Gungrave

Have you ever seen a show called Berserk? Did you think it was awesome? However did you think the ending sucked shit through a straw? Have you wanted to watch a series that probably isn't as great but is still good in its own right and hopefully has a better ending? If the answer to all those questions is yes then Gungrave is the series for you! If the answer is no then Gungrave is still the series for you because you'll think it's extremely original and kicks so much ass. So basically the series can be for anyone so all I've done here is completely waste everyone's time. My bad. Okay so the series is very similar to Berserk and don't get me wrong I'm not going to spend the entire review comparing the two. I just think it's important to point out the similarities. The story in Gungrave involving the roller-coaster relationship of main characters Brandon Heat and Harry McDowell is similar to the story of Guts and Griffith. The story is also told in a similar fashion where the first episode shows you the present time where everything's all fucked up and then you get a sequence of episodes that explain what happened etc. The main difference here is that unlike Berserk which finishes its flashback sequence on the final episode and says "fuck you, go read the manga!", Gungrave ends it's flashback sequence just over its half way point and proceeds to finish its story within the anime itself, so Gungrave wins at least that point! I haven't played the Gungrave video game so obviously I can't compare the two. Now that I've gotten that out of the way let's get onto the actual review where I'll stop pointing out that Gungrave obviously got its inspiration from Berserk. Story (8) - At first Gungrave doesn't seem anything too special. In fact it's mediocre at best. The series begins with our main character Brandon Heat on a path for revenge (cliche) after being killed by his best friend Harry McDowell (spoiler). The reason he's still alive is because thanks to a necrolisation process (bullshit) he's been brought back to life under the new name "Beyond the Grave" (stupid name). Brandon gets followed around all the time by this useless cutesy little girl (horrible archetype) and thanks to this necrolisation technology I mentioned earlier a whole bunch of monsters (obvious fodder) have been created and Brandon has to kick their ass. Want to find out what happens next? Well you can't, because first you have to watch 15 episodes of flashback (TROLOLOLOLOLOLOL)!! But take my word for it, this 15 episode flashback ends up being one of the best stories ever in an anime. Basically best friends and punks Brandon and Harry go through a bad experience in their home town together. One thing leads to another and they get themselves enrolled in a Mafioso organisation called Millenion who sees a lot of potential in these two fellows. Both characters end up in different departments and go through different experiences which shape them up to the people the organisation hoped they would be. Brandon shapes up to being like a noble knight of the company where he won't allow any compromise of breaking rules within the organisation and deals efficiently with problems and threats etc. Harry on the other hand wants to get as high up the rankings as possible and manipulate the system where he can making many friends that can be of use to him. As the series plays out we see the friendship between Brandon and Harry remains very tight. They even work together on several missions and everything's cushty but as their value systems get wider and wider apart you know it's only a matter of time before something kicks off. Of course the first episode tells us that Brandon is going to get killed by Harry at some point in this flashback period but because the story is taken care of really well, it'll get you fully invested in what's happening with the plot and character motives etc, and you'll want to know HOW it happens and you'll never be able to work out the moment that it occurs. However when it does happen you're caught completely off guard and it blows your balls and/or tits off. This part of the story is overall very well crafted with all the different characters developing very well and driving it forwards with their actions. It keeps you guessing what's going to happen next and it's practically flawless. The necrolisation stuff is a load of crap that mildly sucks the seriousness out of the story, but hey, it's anime, and it does at least make for some good action scenes. The plot for this flashback period is exciting and well written meaning once you get up to the present timeline you'll have no choice but to finish it to find out what the ultimate outcome of everything is! Sadly that's where some points get dropped. I would give a 9.5 to the story of the flashback but only a 6.5 for the present time story. The useless little girl who follows Brandon around is never developed as anything but, the story stops being engaging and instead is all about Brandon killing monsters (it's only when he has to fight the people he used to know that it actually becomes tense) and the motives of the characters stop being realistic after a while. Maybe the flashback period is just too good for the shows own good. This series is based off a game after all and games are all about killing stuff and depth isn't necessarily required. It's just a bit too jarring that the flashback told this great story about how events in life can drive a friendship apart and has many themes in it including loyalty, betrayal, love and finding your place in the world with little nonsense elements here and there and then the present time story became a fantasy shoot'em up with only revenge and finishing what you started being the story's only focuses. Still though there was a lot of build up to the climax of the show and it very much delivers, I ended this series feeling satisfied with the conclusion. Characters (9) - Brandon Heat and Harry McDowell are by far the best characters in the series, no shit right, I've gone on about them enough. Brandon is extremely quiet but very kind hearted. He only gets angry when the people close to him are harmed by the enemy or if he witnesses betrayal by people he thought were friends. For such a quiet man you get a lot of emotion out of him and he's a very deep character considering. Most anime characters never shut the fuck up about getting the One Piece or becoming Hokage or whatever, so it's great to see an enjoyable character who only speaks when it's important to do so. Harry is your smartly dressed businessman persona who knows how to talk to people in the right way to gain their trust. In the story section I may have made him sound like a guy who simply gets more and more evil as the show goes along but it's actually more complicated than that. What's interesting about Harry is that no matter how corrupt you know he's getting he still always values Brandon and the new friends he's made the same as he started out, which again makes you want to find out HOW he ends up killing his best friend. All the support characters are done really well too. Bob Poundmax (one of Harry's top men in Millenion) is really fun to watch, I often hate characters that are used for comic relief ESPECIALLY if it's the eat lots of food character. What makes Bob funny is you actually see him get fatter and fatter as the series goes along and it eventually ends up endangering his life which I thought was a hilarious take on this cliche as you never see these types of characters suffer consequences. Balladbird Lee (same as Bob) proves to be another really interesting character who works with Harry on manipulating the system. Big Daddy (the leader of Millenion) is different to what you'd first expect and you grow to love him and what the organisation stands for which in turn will have you loving Brandon more as the two of them also have a great relationship. Blood War is the shows obvious villain characte…

Before we begin this review, a quick history: Gungrave was an exclusive PS2 game released by SEGA and development studio RED Entertainment in. The game was a commercial failure but a moderate critical success, but it led the studio RED Entertainment to shut down it's doors. It's a very overlooked gem and since I sold my PS2 a long time ago, I can't play it for sure. The game was praised by the character designs by Trigun creator Yasuhiro Nightow and it's characters and story. Later on, Yasuhiro Nightow and MADHOUSE Studios decided to make a Gungrave anime series as an appreciation to their support to the game. I picked up the series, watched it and I'm happy to say that the series is on par with Trigun but with a few faults. Gungrave tells the story of a man named "Beyond The Grave" (I'm not even kidding, it's so hilarious you can make fun of it very easily), but he's also known as Brandon Heat. He's back from the dead (by something called necrolyzation) to take down Millenion, a mafia organization that controls everything and the one in charge is "Bloody Harry" Macdowell, who was once Brandon's childhood friend and he's destined to take him down at all costs. Don't let this text fool you, it's far more complicated than this and good thing too cause if I told you more additional story details about the show, It would spoil your interest. Although Gungrave's story starts off very slowly with more dialogue than action and it takes a while to get comfortable with this kind of pace but when big plot events start to pick up on episode 8 or 9, it gets really interesting. Acts of betrayal are committed, friends become foes and consequences will be paid for individual characters, the story will hold your interest for a while and while it stays faithful to the game, it has it's faults. For example, the character Mika is annoying in the series and fun fact; In the game, Mika is very supportive to Grave and she makes herself useful in a few cut-scenes from the game but in this series.... God what a hopeless and useless character she is. If they could have made her character more interesting then maybe I would have liked her but as it is she's just terrible and every time she starts crying, get ready to hit the mute button a lot. All the supporting characters are great providing some depth to the story but the real heart of the story is the relationship between Brandon and Harry cause they were the best of friends. They always stick to each other and they would do anything to rise on the top when they both joined Millenion. However, as they grew up stronger throughout the years, they themselves change like Brandon no longer having interest in Maria, Harry gets more violent and scams his way to the top on Millenion and even committing an act of betrayal that would shatter their friendship forever. The character Brandon Heat is the same silent badass we all get used to in anime but through the series, we learn that he does have something valuable that makes him human, even after he died. Harry is also a well written character cause he had so much power that he killed everything he hold dear and he also destroyed the best thing he ever had in his life: His freedom. Overall, the characters are well written and they do leave an emotional impact when you have fun with these characters. The animation by MADHOUSE is gorgeous. While it uses quick animation cuts, the animation holds up well with it's top notch visuals and colorful character designs that were used just like in the games. The backgrounds look really astonishing, the lighting effects are used constantly but well and the art is excellent. The music by Tsuneo Imahori, who also composed the music for Trigun, is pretty good and although, it lacks the badassness of the Trigun music to this, it's still serviceable and to give him credit, the opening theme is relaxing and smooth. The dub by Geneon is good but the dubbing doesn't start off strong and it takes a while for the dub to improve in later episodes, kinda like Death Note where you have to get used to the actors take on the dub version of Light until later episodes. I would say to you guys to play the game before watching this but seems copies for this game are rare to find now, it would be hard to do that but for now, go check out this series instead. It's a fun, compelling and energetic series that will hold your attention till the end...... As long as you mute the parts with Mika cause HOLY SHIT! She is a whinny little bitch.

Gungrave, while made by Yasuhiro Nightow: the creator of the Trigun anime, has a very different flavor. It is much more real and serious. The series was adapted from the popular video game and tells the story of two childhood best friends, Brandon Heat and Harry MacDowell, and their rise of power in the mafia. Pros: Strongly portrayed emotions A plethora of developed, unique, and interesting characters. "Realistic" action compared with other action animes. (aka thousands of rounds are not dodged and there are no 10 minute conversation breaks during fights; the action is sweet and to the point" Cons: The show seemed to lose its steam and its utter captivation of me towards the ending episodes. The long flash back and the main storyline are basically completely different styles of anime and may not be everyone's cup of tea. Overall, I greatly enjoyed Gungrave and recommend it highly. It strays away from other anime I've seen and plays more like a movie than a Japanese imagination fest.

This anime is by far the most slept on anime ever. It's hard to write a review because I don't want to give anything away. If you like anime, where the world progress with the characters then you will love this anime. The main cast of characters are phenomenal. They all have they're own desires and regrets which makes them so human like.You see this characters journey from punk kids,and watch them grow into old men. You watch their morality/ideology change as time goes on. By the end you're left reflecting on everything that went on. I know is very vague but I really don't wanna spoil anything. The action scenes are the only thing this anime I won't praise. They get the job done they aren't that good.

Good animation, good sound. Opening intro was always interesting to listen to. First few episodes were boring, but as the story progressed, it got more interesting. Mafia style was nice, and so were a few fight scenes. But what I really disliked about the anime was the fucking freak show. Here we have all these outstanding characters with some gun blazing shooting sequences like a classic John Woo style, the number of bullets don't matter and the characters waste as much bullets as they can. We have characters that live by honor. Much of the mafia standards are seen throughout the anime. The Woman They were some good moments, but goddamn the Dub makes things so much worse. The Sub version was much better, you can hear the actor putting their emotions in more, but I watched the Dub to make it more immersive. They're were some really fucking cringy moments, especially around the role of woman in this anime. God fucking damn'it I wanted to fucking slam my head against the wall. All the woman were portrayed as "kind, light hearted, and beautiful." Lets not forget Sherry and her fucking voice, "OH HARRY OH MY" Most of them women in this anime's role was only to serve as the romantic interest of the main characters. Thats it. Thats all they do. They are only the incentive for men's protection. And especially Maria's role was to only live "the ordinary life" because thats all she's fucking good at, being a fucking woman, working in her pixie fucking office, or whatever the fucking shit she did. The Fight Scenes Some were good. Especially in many of the hand to hand or Brandon's sweeper moments. Others were eh. The Fight with Bear Walkens. Wtf was that shit. In the earlier episodes, he was shown as a pretty badass gunslinger, dodging bullets and having a good marksmanship. But no he had to change himself to a fucking freak. I was expecting a classical showdown between sweeper and sweeper. But nah, all I got was a fucking freakshow. FUckng Pieces of shit they were fucking video game boss battles seriously what the fuck was with the enhancements and shit. seriously. "HUR HUR BUURANDON REMEMBER ME??? BOB POUNDMAXXXXXX ITS ME BOB POUNDMAXXX HURD HURRRR *TRANSFORMS INTO FUCKING BLOB OF SHIT* Seriously what the fuck is this. I feel like the artist lost his imagination and creativity near the very end and just said, "FUCK IT THEY ALL TURN INTO MONSTER BLOBS OF SHITAND BRANDON CAN JUST KEEP SHOOTING AT THEM TIL THEY DIEEE" That could've been a better fight instead some fat fuck becoming the hulks overweight cousin. Bob was shown to be computer whiz. The battle would've been much better if he had some type of cyborg enhancements or at least cyborg minions. Lee on the other hand. Seriously his character was fucking shit. He was just there for Harry buttfuck him. His character was fucking useless. If you take Lee out the anime there wouldn't be any notable difference. Wasted Steve Blum's time. Bunji was awesome. Big daddy. LMFAO seriously why did they choose this name. Every time one of the characters would mention his name I would assume that he was some kind of fucking pimp. Maybe the story would've been better if he was, and Maria would've been a fucking prostitute rather than some typical damsel in distress. Would be a hella lot more realistic than the fact she was able to get into such good care. "BURRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANDDDOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOON"

Gungrave is a 26 episode anime that was released back in the fall of 2003. We follow Brandon Heat or what he is currently known as Beyond The Grave on his journey to get revenge on the organisation that killed him called Millenion. Story: We are first introduced present time to Beyond The Grave who is resurrected from the dead by Dr.Tokioka using necrolyzation that he developed years prior. We see Grave’s journey as he battles the forces and undead forces to destroy Millenion. The majority of the show back peddles to Brandon Heats past which shows us the progression of how things came to be how they are. I have to say that the pacing of the show was incredible. Everything was well fleshed out and even though there were some time skips we get the general idea of how things play out as through the suggestive dialogue between characters. The story ends on a good note concluding the show rather than leaving it open to interpretation or leaving it unfinished for a second season that will never come *Cough* Highschool of the dead *Cough* I was surprised when I found out that this was an original anime and even more shocked that I didn’t hear about this show earlier. The few minor flaws with the show could be down to how Grave came to be necrolyzed, something which I can’t delve into for spoiler reasons. Other flaws can be the lack of dialogue from the main protagonist; however I felt the little he speech he did use and his use of actions were much more powerful. The only other problem I could really say I had was with Mika Asagi who was really just a blatant plot device. I didn't think her character brought much to the show literally other than for minor progression. Characters: Brandon Heat/Beyond The Grave was our main protagonist and Dandere character. He wields two heavy pistols with a out of town cowboy get-up. At first I actually saw some similarities to his character with Guts from Berserk. Brandon’s development throughout the series is very drastic yet it seems to flow along at a steady pace. Brandon is shy and that’s one reason for his lack of speech. He is also a very skilled street fighter and later being an equally as skilled gunman. Brandon’s relationship with Harry McDowell is the focal point of the show and we see the best friends rise to the top and their eventual falling out. Harry McDowell is the secondary main lead. Harry is very smart, charming, intelligent and cunning. Harry originally wishes for freedom in his life, however after meeting with members of the Millenion group his goals switched to wanting power and money. We can see the quick change in Harry as the early episodes go on. Harry soon turns into the antagonist of the series with his quiet up-rise to rule Millenion. Here we see the dark points of what a power hungry man and what he will do to accomplish this. Since there is quite a large cast I won’t bother going into the detail. I will give a special mention to my favourite character Bunji Kugashira the lone hit-man who considers Brandon his brother. Art: The artwork wasn't amazing, having no source material can be difficult, but with what they had they used it well. The animation was ok Madhouse did a decent job of it and it was fluid at times, though it had its bad moments as well. Sound: Listening to the OST was fun for me, when it pushes away from the stereotypical mafia songs it sounds quite good. The opening song 'Family' was very contrasting to the anime, but it was still enjoyable. The ending song Akane iro-Ga Moeru Toki was a good song and had a terrific bass line. Final Verdict: Though Gungrave had a few minor flaws in its department it managed to be the first anime in five long years that made me consider my number one anime. This anime is excellent and i'm surprised i have never heard anyone mention this to me before until July 2015. I give Gungrave a well deserved 9 out of 10 and a recommendation to watch this ASAP. Alternate anime to watch are Berserk this show has a main protagonist similar to Brandon and follow similar paths. I would also recommend Black Lagoon as it is notorious for its dark crime.

I really have to say that if it wasn't for gungrave, I don't think I would be into anime. Gungrave is one of my favorite animes. I really enjoyed the story etc. If your looking forward to watching a great anime that you will be attached to and may even cry towards the end, this is it. You should be watching gungrave.

The story follows the growth of two men as they rise from poverty and hopelessness into something bigger than they ever imagined. However, with great things there's always great danger and trouble. The series emphasizes a lot on the elements of ambition, power, loyalty, revenge and some romance. Gungrave is a seinen. It gets straight to the point. It does not beat around the bush and drag any part of the plot unlike shounens. Lot of violence, gore and other mature elements. The story itself is pretty cliche. However, it is still entertaining and worth the watch. 8/10

The stoic king of gangland tales of post-2000 anime. Action-packed but grounded, plenty of style with just as much sobriety, in many ways it feels more like one of its own major influences in the crime genre than a work inspired by them. Very similarly to the classic Westerns, wiseguy dramas and Hong Kong action cinema whose influences it wears on its sleeve, it's not about guns any more than it's about the people standing on each end of them; who they are, what landed them these roles, and if there's even anywhere to go from there. The themes of friendship, loyalty, ambition and betrayal aren't exactly hard to find in this genre, in and outside of anime, but in the end it's the thorough commitment to these themes and the full extent of the drama they have the potential to entail that makes up for the majority of the experience. It's a Madhouse modern classic, a recognizably Nightow-style sci-fi western, and even a breath of life in an early PS2 universe on top of that, but you can tell from its choices in style and pace that its main commitment lies within the emotional maturity and quiet introspection of both Western and Asian crime cinema's genre-defining classics. Just as much as the themes themselves, the genre's influence is not hard to spot among other action series throughout the anime medium. Still, it's particularly rare to see this level of commitment to these more nuanced aspects of what makes a good gangster tale stand out from the rest. A perfect watch for anyone looking to get emotional, a bit contemplative, and maybe even genuinely impressed by the lenghts a well-crafted series can go to make you feel both.

Gungrave, aka "The Godfather with Undead Monsters" is a remarkable feat of storytelling and animation that, despite itself, manages to keep its limbs from falling apart like a bullet-ridden Orgman. That said, in a post-John Wick world, the the supernatural elements are wholly unnecessary and (if you're over 19 years old) detract from the deep, smoldering brutality of a lifelong friendship torn apart by betrayal and greed. The John Wick movies fuse the revenge drama with some pretty over-the-top bullet battles that conveniently manage to miss the titular hero, however the lack of sci-fi elements keeps the story grounded. Gungrave could have toned down the excess and cemented itself as one of the greatest pure anime dramas of all time. Episode 1 starts amidst the monster-filled chaos before flashing back to the past. Episodes 2-16 are simply a masterpiece of storytelling, featuring the friendship of Brandon Heat and Harry MacDowell. Their relationship is reminiscent of Guts and Griffith in Berzerk. Episodes 17-22 rev up the monster elements and I could feel myself slipping away but whenever the pace slowed down and focused on real emotions and character drama I could feel myself pulled back in. In the final four episodes, as Brandon/Grave inexorably makes his way back to Harry the story has its final crescendo that does not disappoint. It's interesting to note that there are no Orgmen in the final two episodes. It's just Brandon and Harry - one on one - in one of the most thoughtful, realistic emotional portrayals of humanity I have ever witnessed on screen. Gungrave is a classic for a reason. Some people love it as-is. Others take issue with the inclusion of the monster element. But there is no doubt this show deserves the accolades it has received and will most likely keep you engaged until final credit rolls.

Instead of 6/10, think of this review as 3 out of 5 stars. I say this because this anime leaves one with a 'glass half full' perspective despite knowing that it's not brilliant. Admittedly the first episode is pretty terrible, rife with all of the show's major flaws packed into 20 minutes including some dodgy animation, crappy dub (which is only marginally better than the bog-standard original Jap audio), a forgettable soundtrack, and some ridiculous cliches (the matrix-style 'come here' gesture will make you cringe). However if you can survive that, you will see what the series can truly offer behind its 'badass action' exterior; a strangely involving mobster drama. After the initial setup, showing an undead gunman take on the ghoulish 'org-men', we launch into a lengthy flashback that, most of the rest of the series, builds back up to that point. And despite the cliches, the so-so dubbing, the arguable animation, and so on, I ended up quite attached to these characters. We see their struggle to the top over time and how each of them truly believes in their cause. Even the bad guys, for the most part, are relatable in some way, which of course pulls the viewer in for the climactic finale that pits the two best friends against one another. At times the even the way the story is told is pretty well done, constantly switching up the narrative between past and present to show how deep the bond is between the cast and how actions from decades ago can carry on a ripple effect. It's a deeply flawed series but for one that has such an unimaginative core concept at its heart, I was surprised to find how much Gungrave made me care about what was going to happen to the cast, and how it constantly kept me guessing with just who was going to survive the chaos by the end of it all. It's an anime that can be a slog to begin with but by the time the arguably silly fantasy content returns toward the end of the series, you may well find yourself far more invested and even hooked until the end. I'd say give it a go and you may well enjoy the ride, even if it doesn't particularly stay with you for very long.

Gungrave is a show which is almost completely about the buildup for two very powerful and dramatic moments which rank up there with some of the best episodes I've seen in anime. There's a catch though, the rest of the show rolls around in mediocrity with redeeming moments placed in such a way as to keep the audience sucked in just enough to think that the show will make an upturn. Let's start from the top, shall we? The first episode is a failed attempt at dramatic foreshadowing which is not only unnecessary but a huge spoiler for the first dramatic moment and great episode which occurs about halfway through the series. Worse yet, the first episode is completely retold with a few additions later in the show, making it a definite skip for anyone watching Gungrave for the first time. The first half of Gungrave revolves around two street punks rise from the streets through the ranks of the mafia. If you can buy into the protagonists Harry and Brandon, then the ride is probably worth the waiting. Gungrave commits the cardinal sin of boring it's audience on a regular basis. Plotting and depth of character are talked about a lot but rarely shown but it remains a character oriented show. I felt for the self-inflicted plights of Brandon and had a growing distaste for the ambitious Harry, as the writers wanted, so when the drama started to kick in I lapped it up. I managed to overlook the zombies as they served a point in the progression of the plot but they really should have been replaced with something non-science fiction. After their introduction, the zombies take a backseat for some solid character drama, the first real high point of the anime. After the first climax we have more zombies then a jump to the future where the show takes a major nose dive. Word on the street is that Gungrave is a tie-in to a PlayStation 2 game of the same name and these episodes make me believe it. The drama is mediocre and the action is awful. The zombie helicopter is the low point of the show, it makes no sense and the character who transforms into it has been such a background player that I couldn't care less about his death. A mess of episodes focusing on characters who we are supposed to care about but who never had any development ensues. Unfortunately one character who was developed and did have a shot at having an interesting arc is thrown away in the series of game tie-ins. Finally we can leave the carnival of pointless zombie "science!" for good and go back to the core of the show. The conclusion to the show is epic and one of the most satisfying, and tear jerking, conclusions that I've seen in a long time. If it didn't require all of the build-up of the non-zombie episodes I'd recommend just watching it but unfortunately it's a package deal. Gungrave makes an excellent candidate for a show to be remade with better writing and the crap flushed out.

This show is about action and drama and it is driven by character relationships, and it is rather mature. Now, my personal views. The characters are varied, interesting and well developed, however a few of their actions and decisions seem odd; these actions dont make any sense from the point of view of the character but are simply imposed so that the story moves in a particular way. Further, if you are a female or are concerned with female characters, be warned that females here are merely a complement when not plain stupid. As for the action, it is great yet to me it becomes unrealistic. There are shows (like Cowboy bebop) in which there is a protagonist who is really far above anyone else (or almost) and yet they seem "human". Not here. When the protagonist fights the enemies pee on their pants, it is like a super hero vs your average gym rat. To me, it could have been a much better series had it only been more realistic (not because I like realism better but simply for internal consistency) and had the characters actions been more aligned to their personality.

Our story follows one, Brandon Heat, aka Beyond The Grave, along his path from fellow hoodlum, to undead footsoldier all surrounding the Millenion Organisation. Well, I guess this is my first ever review. I just finished watching GunGrave for the second time and this anime is easily one of my favourites. I will try to provide my honest opinion of this anime as possible. Before I express my opinion of the story, I suggest that if you have never seen it before, you should skip the first episode as it displays a massive spoiler which for me personally took away from one of the most important scenes in the entire series. Anyway the main story is split into 2 halves, the first being Brandon Heat's and his friend, Harry McDowwell's path into the Millenion organisation. Harry is fueled by ambition for power, while Brandon simply wishes to stand by Harry's side and provide happiness to his friend, Maria. The latter half of the show, without giving away too big a spoiler follows Brandon along his path to find out what has happened to the organisation since his unfortunate departure. The 2nd part is more orientated on supernatural elements rather than simple crime-thriller and drama material presented in the first half. I among many prefer the first half of the show as it is often felt disjointed from the second half. The art in the show is mediocre at best, very often character art has very little detail, and only real detail is visible during the action scenes. The sound is also a mixed bag. While SFX are crisp, the soundtrack is often hit and miss, especially in the latter half where some songs sound like failed fusion of two or more styles. Other parts of the soundtrack including the OP and ED are harmonious and enjoyable to listen to. The voice acting is also very enjoyable. While some voice actors leave something to be desired, many of the voice actors including Steve Blum as Balladbird Lee completely knocked the ball out of the park. If you question whether you should watch this sub or dub I would personally recommend giving the dub a chance before sub. Overall this being my second time of watching, GunGrave will always be in my heart as a great anime with wonderful characters, a few heart-wrenching moments, and storm of bullets. Overall I give this anime a 9 out of 10. -Roy

Gun Grave in my eyes is a good show overall you should definitely check it out if you have nothing to do, it wont waste your time. The story line is good it sort of makes you want to join the Mafia especially if your a loser. This show used to be on G4 because it was based off of the Gun Grave video game. I must say one thing about Brandon heat, he is a good guy but he is a bitch. He is in the Mafia but he does not take advantage of it buy getting smoking hot woman or becoming rich. Harry on the other hand is a bad guy but he is not a bitch. He takes advantage of being in the Mafia and enjoys his time. I just think the show is really good when there is action scenes, but there needs to be more of them. Anyhow check it out, but if you are not one of those people who can just enjoy a decent anime then i wouldn't be surprised if you wouldn't enjoy it.

It may just be my love of quiet, brooding guys with long, unkempt hair and an open vest exposing their bare chests but I really loved this anime. This is probably one the best examples of a so-so game turning into a pretty good anime. I mean, the tag line for the game (and appearing every time you started a new stage) was "Kick their asses!" Yes, the game is a lot of "kick ass-ness " but so is the anime. The storyline is good; it kept me interested which is hard to do when everything's about big business and scientific experiments. There's a cute little romance that spurs Brandon aka Beyond the Grave on but there's also a lot of revenge so guys and gals alike can enjoy it.

Skip the first episode, seriously. I had actually dropped this anime partway through episode 1, and only came back after reading a review telling me to skip it. Turns out I was missing out on what might be the best rags-to-riches arc in anime. The direction, storytelling, tone, dialogue, and character development is flawless in the first portion of the season. Episodes 2-14 are genuinely 10/10. The elevator scene was particularly memorable. But after this arc is completed, there is a considerable drop in the quality of direction and animation. There wasn't as much suspense as the story unraveled and the world fell apart. The plot becomes a bit linear and unbelievable; less focus is given to the characters that made the first portion of the anime so good. Instead, the show steers more into action, and they toss in a pretty annoying character, Mika, who doesn't provide much. The ending is solid though. Overall, solid 8. Could have been a 9 if Mika's character was improved, and a 10 if the direction stayed consistent.

This Anime is the saddest thing that i have ever watched, i can't begin to imagine how many times it almost brought me to tears. IF you think the perfect end doesn't exist, then i 100% recommend watching this. The people who put anything but 10 are just clueless and did not understand the depth of this Anime, truly a shame that such a masterpiece is underrated. Could've this anime been done in any better way, probably so, if the story was a bit more realistic like (Removing the non-humans you know what, and keeping everything else as is), this would probably transcend from being a masterpiece to a top tier Meta Anime like Monster, Death Note, Attack on Titans,Steins Gate and much more. But this Anime as is, Is definitively the Best Drama i watched so far ( Sadder than Violette Evergarden ), so if you swing that way, don't hesitate no more. Enjoy

Gungrave – A Hidden Gem That Deserves More Recognition If you’re looking for an anime that blends intense action, deep storytelling, and raw emotion, Gungrave is the hidden gem you need to watch. Overshadowed by bigger names in the early 2000s, this masterpiece delivers a gripping tale of loyalty, betrayal, and the cost of ambition. What starts as a stylish sci-fi action anime quickly unfolds into an unforgettable crime drama, following the journey of Brandon Heat and Harry MacDowell—from street punks to high-ranking members of an underworld empire. The character development is phenomenal, with a slow-burn narrative that pays off in ways few anime manage. Madhouse’s animation work is top-notch, and the soundtrack perfectly complements the show’s melancholic tone. The action is intense, but Gungrave’s real strength lies in its storytelling—deep, tragic, and beautifully executed. i beilove most will get a sense of satisfaction not only from the anime itself, but from wondering what they have been missing!

Gungrave follows the lives of two friends Harry and Brandon from small jobs to organized crime. The story starts from somewhere in the middle and then comes back to the beginning. The plot revolves around the dynamics between these characters and their changes throughout the story. The fight scenes are not so thrilling but the show is fascinating to watch due to its balance between thrill and emotion. The characters are sketched out quite well, particularly Harry, however there is a bit of inconsistencies in their behavior. The animation is okay, but the sound has an average level with small changes in voice actors. All in all, Gungrave is a very good anime with an interesting stylistic approach that mixes genre elements of noir and sci-fi.