posts tagged “Gunslinger Girl”
[Anime Reviews]
29 Jan 2008
Posted by Martin [Tags: Gunslinger Girl]
Get the reference there? Please?
Um, right. I started reading around the aniblogosphere while I was waiting for the subbed versions but after getting the general “not as good as the original” gist repeatedly, I gave up on reading and commenting. Put it down to the way in which reading excessive negativity dampens my mood and spoils things for me. This series however suffers what I call the SOFAD Effect: ask any Depeche Mode fan what they thought of Songs of Faith and Devotion and the first thing would be “It wasn’t as good as Violator.” The trouble is, nothing they’ve done is as good as Violator, which detracts from the fact that SoFaD is not half bad in its own right. I guess my analogy here is, beyond recommending Violator as a masterpiece, that Gunslinger Girl: -Il Teatrino- is actually quite good. Just not nearly AS good as what went before.
It’s part of my blogging nature I guess to jump to a show’s defence when everyone else is in a state of “Zetsubou shita!” dismay and rabid disappointment (in other words, you should be used to it by now). I’m fully aware of how it isn’t nearly as gritty, realistic or eloquent as the first season, whose budget must’ve looked shocking on paper but paid for itself over and over again on-screen. Il Teatrino lacks an element of what I can only call sophistication - season #1 was one of those rare pieces of anime that was mature, intelligent and avoided all the clichés to make a show that was as far removed from the archetype of its respective genres as is possible to get. Depending on how the subject matter is handled, it could be anything from exploitative and repulsive to heartfelt and profound; while the first season was decidedly of the latter, at least the second avoids being the former. There is however a crucial dash of polish and assuredness that’s sorely lacking here but for me at least, a partial measure of the original’s brilliance has been retained…not much I grant you, but just enough to keep me watching.
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[Site Announcements]
21 Jan 2008
Posted by Martin [Tags: First Impressions and Retrospectives, Gunslinger Girl, Sayonara Zetsubou-sensei, Spice and Wolf]
I thought it would be a good idea to lump my first impressions of the new year’s shows in one post because I want to spend more time watching and less time flooding the aggregators with daily posts. It’s an exhausting task that I don’t feel is sustainable in the long term, and doesn’t give much time for the latest post to enjoy its time at the top of the page either. As I stated at the beginning of the year, the plan is quality over quantity from now on (hopefully freeing up a bit of time to update my other Wordpress part of the site) - plus the fact that I’m watching rather a lot to begin with. 2008’s shaping up quite well already actually, so here are the token First Impressions that I may or may not adhere to.
A burnt-out science graduate seeking solace in solitude and sake…even the hairstyle’s the same
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[OAVs, Movies and Full Series]
17 Aug 2007
Posted by Martin [Tags: Gunslinger Girl]
It’s a sad fact that truly realistic and mature anime is still relatively uncommon amongst the numerous titles that hit UK shelves these days. The likes of GitS: SAC and Noir are the exception rather than the rule, which only makes something like Gunslinger Girl all the more essential. Also drawing comparisons with Luc Besson efforts such as Leon and Nikita, it is a sophisticated and well-produced series that bucks the trend in action thrillers.
Most ‘girls with guns’ anime involves plenty of fast-paced action but often it falls back on scantily-clad heroines in provocative poses to deliver the adrenaline rush. Gunslinger Girl does feature young females with dangerous firearms taking on terrorists, thugs and other nasty characters but the similarities with the Burn-up and Gunsmith Cats style of show ends there. Sure, there are some superbly choreographed action scenes animated with breathtaking attention to detail by Studio Madhouse; not to mention plenty of gunfights and conspiracies but the show’s focus is on the characters and the way in which their experiences affect them. These young assassins are not self-confident adults but innocent children who would otherwise have died as a result of illness or misadventure: a crucial point that makes the series stand out from the crowd.
Their ’second chance’ at life is instigated by a secret division of the Italian government who specialise in using technological enhancements and a form of mental ‘conditioning’ to create the perfect killers. Each girl is teamed up with an elder ‘brother’ who supervises his individual assassin’s training and wellbeing in an arrangement known as a ‘fratello’. These girls are outwardly docile and unassuming but are able to kill without hesitation, yet still harbour the feelings and emotional weaknesses of teenage adolescents.
The only significant problem with the series is the rather inplausible and quite frankly chilling premise which revolves around the pitiless way in which living, breathing human beings are engineered to be tools for a government’s own ends. Once you get past that rather unsettling fact however, the full emotional clout of the show can be felt. Each fratello operates differently: some of the agents see their sisters as the Agency does; that is, living weapons that exist to get the job done. Others take a more sympathetic approach to training and taking care of them, which leads to some really heartwarming and thought-provoking scenes.
We meet a number of girls and their handlers during the course of the series, each of whom demonstrates the ways in which the Agency works and highlight the ways in which it does not; even with the artificial body tissues and mental brainwashing, the emotions the girls experience and occasionally the sentimental attachment they develop for their handlers are very human indeed and affect the way in which they carry out their duties. While this could have been delivered with simplistic moralising that detracts from the severity of their predicament, Gunslinger Girl makes admirable use of subtlety and character dynamics to firmly make its point.
There is no escaping the fact that the sight of a teenage girl disposing of bad guys without a second thought and with little or no concern for her own safety makes for difficult viewing at times. At the same time it is an interesting study into the nature of humanity and the value of life: as much as the life of an assassin is painful and dangerous for them, the girls are invariably philosophical and grateful at still being alive at all. The questionable morality that has placed them in their current situation is lost on them when they are given a reason to live and the physical means to do so; these girls are victims of a cruel and uncaring world, yet they still show an unwavering love of life that makes their tear-jerking tale all the more poignant.
The themes and characterisation are truly exceptional but the production values of Gunslinger Girl are also outstanding. The European setting places the young heroines in front of some stunning picturesque backgrounds and every scene is directed with breathtakingly realistic care and attention with its true-to-life colour palette and effective use of light and shadow. The restrained music score works perfectly in enhancing the mood, including The Light Before We Land, a bittersweet and suitably emotionally-charged tune from Scottish outfit the Delgados that is used as the opening theme. If you are as taken by the song as much as I was, their Hate album is well worth tracking down.
Summary
Gunslinger Girl is emotionally brutal but its deft touch in portraying the lives of its unfortunate heroines makes it thought-provoking and compelling viewing. The ending leaves some questions unanswered but the meticulous way in which it examines the emotional plight of the cast, as well as the stunning visuals and music, make it one of 2006’s highlights. I doubt any viewer will remain unmoved by the heart-tugging story or the thoughtful way in which it is presented. Highly recommended to those who realise that animated drama can rival its live-action counterparts.
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[Anime Reviews]
07 Aug 2006
Posted by Martin [Tags: Gunslinger Girl]
How often does a series with this degree of depth and sophistication come along? Allowances for the open ending aside, the final episodes of Gunslinger Girl are among the finest to grace the UK’s DVD shelves this year. As you might have guessed from the series so far, it’s not a cheery affair either…
The first half of the disc concerns itself with the fatal shooting of one of the fratellos: Elsa and Lauro were found dead in a park with the ensuing investigation drawing attention from Section 1 and those in authority. The second half focuses on a rescue mission in which the cyborgs of Section 2 run up against a group of armed terrorists who are planning an abduction of a government official’s daughter.
The first half really highlights the limitations and potentially tragic side-effects of the Social Welfare agency’s methods - while the chilling truth of Elsa’s and Lauro’s deaths begins to surface the repurcussions are felt throughout the organisation. There’s an emerging backstory of politics and the like which was not apparent earlier on but it helps build up to the show’s finale.
The ending itself could have been much less impressive since the anime is essentially an unfinished story but it still gives a feeling that things have reached a turning point yet we are not going to see the results. The manga is ongoing and anyone who has read it can probably assure me that it continues to impress but as far as the screen version is concerned our journey with Section 2 ends here. That said, the sheer emotional impact is still considerable: the closing scene’s poignancy has to be seen (and heard!) to be believed and the central themes and ideas are conveyed with clarity and restraint without descending into melodrama.
Of course, there are still some moments of exhilerating action, such as the nail-biting raid on the terrorist hideout; by the end though it is clear that Gunslinger Girl has heart as well as guts and the characterisation is, and always has been from the start, the core of the story. In that respect it is a spectacular success: I don’t have the space here to outline every character and how they interact but it is this aspect that was the most rewarding thing about watching this series - regardless of the training and mechanical enhancements the girls are still living, breathing human beings.
No doubt this is why the final episode ends with dialogue and reflection instead of gunplay and violence: behind the politics and polished action is a cast of characters who attain the viewer’s sympathy through simply trying to live the lives that circumstances have given them. By the end a number of conclusions and conflicting feelings surrounding this and the other moral issues were running through my mind and continue to do so; this confirms for me at least what an outstanding piece of drama this show is.
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[Anime Reviews]
18 Jun 2006
Posted by Martin [Tags: Gunslinger Girl]
It’s been one seriously rough week, for a number of reasons that I won’t bore you with. I haven’t had time to do more than one review for AUKN in the past seven days with another yet to write and the second disc of Gunslinger Girl has been sitting on my shelf, unreviewed as well. It was worth the wait though, because this instalment is goddamned fantastic.
The first two episodes on offer here are more action-orientated with Henrietta and Rico being sent out to take care of terrorists, corrupt government types and any other nasty individuals who are causing problems that only Section Two can sort out. There’s plenty of opportunity to show some gripping suspense, gorgeous European cityscapes and another Delgados tune in the background incidental music (this time, the delightful Woke From Dreaming). They are both pretty much self contained though so offer little more than entertainment value and more reason for the series to receive Luc Besson comparisons (not that I’m saying it’s a bad thing, of course). As before, this series does not glorify violence but instead portrays it as what it is: an integral part of the protagonists’ lives.
It’s the second half that contains the greatest impact and is the most thought-provoking though - we are introduced to two new characters: Angelica and Elsa. Angelica was the first Section Two ‘recruit’, a girl who almost died from a car accident but became the guinea pig for the cybernetic inplants and conditioning. Both her past and the effects of her treatment are nothing short of tragic, and will guarantee to give your heartstrings a thorough tug. Very different but no less powerful is the tale of Elsa, whose apathy to her fellow cyborgs is in stark contrast to her devotion to her adoptive ‘brother’. Both of these stories give insights into the ways in which the Section works, as well as ways in which it sometimes doesn’t, more often than not to the detriment of the girls themselves.
I was extremely impressed with the first volume but this one delivers even more drama, intrigue and suspense. The plight of its unfortunate heroines is still very much the focus: I couldn’t help but feel disturbed by the cruelty they are subjected to but in addition to feeling immense amounts of pity for them it was heartwarning to see condemned youngsters enjoying some sort of a life that would otherwise have been denied to them. The closing scenes point to more drama and misfortune that is in store for these poor kids so it’s quite disappointing to think that there is only one more disc to go. At this point Gunslinger Girl is truly outstanding.
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[Anime Reviews]
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.
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