Bakugan: Battle Brawlers is a cartoon adaptation of the popular strategy game created by Sega Toys and Spin Master. 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 spiky hair, fingerless gloves and goggles, Dan looks like numerous other shonen (boys) anime heroes, he's nicer than Yugi, but he lacks Ash's good heart. --Charles Solomon