#mfb episode 25

[sky-of-dusk]

Episode 25 - who knows Kyouya best

When Kyouya is fighting Captain Capri, we are entitled with Ginga’s and Madoka’s remarks. Of course, it incites to compare their reactions.

When they notice Kyouya is taking part in the  tournament

Madoka is shown in the B-Pit, fixing beys and half-listening to tournaments. She draws her attention back on the screen and we see her surprise.

Ginga isn't shown right away. We see first a public screen, showing the participants and Kyouya among them. Ginga stops, turning his back to us, and looks at Kyouya. The perspective gives the impression the rivals are facing each other. Then we see Ginga's face.

1. Kyouya wins easily against his opponent

Madoka, happily : Well done. There just aren't a lot of bladers that are at Kyouya's level in the competition. So this tournament should definitively be a cakewalk.

We don't see or hear Ginga.

2. Captain Capri's appearance

Madoka : He's opposite to the wild Kyouya because he calculates things so we better be careful with him.

Ginga : Wow. He's interesting. Just keep your head up Kyouya.

Madoka worries because of the difference between Tobio's and Kyouya's way to battle. Ginga, otherwise, sees right away the same thing that Kyouya : Tobio is an interesting challenger. He's happy for his rival.

3. Captain Capri's new moves

Madoka : It'll be near impossible for Kyouya to guess Capricorn's moves now !

Ginga : So what are you gonna do ?

Madoka becomes anxious, not even able to remain seated while Ginga is perfectly calm and only wonder how Kyouya will win, because he doesn't doubt it.

4. Kyouya lets Tobio attacks him

Madoka  : Why doesn't he attack ? Kyouya never gives up no matter what is going on.

Ginga : Kyouya... you're up to something. You've planned this all along...

Madoka has the impression Kyouya is giving up but, on the other side, she knows it's not in his character. The opposite impressions confuse her. Contrary to her, Ginga is smiling. He understands right away that Kyouya has something in mind, despite not knowing exactly what. Still more important, he understands Kyouya had led Tobio exactly where he wanted.

5. After the fight

Ginga : Pushing himself right to the edge. That's Kyouya all over.

Madoka : Wouah ! I'm exhausted just from watching.

There, we have Ginga’s reaction first, then Madoka’s (the reverse order of their interventions during the whole episode). Ginga's smiling and relaxed because he didn't doubt once Kyouya risked to lose. He's even telling this behavior is pure Kyouya way. Madoka is worn out because she didn't stop worrying during Kyouya's and Tobio's duel.

The usefulness of the remarks

Ginga's and Madoka's remarks aren’t useful for the scenario’s progression. They are only useful for character relationship. They show to the spectator that Ginga understands Kyouya and his way of thinking. He translates his actions into words, believe in his skills to beat his opponent. Madoka doesn’t know Kyouya as much : she's worried about him because he is a part of her inner circle, but she doesn't succeed to guess his thoughts or understands his actions.

These scenes highlight something hinted since the Wolf Canyon episodes : how easily Ginga and Kyouya understand each other. Ginga succeeds to reach out to Kyouya during their fight (episode 10). Kyouya guesses how they should treat Ginga after his defeat against Ryuuga (episode 14). Ginga understands what Kyouya implies when he lectures Benkei and Kenta, while Benkei (though he knows Kyouya for longer) doesn’t (episode 19)... All of this leading to Ginga saying he knows Kyouya better than anyone during Fury (episode 105).

In this episode, there is another big difference between Ginga and Madoka : Ginga talks to Kyouya, like his rival could hear him (knowing them, it's perfectly possible xD), while Madoka talks about him. It shows there is less emotional distance between Ginga and Kyouya than between Madoka and Kyouya.

[sixcalibur]

「 ♥ Tobio appreciation post ♥」

[mach-speed-spin]

My thoughts on some of the major changes made in the English dub

This will mainly cover the original series since besides some name changes the mfb and burst dubs have been pretty close to the Japanese version. The original series changed a lot though so here we go

Bit beasts

Original version: Very few can see bit beasts. Mostly it’s just bit beast wielders and a few others who have connections to them

Dub: Everyone can see bit beasts (except for the Saint Shields’ bit beasts who had the power of invisibility)

Opinion: The fact that bit beast users fight non users in tournaments feels kinda unfair. The dub doesn’t fix this completely but it makes it less bad. At least everyone knows they exist and it’s not like non users don’t know what they’re getting into

Ryuunosuke Kinomiya/ Ryu Granger

Original Version: Takao’s granfather is an upbeat but wise man. I don’t know Japanese but his dialogue doesn’t seem to be over the top

Dub: I need a compilation of all his lines. His very first line of dialogue is “Tyson! C’mon little dude, get your head into what you’re doing, capiche? Now get down and boogie.” Don’t believe me? Here is my source

Opinion: Ryuunosuke Kinomiya is likeable but overall not that memorable. Ryu Granger is amazing. Easily one of the best parts of the dub (which makes sense, as his VA was by far the most experienced at the time). Love it. Ryu Granger blasts Ryuunosuke Kinomiya out of the water with his radical swag

Dizzi

Original version: Dizzi doesn’t exist and most of her dialogue is Kyoujyu’s. It’s also more technical

Dub: Dizzi is a bit beast that inhabits a laptop. Her dialogue is mostly witty rather than technical

Opinion: Dizzi’s existence helps elaborate more on the idea that bit beasts inhabit objects that aren’t just beys. Dragoon was in a sword and Draciel was in a necklace, but they were there for around 1 episode after their introduction. Dizzi serves as a constant reminder of something the original version mentiones maybe twice. Her dialogue is a different story. I appreciate some of the quips, but I wish they kept the technical aspect of it (which is one thing mfb and burst did really well). If I had to choose between one or the other, I’d rather keep the technical dialogue over Dizzi

AJ Topper and Brad Best

Original version: Blader DJ serves as the referee and sole commentator

Dub: DJ Jazzman serves as the referee. The commentary is done by AJ Topper and Brad Best in a sport-channel like fashion

Opinion: Beyblade is a sport. AJ and Brad help give it more legitimacy as a sport. Plus their dialogue is amazing (I don’t mind it not being technical since the job of a commentator is different from that of an analyst)

Baihuzu/ White Tigers

Original version: No member of the clan had ever left the village and contact with outsiders was strictly forbidden. Rei basically commited treason

Dub: The White Tigers (the team, not the clan) were pissed at Ray for abandoning them and taking Driger, but he didn’t break any laws (other than unspoken ones)

Opinion: The fact that Baihuzu left the village in search of Rei (thus breaking tradition) showed how important Byakko was to them. The dub made it more personal. Less about Rei vs the clan and more about Ray vs Lee soecifically. I prefer the original version here except for 1 thing: Bruce. The fact that an outsider like Bruce was affiliated to Baihuzu doesn’t make much sense since they still avoided outsiders. The dub doesn’t have this issue. If Bruce was stated to be a member of the clan then the dub would have nothing on the original

All Starz bit beasts

Original version: They are normal bit beasts

Dub: They are artificial bit beasts

Opinion: The All Starz have no real conflict with the BBA in the original version (aside from Max’s mom). They’re dicks and that’s it, but unlike Euro Team, Baihuzu, or Borg, their is no ideological conflict. The dub doesn’t fix this entirely, but it’s less bad. It brings up the idea of humanity vs nature and that humans shouldn’t mess with ancient magic (which would be brought up again in 2002/ V-Force). It does however, create a plot hole in the next season. If the cyber bit beasts are unprecedented as Dr B says, then what happened to the All Starz? This is a plothole that can only be fixed by headcanons (my personal one is the the PPB bit beasts are like drones and aren’t fully sentient like the cyber bit beasts)

Team WHO/ Dark Bladers

Original version: Team WHO were some of the rare no bit beast users who were aware of their existence. Pissed at what they thought as unfair (they were right), they sell their souls and obtain bit beasts. Now they’re on a revenge quest to destroy all bit beasts. After the defeat of the Euro Team at the hands of the BBA, they kinda accept that they’re cursed and forgive the Euro Team

Dub: The Dark Bladers were non bit beast users who lost to the bladers that would later form the Majestics. They are cursed, losing their souls, but gaining bit beasts of their own. The 2 ways to break the curse are to have the Majestics defeated or steal all bit beasts. After the Majestics lose to the Bladebreakers, the curse is lifted, so they regain their souls and get to keep their bit beasts

Opinion: Team WHO’s arc was never resolved properly. This is because it couldn’t. They were right and the only way to resolve their arc was to have them win (or at least have bit beasts stop being used in tournaments). The Dark Bladers fix this by having their arc be about lifting the curse. Team WHO was a massive mistake from the anime staff (they weren’t in the manga) and the Dark Bladers were a stroke of genius from the dub

Music

Original version: The 2000 ost used a lot of brass intruments. Personally my favorite tracks were American Dream and Russia. I sadly couldn’t find the 2002 ost and I’ve only seen a few clips of the Japanese version but the ost seems to have shifted to being more rock based. I can’t describe it perfectly but every track seems to have a “tense” feeling. The G-Revolution ost is more upbeat. I only have a surface level knowledge of music genres but it seems to be mainly speed metal in the earlier tracks and shifting to more orchestral later. The earlier tracks remind me of Ron Wasserman’s work in Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers, with songs like Fight and I WIll Win

Dub: Insert songs that replace much of the battle music. The non battle music is also original, but fairly unremarkable. Tracks 15-25 of this playlist cover the insert songs (note: Hang On is a cover because the original version was never released)

Opinion: 2002 had the weakest ost of all. It’s not that it’s bad, but it’s horribly misused. If you have a battle that’s supposed to be fast paced action, don’t make the music tense. Make it energetic. 2000 has by far the best non battle music, but the battle music isn’t that great. It’s alright, but it’s not nearly as good as G-Revolution, which in turn had great battle music but ok non battle music. The English dub’s insert songs are pretty good but otherwise the ost is lacking.  I’d say G-Rev >= 2000 > dub >> 2002

Bonus: Robert’s dub dialogue

“You’re just talking trash” “Alas, I am talking to trash”

Conclusion

The dub wasn’t great overall. The voice acting was bad (that’s what you get for having the VAs be teenagers). However, the dub did fix some major issues with the original version (Team WHO in particular). The dub’s worst changes made thing go from great to ok and the best changes made things go from bad to good. Plus Ryu Granger exists so the dub automatically gets extra points

[meowstix]

If you ever need an incentive to continue mfb, just know that they start having episodes where Gingka is barely present, focusing on side characters. For example, episode 25 is about Kyoya specifically (with Gingka barely having any lines), and episode 29 is about Kenta mentoring a guy he meets

Episode 28 has Tetsuya be the main character for the episode

Episode 40 of season 2 (episode 91 overall) marks Blader DJ's first, and only, battle in the series

WAIT YO TETSUYA GETS AN EP WITH HIM AS THE MAIN CHARACTER? honestly my problem isn't even with ginkga but for sure there are definitely times where it's best to just Not focus on the main protag

[sky-of-dusk]

The food chain

Fun fact: In MFB, they respect the natural food chain.

There, look at Kyouya playing I’m-the-King-of-the-Beasts-so-leave-my-path with poor unfortunate animals:

Episode 8 - the Wolf Canyon

Episode 120 - in Africa

Wolves and leopards are far below the lion in the food chain. Kyouya isn’t confronted to animals on the same or an higher level than the lion, like tigers, bears or jaguars (thought we know there are bears aound Koma and Kyouya travels in the south american wilderness, where jaguars roam).

Bonus - Episode 25 - Kyouya and Leone at the zoo

Here again, Kyouya and Leone throw into panic animals that aren’t on the same level on the food chain. I know there is a lion there... but a zoo lion. Lions fight to have the control of a pride, but what chances has a zoo lion against a wild lion used to battle?

I didn’t notice until there... But in Metal Fusion, Kyouya needs to call upon Leone’s spirit to frighten animals, while in Fury, he succeeds to get a lionish aura on his own. What an evolution!