NoaIzumiAnime review: Gunsmith Cats: Bulletproof
March 30th 2009 15:07
They’re beautiful, they’re bold, and now they’re Bulletproof! Everyone’s favorite Chicago bounty hunters now have their own anime, in which a manipulative ATF agent forces Rally and May to help stop a gun-running operation, causing them to run afoul of an assassin every bit as skilled as Rally herself.
The Gunsmith Cats make the leap to anime in this three episode OVA. A transition like that is always a dicey prospect, especially for a manga as good as GSC. This anime has a lot to live up to.
And it lives up to just about all of it. Just as Gunsmith Cats is one of the best action mangas, Gunsmith Cats: Bulletproof is one of the best animes, for many of the same reasons.
Rather than use one of the stories from the manga, Bulletproof comes up with a completely original one. It’s a risk, creatively, but it pays off, and allows plenty of opportunities for the action sequences that made the manga so popular. Bill Collins, the ATF agent, is a fun character. He’s a scheming bastard, but charming at the same time, and by the end of the anime, he shows himself not to be such a bad guy after all. He’s even hinted as a potential love interest for Rally, an element which was lacking in the books (although that lack made sense in the story). Natasha Radinov, the assassin, isn’t particularly well-developed as a character, but is every bit the worthy opponent for Rally.
Bill Collins, ATF
Rest assured that Bulletproof does not skimp on the thrills, either. A free-for-all gunfight in the first episode, a thrilling car chase in the second, and a showdown in the third.
Bulletproof also follows the Sonoda convention of exacting attention to detail. From the Chicago streets to the sound of the GT500’s engine, great care was taken to replicate everything as faithfully as possible.
If you thought that talking on a cell phone while driving was bad. . .
Not only is GSC: Bulletproof one of the best animes out there, it’s also a great way to introduce someone (especially someone from the US) to anime, partly because of the lack of potentially confusing Japanese cultural refs. It’s familiar enough (with the action and American setting) to draw people in, and different enough (with the strong female casting) to keep them interested once they’re there.
Geeking out: We see several references to the manga, mainly in episode one, including mention of May’s boyfriend Ken, and a quick shot of the prosthetic limbs of Bonnie (from Volume 1) and Grey (from Volumes 2 & 3).
Great moments: The climax of episode two is possibly the best car chase scene in animation history, and the look on Becky’s face when she catches Bill red-handed earlier in the same episode is just priceless. "Working late? Try the sausage!"
Extras: There are some very meaty ones with this OVA. In addition to trailers for the series and a creditless opening, the first episode has commentary with the English dubbing director and the actress who voiced Becky, and there’s also a forty-minute featurette that includes interviews with Kenichi Sonoda and the three Japanese voice actresses.
Summary: A worthy complement to the manga, in every way. Grade: A.
Age Rating: Fan service, language, and some violence, including deaths, but quite toned down from the manga. 13 and up.
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