? For posterity reasons, here's the list: Space Ghost (Cartoon Roulette) Jonny Quest (The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest) Lion-O (ThunderCats '85) Lion-O (ThunderCats '11) Keith Kogane (Voltron) Rick Hunter (Robotech) Optimus Primal (Beast Wars: Transformers) Usagi Tsukino (Sailor Moon) Son Goku (Dragon Ball Z/Kai/Super) Kid Goku (Dragon Ball/Dragon Ball GT) Superman (Super Friends) Superman (S:TAS) Superman (My Adventures with Superman) Bob (ReBoot) Blossom (The Powerpuff Girls) Ryo Sanada (Ronin Warriors) Ace Goodheart (G-Force: Guardians of Space) Heero Yuy (Mobile Suit Gundam Wing) Tenchi Masaki (Tenchi Muyo!/Tenchi Universe/Tenchi in Tokyo) Batman (B:TAS) Batman (Batman Beyond) Batman (The Batman) Batman (Beware the Batman) Tetsu Hayami (Blue Submarine No. 6) Gene Starwind (Outlaw Star) Roger Smith (The Big O) Derek Wildstar (Star Blazers) (AKA: Space Battleship Yamato) Sakura Kinomoto (Cardcaptor Sakura) Amuro Ray (Mobile Suit Gundam/Gundam: Advent of the Red Comet) Shiro Amada (Gundam: The 08th MS Team) Bit Cloud (Zoids: New Century) Alfred Izuhara (Gundam: War in the Pocket) Parn (Record of Lodoss War) Captain Harlock (Harlock Saga) Noa Izumi (Patlabor) Van Flyheight (Zoids: Chaotic Century) Hamtaro Domon Kasshu (G Gundam) He-Man (He-Man and the Masters of the Universe '02) Optimus Prime (Transformers: Armada/Energon/Cybertron) Duke (G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero '83) Tsukasa (.hack//Sign) Akito Tenkawa (Neon Genesis Evangelion) Shinji Ikari (Neon Genesis Evangelion) Gigantor Shunsuke Akagi (Dai-Guard) Yusuke Urameshi (Yu Yu Hakusho) Himura Kenshin (Rurouni Kenshin) Wonder Woman (Justice League/Unlimited) Cyborg 009 Shute (SD Gundam) Samurai Jack Josef Wheeler (Hot Wheels: World Race) Shobu Kirifuda (Duel Masters) Astro Boy '03 Jackie Chan (Jackie Chan Adventures) Kira Yamato (Gundam SEED) Coop (Megas XLR) Haru Glory (Rave Master) Robin (Teen Titans '03) Anakin Skywalker (Star Wars: Clone Wars '03) Jet Siegel (D.I.C.E.) Zatch Bell Monkey D. Luffy (One Piece) Yugi Muto (Yu-Gi-Oh!) Naruto Uzumaki (Naruto/Naruto Shippuden) Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo Takeshi Jin (IGPX) Ash Ketchum (Pokemon) Ben Grimm (Fantastic Four: World's Greatest Heroes) Jaden Yuki (Yu-Gi-Oh! GX) Ryoma Echizen (The Prince of Tennis) Ginta Toramizu (MAR) Aerrow (Storm Hawks) Dan Kuso (Bakugan: Battle Brawlers) Shu (Blue Dragon) Ben Tennyson (Ben 10: Alien Force) Ichigo Kurosaki (Bleach) Vash the Stampede (Trigun) Ganta Igarashi (Deadman Wonderland) Casshern (Casshern Sins) Edward Elric (Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood) Daisuke Aramaki (Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex) Spike Spiegel (Cowboy Bebop) Shimada Kanbei (Samurai 7) Renton Thurston (Eureka Seven) Ilana (Sym-Bionic Titan) Seina Yamada (Tenchi Muyo! GXP) InuYasha Soul Evans (Soul Eater) Kirito (Sword Art Online) Ahsoka Tano (Star Wars: The Clone Wars '08) Haruko Haruhara (FLCL/Progressive/Alternative/Grunge/Shoegaze) Space Dandy Rin Okumura (Blue Exorcist) Rock Okajima (Black Lagoon) Eren Yaeger (Attack on Titan) Simon the Digger (Gurren Lagann) Alucard (Hellsing Ultimate) Ryuko Matoi (Kill la Kill) Michiko Malandro (Michiko and Hatchin) Tatsumi (Akame ga Kill!) Shinichi Izumi (Parasyte -The Maxim-) Fuu (Samurai Champloo) Kyouma Mabuchi (Dimension W) Gon Freecss (Hunter x Hunter '11) Mikazaki Augus (Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans) Saitama (One-Punch Man) Jonathan Joestar (JJBA: Phantom Blood) Jotaro Kujo (JJBA: Stardust Crusaders/Golden Wind) Josuke Higashikata (JJBA: Diamond is Unbreakable) Banagher Links (Gundam: Unicorn) Ken Kaneki (Tokyo Ghoul) Arsene Lupin III (Lupin the Third: Parts 4-6) Asta Starla (Black Clover) Izuku Midoriya (My Hero Academia) Popuko (Pop Team Epic) Boruto Uzumaki (Boruto: Naruto Next Generations) Shigeo "Mob" Kagayama (Mob Psycho 100) Gearless Joe (Megalobox) Emma (The Promised Neverland) Soma Yukihira (Food Wars! Shokugemi no Soma) Shinra Kusakabe (Fire Force) Julian Chase (Gen:LOCK) Senki Ishigami (Dr. Stone) Tanjiro Kamado (Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba) Lil' Slugger (Paranoia Agent) Gaz Digby (Ballzmastrz: 9009) Koro-sensei (Assassination Classroom) Makasu (Gemusetto) Spear (Primal) Yuta Hibiki (SSSS.Gridman) Towa Higurashi (YashaHime: Princess Half-Demon) Harley Quinn (Harley Quinn '19) Fena Houtman (Fena: Pirate Princess) Elle (Blade Runner: Black Lotus) Riko (Made in Abyss) Ryo Hazuki (Shenmue: The Animation) Kimi Shirokado (Housing Complex C) Emma Fairfax (Unicorn: Warriors Eternal) Takina Inoue (Lycoris Recoil) Joe Logan (Ninja Kamui) Akira Tendo (Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead) Rick Sanchez (Rick and Morty: The Anime) Kirie Goshima (Uzumaki) That is 145 potential fighters shoved into a last man standing fight. Who comes out on top here? And why is it going to be from shonen?

I mean, I was gonna watch the show regardless. But HOLY SHIT.

On the one hand, I certainly didn't expect this. On the other hand, will it be the original 90s version or the 2012 reboot?

That is a good point. However, I'd also consider Toonami losing the 3 AM slot again. Sure, they only lost it for January, but I wouldn't be surprised if the MHA recap was the last time Toonami ran for 3.5 hours this year.

Ah, thanks for the clarification.

Maybe it's because my knowledge of One Piece comes from pop culture osmosis, but why would Vivi be called Miss Wednesday? Is it a Netflix thing?

On the one hand, I want this movie to succeed so that DeMarco doesn't end up like Andy Merrill. On the other hand, I don't know who's in charge of Toonami's acquisitions unit.

She may not be Jamie Lee Curtis, but I expected someone I didn't recognize. This could be a good performance.

Assuming you're right, and the One Piece debt is paid during the late-October period, while My Hero Academia is tripled for a month AND given a marathon (or given the Daylight Savings burn-off treatment), this would also have some results for the rest of the lineup. DBZ Kai would air the same episode twice in a week. Episode 30, if my calculations are correct. So either Rewind gets a shakeup or the mainline block does. Invincible Fight Girl could bump MHA down to a 12:30 slot, assuming it becomes the holiday title for Toonami. They could pull something from HiDive or Viz to fill in one of the available slots. Now that Shippuden is actually ending, and its slot is given to Two Piece, the Straw Hats can't regularly take on 1 AM by Christmas. Now watch them do exactly that because the budget belt is the only tight thing during Thanksgiving dinner. All this to say it's a mostly-complete question mark on how Toonami could look in three months time.

Why.

This seems to have slipped through the cracks, but Adult Swim is considering making more anime spinoffs in the future, as per Comic Con. https://comicbook.com/anime/news/rick-and-morty-anime-adult-swim-spinoffs-comic-con-sdcc-2024/ I'm sure we all have our requests for what could come next. Venture Bros., Metalocalypse, The Eric Andre Show, and so on. But I want to see a Harvey Birdman anime over all of them. More specifically, I want to see Harvey try to defend anime characters in court, legal snafus be damned. WB has connections with Viz Media, Sentai Studios, and Studio Ghibli among others, and they already have 60s anime like Marine Boy to pull from in-house. But even I know that's a pie-in-the-sky wish. What's yours?

It's like we all expect IFG to only get that one season, like with Warriors Eternal. I'm pretty sure it's just on the wrong network, the show itself has some promise.

Why not call it "Wrestlemournia"? Or would that not be concise enough?

No thanks. I think we're too far into the year for a pie-in-the-sky prediction.

Well, let the record show that I see some pros and cons in both forecasts.

I feel highly conflicted on these two outcomes. Option A: MHA Season 7 in November, double OP for most of September, Mashle being the tertiary pickup in Fall, Naruto Classic reruns by year's end. Option B: No MHA Season 7, Urusei Yatsura on Toonami in September, Rickanime dub marathon in November, Mashle at 12:30. It took some debating, but I can deal with not getting My Hero Academia back until 2025 if it means my pipe dream pick gets a Toonami broadcast. Am I petty? Perhaps.

Wait, really? (one closer look later) Okay, so I was misled by false information. That's okay. Figures that a rabbit-themed hero would make everyone jump to conclusions this fast.

My Hero Academia getting a rerun cycle is a surprise. Starting at Episode 1? Doubly so. On the one hand, Naruto's skipped episodes were only one portion of a season, whereas skipping episodes of MHA basically means whole seasons are glossed over. On the other hand, they could just tell us to stream the rest of the show and simply air the first and most recent seasons only. Who can say?

Three finales back-to-back-to-back on October 19th, resulting in two and a half straight hours of new episodes? I. WISH.

Glad to hear confirmation, at least. Explains why both Mugen Train and Entertainment District were airing this summer. Whichever way you can take it, it doesn't look good for MHA's final two seasons.

Now that we already have Supergirl, I wonder how Superboy is going to be handled in Season 3. Sidenote, but does anyone think the next season will be a Summer 2025 headliner to promote the James Gunn movie?

Man, I missed a lot. Speedrun: Invincible Fight Girl: I still don't understand why this is on Adult Swim, but if they have a whole episode planned to go live, I should expect this to be the November original. Mr. Frog in a wrestling ring: A neat gag, but I haven't seen enough Smiling Friends to love it as much as others do. Uzumaki: Not only is the show ACTUALLY coming out this year, but Toonami's getting the subbed version first. Scratch that, the US is getting the anime sub BEFORE the dub. I don't think that's ever happened in the history of anime on television. At least, never to this extent. Swordsmith Village: No schedule update this week? I guess they don't want to have another Rooster Fighter scenario on their hands. I guess between Rick and Morty, Uzumaki, Invincible Fight Girl, and Demon Slayer, Toonami's all but booked until January.