Gunsmith Cats – Another Classic Love Letter to Americana

The so-called “lady action” or “Girls with Guns“ sub genre has been something of a recurring anime staple since the early ‘80s, reaching its height by the ’90s and early 2000s. Whether it’s runaway hits like Bubblegum Crisis (1987-91), or lesser known gems such as Desert Rose: The Snow Apocalypse (1993), you’re bound to find something worth checking out. And then there’s Gunsmith Cats: another classic love letter to Americana that doesn’t skimp on said affection.

This three-episode OVA from the mid ‘90s, also known as Bulletproof and itself an adaptation of a long-running manga (1991-97; 2004-08), was produced by OLM, Inc., the studio responsible for later animating Pokémon. It’s also the brainchild of none other than Bubblegum Crisis creator Kenichi Sonada, who’s currently working on a spiritual successor to both, Bean Bandit. That in and of itself would be enough to catch any discerning fan’s attention. Yet with a 70-minute runtime, there’s even more to it than brand recognition.

The episode intros of the OVA go even further in highlighting the ’80s and ’90s American flavor of the source material, as well as the crisp quality of the animation itself. Circa 1995. (Source: YouTube)

Hot Action in the Windy City

The Gunsmith Cats OVA doesn’t require you to have read the source material, instead focusing on an original plot that takes inspiration from it. Set in and around Chicago, Illinois, the episodes follow bounty hunters Irene “Rally” Vincent (Michiko Neya, Amanda Lee) and teenager Minnie May Hopkins (Kae Araki, Kimberley Yates), as they’re hired by the ATF to track down a gun smuggling operation. What seems like a straightforward job eventually turns into a cat and mouse game involving corrupt politicians, obstructive lawmen, and an assassin named Natasha Radinov (Yoko Soumi, Marcy Rae).

One of the first things that’ll catch your attention is the ridiculous attention to detail from both the creator and animators, giving the infamous Cipher the Video (1989) a run for its money. Whether it’s the custom 1967 Shelby GT 500 driven by the heroines, or how finely drawn the firearms are — of which there’s a lot — a lot of research was clearly done. Bulletproof’s take on the Windy City alone is rendered accurately to the point of practically being a time capsule, right down to individual neighborhoods. So much so, that locals could pinpoint where, and even when in the ‘90s, specific scenes occur.

Then, there are the other Sonada touches that the anime proudly flouts. Both Rally and Minnie May, echoing Bubblegum Crisis, are shown to be strong, independent women without being overly patronizing, each with their own distinct yet lively personalities that make them likeable. Coincidentally, on top of building on the 1989 OVA Riding Bean, the manga itself was inspired by the author drawing two such girls for a fanzine. The story, meanwhile, though not exactly groundbreaking or deep, is also as action-packed as the episodic manga, complete with car chases along America’s highways. At the same time, there’s much in the way of fanservice and lingerie shots, which are almost a trademark of the mangaka in themselves. Though these may not be everyone’s cup of tea, they do lend a certain saucy, if not outright racy flair to the on-screen hi-jinks.

Of course, these wouldn’t mean much without proper execution, the whole being more than the sum of their parts. Thankfully, the OVA more than delivers.

Japanese Americana

The car chase that happens during the climax is so detailed and well-animated that it looks like something that might have been made a decade ago, rather than from the mid ’90s. (Source: YouTube)

It’s one thing to see the intricate details and crisp designs on the characters. It’s another, as Gunsmith Cats demonstrates well, to see all that moving. The sights in action are not only fluid, as seen in how well-animated the aforementioned car chase sequences can be. Rather, they also combine a stylish, jazzy flair with the sort of aesthetic you’d see in every ‘80s-early ‘90s buddy cop show and movie from the era, with a bit of The Blues Brothers in for good measure. Even more surprising is how this is from the same studio that later made Pokémon, which really shows OLM’s flexibility. That it’s all hand-drawn, yet still looks like something that could have come out less than 20 years ago is testament to how remarkably well the visuals have held up.

This extends to the audio. According to the late Fred Patten, the animators went to America multiple times for research, including personally checking out gun shops, the Chicago Police Academy and an actual GT500. This included recording the appropriate sound effects, resulting in the gunfire and engines coming across as authentic. Which, in turn, are complemented by a jazzy soundtrack composed by former Weather Report drummer Peter Erskine. These do, however, overshadow the voice acting, somewhat (whether the original or ADV dub), even if the performances nicely match the overall action film tone.

Versus the Manga

Granted, there are certain differences from the manga. While it’s largely consistent, the OVA is more lighthearted by comparison, and less bloody despite all the gratuitous carnage. All in all, however, what you get is a finely conceived ode to ‘80s and ‘90s Americana that, while still being recognizably Japanese, has managed to leave an impact for later creators on both sides of the Pacific. That it’s so approachable that it wouldn’t be too out of place alongside Western works made around that time also makes it both a good gateway anime for newcomers and a pleasant treat for longtime fans alike.

As seen in the commentary video by We Heart Giant Robots, the OVA and its source material still catches the attention of modern anime fans as well as those of yesteryear. (Source: YouTube)

Indeed, that love seems to have been reciprocated. In addition to Sonada’s manga being nominated for “Best American Edition of Foreign Material” at the 1997 Harvey Awards, both it and the anime have since become cult classics among Stateside otaku. True, the bloodshed, violence, and at points sexual imagery might turn off some. Yet give it enough time, and you too may wind up falling in love with these bounty hunters and their adventures. With Bean Bandit still expected to come out, now’s as good a time as any to check out Gunsmith Cats.