12 Apr 2006
Posted by Martin [Tags: Gunslinger Girl]
I must admit I'm quite a fan of 'Girls with Guns' shows - the drama, suspense and the sight of attractive young ladies taking out bad guys and looking goddamn stylish is always going to have some entertainment value.
Gunslinger Girl is very different from the flashy coolness of
Noir or the dark comedy of
Chrono Crusade though - everything from the premise to the realism makes it something much deeper and quite chilling.
For one thing the protagonists' situations are utterly tragic: plucked from long-term illness or certain death, they are not adults but innocent children who are turned into cold-hearted assassins through mechanical enhancements and a brainwashing procedure vaguely termed 'conditioning'. Some critics have likened it to Luc Besson's
Nikita and considering this and the European setting, it is easy to see why; however an important difference is that of the character drama revolving around the concept of the 'fratello'.
Each assassin is too young and vulnerable to take on missions alone so she is paired with a professional 'fratello' or brother figure, who oversees her training, her work in the field and general well-being. It is the pairing of adopted brother and sister that makes up the majority of the drama in the first disc and the missions themselves take a back seat somewhat to the character-driven aspects. If you are looking for some realistic gunplay and nice visuals they are here in abundance (it's another Studio Madhouse triumph in that respect) but that isn't
Gunslinger Girl's central message.
By the end of this disc I was amazed by the quality of the animation and music but was even more overwhelmed by the plight of the story's unfortunate heroines. I can't go without mentioning the stunning opening theme by the Delgados though - the dramatic and bittersweet feel of the song makes it sound as if it could have been written specially for the series.
Hopefully the next disc will develop a larger story as well as continuing to explore the relationships between the characters.
Gunslinger Girl is certainly not your usual action/thriller fare: with harsh drama taking the place of fan service and a premise that might be too unsettling for some it is not everyone's cup of tea. On the other hand, if you are prepared to sit through the tearjerking moments it could well be one of the best UK DVD releases you'll see this year.
[Filed under Anime Reviews] [Tags: Gunslinger Girl]
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