Gungrave (ガングレイヴ, Gangureivu?) is a Japanese animated television series based on the video game of the same name, created by Yasuhiro Nightow. The series is directed by Toshiyuki Tsuru, from a screenplay by Yousuke Kuroda, and produced by Madhouse Studios.
The series follows Brandon Heat and Harry MacDowell as they rise through the ranks of the Millennion crime syndicate.
Gungrave aired on TV Tokyo from October 6, 2003 to March 29, 2004, totaling twenty-six episodes. Like the Gungrave video game, and its sequel (Gungrave Overdose), the series' music is provided by Tsuneo Imahori; this also includes the series' opening theme.[2]
In 2003 Geneon Entertainment, formally Pioneer Entertainment, announced the license of Gungrave in North America[3] On July 3, 2008, Geneon Entertainment and Funimation Entertainment announced an agreement to distribute select titles in North America after Geneon ceased distribution of their own titles in October 2007. While Geneon Entertainment will still retain the license, Funimation Entertainment will assume exclusive rights to the manufacturing, marketing, sales and distribution of select titles[4]. Gungrave was announced as one of the several titles under the agreement on December 30, 2008.[5].
Gungrave opens thirteen years after Brandon Heat is betrayed by his best friend Harry MacDowell. He is reborn as Beyond The Grave, and begins a quest of revenge against the crime syndicate. The series then backtracks to Brandon's youth, and follows him and Harry as they rise through the criminal underworld, detailing the circumstances that led to their eventual falling-out.
[edit] Characters
- Brandon Heat
Voiced by: Tomokazu Seki (Japanese), Kirk Thornton (English)
- A small-time criminal who was in a gang with his best friend, Harry McDowell, along with three other close friends. After their friends were killed, Brandon and Harry joined the crime syndicate Millennion, led by Big Daddy. Brandon was trained by Millennion's Bear Walken to be a sweeper (assassin), eventually forming his own elite sweeper unit within Millennion called "True Grave".
- As Harry rose to power, Brandon remained loyal to the syndicate. Brandon confronted Harry for betraying the organization, but found himself unable to kill his friend. Instead, Harry kills Brandon during his moment of hesitation. Brandon was resurrected by Dr. Tokioka as "Beyond the Grave". His purpose is to destroy the syndicate that he once worked for and the friend who betrayed him.
- Harry MacDowell
Adult Harry Voiced by: Tsutomu Isobe (Japanese), Tom Wyner (English)
Young Harry Voiced by: Kenji Hamada (Japanese), Tony Oliver (English)
- "Bloody Harry" was the leader of small-time gang operating out of Desolation Alley and Brandon's best friend. After five years with Millennion, the two friends were made part of the leader's inner circle. As part of Big Daddy's "family", they were expected to follow a strict code of conduct, but Harry took the code lightly. He started killing and cheating his way to the top of Millennion, ultimately securing his position by killing his best friend.
- Maria Asagi
Voiced by: Kikuko Inoue (Japanese), Michelle Ruff (English)
- Maria was Brandon's sweetheart when they were young. She lived with her adoptive father Jester, a member of Millennion, who raised her from infancy after finding her while working a job for the group.
- After Jester was killed, she moved in with Big Daddy at his villa, eventually growing close to him after Brandon rejected her, on the grounds that he had sinned too greatly during his profession as an assassin. She eventually married Big Daddy and gave birth to his daughter, Mika. Maria was later killed by Harry MacDowell, in his attempt to discontinue the line of Big Daddy's descendants.
- Dr. Tokioka
Voiced by: Motomu Kiyokawa (Japanese), William Frederick Knight (English)
- A scientist who developed the necrolyzation dead regeneration process. When Mika came to him, he used the process to bring Grave back to life.
- Big Daddy
Voiced by: Iemasa Kayumi (Japanese), Michael McConnohie (English)
- Millennion's founder and leader. He started the organization to protect his city and his "Family". He developed a bond with Brandon early in the latter's career in Millenion, which resulted in Brandon giving up Maria to Big Daddy out of loyalty to the man and the organization. Big Daddy was killed by Harry out of jealousy.
- Bear Walken
Voiced by: Ryūzaburō Ōtomo (Japanese), Beau Billingslea (English)
- A sweeper for Millennion, and one of the oldest members of Big Daddy's inner circle. He stays with the organization after Harry becomes the leader of Millennion for the sake of his daughter (Who is romantically involved with Harry). He is later killed by a resurrected Brandon, after inviting Brandon to his home for a duel to the death.
- Bob Poundmax
Voiced by: Chafūrin (Japanese), Doug Stone (English).
- A formerly skinny man Bob is now portly, morbidly obese intelligence operative, he rose through the ranks of Millenion with Brandon and Harry. After Harry’s ascension to the head of the organization Bob sat as one of the Big Four under Harry. He became the second “Superior” created after the procedure was perfected and the first to confront Beyond the Grave. He was killed by Brandon.
- Balladbird Lee
Voiced by: Takehito Koyasu (Japanese), Steven Blum (English)
- Bob Poundmax's best friend. He owes his life to Harry after it was discovered that he was working with Lightning, a rival group of which his older brother Cannon Vulcan was a member, while in Millennion. However, Harry forgave Balladbird, allowing him to stay in Millennion in exchange for his loyalty. After learning of Bob's death, Lee kidnaps Mika and kills her two bodyguards in the process. Lee is eventually killed in the subway by Brandon's Anti-Superior bullets.
- Bunji Kugashira
Voiced by: Fumihiko Tachiki (Japanese), Lex Lang (English)
- An assassin from a rival group originally ordered to eliminate Lee, Bob, Brandon and Harry. He joins Millennion after Harry convinces him of a double-cross by the group that hired him. He and Brandon became good friends and becomes Brandon's protege before Harry's rise to the leader of Millennion. After Brandon's death, he takes over the sweeper team and eventually becomes its only member.
- After facing the resurrected Brandon Heat, he opts to transform himself into a "Superior". He is finally defeated by Grave in the lobby of the Millennion's headquarters after a quick draw duel. He is last seen during the final episode in the reflection of his "brown eye".
[edit] References
- ^ "FUNimation to Distribute Gungrave Anime for Geneon". Anime News Network. http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2008-12-30/funimation-to-distribute-gungrave-anime-for-geneon. Retrieved 2008-12-30.
- ^ Tsuneo IMAHORI - Anime News Network
- ^ [1]
- ^ Anime News Network (2008-07-03). "FUNimation Entertainment and Geneon Entertainment Sign Exclusive Distribution Agreement for North America". Press release. http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/press-release/2008-07-03/funimation-entertainment-and-geneon-entertainment-sign-exclusive-distribution-agreement-for-north-america. Retrieved 2008-07-03.
- ^ Anime News Network (2008-12-30). "FUNimation Entertainment to distribute Geneon Entertainment's Gungrave". Press release. http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/press-release/2008-12-30/funimation-entertainment-to-distribute-geneon-entertainment-gungrave. Retrieved 2009-04-08.
[edit] External links
