User Reviews

After watching the first episode I thought; oh man, not another cool-paranormal-man-defeating-zombies-anime. It looked very similar to Vampire Hunter D., Trigun and Hellsing. But at the second episode I discovered that this story begins with how our hero became an undead superhero. It takes about 10 to 15 episodes to tell the story of two young friends building up a career in the mob that's controlling their hometown. They start off as petty thieves and end as the chief-executives of the gang. At a certain point the story takes a dramatic twist that shapes the undead character ''Beyond the grave'', wanting to take revenge on those that deceived him in the past.

The strength of this show is that it gives all of its characters a tremendous depth by building up their story on a slow pace. It creates a certain emotional involvement with the characters and their (mis-)fortune. They could've just chosen to tell this story in far less episodes and focus more on the action than on the dramatic sequences, but that would most likely lead to a lesser end result. As it is now, it's perfect for my taste.

I really adored this impressive story about friendship, deceit, love and loyalty. It may contain some clichés, but that doesn't withhold it from being a very powerful piece of anime.

no detailed plot spoilers, but a general discussion of the progression of the series.

gungrave works best when it is a moody crime drama, somewhat along the the lines of michael mann's 80s series crime story. the speculative fiction aspect--- the org men--- seems like an idea shoved into this crime world to make it conform to the video game and more like something for kids who like bleach. the "science fiction" element never fits comfortably with these characters and unfortunately distorts them into laughing evil cliché, injuring the dramatic integrity of the world.

overall, gungrave is somewhat like a mix of berserk (which also begins obliquely) and hellsing, but not nearly as well written and psychologically compelling as the earlier and nowhere near as fun as the latter.

bear walkin is a cool supporting character and the friendship of brandon and harry is enough to keep me engaged for most of the earlier episodes, but the action is badly directed and sloppy, which is unusual for a madhouse anime, since they are the most consistently excellent anime studio ever (eg. shigurui, x (tv series), death note, etc.).

another negative observation is that the violence seems very toned down from what it should have been-- like the pg version of something that should have been a rough hard R (see berserk and shigurui).

i'm surprised at the high rating--- this show succeeds somewhat as a moody crime drama, but really loses its way with poorly handled action (with three exceptions) and laughing "evil."

May contain small, non-significant spoilers.

Finally, I've just saw the last episode and I am feeling strange, kind of like a person after being tortured. I won't lie, this anime do have some interesting points, a bleak lights seeing through the darkness of the infantile. This show is definitely not for the grown people. But lets start over.

Friendship, trust, family, love, brotherhood, loyalty, total control and betrayal. Those are the basics, the main themes explored in this anime. Harry and Brandon, best friends since their childhood, are going to experience some dramatic stuff in their life. Starting as a small hustlers on the streets, they are becoming members of a very strong and influent crime syndicate. Soon they have a key positions inside, but from here everything can go only down, into the grave.

First warning sign for me was Brandon Heat. It is very problematic to have the main character being silent most of the time. Language is a weapon when used properly, but the only weapons Brandon uses are guns and fists. Which is OK but pretty soon it is becoming empty and hollow without the talking. His lack of ability to do so, or probably intentional decision not to speak, is very annoying. It doesn't makes him more cool, it makes him more stupid. Not able to express or to explain himself, not able to talk to the girl that wants him, blindly following some idiotic syndicate rules and people, making sacrifices instead of profits. There are no real questions or doubts, no selfish behavior, no real feelings for him, only to serve and to obey. He is an autistic tool used by others, he has no real personality. As a heroic idol, as admiration icon - he is dumb. I can't respect dumb hero, no matter how brave and dedicated he is.

The second sign, more clear and exact sign for the upcoming failure, is the women in this show. There are only three main female characters, and they are the most superficial, most dumb, most worthless and most unnatural characters in anime ever. It was real shame to see each and one of them. There are no real issues that occupies those women, they are plastic toys with stupid smile, a constant victim, a mindless decoration. No will of their own, no needs, just waist of color and animator's work.

*** Aahhh, Faye Valentine! You are the only one of your kind. There is no competition here for you. ***

And I think I found the reason the first episode and the second half of the series are so bad in the eyes of many Gungrave viewers. It's Mika. Every time I saw and heard this demon child, all I could think about is how can I grab her and choke to death over and over again. It is unbelievable how irritating and annoying she is. I don't have enough words to describe my disgust from this creature, this Antichrist. Please be aware and ready, long exposure can do lethal and irreversible damage.

And of course, the last warning sign, more exactly the last confirmation how bad this series is, it's the story. I've seen a lot of anime. I know it is mainly for the teenagers and children, but the beauty is, that grown people can find really mature stuff in it. Thus we have so many anime for adults (no, not hentai). It's the total freedom of animation, the unlimited fantasy, the lack of limitations and boundaries of reality, that can add so much depth and interest into animation. Not Gungrave. The story is very simple, very clear, many cliché moments. When you see some sparkle of complexity, some dramatic or even tragic conflict, just before you wonder how does it get here, you realize - this is actually retarded. Because of the context, because of the pointless and the banality of this story. This show is not a smart one, it is ridiculously childish.

And something positive for a change - action scenes are not so bad and can be nice to watch. Spilled blood and the killings are more or less realistic and believable. Some of the characters are creative and imaginative on the first impression. Some of the events are nice, some of the moments are surprising, and overall you just watch it because you want to know how it will end. Would you enjoy the ride? Not really. But I guess it depends who watching it.

*** Some recommendations for better anime:

The series: Cowboy Bebop, Berserk, Ninja Scroll, Samurai Champloo, Outlow Star, Yu Yu Hakusho, Reign: The Conqueror, Last Exile, Bible Black, Black Lagoon.

The movies: Wings of Honneamise, Perfect Blue, Roujin Z, Memories, Vampire Hunter D, Steamboy, Lupin the 3: Castle of Cagliostro, Mind Game, Kite, Ninja Scroll, Akira, Paprika.

There is more, much more.

Gungrave takes place in an undisclosed town that feels and looks like somewhere in Europe. The series focuses on a group of friends that tries, by committing petty crimes, to earn enough money and to perhaps, one day, become high in the social scale. However, the world of crime is very cruel and it will wait patiently to find a good opportunity to crush you once and for all. Sooner or later the two protagonists will have to pay for entering this cruel domain; they will pay a very high price, but, in the end, they will find a way out. The group of friends, of brothers, achieves their dream and they become members of an influential mafia organization. This organization is powerful enough to control everything. Gungrave is a story of how power and influence change people.

Characters wise without a doubt I will straight up say that Braden Heat and Harry McDough were my favourite characters alongside Big Daddy and Bear.

The animation and art style was very good and it suits the series tone very well.

The voice acting in the English dub was excellent including Kirk Thornton, Tony Oliver, Kim Strauss, Michelle Ruff, Dorothy Fahn, Michael McConnohie, Dave Wittenberg, Bob Papenbrook RIP, Lex Lang, Steve Blum, Doug Stone etc.

Story wise there are some problems I do have with it like in the first episode it literally takes place between the time massive skip then in the second it goes back to the past on how it all started. Personally I would watch episode 2-14 before 1 if you want it all in order.

There is something I didn't exactly like such as I didn't really like how they put a massive age relationship between Maria and Big Daddy who was more like an uncle then a lover. While I know Maria and Braden's relationship wasn't very good but still, if there was something i would change about the story it would be this. While I know it was for the whole profess of Mika being Big Daddy's daughter or whatever but still.

Oh and speaking of Mika I couldn't stand her in the slightest look she is cute I will admit and I do feel sorry for her but I found her down right annoying and a pain to sit through whenever she appears on screen. Oh and it's doesn't help that the writing did try to ship her with Bredon.

Aside from those bad qualities I thought this was a fun series to watch.

This show was pretty good if you skip the 1st episode like I did. Despite the main premise being introduced late it does a decent job. The worst part however is the romance. The main character chooses the worst options romantically which leaves much to be desired. Spoiler ahead: the fact he lost to an old guy who was previously a father figure is near impossible by all observable logic in the know universe.

This twenty six episode series follows childhood friends Harry McDowell and Brandon Heat as they rise from being a couple of street punks to being major figures in the Millennion crime syndicate. At first things go well and they are taken under the wing of Millennion's boss Big Daddy but in time things change; Harry is determined to rise to the very top of the organisation and that will mean getting rid of both Brandon and Big Daddy. When Harry gets his hands on technology that enables him to run an army of the dead known as Orgmen it looks like Harry will run the organisation for a very long time but then after thirteen years he learns that Big Daddy had a daughter, Mika, and he decides she must die too. This is a mistake as the man who helps her survive his attack has the technology to bring Brandon back from the dead. Once back Brandon is determined to protect Mika and have revenge against the people who killed him and the people he cared about.

I must admit that I had some difficulty getting into the story during the first couple of episode but after that found myself gripped by the plot and the interesting characters. The back of the DVD case may say this is about Brandon seeking revenge against his former friend Harry but until the half-way point they are still the closest of friends. Because of this we believe in their friendship before we see it break down in such a terminal manner. This also makes it all the more tragic when characters we've grown to care about start dying… unlike Brandon the others don't get to come back. I liked the character designs; in particular I liked how we saw Harry age over the series; from a young man to a middle aged one with grey hair and a lined face. Surprisingly despite all he did the creators managed to keep his character somewhat sympathetic making his ultimate demise feel as tragic… I'm not ashamed to admit I shed a few tears at the end! Overall I'd say this is well worth watching if you want a character led anime that also has plenty of action; just remember some of it is quite bloody so it isn't really suitable for younger viewers.

Gungrave is about two friends in a small gang. When the rest of the gang is murdered, the only two left are Harry Macdowell and Brandon Heat. In an attempt to get away from their past, the two friends join a mafia organization by the name of Millenion. After many many years in Millenion Harry begins to get dangerously ambitious. When he asks Brandon to come with him on his ascension to the head of Millenion Brandon refuses. In his blind ambition he kills Brandon and so begins the rampage of Bloody Harry.

Its now 15 years later and Brandon has been revived through Necrolization to become the ultimate Gun-toting anti hero, Beyond the Grave. Out of the blue, the daughter of Brandon's old love interest Maria appears and reveals the truth of Grave about what happened after he was killed. Now, Beyond the Grave is locked and loaded and ready to dish out some old fashioned justice to Harry and his new violent Millenion. Beyond the Grave is ready to fight and has one mission, the kill Harry Macdowell and his new Millenion.

I love Gungrave. The characters are interesting and the action isn't repetitive (some people might consider this a drawback). The voices are perfect, and the show is simply a successful attempt to interest the players of the games. Gungrave isn't a popular anime, and its less popular a game. This gives it a lot of appeal to me, I don't have to hear about it from the majority of Otakus.

Gungrave is a less popular show from Yasuhiro Nightow and the Madhouse gang ( creators of Trigun ). Although the show isn't as popular as some of the other animes it is just as good with a dark and dreary look. If you loved Trigun and Hellsing and X and (well if you are an otaku) I highly recommend this title.

English dubs are affordable and have four episodes on each disc. You can order the entire series or you can order the entire series, on ebay or the official site, with ONLY Japanese DUBS.

Volume 4 is due on January 18. Be sure to look for it.