Bakugan

***Bakugan*** (爆丸, *Bakugan*) is a Japanese-Canadian anime adventure television series produced by TMS Entertainment, Dentsu Inc., and Nelvana Limited under the direction of Mitsuo Hashimoto. The story centers on the lives of creatures called Bakugan and the "battle brawlers" who possess them. The Bakugan franchise itself is a joint venture between Sega Toys and Spin Master.

The original series consisted of four seasons (*Battle Brawlers, New Vestroia, Gundalian Invaders,* & *Mechtanium Surge*) from 2007 - 2011 that follow Dan Kuso and his partner Drago on their adventures. There was a fifth season planned but it was cancelled.

In Japan, following the release of Season 3, they decided not to air *Mechtanium Surge* because of its poor sales in the west and instead released *BakuTech! Bakugan* which was eventually followed by *BakuTech! Bakugan Gachi.*

In 2019 the original series was rebooted. Now following Dan Kouzo and his partner Drago, this new series is not directly tied to the original continuity at all. There are five seasons, *Battle Planet, Armored Alliance, Geogan Rising,* *Evolutions*, & *Legends.*

In 2023 the third generation of Bakugan began. A second reboot of the show is set to start this year titled *Revolutions*, changing the faction system to "clans."

## Series Overview

### **Phase 1: Legacy (2007-2012)**

The original four seasons featuring the likes of Dan and Drago with his friends Shun and Marucho against the likes of evil that wish to take over Earth, Vestroia, Gundalia, and Neathia.

#### **Season 1: *Battle Brawlers* (2007)**

Dan Kuso's life changed one day when random cards fell out of the sky. Children all around the world invented a game called Bakugan out of these cards and the strange toys that turned into creatures. Together with his friends Runo, Marucho, Julie, Shun, and Alice, they formed the Bakugan Battle Brawlers. Unbeknownst to them, they would soon be dragged into a fight for the fate of Vestroia—the Bakugan's home dimension—against Naga, Masquerade, and the Doom Beings that seek to take over the world with the power of the Perfect Core.

* **Main Antagonist:** Masquerade
	+ Hydranoid, Dual Hydranoid, Alpha Hydranoid
* **Final Boss:** Silent Naga
* **Villainous Faction:** Masquerade's minions
* **Drago Evolutions:** OG, Delta, Ultimate, Infinity
* **Episodes:** 52
* **McGuffin:** Infinity Core
* **Gimmick:** Ability Cards
* **Pilot:** *BAKUGAN: The Battle Begins*
* **Finale:** *GAME OVER*

#### **Season 2: *New Vestroia* (2009)**

Following the short return of peace on New Vestroia, calamity strikes them again. An alien race known as the Vestals have invaded and conquered New Vestroia, creating three Dimension Controllers to change the Bakugan them back into ball form and using the Bakugan as a form of entertainment. On top of that, five of the original Bakugan that helped restore order to New Vestroia have been captured, and Drago is now being targeted. With the help of Dan, Marucho, Shun, and the Bakugan Battle Brawlers Resistance—a group of Vestals who have discovered that Bakugan are sentient and are fighting for their freedom—Drago believes he will have enough power to not only free New Vestroia, but his friends as well.

* **Main Antagonist:** Spectra
	+ Viper Helios, Cyborg Helios, Helios MK2
* **Final Boss:** Farbros
* **Villainous Faction:** The Vexos
* **Drago Evolutions:** Neo, Cross, Helix
* **Episodes:** 52
* **McGuffin:** Bakugan kind
* **Gimmick:** Trap Bakugan
* **Pilot:** *Invasion of the Vestals*
* **Finale:** *Final Fury*

#### **Season 3: *Gundalian Invaders* (2010)**

Dan, Marucho, and Shun get caught up in a war between two different alien factions in another universe, teaming up with three new brawlers: the Neathian, Fabia, the new human, Jake, and the undercover Gundalian, Ren, in order to stop the evil Gundalian Protectors, the Twelve Orders, from destroying Neathia, and possibly Earth. They meet these extraterrestrials when they enter through the virtual reality Bakugan Interspace. At first, the Brawlers are deceived into thinking that Neathia had started the war against Gundalia but, as the story progresses, the Brawlers realize that its actually the other way around.

* **Main Antagonist:** Emperor Barodius
	+ Dharak, Phantom Dharak
* **Final Boss:** Phantom Dharak
* **Villainous Faction:** The 12 Orders
* **Drago Evolutions:** Helix, Lumino, Blitz, Titanium
* **Episodes:** 39
* **McGuffin:** The Sacred Orb
* **Gimmick:** Battle Gear
* **Pilot:** *A New Beginning*
* **Finale:** *Destiny Revealed*

#### **Season 4: *Mechtanium Surge* (2011)**

Bakugan Interspace gets messy when Dan learns his battling directly threatens Earth. Drago's exposure to Code Eve has infused him with incredible power, causing him to unwittingly release Mechtogan Zenthon, a new, mysterious entity that wreaks havoc whenever Drago battles! While Dan attempts to regain control over Drago’s new powers, an insidious enemy builds an army of "Chaos Bakugan" engineered for total world domination! Will Dan be able to get a hold of Drago's power before it's too late?

* **Main Antagonists:** Magmel and Wiseman
	+ Razenoid, Evolved Razenoid
	+ Coredegon
* **Final Boss:** Mechtavius Destroyer
* **Villainous Factions:** Team Anubias and Team Sellon, Nonet Bakugan
* **Drago Evolutions:** Titanium, Mercury, Fusion
* **Episodes:** 46
* **McGuffin:** The "Gate and Key," and Bakugan Kind
* **Gimmick:** Mechtagon
* **Pilot:** *Interspace Showdown*
* **Finale:** *End of the Line*

#### **Season 5 (Cancelled)**

A cancelled fifth installment in the Legacy series. It is unknown how late into development it was before it was cancelled, but a small faction of the toy line was released prematurely in Europe as part of the *Mechtanium Surge* series. These "BakuBlasts" introduced a new version of Bakugan that shot out discs when they stood.

* **Main Antagonist:** N/A
* **Villainous Factions:** N/A
* **Drago Evolutions:** Blast(?)
* **Episodes:** N/A
* **McGuffin:** N/A
* **Gimmick:** BakuBlast
* **Pilot:** N/A
* **Finale:** N/A

### **Phase 2: BakuTech! Series (2012-2014)**

After *Bakugan: Gundalian Invaders* aired in Japan, a decision was made not to air *Bakugan: Mechtanium Surge*, which had been poorly received in the west. Instead, the *BakuTech!* anime was aired, each episode running 5 minutes and 30 seconds long. It was followed by a sequel titled *BakuTech! Bakugan Gachi*.

#### **Season 1: *BakuTech! Bakugan* (2012)**

The TV anime adaptation of the *BakuTech!* manga series follows the daily lives of Harubaru Hinode, Raichi Kuronashi, and Tatsuma as students of Master Shimo's Bakugan Dojo. Each six-minute episode features different BakuTech play styles and fast-paced brawling action.

* **Main Antagonist:** Zakuro
* **Final Boss:** TBA
* **Rise Dragoan Evolutions:** Flare, Gren, Rise
* **Villainous Faction:** Shadow Sanjushi
* **Episodes:** 51
* **McGuffin:** Bakugan Dojo
* **Pilot:** *Critical KO!*
* **Finale:** *Go! Rise Dragoan!*

#### **Season 2: *BakuTech! Bakugan Gachi* (2013)**

The second season of the TV Anime adaptation of the BakuTech manga series follows the battles of Team Dragaon in the Tavanel Cup.

* **Main Antagonist:** TBA
* **Final Boss:** TBA
* **Rise Dragoan Evolutions:** TBA
* **Villainous Factions:** TBA
* **Episodes:** 39
* **McGuffin:** TBA
* **Pilot:** *The Curtain Rises for the Tavanel Cup!*
* **Finale:** *Invader Made Lastboss!*

### **Phase 3: The Reboot (2019-Ongoing)**

Dan Kouzo and the Awesome Brawlers battle alongside their partner Bakugan to take on the likes of AAAnimus to defend their world from people using Bakugan to destroy them. Introduces a new attribute replacing Subterra, Aurelus.

#### **Season 1: *Battle Planet* (2019)**

The season follows the adventures of Dan Kouzo and his best friends, the first kids on Earth to bond with the mysterious alien creatures known as the Bakugan. The storyline revolves around friendship, battling, and competition.

* **Main Antagonists:** Tiko
* **Final Boss:** TBA
* **Villainous Faction:** AAAnimus
* **Drago Evolutions:** OG, Hyper
* **Episodes:** 52
* **McGuffin:** Core Cell
* **Pilot:** *Origin of the Species Part 1*
* **Finale:** *United We Stand*

#### **Season 2: *Armored Alliance* (2020)**

Bakugan: Armored Alliance is the next season of the Bakugan reboot. Notable introductions include Baku-Gear, which are similar to BakuNano and Battle Gear from the original series. The Gate Trainer is also introduced, which functions like a Gate Card but appears to be cosmetic, but it helps players to learn how to roll their Bakugan.

* **Main Antagonist:** Haavik
* **Final Boss:** Sabra x Pyravian
* **Villainous Factions:** TBA
* **Drago Evolutions:** TBA
* **Episodes:** 52
* **McGuffin:** TBA
* **Pilot:** *The Mysterious Boy*
* **Finale:** *Miracle Planet*

#### **Season 3: *Geogan Rising* (2021)**

*Bakugan: Geogan Rising* sees hero Dragonoid return as the Awesome Brawlers bakugan remain in a deep slumber, healing from the last time they had to save the world. This time, the gang will face adventures with a new set of Bakugan characters including Geogan, Bakugan-like creatures fused with elements of crystals and forming a new geometric form. Not only do Geogans look different than their Bakugan counterparts, but they are exceptionally strong and built to brawl. It’s not long before the Awesome Brawlers turn this group of misfit Bakugan into loyal partners, and Geogan have arrived on the scene, ready to prove their worth and dominate in the Bakugan battle arena.

* **Main Antagonist:** Gregorious Reed
* **Final Boss:** Viloch
* **Villainous Factions:** Mad Masks
* **Drago Evolutions:**Geo-Forge Dragonoid
* **Episodes:** 52
* **McGuffin:** TBA
* **Pilot:** *Drago Returns!*
* **Finale:** *At the End of the Fight...*

#### **Season 4: *Evolutions* (2022)**

In Bakugan: Evolutions, fan-favourite Bakugan heroes – including Drago, Trox, Pegatrix, Hydorous, Howlkor and Pharol – return stronger, faster and better than ever! Strange occurrences begin to happen in the new action-packed season; elemental energy from Vestroia is seeping into Earth, creating strange phenomena and causing Bakugan to rage out with excess energy! It’s not all bad though, as our heroes realize the Vestroian elemental energy is also causing elemental evolutions among our Bakugan! Along with these new evolutions comes a new breed of elemental brawlers, propelling the Awesome Brawlers to adapt and in effect, take Bakugan brawling to a whole new level, unlocking even more awesome powers and evolutions! Once again, the fate of two worlds, Earth and Vestroia, rests in the hands of the Awesome Brawlers and their Bakugan partners.

* **Main Antagonist:** Wrath
* **Final Boss:** TBA
* **Villainous Factions:** TBA
* **Drago Evolutions:** Genesis Dragonoid
* **Episodes:** 56
* **McGuffin:** TBA
* **Pilot:** *Evolutions Unleashed! Part 1*
* **Finale:** *The Wrath of Wrath Part 2*

#### Season 5*: Legends* (2023)

In *Bakugan: Legends*, Dan and his friends have to compete with their Bakugan against the ultimate villain, Hanoj. To do this, they use the new Nova technology.

* **Main Antagonist:** Hanoj
* **Final Boss:** Hanoj
* **Villainous Factions:** TBA
* **Drago Evolutions:** Nova
* **Episodes:** 13
* **McGuffin:** TBA
* **Pilot:** *A New Crisis*
* **Finale:** *Bakugan Brawl!*

### **Phase 4: The Third Generation**

Currently unknown story except it is brand new with a new Dan.

#### Season 1: Revolutions (2023)

* **Main Antagonist:** TBA
* **Final Boss:** TBA
* **Villainous Factions:** TBA
* **Drago Evolutions:** TBA
* **Episodes:** 52
* **McGuffin:** TBA
* **Pilot:** *Fire in the Sky*
* **Finale:** *Exploding Sphere*