"Sunabouzu" review: A fusion of charming characters and a deep story

Sunabouzu - Detailed reviews and recommendations

■ Public Media

TV anime series

■ Original Media

comics

■ Broadcast period

October 5, 2004 - March 29, 2005 Chubu Nippon Broadcasting October 4, 2004 - March 21, 2005 (Episodes 1-24) Every Monday 25:30-26:00

*The uncensored, censored version is available for sale as a packaged version by Pony Canyon.
Episode 16: Feces and Urine (DVD version) (2005/09/21)

■Broadcasting station

CBC, UHF, TBS affiliates

■Frequencies

half an hour

■ Number of Episodes

Episode 24

■Original Story

Masatoshi Usune "Sunabouzu" (Comic Beam/Enterbrain)

■ Director

Takayuki Inagaki

■ Production

・Animation Production: GONZO

■Works

©2004 Masatoshi Usune, Enterbrain, Handyman Association

■ Story

Great Kanto Desert...
A dead desert where the ruins of a civilization that disappeared hundreds of years ago stand like gravestones...
It's a harsh place where temperatures exceed 50 degrees Celsius during the day and drop below freezing at night...
"Sunabouzu" is a handyman here in the desert. In other words, he is a professional in life here in the desert.
Today too, people are hired for money to serve their own selfish purposes.
In this desert, things like "for the sake of the world" and "for the sake of people" are irrelevant.
The power to realize one's desires is what is beautiful.
It should have been...

*Quoted from the GONZO official website

■Explanation

"Sunabouzu," which is currently being serialized in Monthly Comic Beam (published by Enterbrain), has been decided to be made into an anime.
Along with its original story approach, ironic hero, and outrageous and acrobatic action, the realistic depiction of firearms is also one of the film's attractions.
This is the directorial debut of Inagaki Takayuki, who has worked on numerous productions including the animation in the film "Space Travelers" and "Peace Maker Kurogane."

*Quoted from the GONZO official website

■Cast

・Sunabouzu (Mizuno Kanta) / Suzuki Chihiro・Kosuna (Koizumi Taiko) / Saito Chiwa・Asagiri Junko / Kotani Tomoko・Elder / Kushida Akira・Amegumo / Wakamoto Norio・Kawaguchi Fuyuo / Saito Jiro・Kawaguchi Akio / Kawano Wotoya・Kawaguchi Haruo / Takato Yasuhiro・Onuma Jiro / Tanaka Hideyuki・Marimo Mariko / Nabatame Hitomi・Kaizuka Kaoru, Narration / Oki Tamio・Kaido Masaru・Tokon Koichi

■ Main staff

・Original work / Usune Masatoshi・Director / Inagaki Takayuki・Assistant Director / Itagaki Shin・Series Composition / Yamaguchi Hiroshi・Character Design, Chief Animation Director / Yoshimatsu Takahiro・Mecha Design / Kawahara Tomohiro・Gun design / Muramatsu Naoo・Art Director / Tanimura Shinichi・Color Design / Suzuki Toshie・Director of Photography / Kitamura Naoki・Editor / Hirose Kiyoshi・Sound Director / Motoyama Satoshi・Music / Tanaka Kouhei・Producers / Kawahara Yoko, Watanabe Takashi, Okazaki Takeyuki, Suzuki Kazuhiko, Chiba Takuya, Tanaka Yuichi・Animation Production / GONZO
Produced and written by: GDH, Commonwealth Entertainment, Pony Canyon, Chubu Nippon Broadcasting, Tohoku Broadcasting, Hokkaido Broadcasting, RKB Mainichi Broadcasting

■ Main Characters

・Sand Boy (Kanta Mizuno)
He is loyal only to his own desires and will use any means necessary. He is known as the Desert Monster. He uses various ingenious methods to accomplish his requests. However, his greatest weakness is that he is deceived by women every single time.
・Kosuna (Lake Koizumi)
In order to become the most skilled beauty in the Kanto region, she became an apprentice to Sababouzu. Her hard work has paid off, and she is now showing considerable skill.
Junko Asagiri is a female fox in the desert. She seduces the men around her with her charms. Sababouzu is her biggest victim, and although she has been beaten to a pulp many times, she has yet to have sex with him.
Natsuko Kawaguchi is a childhood friend of Sunabouzu and the only woman among the Kawaguchi brothers. She worked hard and rose to the position of captain of a special forces unit. She is admired by Kosuna. However, for some reason she is involved in anti-mainstream activities...
- Kaido A young man who saved Katsusabouzu when he collapsed in the desert.
A fellow Amegumo handyman. A rival of Sunabouzu.
・Mugenya The owner of "Mugenya", an association that hires people for work.
Kaoru Kaizuka is the president of The Game of Life, Inc., who amassed a huge fortune thanks to the relic "The Game of Life" that was excavated from the Skeleton City. He continues to secretly excavate technology from the Dark Ages, and his influence is great.

■Subtitle

・Episode 1: Monsters and Boing (2004/10/04)
Episode 2: Sand and Rain (2004/10/11)
Episode 3: Tanks and Machine Guns (2004/10/18)
Episode 4: Sniper and Footsteps (2004/10/25)
Episode 5: The Well and the Trap (2004/11/01)
・Episode 6: Wandering with Rocket (2004/11/08)
Episode 7: Master and disciple (2004/11/15)
Episode 8: The Dog Woman and the Rock (2004/11/22)
Episode 9: Life and Games (2004/11/29)
Episode 10: The Guardian and the Treasure Hunter (2004/12/06)
Episode 11: Crime and Punishment (2004/12/13)
Episode 12: The Girl and the Rescue (2004/12/20)
Episode 13: Ideals and Reality (2004/12/27)
Episode 14: Kosuna and Full Auto (2005/01/10)
Episode 15: Brothers and Childhood Friends (2005/01/17)
Episode 16: Curry and Rice (aired version) (2005/01/24)
Episode 17: Junko and the Pursuer (2005/01/31)
Episode 18: Failure and Despair (2005/02/07)
・Episode 19: Top and Bottom (2005/02/14)
Episode 20: The Secret and the Flight (2005/02/21)
・Episode 21: Master and disciple PART Ⅱ (2005/02/28)
・Episode 22: Rain and the Sea (2005/03/07)
Episode 23: Suspicion and Ambition (2005/03/14)
・Episode 24/Taihu and Kanta (2005/03/21)

■ Related works

・Sunabouzu Uncensored Version

■ Theme songs and music

・OP1
・Sand Mission
Lyrics by Yumi Yoshimoto, Music by Yoshiaki Muto, Arrangement by Hiromasa Kagoshima, Singer by Hideaki Takatori

・OP2
・DESTINY OF THE DESERT
Lyrics: Shiho Aiyoshi; Composition: Keita Miyahara; Arrangement: Keita Miyahara; Singer: YUKA

・ED1
・Sand Boy Painter Song・Lyrics by Ichigo Koiwai・Music by Kaeru Mizugaki・Arrangement by Kaeru Mizugaki・Singer by Hideaki Takatori

・ED2
・Mirage・Lyrics by Kaede Nagamura・Music by Motoyo Oka・Arrangement by Keita Miyahara・Singer by YUKA

Sunabouzu - Detailed reviews and recommendations

"Sunabouzu" is a TV anime series that aired from 2004 to 2005 and is based on the manga of the same name by Masatoshi Usune. The story is set in the harsh environment of the Kanto Desert, and depicts the desert handyman "Sunabouzu" completing various requests. Below, we will explain in detail the appeal and features of this work, as well as the recommended points.

A unique worldview

The greatest appeal of "Sababouzu" is its original worldview. The setting is the Great Kanto Desert, a harsh environment where temperatures exceed 50 degrees Celsius during the day and drop below freezing at night. This desert is dotted with the ruins of civilizations that disappeared hundreds of years ago, standing like gravestones. The protagonist, Sababouzu, is a professional who works to survive in this deadly desert. He is hired by people for their own selfish gain and completes various requests. This worldview gives viewers a fresh sense of surprise and excitement.

Ironic heroes

Mizuno Kanta, also known as Sababouzu, is a character who is loyal only to his own desires and will use any means necessary. Nicknamed the "Desert Monster," he uses a variety of ingenious tactics to accomplish his requests. However, his greatest weakness is that he is tricked by women time and time again. This ironic hero is different from the traditional righteous hero, offering a new perspective to the audience. Furthermore, by depicting his human weaknesses and desires, his character is made more realistic and appealing.

Outrageous action and realistic gun depictions

"Sababouzu" is full of outrageous and acrobatic action scenes. Set in the harsh environment of the desert, tanks, machine guns, rockets, and other vehicles make an impact visually. Another attraction is the realistic depiction of firearms, which shows the attention to detail of Naoo Muramatsu, who was in charge of the firearms design. These elements keep the viewer from getting bored and always provide fresh surprises.

Character Appeal

"Sunabouzu" features many unique characters. In addition to the main character Sunabouzu, various other characters such as Kosuna, Asagiri Junko, Kawaguchi Natsuko, Kaido Masaru, Amegumo, Mugenya, and Kaizuka Kaoru add excitement to the story. In particular, Kosuna is a character who becomes Sunabouzu's apprentice and aims to become the most skilled and beautiful woman in the Kanto region, and her steady efforts bear fruit as she grows. Asagiri Junko is also a desert fox who uses her sex appeal to deceive the men around her, and there is one particularly memorable scene in which she repeatedly beats Sunabouzu to a pulp. The appeal of these characters is a major factor in drawing the viewer into the story.

Director and staff commitment

"Sunabouzu" is Takayuki Inagaki's first directorial work, and his attention to detail can be seen throughout. Takayuki Inagaki has experience directing many films, including the animation in the movie "Space Travelers" and "Peace Maker Kurogane," and this experience has contributed greatly to the quality of "Sunabouzu." Additionally, the attention to detail of each staff member, such as Takahiro Yoshimatsu, who was in charge of character design and chief animation director, Tomohiro Kawahara, who was in charge of mecha design, and Shinichi Tanimura, the art director, is reflected throughout the film. The efforts and passion of these staff members make "Sunabouzu" an even more appealing work.

Theme songs and music

The theme song and music of "Sunabouzu" are also important elements that enhance the appeal of the work. The opening theme "Sand Mission" is an exquisite match of Takatori Hideaki's powerful singing voice, Yoshimoto Yumi's lyrics, Muto Yoshiaki's composition, and Kagoshima Hiromasa's arrangement, and has the power to draw the viewer into the world of the story. In addition, the second opening theme "DESTINY OF THE DESERT" has YUKA's beautiful singing voice, Aiyoshi Shiho's lyrics, and Miyahara Keita's composition and arrangement, which liven up the atmosphere of the work. The ending themes "Sunabouzu Painter Song" and "Mirage" also play an important role in leaving a lingering impression on the work, with the singing voices of Takatori Hideaki and YUKA, respectively. These theme songs and music have the effect of stirring the emotions of the viewer and increasing their immersion in the story.

Recommended points

"Sunabouzu" is a highly appealing work that combines an original worldview, an ironic hero image, outrageous action, realistic depictions of firearms, unique characters, the director and staff's attention to detail, and an appealing theme song and music. It is especially recommended for viewers who are not satisfied with traditional hero images and those who want to enjoy stories from a new perspective. It is also recommended for viewers who are interested in action scenes and depictions of firearms. Furthermore, "Sunabouzu" will be a satisfying work for viewers who want to focus on the growth and human relationships of unique characters.

Related works and how to watch them

Pony Canyon is selling uncensored, uncensored versions of related works to "Sunabouzu" in packaged form. In particular, episode 16, "Shit and Urine," can be viewed on the DVD version. By watching these related works together, you can gain a deeper understanding of the world of "Sunabouzu." In addition, since "Sunabouzu" was broadcast on the CBC, UHF, and TBS networks, it can be viewed on the official websites of these broadcasting stations or through video streaming services. Furthermore, it can also be purchased from the Pony Canyon official website, so if you're interested, be sure to check it out.

Above, we have provided a detailed review and recommendation of "Sunabouzu". This work is filled with an original world view, attractive characters, and the director and staff's attention to detail, making it a work you cannot miss. Please watch it and experience its charm for yourself.