Introducing "NO GUNS LIFE" Anime (No Spoilers)
"No Guns Life" (Japanese: ノー・ガンズ・ライフ, Hepburn: Nō Ganzu Raifu) was borne of a Japanese manga series by Tasuku Karasuma (published in Shueisha's seinen manga magazine Ultra Jump since August 2014). It has since been adapted into a anime television series by Madhouse aired from October 10 to December 26, 2019. Wikipedia listed that, "The first season was a split-cour anime, with the second half being scheduled for April 2020, before being delayed to July 9, 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic."
(All manga cover art and interior pages via nogunslife.fandom.com)
ANIMAION PLOT: "In the near future, many humans have become cyborgs called "Extended" (エックステンド, Ekkusutendo). However, with a great war having recently ended, many Extended, who are former soldiers, begin to resort to crime to survive. Juzo Inui is a "Resolver," an Extended mercenary who specializes in solving problems caused by other Extended. However, Juzo's life is turned upside down when a renegade Extended breaks into his office, pleading for him to protect a young boy named Tetsurō Arahabaki." (Wiki)
The above chunk of text essentially describes the first couple of episodes, which has since spread like a spider's web to encompass a wider cast of characters - some cliched, some familiar tropes, all with a slight twist - living and surviving a interwoven world building of a dystopian post-"great war".
Everybody has their own back stories and motivations to "live", and we'll gt to see them unraveled as the series goes on ... and as importantly (to have engaged my attention) they are engaging in activity shrouded in a thickened mist of grey ... in this noir-ish presentation (a "Cowboy Bebop" comparison jumps straight into my mind, actually) of anime, there is no specific BLACK or WHITE to be had, and the "villains" are so deep-set into the plot, I don't actually see our heroes triumph that easily or clean, IMHO.
But it seems that is not the "aim" of our crew, moreso than wanting to "live" and survive with their freedom intact ... a freedom that trumps all adversities thrown at Junzo and his crew...
A huge chunk of this blogpost was published on my i NOT OTAKU!-blog yesterday, while I subsequently completed the first 12 episodes last night, and am eager to start the "second season"! I'll not attempt to spoil anything here, save that another anime popped immediately to mind: 2018's MEGALO BOX!
Realising also that this "realistic"-style of aesthetics still appeal to me greatly, and as well the very muted and chosen colour palette of NO GUNS LIFE, as seen in the teasers here, actually, certainly helps "ground" this fictional tale, bolstered by the "anime"-flourishes of chibi-flshes etc. And I LIKE IT LOADS..!
The video featured directly above is the Opening Animation/Credit for the first season (Eps 1-12), with track "MOTOR CITY" performed by Kenichi Asai (浅井健一) = which I adore OMG!
Animated is by Madhouse, produced by Egg Firm and directed by Naoyuki Itō. Series composition is by Yukie Sugawara, with character designs by Masanori Shino. Series' music is composed by Kenji Kawai. The art for the animation mirrors those of the manga, and is in a aesthetic that appeals to me, so I'm IN!
The 3DCG backgrounds were created by Cyclone Graphics - whom also produced the series' ending animation (using Unreal Engine 4), which I've embedded the video for below ("Game Over" performed by DATS). What I really appreciated too and liked about this anime, is the usage of CG - especially in vehicular scenarios - and how they "blend" into the anime and character surrounding them, without striking (too much) out visually, IMHO.
Prior to pepping this blogpost, I had "assumed" that NO GUNS LIFE had "2 seasons" (as listed on Muse Asia), but apparently in actuality the series was split into two, with the first half of the series (containing Episodes 1 to 12) aired from October 10 to December 26, 2019 ... while the second half of the series (containing Episodes 13 to 24) premiered on July 9, 2020 and is currently ongoing at time of this post publication (*There has been a delay for this cycle due to COVID-19).
In my previous post about 1000toys' adaptation of Junzo Inui - pronounced "Inui Juzo", actually - as a 1/12th-scaled action figure (*Much Excites), I had mentioned and will mention again here that you are currently able to watch the series FREE online, via Muse Asia's youtube channel, where they have licensed to showcase the anime!
PLAYLIST for Episodes 13-24 (Still Ongoing)
Here is Episode One (with English Subtitles) to help you folks ease in into the anime - Enjoy!
