All right, this is perhaps one of the most WTF moments in my anime viewing for a very long while. If you know my viewing habits, I have a clear bias toward action shows: I do not like them. They generally try too hard in the GAR part, showcasing action scenes for a long time with a flimsy storyline. There is no shock, the characters are annoying in general and all in all, it is just the same old thing.
The same old thing stereotype can hardly be true in this series. This has mouth-watering, jaw dropping fight scenes that make a shoujo freak like me grasp in total amazement. It has crazy levels of animation that will be close to perfect if they can somehow manage to maintain this level. Lastly, and most importantly, the WTF factor just strikes firm. I am glad someone mentioned this series in the “What should I blog” because I have gained major interest in this series now.
A recap for those who have not watched the first episode, this is a story based in Japan about zombie-like spirits that are ravaging the area. The Ministry of Defence has an anti-paranormal special forces group called the Supernatural Disaster Prevention Office. The fourth platoon is a group of elite personnel with supernatural abilities. They engaged zombie-like spirits during one of the attacks, and managed to kill two Level B creatures in two different missions. However, on the aftermath of the second killing, they were ambushed by a lady who is a Level A spirit (most powerful). It seems like the main lead knew her, and the whole team perished.
Summary
Just after the demise of the fourth platoon, another Level B spirit appeared on the main streets. The Ministry of defense fodder forces were struggling to repel them, only for the Ministry of Environment elite forces to come to the rescue. After luring the Level B monster away from the masses, Kagura dispatched the spirit with one clean slice of her sword. The Minister of Defense discussed the demise of the fourth platoon, only for a woman on a wheelchair to come into this meeting.
This woman is the minister of environment, and she introduced herself as Jinguuji Ayame. Her assistant is Nikadou Kiri and they came to seek help. It is clear that there is a struggle for power between ministries, so Ayame proposed a compromise in which she gave them detailed information on the locations of the Level A spirits. She also warned them that their numbers are growing, and they are the ones that have been creating Level B spirits.
At the end of the battle, the spirits have manifested on the corpses of the soldiers that have died fighting the battle earlier on. Kagura and the others managed to kill off these Level D spirits. In their headquarters, Kiri and Ayame observed the tapes and realized that Yomi, their ex-compatriot was leading the spirits. Kagura is shaken by the appearance of Yomi, who greeted the crew sinisterly. Iidzuna Noriyuki was told by the Nabuu Brothers to chase after Yomi. Kagura decided to tag along, while the others were going to repel against a new onslaught of spirits.
Noriyuki and Kagura entered an underground electrical generator to hunt for Yomi. Noriyuki mentioned that Yomi’s target is the Ministry of Environment. They decided to split up, with Noriyuki leaving his pet with Kagura. Kagura was muttering that she wanted to save Yomi, and we also realized from her mutterings that Noriyuki is Yomi’s fiance. Suddenly, Noriyuki’s pet was slain, and Yomi was the culprit. Kagura was reluctant to unsheathe her blade, and Yomi said she would force Kagura’s hand. After a few rounds of battle, Kagura is able to subdue Yomi.
Yomi taunted Kagura, asking why she was not killing her. Yomi asked whether it was Kagura’s fear of killing a human, or the fact that they knew each other. Yomi mentioned that she hated Kagura and took advantage of Kagura’s shock to kick Kagura away. Yomi then called Noriyuki a coward, and that triggered Kagura’s fighting spirit. Kagura then decided to stab her sword into the wall, using the flammable gas to cause a combustion as Kagura escaped through the hatch.
However, Yomi appeared again with the tired-looking Kagura and asked if she expected Kagura to kill her so easily. Yomi’s summoned spirit appeared and dislocated Kagura’s arm while tangling her in mid air. With that, Kagura was helpless as she was held by the spirit, and Kagura mumbled why Yomi-oneesan had to do that. The last glimpse showed Yomi dying her relationship with Kagura and ready to decapitate Kagura.
Thoughts
This series is probably trying to use the shock element to surprise its audience. Considering the amount of publicity set up to display the fourth squad in its website, they happily killed the whole cast in the matter of seconds during the first episode. That, to me, makes you completely confused since the fourth squad looked to be a team well in control of its destiny. Without any warning, they died just like that. That is great story telling, and the same ploy (well, of sorts) still works.
To repeat the stunt of sorts again by killing the main girl Kagura is also a masterstroke, keeping audiences confused. Even though the skeptic will tell me that Kagura is not dead unless there is a corpse, I am totally intrigued on how the series will go now. As noted by Aroduc, the uniting element of both episodes is the relationship Yomi has with the “main protagonist” of each episode. The presence of Yomi is an enigma, and I wonder how the story will go.
Will it go forward in the timeline? Will it go backwards to understand the relationship between Yomi and Kagura? How did Yomi become a level A spirit? What is it about the failed exorcism three years ago? Will there be a “raise dead” for the main characters during the fist episode? There are many unsolved questions that are interesting to be solved in the future. I cannot wait to see how this series unfolds.
I think Ga Rei Zero really pumps itself up for great expectations after the first two episodes. The soundtrack is spectacular, and that in itself is an understatement. I like how they use ambiance and sound effects with good measure, and it is one of the few series that makes me notice how the music/sounds are in unison with the mood of the series. Few series can make me take note of that, and it is clearly one of the rare cases.
Animation continues to be top notch, and I believe that it might just be the top action series by a long shot. I will end off with one thing. Try to keep this series in your sights for at least a few episodes. It might be platinum.
35 Comments
Love Gai Rei -zero- Its one of the best series this fall. Great episode!!!
Gai Rei -zero- is one of the best series this fall. This episode was AMAZING!!
Great review.
Keep the skeptic for Kagura being dead.
Remember who’s lil pet got killed before Yomi and Kagura started dueling? At first, I was all 0.0 at the end of the ep, then I remembered him (Noriyuki).
ehh… maybe the twist this time around is that Kagura didn’t get killed? I’m hoping for a bit more plot development instead of twists all the time. It will be hard to develop the characters if they keep dying… then again maybe Yomi is the only character that matters?
i think you may like the manga a lot, is a nice blend btw shonnen and shoujo, but because of that people tend to lavel it as generic but give it a try, the author whether it’s a woman or a man seems to be bonkers sometimes her omakes are hilarious well i don’t belive kagura is dead ether common she is the main heroine in the manga but yeahh the wtf feeling is still there since i quite like the protagonist of the first ep, so lets keep whaching if it’s bad we’ll just drop it hehehhehe also it seems that this is a prequel too >:3.
Glad to see I’m not the only confused one here…
Kaguya was so awesome with her crazy motor sheath Iai-style. I hope she’s not dead ;_;
These people seem /dead set/ on killing off the original cast, Christ. And after they spent so much goddamn preview time on Tooru and company…
Actually, you know what I just noticed? Kensuke from the original manga hasn’t made an appearance yet. I guess I just assumed Tooru WAS Kensuke, and Natsuki was Kagura, but they /really/ changed things around, giving Michael to Kagura…
i mentioned it
keep that in mind when you read the emails
Didn’t Yomi kill 70 people or something before the manga started? Maybe by the end of the series she’ll have filled her kill meter.
I haven’t seen the manga so I don’t have a background on this anime.
I’m not a fan of introducing fodder each episode. Characters are the main element of a story that grabs me and with all of them continuously dying I’m losing interest. I hope this isn’t a conclusion first, story second anime. I don’t think it will be since it hasn’t happened yet, but I’ve never been a fan of time skips; back, forth, whichever direction. Unless they’re used to explain something that is currently happening. Regardless, I’ll finish this anime because it has eye candy. The story does seem pretty interesting though its not told in a manner that I prefer.
Any notice the name on the sword? I thought it was strange because their using a gaijin name so either their using it for the exotic gaijin element or there might be meaning behind it. My thought was that the name might represent the Archangel Michael,the field commander of God’s army. Kaguya’s on par with Yomi who’s a category A which is the strongest we’ve yet seen so she’s obviously a very high ranking member, and is fighting on the “light/good” side. So to give it a name that represents such a powerful thing wouldn’t be to strange.
Michael shows up in the manga as the sword of the main character, Kensuke. It’s supposed to be holy or some shit. I wasn’t aware that Kagura used it. As I found out, apparently this is a prequel to the manga, so I guess that explains moe moe Kagura.
I’m still not too fond of the Category B lava monsters, but now that this looks like it is not going to be a completely random string of events, unrelated to the manga, my interest has piqued.
There are many things to admire so far. Yomi’s seiyuu is wonderful, the soundtrack is indeed fitting, the entrances well-timed. And we actually have characters dying in smoothly animated fight scenes, with the first Ga-rei making an appearance already.
If this keeps up, Ga-rei -Zero- might just become one of the top series this season.
@PolariZ: Heh. It’s currently one of my favorites for now. It’s not even a shoujo series for Christ’s sake. Yes, I am the anti-action fan that is now applauding an action series. This is how pretty darn awesome this series is.
@Arakan7: Yep, Kagura is always considered to be alive unless you see her head getting decapitated or something. It’s just how they manage to throw the same sensational move twice in back to back episodes with such audacity. I am amazed how they do it.
@Tzhuge: Perhaps. Nonetheless, we might be treated with a brain freeze but I feel that there is quite a bit of nice introduction to the characters. If anything, I think the plot is moving quite a lot since it is not using a traditional “we gonna level up” plot but more like random characters connected by a certain enemy (Yomi). This is pretty interesting to put emphasis on the antagonist than the protagonists. That is an innovative approach I admire, and will like to see where they will bring this.
@Lucky: Hmm, ya. I don’t think I will read the manga as yet because I got an instinctive vibe that it will somewhat lower my viewing pleasure for the anime. I guess I can pick the manga up when I am done with this series.
@Zentari: Yes sire. I am so confused yet enjoying this series.
@Omi: Well, I actually like the insane Yomi more. She is just an enigma and her “Hello Kagura” taunting voice is just so hot. Yes, I am tsrange.
@Skoll: Hell bent? That’s an understatement out there.
@Zan: In other words, I should start to have a kill-o-meter for each episode. That might actually be interesting.
@Dra: I have a feeling that they will stop the killing after 1-2 more episodes before settling with a main crew to combat this spirit. They will not be introducing that much fodder and I actually feel that it is a very refreshing change compared to the “monster of the week” type of shounen show. At least we have a “protagonist of the week” type of shounen show. I can’t complain with the creativity there.
@Brin: Oh, I never noticed that. I wonder what is the name of the sword for Kagura then. Did you get a chance to listen to it ?
@Myu: Ya, I cannot disagree at all. Yomi’s seiyuu has done very well to catch that chilling feeling that permeates the senses so well. I feel cold blooded feelings through that voice, and it makes it really awesome.
I am also bowled over by the soundtrack, and it really raises my pulses when they start playing it with the action scenes. I hope that they will not raise my hopes up and then throw some junk crap at me later.
shock element to surprise the audience—no effect on Vin-nii whatsoever
Hate to say it, but this prequel thing really didn’t match the manga-counterpart genre-wise…
btw, me and my mates have concluded that is show has “serious fanservice”
dropped on episode 2
@Vin: I am not sure how to make of your comment. If this is a clear adaptation (transition wise), then your statement makes some sense. However, this is more like a parallel series that simply adopts the environment of Ga Rei. Think of it like Persona ~Trinity Soul~, where they make use of the background but nothing of any game series.
I am also unclear how this is “serious fanservice.” If you mean the sensational aspect is fanservice, then how do you want your action shows to be? Dull and predictable? Nonetheless, if you do not enjoy something, it’s better to drop it before it makes you suffer more.
I did a bit of digging on the Ministry of Defense’s Supernatural Disaster Prevention Agency (SDPA). Only things known are 2 teams, the 1st and 4th Special Division.
1st Division – Uses spirit seeker technology. Ordinary JSDF soldiers.
4th Division – Cream of the crop. Have spirit senses.
The Ministry of Environment’s Supernatural Disaster Countermeasures Division rocked after they went for a rumble with the possessed 1st Division corpses. Check the FAMAS with torchlight, SVD and Steyr AUG.
And yeah, case-fu rocked! And Wakamoto twins. XP
Only thing that grinded my gears was with the SDCD being under MOE command. It should’ve been under the NPA, MOJ and maybe the SC’s command. Then again, it’s a sneaky and interesting move to make them off the radar of their potential enemies.
Oh yeah. Wakamoto twins man. I hope they survived. Or at least get in a few more lines before they go all splattery.
I don’t think it’s a prequel. Yeah, Kagura is still in junior high and Yomi is alive, but maybe it’s an alternate universe. Kagura in the manga gives no indication at all that she knows how to use her sword (compare with the sheath trick!) and on top of that, isn’t Michael supposed to be made for Kensuke? I can be wrong since it’s been a while since I’ve read the manga, though.
@Ominae: Wow, interesting facts for sure. Can I ask you more for the abbreviations that you made in the comment because I am not getting it. Who are the NPA, MOJ AND SC? I believe that the Ministry of Environment is meant to be the group that tried to exorcise the level A spirit three years ago. I do not see why a “James Bond” freelancer group within the ministry got to be controlled under any other regiment. Perhaps it might sound logical, but the fact that there is a lot of infighting politics means that this force might unbalance the very fragile peace in the government.
I agree with you on the Wakamoto brothers. They are pretty cool with their ultra huge Gatling guns going on all cylinders. Nonetheless, I still like my yandereish crazy Yomi.
@Zan: Heh, my bet is that they get 2 more lines.
@LimQ: ok, I have no clue what you have just said since I do not read the manga. Good thing I didn’t though: it seems most people seemed to be somewhat turned off.
Well, when I mean fanservice I mean…
On Tuesday
Friend A:…
Vin-nii: btw
Friend A:?
Vin-nii: Was that suppose to be fanservice
Friend A: Rly? It was so serious that point (of the plot) I didn’t even realize it
Vin-nii: That is some serious fanservice
…I feel dumb. I don’t get it.
You mean when they showed a bit of the butt during a serious action sequence? I didn’t notice it until someone pointed it out. If you mean the tone of the series is so serious that it makes serious fanservice, then …ermm ya?
no, the bit where Yomi cut open Kagura’s shirt. I really can’t accept that scene as an act of humiliating your hostage.
@Vin-nii: OH. I didn’t even see it as fanservice because it feels so much like something Yomi will do to taunt her fallen enemy. I mean, Yomi is a sick bitch that seems to enjoy making other suffer and humiliate them completely. I will probably do that, plus seeing the victim die with blood spurting from open flesh is just so much more sadistic. Don’t you think…
Never mind, I can be rather sadistic T_T
hm…I believe I was just called a sadist (no offence taken)
Well, I guess I see your point there. But cutting the surface of Kagura’s cheek with her katana seemed more befitting… that shirt part didn’t really fit the dead serious tone of the episode (rather, the scene felt playful [in a non-sexual way])
Personally, I wouldn’t say that it’s “great storytelling”. It’s certainly unique to kill off people whom everyone thought were the main characters in the very first episode. But is it great storytelling? I find it very gimmick-ish. Like killing people for the sake of that “wow” factor; that it serves no particular plot purpose. At the moment I really don’t see how this builds on the story, except maybe to show how superior the guys from the Ministry of Environment are when compared to the Ministry of Defense.
Now, I may be wrong, and more will be done to explain about the two “main” characters in the first episode… but when you kill them off like that, it makes them weak, and who would care about weak characters?
That said, the eye candy is definitely there, and I must say the main characters in episode 2 are more interesting than in episode 1 (the guy is just too angsty).
No problem.
MOJ – Ministry of Justice
SC – Security Council (Advises Prime Minister on national security)
NPA – National Police Agency (In charge of the overall Japanese police system)
I guess you’re right Impz. IMO, the MOE was given command of the SDCD since any enemies wouldn’t look at the obvious and potential agencies I mentioned above.
Seems that the MOD has first jurisdiction over any paranormal event in Japanese soil and can operate abroad if they are in Japanese interests. Guess same goes with the MOE.
PS – Ayane-san so sexy! It’s a shame she’s in a wheelchair.
hmm… this looks like an interesting show that I might get into. From the synopsis, I gather this is something like Darker Than Black?
Very cool.
This sounds so cool! Can’t wait to watch. Love the animation quality!
http://worldofanimemusic.blogspot.com
Wait isn’t “Nori-chan” supposed to be a perv? And a freaking powerful one at that? But anyway, i’ll see what happens, but I hope kensuke makes an apperance and dammit I want him and kagura to start with the loving already…..
Oh and episode one was cool, lol at first I was like ok…there’s this guy remembering stuff from the past so he must be the star of the series now, then wtf? He’s dead shiz, lol I was like wow!
I love this series because people die every episode
Uh, am I the only person who thinks this series is terrible? The generic school-girl-sword-wielding characters are really starting to annoy me. Mmm, oh well. I skimmed through episode 3 and decided to drop it.
To Aru Majutsu no Index on the other hand is great, the animation quality during the action scenes amazing.
was totally shocked when the whole squad in Epi 1 was killed just like that. the series looks promising and the soundtrack is totally great. it’s like the soundtracks used for movies or dramas.