Getbackers

[wiggins]

Hey! Anyone watch Getbackers? Is it good? Can anyone write a Christian review on it... maybe?

[Iapetus]

I love Getbackers - it is my favorite anime series (tied with another series, but that is a different topic... *grin*).

I have only seen about half of the anime (it just finished in Japan), but everything about it is amazing.

Story: Blonde, hip, pragmatic and cool, Ginji Amano has the power to generate currents with his body like an electric eel. Brunette, equally hip, bespectacled and rambunctious, Ban Mido has the mystically mysterious 'Evil Eye,' the power to create illusions in the minds of his foes. Together, they are the GetBackers, the best retrieval team in the world. They can get back anything taken from clients, and their success rate is (almost) 100%!

However, first they have to get some clients -- and soon -- or this spry detective duo will starve on the streets! (Thank you to Tokyopop for the summary.)


The only thing I think I would warn a christian anime fan about this series is that the women are incredibly well-endowed. Yes, I know anime women are well-endowed in general, but they are still VERY big (in general). So, if you have a problem with excessivly large breasts squeezed into revealing outfits, I don't think that the series is for you. However, the focus is not perversion, and these *cough*large*cough* women aren't in every storyline extensively.

It is something entirely different than what I am used to - almost like an AU of modern Tokyo. I don't know how else to describe it.

-Iapetus

[andyroo]

I have Ban Mido for my avatar, but I've never seen the series - only read some reviews of it.

[Iapetus]

Yeah, I like that shot of him. He is one of the only characters I know of in anime that can pull off purple glasses and still be masculine.

-Iapetus

[Blewin]

Get Backers's excellent! i'll write a review on it and post it in the anime review section when Ashley gives the all clear for it.

[Shao Feng-Li]

so it seems anyone could watch getbackers? hmmm

[MyrrhLynn]

so it seems anyone could watch getbackers? hmmm

I wouldn't say "anyone" could. It gets violent and bloody, especially with Dr. J around. Also, one of the main female characters needs to wear more clothing.

This series is also a usual target for Yaoi for some of the following reasons: Most of the guys in the series are very good friends and would put their lives on the line for each other. Ginji (one of the main guys) likes to hug his guy friends whenever they have been in dangerous situations (which happens a lot). One of the guys looks like a girl because in order to learn his special attacks he had to be brought up like a girl, because of this there is some winked at Yaoi between him and his best friend/bodyguard. (The situation is sort of similar to shigure and ayme from Fruits Basket only not as silly.)

Now don't get me wrong I absolutely LOVE the series (I have seen the whole thing) and I would love if they released more. I just wanted to point out all the problem areas.

[Iapetus]

I wouldn't say "anyone" could. It gets violent and bloody, especially with Dr. J around. Also, one of the main female characters needs to wear more clothing.

This series is also a usual target for Yaoi for some of the following reasons: Most of the guys in the series are very good friends and would put their lives on the line for each other. Ginji (one of the main guys) likes to hug his guy friends whenever they have been in dangerous situations (which happens a lot). One of the guys looks like a girl because in order to learn his special attacks he had to be brought up like a girl, because of this there is some winked at Yaoi between him and his best friend/bodyguard. (The situation is sort of similar to shigure and ayme from Fruits Basket only not as silly.)

Now don't get me wrong I absolutely LOVE the series (I have seen the whole thing) and I would love if they released more. I just wanted to point out all the problem areas.

True. However, there is no Yaoi in the actual series. If you were to read fanfiction, however, I'd say watch out. Of course, all good writers will warn you in their summary of shonen-ai/yaoi, so it is relatively eazy to stay away from.

Man, so many of my favorite series are targets of shonen-ai/yaoi lovers... It sometimes makes it almost impossible to find "clean" fanfiction in that aspect.

-Iapetus

[Shao Feng-Li]

yaoi... hmmm you say one of them hugs his friends after a danger? well it used to be the brothers in christ would greet each other with a holy kiss...remember judas kissed Jesus b4 betraying him

[MyrrhLynn]

yaoi... hmmm you say one of them hugs his friends after a danger? well it used to be the brothers in christ would greet each other with a holy kiss...remember judas kissed Jesus b4 betraying him

I never said that I had a problem with it. All the yaoi fangirls out there just use it as an excuse. Plus his version of a "hug" usually involves him looking chibi and sitting on their heads and pulling their hair. I think it is funny but I have seen sites that claim that it proves there is yaoi.

[Shao Feng-Li]

...hmm...

[Mave]

The storyline and characters of Get Backers is pretty good, IMO. Like what others have said, the only thing that bugs me is the women who are too 'large' (it no longer makes sense) and the yaoi hinting in it. True, it's not declared officially but I'm quite peeved at how some advertisements/artworks in the magazine (like NewType/Animanga etc) seduces ppl to think otherwise. "Yeah we know it's not official but come on, yaoi lovers....why not? Loads of hot bishonens who need more than moral support from each other!" I've seen one official pic of Ban and Ginji in chains....and another with Ban on top of Ginji, with Ban looking quite interested in Ginji. Come on, It's not fandom, it's actually in the magazines!

it's funny, it just occurred to me that there is no such thing as brotherly love in the yaoi world.

[MillyFan]

I'm not wanting to get but please remember something. Shounen ai fangirls are people too.

So no matter how much you hate either the general idea or specific pairings (and note, even those of us who are fans don't necessarily like all pairings since we like some, for instance I really like almost all the Legato Trigun pairings, but I find the Wolfwood/Vash and Knives/Vash pairings in the same fandom highly annoying and stupid) PLEASE don't make this an ad hominem "let's kill all the fangirls before they multiply" thread. All right?

[MyrrhLynn]

True, it's not declared officially but I'm quite peeved at how some advertisements/artworks in the magazine (like NewType/Animanga etc) seduces ppl to think otherwise. "Yeah we know it's not official but come on, yaoi lovers....why not? Loads of hot bishonens who need more than moral support from each other!" I've seen one official pic of Ban and Ginji in chains....and another with Ban on top of Ginji, with Ban looking quite interested in Ginji. Come on, It's not fandom, it's actually in the magazines!

it's funny, it just occurred to me that there is no such thing as brotherly love in the yaoi world.

Oh yeah I forgot about that. It really makes me mad when magazines do that because then people who have never seen the show will assume it has yaoi in it. And yeah you are right there is no such thing as brotherly love in the yaoi world. To me it is sad really.

[Mave]

hoho Someone mentioned this before, but seriously I thought the dud with the bells was a girl. I am supposed to be bishonen-seasoned enough to tell, "Ohhh bishonen! awww...just a girl..oh oh oh bishonen, it's gotta be!" But this one threw me off completely!

I know only two guys in the anime world who wear 'off shoulder' clothing (Shouldn't it be kept strictly for ladies?)...Fugen of Houshin Engi and this guy in GB (I forgot his name). I find this kinda amusing.

[wiggins]

What's yaoi

[MyrrhLynn]

hoho Someone mentioned this before, but seriously I thought the dud with the bells was a girl. I am supposed to be bishonen-seasoned enough to tell, "Ohhh bishonen! awww...just a girl..oh oh oh bishonen, it's gotta be!" But this one threw me off completely!

I know only two guys in the anime world who wear 'off shoulder' clothing (Shouldn't it be kept strictly for ladies?)...Fugen of Houshin Engi and this guy in GB (I forgot his name). I find this kinda amusing.

LOL Yep that is the girly guy (I forgot his name too, but I just looked it up. It is Kadzuki. He always gets slightly peeved though when people mistake him for a girl. )

As for what yaoi is well basically it is male anime characters depicted engaging in homosexual acts.

[MyrrhLynn]

LOL Yep that is the girly guy (I forgot his name too, but I just looked it up. It is Kadzuki. He always gets slightly peeved though when people mistake him for a girl. ) One thing I want to know is how does he get that shirt to stay up!?!

As for what yaoi is well basically it is male anime characters depicted engaging in homosexual acts.

[wiggins]

I read a bit of its manga before it was licensed and there didn't seem to be anything yaoi about Ban and Ginji. Aren't they just best friends?

[MillyFan]

And yeah you are right there is no such thing as brotherly love in the yaoi world. To me it is sad really.

One last note: not all shounen ai fans think *every* couple is yaoi fodder and there are some whom some of us don't see as shounen ai/yaoi. I noted this in my previous post: I only like shounen ai and implied yaoi when the guys being paired off are 1: not obviously straight and 2: not related.

If the character has *any* defined interest in female characters, I usually see pairing him off with another man as completely out of character and pointless (as an example, see my banner. I *detest* yaoi that tries to completely invalidate the WolfwoodxMilly pairing, one of my absolute favorite hetero pairings. I'm of a mixed mind about the writers that depict Wolfwood as bi and having had a past relationship with, say, Midvalley or Legato, but I want to flame fics that make him *completely* yaoi and only using Milly as a replacement for "who he really wants." That does havoc to the entire storyline of the anime and makes the characters involved all OOC.)

If the guys are related. . .that's just. . .I think I'm going to be sick.

[Mave]

I read a bit of its manga before it was licensed and there didn't seem to be anything yaoi about Ban and Ginji. Aren't they just best friends?

Dear Wiggins, that's what we're discussing. Officially, there shouldn't be anything yaoi going on between those two cool guys. Well, in my eyes at the moment, they're very close friends/comrades as well.

However, sometimes some fans believe that there is yaoi 'hinted/implied' in the shows and therefore, prefer to see them being 'more than best friends' so they make stories/drawings that depict a more ahem..intimate relationship (mostly on the internet I think). Well, problem is ppl who don't know ANYTHING about Getbackers, assume GB is yaoi when they see the stuff the fan creates. 0.o

Hey, Millyfan, I do agree with you, pairing guys who do officially have a female interest is quite annoying. Here's my final two cents about yaoi/ai-shonen (I'm not forcing that opinion on anyone, just my humble opinion). If it ain't yaoi officially, don't yaoi it! So, no whining about Gravitation..heh Peace, everyone?

MyrrhLynn- actually, I think Kadzuki's pretty cool despite the girly appearance. And I have NO idea how he keeps his shirt up...good question! maybe he does something funky with those strings and bells...

[Iapetus]

One last note: not all shounen ai fans think *every* couple is yaoi fodder and there are some whom some of us don't see as shounen ai/yaoi. I noted this in my previous post: I only like shounen ai and implied yaoi when the guys being paired off are 1: not obviously straight and 2: not related.

If the character has *any* defined interest in female characters, I usually see pairing him off with another man as completely out of character and pointless (as an example, see my banner. I *detest* yaoi that tries to completely invalidate the WolfwoodxMilly pairing, one of my absolute favorite hetero pairings. I'm of a mixed mind about the writers that depict Wolfwood as bi and having had a past relationship with, say, Midvalley or Legato, but I want to flame fics that make him *completely* yaoi and only using Milly as a replacement for "who he really wants." That does havoc to the entire storyline of the anime and makes the characters involved all OOC.)

If the guys are related. . .that's just. . .I think I'm going to be sick.

I hate seeing one of my favorite characters in Saiyuki paired off with his best friend when it is obvious he is a womanizer (Sha Gojyo). I agree with your opinion on what shonenai and implied yaoi is alright. I am also an avid Wolfwood/Milly fan, and the even existence of Vash/Wolfwood makes me wretch.

Now-a-days, I only really support one shonenai couple, and still avidly protest the rest of the ones that "make no sense." I could go off on a huge rant on this, but I'll save that for another day. >_<

-Iapetus

[MyrrhLynn]

MyrrhLynn- actually, I think Kadzuki's pretty cool despite the girly appearance. And I have NO idea how he keeps his shirt up...good question! maybe he does something funky with those strings and bells...

Humm... not quite sure how I ended up double posting on that last part... oh well....I'm going to gently push this topic back towards GetBackers.

Oh Oh! Kadzuki is totally my favorite character in the whole series. I actually didn't forget his name just how to spell it. I love how protective he is of women! Whenever a girl is in trouble he just yanks off those bells and "zipppp" the bad guy is all tied up! Usually guys with hair that long I find freaky. But somehow for him it works. And since I am sure most peopole don't know what I am talking about here is a picture:

[Iapetus]

Humm... not quite sure how I ended up double posting on that last part... oh well....I'm going to gently push this topic back towards GetBackers.

Oh Oh! Kadzuki is totally my favorite character in the whole series. I actually didn't forget his name just how to spell it. I love how protective he is of women! Whenever a girl is in trouble he just yanks off those bells and "zipppp" the bad guy is all tied up! Usually guys with hair that long I find freaky. But somehow for him it works. And since I am sure most peopole don't know what I am talking about here is a picture:

Kadzuki rocks. Even if he didn't use his thread, he'd still be awesome. Still, it is a point to his benefit that he DOES use a string, I like almost every person that uses string as weapons in anime...

I also like how he pulls it out of a bell-like thing. I just find it amusing that people should be afraid of something that looks so completely harmless.

-Iapetus

[Shao Feng-Li]

What is bishonen...or bishoujo? (sp?) And how the heck can that guy be a boy!!!??? And I was afraid my characters would look like girls!

[Iapetus]

What is bishonen...or bishoujo? (sp?) And how the heck can that guy be a boy!!!??? And I was afraid my characters would look like girls!

Bishonen=pretty/beautiful male
Bishojo=pretty/beautiful female

For example.. Sailor Moon's Japanese title was: Bishojo Senshi Sailor Moon. The literal translation would have been "Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon" or "Beautiful Soldier Sailor Moon."

I don't know how the guys do it, but I know some girls like calling bishonen a "bishie," or "bishies" for plural. A popular topic question is "who is your favorite bishie?" on many forums....

And to tie it all back into Getbackers... Midou Ban is on my top 15 bishie list. Shido and Ginji are also on there, but Ban is my favorite bishonen in Getbackers.

-Iapetus

[MillyFan]

Yeah, even though I haven't seen Getbackers, I did see Andyroo's avatar of Midou Ban-and that put him on my top 15 bishounen list. . .

[MyrrhLynn]

Kadzuki rocks. Even if he didn't use his thread, he'd still be awesome. Still, it is a point to his benefit that he DOES use a string, I like almost every person that uses string as weapons in anime...
-Iapetus

Other people use string as weapons? Who!?! Who!?! The only other guy I can think of is Spiderman.

Oh and Ruroken if you think Kadzuki looks like a girl you should see one of the girls that looks like a boy. I read somewhere that the guy who designed the characters (I assume he does the Manga somehow) gets this strange kick out of making guys that look like girls and girls that look like guys. Crazy stuff. Once you hear Kadzuki's voice though you realize he is definately a guy. And even though he looks like a guy he is the hottest one in my opinion. And I'm feeling generous so I guess I'll post this picture that I think a few of you will like.

[Iapetus]

[quote="MyrrhLynn"]Other people use string as weapons? Who!?! Who!?! The only other guy I can think of is Spiderman. ] Ah, well, they aren't too common, but they are there.

In Sorcerer Hunters, both Tira and Chocolat use string (as wire, one on a spindel and the other in a garrotte wire). However, you'll only see Tira use wire in the manga.

In Hunter x Hunter there is a chick who uses her chi as string to cut people up.

In Inu Yasha Yura of the Hair uses hair to cut people up.

I was going to make a shrine to "those who use string." I thought it would be original, at least I hoped it would...

That pic of Ban is AWESOME. *Puts in picture file, then whistles as if nothing happened.*

-Iapetus

[Mave]

to add to the list, I remember Yohji Kudou from Weiss Kruez using strings/wires to fight.....

Yeah go bishonens! Midou Ban (cool picture alert!), Ginji, Shido, Kadzuki, all hot...erm, I'm still debating on Makubex (although I think he's really cute) and who's the dud with claws and big sunglasses ( ) I'm wondering about their personalities. As much as I like good looks, they've gotta have a decent personalities as well. Anyone knows about about them?

Dr. J?.......0.o


Boy, are we doing a lot of GB promotion here...