Copyright © 1998 SUNRISE / TV Osaka

GASARAKI is one anime title that I have been wanting to see since I learned about its existence. Giant robot shows in general hold a special place in my heart, those produced by SUNRISE and Bandai especially. Maybe it's because I'm an engineer that I enjoy giant robots beating the crap out of each other, but this has nothing to do with the show or the review so I'll just drop this train of thought and continue with the review.
GASARAKI takes place in the not-too-distant future. Actually, it could probably take place in the present, or at least not more than five years into the future. This is one of the things that makes GASARAKI different from other giant robot shows currently out today. While most mecha shows take place in the far future (GUNDAM) or have giant aliens invading the Earth (EVANGELION), GASARAKI has a more realistic approach to its concept.
The Gowa family runs one of the most advanced weapons manufacturing companies in the world. Their greatest invention is the Tactical Armor (or TA) which even the United States hasn't been able to produce. The TA is a bipedal exoskeleton or, more simply, a giant robot or mecha. But I wouldn't really call it a giant robot because it isn't that much taller than a tank.
At the beginning of GASARAKI, the fourth son of the Gowa family, Yushiro, prepares to perform the ceremony that will summon the Gasaraki. This is the second time that the ceremony has been preformed. The first time, which occurred eight years ago, ended in failure. The ceremony is sort of a Noh/Kabuki theatrical dance equipped with rhythmic chanting and drumming. But during the ceremony Yushiro's mind is invaded by a mysterious entity in the form of a young girl who doesn't want the Gasaraki to be summoned. The mysterious young girl is eventually expelled from Yushiro's mind, but Yushiro stops the ceremony right before it is complete and like, eight years before, the Gasaraki is not summoned.
Not too long after this, a large explosion is detected over the Republic of Belgistan. Belgistan is a fictional Middle Eastern country run by a man who, coincidentally enough, looks just like Saddam Hussein. The U.N. comes to the conclusion that this large explosion was a detonation from a weapon of mass destruction, and it promptly puts economic sanctions against Belgistan and sends troops, led by the U.S., into the country.
After a couple battles where the U.N. forces suffer heavy casualties, the Gowa family offers the U.N. its use of their TAs. The Gowa family is not doing this out of any loyalty to the U.N., but because of their own desire for some answers. It turns out the explosion that started the war was exactly like the light show that occurred during the attempted summoning of the Gasaraki in Japan back in the first episode. Also, the Gowa family is interested in why a third world nation like Belgistan has weapons that rival those of the mighty U.S. military. And they want to know how Belgistan was able to develop their own TAs.
The first volume ends with many more questions unanswered—questions like what exactly is a Gasaraki, and why does the Gowa family want to make contact with it? But, then again, a good story has to have some mystery to it. A series is not going to be interesting if you know exactly where it is going after only viewing the first four chapters.
The main thing that is wrong with GASARAKI is that it moves at a very slow pace. Things don't start picking up until episode four. There isn't really any mecha action until the end of episode three. Also, like with any epic mecha war anime, there are a lot of characters so if you aren't paying attention things can get a little confusing. Furthemore, the audience is left in the dark about a couple of major things which I mentioned before. It's a good thing that this volume comes with four episodes. If it came with just two, like the old ADV titles did, we would be really confused.
For the most part the dub was very good, though I find it a bit odd that all the American characters have Texan accents. I do have some complaints about the dialogue, however. At times it seems that the script is a little long winded and some actors have to get an entire speech out in one breath. Also, sometimes the dialogue gets bogged down with techno-babble. I know that this is done to make the dialogue more realistic, but sometimes it gets a little too technical. This is definitely one anime you have to pay real close attention to when viewing.
The animation for GASARAKI was very well done also. But, of course except for the occasional slip (BRAINPOWERED), SUNRISE usually produces some high quality stuff. We even get some nice computer graphics as well.
GASARAKI isn't the anime for the casual giant robot show viewer. If you want something that has tons of metal crunching action right off the bat, this would probably be disappointing for you. But, if you want something that is more mature than NADESICO but not as depressing as EVANGELION, GASARAKI is for you. And I'm sure some people will disagree with me, but I am going to have to say that GASARAKI is the best new anime title that I have seen this year. Very recommended.

Released in North America by A.D. Vision Inc.
VHS, 100 minutes
English Dubbed
#VHSGK/001D
$19.98
Available now in the USA
Where to buy