This is the second part in a three part anime review series. Coincidentally, they all involve girls of various ages. Part 1 was on Kill la Kill (which you can read here), and part 3 will be a review on Girls’ Last Tour, which you can check out here.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction……………………………………pg. 1

Part 1 – Season 1………………………………………pg 2

Part 2 – Season 2……………………………………..pg. 3

Discussion (spoilers)………………………………pg. 4

Final Thoughts……………………………………….pg. 5

Introduction

I’m not usually one to dive right into a tv show, especially an anime. That’s not to say I haven’t seen my fair share, like Cowboy Bebop, Death Note or Attack on Titan (all of which I would recommend). It’s just never been something that’s completely interested me. And I can’t say that any of them ever pushed me to read their manga adaptations, that is, until I discovered Gunslinger Girl. I found it on Netflix and it sparked me interest. It would be some quick entertainment for a slow week, being only 13 episodes long. Fast forward to a week later and 13 episodes successfully watched, I was captivated. Captivated with Gunslinger Girl in a way that lead to an obsession. I wanted to consume everything out there related to it. The only reason I came to see Cowboy Bebop, Death Note, and Attack on Titan was because of the buzz that surrounds each of them. Gunslinger Girl, which I’ll abbreviate as GG from now on, was something I came across on my own, by accident. It never came close to the levels of social impact that the previously mentioned anime titles has. In that respect, it holds somewhat of a special place with me because of the impact it left.

Why did I choose GG? It fell out of pop culture years ago, and never reached same levels of popularity as the other anime titles I listed, I could also add Kill la Kill to that list. It will most likely not regain any of that traction due to its slow-burn first season, and lighter-toned second season, ending with an incomplete story, only to be continued in the manga. Not to mention heavy themes of terrorism, and unethical, yet important, subject matter that may prevent it from being renewed any time in the future. I think there really is no rational, or factual answer to this question. Yet, I want to write this review and discussion to hopefully get some talk out of it, because there are some important topics in GG that are still relevant.

Background information

The Gunslinger Girl manga was first released in 2003 in the US, and continually made releases until 2012 when it ended with 15 volumes. There was a long hiatus between issues 6 and 7 that really hurt GG in the long run. The anime adaptation has two seasons: Gunslinger Girl and Gunslinger Girl: Il Teatrino, that collectively cover the first 5 volumes. Season 1 aired from 2003-2004 and covered volumes 1 and 2. Season 2 aired in 2008 and covered volumes 3-5. As of right now, there is no talk in reviving the show for a third season.

The anime and the manga are both very similar, but I will mention the manga when it is necessary. This review is more focused on the anime, but the discussion does go deeper into the manga. I have read the manga in its entirety, and I will point out the differences between the two when appropriate. This is a spoiler-free review, with the exception of the discussion which does contain spoilers. Before I jump into it, I feel a summary is an appropriate way to start.

Plot Summary

Do not be misled; Gunslinger Girl is not a very bright story. It is quite somber, with a constant depressing tone that is carried from episode to episode (or chapter to chapter). Yet, the story is not entirely not devoid of happiness and there are plenty of moments of delight. In general, however, we are dealing with some heavy themes and adult subject matters.

In a near — yet undisclosed — future, a new government-funded agency has risen in Italy called the Social Wellness Agency (SWA for short) with their goal being to counteract terrorism within the country using young, prepubescent girls to do so. Each of these girls have suffered extremely traumatizing pasts, where most were nearly killed. The SWA has the ability to step in and give them a second chance at “living”. To do this however comes at a cost as the girls are converted into cyborgs where their body parts are replaced with robotic limbs. And their minds are conditioned so that their memories are erased, making them emotionally loyal to their assigned handlers, called Fratello (italian for brother, or siblings). Because of this, there arise a number of different side effects and ethical/moral issues. Despite these side effects, however, they are all still young girls. And amidst a series of espionage missions, the heart of the story lies with their views and experiences and how they really perceive the world around them as they fight their nature with their nuture. We get to see each of their personalities blossom over every episode/chapter through a series of twists and turns that may leave you fighting to hold back tears in the end.