Search - Get Backers - G & B on the Case (Vol. 1) on DVD

An enjoyable romp with promise of more

Ian Krupnick | Colorado Springs, Colorado United States | 10/01/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"While I knew the basic premise for Get Backers alot of what it did surprised me and made me look forward to future installments.

The story is pretty simple. Ban and Genji are two friends who both have some super human powers. Together they have formed a retrival agency promising to get back what every has been lost.
There are a number of elements in Get Backers that were reminesenct to other series of anime, but Get backers manages to pull off a style completely it's own.

The First two episodes are stand alone tales that give a good feel for the charecters and the setting. Alot of the focus is put on Genji and Ban's friendship. The last three are one big arc where Ban and Genji go up against an elite team of cargo transporters. This presents some of the enemies for the series and shows that while Genji and Ban are good in a fight there are others that are better.

Since it's early in the series Get Backers doesn't quite have the balance yet to really be a classic. the comedy sometimes undercuts the action and vice versa. I can't quite get a feel for how grounded in reality the show is. obviously since there are people with super human powers then it's not quite our reality but there seems to be a bit more to it that makes me wonder if this is possible a completely alternate world.

When all is said and done though Get Backers is unique, funny action packed and absorbing. It hints at a rich past to be discovered with a larger back story, but promises plenty of madcap adventures. well recommended"

The beginning of a great series!

W. Scott Heitman | Gainesville, Fl United States | 10/09/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I'll flat out say that I don't care much for the first couple of episodes. They establish the characters, but when I saw them, I didn't watch more of the series for a long time. Luckily, I gave the series another shot and was instantly rewarded, because eps. 3?-5 introduce a character who is, in my opinion, one of the coolest anime characters ever devised. And the episodes themselves give a hint of what viewers will be in for in the rest of the series. The main arc of the series doesn't really get started until somewhere around episode 11, but the series from there on is quite fantastic. The fight scenes are well drawn, the characters are all pretty likable, and the soundtrack is very catchy. This is not a thinking anime (obviously), but it will keep your attention and make you wish there was more once you reach the end. Highly recommended."

:3

Cody Saoyrn | Underwater. | 04/02/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"While the manga may not quite be "work safe," this anime version can be a wonderful subsitute. Carefully edited for a slightly younger audience, but with all the exhilarating action of the original.

The animation style and quality is excellent and overall consistent, and the background music enhances the mood very well.

One of the things that I, personally, like best about the Getbackers series in general is that it has plenty of fanservice for everybody. The women are voluptuous, and there are numerous squeal-inducing moments of BL/shounen-ai between several of the male members of the main cast.

Of course, this is the rambling of a not-so-neutral fangirl. XD

[Note: I wouldn't recommend watching this with someone who is not enthusiastic about fighting scenes, humor bordering on slapstick, and sometimes-overwhelming amounts of not-necessarily-subtextual attraction between two male characters.]
[Note2: If you're not the kind of person who squees over BL, you can still enjoy the series. Don't worry~ It's only overwhelming to those who pay attention to it.]

Oh, and the plot is quite workable. I haven't noticed any real plotholes yet. *nods*"

Great action anime.

Angelica Brenner | Austin, TX USA | 12/26/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This series is about a recovery service called the Get Backers. This recovery service is made of two people: Ginji Amano, who can generate electricity through his hands, and Ban Midou, who has an extremely powerful grip and the ability to hypnotise anyone who looks him in the eye! Together, they work at getting back anything that's been lost or stolen, with a near 100% sucess rate!

This is a great fighting series. One of the things that really stands out is the animation. Some anime have very poor animation, with choppy images and shaky movement, but the animation here is wonderful. The art is nice too, with great character designs. There is tons of comedy, so be sure you're ready for a laugh or two while you watch this.

There are a few downsides, though. This is an action show at its heart, so sometimes plot development takes a backseat to fight scenes. The characters seem a bit one-sided at some times, and you only get little pieces of their history at a time. Overall, though, this is a good series.

Art: 8/10 Animation: 9/10 Story: 7/10 Characters: 8/10 Overall: 8/10 Trying to get a friend or family member into anime? Fans of action movies might like this. There is some swearing and violence, so I'd recommend this for viewers aged 13 and up."