Sunday, February 28, 2016

Grenadier

Boobs + Guns! What more could you ask for? Well actually a lot I'm sure, but that's what this shows got. In an age where guns are taking over as the primary weapon, leaving swords relatively obsolete. But is fighting the answer? With only 12 episodes this short anime does have a relatively simple story. Each episode is the usual 24 minutes long, but has the option of both English Sub & Dub. The series came out in 2004.


The story follows Rushina Tendo, a buxom blonde with the innocence of the worlds issues. She trained to be a double/protector of Tenshi. She was told to strip her enemies of their barriers so that they would change. Her smile would break these barriers down and remove the will/wish to fight. If no one wishes to fight then peace could be possible. She struggles in her adventures to do this as the smile is often not enough on its own. So she uses her gun to defeat her opponents to strip them of their will to fight.

The story is so short that she only meets a few people. But with each one of them she manages to leave an impression. Some even join her on her quest which quickly leads itself back to where she began. The first appears in the first episode. Yajiro is a swordsman who almost lost himself to killing during wars past. In these battles he grew to hate all gun-wielders as they are unable to feel the full weight of the lives they take as it is only the pull of a trigger instead of the force and resistance required when using a blade. This belief does create some conflict between himself and Rushina. But this resolves itself quickly as she does not kill her opponents, but only maims some of them.

There is a number of special weaponed people who stand in her way as she goes back to her teacher. But she makes her way through to the end and to the ultimate conspiracy. Ultimately leading to a fight with a buxom woman like herself. By reloading their revolvers with a flex and bounce of their breasts and the speed required to load them all with a simple flick and spin. 

The animation is well done, and the story works well for its length. But for the most part I did find it a little boring. The show get a 7.5 out of 11. I only recommend it for its length making it interesting enough for that. But I do consider it to be a good thing it isn't longer.