Gatekeepers 21 Review: The exploits of new warriors and their appeal

Gatekeepers 21: Fighting 21st Century Invaders

"Gatekeepers 21" is a science fiction animation set in the modern 21st century, released as an OVA in 2002. It was written, directed and composed by Yamaguchi Hiroshi, with animation by Gonzo Digimation and production by GONZO. This work is positioned as a new series of "Gatekeepers", which aired in 2000, and is full of delights for fans, such as guest appearances by characters from the previous series.

story

The year is 2001, and we are living in an age where we cannot expect a bright future, with a prolonged recession, an increase in violent crimes, environmental destruction, the collapse of moral values, and an unstable international situation. Meanwhile, the perfect time has come for the invaders to take action again, and humanity is on the verge of being dominated by them. However, invader hunters belonging to the Aegis Network, an underground rebel organization formed by civilians, are using pseudo-gate abilities to hunt the invaders.

One of them, Ayane Isuzu, happens to witness Miu Manatsuru using her powers and reports to the Aegis Network that she has found a real Gate user. One day, Ayane invites Miu to "Want to know what your powers are?" and she decides to follow her. Suddenly, a large number of invaders in human form appear, and the story accelerates at a rapid pace.

character

There are many fascinating characters in "Gatekeepers 21". The main characters are introduced below.

Ayane Isuzu

She is a super A-class Invader Hunter belonging to the Aegis Network and a second-year student at Tategami High School. She is a cool-headed girl, and although she is the daughter of Ukiya Shun, she uses her mother's maiden name. Although she has the same "Gale" gate ability as her father, she has complicated feelings for him and has sealed away the ability herself. She usually fights using a mobile phone that implements a pseudo-gate system.

Manazuru Miu

He is an invader hunter belonging to the Aegis Network and a second-year student at Tategami High School. Although he seems spacey, he also has a curious side. He has the gate ability of "jump" that allows him to jump high into the sky, and although it can only be used for his own movement, he shows his true worth by backing up others. He acts together with Ayane and grows.

Rika Tachikawa

She is an Invader Hunter affiliated with the Aegis Network and a second-year student at Tategami High School. She is a tomboyish girl with a quick temper. She has the gate ability of "cutting" which allows her to summon a sword called the "Gate Saber," and she feels a strong sense of rivalry towards Ayane, who is considered the strongest. She was active in Kobe, but transferred to Tategami High School at the request of Kageyama.

Reiji Kageyama

The founder and leader of the Aegis Network, his real name is "Mitsuoka Yuji". A man who once sided with the Invaders, he is a dual gatekeeper with the "Jet Black" gate ability (negative gate) that controls shadows, and the "Eye" gate ability (positive gate) that draws in a determined future. It seems that his body is being corroded due to his powerful abilities.

Yukino Hojo

She is a Gatekeeper who has saved Shun and his friends from danger many times. She has stopped her physical age with her own ability and has lived for hundreds of years. She has a high-level "freezing" gate ability that includes cooling and teleportation, and what was once "ice and snow" has become even more powerful and is now known as "freezing". Her ermine, Hisame, is always with her.

Chinami Watanabe

She is one of Miu's classmates, and is also best friends with Miu and Naoko. Her nickname is "Chinamin" and she is a second-year student at Tategami High School. Although she has a gentle personality, she is a very proactive girl when it comes to romance. Recently, she has been a big fan of Geba-chan goods. Just like Naoko, she was attacked by an invader...

Naoko Ito

She is one of Miu's classmates, and is also best friends with Miu and Chinami. She is a second-year student at Tategami High School, and has a tomboyish personality and is the type of girl who says what she wants to say clearly. To the absent-minded Miu and the gentle Chinami, she is like a reliable older sister. Just like Chinami, she is also attacked by invaders...

Daichi Hashimoto

He is a detective working for the Metropolitan Police Department, and is a member of the Special Case Investigation Headquarters No. 303, which investigates mysterious invader cases, and is pursuing mutants (the police call invaders). He is a hot-blooded and very earnest man, but because of his personality, he cannot hide his frustration when the investigation into the mysterious invader cases does not go well.

Ghost Girl

She is one of the original invaders, but her true identity is a human, a gatekeeper girl with the gate ability of "vanishing", which scrapes away matter space by space. Her body has been consumed by the gate, and residual thoughts make up her body. Therefore, no physical attacks work on her. She was a victim of witch hunts in the Middle Ages, and harbors a deep hatred for humans.

Machine General Kai

One of the original Invaders, he was once a high-ranking Invader leader alongside the Devil Count, and fused with machines to control them at will, fighting against Shun and the Gatekeepers. He was destroyed by the Gatekeepers' efforts, but was resurrected by fusing with Umihotaru, an artificial island in Kisarazu that floats in Tokyo Bay.

Demon Count

One of the original Invaders, he was once a high-ranking Invader leader alongside the Devil Count, and fought against Shun and the Gatekeepers with psychic attacks that controlled the minds of humans. He was destroyed by the efforts of the Gatekeepers, but was revived by fusing with a plant. The sap, which contains a toxin, has the effect of turning humans into Invaders.

Production Staff

Many talented staff members were involved in the production of "Gatekeepers 21." Below are the main staff members:

Original story, director and composition: Hiroshi Yamaguchi

Hiroshi Yamaguchi is the original author, director and writer of this film. His vision and creativity were the driving force behind its creation.

Animation director and character designer: Keiji Goto

Keiji Goto was the animation director and character designer, and his designs play an important role in bringing out the personalities of the characters.

Invader design: Maeda Masahiro

Masahiro Maeda was in charge of the design of the Invaders. His unique designs visually express the terror of the Invaders.

Mechanical design: Tomohiro Kawahara, Toshiro Ihara

Tomohiro Kawahara and Toshiro Ihara were in charge of the mecha designs, and their designs play a key role in highlighting the sci-fi elements of the work.

Prop design: Akiko Asago

Akiko Asago was in charge of prop design. Her designs are an important element that enriches the worldview of the work.

Main animators: Takashina Yukei, Asago Akiko

Yuki Takashina and Akiko Asago were the main animators, and their animations played a vital role in making the characters' movements look realistic.

Art director: Masanori Kikuchi

Masanori Kikuchi was the art director. His art plays an important role in beautifully illustrating the backgrounds of the film.

Visual coordinator: Eriko Murata

Eriko Murata was in charge of visual coordination. Her visual coordination played an important role in unifying the overall visual of the work.

Director of photography: Takashi Horiuchi

Takashi Horiuchi was the cinematographer, and his photography plays an important role in enhancing the visual beauty of the film.

Edited by: Kengo Shigemura

Kengo Shigemura was in charge of editing, and his editing plays a vital role in effectively telling the story of the film.

Music: Tanaka Kouhei

Kohei Tanaka was in charge of the music. His music plays an important role in enhancing the atmosphere of the work.

Sound Director: Yota Tsuruoka

Yota Tsuruoka was the sound director, and his sound played a vital role in bringing the sound of the film to life.

Production producer: Shinichiro Ishikawa

Shinichiro Ishikawa was the production producer. His production plays an important role in ensuring the smooth progress of the production.

Producers: Daisuke Niki, Takashi Watanabe, Masafumi Fukui, Shoji Murahama

Daisuke Niki, Takashi Watanabe, Masafumi Fukui, and Shoji Murahama were in charge of producing. Their production plays an important role in determining the overall direction of the work.

Animation Production: Gonzo Digimation

Gonzo Digimation was in charge of the animation production, and their animation plays a vital role in enhancing the visuals of the film.

Production: GONZO

GONZO was in charge of production, and their work plays a vital role in maintaining the overall quality of the film.

Produced by: GK21 Project

GK21 Project was in charge of production. Their production plays a vital role in determining the overall direction of the work.

Theme songs and music

The theme song and music of "Gatekeepers 21" are also important elements that enhance the appeal of the work. The theme song and music are introduced below.

Opening theme: Haneoto

The opening theme "Haneoto" is sung by Junko Watanabe. The lyrics are by Kyoko Matsumiya, the music is by Kohei Tanaka, and the arrangement is by Masami Kishimura. This song plays an important role in enhancing the atmosphere of the work.

Ending theme: If you have a smile today

The ending theme "If I Have a Smile Today" is sung by Sakura Nogawa. The lyrics are by Kyoko Matsumiya, the music is by Kohei Tanaka, and the arrangement is by Fuminori Iwasaki. This song plays an important role in beautifully concluding the ending of the work.

Ratings and Recommendations

"Gatekeepers 21" is a science fiction animation set in the modern 21st century, and has been highly praised by many fans. In particular, the storyline depicting the battle against the invaders and the character growth has the power to draw viewers in. In addition, there are plenty of elements that fans will be happy to see, such as guest appearances by characters from the previous work, "Gatekeepers."

This work is recommended for those who like science fiction animation and works that depict the battle against invaders. Also, those who have watched the previous work "Gatekeepers" will enjoy this new series. In addition, it is recommended for those who like stories that depict character growth and friendship.

"Gatekeepers 21" was released as an OVA in 2002 and is sold by Pony Canyon. It consists of 6 episodes, each about 28 minutes long. Please watch this work and experience the battle against the invaders in the 21st century.