SeattleOtaku: Review

SeattleOtaku
Home Reviews Seiyuu/Actors Clubs Conventions Shopping LiveJournal About Me

Gasaraki

Touted as "the thinking fan's giant-robot show" (Animerica), Gasaraki builds up tension and intrigue slowly, with a slight mix of realism and mysticism as well, using real news audio from the Gulf War and twisting names and event orders, yet with a mystery of past lives and an awaiting "terror".

The "robots" themselves, designed by the creator of another classic favorite Armored Trooper Votoms, are one-pilot bipedal tanks. This is one of the best of the many post-Evangelion giant robot shows (with arguably a better ending).

Story Intro

During the first episode, we learn that Yushiro Gowa, member of a politically powerful family corporation in Japan, is an "invitator" or "kai", someone with the ability to use a traditional Noh dance to bring into this world a creature from another dimension, with a bit of scientific help. We see a glimpse of the dimensional gate in the first episode before Yushiro is jarred out of his trance by a vision of a girl begging him to stop.

Between politial and military struggles, Yushiro contiues going into Noh trances in experiments run by the rest of the Gowa corporation and family, who are designing and testing military armour suits known as "fakes". A rival corporation also developing fakes has its own invitator, Miharu, the girl from Yushiro's vision. Through the series, Yushiro and Miharu learn that they are linked by more than their battle skills alone as they become eventual allies on the run from their respective agencies and try to stop the return of "the terror", Gasaraki.

Other Notes

This is a pretty slow-moving series at the beginning. The first episode shows a brief introduction of the "terror" involved with the dimensional gate, but the plot progresses slowly after that, until well into the second half of the show. If fast action is the top priority in your viewing habits, you may want to skip this one; but if, like me, you like an occasional deep plot and realistic intrigue, give this one a shot.

Gasaraki
Distributed by A.D. Vision Inc.

Home Reviews Seiyuu/Actors Clubs Conventions Shopping LiveJournal About Me

Feedback Appreciated.