GAD GUARD [Complete Edition]: A Must-See Anime Guide

"Gadguard [Complete Edition]": A grand story depicting the darkness and hope of a future city

"Gad Guard [Complete Edition]" is a TV anime series that was broadcast in 2003. It is set in a futuristic city and depicts the adventures and growth of a group of boys who encounter a mysterious substance called "GAD" and the giant humanoid robots called "Steelmen" that are born from it. In this article, we will take a detailed look at the overview of the series, its characters, world view, and its appeal, and explore why it continues to be loved to this day.

■Overview of the work

Gad Guard [Complete Edition] aired on Fuji TV 721 from September 12 to December 30, 2003. The 26-episode series is an original anime work written by Yoshitsune Izuna, GONZO, and Hiroshi Nishikori. It was directed by Hiroshi Nishikori, with Yoshikazu Miyao as assistant director, and animation was produced by Gonzo Digimation and Amber Filmworks.

The story is set in the futuristic city of Unit Blue. In this city, there is a place called Night Town, which loses electricity at night and is shrouded in darkness. The protagonist, Sanada Hajiki, works part-time as a courier in Night Town. One day, Hajiki comes into contact with a mysterious substance called GAD, which is traded at a high price, and it engulfs scrap and transforms into a giant humanoid robot called Steelman Lightning. This event triggers Hajiki to meet various people with the Steelman ability, and through his encounters and battles with them, Hajiki grows as a person.

■Character Introduction

The appeal of "Gad Guard [Complete Edition]" is its unique characters. The main characters are introduced below.

Sanada Hajiki

Voice actor: Kenichi Suzumura

The protagonist of this story is a boy who controls the Steel Man Lightning. He has a strong independent spirit for his age, and works as a porter at Hachisuka Transport while attending a volunteer school at his church. He is passionate about the things he likes, but he also has a side to him that is not good at detailed matters. The story revolves around Hajiki's growth and the various challenges he faces.

Katana

Voice actor: Junichi Suwabe

He is Hajiki's rival and the mysterious man who controls the Steel Man Zero. His real name and background are unknown, and he has a lone wolf personality that gives off a dangerous vibe. Preferring a stoic way of life and hating to lose, he is a top-notch operator of illegal heavy machinery. His conflicts and alliances with Hajiki add tension to the story.

Arashi Shinozuka

Voice actor: Fumiko Orikasa

She is the daughter of a large karate dojo and a classmate at the same church school as Hajiki. She decides to leave home and start living alone in the area where Hajiki lives. By chance, she witnesses the birth of Hajiki and the Steel Man Lightning, and becomes interested in Hajiki. Her presence becomes an emotional support for Hajiki.

Aiko Marie Harmony

Voice actor: Masayo Kurata

She is the daughter of the president of Central Electronic, who controls the Steel Man Messerschmitt. Although she is the daughter of an upper-class family, she has a strong interest in what she should do in the future and has a proactive personality. The world seen from her perspective is very different from the life of Hajiki and the others, which adds depth to the story.

Takumi Kisaragi

Voice actor: Yuko Sato

He is a hot-blooded boy with a strong sense of justice who controls the Steel Man Thunderbolt. He lost his parents at an early age and lives alone on their inheritance. He is a beautiful boy who is surprisingly not one to reveal his true feelings, but his attitude of fighting for justice is what makes the story moving.

Kogoro Hachisuka

Voice actor: Unsho Ishizuka

He is the manager of "Hachisuka Transport" where Hajiki works. He is a realist and his motto is to put profit first. He seems to have had various "complicated jobs" in the past, but the details are unknown. His existence supports Hajiki's life while providing mystery to the story.

Catherine Froupel

Voice actor: Kikuko Inoue

A mysterious woman who operates heavy machinery, she is an old acquaintance of Kogoro Hachisuka's because of their "mixed jobs." Her motives for her relentless search for GAD are unclear, and her actions add further mystery and tension to the story.

Kyouko Sanada

Voice actor: Shoko Tsuda

Hajiki's mother, a former ballerina. She was beautiful but now overweight. After her husband's death, she quit ballerina to support her family and now works at a Chinese restaurant in town. She works from early in the morning until late at night, but she keeps a close eye on her son and daughter. Her love is a great source of emotional support for Hajiki.

Satsuki Sanada

Voice actor: Tamaki Nakanishi

Hajiki's younger sister, who dreams of becoming a ballerina like her mother, attends a dance school separately from school. Her dreams and efforts influence Hajiki's growth.

■Worldview

"Gadguard [Complete Edition]" is set on Earth in the future, several hundred years from now. The world is one in which the growing human presence has led to the depletion of Earth's resources, and despite cries of existential crisis, it has been unable to break away from an inefficient consumption system, forcing the restructuring of numerous social resources into individual cities called "units."

The divisions of this world are distinguished by the name "Units", and the unit where Hajiki lives is called "Unit 74". It is also commonly known as Unit Blue. The residents here also have their own feelings for their unit's area, and call it by nicknames such as "Day Town" and the area that was once a spaceport "Port Town".

The area where Sanada Hajiki lives in "Unit 74" is also known as "Night Town" because the electricity supply is cut off at night. The area is reminiscent of the crowded scenery of Italy in the 1940s and 1950s, but the people are lively. In contrast to "Night Town," there is "Day Town," an area lined with high-rise buildings along the sea where high-income earners work, and further ahead is "Gold Town," an upscale residential area where nature is artificially preserved.

Electricity is still the main source of energy, but it is not abundant in all areas. In Night Town, where Hajiki lives, electricity stops at midnight. Small rechargeable batteries are already installed in refrigerators and other electrical appliances necessary for daily life, allowing them to operate until the power supply resumes.

The currency unit for all units is unified to "Keen". Access to networks such as the Internet, which was once somewhat open as of today, is now almost impossible for ordinary people. Underground networks exist, but they are illegal in principle. One-sided information flows through restricted networks, and the only information that ordinary people can access is through those networks. Also, in the world of Gadguard, wireless communication and mobile phones can only be used by special people. The use of radio waves is strictly controlled due to energy conditions and military reasons.

A train network is usually established between the units, and this is used for transportation of the general public. Public transportation within the units is entirely electric, although some use internal combustion engine-powered vehicles. Firearms are illegal and are recognized by the residents of the units.

Iron and steel machinery is an ancient industrial robot, a humanoid work machine. It is also a "heritage" from the time when energy resources were abundant. Nowadays, it consumes a lot of fuel to operate, and can only exist in the world as illegal machinery. Iron and steel machinery that is still in operation is traded through black market brokers.

The object that holds the key to the story is "GAD", a mysterious substance that gave birth to Steel Man Lightning when Hajiki came into contact with it. The true nature and purpose of this substance will be revealed as the story progresses.

■ Story

The story of "Gado Guard [Complete Edition]" begins with Hajiki coming into contact with GAD and the birth of the Steel Man Lightning. As a result of this event, many people with Steel Men appear before Hajiki, and through his encounters and battles with them, Hajiki grows.

The story begins with Hajiki working part-time as a courier in Night Town. One day, Hajiki comes into contact with a mysterious substance called "GAD" that is traded at a high price, and it engulfs scrap and transforms into a giant humanoid robot called "Steelman Lightning." This event triggers various people with Steelman abilities to appear before Hajiki, and through his encounters and battles with them, Hajiki grows as a person.

Katana, an outlaw who uses the steel man "Zero" for destruction, Aiko, an upper-class girl who searches for allies with the steel man "Messerschmitt," and Takumi, a righteous boy who acts with the steel man "Thunderbolt," are all steel man users, but they all have different ways of thinking. Some are always seeking out danger, some are trying to connect with their allies, and some are trying to fight for justice. While struggling with these differences, Hajiki is inevitably drawn into the incidents caused by the steel men and the battles between the giant humanoid mechas.

Why did "GAD" and the Steel Man appear before them? The gears of fate for the boys who own the Steel Man slowly begin to turn... The story progresses with this question in mind.

■Subtitle

The subtitles for each episode of "Gad Guard [Complete Edition]" symbolize the development of the story and the feelings of the characters. Below are the subtitles for all 26 episodes.

• EPISODE 1: We were looking at the same sky
• EPISODE 2: Putting the Pieces Back Together
• EPISODE 3: On a street corner in Night Town
• EPISODE 4: Cool Eyes
• EPISODE 5: And the Rain Falls
• EPISODE 6: Five Masks
• EPISODE 7: If I Could Fly
• EPISODE 8: The Wandering Couple
• EPISODE 9: Snow melts the heart
• EPISODE 10: A stack of bills in the setting sun
• EPISODE 11: I can't go back to Rainbow Town
• EPISODE 12: Bluebird
• EPISODE 13: Those Who Dwell in the Darkness
• EPISODE 14: In Search of Lost Time
• EPISODE 15: A Sunny Garden
• EPISODE 16: The Day the Fangs Bared
• EPISODE 17: Guns, Swords, and Beasts
• EPISODE 18: The logic of those who leave
• EPISODE 19: Travel companions
• EPISODE 20: The End of the World
• EPISODE 21: Blue Sleep
• EPISODE 22: Glass Rondo
• EPISODE 23: The Man Who Makes Amends
• EPISODE 24: The Will to Reach the Heavens
• EPISODE 25: Time to Fly
• EPISODE 26: A Young Traveler

■ Theme songs and music

The theme songs for "Gadguard [Complete Edition]" are performed by PE'Z. The opening theme is "Boomerang Boogie ~Uncle Nanpudo~" and the ending theme is "Song for my Buffalo". These songs are important elements that add to the atmosphere of the story.

■ Production staff

Many staff members were involved in the production of "Gad Guard [Complete Edition]". The main staff members are introduced below.

• Original author: Yoshitsune Izuna, GONZO, Hiroshi Nishikori
• Director: Hiroshi Nishikori
• Assistant Director: Yoshikazu Miyao
• Series Composition: Hiroshi Nishikori, Kazuhiko Ikeguchi
• Story Editor: Noboru Aikawa
• Original character design, original steel man design: Yoshitsune Izuna
• Character design and chief animation director: Masahiro Aizawa
• Set design: Osamu Kobayashi
• Mechanic design: Shunji Murata, Yoshikazu Miyao
• Art director: Junichi Azuma, Toshiharu Iijima
• Color design: Keiko Kai
• Director of photography: Atsushi Takeyama
• Edited by: Keiko Onodera
• Sound Director: Masafumi Mima, Tsutomu Kashiwakura
• Music: Kohei Tanaka, Kazuhiko Sawaguchi, PE'Z
• Producers: Katsuji Nagata, Kazuhiko Ikeguchi, Takatoshi Hamano, Shinichiro Ishikawa, Katsuhiro Yoshikawa, Toshio Hatanaka, Hitoshi Matsumoto
• Animation: Gonzo Digimation, Amber Filmworks
• Produced by TEAM GADGUARD (Media Factory, GDH, IMAGICA Entertainment, Hakuhodo, Amber Filmworks), Fuji Television

■ Related works

"Gad Guard [Complete Edition]" is an original anime work, and its related work "GAD GUARD" is one of its related works. Although this work shares the same worldview, it depicts the story from a different perspective.

■ Evaluation and appeal

"Gad Guard [Complete Edition]" continues to be loved by many fans due to its unique world view and unique characters. Below we will introduce its appeal and reviews in detail.

A unique worldview

Set in the futuristic city of Unit Blue, "Gad Guard [Complete Edition]" features a unique worldview that depicts the depletion of resources and the resulting changes in society. Each section of the city is depicted with different living environments, such as "Night Town," which loses electricity and is shrouded in darkness at night, "Day Town," where high-income earners work, and "Gold Town," an upscale residential area where nature is protected. This worldview provides an opportunity for viewers to think about future possibilities and real-life problems.

Unique characters

The characters in "Gad Guard [Complete Edition]" each have different backgrounds and thoughts, enriching the story. The protagonist Hajiki is independent and fascinating to watch as he grows. The individuality of each character, such as Katana's dangerous charm, Aiko's drive, and Takumi's sense of justice, adds depth to the story. Relationships with family and friends are also depicted, making it an enjoyable human drama.

The Mystery of Steelmen and GAD

"GAD" and the "Steelmen" are at the center of the story, and are important elements that draw the viewer's interest. The mysteries that are revealed one after another, such as the true identity and purpose of GAD, the birth of the Steelmen and the source of their power, have the power to draw the viewer into the story. In addition, the battles between the Steelmen and the accompanying action scenes are also highlights.

music

The theme songs "Boomerang Boogie ~Uncle Nanpu-do~" and "Song for my Buffalo" by PE'Z are important elements that enhance the atmosphere of the story. These songs help the viewer to immerse themselves in the story. In addition, the background music by Kohei Tanaka and Kazuhiko Sawaguchi also has the effect of stirring emotions as the story unfolds.

Viewers' reactions

"Gad Guard [Complete Edition]" was well received by many viewers when it was first broadcast. Many viewers were particularly drawn in by the world view set in a futuristic city, the unique characters, and the mystery of the Steelmen and GAD. Many viewers also empathized with and were moved by the development of the story and the growth of the characters.

■Reasons for recommendation

"Gadguard [Complete Edition]" is a work that is attractive for its unique world view set in a futuristic city, its unique characters, and its epic story depicting the mystery of the Steelmen and GAD. Below are the reasons for recommending it in detail.

A world view set in a futuristic city

"Unit Blue" depicts a futuristic city where resources are depleted and the resulting changes in society, giving viewers an opportunity to think about future possibilities and real-world problems. Each section of the city is depicted with different living environments, such as "Night Town," which loses electricity and is shrouded in darkness at night, "Day Town," where high-income earners work, and "Gold Town," an upscale residential area with protected nature. This worldview offers viewers a new perspective and adds depth to the story.

Unique characters

The characters in "Gad Guard [Complete Edition]" each have different backgrounds and thoughts, enriching the story. The protagonist Hajiki is independent and fascinating to watch as he grows. The individuality of each character, such as Katana's dangerous charm, Aiko's drive, and Takumi's sense of justice, adds depth to the story. Relationships with family and friends are also depicted, making it an enjoyable human drama.

The Mystery of Steelmen and GAD

"GAD" and the "Steelmen" are at the center of the story, and are important elements that draw the viewer's interest. The mysteries that are revealed one after another, such as the true identity and purpose of GAD, the birth of the Steelmen and the source of their power, have the power to draw the viewer into the story. In addition, the battles between the Steelmen and the accompanying action scenes are also highlights.

music

The theme songs "Boomerang Boogie ~Uncle Nanpu-do~" and "Song for my Buffalo" by PE'Z are important elements that enhance the atmosphere of the story. These songs help the viewer to immerse themselves in the story. In addition, the background music by Kohei Tanaka and Kazuhiko Sawaguchi also has the effect of stirring emotions as the story unfolds.

Viewers' reactions

"Gad Guard [Complete Edition]" was well received by many viewers when it was first broadcast. Many viewers were particularly drawn in by the world view set in a futuristic city, the unique characters, and the mystery of the Steelmen and GAD. Many viewers also empathized with and were moved by the development of the story and the growth of the characters.

Conclusion

"Gad Guard [Complete Edition]" is a work that has a unique world view set in a futuristic city, a cast of unique characters, and an epic story that depicts the mystery of the Steelmen and GAD. This work provides viewers with a new perspective and adds depth to the story, making it a work that continues to be loved by many fans. Please watch it once and experience its charm.