Danball Senki W Episode 1

The New Status Quo The episode opens with a recap of the previous season's climax, establishing that Ban Yamano successfully defeated the Innovators and cleared his father's name. In the present day, Ban is now a celebrated figure in the LBX community. He is seen participating in an exhibition match in Tokyo, showcasing the power of his LBX, Odin. The crowd is ecstatic, and LBX battles are more popular than ever, enjoyed safely by children and adults alike.

The Hidden Threat While the world celebrates, a rogue transmission interrupts the festivities. A mysterious figure named Dr. Mummy appears on screens across the city. He represents a terrorist group called Detector. They declare that they will "judge the world" and proceed to demonstrate a terrifying new technology: the ability to take control of LBX units remotely.

Unlike the Innovators, who operated in the shadows, Detector is brazen. They begin to "Dark Ghost" LBXs—turning normal players' robots into mindless soldiers that attack their owners and the city infrastructure. The safety protocols that made LBX a safe hobby are rendered useless.

The Battle for Tokyo Chaos erupts in the city center. Detector deploys a massive, unknown LBX weapon to destroy the Tokyo Tower (or a similar landmark). Ban quickly rushes to the scene, summoning Odin. He attempts to stop the colossal machine, but he is overwhelmed. The enemy LBX utilizes a strange, dark energy that Odin’s standard attacks cannot penetrate.

Ban fights valiantly, but the sheer scale of the threat—using civilians' own LBXs against them—leaves him paralyzed. He cannot destroy the possessed LBXs without hurting the innocent owners' prized machines.

Enter the Ace Just as Ban is pinned down, a high-speed aircraft flies overhead. A figure jumps from the plane, parachuting into the war zone. The new arrival deploys a sleek, powerful LBX: Ikaros.

The pilot is introduced as Hiro (Ran Hanasaki in the Japanese version, though later localized as Hiro Hughes in some regions, distinct from the main protag Ban). However, in this specific premiere context, the scene is dominated by the arrival of a mysterious powerhouse. This new LBX moves with incredible speed, utilizing a "Hax" system that Detector cannot hack.

With a single, devastating attack, Ikaros cleaves through the enemy's defenses, destroying the Dark Ghost signal transmitter and freeing the hacked LBXs.

A New Rivalry As the dust settles, Ban thanks the stranger. However, the pilot of Ikaros is cold and dismissive. He looks down on Ban, claiming that Ban is "weak" and that the world needs more than just a "hero of justice" right now—it needs a weapon. The pilot reveals himself to be Hiro, an agent working for a global peacekeeping force.

The episode ends with Detector retreating, vowing that their "Divine Judgment" has only just begun. Ban realizes that the peace he fought for is fragile and that to stop Detector, he may have to fight alongside this arrogant new rival.

  • Protagonist Introduction

  • New Threat — "The W Virus"

  • Introduction of New Rival/Partner

  • New LBX Units

  • Cliffhanger Ending

    • Danball Senki W Episode 1 is a textbook example of a sequel premiere. It respects the past, introduces a compelling new lead, and raises the action bar. It stumbles slightly with pacing but recovers with an emotional cliffhanger: the reveal that a colossal, moon-based LBX cannon is aiming at Earth.

    If you love mecha anime, toy-based battles, or just feel nostalgic for the 2010s Level-5 golden era, this episode is your perfect re-entry point.

    Score:

    Should you watch it? Absolutely. Just be prepared to immediately queue up episode 2.

    What are your memories of watching Danball Senki W for the first time? Did Hiro grow on you instantly, or did you miss Ban’s solo adventures? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

    Danball Senki W Episode 1: The LBX Rebellion Danball Senki W Episode 1, titled "The LBX Rebellion" (LBXの反乱), premiered on January 18, 2012. As the first episode of the sequel series to the original Danball Senki, it marks a significant shift in the franchise by introducing a dual-protagonist system and escalating the stakes from local tournaments to a global crisis. Plot Summary: A World at Peace, Interrupted

    The episode begins one year after the final battle against the Innovators. The world has largely returned to peace, and LBX (Little Battler eXperience) has become a popular global hobby. Ban Yamano, the hero of the first series, is now a 14-year-old world champion.

    The story opens with Ban heading to the Tokio Sia Department Store for a major announcement by Tiny Orbit regarding their latest LBX model. Meanwhile, we are introduced to Hiro Oozora, an arcade-obsessed boy with incredible reflexes who wins twenty consecutive matches at an LBX arcade game to earn a limited edition "Space Hero Senshiman" figure. danball senki w episode 1

    The peace is shattered when a mysterious organization known as Detector begins "brainjacking" LBXs, causing them to go on a violent rampage. During the chaos:

    Tiny Orbit's new model, the Achilles Deed, is hijacked and uses a devastating new move, "Black Storm," to destroy Ban’s LBX, Odin.

    Ban’s close friends, Ami Kawamura and Kazuya Aoshima, are abducted by the rampaging LBXs after their units (Pandora and Fenrir) are destroyed. Key Characters and Debuts

    Episode 1 serves as the formal introduction for several major characters who will lead the "W" (Double) era:

    Hiro Oozora: The second protagonist, a gaming prodigy who receives his first real LBX, Perseus, during the episode.

    Ran Hanasaki: A karate expert and the granddaughter of the Hanasaki dojo's master. She later joins Ban and Hiro to form the core trio.

    Cobra: A support character who makes his first appearance alongside Hiro. Production and Impact

    The episode was produced by OLM and directed by Naohito Takahashi, with the script written by Level-5 CEO Akihiro Hino. It effectively bridged the gap between the first game/anime and the new "W" storyline, which was simultaneously being promoted via a PSP/Vita game.

    Critics and fans noted that while the episode starts with the lighthearted "toy commercial" feel of the original, it quickly shifts into a more serious narrative with the destruction of Ban's legendary LBX Odin, a moment that shocked many long-time viewers. Quick Episode Facts Air Date January 18, 2012 New Protagonist Hiro Oozora Primary Antagonist Key LBX Destroyed Odin, Pandora, Fenrir New LBX Debuts Perseus, Achilles Deed

    For more details on where to watch or the legacy of the series, you can visit the Danball Senki Wiki or Anime News Network. Danball Senki W (anime)

    Here’s a feature summary for Danball Senki W (also known as LBX: W or Little Battlers eXperience W), Episode 1. The New Status Quo The episode opens with

    Title: The New Beginning (or localized equivalent: A New World)

    Original Air Date: January 18, 2012 (Japan)

    The episode opens not with chaos, but with peace. A title card reveals that two years have passed since the events of the original Danball Senki (the battle against the Innovators and the destruction of the Eternal Gunner).

    We are reintroduced to Ban Yamano, our spiky-haired hero, who is now a fifth-grader. He seems to have matured slightly, but his love for LBX battles is as fiery as ever. He is still living in the peaceful town of Kami-machi, where LBX battles have become a normalized, legalized hobby rather than a tool for shadow warfare.

    However, the peace is deceptive. Ban is visited by his old ally, Amachi, who comes bearing urgent news: a new global threat is emerging, this time tied to an illegal LBX battle tournament known as the "W Tournament."

    The episode quickly shifts tone when a mysterious, sleek, white-and-blue LBX appears in town, controlled by a silent, glasses-wearing boy named Hiro Ōzora. Unlike Ban’s fighting style, which relies on passion and instinct, Hiro fights with cold, mathematical precision. Their first encounter isn’t just a friendly spar—it’s a clash of ideologies.

    The original Danball Senki ended with a clear resolution: the bad guys were defeated, and LBX battles became safe. Episode 1 of Danball Senki W masterfully tears that peace down without feeling repetitive.

    Looking back, Danball Senki W Episode 1 successfully did what few sequels dare to do: it split the protagonist role. This risk paid off. Hiro became just as beloved as Ban in Japan, and the "buddy mecha" dynamic influenced later Level-5 works like Inazuma Eleven GO.

    For newcomers, this episode serves as a decent soft reboot. You don’t need to have seen the first 44 episodes of the original to understand the plot, though you’ll miss the emotional weight of Ban’s growth.

    For returning fans, episode 1 is a promise: bigger battles, higher stakes, and a darker world. The moment Hiro says, "I don't fight for justice. I fight to atone," you know this isn’t your little brother’s LBX anime anymore.