Review of Gantz: Vol. 1

Introduction

Selling anime is a funny old business. With the sort of family films that Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli produce, it seems increasingly likely that anime`s leap towards mainstream entertainment in the UK is a step closer. However, there is a view that harks back to the early nineties, when anime was once again in the ascendant, but this time through controversy. With titles like Legend Of The Overfiend earning the ire of the BBFC, and 18 ratings liberally applied to many shows, audiences craved anime just to see how extreme it could get. It could be thought that an 18 rating (a rating that few shows get nowadays) could once again send sales soaring. Gantz would have seemed a sure bet for courting controversy, as even in its native Japan, scenes of sex and violence had to cut before it could be shown on television. It wasn`t to be though, as after the uncut episodes on the first DVD were scrutinised by the BBFC, they still only rated a 15 certificate.

A mysterious black sphere appears suddenly in an innocuous room in Tokyo. Suddenly the lives of random people are inexorably changed, beginning at the moments of their deaths. Reincarnated in that room they learn that the sphere, known as Gantz, now controls their lives. They are assigned missions by the sphere, to hunt down and eliminate an alien menace unseen to the rest of society. They also learn that they too are unseen as they do Gantz` bidding. Equipped with strength enhancing suits and fantastic weaponry, they compete to amass points. But what is Gantz, where did it come from, are they dead, dreaming or playing some bizarre game?

Gantz was released in the US by ADV, and trialling a new format, they were released on budget discs with two episodes to a disc. In the UK, MVM picked up the rights, and have stuck to a shelf-space friendly four episodes per disc.

Volume 1 of Gantz: Game of Death contains the first four episodes in the series.

Ep 1. It`s The Beginning Of A Brand New Day
Returning home from school, Kei Kurono runs into a childhood friend at the underground station. He and Masaru Kato wind up helping a drunk who has fallen between the tracks. Although they manage to save the drunk, they are unable to escape the train themselves, and are horrifically killed. They appear in a room with a group of strangers and dominated by a mysterious black sphere. The other people explain that they are trapped in the room, and also relate how they died. Then a young girl is reconstituted in front of their eyes. Naked and dripping, it appears that she committed suicide when traces of blood are found on her wrists. Suddenly after a burst of music, glowing writing appears on the surface of the sphere, "Your lives are now over, you bastards. What you do with your new lives is for me to decide"

Ep 2. They Aren`t Human
The sphere, Gantz presents the group with its first mission. They are issued with weaponry and form-fitting suits, and are given an hour to find and eliminate the Green Onion aliens. Materialising on the city streets, the majority of the group are convinced by one of their number that this is a government conspiracy to eliminate aliens, and they decide to locate the targets. That is except for the oldest among them, a politician who believes that now he is hale and hearty he can get back to his former life. But Gantz soon realises that he isn`t playing ball. Finding and eliminating the diminutive alien is simple enough for the more bloodthirsty among the group, despite the compassionate Kato`s objections. Kei is still trying to impress the girl when the alien`s irate big brother shows up.

Ep 3. Kei, You`re Awesome
Half an hour is left to defeat the Green Onion aliens, but all the hi-tech weaponry is just making the big one madder. Cleaving through the group, soon only Kei, Kato and the girl are left standing. Kato is knocked over a precipice, and Kei finds that he has to protect the girl. He must ditch his cynicism and try and recall the sheer fearlessness that the young Kato idolised, to escape the razor clawed alien. When Kei is cornered, he learns what the suit supplied by Gantz can do.

Ep 4. Okay, Here Are Your Scores.
Kei has to face killing the alien, and finds that he can`t. That`s when the conspiracy theorist of the group reappears and finishes the job. He begins to explain the rules when the mission ends and the survivors are brought back to the room, including the mortally wounded Kato who rematerialises completely healed and healthy. Apparently Gantz automatically heals anyone left alive at the end of a mission. This time they are allowed to leave the room and go home, and the next morning Kei wakes thinking it`s all been a bizarre dream, until he sees the suit on his chair.

Video

Gantz is presented in 1.78:1 anamorphic ratio on a dual layer disc. The image transfer is up to MVM`s usual impressive standards, clear and sharp throughout, with only the usual colour banding associated with anime, as well as the occasional signs of the NTSC to PAL transfer. It`s all pretty unnoticeable.

Gantz was produced by Gonzo, the same company that created the visually impressive Kiddy Grade, but Gantz lacks a little something in execution. The character designs are distinctive if simplified, but the jarring problem is the difference in quality between the 3D and 2D animation. The 3D is stunningly accomplished, creating a visually dynamic and tangible world where elaborate designs and frenetic camera moves are possible. The introduction to the room where the mysterious Gantz appears is a case in point. However the 2D animation is excessively static, and on occasion rough edged, with the characters rarely moving. The occasional burst of action or the animation set pieces are usually high quality, but conversation scenes are little more than still images. On occasion the 2D and 3D didn`t match up correctly, with characters drifting or hovering on the backgrounds. It`s disappointing given the hyperbole the series has received.

Audio

You are presented with a choice of DD 5.1 English or DD 2.0 Stereo Japanese. I chose to listen to the original language track as always, and I found it to be quite acceptable. The dialogue is clear and there is audible separation on the stereo, with subtle ambience and spot effects. I spot-checked the English track, and found it to be of similar quality, with the surround effects given greater reign. The English dub is acceptable, but in an attempt to push the age rating even higher, there is a level of profanity absent from the original language track.

This is another series that relies on a good soundtrack, and I found the rap theme tune grew on me with repeated exposure. The show`s soundtrack continues at a similar frantic pace, but the reflective piece that plays over the end credits is the highlight of the show`s soundtrack at this point. As stated, you get translated English subtitles, as well as a signs only track. There was an error on one of the captions in episode 2, where some stray pixels from the text wandered up to the middle of the screen. This was an isolated fault though.

Features

This volume comes with a fair number of extras for an anime release. There are the usual clean credit sequences that you can view minus the text, as well as trailers for Full Metal Alchemist and Gunslinger Girl.

However, in addition to these, there are two brief interviews. The first is a seven-minute interview with the Director Ichiroh Itano, and he speaks about his impressions of the Manga, and the American influence on Japanese television leading to censorship. He talks about directing the show, as well as the differences in the uncut DVD version. Second is a 6-minute chat with Daisuke Hamikawa, who provides the voice of Kei Kurono in the show. He talks about the character, the ADR studio and the appeal of the show.

Conclusion

I`m afraid that it`s more hyperbole than controversy with Gantz. It`s true that there is a lot of graphic violence, a degree of sexuality, and if you are watching the English dub, a whole lot of profanity. But the violence is of that extremely stylised sort, with plenty of blood sprays and viscera, which goes beyond the excessive to the absurd. It`s also comparatively tame given the likes of Ninja Scroll and Fist Of The North Star. I could see how it could give a mainstream television channel pause for thought though. On this first disc, the sexual content was confined to topless scenes and a moment of implied sexual violence. The only moment that could truly raise a few eyebrows is when the newly arrived naked girl has to fend off the attentions of an overly familiar dog. Frankly that scene is more liable to evoke mirth than gasps of affront.

Beneath all the blood and guts, there is a rough diamond of a story. It`s set up as a classic mystery with plenty of sci-fi and even a touch of the supernatural. We get to learn along with the characters just what is going on, as we follow them through the story, as well as down the occasional blind alley. We see Kei and Kato`s death depicted graphically before Gantz reconstitutes them. Are they dead, is this the afterlife or have they been given a second chance? What is Gantz, where did it come from, what is its purpose? We are at the stage where all the questions are still being asked, and the few answers that we get may just be red herrings anyway. This much is certain, Gantz has apparently resurrected the recently deceased to do its bidding and hunt down aliens hiding on Earth. Kei and his group seem invisible to normal people, as do the targets they are ordered to hunt, and the suits they are given enhance their abilities. Yet why they are made to do this remains a mystery.

One thing that makes Gantz stand out is that we hear the character`s inner voices. This mostly applies to Kei, but it is also used to good effect in scenes with other characters. It`s an opportunity for social comment when we hear the thoughts of the onlookers at the metro station. It shows a bloodthirsty and voyeuristic side of society, as well as a degree of moral cowardice. Indeed when Kei and Kato are killed, certain bystanders take photos with their phones. Primarily the inner voice is used to add dimension to Kei. It`s interesting to hear what he thinks of those around him, as well as reveal the motivations to his actions. If anything he comes across as a reluctant anti-hero. It`s an interesting device, but overuse may dull its impact.

Gantz is an intriguing puzzle that immediately grabs the attention. It also benefits from a second viewing, as clues to character motivations are sowed early on. It can develop in one of two ways, either it is event TV built on the revelation and the plot twist, or it builds a strong and compelling story. It`s too early to tell on the strength of just one disc, but I hope it is the latter. A stilted and awkward blending of animation styles hampers the show, but once you get past that, it becomes an easy show to enjoy. It will take subsequent volumes to see is this rough diamond will gain a little polish. Gantz is tentatively recommended.