Bakugan Battle Brawlers is a Japanese action adventure anime television series produced by TMS Entertainment and Japan Vistec under the direction of Mitsuo Hashimoto.
The story centers on the lives of creatures called Bakugan and the battle brawlers who possess them. Though initially a failure in Japan, the series became popular in the United States and Canada, prompting the creation of a second season, New Vestroia, which aired in other countries before Japan. The third season, Gundalian Invaders, is currently broadcasting in the Canadian and US markets.
In the parallel world of Vestroia, a powerful Bakugan in search for power (a small marble magnetic sphere which when thrown on a gate card turns into a highly strong and powerful warrior) named Naga decides to absorb the energy of the two opposing cores that preserve the balance and peace in Vestroia. However he absorbed too much power and energy found within the Silent Core, the source of negative energy. The Infinity Core, the source of positive energy had been absorbed by Wavern.
The story centers on six friends who find metallic cards which have fallen from the sky or to be more precise, Vestroia itself. They name themselves the Bakugan Battle Brawlers and consist of seven children: Dan, Shun, Runo, Marucho, Julie, Alice, and later Joe. Together they learn more about the origin of the Bakugan, Vestroia, the game involving them, and the battle against Hal-G, Masquerade and Naga.
A strategic game called Bakugan was developed by Sega Toys and Spin Master and released in conjunction with the anime series, abeit released a year before the anime even started (2006). The game uses spherical, spring-loaded miniature figures, representing the Bakugan, which pop open when rolled onto special metal Gate cards. The objective of the game is to capture three Gate cards. To win a battle you need to use the gate cards G-power boost and the Bakugan with the highest wins. you can change the rules of battle with ability cards. Battle is engaged when opposing Bakugan magnetically pop open on the same Gate card. Each Bakugan has an attack strength called "G-Power", which can be modified by the Gate card landed on, Ability cards from players' hands,special optional pieces called Traps and some Bakugan carry BattleGear; whichever Bakugan ends up with the highest total G-Power wins the battle and captures the Gate.
The game can also be played with up to four people. The rules remain the same as a regular game. Bakugan may also be played in Big game style where players use six Gate Cards, six Ability Cards and six Bakugan, instead of three of each as in a normal game. Instead of capturing six Gate Cards, a player must capture three to win the game.
The game has spawned numerous accessories, such as carry clips to store three Bakugan marbles at a time, launchers to fire the marbles at the game arena, soft plastic and hard plastic play area mats and special gauntlets (based on the ones used in the second season).