The appeal and reviews of "BUS GAMER": A thorough analysis of the thrilling survival game

BUS GAMER - Biz Gamer - All-round information and reviews

■ Public Media

TV anime series

■ Original Media

comics

■ Broadcast period

March 15, 2008 - March 29, 2008

KBS Kyoto March 14, 2008 to March 28, 2008 (1st to 3rd episodes) Every Friday 26:30 to 27:00

tvk March 15, 2008 to March 29, 2008 (1st to 3rd episodes) Every Saturday 25:30 to 26:00

Teletama March 17, 2008 to March 31, 2008 (1st to 3rd) Every Monday 25:30 to 26:00

Chiba TV March 17, 2008 to March 31, 2008 (1st to 3rd episodes) Every Monday 26:10 to 26:40

Sun TV March 17, 2008 to March 31, 2008 (1st to 3rd episodes) Every Monday 26:10 to 26:40

Me-Tele March 21, 2008 to April 4, 2008 (1st to 3rd episodes) Every Friday 27:15 to 27:45

AT-X April 18, 2008 to May 2, 2008 (1st to 3rd episodes) Every Friday 9:00 to 9:30

■Broadcasting station

UHF, AT-X

■Frequencies

half an hour

■ Number of Episodes

Episode 3

■Original Story

Kazuya Minekura

■ Director

Naoyuki Kuzuya

■ Production

・Production: Anpro

・Production/BUS GAMER Production Committee

■Works

©2008 Kazuya Minekura, Ichijinsha, BUS GAMER Production Committee

■ Story

"BUS GAME" is a dark fight in which the "pieces" of each company compete in a 3-on-3 battle to grab a disk containing classified documents. The winner of the game can receive a huge prize. However, if they lose, there is no guarantee of survival... Three people who have never met before, Toki Mishiba, Nobuto Nakajo, and Kazuo Saito, enter this mysterious game and challenge the "BUS GAME" to make their wishes come true and to survive. What kind of battle awaits them?

■Explanation

The long-awaited serialization of "BUS GAMER" has resumed in the monthly "Comic REX"! The story is based on and completely supervised by the original author, Kazuya Minekura! What kind of battles await the team "AAA (No Name)", who are connected only by money and don't even know each other's identities?

■Cast

・Mishiba Toki/Kenichi Suzumura

・Nakajo Nobuhito/Suwabe Junichi

・Kazuo Saito/Hiroki Takahashi

・ Keiko Ichinomiya/ Michiko Neya

・Kiryu/Yasushi Miyabayashi

・Yanagida/Mugito

■ Main staff

・Original work, story concept, and supervision: Kazuya Minekura

Director: Naoyuki Kuzuya

・Series Composition/Yoyogi Hajime

・Character design: Takahisa Ichikawa

・Chief animation director: Harada Minefumi

・Art director/Yoshiku Hiramure

・Color design: Sakiko Ito

Director of photography: Teruo Abe

Edited by Takeshi Seyama

・Sound Director: Toshiki Kameyama

・Music: Hiroyuki Nagashima (Anpro)

Producers: Mika Nomura, Hiroyuki Omori, Takemasa Okamura

・Production: Anpro

・Production/BUS GAMER Production Committee

■ Main Characters

・Mishiba Toki

He was born into a family that runs a martial arts dojo. The rest of his background is still shrouded in mystery. However, it seems to be true that he desires a lot of money.

・Nobuto Nakajo

He lives in Tokyo. He lives alone. There is always a woman around, but he doesn't have a specific partner. He needs a lot of money.

・Kazuo Saito

17 years old, the youngest of the three. His hobbies are plastic models and games. He works part-time at a convenience store in his hometown, Komae. He wants a billion yen.

■ Main robot items

What is BizGame?

-Participants split into HOME and AWAY teams and compete to grab the mini disk. The team that has the mini disk after 2 hours wins.

・The HOME side can choose the stage to fight in. The organizer will give them a MD, and they must protect it to win.

-The away team will win if they can seize the MD held by the home team and hold onto it until the end of the game.

-Weapons are freely allowed.

The prize for the first round is 10,000 points (10,000 yen), but as you advance, the prize money doubles. If you make it through the 15th round, you will receive an extraordinary prize of about 160 million yen.

■Subtitle

・Story #1／AAA(No Name)(2008/03/14)

・Story #2/Tomorrow's Price (2008/03/21)

・Story #3/Another Gamer (2008/03/28)

■ Theme songs and music

・OP1

・Period: 1-3

・NO NAME

Lyrics: Kazuya Minekura

・Composer: Shuji Yajima

Arrangement: Higashi Masubuch

・Song: TEAM "AAA (No Name)" ((Mishiba Toki (Suzumura Kenichi), Nakajo Nobuhito (Suwabe Junichi), Saito Kazuo (Takahashi Hiroki))

・ED1

・Period/1

・Train

Lyrics: Kazuya Minekura

・Composition: Shigeki Shinkawa

Arrangement: Mitsuhiro Saito

・Song: Toki Mishiba (Kenichi Suzumura)

・ED2

・Period/2

・Train

Lyrics: Kazuya Minekura

・Composition: Shigeki Shinkawa

Arrangement: Mitsuhiro Saito

・Singer: Nobuhito Nakajo (Junichi Suwabe)

・ED3

・Period/3

・Train

Lyrics: Kazuya Minekura

・Composition: Shigeki Shinkawa

Arrangement: Mitsuhiro Saito

・Singer: Kazuo Saito (Hiroki Takahashi)

■ Evaluation and Recommendation

"BUS GAMER" is a short-term anime series that aired in 2008, and is based on a manga by Kazuya Minekura. This work depicts a thrilling story where financial desires and survival instincts intersect in the dark fight "Biz Game". Below, we will explain in detail the appeal and recommended points of this work.

The appeal of the story

The story of "BUS GAMER" revolves around the "Biz Game," in which each company's "pieces" compete in a 3-on-3 match to grab a disk containing classified documents. This game is brutal: if you win, you can win a huge prize, but if you lose, your life is in danger. The characters of the three main characters, Mishiba Toki, Nakajo Nobuto, and Saito Kazuo, who take on this dangerous game, are extremely fascinating. They do not know each other, and fight as "AAA (No Name)," a team united only by financial desire. This setting creates tension and excitement for the viewer.

Also, the battles that take place in different settings in each episode never bore viewers. In particular, the rule that the HOME side can choose the setting in which to fight enhances the strategic element. Furthermore, because players are free to bring in weapons, the individuality and fighting style of each character is highlighted, which is not to be missed.

Character Appeal

The main character, Mishiba Toki, is a mysterious character born into a family that runs a martial arts dojo. His fighting ability and calm judgment make him the team's leader. Meanwhile, Nakajo Nobuto lives alone in Tokyo, and although he is always surrounded by women, he is not currently in a relationship, which gives a deeper insight into his humanity. And Saito Kazuo, the youngest member of the group at 17 years old, is a life-sized character whose hobbies are plastic models and games, and who works part-time at a convenience store. The story is a highlight of the series, as their personalities intertwine and they grow as a team.

The cast is also impressive, with talented voice actors such as Suzumura Kenichi as Mishiba Toki, Suwabe Junichi as Nakajo Nobuto, and Takahashi Hiroki as Saito Kazuo, further enhancing the characters' charm.

The appeal of production

Anpro is in charge of the production of "BUS GAMER," and the staff includes director Naoyuki Kuzuya, series composition by Hajime Yoyogi, character design by Takahisa Ichikawa, and chief animation director Minefumi Harada. The visual beauty and storytelling created by this team of staff has the power to draw viewers in. In addition, the background music by Hiroyuki Nagashima, who was in charge of the music, is also an important element in livening up the tense scenes.

The appeal of the theme song

The opening theme "NO NAME" is written by Kazuya Minekura, composed by Shuji Yajima, arranged by Azuma Masubuch, and sung by TEAM "AAA (No Name)", making it a song that symbolizes the theme of the work. The ending theme "Train" is written by Kazuya Minekura, composed by Naruki Shinkawa, and arranged by Mitsuhiro Saito, and is sung by Toki Mishiba, Nobuto Nakajo, and Kazuo Saito in each episode, deeply expressing the feelings of the characters. These songs further enrich the worldview of the work.

Recommended points

Although BUS GAMER is a short-term anime series, it is packed with deep storylines, attractive characters, and tense battles. In particular, the theme of the intersection of financial desire and survival instinct leaves a strong impression on viewers. Another point not to be missed is the production by a luxurious cast and staff. Furthermore, the charm of the theme song also enriches the worldview of the work.

This work is recommended for those who want to enjoy a dense story in a short number of episodes, those who value character growth and strategy, and those who like thrilling battle scenes. Please watch "BUS GAMER" and experience its charm.