Gate Keepers

Gate Keepers is one of the anime series from 2000, an original role-playing game developed by Entertainment Software Publishing and published by Kadokawa Shoten, and followed by a manga story written by Hiroshi Yamaguchi and illustrated by Keiji Gotou and Gonzo. Anime series of Gate Keepers is produced by Gonzo and here’s some popular titles behind its studio like NHK ni Youkoso!, Full Metal Panic!, Kaze no Stigma and Chrno Crusade. Gate Keepers consists of 24 episodes, runs about 25 minutes per episode and aired from April 2000 till September 2000. Opening song “Asu no Egao no Tameni” is performed by Yumi Matsuzawa. Ending song “Kyou Kara Ashita E” is performed by Yumi Matsuzawa. Gate Keepers anime series is directed by Koichi Chigira.

In year 1969 technology, science and industry rise up in Tokyo and there’s no better time to be alive but a shadow starts to move around every corner or also called as “Invaders”. The Invaders have started to infiltrated the population and nobody knows who, what or where they really are. A tops secret agency called “AEGIS” (Alien Exterminating Global Intercept System) mission is to fight the enemy unseen or Invaders. AEGIS have a special forces known as “Gate Keepers” is composed of extraordinary and unique individuals who can use “Gate” an ability to open or to harness a massive amount of energy and they are the only ones who can protect the humanity and defeat the Invaders.

Shun Ukiya, an average high school student who lives with his mother and little sister. One day on his way home, Shun saw a group of Invaders heading toward his house. In order to protect his family, Shun accidentally activates the ability to open a Gate and defeat all the Invaders. After defeating the Invaders Shun saw his childhood friend Ruriko Ikusawa also have the ability to open the Gate and a member of Gate Keepers. Because of Shun’s new found ability he catches the attention of AEGIS and is recruited to be part of Gate Keepers.

Gate Keepers' story is focused on Shun’s life as an average high school student and a sudden change because of his encounter with the Invaders who’s killing everyone while marching towards his house direction. To protect his mother and younger sister, Shun fights the Invaders and without realizing it, Shun activates the ability to open the Gate and defeats all the Invaders around. Story highlight is mostly on protecting humanity from the Invaders who try to invade the planet, and the only way to defeat Invaders is to use the ability of Gate from unique individuals. Simple and common for most of the story but what makes the story good but at the same time a good story explanation.

Gate Keepers anime series is produced by Gonzo and did a good job for anime adaptation from games. Story and animation are good and precise clean animation specially on the battle scenes when Gate Keepers starts to fight and defend humanity from the Invaders it looks solid effects and clean ground entertainment view. In terms of music selection both opening and ending song performed by Yumi Matsuzawa, for the opening song the upbeat tempo and good rhythm intro is good to listen, and for the ending song a bit of emotional and drama at the same time like a character reflection.

Gate Keepers anime series deserves a good anime recommendation in terms of a good battle anime series and a story to protect humanity from Invaders. Anime or game? For me I only learn the title from anime while looking for something to watch so far satisfied for the whole anime series and a good simple approach and easy to understand the story flow is one of the good things for this series. For the game as far as I know it’s only available in Japan and no English version but from what I read to some people's reaction or comments the game is much better from their point of view and some not into the anime series version. One thing is Gate Keepers also released a manga story. Is Gate Keepers an underrated anime series? Yes, it is underrated for most and one of the big reasons is the storyline is simple and common human fight Invaders and the only way to defeat them is to look for an extraordinary individual who has the power of Gate. This is something that makes most people skip this kind of common storyline and are too lazy to watch at the same time. Overall Gate Keepers is good anime in terms of simple story approach and entertainment to enjoy.

Information:

Title:

• Gate Keepers
• ゲートキーパーズ

Type: Series (24 episode)

Aired: April 3, 2000 to September 18, 2000

Studio: Gonzo

Source Story: Game

Genre: Action, Sci-Fi, Comedy, Fantasy, Mecha, Shounen

Rating: PG-13 - Teens 13 or older

Song:

Opening:

• "Asu no Egao no Tameni (For the Smiles of Tomorrow)" by Yumi Matsuzawa

Ending:

• "Asu no Egao no Tame ni (Special Version)" by Yumi Matsuzawa (eps 1-6,24)

• "Kyou Kara Ashita E" by Yumi Matsuzawa (eps 7-23)

Director: Koichi Chigira

Character and Voice Actor:
• Ikusawa, Ruriko (Kawasumi, Ayako)

• Ukiya, Shun (Sakurai, Takahiro)

• Houjou, Yukino (Suzuki, Masami)

• Asagiri, Reiko (Iizuka, Mayumi)

• Konoe, Kaoru (Takano, Naoko)