Bakugan: Battle Brawlers(2007) is a
cartoon adaptation of the popular strategy game
created by Sega Toys and Spin Master. It is
available on DVD. Dan Kuso and his five
on-line friends started playing Bakugan when
game cards
inexplicably fell from the sky. Using
combinations of cards and special marbles that
turn into monsters, they fight duels and win
points. Dan loudly proclaims he's going to
become the all-time champion. He and his friends
learn that Bakugan monsters have lives in the
dimension of Vestroia. But the mysterious gamer
Masquerade is destroying the monsters he defeats
by sending them to the Doom Dimension. Battle
Brawlers plays like a cross between Yu-Gi-Oh!
and Pokémon. With his spikey hair, fingerless
gloves and goggles, Dan looks like numerous
other shonen (boys) anime heros; he's nicer than
Yugi, but he lacks Ash's good heart. Battle
Brawlers will appeal primarily to fans of
the original game. (Unrated, suitable for ages:
8 and older: cartoon violence)