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I bought this DVD on a whim, because I had a chance to get it cheaply, and I thought it looked like it might be a cute romance. This disk contains two short romantic comedies using characters borrowed from previous works. My understanding is that you don't have to have viewed any of the related anime to watch these, and, in fact, the two episodes are really not connected plot-wise. They merely share characters who have the same names and personalities, but not the same situations. (In the first episode, the five friends are coworkers; in the second episode, they are sisters. But ... they are essentially the same characters.)

With those details out of the way, let's talk about the pros and cons of this DVD. First, the art is old-fashioned, so if you are not willing to put up with 90s-style art, give it a pass. Second, because each episode is so short (about 30 minutes), it is not able to do the kind of complicated character development one might like to see. This means that the romances in each episode may seem rushed. The first episode in particular is about the process of finding one's match; we don't actually get to see much interaction between the couple when they do get together.

Those are the cons. What about the pros? Well, the episodes do deliver entertaining romantic comedies. The first one is more sweet; the second is more funny. (Personally, I liked the second episode quite a bit more, but the ending of the first one WAS cute.) Both could provide a quick fix for someone longing for a simple rom-com. Plus, the two works have a quirky sense of humor that I wasn't expecting. In the middle of each episode, there is a bizarre interlude that is essentially like an educational film, complete with "research" and "statistics" (I have to wonder if the numbers are real; they might well be.) The first interlude is all about dating services; the second one is about where to go on dates and what to do for a proposal. These are strange segments, but I found them amusing. It made me wonder if the two works were seriously trying to teach the viewers something about courtship/dating. Interesting idea, even if it seems a bit foreign.

My verdict? At first I was going to give this release a 6, but I liked the second episode enough to bump it up into 7. I'd say this is one to rent or borrow rather than buy, but if you can buy it cheaply somewhere, it might be worth a purchase. It's the sort of thing you might watch once and then pass on to a friend. Or, rent it and watch in on a girls' movie night. In any case, "Marriage" deserves a little more love from anime fans!

Speed Grapher initially seems to have a lot going for it. The plot is semi-episodic, with an overall story arc that binds the individual episodes together. While some people complain about the art, I had no objections there: it is a grim, gritty setting, and the art has a film noir look that fits that setting. Likewise with the sound: while I don't have much to praise about the series's music, I don't have anything to complain about.

Where it really failed for me was in the category of character. To give the show credit, both the heroes and the villains have well-developed back stories. ... These are people who have suffered, and it seems like we ought to care about them when they are fail or triumph, as the case may be. And I have to say that the story arcs for all significant characters have satisfying endings: whether the characters live or die, you feel that their stories are wrapped up well. That was one of the things I liked about the series.

The problem is that I simply didn't care that much about any of the characters, not even the two central characters. Saiga was a passable hero. In my opinion, he lacked an appealing-enough personality to carry the show on his own, but he could have worked as a hero given the right pairing. Unfortunately, he was paired with a girl who had virtually no personality at all. Under the circumstances, I wouldn't expect a young girl like Kagura to be a fighter, but she should have at least shown some sense of humor, or charm, or wit, or emotional depth . . . or, well, anything other than the naive sweetness and vulnerability that characterized her. A sweet, vulnerable heroine is not always a bad thing (such a character can give the hero a reason to protect her), but Kagura needed some additional spark of personality in order to function as a likeable protagonist or a believable potential love interest.

Ultimately, this meant that the relationship between the two main characters --which COULD have been one of the strengths of the series--was, from my perspective, shallow and uninteresting. At the end of the series, I was relieved to be done with it, but while I could abstractly note that the finale was a solid one, I just didn't really care about the fates of any of the characters. And, in my book, that's a major failure on the part of the series, given that it tried so hard to develop both villains and protagonists as well-rounded characters.

Overall: This series is a clever pastiche of different genres (Western, sci fi, mecha) which manages to bind together elements of drama, comedy, heroic adventure, and just a hint of potential romance with a distinctive style. I highly recommend it, but I recognize that the distinctive style/atmosphere of the show won't suit everyone's tastes.

Story: As many other reviewers have pointed out, Gun x Sword isn't particularly innovative when it comes to story. It's a revenge drama, and it borrows elements from a long tradition of such revenge dramas. As the series progresses, however, the plot becomes increasingly complicated. Van's simple quest for revenge ... becomes intertwined with a crusade to save the world (from what? I can't say; that would be a spoiler). The pacing of the series is a bit uneven at first, but if you stay with the show until episode 11, you'll likely be hooked until the end.

Art and Sound: This is a beautiful anime to watch and to listen to. The artwork at its best is lush and detailed. As the characters wander from town to town, they encounter snow-covered mountains, tropical beaches, and a great many deserts, some of them starkly beautiful. Some of the character designs do borrow from other series, but they are almost all appealing. Van's tuxedo and red eyes make him the perfect badass; Wendy's design as a redhead with wide green eyes perfectly matches her feisty-but-sweet temperament.The soundtrack is primarily instrumental, with a somewhat folky ending theme song and a few inset songs. The soundtrack has offerings ranging from poignant to dramatic to outright comic (matching the style of the show; see below).

Characters: There are lots of quirky supporting cast members and some truly formidable villains, but what really made the show for me were the two main characters. The protagonist, Van, is a classic jerk with a heart of gold, with an added touch of apathy and gloom. (He's got plenty of reason for his gloominess, as you'll slowly learn). Wendy, on the other hand, OUGHT to be have been absolutely crushed by all the blows life has dealt her, yet she remains optimistic and compassionate. Her hopefulness and naivete might make her annoying if it weren't tempered by her bossiness, occasional bitchiness, and sheer stubbornness.

Finally, I have to say something about the overall style or sensibility of the show. What first drew me to the series is the quirky sensibility behind it. While Gun X Sword borrows heavily from more famous works which came before it, it also isn't afraid to laugh at generic conventions. It includes some parodies of earlier works (and not just anime). At the same time, the humor doesn't seem disconnected from the rest of the series. In fact, some of the running gags (Van's love of condiments; his collection of nicknames which are never explained) may seem simple gags, but they are also used in surprisingly subtle ways to indicate real character development. In at least one case, a scene from early in the anime that was originally played primarily for comedy is invoked seriously and touchingly late in the series. In the end, one of Gun X Sword's greatest strengths may be the way it can laugh at itself AND deliver a powerful emotional impact.