I just watched Gungrave for the first time. Previously I'd seen the first 5 or so episodes, but I finally got around to watching all 26 episodes. This anime is incredible and it is now officially my favorite of all times. I hate declaring favorites, but I can say that Gungrave is my favorite without hesitation.
The story is beautiful and timeless, two old men meet in a bar, surrounded by the ghosts of their past. They were once friends and once enemies, but now they are tired. They sit and talk about all the regrets and memories they share, and wonder where they went wrong and how things could have been different. These two men who were once so close, reveal the secrets they kept from one another and from themselves. It is said that there are three stages to womanhood; the maiden, the mother and the crone, I believe that there are similar stages of life for men.
When I started watching Gungrave, this deep and emotionally intense storyline wasn't what I was expecting. I was waiting for the usual fluffy action anime with minimal substance. Sure, there are "Orcmen", mobsters, complicated mafia politics and a drug that can raise the dead. There is visually stunning art, amazingly choreographed fights and cool weapons, but that's not what Gungrave is about. Ultimately, if condensed down into one sentiment, Gungrave is about loosing things, especially the loss of innocence.
About half of Gungrave takes place in one long extended-flashback where you see the history between Brandon and Harry. The other half is the culmination of 20+ years of history and the destination a lifetimes worth of decisions ultimately creates. If I had to describe it... Imagine two trains, both loaded with people you love, headed for a collision, but travelling in slow motion. You can see what's coming, but there doesn't seem to be anything that can stop it. Even looking back over the facts after the wreck it is unclear what event or series of events directly caused it. That is what Gungrave is about, a heavy sense of inevitability.
You only see about the first half of the first episode before the 13 episode flashback starts, but it is enough to know that Brandon was killed, but was revived and is now enemies with Harry. The story then jumps back to a time when they were best friends. From episode 1 you know that things are going to fall apart, but even watching carefully I couldn't figure out why. Where did Harry or Brandon have a chance to change the future? What could they possibly have done differently? It has been a very long time since I was so entranced and drawn into an anime. I loved the characters and I sincerely felt their pain when bad things happened to them. For many of the last episodes I was incredibly choked up and teary-eyed.
Episode 26 was amazing, when they both realized that death was close and they went back to Jolice's bar and remembered who they were and where they had come from. They were just two old men, once friends, once enemies, sitting in a bar remembering the past, surrounded by their ghosts. Even as they speak you can see them changing from one aspect of themselves to another.
I give Gungrave a 5/5. I can't imagine how this series could have been better. I kept the colors subdued because of the serious feeling of the anime. Black and red for violence and death and blue for the emotional tragedy I felt watching it.
The story is beautiful and timeless, two old men meet in a bar, surrounded by the ghosts of their past. They were once friends and once enemies, but now they are tired. They sit and talk about all the regrets and memories they share, and wonder where they went wrong and how things could have been different. These two men who were once so close, reveal the secrets they kept from one another and from themselves. It is said that there are three stages to womanhood; the maiden, the mother and the crone, I believe that there are similar stages of life for men.When I started watching Gungrave, this deep and emotionally intense storyline wasn't what I was expecting. I was waiting for the usual fluffy action anime with minimal substance. Sure, there are "Orcmen", mobsters, complicated mafia politics and a drug that can raise the dead. There is visually stunning art, amazingly choreographed fights and cool weapons, but that's not what Gungrave is about. Ultimately, if condensed down into one sentiment, Gungrave is about loosing things, especially the loss of innocence.
About half of Gungrave takes place in one long extended-flashback where you see the history between Brandon and Harry. The other half is the culmination of 20+ years of history and the destination a lifetimes worth of decisions ultimately creates. If I had to describe it... Imagine two trains, both loaded with people you love, headed for a collision, but travelling in slow motion. You can see what's coming, but there doesn't seem to be anything that can stop it. Even looking back over the facts after the wreck it is unclear what event or series of events directly caused it. That is what Gungrave is about, a heavy sense of inevitability.You only see about the first half of the first episode before the 13 episode flashback starts, but it is enough to know that Brandon was killed, but was revived and is now enemies with Harry. The story then jumps back to a time when they were best friends. From episode 1 you know that things are going to fall apart, but even watching carefully I couldn't figure out why. Where did Harry or Brandon have a chance to change the future? What could they possibly have done differently? It has been a very long time since I was so entranced and drawn into an anime. I loved the characters and I sincerely felt their pain when bad things happened to them. For many of the last episodes I was incredibly choked up and teary-eyed.Episode 26 was amazing, when they both realized that death was close and they went back to Jolice's bar and remembered who they were and where they had come from. They were just two old men, once friends, once enemies, sitting in a bar remembering the past, surrounded by their ghosts. Even as they speak you can see them changing from one aspect of themselves to another.
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