Japanamania: Gantz

Our Top Ten Anime and Manga Series to Watch For in 2008: It’s easy to find out about a Bleach or a Naruto once it’s being aired on Cartoon Network, but it can take years for an anime to be licensed, dubbed, and put on TV. So here’s our sneak peek at one of the ten manga or anime series that we feel are likely to hit it big in America in 2008:

Gantz (manga)
Status: Still running in Japan; Licensed by Dark Horse

Although the anime was released in the U.S. in 2004, it took until 2007 for someone to finally license Hiroya Oku’s sci-fi/supernatural action manga Gantz. It even came out in Spanish as early as 2002! The long-overdue announcement was made at Anime Expo 2007 to overjoyed fans of the fantastic- and violent -drama.

Gantz‘s uniquely gripping story revolves around people who have already died. Specifically, two high school boys- Kei and Masaru -are run over by a subway train, only to awaken seemingly alive and well in an unfurnished apartment in Tokyo along with a number of other people who have just recently died. In the room is a sphere called “Gantz,” from which the characters acquire ability-enhancing suits, weapons, and instructions on how to play the game.

The game is a bit like playing a video game, but in real life: the players must find and destroy aliens secretly living in Japan. They can’t leave a certain designated area, and if they live through the mission they get sent back to the sphere in perfect health, regardless of how near death they had been. Those who don’t survive, of course, die- for real, this time.

Gia Manry is a Portland, OR-based professional writer specializing in pop culture/entertainment writing. Read up on more of her work at giapet.net or hire her at GiaManry.com.