Gunslinger Girl

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Gunslinger Girl

Cover of the first volume of the English release of the Gunslinger Girl manga series
ガンスリンガー·ガール
(Gansuringā Gāru)
Genre Sci-Fi, Action
Manga
Author Yu Aida
Publisher Flag of Japan MediaWorks
English publisher Flag of the United States ADV Manga
Demographic Shōnen
Serialized in Dengeki Daioh
Original run November 2002 – ongoing
Volumes 9
TV anime
Director Morio Asaka
Studio Madhouse
Licensor Flag of Japan Marvelous Entertainment
Flag of Canada Flag of the United States FUNimation Entertainment
Flag of Australia Madman Entertainment
Network Flag of Japan Animax, Fuji Television
Original run October 8, 2003 – February 19, 2004
Episodes 13
Game
Developer Marvelous Entertainment
Publisher Marvelous Entertainment
Genre Action Adventure
Platform Playstation 2
Released Flag of Japan April 8, 2004
TV anime: Gunslinger Girl -Il Teatrino-
Director Rei Mano
Writer Yu Aida
Tatsuhiko Urahata
Studio Artland
Licensor Flag of the United States FUNimation Entertainment
Network Flag of Japan Tokyo MX, TV Osaka, Chūkyō TV
Original run January 7, 2008 – March 31, 2008
Episodes 13

Gunslinger Girl (ガンスリンガー·ガール Gansuringā Gāru?) is an ongoing manga by Yu Aida. It first premiered in the November 2002 issue of the monthly shōnen magazine Dengeki Daioh. The chapters are also being published in collected volumes by MediaWorks. Nine volumes have been released in Japan as of April 2008. The manga series is licensed for an English language release in North America by ADV Manga.

A thirteen-episode anime adaptation produced by Madhouse aired in Japan on Animax and Fuji Television from October 8, 2003 to February 19, 2004. A sequel created by Artland premiered in Japan on Tokyo MX TV on January 7, 2008. Titled Gunslinger Girl -Il Teatrino-, this sequel spanned thirteen episodes, concluding on March 31, 2008.

Contents

[edit] Plot

Set in modern-day Italy, Gunslinger Girl follows the exploits of the Social Welfare Agency (often referred to as simply "the Agency"), ostensibly a charitable institution sponsored by the Italian government. While the Agency professes to aid the rehabilitation of the physically injured, it is actually a military organization specializing in counter-intelligence and counter-terrorism. It comprises two independent branches, Public Safety (公安部 kōan-bu?) and Special Ops (作戦部 sakusen-bu?), with Public Safety being its surveillance and intelligence-gathering arm and Special Ops its anti-terrorist division.[1] Special Ops is itself divided into Sections 1 and 2,[2] the latter of which employs young girls fitted with cybernetic implants as agents. The implants, which consist of synthesized muscles and carbon fiber frames, result in heightened strength and reflexes as well as high resilience to damage and pain. Each girl is paired with a male trainer, or "handler," and together they are referred to as a fratello (Italian for "brother"). The handler is responsible for the training, welfare and field performance of his charge, and is free to use whatever methods he considers suitable. While these methods vary according to the handler, a common part of each girl's regimen is brainwashing called "conditioning," which produces a deadly assassin with unquestioning loyalty to her handler.

[edit] Characters

Main article: List of Gunslinger Girl characters

[edit] Media

[edit] Manga

Gunslinger Girl, written and illustrated by Yu Aida, first premiered in Japan in the November 2002 issue of the monthly Dengeki Daioh magazine. As of April 2008, 51 chapters have been published in the magazine. The chapters are also being published in collected volumes by MediaWorks, with the first volume released November 27, 2002. Nine volumes have been published in Japan so far.[3][4]

When ADV Manga was formed in 2003, the Gunslinger Girl manga series was one of the first titles the new branch of ADV Films licensed for an English language release in North America.[5] The first volume was released on November 18, 2003,[6] with the next two volumes not released until 2005. At the 2005 Anime Next convention, the ADV representative David L. Williams said the slow schedule was due to ADV Manga feeling the market was too saturated with new manga titles at the time and that they had rushed into the manga market.[7] However, after the third volume was released that year, the series went on a two year hiatus. The series was restarted in July 2007 with the publication of the fourth volume,[8] and six volumes have been released as of April 2008.[9]

# Original[4] English[9]
Release date ISBN Release date ISBN
1 November 27, 2002 ISBN 4-8402-2237-1 November 18, 2003 ISBN 978-1413900200
Chapter list:
  • Chapter 1: Observing the Heavens (天体観測 Tentaikansoku?)
  • Chapter 2: Love Thy Neighbor
  • Chapter 3: The Snow White
  • Chapter 4: The Death of Elsa de Sica (Part 1) (エルザ・デ・シーカの死（前編） Eruza de Sīka no Shi (Zenpen)?)
  • Chapter 5: The Death of Elsa de Sica (Part 2) (エルザ・デ・シーカの死（後編） Eruza de Sīka no Shi (Kōhen)?)

Cover character:

  • Henrietta
Chapter 1 introduces Henrietta and Guiseppe, Treila, Claus, and Rico, and establishes the purpose of the Social Welfare Agency. Chapter 2 reveals Rico's story and personality. Chapter 3 focuses on Triela and Hillshire and introduces Marco, a criminal indirectly connected to the snuff films that nearly killed Triela. Chapters 4 and 5 reveal what happens to a cyborg when they love their handler and when the handler doesn't respond in kind, showing the emotional struggle of Henrietta, and revealing the extent of the conditioning of the cyborgs.
2 June 27, 2003 ISBN 4-8402-2421-8 March 22, 2005 ISBN 978-1413902334
Chapter list:
  • Chapter 6: Vegetable Gardens
  • Chapter 7: Ice Cream in the Piazza di Spagna
  • Chapter 8: Song of Joy (歓びの歌 Yorokobi no Uta?)
  • Chapter 9: How Beautiful My Florence is!
  • Chapter 10: Prince of the Land of Pasta (Part 1) (パスタの国の王子様（前編） Pasuta no Kuni no Ōjisama (Zenpen)?)
  • Chapter 11: Prince of the Land of Pasta (Part 2)) (パスタの国の王子様（後編） Pasuta no Kuni no Ōjisama (Kōhen)?)

Cover character:

  • Rico
Chapter 1 reveals Claus's background via a flashback to when she was first inducted into the Social Welfare Agency, and shows what happen to a cyborg when their handler dies. Chapter 2 reveals Franca and Franco, two terrorists that will play a major role in the Pinnochio arc. Chapter 9 shows Rico and Jean in Florence protecting Filippo, who has the ledger of Pirazzi, a major Pandana leader. Rico and Jean save Filippo's life, creating a mutual friendship between the three. Chapters 10 and 11 reveal Angelica's background and the side-effects of the cyborgs' conditioning.
3 February 27, 2004 ISBN 4-8402-2622-9 June 6, 2005 ISBN 978-1413902747
Chapter list:
  • Chapter 12: Kaleidoscope
  • Chapter 13: Pinocchio (ピノッキオ Pinokkio?) (Part 1)
  • Chapter 14: Pinocchio (ピノッキオ Pinokkio?) (Part 2)
  • Chapter 15: Pinocchio (ピノッキオ Pinokkio?) (Part 3)
  • Chapter 16: Breaking the Changes of Retaliation
  • Chapter 17: Retiring Tibetan Terrier

Cover character:

  • Triela
4 November 27, 2004 ISBN 4-8402-2819-1 June 20, 2007 ISBN 978-1413903416
Chapter list:
  • Chapter 18: Tiny Joy, Tearless Grief
  • Chapter 19: Mimi Machiavelli (ミミ・マキャヴェリ Mimi Makyaveri?)
  • Chapter 20: Tosca (トスカ Tosuka?)
  • Chapter 21: Clever Serpents, Innocent Doves (「賢い蛇、純真な鳩」 Kashikoi Hebi, Junshin na Hato?)
  • Chapter 22: She is a Flower that Blossoms in honesty's light

Cover character:

  • Claes
5 May 27, 2005 ISBN 4-8402-3072-2 August 22, 2007 ISBN 978-1413903461
Chapter list:
  • Chapter 23: Evanescence (泡沫 Utakata?)
  • Chapter 24: Caterina (カテリーナ Katerīna?)
  • Chapter 25: Pinocchio (ピノッキオ Pinokkio?) (Part 4)
  • Chapter 26: Pinocchio (ピノッキオ Pinokkio?) (Part 5)
  • Chapter 27: Pinocchio (ピノッキオ Pinokkio?) (Part 6)

Cover character:

  • Angelica
6 December 17, 2005 ISBN 4-8402-3290-3 November 28, 2007 ISBN 978-1413903522
Chapter list:
  • Chapter 28: Dum Spiro, Spero
  • Chapter 29: Fantasma
  • Chapter 30: Reincarnation
  • Chapter 31: The Bolshoi Ballet Academy (ボリショイ・バレエ学校 Borishoi Baree Gakkō?)
  • Chapter 32: Line of Sight (視線 Shisen?)

Cover character:

  • Petrushka
7 July 27, 2006 ISBN 4-8402-3532-5  
Chapter list:
  • Chapter 33: The Girl's Minature Garden (彼女の箱庭 Kanojo no Hakoniwa?)
  • Chapter 34: Promise (約束 Yakusoku?)
  • Chapter 35: Lingering Hope
  • Chapter 36: The Sheep and the Goats
  • Chapter 37: The Hero is Afraid (勇者は恐れず Yūsha wa Osorezu?)

Cover character:

  • Triela and Claes
8 March 27, 2007 ISBN 978-4-8402-3826-7  
Chapter list:
  • Chapter 38: Dance of the Black Swan (黒鳥の舞 Kokuchou no Mai?)
  • Chapter 39: Lady Rosso (レディ・ロッソ Redi Rosso?, rosso is Italian for "red") (Part 1)
  • Chapter 40: Lady Rosso (レディ・ロッソ Redi Rosso?) (Part 2)
  • Chapter 41: Lady Rosso (レディ・ロッソ Redi Rosso?) (Part 3)
  • Chapter 42: Mind Speech (マインド・スピーチ Maindo Supīchi?)
  • Chapter 43: Lady Rosso (レディ・ロッソ Redi Rosso?) (Part 4)
  • Chapter 44: Lady Rosso (レディ・ロッソ Redi Rosso?) (Part 5)

Cover character:

  • Alessandro and Petrushka
9 November 27, 2007 ISBN 978-4-8402-4108-3  
Chapter list:
  • Chapter 45: Crepuscolo (クレプスコロ Kurepusukoro?, crepuscolo is Italian for "twilight") (Part 1)
  • Chapter 46: Crepuscolo (クレプスコロ Kurepusukoro?) (Part 2)
  • Chapter 47: Crepuscolo (クレプスコロ Kurepusukoro?) (Part 3)
  • Chapter 48: Crepuscolo (クレプスコロ Kurepusukoro?) (Part 4)
  • Chapter 49: Embrace (つの抱擁 Tsuno Hōyō?)
  • Chapter 50: Thinking (つの想い Tsuno Omoi?)

Cover character:

  • Angelica and Pero
10    
Chapter list:
  • Chapter 51: Light (灯 Tomoshibi?)
  • Chapter 52: Assassination Mission (暗殺任務 Ansatsu Ninmu?)
  • Chapter 53: Reunion (再会 Saikai?)
  • Chapter 54: Confession (告白 Kokuhaku?)

Cover character:
Hillshire is worried about Triela becoming more reliant on conditioning after Angelica died, and he tries to do what he can to protect her; Triela sees this as taking away her reason for existence, since as a cyborg as she is supposed to protect him. Also, Triela realizes she is nearing the end of her life. Mario reveals Triela's past to her explaining how she was rescued from the Camorra in Amsterdam by Hillshire and Rachelle.

[edit] Anime

Main articles: List of Gunslinger Girl episodes and List of Gunslinger Girl -Il Teatrino- episodes

Gunslinger Girl was adapted into a thirteen-episode anime series which premiered in Japan on Fuji Television from October 8, 2003 to February 19, 2004. The series, which was directed by Morio Asaka, was produced by Madhouse, Bandai Visual, Marvelous Entertainment and Fuji Television with music by Toshihiko Sahashi and based on the first two volumes of the manga. The series also aired in Japan on the satellite television network Animax, who also later aired the series in its networks worldwide, including its English language networks in Southeast Asia and South Asia (where the series received its English language television premiere).[10] Gunslinger Girl was later aired in the United States on the Independent Film Channel. In late 2004, FUNimation licensed the rights to release the first season of Gunslinger Girl across North America via a three volume DVD series, releasing the last volume on September 6, 2005. On September 19, 2006, Funimation released the complete Gunslinger Girl series in a three-DVD boxset, with another version released on December 11, 2007. FUNimation's release of the first season is also available for download on iTunes and Xbox Live Marketplace.

A second season of the series, entitled Gunslinger Girl -Il Teatrino-, was officially announced on the October issue of Dengeki Daioh. It premiered on Tokyo MX TV on January 7, 2008 and ran for thirteen additional episodes until its conclusion on March 31, 2008.[11] This second season was animated by Artland and featured a new staff, with Gunslinger Girl creator Yu Aida being fully involved as the project's chief writer and supervisor. FUNimation has also licensed the second season for a Region 1 release in 2009.[12][13]

[edit] Video games

A set of video games have also been produced for the PlayStation 2, released only in Japan. These take the form of Third-person shooters (though the gameplay is similar to Time Crisis) in which the player controls one of the girls on her missions. The series is composed of four volumes. There is an additional rogue fratello in these games, who go by the names Earnest (handler; name previously thought to be Arnester) and Pia (cyborg). Earnest and Pia do not appear present whatsoever in the manga or anime, nor are they ever mentioned. Pia's preferred weapons were the Desert Eagle .50AE and M16A1 with M203 grenade launcher.

[edit] Other

On December 21, 2005, an image album for Gunslinger Girl called Poca Felicità was released by Marvelous Entertainment. It contains various songs for each of the girls (sung by their respective Japanese seiyū), as well as an instrumental for Pinocchio and extra songs by Josefa, and two other instrumentals. Revo of Sound Horizon wrote all the music and lyrics for the album. The cover art was drawn by Yu Aida.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Aida, Yu: "Gunslinger Girl," vol. 2, p. 153
  2. ^ Aida, Yua: "Gunslinger Girl," vol. 1, pp. 47-48
  3. ^ Gunslinger Girl. Dengeki Comics. Retrieved on 2008-04-15.
  4. ^ a b List of Gunslinger Girl books. Dengeki Comics. Retrieved on 2008-04-15.
  5. ^ Formation of Two New ADV Branches. Anime News Network (2003-07-04). Retrieved on 2008-04-15.
  6. ^ ADV Manga (via Anime News Network (2003-10-23). "ADV Manga Sets Street Dates for Gunslinger Girl". Press release. Retrieved on 2008-04-15.
  7. ^ Koulikov, Mikhail (2005-06-21). Anime Next - A.D. Vision, Inc.. Anime News Network. Retrieved on 2008-04-15.
  8. ^ Dong, Bamboo (2007-06-30). Anime Expo 2007: ADV Films. Anime News Network. Retrieved on 2008-04-15.
  9. ^ a b List of Yu Aida books. Amazon.com. Retrieved on 2008-04-15.
  10. ^ Synopsis for GUNSLINGER GIRL - Animax Asia. Animax Asia. Retrieved on 2007-08-22.
  11. ^ List of Gunslinger Girl -Il Teatrino- episode titles (Japanese). Marvelous Entertainment. Retrieved on 2008-01-16.
  12. ^ FUNimation Entertainment Acquires Gunslinger Girl Il Teatrino from. Retrieved on 2008-06-01.
  13. ^ Official Gunslinger Girl 2 Anime Web Site. Retrieved on 2008-06-01.

[edit] External links