Today is Christmas eve, so what’s everyone planning for the night? Family dinner? Anime? I will do both!
Gatchaman Crowds is a story that follows a young girl named Hajime. In this world, an urban legend about Gatchamen, super heroes protecting people is spreading. When Hajime is asked to join she is overjoyed, but they are obviously faced with problems.Another thing that I didn’t really intend to watch as it was airing but watched anyway. I do not even remember why I started to watch, maybe because people kept on talking about it, or maybe because it was just pretty to look at. Maybe it was a bit too colourful for my eyes at times but it was definitely an interesting and not off-putting art style used there.
As far as the main story is concerned, I have to say it was a bit misleading at first. I figured it would be simply a normal super hero story, with the Gatchamen/women fighting against monsters to protect the peace of the city. It was like that but not only.
In the beginning of the course of the series it turned to become a story about a social network and mysterious powers given by said network leader. I honestly think I liked this better. A normal super hero series probably would have turned out to become boring sooner or later and this kind of story is the kind I enjoy better.
Now though, more than a story about a social network, it was a story about power and people who abuse them. In a way, it was very symbolic: humans were torn between Katze, the alien who wants to bring out the basest instincts of a human being and the Gatchamen and Rui who want great powers to be used for good, and who actually do it.
I guess that makes Gatchaman yet another story that can be watched from several point of views.
Now though the real highlight of the show was Hajime. I really wanted to slap her at the beginning of the show, her self-righteousness and tendency to do exactly the contrary of what she was supposed to do really made me hate her. And then she grew on me. Hajime is the kind of character that is only naive in appearance, she actually thinks things through and does her best for people and for the world she lives in to be a better place. She is in a way a very sad and realist character, she knows that only few people will actually help, so she tries to inspire them. Hajime was pretty cute.
Everyone was actually pretty cute. Even Katze. He/She was quite an interesting character, I regret not getting a bit more back story but I guess I will do with what I have.
While Hajime was the most developed character, the others were given a fair share of development and screen time, especially Rui. I think it really helped us to connect better with the story because, with such a diversity of character, it was near impossible for us not to find someone to relate to.
Last but not least, how can I not love the seiyuu performances and especially Mamoru Miyano’s as Katze? That guy was awesome in that role.
I had a hard time getting through the first few episodes but I suggest you fight your way through them and watch the whole series.