“Speed
Grapher” is a 24 episode anime series that involves a war photographer named
Saiga. The setting is a modern Japan in which the corrupt and depraved make up
the majority of "high society."
This elitist circle indulges in their depravities in a secret fetish
club which Saiga discovers and decides to sneak into hoping for a big
scoop. What he finds is "The
Goddess," Kagura, in a trance descending from the ceiling. After giving her "blessing" to
Saiga, she wakes up to a world of sin and depravity run by a man named Suitengu
who works as a crime boss.
The most
notable thing I could say about this show is that the plot is on par with some
of the greatest animes of all time, like “Cowboy Bebop” and the original “Ghost
in the Shell” film. While Saiga and
Kagura are in the spotlight for most of the show, the final few episodes are
where the true brilliance of the plot and the characters is brought out. Initially, the enemy is Suitengu and his
subordinates; however, the conflict shifts to focus on the depravity of society
as a whole. The most noteworthy
character in the series is surprisingly Suitengu, the antagonist. His story is a central driving force to how
the plot unfolds and by the end of the series Suitengu is one of the most
compelling and remarkable characters I have seen in any series. Period.
Good:
- Powerful,
thought provoking story driven by complex, darker characters
- Dystopian
setting provides an easy parallel to the real world
Bad:
-Story takes
a while to fully pull you into the true narrative taking place
Scully Rating: 9.8 out of 10
Watch "Speed Grapher" at: http://www.watchanimeon.com/anime/speed-grapher/
