GUN FRONTIER review: Was the fusion of Western and sci-fi a success?

Gun Frontier - Reviews and Recommendations

overview

"Gun Frontier" is a TV anime series that aired in 2002, based on the manga of the same name by Leiji Matsumoto. Set in the American Westward Expansion era, the story follows the journey of Tochiro, Harlock, and the mysterious beauty Sinunora. It consists of 13 episodes and was broadcast on AT-X. This is a very unique work that combines Leiji Matsumoto's unique worldview with elements of Western dramas.

story

In the American West during the pioneer era, Tochiro and his best friend Harlock travel through a lawless area where the only thing they can rely on is their guns. The purpose of Tochiro's journey is to find his long-lost sister and his scattered Japanese friends. The two meet a mysterious beauty named Sinunora, and the three of them join them on a journey together...

Commentary

The original work is a comic book of the same name by Leiji Matsumoto, published in 1972. Set in the American Wild West, the story follows the journey of two men, Tochiro and Harlock, and a mysterious beauty named Sinunora. The original author, Leiji Matsumoto, was also in charge of the overall setting and supervision, and the story and some of the settings were changed when it was made into an anime in 2002. The anime version maintains the atmosphere of the original work, but has been devised to make it more visually enjoyable. It also delves deeper into the personalities and relationships of the characters.

cast

• Tochiro/Kappei Yamaguchi
• Harlock/Eiji Takemoto
• Sinunora/Rika Matsumoto
• Droplets/Chisa Yokoyama
• Storyteller: Kiyoyuki Ryota

Main Staff

• Original story, overall setting, supervision: Reiji Matsumoto
• Director: Soichiro Zen
• Screenplay by Mugi Kamio
• Series Composition, Supervisor: Dr. Serial Nishioka
• Character design: Keisuke Masunaga, Miho Nakata
• Mechanical design: Katsumi Itabashi
• Art Director: Makoto Dobashi
• Animation director: Ikuo Shimazu, Masumi Hattori
• Animation Production: Vega Entertainment

Main Characters

• Tochiro is the main character. He is a short-sighted, short-statured, and plain-looking Japanese man. He is a master of the art of the samurai saber, but is extremely nearsighted and terrible with a gun.
• He is Harlock Tochiro's best friend and travels with him to the West. He is a handsome, quick-draw expert and a reliable man in times of need. He has a scar on his cheek.
• Sinunora is a mysterious beauty. She joined Tochiro and Harlock on their journey for a certain purpose. Because of this, she sometimes behaves in mysterious ways.

subtitle

• Episode 1: Departure for the Gun Frontier
• Episode 2: The collapse of a town without alcohol
• Episode 3: The Great Sandstorm
• Episode 4: Killing in the Rain
• Episode 5: The Crab Leg Hymn
• Episode 6: Samurai Sabre of the Wilderness
• Episode 7: The Phantom Bedroom
• Episode 8: Wild Utamaro
• Episode 9: The Bloody Battle of Unchisita and Midaland City
• Episode 10: Angry Chibi
• Episode 11: Matchlock of Jama City
• Episode 12 / Shitarunen
• Episode 13: Footprints to the Future

Evaluation

"Gun Frontier" is a very unique work that combines Leiji Matsumoto's unique worldview with elements of western dramas. While maintaining the atmosphere of the original, the story and some settings have been changed for the anime adaptation, and efforts have been made to make it more visually enjoyable. In particular, the characters' personalities and relationships are deeply explored, which is commendable.

Tochiro is a nearsighted, small, and unattractive-looking Japanese man, but his sword skills are top-notch. On the other hand, he is terrible with a gun, which contrasts with his personality and makes his character all the more fascinating. Harlock is Tochiro's best friend, a handsome quick-draw expert who travels with him through the West. His dependable appearance and the scar on his cheek bring out the best in his character. Sinunora is a mysterious beauty who adds depth to the story by joining Tochiro and Harlock on their journey. Her puzzling behavior draws the viewer's interest.

The subtitles of each episode are also unique, helping to draw the viewer's attention. For example, some of the titles, such as "The Collapse of a Town Without Alcohol," "The Song of the Great Dust Horse Meat," and "Crab Legs Hymn," are impressive, as they combine humor with a Western atmosphere. Others, such as "Samurai Sabre in the Wilderness," "The Phantom Bedchamber," and "Wild Utamaro," allow viewers to experience Leiji Matsumoto's unique worldview.

Animation is produced by Vega Entertainment, and the technical skills of each staff member, including character designer, mecha designer, and art director, shine through. In particular, character designers Masunaga Keisuke and Nakada Miho are in charge of character design, faithfully recreating the characters from the original while bringing out the unique charm of anime. Mecha designer Itabashi Katsumi is in charge of the designs, which are praised for matching the atmosphere of a western movie. Art director Dobashi Makoto's technical skills also shine through, with realistic portrayals of the wilderness landscapes and the atmosphere of the town.

The cast is also impressive, with Yamaguchi Kappei as Tochiro, Takemoto Eiji as Harlock, and Matsumoto Rika as Sinunora. Yamaguchi Kappei's voice for Tochiro in particular realistically portrays the nearsighted, small, and unattractive character. Takemoto Eiji's voice for Harlock also exudes a sense of reliability as a handsome quick-draw expert. Matsumoto Rika's voice for Sinunora brings out the charm of the mysterious beauty. Yokoyama Chisa's Shizuku and Ryota Kiyoyuki's narrator also add depth to the story.

The script was written by Kamio Mugi, and while the atmosphere of the original work was maintained, the story and some of the settings were changed for the anime. In particular, the characters' personalities and relationships were explored in depth, which was highly praised. Dr. Serial Nishioka was in charge of the series composition and supervision, and the subtitles of each episode and the development of the story are elements that draw the viewer's interest.

The director is Soichiro Zen, who has created a very unique work that combines Leiji Matsumoto's unique worldview with elements of Western movies. In particular, the characters' personalities and relationships are deeply explored, which is highly praised. In addition, the subtitles of each episode and the development of the story are elements that attract the viewer's interest.

Recommendation

"Gun Frontier" is a very unique work that combines Leiji Matsumoto's unique worldview with elements of western dramas. While maintaining the atmosphere of the original, the story and some settings have been changed for the anime adaptation, and efforts have been made to make it more visually enjoyable. In particular, the characters' personalities and relationships are deeply explored, which is commendable.

This work is especially recommended for those who like western movies and the works of Reiji Matsumoto. It is also recommended for those who are interested in unique stories and characters. The subtitles of each episode are also unique, which is an element that attracts the viewer's interest. The animation production and cast are luxurious, making it a work that can be enjoyed visually and aurally.

Furthermore, this work also contains elements of human drama, such as the friendship between Tochiro and Harlock and the process of unraveling the mystery of Sinunora. Therefore, it is recommended for those who are interested in human relationships and drama. It would also be interesting to compare it with other works by Matsumoto Reiji, such as "Galaxy Express 999" and "Captain Harlock."

Overall, Gun Frontier is a very unique work that combines Leiji Matsumoto's unique worldview with elements of Western dramas. While maintaining the atmosphere of the original, the story and some settings have been changed for the anime adaptation, making it more visually enjoyable. In particular, the characters' personalities and relationships are explored in depth, which is commendable. This is especially recommended for fans of Westerns and Leiji Matsumoto's works, those who are interested in unique stories and characters, and those who are interested in human dramas.