Hey there guys. Remember that show that aired in 2008 that was an instant hit in America? Remember the name of that show? Bakuman? Gakugan? Oh wait, I remember now- Bakugan.
I remember, years ago, when kids would run around like, "Hey, did you see the new episode?" or "Wanna trade Bakugan?" I remember it well, because I was one of those kids. A hardcore follower, me and my brother. We loved that show. Bakugan, to put it simply, changed my life.
I didn't brawl much. I wanted to, but I really had no one to brawl with. My dream was to become the World's Best Pyrus Brawler, just like the Series Protagonist, Daniel "Dan" Kuso. Eventually, with the coming of Season 4, Bakugan Dimensions opened up, and allowed me to try, at least try, to become that best brawler. I would come home, and steal my brother's Bakugan (because I am a girl, and it was "unlady-like
" to like Bakugan for me) and put in the DNA codes to have Bakugan. I would borrow my friend's Bakugan and put in the codes before they could.
Yes, Bakugan changed me that much.
Bakugan was, in fact, what I consider my very first anime, even though that was Digimon (Frontier). Bakugan unlocked a side of me that I never knew existed- my tomboyish side. It was the gateway to being a nerd. And it gave me my very first heroes- Dan Kuso, Shun Kazami, Marucho Marokura, Runo Masaki, Julie Makimoto, Alice Gehabich, and Masquerade (yes, I do consider him a hero). Bakugan is what I remember loving, watching, and begging people to watch.
Then, it ended.
By Season 4, I had basically stopped watching. I didn't like Season 2 much- "Runo isn't a main protagonist?! Neither is Julie and Alice?! What?! Why?!" And Season 3 made me mad when Dan moved away (what happened to "Dan and Runo 5eva?") and it had no mention of Runo, nor Alice (I think it did, but they didn't appear). Season 4...ugh. Arc 1 is basically them abandoning Dan, who came up with the Battle Brawlers, so Shun could take lead. And then he quits, and Marucho takes lead. Then Arc 2 was bringing back Mira (who looked like a slut) and then bringing back Runo (who had on the worst outfit ever!) so then they could defeat the mechagons. Then at the end, Dan disappears, without even kissing Runo (what was the point in bringing her back?!), saying "It's time for someone else to be the hero".
I watched the last episode. My heart broke.
I'd heard about BakuTech, but the odds of me liking it without my Hero, even after all these years (call me childish, I don't care)...well, the odds of me liking it are slim. It can never replace the impact Bakugan Battle Brawlers had on me.
...Earlier today, I caught my bro looking up Bakugan episodes. It reminded me of Marucho, for some reason. "I wonder how old the little midget is now," I thought, smiling, looking up him on google. I went to the Wiki, smiling at the memories. I went to the fan-fiction wiki, the roleplay, and the hangout. Good memories, even though I haven't been there before in my life. Then I went looking up Bakugan Dimensions after reading a user profile that mentioned it a lot.
Articles about how it was closing...petitions to keep it open...the memories came back. I wasn't able to play BD for some months before it closed because I didn't have internet access for a while...when I did get it (on a cell phone, enough for me to check my email) I found out that BD had closed a month before. I was devastated.
One article lead me to this Lord Darkus dude, who I liked instantly because his name reminded me of Masquerade. He was this dude who worked at SpinMaster, a legend in Bakugan, who just simply left (from what I found). It came to me that this was the beginning of the end for my childhood joy.
Now I realized that Bakugan may have had its 15 minutes of fame...but I'm nowhere near through with it. The heartache of remembrance...we must let it live on!
...I know there are people out there like me, who remember, but hide in the shadows. We can do something, guys, and I will do it. I have a knack for doing things too big for me to handle but this...if others help me, we can bring back Bakugan.
If they need animators, we have fan-artists. If they need writers, we are the fanfiction writers. If they need voice actors, we have cosplayers. If they need money...I'd be willing to fund it. And if they need an official Bakugan Battle Brawlers...I'm totally going to be The Pyrus Brawler.
Guys, we can do this. We'll be the Battle Brawlers in real life. We can bring back The Bakugan Battle Brawlers. Let's do this! Spread the word! I don't care to who, but Bakugan's coming back!
