I received a copy of KAIJUDO: RISE OF THE DUEL MASTERS™ – CREATURES UNLEASHED on DVD to watch and review. I didn’t ask for it and never had any inclination to watch the show on The Hub. But, the DVD appeared at my door so I gave it a look. This DVD has the first five episodes of the series and a bonus feature called A Look At Kaijudo: Rise Of The Duel Masters and a “Kenina” Trading Card as well. The Kaijudo: Rise Of The Duel Masters: Creatures Unleashed
The first episode sets up the series pretty well. We are introduced to our hero, Ray. Ray lives with his mom and grandfather. His dad is not in the picture and we’re not sure what happened to him (dead? missing?). Ray also likes to draw and he draws different sorts of creatures in amazing detail. We also learn that Ray has had some trouble with bullies.
We are also introduced to Master Chavez. While on the outside he is a popular martial arts instructor he is also a Master of Kaijudo “The Way of the Creature”. Master Chavez has been taking care of tears in “The Veil” which is a divider between worlds. Master Chavez saves Ray and his friends Allie and Gabe when Ray accidentally summons a creature to defend himself from a bully.
The episode also establishes what Ray stands for. He’s of mixed heritage and is proud of who he is, he tries to avoid bullies but is at the end of his rope with them. He also is quick to defend his friends and stick up for them even if this makes him more of a target for the bullies.
I wasn’t sure if I was going to like this show but it did win me over a bit. There was an actual story, a bit of mystery and the good voice actors. I have a few clips to share with you as well as some character bios and images and a press release.
Clips
Kaijudo: Rise of the Duel Masters – Creatures Unleashed “Opening Credits”
Kaijudo: Rise of the Duel Masters – Creatures Unleashed Clip 1
Kaijudo: Rise of the Duel Masters – Creatures Unleashed Clip 2
Character Bios –
Master Chavez
Most residents of San Campion know Hector Chavez as a martial arts instructor at the local dojo. Ray, Allie, and Gabe now know the truth: Master Chavez is a Duel Master, preserving the Veil and protecting earth. Master Chavez tracks down creatures who accidentally wander through breaches in the Veil, sending them back to their own realm and sealing the breach. He trains constantly with Gilaflame the Assaulter, his drakon dueling creature. Together, they can take on creatures much larger and more powerful than themselves.
Ray
Fourteen-year-old Raiden Pierce-Okamoto (everyone calls him Ray) knows that he has a connection to something beyond the world he can see. He dreams of powerful creatures from a very different land . . . and then one day, Ray accidently summons a creature to defend himself against a bully.
Gilaflame
Gilaflame is ten-foot-tall, armored reptilian drakon. Possessing extraordinary speed and armed with razor-sharp blades, Gilaflame’s attacks are precise and devastating. However, when summoned into combat by Master Chavez, Gilaflame is even more deadly. Chavez has trained it to not only slash with the blades, but also to throw sparks from them, lighting fires to trap and confuse enemies.
Squeaky
Squeaky is the prime example of the saying “Looks can be deceiving.” Squeaky may look like a cuddly koala bear on the outside, but in battle she quickly becomes a force to be reckoned with, especially with Allie by her side. Even though she stands at a little over six feet tall, Squeaky is considered a toy-poodle in the Creature world. She is fiercely loyal and is both dependent on and protective of Allie. Hailing from the Darkness Civilization, Squeaky is not only Scaradorable, but has sonic attacks, fear bats, formidable claws and a piercing scream attack – the reason Allie nicknames her Squeaky. If you push her hard enough, watch out!
Bob
You want Tatsurion the Unchained at your side in battle! Whether your enemies are up close or at long range, Tatsurion can deal with them. This Armored Dragon/Beast Kin hybrid can pummel foes up close with horns and claws or use his wrist-mounted rocket launchers, chain whips, and a high-power, shoulder-mounted howitzer to take down opponents at long range.
For Immediate Release
Young aspiring Duel Masters, grab your gauntlet, choose your mighty creatures!
Prepare to experience the world of KAIJUDO!
KAIJUDO: RISE OF THE DUEL MASTERS ™ –CREATURES UNLEASHED DVD LEAPS ONTO HOME ENTERTAINMENT SHELVES EVERYWHERE
Produced by Hasbro Studios and Wizards of the Coast
Featuring an All-Star Voice Cast of Scott Wolf, Freddy Rodriguez, John DiMaggio, Oded Fehr, Phil LaMarr, David Sobolov, Kari Wahlgren and Jason Marsden
DVD Set Includes an Exclusive Alternative Art “Kenina” Trading Card Inside!
OWN THIS COLLECTIBLE DVD DECEMBER 4, 2012 FROM SHOUT! FACTORY
This holiday season, kids and families are invited on a wondrous journey into the imaginative world of KAIJUDO: RISE OF THE DUEL MASTERS™, a current animated hit series produced by Hasbro Studios and Wizards of the Coast. Featuring the voice talent of popular actors Scott Wolf, Freddy Rodriguez, John DiMaggio, Oded Fehr, Phil LaMarr, David Sobolov, Kari Wahlgren and Jason Marsden, this popular action-fantasy series offers an inspiring story about a young hero,Ray, who possesses the rare ability to befriend and duel alongside fantastical creatures from a parallel dimension. It’s up to Ray to master the ancient art of KAIJUDO in order to protect both worlds. Moreover, this adventure-filled series highlights the tales of friendship, loyalty and determination, and further addresses the show’s central theme of anti-bullying.
On December 4, 2012, the whole family will be highly entertained by the exciting storytelling, incredible action and awesome creature combats when KAIJUDO: RISE OF THE DUEL MASTERS™ – CREATURES UNLEASHED DVD hits store shelves in the U.S and Canada from Shout! Factory, in collaboration with Hasbro Studios and Wizards of the Coast. Featuring five adventurous episodes, an exclusive alternative art “Kenina” playable trading card, and special bonus feature A Look at KAIJUDO: Rise of the Duel Masters, this DVD is priced to own with a suggested retail price of $14.97.
KAIJUDO: RISE OF THE DUEL MASTERS™ – CREATURES UNLEASHED DVD
Synopsis
Ray, a 14-year-old who lives with his mom and grandfather, has been recruited by the Duel Masters to study KAIJUDO – “The Way of the Creature.” They chose Ray for his natural talent as a creature tamer and duelist. Along with pals Allie and Gabe, Ray learns to work with the magical creatures… in their world. Each duel he fights yields new experience and allies in both worlds. The Veil, which has divided the two worlds for a thousand years, is crumbling. Hope lies with those who can masters the art of KAIJUDO.
EPISODES:
The Natural, Part 1
The Natural, Part 2
The Natural, Part 3
Om Nom Nom
The Hunted
Total Program Running Time: +/- 110 minutes
KAIJUDO: RISE OF THE DUEL MASTERS™ is the newest franchise from Wizards of the Coast and Hasbro. Featuring two online games – Battle Game and Kaijudo Online™ – hosted on Kaijudo.com, a trading card game (TCG), the television series KAIJUDO: RISE OF THE DUEL MASTERS™ airing on The Hub TV Network in the U.S and on Teletoon in Canada, and a new home entertainment DVD product line distributed by Shout! Factory. KAIJUDO:RISE OF THE DUEL MASTERS™ provides multi-platform entertainment that the whole family will enjoy.
About Hasbro
Hasbro, Inc. (NASDAQ: HAS) is a branded play company providing children and families around the world with a wide-range of immersive entertainment offerings based on the Company’s world class brand portfolio. From toys and games, to television programming, motion pictures, digital gaming and a comprehensive licensing program, Hasbro strives to delight its global customers with innovative, well-known and beloved brands such as TRANSFORMERS, LITTLEST PET SHOP, NERF, PLAYSKOOL, MY LITTLE PONY, G.I. JOE, MAGIC: THE GATHERING and MONOPOLY. The Company’s Hasbro Studios develops and produces television programming for markets around the world. Programming in the U.S. is distributed on The Hub TV Network, a multi-platform joint venture between Hasbro and Discovery Communications (NASDAQ: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK). Through the Company’s deep commitment to corporate social responsibility, including philanthropy, Hasbro is helping to build a safe and sustainable world for future generations and to positively impact the lives of millions of children and families every year. It has been recognized for its efforts by being named one of the “World’s Most Ethical Companies” and is ranked as one of Corporate Responsibility Magazine’s “100 Best Corporate Citizens.” Learn more at www.hasbro.com. © 2012 Hasbro, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
About Shout! Factory
Shout! Factory, LLC is a diversified multi-platform entertainment company devoted to producing, uncovering, preserving and revitalizing the very best of pop culture. Founders Richard Foos, Bob Emmer and Garson Foos have spent their entire careers sharing their music, television and film favorites with discerning consumers the world over. Shout! Factory’s DVD and Blu-Ray™ offerings serve up feature films, classic and contemporary TV series, animation, live music and comedy specials in lavish packages crammed with extras. Shout’s audio division boasts GRAMMY®-nominated box sets, new releases from storied artists, lovingly assembled album reissues and indispensable “best of” compilations. In addition, Shout! Factory maintains a vast digital distribution network which delivers video and audio content to all the leading digital service providers in North America. Shout! Factory also owns and operates Timeless Media Group, Biograph Records, Majordomo Records, High Tone Records and Video Time Machine. These riches are the result of a creative acquisition mandate that has established the company as a hotbed of cultural preservation and commercial reinvention. Shout! Factory is based in Santa Monica, California. For more on Shout! Factory, visit shoutfactory.com
About Wizards of the Coast
Wizards of the Coast LLC, a subsidiary of Hasbro, Inc. (NASDAQ:HAS), is the leader in entertaining the lifestyle gamer. The company holds an exclusive patent on trading card games (TCGs) and their method of play and produces the premier trading card game, Magic: The Gathering. Wizards is also a leading publisher of roleplaying games, such as Dungeons & Dragons, and publisher of fantasy series fiction with numerous New York Times best-sellers. For more information, visit the Wizards of the Coast Web site at www.wizards.com.