That’s the most common association when it comes to anime and manga series that revolve around the lives of little girls. Gunslinger Girl is the exact negative of that. It is a title for those who are able to stomach a plot that raises serious moral questions and a bit of gore. This is not to be confused with Bubblegum Crisis.

What is Gunslinger Girl?

Produced by Madhouse Gunslinger Girl’s rather serious story is played out in Italy. It revolves around the lives of a group of little girls who were taken in by a government organization called the Social Welfare Agency. However, the “Social Welfare” aspect of things isn’t necessarily about the girls. This is a secret organization that uses high-tech medical engineering to rehabilitate vulnerable children with serious injuries which they deploy as assassins – a clandestine unit of cyborg child soldiers.

Fratellos

Their main mission is to take out the mob and separatist terrorists. Each child is attached to an adult to form teams that are referred to as “Fratellos”. As the story plays out episodically, each one tries to focus on the interactions between each girl and her handler. However, the show pays more attention to the leading character, Henrietta, and her handler Jose.

The very nature of its plot and the stark differences between each individual Fratello add to the seriousness of this series. For example, Henrietta enjoys a friendlier relationship with her handler. It resembles that of a father and his daughter, or an older brother and younger sister. On the other hand, another one of the girls who goes by the name, Rico, receives a far worse treatment from her handler. He saw her as nothing more than a tool to help him achieve the objectives the agency gives him.

The Good

One of the most enjoyable aspects of this anime series is the attention to detail. It starts with the modern Italian setting (you can even spot a Ferrari in one scene) and flows through to the realism of the well-animated gunfights. Henrietta’s FN P-90 and Rico’s Dragunov sniper rifle definitely sound as real as the real-world versions.

This attention to detail can also be seen in layers of each individual character as they are revealed. Whenever they aren’t engaged in anti-terror operations, the girls generally behave their age.

The Bad

There is a lot of things this series does right. However, there are a few areas where the creators could have done a much better job. The most damning of these is the duration and frequency of the action scenes. Even though they are fluid and gripping, the number of action scenes is low. The lack of them makes the viewer want more. It sometimes feels as though the creators were trying a little too hard to stick to the realism of it.

Another issue is the focus on the girls’ lives, it seems to play a role in robbing viewers of action while never really reaching a meaningful conclusion. To add to this, there is a sense of vagueness to how the story plays out.

The post Review: Gunslinger Girl  appeared first on Bizznerd.

For the purpose of putting together this list, the main questions asked regarding each candidate show or movie is, how important is the role of technology in advancing the telling of the story? Does the storyline offer enough depth and maturity for an adult to watch? Does it have enough entertainment value to have the viewer hooked by the first episode?

Because one’s enjoyment of an anime can be subject to personal taste and their mood at the given time of watching, the following sci-fi flicks are listed in no particular order. It is nothing more than a friendly recommendation of something you might like. Without further adieu, here they are.

Cowboy Bebop

An anime cult classic, space western that debuted back in 2000 is credited with being the show that introduced the western world to the wonders of Japanese animation shows.

It’s a story about a group of bounty hunters trying to make ends meet. It’s a pretty simple idea that is wonderfully layered with great animation, memorable characters, drama, action, comedy and a little romance, all under one wildly entertaining umbrella.

Ghost In The Shell (Stand Alone Complex)

Not the live action Scarlett Johansson flick, but the anime sci-fi classic that inspired the Hollywood remake. The storyline explores the possible complexities that would come with living in a world where humanity and machines are increasingly hybridised.

The story revolves around the day to day happenings of the main character, Mokoto Kunsanagi, as she fights hackers, villainous cyborgs and other robotic threats.

Ergo Proxy

The setting is a severely messed up future and follows a young girl’s journey as she tries to make sense of past events that just don’t seem to add up. The storyline plays out in a world where the government is able to change people’s memories in order to control public opinion.

Though it can be a little slow at some points, it is laden with some interesting mysteries and concepts, in an equally interesting world.

Gunslinger Girl

The story plays out in a near-future Italy, where an organisation known officially as the Social Welfare Agency recruits orphan girls to counter a growing terrorist threat. The girls are equipped with guns, special forces level training and cyborg parts to complete their grisly assignments.

Though slow at times, it does a good job of pointing out the horrors faced by children who are recruited into combatant roles.

Terra Formars

An attempt to colonise planet Mars using modified elgae and cockroaches doesn’t go as planned. As 500 years after sending the insects and elgea, a manned mission to the red planet is wiped out by hyper-evolved humanoid cockroaches (called the terraformers). Meanwhile, humanity is also battling a mystery virus known as the A E virus (Alien Engine Virus).

Questions about the origin of the virus and the terraformers start to surface. The show has a good mixture of emotions, intrigue and action.

The post 5 Must Watch Sci-fi Flicks For Any Anime Fan appeared first on Bizznerd.