An Anime Series Review: Speed Grapher (2005)

Speed Grapher (2005)

Director:

Kunihisa Sugishima  Writers: Shin Yoshida, Yasuyuki Suzuki

IMDb Overview:
One man will capture the heart of a women, and destroy the foundations of society.

Anime News Network Overview:
Ten years after the Bubble War, the dichotomy between the rich and the poor in the world becomes more prominent and Japan is no exception. The rich seeks to satisfy their desires and derive pleasure for themselves, and Tokyo has materialize into such a city as a result. Saiga, once a war photographer, works for Hibara Ginza in the capitalist state of Tokyo. He infiltrates into Roppongi Club, a secretive base located in the red district area of the city, to collect information about them. However, he was caught in the process and brought forward to a girl called Kagura who was in the midst of a ritual. His contact with Kagura awakens his special ability: the power to make things explode once photographed. In order to unravel the mystery behind the Roppongi Club and Kagura, Saiga begins his solitary battle.

A Speed Grapher Review
Speed Grapher Episode Count: 24 episodes 

Speed Grapher, Kagura

Speed Grapher is another anime series that has a grittier and dark tone. It's not in anyway awful but definitely delves into the doors of the human soul that are by far the worst. In it all, there is sometimes things to still look forward to.

The main characters Saiga and Kagura are just awesome. Saiga is a grown man that is instantly drawn to Kagura a young teen girl. Saiga realizes their obvious age differences, so always responds if someone mentions there relationship by saying "it not like that" or by totally ignoring the question. Seeming extremely hilarious. Kagura is the heir to a rich empire thanks to her mother. It is slowly shown Kagura is no regular adolescent girl but possesses powers of turning regular humans into Euphorias (people with supernatural powers connected to their innermost desires) through an exchange of her bodily fluids with anyone. She's a type of catalyst for a chemical reaction. Saiga notices that Kagura in a semi-hypnoticed state is led to kiss privileged members of this secret society so as to turn them into Euphorics. Saiga being a photographer has become enamored by his latest subject Kagura. He helps her escape from the constraining secret twisted society but not without consequences. The man behind the organization named Suitengu that tries to get Kagura to gift people with powers wants her back and pulls all the stops to get her back. Kagura's mother is a huge crime queen that despises her daughter because of her great looks believing hers are fading. This is an interesting aspect of the anime later explained. Kagura on the other hand finds her cruelty mean and can't understand it because of being naive. She is on many occasions abused by her mother. In a teacher, she finds help but you wouldn't believe what her mother does to convince her teacher that at home no abuse is going on. The moment while totally disturbing is also hilarious.

Moving at a real swift pace throughout the anime there are types of equally cool and disgusting characters introduced. You'll become obsessed with the characters. As Saiga tries to keep Kagura from the evil organization led by Suitengu who has his own devious agenda he wants to further along. Leading watchers on a hugely entertaining road of action and danger. Ending with a surprisingly, yet satisfying conclusion.

Speed Grapher from left to right, Suitengu, Kagura (center), and Saiga.

For anime fans interested in the animation style aspect of it then it has an unusual style of animation. It's most assuredly anime but looks like comics-American-style. It's nice to look at and again found very lovely. The use of characters shows very original ones too. There are various weird characters mentioned that are rather disgusting yet impressive to see. The animation scope of it is definitely something to look at! 

Speed Grapher is a highly recommended anime series. Just from its animation and background settings it's a worthwhile watch along with becoming immersed in some vastly fascinating characters. While this anime is wholly intense in the world it creates, it's on the whole addicting.
Genre: Drama, Psychological, Science Fiction, Crime, Mystery, Young Adult, Human Nature

Anime Soundtrack Side-note: The OP (Opening Theme Song) and Ending Theme Songs are really fun songs. Addicting. The Opening Theme Song is
"Shutter Speed" by Shinkichi Mitsumune [U.S. Version]. The Ending Theme Song is "BREAK THE COCOON" by Yoriko.