Xiaolin Chronicles

Xiaolin Chronicles is a show that tries to be a continuation, but when it ended after only 26 episodes, would be labeled a stand alone show. While I have seen Xiaolin Showdown when it aired on Cartoon Network, this continuation was made without Warner Bros. As a result, the Shen Gong Wu have been renamed because WB owns the rights to the original names (Orb Of Tornami is now called Orb of Torpedo, and Monkey Staff is now called Monkey Spear),which I understood as this is done by a different company, as well as the change of some voice actors due to it being made in Canada, and Canadian laws require an all-Canadian voice cast (although Tara Strong and Jennifer Hale do return from Showdown to voice Omi and Katnappe).

So, the story is that Omi, Clay, and Kimiko have reached the title of Shuko Warriors (a title Raymundo reached in the final episode of Showdown), and now must find a new Xiaolin Temple after events lead to its destruction. Joining them is Ping Pong, a new Xiaolin Monk who is basically a mini-me of Omi, and they face threats old and new.

So, the thing with this series is it can't make up its mind on whether or not it's a continuation or a reboot. A lot of things have changed, as Dojo is now yellow, the first episode changes the tale of Dashi's fight with Wuya where he imprisons her in a spring, and the characters' personalities have been changed (with Omi getting the worst of it, as he becomes a brat who tends to hog the spotlight, and Raymundo is not the leader of the group). I don't know if these changes were also done to avoid legal issues with Warner Bros., since Christy Hui did return to direct, but it can be jarring at first.

Another thing keeping it down is the new character Ping Pong. He is basically a mini-me of Omi in different clothes, and a good example of what a Gary Stu is, as despite being a novice (and his element being wood), he can use the others' elements without problem (which contradicts an episode of Xiaolin Showdown). Also, Chase Young gets a sidekick named Shadow, who is basically a Villain Sue, only there to be the sexy character. Also, character backstories are different than in Showdown, which can cause confusion.

But one of the worst things in this series is how the Xiaolin Showdowns are done. Now they are done in CGI, and sadly, for 2013 standards, it looks so generic and bland. While the action is good and it is nice to see Xiaolin Showdown brought back, I feel this failed due to the changes it made, hence why Hui would call this a stand alone series instead of a continuation.

Watched it with my nephew who's 7-years-old. Loved it! Yes, Xiaolin Chronicles is different from the original Xiaolin Showdown that I grew up watching. It's not a continuing saga of Xiaolin Showdown. The format of the show is different. It's more like a side chapter of the Xiaolin gang, introducing a new monk. Still love the adventures, magical showdowns and the Shen Gong Wu. Would like to see a proper reboot of the original series, like the original characters are now grown up. Or some origin stories from the ancient days with Dashi and Wuya, fighting monsters and such. That would be epic. Keep more Xiaolin shows coming.

First of, I am glad to see the Xiaolin gang is kicking back. Omi makes me chuckle, and my favorite characters is the dragon, Dojo. I'd love to see more shows on other characters like Raimundo and Clay in the future though. More importantly, I'd love to see bigger, deeper story lines; but having worked in the industry myself, it is sometimes a struggle, especially if the networks want the show a certain way, like serialized vs. episodic. In this case, I found out (from someone who worked on the show) that they were required to deliver the show episodically. That's too bad. Because to tell bigger stories, there needs to be more time, spanning over multiple episodes. I think this series could be even stronger if the stories were serialized. And Xiaolin lends itself well as a serialized show. Take a look at the original Xiaolin Showdown, it was great and it was serialized. I'd say that Xiaolin Chronicles is not a continuation of the original storyline. The whole format is different. So while Xiaolin Chronicles is still fun to watch, it has the potential to be even better. This is why I'm giving this new series a 4-star, where Xiaolin Showdown would be a 5. What can I say? Sorry about that. But that's just did, it's show biz. Business decisions often put a lot of limitations on the creative front and sometimes things don't pan out. So all things considered, I love the fact that the new show brings back the classic characters and introduced a few new ones. I do hope they can figure out a good way to make more. And this time, please make the new shows serialized. Personally, I'd love to see Dashi and Wuya from the ancient days, to see what that world was like. Perhaps even an origin story. There's a lot of potential with Xiaolin, because there are already multiple universes in existence, with many unique and interesting characters. So please don't stop here. Bring back more Xiaolin… And this time, go back to the roots! Do a proper, kickass reboot of Xiaolin Showdown!

I loved Xiaolin Showdown. I also like Xiaolin Chronicles. This show is a different Xiaolin series, made with a different approach. For starters, Xiaolin Chronicles is not a "reboot" of the original series despite what many fans thought (or hoped). It's episodic, while the original series was serialized. This factor alone makes the two series different in storytelling. It was probably due to a network demand since the producers know better. Having said that, the magical adventures are entertaining to watch, and it's great fun to see the Xiaolin gang kicking butt. Sure, I'd love to see a real reboot, with the original cast grown up, facing new personal challenges and perhaps a new set of villains. But Xiaolin Chronicles was not made for the old fans. It was made for 6-11 years old kids! This is why it aired on Disney XD in US. Why do you think it ranked #7 on Nickandmore.com among 30 new shows that came out in 2015? It's because this new series is a very good show for kids.

Watched this show with my grandson who is 6-years-old. Had a blast. His favorite character is Raymundo and mine are Dojo and the cowboy. I'd say all the main characters are pretty well defined, with unique traits and quirks. Good character development in general. Liked that there is a backstory from the old days. I'd bet they can go a lot deeper into that world… Would be fascinating if they would ever make it. Hope so. Would really like to see more stories on Raymundo, may be next season? Master Fung should be in more stories also. He's quite the character and can make the show richer. If I had to be super critical, the animation, especially the 3D part, can be improved. Overall, it's a fun, entertaining show for kids. Love the magical adventures myself. Wish there is a virtual reality component where we can fly on Dojo. Now that'd be some magical adventure! My grandson now wants a sword just like the one Raymundo uses. Where to get it?