Speed Grapher

[The Xenos]

Well I just saw the first ep of this freaky new series. I'm hooked. Haven't been this interested in a new anime in some time. Of course the main character is a photographer and I was a bit of a photo bug myself.

The story takes place in a weird near future Tokyo where the rich are richer and the poor are poorer. There is some conpiracy among the rich, a possible underground organization controlling things. Oh and there's also some guy who dresses all in rubber fetish and is like if Monkye D Luffy was in a murderous S&M club. There's a crazy nympho cop who has the hots for the photographer. It's crazy and I love it.

Hmmm.. I was just reading about Sin City and in a way this reminds me of it in that this creates a strange city full of strange and kinky characters. Defiantely one to watch out for.

Actually, a while ago there at Anime News Network was a rumor that Joel Silver was interested in making a Last Exile movie in Hollywood. It also mentioned Hollywood interest in Speed Grapher. Then again by Lyingin the Gutters standards, I'd call that one a red light.

-Xenos

[Tobei Miyake]

Heh. We like a lot of the same stuff...

Anyway, after checking it out (http://speed-grapher.com/top.shtml), this was one of the few things that I said that the minute it's released in Japan I'm getting it.
(And that's mainly because I'd be really surprised if it came over here anytime soon.)

From the March Newtype:True Romance
In a dark city, an unlikely couple runs for their lives. Suitengu, the owner of the underground Roppongi Club, purses Tatsumi Saiga, a middle-aged freelance photographer, and a 15-year-old girl named Kagura Tennozu. They're in for the adventure of a life time.

Speed Grapher is the story of an ex-paparazzo and a naive girl who was raised under the strict control of her powerful mother Shinsen, a major player in the world of Japanese finance. The pair runs away together, and amidst the chaos of evading dogged pursuers and fighting for their lives, they fall madly in love.

Gonzo brings us this passionate love story set in an elaborate world. Propelled by the studio's always dynamic, pulse-pounding animation, this anime is a fairy tale for adults in search of a new kind of escape.***
Continued below...

[Tobei Miyake]

More on Speed Grapher...

Anime News Network has an interview with Speed Grapher director, Kunihisa Sugishima: ANN: Our understanding is that Speed Grapher will take place in a futuristic version of Tokyo where the divide between rich and poor is extreme. Is this merely a setting, or is there some social commentary that you and the other creators are trying to put forward?

Kunihisa Sugishima: Currently, there are numerous cases – running up to several tens of thousands - of people committing suicides occurring annually in Japan, including those related to economic concerns or worries. We've created a standard where financial fortune is equated with success and is expected to lead to happiness. When working on Speed Grapher, as it was aimed at a more mature audience, we felt that we should do something to stimulate the audience at an intellectual level. [more (http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/columns/sunday.php?id=36)]***
Also...

There's Speed Grapher episode reviews (http://www.designchronicle.com/memento/archives/speed_grapher/index.html) at a site called Memento.

[SKETCHSANCHEZ]

Feels wierd to rez such an old thread but I just got into this series myself through the xbox live market place.

I'm on Ep. 12 right now and just wow, what a great series this is. I'm totally hooked, it's so twisted and crazy with all kinds of strange characters popping up I cant get enough.

[stelok]

True Romance
In a dark city, an unlikely couple runs for their lives. Suitengu, the owner of the underground Roppongi Club, purses Tatsumi Saiga, a middle-aged freelance photographer, and a 15-year-old girl named Kagura Tennozu. They're in for the adventure of a life time.

It is true!

Tatsumi Saiga is an ephebophile who is attracted to teenage girls.

[Robotech Master]

RE: Tatsumi Saiga is an ephebophile who is attracted to teenage girls.

If I recall correctly, Saiga's "condition" is such that he doesn't "get it going on," no matter who the girl is or what she looks like, unless he can look at her through his camera.

I think it was actually stated that all of the people who could potentially gain superpowers had at least one peculiar sexual condition.

[Sophisticated_Gamer]

Hmm... I never heard of it. Is there a way to try it out, and see the first episode or somethin?