Gun Sword
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| Gun Sword | |||
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 GunXSword part one DVD cover |
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| ガン×ソード (Gan×Sōdo) |
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| Genre | Mecha, Western | ||
| TV anime | |||
| Director | Gorō Taniguchi | ||
| Writer | Hideyuki Kurata | ||
| Studio | AIC A.S.T.A | ||
| Licensor |   Geneon MVM Films  Madman Entertainment |
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| Network | TV Tokyo, Animax | ||
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| Original run | July 4, 2005 – December 26, 2005 | ||
| Episodes | 26 | ||
Gun Sword (ガン×ソード Gan×Sōdo?) is a Japanese animated television series produced by AIC A.S.T.A. The series is directed by Gorō Taniguchi and written by Hideyuki Kurata.
The story is set on the "Planet of Endless Illusion", a place where rogues of all sorts gather. The protagonist, Van, travels the world searching for a man with a clawed right hand who killed his bride. He is joined by several other travelers along the way, each linked to the clawed man by a personal loss.
The series aired on TV Tokyo from July 4, 2005 to December 26 of the same year, totaling 26 episodes. Gun Sword aired, in English, on Animax Asia from March 2007 under the title Gun X Sword. The series is licensed for North America by Geneon Entertainment, who produced a new English dub overseen by New Generation Pictures. New Generation's English language version is also available in Australia from Madman Entertainment and in the United Kingdom by MVM Films.
Contents |
[edit] Characters
A tall, lanky wanderer of few words clad in a dark swallowtail suit. His speech is slow, laconic, and unhurried; but when hearing news referring to the clawed man, his disposition shifts to extreme anger. He acquires many titles throughout his travels.
Voiced by: Takanori Hoshino (Japanese), David Vincent (English)
- Wendy Garret
Van's first traveling companion. She is searching for her missing brother Michael.
Voiced by: Houko Kuwashima (Japanese), Stephanie Sheh (English)
- Carmen 99
A mysterious and self-sufficient mercenary introduced in episode 2. Her real name is Carol Mendosa.
Voiced by: Kikuko Inoue (Japanese), Michelle Ruff (English)
- Ray Lundgren
A withdrawn and ruthless Armor pilot, introduced in episode 5, whose wife was killed by the Man with the claw hand.
Voiced by: Takahiro Sakurai (Japanese), Liam O'Brien (English)
- Joshua Lundgren
Ray's younger brother. Joshua is upbeat, talkative and sociable. His main asset is his technical skill, being able to repair numerous everyday items, analyze armor weaknesses, and even setup timed explosives.
Voiced by: Junko Noda (Japanese), Yuri Lowenthal (English)
- Priscilla
A pink-haired girl who meets Van during an armor tournament. She later joins his company on their quest.
Voiced by: Saeko Chiba (Japanese), Carrie Savage (English)
- The Claw Man
The primary antagonist and the subject of Van and Ray's hatred.
Voiced by: Kenyuu Horiuchi (Japanese), Kirk Thornton (English)
[edit] Armor
- Saudade of Sunday
Pilot: Michael Garret
Saudade of Sunday was retrieved from the sunken ruins of a city in episode 10, therefore, it is the only Original Seven armor without a satellite station. When it is in its compact form it has the appearance of a gigantic bayonet. In humanoid form it sprouts several large wings which functions as large solar panels, thus allowing Saudade to function without continuous refueling as the other armors. Saudade wields a large sword with a gun at the hilt which fires energy beams.
Saudade is later launched into space and to the moon as part of the Clawed Man's scheme, but calculations showed that there was a 20% chance of it colliding with Dann of Thursday's base, and the satellite was destroyed because of it. Later, Saudade also destroyed Diablo of Monday's satellite station when it was reentering the planet, after Dann used it to recharge. A battle between the two armors ensues, interrupted by an explosion brought about by the Claw's plan.
Saudade was the first to reenter the Endless Illusion's atmosphere in episode 24, in pretty good condition. It launches into another attack against Dann when the latter returns and threatens the Birthday and the Clawed Man. In the second and final confrontation, Dann of Thursday slashes a V into Saudade and destroys it, much to Michael's disbelief, since Saudade of Sunday was supposed to be the most advanced of the Originals.
- Diablo of Monday
Pilot: Gadved
In appearance, Diablo is a bulkier version of Van's armor Dann of Thursday and appears in episode 12, where Gadved fought Van. It appears to be slightly stronger than Van's armor, although it is unknown if this due to Gadveds longer experience in piloting or the Diablo itself.
In its compact form it resembles a giant axe and it therefore wields a large axe with a long shaft (a halberd) in its human form. It was defeated by Dann of Thursday with Van's greater drive and conviction. Later near to the end of the series Dann of Thursday used Diablo's satellite to repair itself after Saudade of Sunday destroyed Dann's storage satellite while on its way to the Moon. Diablo's satellite station was destroyed when Saudade of Sunday was reentering the planets surface.
- Metsä of Tuesday
Pilot: Woo
Metsä is a slender armor which first appears in episode 15, where it does battle with Van and his armor Dann. In its compact form, Metsä takes the shape of an enormous lance, wielding a Rapier in humanoid form.
During the first battle, Dann is no match against Metsä due to Van's inexperience in using the mech's electromagnetic shield and other capabilities. However, in the rematch, Van finds the strength he needs to bring forth Dann's potential and destroys Metsä, along with its pilot. Metsä also means forest in Finnish.
- Dahlia of Wednesday
Pilot: Fasalina
Dahlia is Fasalina's unique armor which she reveals in episode 20. In its compact form it is shaped as a three-part staff and accordingly wields a similar weapon in humanoid form. Dahlia is very agile and has speed to match, despite its appearance. Fasalina controls it by swinging around a pole installed in the cockpit of the armor, which is also her staff.
Dahlia possesses some unconventional weapons as it can fire a burst of its own blue blood-like liquid against the enemy armor, effectively binding them since the liquid solidifies on contact. Another unique weapon is its ability to create organic tendrils (presumably also made from the same blue fluid) from its chest for close range combat. It can also fire rocket missiles for long range combat, and even use camouflage to evade or surprise an enemy, as Dahlia looks very much like a large flower.
During its fight with Dann of Thursday it was almost destroyed until it was kicked out of the way by the Eldorado Five. However during its second fight, Ray and Vulcan destroy her mech's arm and body with Vulcan's guns at point-blank range, thereby crippling Dahlia forever.
- Dann of Thursday
Pilot: Van
Dann is Van's armor, built along the same lanky statures as Van himself. In compact form it resembles a giant sword and thus wields a huge sword in humanoid form, which again can be split into two smaller swords. A giant blade is mounted on its back, and can spin to allow temporary flight. Dann is one of the few armors which possesses no long range attacks, and it depends entirely on Van's movements and swordmannship in order to inflict damage on its opponents. In the beginning of the series, Van has not learned to activate all of Dann's power yet, but by the last episode he has discovered how to utilise Dann's electromagnetic shield, which greatly improves Dann's odds against a long range-attacking opponent. Later towards the end of the series Dann's satellite station was shot down by Saudade of Sunday during its rocket to the moon because of the chances Saudade might have collided with the satellite station,therefore stopping Dann from repairing itself after its battle with Dahlia of Wednesday. Dann later repairs itself using Diablo of Monday's satellite station which is later destroyed by Saudade of Sunday. In the end, Dann is stored in another of the remaining satellites, though is not mentioned which one.
Most unusual is its ability to heal injuries or illnesses that Van has, including hangovers, once he enters the cockpit. Furthermore, it also has an Overdrive ability which can emit a highly devastating beam which cuts like a giant sword, although its hinted that this ability is Van's and not Dann's.
- Sin of Friday
Pilot: Carossa
Sin, along with its sister armor Sen, differs from the other Original Seven because it has a nonhumanoid structure. In its compact form it is in the shape of a tonfa, while in its battle state, it is hunched backwards with large hind legs and a tail. When battling it wields a tonfa which can morph into different weapons. Sin and Sen can combine into a single Armor to increase their attack and defense, but can just as easily separate again. It can also fire energy beams. It is destroyed along with its pilot by Vulcan's beam howitzer.
- Sen of Saturday
Pilot: Melissa
Sen is Sin's sister armor, but smaller. In its battle state it is more humanoid than its sibling but the head is very alien looking. In its compact form it resembles a chakram, which is also its weapon when in battle form. The chakram is a deadly ring which can be thrown against an enemy and pierce its armor and will return to its owner like a boomerang. Sen can interlock with Sin to a single armor, where Sen resides in the interior and bottom section, protected by the stronger and bigger Sin. Like Sin, it can fire energy beams. It is destroyed by Vulcan's beam howitzer.
[edit] Media
[edit] Episodes
| # | Title | Original air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Tuxedo Blowing in the Wind" "Tuxedo wa Kaze ni Mau" (タキシードは風に舞う) |
05.07.2005 |
| 2 | "Funny Stream" "fanii sutorimu" (ファニーストリーム) |
12.07.2005 |
| 3 | "Heroes One More Time" "Yuusha wa futatabi" (勇者は再び) |
19.07.2005 |
| 4 | "And the Rain Kept Falling" "Soshite, ame wa furiyuku" (そして、雨は降りゆく) |
26.07.2005 |
| 5 | "Twin's Guards" "TSUINZU GAADO" (ツインズガード) |
02.08.2005 |
| 6 | "Light My Fire" "Keart ni Hi o Tsukete" (ハートに火をつけて) |
09.08.2005 |
| 7 | "Vengeance Within" "Fukushuu suru wa Ware ni ari" (復讐するは我にあり) |
16.08.2005 |
| 8 | "Bound By Blood" "Sono Kisuna ni You ga Aru" (その絆に用がある) |
23.08.2005 |
| 9 | "Carmen Goes Home" "Carmen Kokyou ni Kaeru" (カルメン故郷に帰る) |
30.08.2005 |
| 10 | "Thank You Ocean" "Umi yo Thank You" (海よサンキュー) |
06.09.2005 |
| 11 | "Where The Goodbyes Are" "Sayonara no Arika" (さよならのありか) |
13.09.2005 |
| 12 | "The Days Of No Return" "Kaerasaru Hibi" (帰らざる日々) |
20.09.2005 |
| 13 | "Dream in Progress" "Yume no Tochuu" (夢の途中) |
27.09.2005 |
| 14 | "Swift Brownie" "Swift Brownie" (スウィフト・ブラウニー) |
04.10.2005 |
| 15 | "Neo Originals" "Neo Original" (ネオ・オリジナル) |
11.10.2005 |
| 16 | "Electric Fireworks" "Kagayaku wa Denryuu Hibana" (輝くは電流火花) |
18.10.2005 |
| 17 | "Follow the X Spot" "Zahyou X o Oe" (座標Xを追え) |
25.10.2005 |
| 18 | "Prayers Are For Saudade" "Inoru wa Saudade" (祈るはサウダーデ) |
01.11.2005 |
| 19 | "Prayer's End" "Sokai no Hate" (素懐の果て) |
08.11.2005 |
| 20 | "Wonderful Universe" "Wonderful Universe" (ワンダフル・ユニバース) |
15.11.2005 |
| 21 | "Prayers to Heaven & Peace on Earth" "Sora ni Negai o Chini Heiwa o" (空に願いを 地には平和を) |
22.11.2005 |
| 22 | "For Whose Sake?" "Adios Amigo" (アディオスアミーゴ) |
29.11.2005 |
| 23 | "A Song for Everyone" "Endless Illusion" (エンドレスイリュージョン) |
06.12.2005 |
| 24 | "End of a Dream" "Yume no Owari" (夢の終わり) |
13.12.2005 |
| 25 | "Fool Comes by Armor" "Endless Illusion" (エンドレス・イリュージョン) |
20.12.2005 |
| 26 | "Tuxedo Blowing in Tomorrow" "Yoake no Van" (夜明けのヴァン) |
27.12.2005 |
[edit] Music
- Opening theme
- "GUNXSWORD" by Kōtarō Nakagawa
- Insert songs
- "Niji no Kanata" by Satsuki Yukino (episode 3)
- "La Speranza" by Hitomi (episodes 16, 25)
- Ending themes
- "A Rising Tide" by Shuntarō Okino (episodes 1 to 8, 10, 12 to 16, 18 to 21, 23, 25)
- "Paradiso" by Hitomi (episodes 9 and 11)
- "S.O.S" by Kikuko Inoue, Houko Kuwashima, Satsuki Yukino & Saeko Chiba (episode 17)
- "A Rising Tide" (acoustic version) by Shuntaro Okino (episode 22)
- "Calling You" by Shuntaro Okino (episode 24)
- "GUNXSWORD" (starting again) by Kotaro Nakagawa and Ondekoza (episode 26)
[edit] External links
- Gun Sword (anime) at Anime News Network's Encyclopedia
- 'Gun Sword' at the Internet Movie Database
- 'Gun Sword' at TV.com
