Anime Gad Guard

[Dagger]

It seems as though no one is watching Gad Guard--which is a shame, because it could very well turn out to be one of the best mecha anime in recent years. So far two discs have been released; the third DVD is coming out in October.

Fans of Big O would almost certainly enjoy this series. It has a rich, dynamic score composed mostly of playful jazz and dramatic, melancholy classical music with a heavy emphasis on piano and strings. The jazzy OP and quirky ED do an excellent job of kicking off and wrapping up each episode. Gad Guard's visuals are also top-notch. Created by GONZO, it combines gorgeous digital animation with a hint or two of unobtrusive CGI.

Gad Guard is not your average mecha series, but its setting and background music immediately bring Big O to mind. The anime takes place in Night Town, a run-down city whose electricity is always turned off at midnight. Almost all of the adult characters are portrayed as sleazy or corrupt: the women are manipulative and promiscuous, the men violent and avaricious. It isn't a coincidence that Gad Guard's mecha-piloting protagonists (Hajiki, Arashi, Takumi and Aiko) are all young, relatively idealistic teenagers.

The mechanical designs and (albeit to a lesser extent) the character artwork has a retro look that is attractive, refreshing and surprisingly sleek. Directed by Hiroshi Nishikiori, who also worked on Angelic Layer, Tenshi ni Narumon! and The Melody of Oblivion, Gad Guard is eccentric and somewhat surreal. However, its various elements come together rather nicely. I can't wait to see where this anime is going.

~Dagger~

[JC Goodwin]

oh if its like big O im gonna love it because i love mecha animes. i have a few quries thought because it not excaltly like big o and what era is it set in. I think the whole story line sound very interesting thought. where can i get it.