Ballmastrz: 9009originally premiered in 2018, and despite itsrespective cult-classic statuscompared to other Adult Swim shows, it remains a passionate love letter to anime,Mad Max, and the grungy art of the ’80s and ’90s. In a twist ona typical underdog story, superstar athlete Gaz Digzy is tasked with bringing The Leptons to glory in a hyper-violent, roller-derby-inspired sport known only as “The Game.” Despite a short runtime of eleven minutes, it managed to tell a compelling story that saw the ragtag group triumph over the competition, leading to a dramatic season two cliffhanger that ultimately changed the status quo going forward.
While the series hasn’t officially been renewed for another full season yet, the upcoming specialBallmastrz: Rubiconwill no doubt continue the adventure of The Leptons as they take on a wholly new threat to the universe. While we likely won’t see them play The Game in this special,the recently-released trailerhas at least promised the return of our favorite crass characters — along with a brand new art-style change.
A Change in Art Style
The trailer wastes no time in giving us a taste of what’s to come. Right from the get-go, we open on an orbital view of Earth witha pair of geometric spaceshipsengaged in a magnificent battle. Explosions litter the sky next to the thousands of stars in the background as we zoom into a distant, prism-shaped golden vessel. If you remember the season two finale ofBallmastrz: 9009, you’ll likely recognize it as the very same ship that The Leptons boarded after a crucial bombshell was dropped.
It turns out that The Game was actually an elaborate training simulation meant to prepare the best of the best for combating an alien threat. Crayzar — a cybernetic demigod who created The Game as a means to ensure peace on Earth — joins The Leptons on board as their newfound commander, turning the city they once inhabited into a humongous warship of his own design. Based on the intro alone, we can expect thatBallmastrz: Rubiconwill pick up immediately after the conclusion of season two.
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In the interior of the ship, another drastic change is immediately noticeable. What madeBallmastrz: 9009stand out against other Adult Swim shows was the scratchy art of series creator Christy Karacas. Boasting thick and hashed outlines, exaggerated expressions, and extremely vibrant colors, Karacas' style is also seen in his other shows,SuperJailandRobotomy. However, the animation forBallmastrz: Rubiconwill be handled by the prolific Studio 4℃, whose prior works include theBerserk: Golden AgeArctrilogy,Princess Arete, andMind Game.Suffice it to say, it’s a dramatic transition. Gone are the harsh outlines and complex shapes. In its place, we have more simple line-work and colors that closely resemble the styles used in anime productions from the ’70s.
We get a quick cast round-up in their redesigned appearances. Crayzar poses with a rose in a getup similar to that of a spaceship captain ripped straightout of a vintage anime. Similar staff uniforms are given to the rest of The Leptons in their signature orange color. From there, we get a brief glimpse of Gaz, Leto, Duleena, Lulu, Bob, and finally, Flypp Champion. However, there are two glaring omissions from the lineup: Ace Ambling and Babyball.
A Tribute to the ’70s
Despite the focus on Gaz as a protagonist, Ace and Babyball are just as important to the overarching story ofBallmastrz. Originally a foil to Gaz, Ace was an affable fan of Gaz’s before coming into his own as the series progressed. Being a descendant of the Ballmasters, it’s revealed in the original series that he can fuse with Babyball to become one of the eponymous warriors.
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As Crayzar’s rose unfurls, so too does the starship before it shoots out a brilliant ray of light. It turns out to be a redesigned Ace and Babyball in their fused form, now ready for combat in outer space. Despite this change, Babyball kept his humorous position as the fusion’s codpiece.
Their redesign takes notes from avariety of mecha anime. Immediate comparisons can be drawn toVoltron,Gigantor,Mazinger Z, and of course, the ever-popularGundamseries. While we don’t see the two isolated from each other, minus a brief appearance by Babyball in the middle of the trailer’s end-card, we can assume that their individual designs will be similarly revamped forBallmastrz: Rubicon.
The trailer concludes with a scene anime fans may be familiar with. As Ace and Babyball rush forward to take on a fleet of smaller alien ships, Crayzar fires off a volley of missiles in their wake. The duo dodge and weave through the cloud of munitions, dancing between explosions in some of the most beautiful animation the series has seen yet. While the missiles themselves utilize the same simple shapes we’ve seen so far, the actual explosions and smoke trails are given a dazzling display of detail in comparison.
Ballmastrz: Rubiconwill premiere on Adult Swim on February 20 at midnight EST, with a release on HBO Max on the following day.
