kingandy | Xiaolin Showdown (2)

Caught that show again today. I want to dislike it for its terrible racial slurs, I want it to be a pathetic mess, but unfortunately it is proving to be quality. Formulaic structure aside, the supervillain is pure class in a glass - and a lot of the dialogue is fairly snappy, too. Damnation.

The mystery of the clothing: Apparently the red pyjamas (Omi excepted, since he wears his all the time) are something that they wear around the school/dojo/whatever, and during their "activate special powers" cutscenes (read: stock footage). They also, for no apparent reason, pop up during an actual "Xiaolin Showdown". So, the kids get to keep their functional-yet-stylish individual outfits for the field missions.

This does not, however, explain Kimiko's hair. The girl is someting of a clothes horse (though still in a practical way - she doesn't flounce around in ballgowns, she just has a lot of T-shirts, sweaters and jeans/shorts/whatever). The wierd thing is, for each outfit she has a hairstyle. Yeah, back at the dojo she hangs out with these neat black bunches, but whenever they have to rush out and prevent the creepy ghost lady from grabbing another ancient talisman she takes time out to colour and style her hair into some impractical mess. Today it was two-tone pink dreadlock things that stuck out in a big fan. Blech.
>> SEE TVTOME EPISODE GUIDE FOR MORE DETAILS ON KIMIKO'S HAIR!!!!1!!111!1111ONE1!!11

The other thing that surprises me about the show is that I'm as yet unable to find any tie-in merchandise. Not that I've looked carefully, you understand, but no pages make any mention of it (eg, "based on the popular card game...") This is surprising, based on the format of the show (1: Go looking for item. 2: find item at same time as villain. 3: Challenge villain to "Xiaolin Showdown" (to be shouted at top of voice while posing), which consists of random physical challenge. Each contestant puts up one magic item as stake, winner takes all.).

Maybe they're just trying to encourage random physical contests between kids. And wagers.

FUN FACT: Omi is voiced by Tara Strong, a heavyweight VO actress. Possibly best known for her role as Bubbles in the Powerpuff Girls, she's also currently voicing Dil Pickles in the new "All Grown Up" Rugrats series, and Raven (!) in the Teen Titans. Here she sounds a lot like Bubbles in that episode where she thinks she's MoJo JoJo.