Speed Grapher
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Speed Grapher | |
|---|---|
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| スピードグラファー (Speed Grapher) |
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| Genre | Drama, Mystery, Psychological, Supernatural |
| TV anime | |
| Directed by | Kunihisa Sugishima |
| Studio | GONZO |
| Network | TV Asahi |
| Original run | 7 April 2005 – 22 September 2005 |
| No. of episodes | 24 |
| Manga | |
| Authored by | |
| Publisher |  MediaWorks |
| Serialized in | |
| Original run | – |
| No. of volumes | 3 |
Speed Grapher (スピードグラファー) is a 2005 anime series, created by GONZO Digimation. The series ran for 24 episodes from April to October 2005. The series was licensed for North America by FUNimation Entertainment in 2006.
Contents |
[edit] Synopsis
Speed Grapher follows the exploits of former war photographer Tatsumi Saiga, who investigates a secret fetish club for the ultra-wealthy. He tries to photograph the club's "goddess", a 15-year-old girl named Kagura, but is discovered. As he is about to be killed, Kagura kisses him, granting him the ability to destroy anything he photographs. Kagura's body fluids can give people bizarre abilities related to their fetishes or obsessions. The story develops as Saiga aims to grant Kagura's desire (her freedom), while on the run from the Secret club and the Tennouzu Group megacorporation that operates it. In later episodes, we learn that Kagura's body fluids contain a chemical that activates the dormant virus that is responsible for the transformation of humans into Euphorias, such as Saiga. This virus has the rare ability to attach itself to the victim's DNA and alter his body on a genetic level, granting him supernatural powers. Apparently, to become an Euphoria, the virus must be carried before absorbing Kagura s fluid. Failure to carry the virus beforehand will result in death.
Speed Grapher is also an indictment of the capitalism and materialism of Japanese society. Kagura is the daughter of the wealthiest woman in the world, but she is kept prisoner and nearly starved. Her mother bribes any person who tries to help Kagura. Yet, the main villain smokes cigarettes made from 10,000 yen bills.
[edit] Characters
- Tatsumi Saiga
Voiced by: Kei Satou (Japanese), Christopher Sabat (English)
The male protagonist. A veteran war journalist who somehow took a liking for it. His love for photography developes into a sexual fetishism, as he gets an erection whenever he takes exciting photographs. However, after going back to Japan his passion seems to have died. While investigating a secret club where rich and influent people meet to fulfill their most perverted desires, after he received a kiss from Kagura, he somehow developed the ability to explode whoever and whatever he takes a picture with his camera, thus, Death by Photo. The effect of this ability depends on what type of camera and lens he is using (E.G.: A Telescopic Lens has a more powerful effect than a regular Lens.) He was infected by the virus at the same island that Suitengu was at.
- Kagura Tennouzu
Voiced by: Yuuji Takada (Japanese), Monica Rial (English)
The female protagonist. Raised as the heir to the powerful Tennouzu Group. Has the ability to transform people infected with a mysterious virus into euphorias (people with supernatural powers related to their innermost desires). She also has inoperable brain tumor, causing her to only have six months left to live. Associates of Suintengu and her mother have given her injections to keep her from reaching puberty
- Chouji Suitengu
Voiced by: Toshiyuki Morikawa (Japanese), Christopher Ayres (English)
The main antagonist. Apparently he is only using Kagura and her mother to extend his influence and profits, but there is a hidden vengeance plan in his agenda. He is a euphoria with the ability to manipulate his own blood and use it at will to attack and defend. He carries around a music box that belonged to his younger sister, Yui. His real name is Ueno Takeshi.
Suitengu actually had a normal life with his family. However, his parents were deep in debt with the Tennouzu's Group's predecessors (the Ashikaga Group) and were murdered. Suitengu was sold as a child soldier at thirteen and grew up on the battefield while his sister was sold as a prostitute. His last mission was infiltrating a research lab, but the facility was destroyed and Suitengu lost all his limbs as a result. However, he also became the only person who survived and carried the virus so scientists put new limbs on him and since then he has had his ability to control blood.
He despises the fact that his family and his life were ruined for money and as such secretly holds a deep hatred for it. Eventually he reunited with his sister, but her state of mind had been shattered and he mercifully killed her to end her life as a prostitue. His ultimate goal was to take revenge on the Prime Minister who destroyed his peaceful life and punish people steeped in greed and money in the form of causing the entire country to go bankrupt.
- Hibari Ginza
Voiced by: Takako Honda (Japanese), Clarine Harp (English)
A vicious policewoman in love with Saiga. She is very jealous of him and does anything at hand to protect him from harm. She has a joking habit of saying "self-defense" whenever she shoots or kills someone (usually while they're attacking her). Eventually she travels the world with Ryougoku.
- Bob
Voiced by: Kouji Ishii (Japanese), Antimere Robinson (English)
The main source of Comic relief in the show, Bob is an out and proud homosexual who runs an erotic massage parlour. He lives right next door to Saiga.
- Tsujidou
Voiced by: Hiro Yuuki (Japanese), Greg Ayres (English)
One of Suitengu's lackeys. his euphoria power is super enhanced olfaction, allowing to smell his enemies miles away and cause also turn into a huge wolf. He was abused by yakuza years before and lost his nose as a result. However, his life was saved by Suitengu. He dies alongside Suitengu as the main office of the Tennouzu group self-destructs.
- Shinsen Tennouzu
Voiced by: Gara Takashima (Japanese), Pam Dougherty (English)
Kagura's mother and president of Tennouzu Group. She is in love with Suitengu, but is jealous of how much time he spends with her daughter. She used to be a model, but suddenly retired and then used her former lover's group to set up her own. She is a cruel woman who abuses Kagura. She was killed by Suitengu.
- Kazuki Odawara
Voiced by: John Burgmeier
Shinsen's former lover and Kagura's father who was a scientist who attempted to develop a bioweapon. However, the government soon tried to eliminate all traces of evidence. He died in a ravine and the remains of his research lay within Kagura who can awaken the virus within carriers and Suitengu who has his left arm.
- Shirogane Katsuya
Voiced by: Takehito Koyasu (Japanese), J. Michael Tatum (English)
One of the euphorias sent by Suitengu to retrieve Kagura from Saiga, possesses the ability to stretch his body into any imaginable form. He was a ballette dancer who was completely obsessed with the flexibility needed to the point of breaking a young girl's arm. His head was blown off by Saiga using a piece of mirror to reflect his camera shot
- Kaoru Koganei
Voiced by: Mari Yokoo (Japanese), Colleen Clinkenbeard (English)
Best known as Lady Diamond. Her euphoria power is to turn her entire body into diamond, becoming almost indestructible. She has the bizarre habit of eating diamonds (even biting off the finger of a woman to get her ring). She kidnapped Kagura and demanded a ransom, but was killed by Suitengu by being shattered into a million pieces and having her body turned into diamonds to be sold.
- Doctor Genba Ryougoku
Voiced by: Rikiya Koyama (Japanese), Kent Williams (English)
A doctor who runs a small clinic and also an acquaitance of Saiga's who apparently saved his (Saiga's) life when he was nearly crippled in a rundown hospital. His wife died three months ago to cancer
- Mizunokuchi
Voiced by: Shiro Gou (Japanese), R. Bruce Elliott (English)
A sadistic dentist and euphoria user who's been given extra limbs with dental devices on them and can even turn other part of his body into drills (such as his tongue). He tortures patients by inserting all of his limbs into their mouths and polishing their teeth slowly. Apparently he removed Kagura's lower molars three years ago, but did it as slow as he could so he could see Kagura writhing in pain. He kept one of them and carves it obsessively
- Ran Yurigaoka
Voiced by: Takeshi Kusao (Japanese), Christopher Bevins (English)
An esthetician whose euphoria power is to make the tattoos on his body real-life objects. He has an obsession with his and other people's skin
- Miharu Tsurumaki
A former actress who had a traumatic past due to her mother trying to drown her many times. Since her mother's suicide she's become mute. She's also drowned every man who has fallen in love with her. Appropriately she can turn herself into a fish-like being and manipulate water
- Seiji Ochiai
Voiced by: Tetsuo Kaneo
A former photographer, now cabinet member who lead a group called the White Eagles whose purpose was to bring down the Prime Minister and Suitengu. However, he turned out to be a traitor and euphoria use who could manipulate sound.
- Professor Nishiya
Voiced by: Eiji Yanagisawa
A university professor who is an acquaitance of Ryougoku's. He tells Saiga about the retrovirus that has been activated within him and introduces Saiga to Ochiai. However, he sold them out so he could do research on Kagura to gain fame. He is eaten by a mutated Kamiya.
- Kamiya
The Prime Minister who is also a member of the club and an extreme glutton. He also has a euphoria power in which he becomes a huge, deformed spider-like creature with a huge head and a tongue with acidic saliva. However, he is viciously killed by Suitengu while begging for his life.
[edit] Voice Actors and Characters
| Role | Japanese Cast | U.S. Cast |
|---|---|---|
| Tatsumi Saiga | Yuuji Takada | Christopher R. Sabat |
| Kagura Tennouzu | Kei Saitou | Monica Rial |
| Chouji Suitengu | Toshiyuki Morikawa | Christopher Ayres |
| Hibari Ginza | Takako Honda | Clarine Harp |
| Shinsen Tennouzu | Gara Takashima | Pam Dougherty |
| Tsujidou | Hiro Yuuki | Greg Ayres |
| Bob | Kouji Ishii | Antimere Robinson |
| Katsuya Shirogane | Takehito Koyasu | J Michael Tatum |
[edit] Episodes
- The Corrupt City (背徳都市)
- Moaning Wad of Bills (唸る札束)
- Death by Photograph (写殺爆殺)
- Plunder Girl (略奪少女)
- Madam Diamond (ダイヤモンド夫人)
- Goodbye, Madam Diamond (さよならダイヤモンド夫人)
- Macabre Drill (猟奇ドリル)
- Light of Kagura (神楽のともし灯)
- At the Baths (湯殿にて)
- Suitengu Comes (水天宮来る)
- Mother's Ill, Come Home (ハハキトク スグカエレ)
- Sleep, Embraced by the Left Hand (左手に抱かれて眠れ)
- Smiling Gentleman Comes (銀座番外地)
- The Girl Who Won't Look Back (人妻神楽)
- Hell of the Watery Woman (濡れ女地獄)
- Proliferation of the Goddess (半期決算報告)
- Profiteer of Death (死神成金)
- The Third Bureau (第三局)
- Lies and Lips (嘘とくちびる)
- Good Vibration (グッドバイブレーション)
- The Prime Minister's Breakfast (総理の朝食)
- Give Me Money (オカネクダサイ)
- Grave Made of Money (札束と墓標)
- Roppongi Crisis (六本木クライシス)
[edit] Theme songs
- Opening
- "Girls on Film" by Duran Duran
- "Shutter Speed" by Shinkichi Mitsumune [U.S. Version]
- Funimation was unable to gain the rights to "Girls on Film" for US distribution.
- Endings
- "Hinageshi no Oka" by Shione Yukawa (Episodes 1-12)
- "Break The Cocoon" by Yoriko (Episodes 13-24)
