GUNSLINGER GIRL Review: Welcome to the dark world of beautiful girls and guns

Gunslinger Girl: The Story of a Beautiful Girl Assassin

"Gunslinger Girl" is a TV anime series that aired from 2003 to 2004 and is based on the manga of the same name by Aida Yutaka. Set in Europe, the series depicts girls who have been physically modified and "conditioned" to carry out demanding missions as assassins for a government intelligence agency. The story, in which their fleeting happiness intertwines with their destinies as assassins, offers viewers deep emotions and thought-provoking themes.

Overview

"Gunslinger Girl" was broadcast on Fuji TV every Wednesday from October 8, 2003 to February 18, 2004. It consists of 13 episodes, each 30 minutes long. Animation was handled by Madhouse, directed by Morio Asaka (Chobits), with character design by Tsune Abe. It was produced by Haruki Nakayama and produced by Marvelous Entertainment.

story

In a certain European country, there is a public interest corporation called the Social Welfare Corporation. At this corporation, girls are gathered for various reasons and "conditioned" to perform "work for the country", and are engaged in missions such as assassinations as "cyborgs". Each girl has an officer in charge who manages them, gives them orders, and makes them fight. The girls, who are given the freedom to use their bodies and work by the corporation, spend their days going back and forth between the facility and the killing fields, but they still feel the happiness that has been given to them.

Main Characters

Henrietta <br> The officer in charge is Josee. She was the victim of a family murder case, and was critically injured. She was in such a state of mental shock that she wanted to commit suicide, which is when she was called to the corporation. She has a pure and innocent personality, and she loves Josee. She was raised in a wealthy family, and has good manners.

Josee <br> An officer in charge of the 2nd Operations Division, she thinks of Henrietta as a "little sister" and treats her with affection both in private and public. She sometimes clashes with Jean over the use of the prosthetic body.

Rico <br> The officer in charge is Josee's older brother Jean. He had been bedridden in a hospital room, but since coming to the corporation he has been able to move freely for the first time, and he finds joy in every aspect of his daily life. Although he doesn't express his emotions much, he is very curious and is happy when people pay attention to him.

Jean <br> An officer in charge of the 2nd Operations Division, he is strict with his work and will use any means to achieve his goals. He sees Rico as a "tool for his work" and has no resistance to the strict conditioning he puts on her.

Triela <br> The officer in charge is Hirscher. He is intelligent and caring, and is like a class representative. Although he appears strong at first glance, he is actually sensitive, and although he is dissatisfied with the corporation, he understands that he can only survive here. He is cold-hearted in battle.

Hirscher <br> An officer in charge of the 2nd Operations Division and a former Europol agent. He dislikes imposing unreasonable conditions, so he often has trouble dealing with Triela.

Claes <br> The officer in charge was Labaro, but he died in an "accident" and is now serving as a test subject for prosthetic bodies. At the corporation, he lives at his own pace, reading, gardening, and playing music, but he is actually not in good health. He has an indifferent personality and dislikes being interfered with.

Labaro <br> An officer in charge of the 2nd Operations Division and a former military police captain. After retiring from the military, he was invited by Jean to join the corporation. He is disabled in his legs due to a rifle accident during his time as a military police officer. He trained Claes diligently in order to quickly train him to become a full-fledged soldier.

Angelica <br> The officer in charge is Marco. She was murdered by her parents for insurance money, but managed to survive and join the corporation. She is eager to work, but due to her early prosthetic body she has been in poor health recently and has been in and out of the hospital repeatedly. She has a gentle and kind personality.

Marco <br> An officer in charge of Operations Section 2, formerly of the Ministry of the Interior's Central Security Operations Force. He was dismissed due to his deteriorating eyesight. When he first joined the company, he was enthusiastic about Angelica, but recently he has lost interest in her.

episode

Each episode depicts the girls' inner conflicts and growth as their daily lives and missions intersect. Below are the subtitles for each episode.

• Episode 1: Brothers - fratello - (2003/10/08)
• Episode 2: Astronomical Observation - Orione - (2003/10/15)
• Episode 3: Boy - ragazzo - (2003/10/29)
• Episode 4: Doll - bambola - (2003/11/12)
• Episode 5: Promise - (2003/11/19)
• Episode 6: Reward - gelato - (2003/11/26)
• Episode 7: Protection - protezione - (2003/12/03)
• Episode 8: Fairytale - Il Principe del regno della pasta - (2003/12/17)
• Episode 9: Lycoris radiata Herb - (2004/01/14)
• Episode 10: Fever - amare - (2004/01/28)
• Episode 11: Love - febbre alta - (2004/02/04)
• Episode 12: Symbiosis - simbiosi - (2004/02/11)
• Episode 13: Shooting Star - Stella Cadente - (2004/02/18)

music

The opening theme is "THE LIGHT BEFORE WE LAND", written, composed and sung by the delgados. The ending theme is "DOPO IL SOGNO ~Ato ni Yume~", written by Keiko Ueno, composed and arranged by Toshihiko Sahashi, arranged by Nanae Mimura and sung by opus. The insert song is "Woke From Dreaming", composed by the delgados.

Related Titles

"Gunslinger Girl" has a sequel called "GUNSLINGER GIRL IL TEATRINO," which also depicts the fate and battles of girls.

Ratings and Recommendations

"Gunslinger Girl" has attracted many viewers with its unique worldview and deep themes. The story, which intertwines the innocence and cruelty of the girls, provides viewers with deep emotions and opportunities to think. In addition, the character design and animation are of high quality, making it a visually enjoyable work.

This work asks questions about humanity, ethics, and what happiness is, through the story of girls burdened with the cruel fate of being assassins. In particular, the portrayal of the girls' psychology and relationships is extremely realistic, evoking sympathy from viewers. Furthermore, each episode unfolds the story from a different perspective, so there is something new to discover each time.

The recommended audience is a wide range of people, from adults who want to enjoy deep themes to young people who are attracted to beautiful visuals and characters. It is also recommended for those who are interested in the theme of assassins and those who want to enjoy a European atmosphere.

"Gunslinger Girl" is a work with deep themes, beautiful visuals, and a moving story that will make viewers think. Please give it a watch.