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Get Backers vol 1: G & B on the Case (eps 1-5)

By John Huxley
28th Feb 05

Anime, particularly sci-fi, has a long and illustrious history of fabricating ill conceivable organisations presumably designed to pass as relatively plausible derivatives of the likes of NATO and the UN. Evangelion's omnipotent NERV and the frankly ridiculous Hellsing organisation are two prominent examples that spring to mind. Although much smaller in scale, Get Backers features an equally unconvincing organisation who apparently make it their business to - wait for it - get stuff back. Yes, the Get Backers!

Believe it or not, this ludicrously simple concept forms the backbone of a 49-episode anime series in which we follow Ban and Ginji as they go about retrieving client's stolen property, beating up the thieves responsible and enjoying a big, fat cash reward for their troubles. Their base of operations is the unfortunately named Honky Tonk Café, a suspiciously unpopular joint owned and operated by their capable associates. When they're not scrounging free drinks and pizza you'll find the hapless duo couped up in their mobile office 'ladybug'; a dinky Subaru 360 car not unlike Lupin's famous Fiat 500. Of course the ladybug sees its fair share of action, as do Ban and Ginji. Baring a slight resemblance to Striker, Ginji possess the unique ability to control the flow of electricity throughout his body which he can use to blow generators or blast the badguys. Despite this awesome power he's actually a lighthearted, caring character who'll bend over backwards to help those in need, a trait that often irritates his more level-headed companion Ban. With stylish round glasses, flared white shirt and a haircut that would make Son Goku blush, Ban's J-rock reject look reminded me a little of SNK great Iori Yagami, a strong character that appears to have influenced more than his outward appearance. Whilst not entirely original, Ginji and Ban are an amiable pair blessed with an undeniable visual appeal that will surely see their faces appear in forum avatars up and down the country.

Like Ginji, Ban has a couple of special abilities of his own. Not only does he boast a 200 kilogram grip, he can also invoke involuntary hallucinations the moment his eyes meet with those of his adversaries. A regular occurrence lasting no more than a minute at a time, these visions (or 'Jagan') would make for a neat little plot device if it were not for the ridiculously over-the-top execution that sees our two central characters executed on a regular basis, a sure sign that we've entered this 'dream world'. Exactly how the writers and directors plan to keep the Jagan from appearing overused and gimmicky during such a lengthy series is a source of concern; here's hoping they choose to use it sparingly and heighten the impact of a potential showpiece.

Although Ban and Ginji spend an inordinate amount of screen time abusing these impressive powers, it's actually their close (perhaps too close? Yaoi fans beware!) personal relationship that will hold your interest in the long run. Unfortunately it's early days for Get Backers, so we've not spent nearly enough time in their company to really pass judgement. However, the all too brief snippets of background story dished out throughout the five episodes on this disk do hold promise for the future, hinting at a more substantial storyline that will hopefully come to the fore if and when Get Backers hits its stride.

In the meantime the episodic nature of the early storylines makes for an accessible if not entirely spectacular start to Get Backers. After a couple of throwaway plots that serve as introductory vehicles for the central characters, we're presented with a more involving three-part story that sees our heroes attempting to retrieve a stolen item from a rival 'transportation service'. Comprising of several colourful characters, this trio are the antithesis of the Get Backers, offering a service that will courier any item to a given location for a hefty charge. The inevitable conflict that ensues pushes even our heroes considerable abilities to limit, as the ruthless Alucard lookalike Jackal satisfies his bloodlust fighting a seemingly outclassed Ginji. Meanwhile, Ban catches up with an old acquaintance turned bad, the aptly named Lady Poison who holds Ban responsible for her brother's untimely death. The flashback sequences that accompany this battle are frustratingly enigmatic, although the intentional intrigue does add another dimension to an otherwise by-the-book action scene. The highly satisfactory finale (and their presence in the opening animation, incase you're thinking I'm spoiling anything!) suggests these fittingly hackneyed characters will become regular faces in Get Backers; a welcome rivalry that will hopefully develop over the course of the series. And incase you're wondering, the third member of the transportation service is 'Mr No Brakes', the skilled driver of their imposing black HGV. He really doesn't play a large part in these early episodes, so hopefully we'll see more of him at a later date.

The pleasingly lengthy action sequences peppered throughout each episode are decent yet not entirely spectacular - the inconsistent animation holds back the more ambitious set-pieces while the solid direction lacks that vital spark of originality. Nevertheless, Get Backers' action is an integral part of the series that rarely fails to excite; easily the equal of many lauded contemporaries such as Noir or Hellsing.

A solid performer in all areas, Get Backers rarely disappoints yet struggles to rise above the ordinary. But this is one of the first 49-episode series to hit these shores, so there really is plenty of time left for things to improve. And if you're concerned about committing yourself to a series of this size, well, there's no need to worry because Get Backers actually represents better value for money than a regular series with five full episodes on this disc alone. If that value translates into quality is another matter entirely, but I'm more than willing to give Get Backers the chance it deserves.

R2 DVD Notes

Features: English 5.1 and Japanese 2.0 audio, English subtitles, episode commentaries, clean open/close, behind the scenes, ADV previews

Release information: UK: Feb 2005, ADV

Notes: The cover features our two heroes in typically stylish poses, Ginji ready to strike with a bolt of electricity and Ban keeping glasses propped up in a knowing fashion. The overall presentation of the cover reflects the tone of the series nicely, and while some may find it too garish for their liking, this is certainly true of the series also. As with all recent ADV releases of this calibre, they've provided a welcome double-sided cover that presents the same artwork as the regular cover minus logos and a chapter listing on the reverse. It's not really suitable for use as a reversible cover, but it's a nice inclusion all the same. Extras come in the shape of two audio commentaries, clean open close and a behind the scenes feature. The commentaries are standard fare, with the US voice talent and staff veering wildly off-topic yet remaining perfectly pleasant listening. The behind the scenes mini-feature is basically 15 minutes worth of interviews with the voice actors and actresses, which is typically variable in quality depending on the actor/actress answering the questions. Hopefully ADV will expand on these features as the series goes on, but for the first volume of such a lengthy series this is a good start.

-- John Huxley 28th Feb 05

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Get Backers vol 1: G & B on the Case (eps 1-5)

R2 DVD Notes

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