Getbackers

[Teahouse Keeper]

I heard some good reviews about it and got curious. So got it and watched the first 16 episodes. Good. I like it I like the ideas and the characters...very interesting concepts there. Comedy, action and seriousness. Good.

Well, instead of launching into a long description of it, here's a very good review: www.boysonboysonfilm.com/reviews/getbackers.html

Although the review mentioned it, I didn't really notice any obvious gay elements in there. The implications aren't really there unless you want to find them. But maybe, it's more obvious in the later episodes...I haven't seen them all yet...

I have to say that I LOVE Akabane's voice ...it's so humourous, sexy and dangerous at the same time. Voiced by Nobuo Tobita who did Tomo in Fushigi Yuugi.

There's also the fabulous, unmistakable Takehito Koyasu as Jubei.

Ah...I find Kazuki Fuchoin very um...I thought he was female His voice is masculine but he appears every inch female. Quite confusing actually Seems people usually mistake him for a girl. Hell, his clothes look so feminine! Voiced by Souichirou Hoshi who did Goku in Saiyuki!! Whoa!

[pippichan]

I think people assume Ban and Ginji are gay because they saw the drawings of those two in Get Backers Artbook. Plus, there some Get Backers fanfictions that contain yaoi issue. Those things are really misleading. Personally, I against that!

I must admit that the first time I saw Kazuki, I thought he was female, too! ;D Do you know that a lot of Get Backers malefan sent letters to Rando Ayamine said they like Kazuki? But in manga, his clotes aren't as feminine as in anime.

However, I like Kazuki very much when he fights using his string! Sugoi na!

[Teahouse Keeper]

Oh, I haven't seen the GetBackers Artbook! Hahaha...yeah, there're fans who like to "yaoi" their favourite male characters I notice that as long as there's some physical contact between the male characters of an anime, some fans will see it in a yaoi way

Watching GetBackers, I feel that Ban and Ginji are just very good pals. It's obvious that the guys prefer the opposite sex. There's the episode where the guys went to the beach and totally forgot all about their mission when they saw all those lovely girls sunbathing.

Oh! I didn't know Rando Ayamine is the artist for GetBackers! And I didn't know a lot of male fans like Kazuki! Well, Juubei and Toshiki Uryuu like Kazuki too. Uryuu was actually jealous of Juubei! If there's anything yaoi here, it should be between these 3 guys!

Mm...I think I should check out the manga!! From what you say, the manga sounds great. If I rent it from the shop, it'll be in Chinese...but I think I'll make the effort to read it

[pippichan]

In June 2004 Animage magazine in Japan made a polling for best sellers anime in 2003-2004.

Get Backers is in 3rd position of 20 best anime. Yatta! ;D

For 10 best male characters, Amano Ginji is in 5th postition and Midou Ban is in 8th.

As for 10 best seiyuu, Morikubo Shoutaro (seiyuu for Ginji) gets the 8th position while Kanna Nobutoshi (seiyuu for Ban) is in 10th.

[Teahouse Keeper]

Oh! I didn't know GetBackers is so popular!! Those polling results are really interesting! Poor Ban!! I love Ban...why did people prefer Ginji more than Ban?? They even prefer Ginji's seiyuu more than Ban's

[pippichan]

Hush, hush, don't cry...!

I think people prefer Ginji because he always looks cute and adorable. Especially when he turns into tare Ginji! ;D And his voice is cheerful, I guess.

Personally, I prefer Ban, too! He's cool and awesome. His voice...mmm... I like it , too.

Yeah, Get Backers is popular beyond our imagination. One time, I ever found a GB website from Hongaria .... or was it Denmark!? I remember it was a country in Eastern Europe.

[Teahouse Keeper]

Yeah, I think Ginji's super too...but I feel the gap in the polling position between them is quite big. 5th and 8th place, 8th and 10th place. Seems people prefer Ginji so much more than Ban. Luckily, Ban is still within the rankings at least

After watching the later episodes and considering the part when Ban defeated Akabane, I'd say Ban is the most powerful guy among all the characters.

With his brains and powers, even his opponents think he is formidable and dangerous. What makes his opponents fear him even more, is that they don't know the extent of his powers. His limit, if he has one, is mysterious. And Ban mentioned before that he had defeated Ginji whose power is feared by many.

You mean a Hungarian GB website? Mm, yeah, it's always very surprising to see anime websites from countries that surprisingly watch anime! There are even Arabian anime sites...

Oh, did you know that Ban's seiyuu also voiced Tasuki (Fushigi Yuugi) and Kabuto (Naruto)? Strangely, I find that Ban sounds different from Kabuto.

[pippichan]

Yeah, I think so. Unfortunately, he doesn't have luck with money. Well, nobody's perfect. If I was the one who's in charge of the polling, I'd make Ban number one! ;D Cheating!

Hey, when you visited GB World, ever played Honky Tonk Game? It's a game to figure out who's GB character you are. In Mugenjou Crew website, there's also a similar game. So, have you?

Yeah, Kabuto does sound different from Ban. Guess that makes Nabutoshi-san a great seiyuu then. Or, he, by any chance, was having some throat disease when recording for Kabuto's voice!? ;D

Arabian anime site? Hm...I wonder what it looks like.

[Teahouse Keeper]

Hahaha...actually, I haven't tried the character game until you mentioned it. After reading your post, I visited the Mugenjou Crew site and played it. It was really fun!

After that, I went to GB World but it's down at the moment. So, I went elsewhere. In total, I played 3 different games and all produced the same result

I'm Amano Ginji! What a surprise! I didn't think I was the Ginji type! I don't know how they they choose which character you are, but those quizzes are really fun!

Which character are you, Pippichan? It wouldn't be Kazuki, would it?

Yeah, it's strange that Kabuto sounds so different compared to the other Nobutoshi characters. I saw another anime called Project ARMS where Nobutoshi plays the lead character and sounds like Ban.

Oh, do you know why Nobutoshi changed his name from Hayashi to Canna?

Mm, too bad I didn't catch the Arabian site, otherwise I can show you the link. I was searching for an anime site when the Arabian site appeared as one of the search results. The description was in Arabic but I didn't check out the site.

[pippichan]

Well, hello, raitei! Coincidentally, I'm Midou Ban, according to the game's result. ;D So, I guess we can form our own Get Backers, then!

Hey... wait a minute! That means I don't have luck with money, too! How sad!

I wonder why you asked the question. Is it bad if I was Kazuki? How come?

Frankly speaking, I don't know why Nobutoshi changed his name. But I'll check around; who knows I can get information about it.

It's okey, I don't feel like visiting one of those arabian anime sites, either. I won't know what they write in the sites, anyway. ;D Just curious, that's all.

[Teahouse Keeper]

HAHAHA!! Raitei! And you're Mido Ban! What a coincidence! Yeah, we are the GetBackers!! And yeah, we've no money!

Oh, I thought that since you like Kazuki, you might be Kazuki But it seems the quizzes don't work that way. I didn't expect to be Ginji yet I ended up being him

It's a very pleasant surprise that you're Ban. I love the coincidence

Oh, I just went to the GB World site again. It's working and I played the Honky Tonk game, but it's not as good or as fun as the other quizzes because the "yes" and "no" questions are just too simple and don't seem to do any real matching

[pippichan]

Yeah, I like Kazuki but I think I'm not Kazuki type; calm and polite. I think I'm more like ban ;D Got more enemies than friends and hate losing money. Being stingy is necessary (when it comes to money ;D) especially for person with bad luck in getting money.

So, what's the best strategy for getting money? Cheating game machine in pachinko? Going to a horse race, placing a bet on an unpopular horse and giving the poor animal jagan so it can win?

[Teahouse Keeper]

Hahahha...you sound like Ban! Money, money, money...

Using jagan on a race horse... I think it might work!! Ban and Ginji should try it! They won't need to wait for Hevn all the time

[pippichan]

Yeah, using jagan on a race horse seemed a good idea ...at first. Until someone ruined it! Now, gotta find Hevn and plead a job from her. ;D

It's a little intermezzo in GB manga.

[Teahouse Keeper]

Ooh! I thought the jagan idea was yours! So it's a little intermezzo in the manga! Which volume?

Argh...how could such a brilliant idea be ruined? It's so perfect for 2 perpetually hungry guys! Who's so bad to ruin it!? *charges up electricity* As Ginji, I'll hunt down and electrocute whoever did it!! Oh wait. Didn't I promise not to use my power for killing? Ban-chan!!

[pippichan]

Yeah, there goes our chance to get money, Ginji! Though you want to give your electric shock to the one who ruined this great idea (I wanna use my snakebite too ) but I don't think you'll have a heart to do it. I won't, either. Because it's Natsumi!!

It's in 11th volume of GB manga.

Hey, do you know that Ban's kanji means 'wild' or 'harsh'? Hm...surprise, surprise! ;D As for Ginji's, it's taken from 'silver' and 'the second'. So, what's that suppose to be? And Kazuki's is from 'flower' and 'moon'. That's easy....it means 'beautiful'. Right?

[Teahouse Keeper]

N-Natsumi?! But why?!! Dear, sweet Natsumi?! Volume 11!? I must check it out!

Oh? I didn't really consider the meaning of their names until you mentioned it. I went to check my Chinese dictionary...

Yeah, you're right! Ban's written name is "man" which means wild, rude, barbarous! Pretty strange considering that Ban is really a nice guy and not barbarous although he can be quite rude and harsh

Ginji's name is "yin ci", which could mean "silver time".

Kazuki is "hua yue" or "flower moon", which I guess means as lovely as the moon So, Kazuki must mean "beautiful"

[pippichan]

Well, Natsumi didn't deliberately fail it. At least that's what I think. You didn't mean it, did you, Natsumi? Now, give these two cute, hungry guys some meals, please??

Silver time, eh? I wonder.... What's the meaning of it?

[Teahouse Keeper]

Yeah, doesn't seem to mean anything...maybe, it just sounds nice?

[pippichan]

Hm.... *thinking hard* Hm....

How about 'something precious'?

What!?Not quite right?!

Well, Ginji, you should know the meaning of your own name better than anyone else!

[Teahouse Keeper]

Yeah, I should know! Something precious, eh? Mm...well, I was thinking that Ginji is like a lucky charm for Ban, so "silver second" or "silver time" is like Ban's lucky second chance in life. After all, his past with Himiko's brother ended sadly. He had to kill his good friend and the friendship between all 3 friends ended. If he hadn't met Ginji, there would be no Getbackers and he'd probably not be as happy as he is now Same for Ginji

[pippichan]

Oh, my lucky charm, eh? Okay, I can live with that. After all, Ginji, you've made me a better man and yeah, you bring happiness to me - though you can be annoying, too sometimes.

Um.. Ginji, except being a lucky charm, can you be somekind of manekineko for me? ;D

*sigh* Guess not.

[Teahouse Keeper]

Manekineko? Yeah, Ban-chan, if I were a manekineko, we wouldn't be broke anymore!! We wouldn't be owing Paul so many coffee bills

Actually, I had to do a little check to find out what manekineko was. In the process, I discovered some pretty interesting stuff about the cat You know, there are manekineko fan clubs, plenty of merchandise and different kinds of manekineko? Thanks to you, the Teahouse will henceforth have a manekineko--the fortune beckoning kind!!

Oh yeah, Pippichan, I've finished reading Volume 11 of GB manga. I'm a little confused...You mentioned that Natsumi ruined the guys' money-making schemes, but that didn't happen. At the start, Natsumi told the guys that they owed Paul lots of cash. That's when Ban decided to use their powers to find some money.

First, Ban asked Makubex to hack into the bank's system and add some extra zeros in his bank account. When Makubex refused, Ban dragged Ginji to the pachinko arcade. Ginji tried to magnetize the pachinko balls but set off the alarms and they were beaten and thrown out. Ban then decided to go to the race track to bet on a losing horse. He used his jagan eye but for some strange reason, the horse still lost the race. Finally desperate, they crashed into Hevn's apartment where she's taking a bubble bath and begged for her help.

[pippichan]

Hahaha!!! Yeah, I noticed the manekineko right away! Very cute! And hopefully it will bring fortune to this teahouse!

What? You said Ban used jagan on the losing horse and still lost? But in GB manga that I read, when Ban was about to use jagan, suddenly his head was covered with a great horse mask by Natsumi. Hm... are there some versions of GB manga?!

I think I'm gonna check the manga again. But I'm sure I wasn't mislook. Or was I?

[Teahouse Keeper]

Oops!! Pippichan, I went to the rental shop and looked at volume 11 again. Yeah, you're right!! ;D Just when Ban was going to use jagan, suddenly Natsumi (is that her?) put a horse head over him! Shido, Paul, Madoka were behind her! But why did Natsumi do that? And why didn't Ban and Ginji protest?!

I think Ban's jagan eye would have worked!! They--We would've been rich!!!

Oh, yeah, any other GB volumes to recommend? The rental shop has so many volumes...Which volumes are really good to rent?

[pippichan]

I was thinking I got a magical GB manga! The one that could write different versions from the original!

Why did Natsumi do that? Natsumi just did what the author told her to do. I think if Ban succeeded in using jagan on the poor horse and they got a lot of money, there'd be no Get Backers no more. They'd retire. ;D And why Ban and Ginji didn't protest? Because they still wanna be Get Backers and enjoy poverty?

So, Ginji, do we enjoy our poverty? ;D

Ehm... have you read the first and second volume?

[Teahouse Keeper]

Ban-chan, that's not an explanation?! How can we enjoy our poverty when we're so hungry?? *stomach growls* Ah...sometimes, manga authors do strange things suddenly...

I think volumes 1 and 2 are gone, with no hope of return. Whoever rented them probably lost them. It's been really long and some time back, the staff told me they reminded the person about it.

The rental shop has volume 3 onwards, all the way to 20-somethings.

[justarius]

hmm, I'm watching Getbackers now too (currently on disc 21 out of 25), and I must admit it's quite good. The second arc of the anime is a bit disappointing though; it lacks the tension and drama of the first arc eventhough it's funnier, with SD Ginji and Midou making more experiences. Midou is cool, but my fav character is still Akabane. I have a hankering for polite psychopaths

[pippichan]

Here, Ginji! *hand a box fill with delicious, warm takoyaki* Am I good or something, huh!?

I think all volumes of GB manga are interesting. But if you mean those who have funny intermezzo stories... let me refresh my memory first, okay?

Ah, Justarius, glad you like Get Backers too. Your favourite character is Akabane, eh? Wanna join our crazy, unofficial GB rpg here? It'd be fun with Dr. Jackal involved!

*nudge Ginji* Ginji, you've got an old-time visitor! ;D

[Teahouse Keeper]

*mouth full of Takoyaki* Mm! Mm! Mon-fon bif de mfest! (Ban-chan is the best) *nods vigorously* Muh bid yoh gah bt? (How did you get it?)

Oh Justarius, the 2nd arc? That would be episode... Yeah, I also felt that after the first Mugenjou experience, the subsequent episodes were suddenly not so good. But it gets better after the episodes of pure silliness The excitement, tension and seriousness return.

*stops chewing suddenly* Ahafobeh?? (Akabane??) *shakes head vigorously* Fow! Fow! (No! No!) *swallows the Takoyaki*...Ban-chan, BlackGrail and Justarius...2 Dr Jackals!!! Nooo...*shivers*