Kita ze Inbou! - キタぜ陰謀!

Series Information

ANN Encyclopedia | AniDB | AnimeNfo
Episode Total: 24
Producers: CBC, Common Wealth Entertainment, GDH, HBC, Pony Canyon, RKB, TBC, GONZO, Columbia Music Entertainment
Genres: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Science Fiction
Sunabozu
[Review: 70/100]

Have you ever seen a show when you don’t really know if to hate or to root for the lead character? I don’t think I have ever had the misfortune of having such experience prior to Sunabozu, made by our folks from Gonzo who brought us Chrno Crusade, Romeo+Juliet and more recently, Rosario + Vampire. While all those shows rely on likeable main characters, Sunabozu, or how he is known here in the West, Desert Punk, is nothing but likeable. That doesn’t make him a bad character, and he gives a little spice to an overall okay show.

The great Kanto Desert covers a decent amount of surface in the far future. The locals struggle to survive in those harsh times and they usually seek the help of handymen to accomplish basics tasks, like animal watching, to more serious tasks like assassinations. Kanta, a young teen, is such a handyman, who may seem stupid and naïve, but he is actually one of the best around the West Oasis. Known for his elusive skills, he is wildly known as the Sunabozu.

The series is divided to two parts, which is distinguished by the two opening themes of the show, which I’ll write about later. The first part is a long exposition that is meant to emphasize what a creep Kanta really is. For example, we have Asagiri Junko, a well-endowed (and I mean WELL) girl who knows how to use her assets and will do everything for some extra change, even if sleeping with a old guy is required. Whenever the vixen is on the screen, you already know what Kanta wants. I have to give it to the guy, though, why other guys in anime dreams about groping, he literally does it. Sure he gets punched in the end, but it’s always entraining.

Besides many secondary characters that don’t change the story a lot, there is one character who is probably the real hero in this tale: Kosuna. After a surprising development, the little runt who may seem to be just another annoying brat joins with Sunabozu and decides to be his pupil. While she always whines when she fails, it’s hard not to feel bad for her every time he insults her, yet she is taking all the heat. Throughout the series the growth of Kosuna makes the show more likable in terms of a lead character that a viewer wants to root for, especially towards the end.

While it is a show that involves guns and lots of explosions, Sunabozu is mainly comedy, crude comedy. It is meant for a mature audience and if you are like me who like to see horny guys FINALLY do something about their craving, this show is for you. There are some funny episodes, especially episode 2 when Sunabozu faces Amegumo (voiced by Norio Wakamato… Very Melon everyone?) in a very unique way. Some episodes however are drawn out and utterly pointless in either comedy or plot development. The problem with Sunabozu is the fact it’s a gag reel. It’s a joke after a joke in a long concession. It takes the show 17 episodes for the plot to kick in, but the final episodes are the most exciting ones, especially 20 and the final episode. Even so, the series ends with an open ending that doesn’t really resolve any of the series questions, as it tries to be too pretentious with its morals and history for its own good.

The animation is not one of Gonzo’s best works, but the show’s style compensates for that. The character designs and the rugged attire for the denizens of the region covered in sandstorm are unique. The opening themes of the show are an interesting contrast as well. The first one, “Sand Mission”, is a happy and catchy song that is actually done in life-action. The second one, however, “Destiny of the Desert”, is a sharp 180 degree turn. The song is darker, edgier and has a certain epic feeling to it, which may not fit with the show’s cynical tone.

Overall, Sunabozu is an okay show that has obvious flaws. When you think about a desert, you know there’s not much there but sand, and it appears it’s the same here. Sunabozu himself and the two girls who accompany him throughout the show in several episodes make the show fresh, but the rest of the cast leaves a lot to be desired. I have to give it though that the character’s behavior is a nice change of pace from the politeness and overall “goody-two-shoes” atmosphere”. Even with that, it is a little sad how Gonzo put a plot in the last 5 minutes just so the show will make sense. If you want to watch Sunabozu, please don’t get your expectations too high. It’s funny and crude, but by no means intelligent.