Speed Grapher
スピードグラファー
Speed Grapher is a 2005 anime consisting of 24 30-minute episodes. It can be classified as “ecchi,” “action,” “drama,” and “occult.”
WATCH IT. I found this anime by looking up Gonzo studios, so I don’t know how known Speed Grapher is, but it should be much better known.
Saiga was a war photographer, bored after getting called back to Tokyo. Attempting to expose a “secret club,” he discovers that the wealthy and famous are getting all their sick and twisted fantasies fulfilled through the club, including the involvement of their Goddess, Kagura. Poor Kagura, 15, is led to believe she has nightmares about participating in the “ritual ceremony,” as she is hypnotized for her role. (Her mother also abuses her, starving her and taunting her. Her mother does not know about Kagura’s role.)
Saiga is quickly found out, mesmerized by Kagura’s entrance into indiscreetly taking a picture, and is brought up to the platform, where Kagura frenches him, subconsciously hoping he would save her. It turns out her saliva will activate a dormant virus that grants superhuman powers related to the carrier’s deepest desires (The awakened are called Euphorics). And so, Saiga has gained the power to make things explode by taking pictures of them.
They are soon on the run as Saiga “frees” Kagura, Saiga trying to keep Kagura safe as well as help both of them find out what’s going on.� I’m only half way through, but … IS SO GOOD.
The “ecchi” isn’t for fetish this time, but grotesqueness. They mince nothing, from blood to torture to sex. Like when a dancer Euphoric obsessed with limberness breaks a girl’s arm, a diamond Euphoric bites off a girl’s finger to eat her ring, and a dentist Euphoric … well… ugh.
Though the action can be somewhat slow at times, for some reason I don’t get pissed. It justs makes me impatient. The story and suspense is enough to keep you coming back. It’s a sick, twisted story, but Saiga and Kagura, though being the only foils, are like little glimmers of hope out of the depravity. Animation could be better. My first impression was that it was from 2000-2002, not a 2005 show. It’s a little rough at times, but there ARE quite a few impressive scenes. Voice actors, especially Kagura’s, are win.
There is some nice subtle humor. Kagura getting accepted into a group of transvestites for one, and Ginza, a policewoman way into getting in Saiga’s pants, will shoot, saying “That was self-defense,” and “Don’t make me self-defense you.” There’s more of course, but in general the anime is very serious, as it is a commentary on Consumerism and Materialism in modern society.
WATCH IT!!! Unless you’re squeamish, then avoid. I just avert my eyes and cringe at the painful scenes. I think I just really like the idea of an ace-photographer who was always on the front battlelines suddenly having to put to use his gutsiness in new and innovative ways.
(And episode 7, nice twist. Was NOT expecting that little turn of events.)
January 17, 2009 at 1:05 pm |
speed grapher is excellent i will recommend it to everyone i wish a movie was made of it by the way for all those anime lovers i love to write also give my article a look at httP:/www.authspot.com/poetrymemories.452871
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