The story centers around creatures known as Bakugan and the "Battle Brawlers," a group of young individuals who use them in strategic battles across various dimensions. The series was directed by Mitsuo Hashimoto and originally aired in Japan from April 2007 to March 2008. The franchise was created as a joint venture between Sega Toys and Spin Master, with Nelvana contributing to the anime's international localization and distribution. The relaunch was later announced on November 30, 2017, to occur in the first quarter of 2019. The new series premiered on Cartoon Network in the United States on December 23, 2018.