Legendz: Tale of the Dragon Kings

Directed by: Akitarō Daichi

Written by: Aki Itami , Kinuko Kuwahata, Mamiko Ikeda, Takashi Yamada, Yuki Enatsu

Produced by: Studio Gallop

Air Date: 2004-2005

Lenght: 50 Episodes, 23-24 minutes each.

A friend convinced me to watch this show quite a while ago. Being one of many "mon" shows that didn't find the success it was aiming for, Legendz as a show does at least offer a very unique take on the genre... for the most part anyway.

The show is about four human children who discover Soul Dolls, toyetic devices that contain legendary creatures inside, the titular Legendz. A conglomerate called The Dark Wiz Company takes interest on them, sending their employees to steal them while mass producing replicas for unknown reasons. As each of the kids meets and forges a bond with their elemental creature partners, the true reason of their precense starts to unravel.

...Okay, Legendz isn't a ground-breaking show. Besides the fact I'd call it Digimon Tamers if it went to therapy. Being largely comedic, especially in it's first half. It does have a couple of things that make it stand out though. For one it is set in New York instead of Japan (which is why it surprises me it never got localized), and a setting where the monsters are individuals that co-exist alongside humans, rather than them being pets to their human partners. It's nothing profound, but it succeeds at being entertaining and funny at times. Enough so that it can make the viewer invested in the much more dramatic third arc.

My problems with it as a comedy are a bit subjective. An english-speaking narrator, being billingual, isn't a good running gag for me. And fourth-wall breaks aren't my thing. Then there's the ending, which of course I won't spoil.

Overall, if you're in the mood of a saturday morning japanese anime, Legendz can be an overall entertaining and rewarding watch.