Gungrave (anime)

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Gungrave

ガングレイヴ
(Gungrave)

Genre

Crime, Science fiction

Director

Writer

Studio

Licensor

Geneon

MVM Films

Madman Entertainment

Network

TV Tokyo

Other networks:
G4 ZTV S'nek TV

Original run

October 6, 2003 – March 29, 2004

Episodes

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 Millenion crime syndicate.

Gungrave aired on TV Tokyo from October 6, 2003 to March 29, 2004, totaling twenty-six episodes.

1 Plot
2 Characters
3 References
4 External links

[edit] Plot

See also: List of Gungrave episodes

Contains SPOILERS.

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.

The TV adaptation lacks various elements of advanced technology that were prominent in the third-person shooter's gameplay but had little consequence concering the plotline. The series end with Harry and Brandon making amends as they die together, contrasting the original game's ending where Grave does not hesitate in killing his former friend.

[edit] Characters

Brandon Heat

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 killed Brandon. 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

"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 takes place so he can better protect his daughter.

Bob Poundmax

Voiced by: Chafūrin (Japanese), Doug Stone (English).

A portly 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.

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 brother Cannon Vulcan was a member, while in Millennion. However, Harry forgave Balladbird, looking the other way in exchange for his loyalty.

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. After Brandon's death, he takes over Brandon's sweeper team, eventually becoming its only member.