SplaTOON! (aka Splatoon: The Animation!)

Episode One: I Am Zaki

(Start on a light-rail train to Inkopolis Square. MIKADO and ZAKI are sitting next to each other. ZAKI has a Splattershot Jr. in her lap.)

Mikado-So what brings you to Inkopolis?

Zaki-I grew up in a town where ink battling was huge but only with the boys. I was the only exception. I have four older brothers, and they already had their own sort of team, but they would let me play every now and then. As we got older, though, they started including me less and less until they outright turned me away when I asked to join. I tried to ask some other teams I thought would be more understanding, and guess what?

Mikado-They said no, too.

Zaki-Yeah! One boy even said, "In what universe does a girl play alongside a boy?" I soon realized that that universe was right here in Inkopolis. It took me a few years of staring longingly at the Inkopolis Turf League poster in my room and trying to muster up the courage to ask my mom to leave before I decided to skip the asking phase and run away from home with nothing but the clothes on my back and my Splattershot Jr.

Mikado-And now you need a place to stay?

(ZAKI sighs.)

Zaki-Yeah. I didn't really think this through, did I?

Mikado-So...

Zaki-Please?

Mikado-I guess I can take you in until you can find a place of your own. What's your name again?

Zaki-Zaki.

Mikado-Cool. My name's Mikado.

(The train stops.)

Mikado-I think this is our stop. Ready to realize your dreams?

Zaki-I was born ready.

(They get off the train. Opening theme. ZAKI and MIKADO stand before the tall buildings of Inkopolis Square.)

Mikado-Here it is: Inkopolis Square, home of the Inkopolis Turf League. Is it everything you dreamed it would be?

Zaki-It's even better. This isn't just a poster in my bedroom.

(She holds her arms up victoriously.)

Zaki-This is living!

Mikado-I think I should point out the important places in the square.

(She points to the strip of buildings on the left.)

Mikado-Over there is Booyah Base. That's where you can shop for all your gear. Just a bit of a warning: the shopkeepers can be a snobby bunch. They won't let you buy their merchandise unless you have a certain level of freshness.

(She points to the elevated entrance on the right.)

Mikado-Up there is the Battle Dojo. That's mostly for one-on-one practice.

(She points to the tower in the middle.)

Mikado-And that's where the magic happens.

(ZAKI gasps.)

Mikado-Inkopolis Tower.

(CAP'N CUTTLEFISH pops out of one of the manhole covers for a few seconds before disappearing.)

Zaki-Who was that creepy old guy?

Mikado-Ah, who cares? It's not important.

(A peppy tune plays on the jumbotron in the square.)

Mikado-It sounds like another news cast.

(They look up. CALLIE and MARIE appear on the screen. [NOTE: CALLIE has a speech impediment that makes the R's fall off the ends of her syllables. It sounds like she has a Brooklyn accent. This comes up a few times, so don't fuhget it. Also, despite their appearance in the games, all idols in this series have round black pupils like everybody else.])