Gun Sword
From Zanecorpwiki
A very decent epic morality/retro-super-tech/young adult story... if you're into that kind of thing.[notes 1]
Summary
Not the greatest Japanimation mini-series I've ever seen and in many ways, it's highly derivative of other works, but it does "build" very well. Overall, I'd rank it in the middle, and I'd recommend it to viewers outside the Japanimation fan base.
In terms of modern Japanese pop-narrative aesthetic, it's a decently executed but very familiar fare with a few standout elements. The characters are, though essentially archetypes, more interesting than average and less one dimensional than you might think. The "hint of complexity" that one finds in the characters is reflected in the morality tale itself, which essentially asks, "What is the nature of happiness?"
Most interestingly, there is no real bad guy. Or good guy. There's a protagonist who we identify with and who champions the (more) just cause, but his motivation is primarily personal revenge. The fact that he's aligned with humanity is incidental as far as he's concerned.
The antagonist isn't so much evil as non-human. Indeed, he's the nicest, sweetest character in the film (who seemingly inadvertently kills people from time to time). The lesson isn't "good vs evil", but embracing what makes us human vs. trying to be something else.
Notes
- ↑ Not available on Amazon except as scattered bits. Can get through Netflix, though.
