GANTZ is a Japanese science fiction show with
adult appeal, that was released as an original video animation in 2004.
GANTZ is directed by Ichiro Itano, director of other popular anime fare
such as VIOLENCE JACK, BATTLE ROYAL HIGH SCHOOL, and MEGAZONE 23. The
dynamic animation is executed by Gonzo Digimation, the same animation
house that brought you SAMURAI 7, GRAVION, and KALEIDO STAR. The GANTZ
animation features the technical design work of Toshihiro Nakajima, who
handled the mechanical designs for the awesome TEXHNOLYZE and LOVE HINA.
Naoyuki Onda does the fantastic character design for GANTZ which
includes the likes of PARASITE DOLLS, MOBILE SUIT Z GUNDAM, and SOL
BIANCA: THE LEGACY. ADV Films purchased the rights to GANTZ and released
the entire first season of the series over the course of 2005. In 2006,
ADV Films compiled the series together into one comprehensive slim-pack
box set called GANTZ SEASON ONE COMPLETE COLLECTION.
The saga of GANTZ is a multi-character narrative
that chronicles the colorful cast of characters as they deal with the
reality shaping ominous black sphere called Gantz. High school students
Kei and Kato are the central focus of the series as they deal with the
strange events leading up to their apparent deaths. All the characters
of the show are recruited as soldiers by the Gantz to serve as soldiers
for it’s army of the undead, including a young girl Kurono, who looses
an arm and a leg in the process of self discovery. Gantz imbues all his
warriors with combat armor and super weapons to fight a variety of
technological menaces and monsters. In the trials and tribulations that
await the numerous characters throughout the series, each individual
learns something about themselves and each other. They discover that
their mock-life in the service of the Gantz is better than no life at
all.
GANTZ is a superbly produced anime program that
incorporates not only a well-executed science fiction foundation, but an
ever-changing dramatic elements as well. The show’s variety of
characters makes for plenty of drama, which is handled maturely by the
creators. Wisely, this series is geared towards the adult mindset as
GANTZ is loaded with violent content and blatant sexual overtones. The
first part of the series basically introduces the characters and how
they learn about and come to terms with the Gantz. The second half of
season one, the characters find themselves at war with the mysterious
enemies of the Gantz, allowing for plenty of breathtaking action
sequences. The mechanical and characters designs are superbly laid out
and animated with a CGI polish. The visuals, especially during the
action sequences, are guaranteed to dazzle you. Interestingly, when
Season one is all said and done, there are some questions that go
unanswered by the creators—a cop out (?) or perhaps they are leaving
things up to the viewer to decide.
ADV Films presents GANTZ SEASON ONE COMPLETE
COLLECTION in the original widescreen ratio of 1.78.1 with 16x9
enhancement. Technically the visual presentation is rich and gorgeous
with the eye candy animation rivaling other such sci-fi presentations as
TEXNHOLYZE and SOL BIANCA: THE LEGACY. The color schemes are full and
lush, with dominant red and orange hues. ADV Films includes the original
language Japanese track in Dolby Digital Stereo. The sound is rich, with
decent bass and clear Japanese vocals. ADV Film’s English language
track is superior though because it offers true 5.1 fidelity. This
English language track features better sound effects (perfect for those
action sequences), more ambiance, and more powerful bass effects. ADV
Film’s also put more effort into the English dub track which really
shows up even the original Japanese language track. The voices are
distinct and I guarantee you won’t detect the same voice more than
once (unlike most other anime translations that offer 3 or 4 voice
artists doing the entire cast). The extras are pretty slim though and
offer only the opening and closing credit sequences of the GANTZ OVA.
Don’t forget the ADV trailers.
GANTZ is a true anime series for the twentieth
century. In addition to the common anime staples such as teenagers,
aliens, robots, spaceships, and other well-designed mecha, the show
offers a large cast of complex characters that provide plenty of drama
between the battles and action sequences. The colorful, animated action
sequences themselves are worth the price of admission here. ADV Films’
technical efforts bring you a solid audio/visual presentation of this
dynamic show. About the only weakness on GANTZ SEASON ONE COMPLETE
COLLECTION that I can report on is the lack of extra features. If you
enjoy your science fiction sagas with a dose of adult sensibilities then
you should enjoy the wonderful world of GANTZ.
