[Categories: Anime Reviews]
Speed Grapher episodes 1-4
The phrase ’style over substance’ is often bandied around a lot and Studio Gonzo is quite often at the receiving end of these criticisms. In the case of the likes of Speed Grapher though, you can’t help but think, “but what style!”. In addition its near-future worldview, exaggerated enough to be entertaining escapism but resembling our own closely enough to have something to say, paints a grim picture in which the wealthy and privileged can get anything they want…for a price. Tatsumi Saiga, a disallusioned war photographer gone freelance, stumbles on a secret society in which the elite have their deepest wishes granted…however dark and twisted they may be. Saiga’s investigation lands him literally in the middle of some strange ritual, in which the club’s Goddess is to bestow her gift upon a lucky member. It so happens that Saiga ends up with the Goddess’ blessing, with spectacular results.
Before we go any further, I have to stress that Shutter Speed, the DVD op theme written by Shinkichi Mitsumune of FLCL fame, replaces the Japanese TV one for copyright reasons. It’s a great tune, possibly the coolest since R.O.D.: the TV, and sets the show up nicely. It’s just that the original theme was none other than the 80s classic Girls of Film by Duran Duran! Look for it on Youtube if you want to see how well the song fits the trashy yet cool and decadant vibe of the show so much better. Anyway, Speed Grapher is part supernatural thriller, part horror and part social commentary - but subtle it certainly ain’t.
Saiga’s adventure, which results in rescuing the Goddess from her sheltered life of ‘blessing’ the rich and famous, inevitably upsets the organisation behind it all, who send members out to take care of Saiga and retrieve the girl. Like Saiga, they’ve had her blessing and, like Saiga, have acquired superhuman abilities. These manifest themselves as their deepest desires personified (bluntly called ‘becoming the object of one’s fetish’ in the DVD leaflet blurb), which for Saiga allows him to literally blow up anything through using his camera. In the case of a ballet dancer with a rubber fetish, his body behaves literally like rubber.
The themes of fetishes crop up a lot in Speed Grapher, which has strong sexual undercurrents running through it all - society revolves around materialism, money and the pursuit of physical pleasures. If you’re squeamish or a bit of a prude, take note of this: some interesting issues aren’t so much touched on as thrown at the viewer with considerable force. There’s violence aplenty too but at the same time the story has more to offer than shocks and blood. What is behind the supernatural ability, known as ‘euphoria’? What is its significance concerning Saiga’s own past? Why does that bishie guy have a weird nose protector?!
There’s much still to be revealed and quite honestly this lengthy post hasn’t explained everything in these four opening episodes very fully - the plot at this stage is a tad muddled anyway. Apart from a few moments of bargain-bin animation (the studio’s later series Welcome to the NHK shares many of Speed Grapher’s aesthetic strengths and weaknesses) the whole affair just oozes style so as mindless as it can be at times, I can’t help but be intrigued by it. Click, click, you’re dead!
Summary
The opening instalment of Speed Grapher is an exhilerating if occasionally shocking and confusing ride. Smatterings of sexual content and comic book violence offer eye candy but the underlying themes are interesting enough to suggest it will be an above-average show, especially with a lead as engaging as the careworn Saiga. The artbox that comes with the special ed of volume 1 by the way is glossy and smart so if the UK release (whenever that is) receives similar treatment we will be very fortunate indeed.
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