Gungrave (anime)

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Gungrave
ガングレイヴ (Gungrave)
Genre	Action, Drama, Gangster, Sci-Fi, Supernatural
TV anime
Directed by	Toshiyuki Tsuru
Studio	Madhouse
Network	TV Tokyo G4
Original run	6 October 2003 – 29 March 2004
No. of episodes	26

Gungrave (ガングレイヴ, Gungrave^?) is an anime adaption of the third-person shooter video game created by Sega with original characters designed by Yasuhiro Nightow.

In 2003, an anime television series was created based on the Gungrave PlayStation 2 video game. The story expands on the universe created in the first game, and follows the lives of Brandon Heat (also known as "Beyond the Grave") and his friend Harry MacDowell as they rise through the ranks of the criminal organisation, "Millenion". The series involves many of the same characters, and seiyū (voice actors) found in the original game.

It was produced by anime studio Madhouse, and included many of the same staff involved with the game and creator Yasuhiro Nightow’s other notable series, Trigun.

The anime began broadcasting in Japan on October 6, 2003 on TV Tokyo and ended on March 29 2004, running for 26 episodes. In the U.S. it airs periodically on G4 and on Anime Unleashed, originally debuting in October 2004.

Contents 1 Plot overview 2 Episode List 3 Characters 3.1 The Millennion Organization 3.2 Others 4 Trivia 5 External links

[edit] Plot overview

The first half of the series (if one doesn’t count the first episode) explores the relationship of a young Brandon Heat and Harry MacDowell, twenty-five years before the start of the original game. The primary story follows the pair of small-time criminals entering the big-league, a syndicate known as Millenion. The group emphasizes loyalty among its members, but Brandon and Harry’s strong relationship is disrupted by Harry’s lust for power. Secondary to the main story is that of the relationship between Brandon and his love interest, Maria. In these early episodes, Brandon struggles to decide who is more important to him; his true love, the Millennion organization, or his best friend. This course of events shows just how Brandon Heat and Harry MacDowell become ‘Beyond the Grave’ and “Bloody” Harry.

The second half of the series picks up thirteen years after Brandon's death, when he is revived by Dr. T to protect Maria's daughter Mika, and exact revenge on the Millennion Organization by stopping Harry's ambitions. This portion of the story follows the vein of the original game, and expands on characters and events to add to that story. It also introduces some new characters to the storyline, as well as slightly alter the events from that of the game it is based upon. Brandon also, unlike in the game; actually speaks quite often throughout the second portion of the series. Characters are also revealed to have changed in one way or another as well.

[edit] Episode List

Main Article: List of Gungrave Episodes

[edit] Characters

[edit] The Millennion Organization

• Brandon "Beyond the Grave" Heat:

Adult Brandon Voiced by: Tomokazu Seki (Japanese), Kirk Thornton (English)

Young Brandon 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 these three were killed, Brandon and Harry joined Millennion, a powerful mafia-type organization formed by Big Daddy. Brandon was trained by the Millennion's Bear Walken to be a sweeper (hitman), eventually forming his own elite sweeper unit within Millennion called True Grave.

Even as Harry rose to power, Brandon remained loyal to Big Daddy for Maria's sake. When he eventually confronted Harry over treason against the organization, Harry killed him. Brandon was then resurrected by Dr. Tokioka and "Beyond the Grave" was born. In the first game (and the anime), his purpose is to destroy the Millennion syndicate that he had once worked for and the man who betrayed him.

A quiet, soft-spoken man, Brandon only speaks in the anime show, and only when necessary. Throughout the show he demonstrates his determination to protect those he loves at any cost, including the loss of his own life.

• Harry MacDowel:

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 Brandon's original crew in Desolation Alley and was also his best friend. After five years with Millennion, he and Brandon climbed to the top of the organization's hierarchy, joining Big Daddy's "Family" and adopting the "Code of Iron," a philosophy of trust and loyalty to the organization. However, MacDowel took the Code lightly and made deals behind the organization's back, pulling strings and putting himself at the very top of Millennion. When Brandon discovered this and confronted Harry, he was murdered, but Harry had no idea of the future consequences of his betrayal.

In contrast to Brandon's taciturn nature, Harry is charismatic and enjoys a very social lifestyle. He instantly takes to the politics of organized crime and quickly rises to the highest levels of the syndicate, with Brandon carrying out the more violent aspects of his plans. In the anime, it is portrayed how the guilt of murdering his best friend drives him close to madness.

• 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 pretense that he had sinned too greatly during his profession as an assassin. She eventually married Big Daddy despite the age difference, and later have a daughter named Mika. Maria was later killed by Harry MacDowell.

• Dr. Tokioka:

Voiced by: Motomu Kiyokawa (Japanese), William Knight (English)

A scientist who formerly worked for Lightning and then Millennion, he developed the necrolyzation dead regeneration technique, eventually utilizing it to bring Grave back to life. In the original game it looks as if their hideout is a house, while in the anime, they reside in a huge truck. When Mika came to him, he knew that it was time to let Grave do what he does best. Brother of Big Daddy's butler.

• Big Daddy:

Voiced by: Iesama Kayumi (Japanese), Michael McConnohie (English)

The founder of Millennion. He initially started Millennion in order to protect that which is close to him, namely his city and "Family," the inner council that few in the organization are privy to. He and Brandon first met in the early days of his membership in Millennion, when Brandon had tried to meet with Maria. The two developed a bond, which saw them become fishing buddies, Brandon allowing Big Daddy to give Maria a life he could not, and Brandon's eventual death in the name of protecting Big Daddy's Millennion. He was later killed by Harry MacDowell and, in the game, re-created as a giant SEED-monster.

After taking lethal damage from Grave, Big Daddy was then eaten to death by the mysterious beast "Alien Head". In the anime, Big Daddy bears a striking resemblance to Al Pacino's character in Godfather III.

• Bear Walken:

Voiced by: Ryûzaburô Ôtomo (Japanese), Beau Billingslea (English)

A sweeper (hitman) for Millennion, a member of Big Daddy's inner circle, and one of his oldest friends. Much like Brandon and Big Daddy himself, he also wishes to protect those close to him, most importantly his daughter Sherry. Due to this, he stays on with the organization even during the switch to Harry MacDowell's Millennion.

In both the game and anime, Bear was the 3rd member Grave confronted and killed, and in both, they fought in Bear's private dojo. Grave defeated Bear in his Superior-form and he comments that he realized how the other members were defeated. In the game, he then transformed again into a giant. Bear was ultimately destroyed by Grave.

• Bob Poundmax:

Adult Bob Voiced by: Chafurin (Japanese), Doug Stone (English)

Young Bob Voiced by: Melvin Katt

A portly intelligence operative, Bob was the best friend of Balladbird Lee. Also close to Harry and Brandon as the four of them rose through the ranks of Millenion. After Harry’s ascension to the head of the organization Bob sat as one of the Big Four under Harry. Bob Poundmax is frequently seen eating, and over the course of the series, he becomes increasingly fat. When his life was threatened from a heart condition brought about by his glutinous eating habits he became the second “Superior” created after the procedure was successfully performed on Balladbird Lee as an experiment. He was the first Superior to confront Beyond the Grave after his return 15 years past his death.

In the game, Bob fought Grave in a zeppelin but lost. Bob turned into his Superior-form and challenged Grave again outside the zeppelin. He was finally killed by Grave.

• Balladbird Lee:

Voiced by: Takehito Koyasu (Japanese), Steven Blum (English)

Extremely loyal to Harry MacDowell, as well as being Bob Poundmax's best friend, he owes his life to Harry after it was found that he was working with Lightning, a rival group of which his brother Cannon Vulcan was a member, while in Millennion. However, Harry forgave Balladbird, looking the other way in exchange for his loyalty. Arguably alongside Harry as the character who has changed the most since Brandon last met him; his persona changed from being very patient, laid back and easy going, to become a chilling psychotic man and the most violent member of the Millennion. It is often debated that the reasoning for this may be that one of his best friends, Harry, killed his brother, since his personality soon changed after the events with Lightning. He was the one responsible for the killing of three of Brandon's friends.

In the game, Lee was the 2nd member that Grave has to face and he kidnapped Mika to lure Grave to him. Lee transformed into his Superior-form and battled Grave to avenge his fallen friend Bob. Lee was killed by Grave.

In the anime however, Ballabird proved to be a challenge to Brandon, and after a tough battle, Grave finally defeated him since Dr. T gave him a special ammunition meant for dealing with the 'Superiors'.

• Bunji Kugashira:

Voiced by: Fumihiko Tachiki (Japanese), Lex Lang (English)

An assassin from a rival group originally out to eliminate Harry, he joins Millennion after Harry convinces him of a double-cross by the group that hired him. As a member of Brandon Heat's True Grave sweeper unit, he's second only to him in rank and skill. After Brandon's death, he takes over leadership of the squad, eventually killing or scaring them all off until he is left to work alone, as per his preference. The only thing he showed kindness to is a small black-spotted cat that accompanied him throughout the show.

In the game, Bunji was the last member of Millennion and battled Grave in the Millennion headquarters, right after the death of Bear Walken. He proved himself an equal to Grave, but he still met his demise.

[edit] Others

• Blood War:

Voiced by: Masayuki Tanaka (Japanese), Jamieson Price (English)

A friend of Cannon Vulcan, he joins with him in an attempt to take over the town, killing his own group and having them necrolyzed in the process. He was first wounded by Brandon, then he took a concentrated dose of Necro-Rise and committed suicide, reviving in the form of his dead self, he almost kills Brandon and Bunji, but they are rescued by Bear. He is often erroneously named "Brad Wong" in original fansubs of the Anime.

• Cannon Vulcan:

Voiced by: Takeru Miyashita (Japanese), Kim Strauss (English)

Brother to Balladbird Lee, he initiated a territorial war between Millennion and his own Lightning. Though Lightning was small in comparison to Millennion, they had an ace up their sleeve: necrolyzation. Along with Dr. Tokioka, who developed the process, his brother Balladbird Lee, working both sides, and Blood War, who supplied the corpses, Lightning warred with Millennion for control of the city. He killed Balladbird Lee's father in the anime.

• Mika Asagi:

Voiced by: Kumi Sakuma (Japanese), Kari Wahlgren (English)

She's the daughter of former Millennion leader Big Daddy and Maria Asagi. She retrieved the Cerberus pistols and brought them to Doctor Tokioka. Thus Grave was awakened from his "sleep."

• Sherry Walken:

Voiced by: Michiko Neya (Japanese), Dorothy Elias-Fahn (English)

Bear Walken's daughter, she fell in love with Harry at a very young age. They were soon married and lived happily in their mansion. When the revolt against Harry began, a member of Millennion shot Sherry in an attempt to assassinate Harry.

[edit] Trivia

• The time and setting of the anime shifts through the use of flashbacks. Episodes one and seventeen through twenty six are considered the present and expand on the story of the first game. Episodes two through sixteen show Brandon and Harry's rise through the organization thirteen years in the past.
• In episode 5, you can see strange ostrich like creatures being raced in a TV screen where Brandon is working. These are in fact Tomases, creatures ridden by Meryl and Millie in the early stages of Nightow’s previous series Trigun.
• In the same sequence in episode 5 the names of the riders in the race are called out by commentators as "Michael Stampede" and "Black Chapel". This is likely another reference to the main characters in Trigun, Vash the Stampede and Nicholas D. Wolfwood (who takes on the name Chapel in the Trigun Manga).
• In Episode 13 when Brandon shoots one of Randy's accountants the number 666, the Number of the Beast, can be seen on the calculator.
• Various prototype character and object designs for the game are given a new lease-of-life in the TV series. For example one of the prototype Cerberus designs appear as the physical Cerberus prototype which can be seen in Dr. T's lab in episode 13 and used by Grave at the end of episode 15. In addition, Dr. T's initial character design appears as T's previously unseen brother, the butler, Tokioka.
• Big Daddy is based on Al Pacino (as Michael Carleone) in The Godfather Part III.
• Brandon Heat is based on Brandon Lee whilst in his younger form (from flashbacks).
• Harry MacDowel is based on George Clooney.

[edit] External links

• "Official Gungrave website (in Japanese)
• Gungrave website from Geneon/Pioneer Entertainment
• Gungrave at jvcmusic.co.jp (Japanese website)
• Gungrave at Anime News Network's Encyclopedia
• Anime Indepth: Gungrave