TV-Series
Description
"Get Backers" centers on the partnership of Ban Mido and Ginji Amano, who operate a retrieval service under the name "Get Backers." The duo specializes in recovering lost or stolen items, no matter how dangerous or impossible the task may seem. Their base of operations is the sprawling, enigmatic Infinity Fortress, a labyrinthine structure filled with powerful factions, supernatural phenomena, and hidden secrets. The series intertwines episodic retrieval missions with a larger, overarching narrative that delves into the characters' pasts and the mysteries of the Infinity Fortress.

Ban Mido is a skilled fighter with the ability to manipulate reality through his "Evil Eye," which creates illusions that can trap or disorient his opponents. Despite his brash and often reckless demeanor, Ban is deeply loyal to his friends and driven by a strong sense of justice. Ginji Amano, on the other hand, possesses the ability to generate and control electricity, earning him the nickname "The Lightning Emperor." His cheerful and easygoing personality contrasts with Ban's intensity, but Ginji harbors a dark past tied to his former leadership of the Volts, a powerful gang within the Infinity Fortress.

The series explores the duo's efforts to reclaim lost items while navigating the complex dynamics of the Infinity Fortress. Their missions often bring them into conflict with rival retrieval teams, criminal organizations, and supernatural entities. As the story progresses, the focus shifts to uncovering the truth about Ginji's past and the origins of the Infinity Fortress, which is revealed to be a living, sentient structure with its own agenda. The narrative also delves into Ban's mysterious background, including his connection to a secretive organization known as the "Brain Trust."

Supporting characters play significant roles in the story, including Hevn, a femme fatale who frequently hires the Get Backers for high-stakes jobs, and Kazuki Fuchoin, a former member of the Volts with a tragic history tied to Ginji. The series balances action, humor, and emotional depth, with each character contributing to the evolving plot. Themes of loyalty, redemption, and the consequences of power are woven throughout the narrative, culminating in a climactic confrontation that ties together the various threads of the story.

The Infinity Fortress serves as both a setting and a central mystery, with its shifting corridors and hidden layers symbolizing the characters' internal struggles and the challenges they face. The series blends supernatural elements with grounded character development, creating a compelling mix of episodic adventures and a cohesive, overarching storyline.
Information
Getbackers
ゲットバッカーズ -奪還屋-
Type: TV-Series
Anime Episodes: 49
Movie/Episode length: 26 min.
Date: 10/05/2002 – 09/20/2003
Categories
Genre
ActionDramaGhost StoriesComedy
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Episodes
Staffel 1
1Shinjuku - City of Hell
Ban Mido and Ginji Amano operate the Get Backers retrieval agency in Shinjuku,taking jobs to recover lost or stolen items. A young woman named Himiko Kudou hires them to retrieve her deceased father's will from a safe located inside the Infinity Fortress, a dangerous self-governed ruin zone. Ban and Ginji enter the Infinity Fortress, a decaying high-rise district cut off from normal police jurisdiction. A gang of thugs blocks their path, demanding payment for passage through their territory. Ban activates his Jagan eye, a power that traps the gang leader in paralyzing illusions, while Ginji releases electric discharges from his body to knock out the remaining members. The two reach the designated safe on an upper floor, and Ban opens the lock using his expertise. The safe contains only a photograph of Himiko as a child with her father, not the will. Himiko reveals that her father likely hid the will inside a stuffed bear she kept from childhood. Ban and Ginji locate the bear, cut it open, and extract the will. Himiko receives the will and pays the retrieval fee, closing the case. As Ban and Ginji leave the Infinity Fortress, a shadowy figure observes them from a high window, signaling an unresolved interest in their activities.
2Get Back the Rusted Bonds!
3Episode 3
4Episode 4
5Death Match at Sunrise: The Lightning Emperor vs. Doctor Jackal
Ban retrieves Ginji and the box from the Transporters. The Transporters intercept the GetBackers again at an abandoned shrine. Ban faces Himiko while Ginji battles Akabane. Ban cannot use his Evil Eye on the same target twice in one day,so he relies on physical combat. He surprises Himiko with his 200-kilogram grip strength and defeats her. Ban nearly tells Himiko about her brother Yamato's death but stops. Ginji confronts Akabane, who unleashes a set of glowing knives. Ginji generates a magnetic electric field that manipulates the knives' trajectories, disarming Akabane. With both Transporters defeated, Ban and Ginji leave the shrine to resume their retrieval. The next morning, Himiko wants to pursue the GetBackers, but Akabane declines, stating he has had enough fun with them for now. Akabane departs alone. Himiko and driver Maguruma locate Ban and Ginji. Maguruma accelerates his semi-trailer truck to ram the pair head-on. Ban uses his Evil Eye on a nearby crow, causing the crow to hallucinate a massive flock attacking the truck. The illusion makes Maguruma swerve and crash into a utility pole. Ban and Ginji meet Ohtaki, who opens the transport box. The box contains only a platinum watermelon. The GetBackers receive one-tenth of the watermelon as their agreed reward. Akabane walks away from the group, leaving his future involvement with the GetBackers uncertain.
6Get Back the Divine Melody!
Street thugs bully a blind violinist named Madoka Otowa and her guide dog Mozart. Ginji Amano arrives and rescues Madoka,but the thugs flee only to encounter Kazuki Fuchouin, a former member of the VOLTS gang once led by Ginji. Kazuki dispatches the thugs and urges Ginji to return to the Infinity Fortress, which Ginji declines. Madoka follows Ginji to the Honky Tonk café and hires the GetBackers to retrieve her stolen Stradivarius violin. The thief is Shunsuke Akutsu, a world-renowned violinist, and Madoka needs the instrument back by her performance the following evening. Ban Midou, Ginji, Paul, Hevn, and Natsumi infiltrate Akutsu’s estate disguised as a musical quintet. Inside, they discover that Shido Fuyuki, another former VOLTS king now employed by Akutsu, has been ordered to stop them. Akutsu traps the GetBackers by dropping a cage over them and releasing a lion inside it. Ban uses his Evil Eye (Jagan) on the lion, creating a diversion that allows the group to escape. After splitting up, Ban, Paul, and Natsumi find themselves surrounded by Shido’s army of animals. Ban deploys the Evil Eye on the animals, exhausting his daily limit, and then challenges Shido to continue their fight outside the garden.
7Beast Master's Transformation
8Resound, Sound Life
9Get Back the Illusive Sunflower! (Part 1)
10Get Back the Illusive Sunflower! (Part 2)
11Infiltration, Infinite Castle • IL Retrieval Mission
12Unknown Boy, Makubex
13Explosion! Fuuchouin String Style
14The New Four Kings
15The Rouran Dancing Whip that Dances in the Darkness
16Explosion! The Thunder Emperor's Rage
17Gathering, Retrieval Team!
18Episode 18
19Oh - My Friend... Kazuki vs. Juubei
At the Honky Tonk cafe,an informant asks Paul and Natsumi about Ginji's whereabouts. They confirm Ginji remains with the GetBackers inside the Limitless Fortress. Inside the Grand Canyon virtual space, Juubei produces a set of black needles, a forbidden technique. Kazuki gets stung by the needles and deduces their magnetic properties, controlled by a black ore stone. The black needles gradually drain Juubei's life energy with each use. Juubei launches a full-force assault, but Kazuki's defensive threads create a whirlwind that neutralizes the needles. A flashback reveals Juubei's clan historically protected Kazuki's family. After the West Fuchouin School burned down, both received orders to relocate to the Limitless Fortress. Juubei recalls Makubex's theory that Babylon City's people orchestrate the chaos inside the fortress. Hevn and Shido arrive at the pharmacy and observe Gen watching the ongoing battles. Kazuki's white threads trap Juubei, and he urges his former friend to surrender. Instead of yielding, Juubei drives the black needles into his own body. Kazuki cries out in anguish. Kazuki carries Juubei's limp body out of the virtual reality room.
20The Man From Babylon City
21Sword of Revenge • Ban vs. Fudou
22Awakening! Thunder Emperor Descends
23Attack! Virtual Army
24Final Battle! Ginji vs. Makubex
25Get Back the Infinite Future!
26Hot Spring Trip to Retrieve Steam!?
27High School Girl vs. Retrievers
28The Man Who Lost His Past
29Get Back the Arms of the Goddess!
30Enigmatic Assassins • Miroku Brothers
31Hera and Kite
32Mission Start! Ginji vs. Miroku
33Get Back the Immortal Goddess!
34GetBackers Break Up!? The Enemy is Ban Mido
35Get Back the Flame of Life!
36Children of Destiny
Yuuichiro Nagano and his wife Maki hire Ban,Ginji, and Himiko to recover their kidnapped baby. Yuuichiro suspects his father Takao Kiyokawa, a corporate CEO who opposed the marriage, took the child to raise as his own heir. The GetBackers learn that Kiyokawa broke into the Nagano residence and took the baby. Ban, Ginji, and Himiko travel to Kiyokawa's estate to steal back the child. Kiyokawa discovers the baby missing and dispatches guards in pursuit. Ban and Ginji block the road while Himiko escapes with the infant, but a helicopter forces Himiko to hide in the woods. Ban tells Ginji that Himiko herself was a kidnapped child in the past, connecting her personally to this mission. The helicopter crew senses their position in the forest, forcing the group to flee. During the escape, Himiko recalls Yamato protecting her in similar woods years ago. The flashback reveals that Himiko and Yamato are descendants of the Last Children, a bloodline suffering a curse that induces madness with age. Yamato, feeling the curse consume him, asks Ban to kill him while he retains his sanity. Ban holds a cigarette lighter from Yamato as a reminder of this promise. The trio returns to the Honky Tonk cafe with the child, only to learn Yuuichiro went to the estate to negotiate. They barge into the estate as Maki brings the baby inside. Kiyokawa explains he arranged the kidnapping to force his son and family to return to him permanently. Himiko leaves without learning the true reason for Yamato's death, while Ban silently vows to keep his word to the man he killed.
37Do Your Best - Natsumi!
Ban and Ginji leave for the beach on what appears to be a vacation trip disguised as a business assignment. At the Honky Tonk cafe,an elderly woman requests the recovery of a memento from her deceased husband. She hid the item in her former house because she felt embarrassed to display it in front of her son. After selling the house to a group of jewel thieves, she moved in with her son and lost track of the memento. The thieves ignore her requests to search for it. Natsumi decides to handle the case herself, shocking Paul with her initiative. She visits Madoka's house hoping to recruit Shido, but finds Emishi instead and enlists his help. Natsumi and Emishi attempt various disguises to enter the old woman's sold house, but all their infiltration attempts fail. The pair camps outside the house, waiting for the thieves to leave. Natsumi tells Emishi about the kitty key chain that Ban and Ginji once recovered for her, explaining its sentimental value. Emishi runs to a convenience store to buy food, leaving Natsumi alone. She sees the jewel thieves depart and grows impatient waiting for Emishi's return. Natsumi rushes into the house alone and triggers a trap set by the thieves. The thieves argue over who will kill her, giving Natsumi enough time to escape using her ping-pong skills. She calls out for Emishi, but the thieves stop her. Emishi and Kazuki arrive and defeat the jewel thieves. The old woman reveals that her lost memento consists of love letters written by her late husband. Natsumi successfully completes her first solo recovery mission, proving her capability outside the Get Backers' shadow.
38A Recital Just For You
Ginji loses a shogi bet to Natsumi,forcing him and Ban to wash dishes at the Honky Tonk cafe. Shido arrives at the cafe and waits for Hevn. Hevn appears in formal attire and takes Shido to a department store to buy a tuxedo. Ban and Ginji grow irritated because they have received no recovery assignments for some time. Shido intends to attend Madoka's recital performance that evening. A thief takes a boy hostage on the street, drawing a crowd. Shido commands a flock of crows to attack the thief and free the hostage. Madoka practices for her recital, wondering whether Shido will arrive to see her. Shido encounters Kirihito and his henchmen. Kirihito commands wasps to attack Shido. Shido counterattacks by commanding crows and mice. Kirihito seizes Hevn as a hostage and attacks Shido with spiders. Ban saves Hevn, and Ginji saves Shido. Shido explains that Kirihito was a mafia boss who tried to take over the Limitless Fortress before the VOLTS assembled. Kirihito attacks Shido with spiderweb silk, using levitation and speed, commanding a spider to prey on Shido. Shido commands mice to destroy the spiders. With Ban and Ginji's assistance, Shido defeats Kirihito. Ban stops Shido from assassinating Kirihito, reminding him to attend Madoka's recital. Ban contacts Himiko to use her poisonous perfume to erase the memories of Kirihito and his henchmen for the past twenty-four hours. Shido realizes Madoka's recital has already ended. He returns to her house but finds her absent. He remembers that Madoka would wait for him at the recital stage. He runs to the stage, and she lands into his arms. Madoka plays a piece for Shido as he thinks deeply about her.
39Ginji's Hospitalized? It's a Hospital! Everyone Assembled
Ginji Amano chases a dropped piece of food across a rooftop and falls off the edge,landing in a hospital bed. The mission fails because of the accident, and Ban Midou grows angry at his partner for the disruption. Hevn, Himiko Kudo, and Shido Fuyuki arrive at the hospital to visit Ginji. Shido reveals that he completed the recovery job that Ban and Ginji abandoned, which makes Ban jealous and sparks an insult-filled argument between the two. A nurse enters and requests help from a recovery service to retrieve a stack of letters written by patients that a head nurse has taken. Ban and Shido make a bet: whoever retrieves the letters first wins, and the loser must quit the recovery service. Natsumi Mizuki walks into Ginji's room and finds him choking on an apple while Himiko prepares to perform CPR. Kazuki Fuchouin enters the hospital but gets mistaken for a female nurse and caught by the head nurse. Ban and Shido both fail to retrieve the letters after taking their competition too far, and someone tosses the letters from the hospital rooftop. Haruka Emishi arrives with the bag of letters, explaining that they fell into his hands, and he returns them to the grateful nurses. Kazuki reappears dressed as a nurse, and Juubei Kakei passes by on a gurney heading for a CT scan. Ban starts an argument that pulls in Shido, Kazuki, Juubei, Emishi, and Himiko. Ginji breaks through a window onto a power line, and the static electricity revives his energy. Dr. Jackal Akabane appears unexpectedly, causing Ginji to faint on the spot, and then Akabane proceeds to spend time at Ginji's bedside against the patient's wishes.
40Monkey Counterattack!
Ban,Ginji, and Natsumi drive to Madoka's summer house. A monkey climbs through the car window and steals their food. Ban and Ginji chase the monkey into a nearby forest. They lose sight of the thief and fall into a trap, finding themselves surrounded by a troop of monkeys. These are the same monkeys that previously stole jewelry from a hot spring bath. The boss monkey returns and deliberately eats the stolen food in front of the hungry pair. Natsumi reveals she prepared their favorite dishes, causing Ban and Ginji to break down in tears as they chase the boss monkey unsuccessfully. At the summer house, Shido listens to their story without interest. Madoka asks Shido to handle the situation. Shido tracks the monkeys to a food stand, chases them into the forest, and orders them to sleep with his power. The boss monkey resists, so Shido defeats it in a direct collision. The remaining monkeys bow to Shido, accepting him as their new leader. Later, Ban and Ginji encounter the boss monkey again, follow it into the forest, and discover Shido now leading the pack. Shido tastes the recovered food and declares it tastes poisonous, offending Madoka when she asks for his opinion. The next day, the monkeys resume stealing from the food stand. An angry Shido confronts them while Ban and Ginji join the fight, resulting in all three getting arrested.
41The Witch's Necklace
Maria,a young girl living in a church, hires the Get Backers to retrieve her deceased mother's necklace. She tells Ban and Ginji that a man named Kageyama took the necklace and now keeps it in his mansion. Ban and Ginji travel to Kageyama's large estate and request the item's return. Kageyama agrees to give them the necklace if they can find it inside his illusion-filled room. He activates a device that projects lifelike images, creating a giant snake and walls of fire. Ban activates his Jagan eye, which reveals the true positions of the objects and the room's layout. Ginji discharges electricity to disperse the snake illusion and clear a path. They locate the real necklace resting on a pedestal in the center of the room. Kageyama warns them that the necklace carries a curse that will transform the wearer into a serpent. Ban dismisses the warning and takes the necklace. They return to the church and hand the necklace to Maria. Maria immediately clasps the necklace around her neck, and her body begins to twist and elongate into a snake-like form.
42The Cost of Betrayal
At the Honky Tonk cafe,Ban and Ginji remain unable to pay their tab to Paul. An old acquaintance named Azuma enters the cafe and reveals himself as one of Paul's former partners from a thieves-for-hire group that operated near a harbor. The group disbanded after a mission went wrong. In a flashback, Paul, Azuma, and Sakai accept a job to steal an antique vase. Sakai betrays the other two by joining the mafia, leading to a shootout where Azuma falls into the ocean and is presumed dead. In the present, Paul and Azuma request Ban and Ginji's help to retrieve the stolen vase from Sakai. Ban initially refuses the case, but after Paul admits his mistake of being part of the thieves' group, Ban accepts on the condition that Paul cancels his tab. The four infiltrate the mafia mansion and disarm the security system. They locate the antique vase, but Azuma intentionally triggers the security alarm to confront Sakai directly. Azuma reveals he planted bombs throughout the mansion and holds a detonator. He tells the others to take the vase and flee. Instead, Ban, Ginji, and Paul use the detonator as a distraction and fight the mafia guards. Azuma chases Sakai, who shoots him. With his remaining strength, Azuma detonates the bombs, setting the mansion on fire. Ban reveals he used his Jagan on Sakai. Azuma demands to know why Sakai betrayed them; Sakai answers that he wanted a better life and asks Azuma to kill him. Paul intervenes, stating that they have changed. The three former partners go their separate ways, leaving Ban and Ginji to return to the cafe with their tab still unresolved.
43Episode 43
44The Last of the Four Kings
In a monitoring room,Kaoru, Uryuu, Kanou, and Ren observe surveillance footage of Lower Town. Ren spots the GetBackers walking through the area. Kaoru, Uryuu, and Kanou leave the room to search for them while Ren continues monitoring. Ban, Ginji, Himiko, Shido, and Kazuki arrive at Makubex's computer room and find him absent. Shido reports that his animals refuse to follow his commands because they sense nearby danger. The group proceeds to the pharmacy where they meet Gen, Emishi, and Juubei. Emishi explains that Kanou attacked him and that Masaki has returned to the Limitless Fortress. Kazuki identifies Masaki as the last of the four kings of the VOLTS. Meanwhile, Masaki kidnaps Makubex and transports him to the Archive. Masaki knows that Makubex possesses knowledge of the Brain Trust, the secret organization responsible for creating the Limitless Fortress. Masaki leaves Makubex imprisoned in the Archive and joins Kaoru, Uryuu, and Kanou to hunt down the GetBackers. The GetBackers depart from the pharmacy, leaving Emishi behind, and take Juubei with them. They split into two groups: Ban, Ginji, and Himiko form one team while Shido, Kazuki, and Juubei form the other. The virtual landscape separates each group. Himiko encounters Kaoru inside the Mayan Temple. Kazuki and Juubei face Kanou and Uryuu in the Grand Canyon. Uryuu initially blocks Kanou from attacking, but Kanou strikes anyway, causing Kazuki and Juubei to fall from the canyon and return to Lower Town. Shido confronts Masaki directly, and the two engage in battle. Teshimine appears abruptly, expels both Shido and Masaki from the virtual space, and questions Masaki about his return to the Limitless Fortress.
45Episode 45
46The Brain Trust
Sarai approaches Ginji and claims to know him well. Ginji,lost, asks Sarai for directions, and Sarai tells him to go to Babylon City before abruptly leaving. Akabane enters Lower Town and encounters Kagami, who guides him to the pharmacy. At the pharmacy, Ban watches over Himiko and Shido while Kazuki and Juubei also wait. Akabane delivers the information he gathered, and the team examines a map of the Beltline's architecture. The Beltline sits between Lower Town and Babylon City, and Kazuki recalls it as a dangerous area home to many ruthless people who have attacked Lower Town residents. The map reveals that Makubex is located in the Archive. Ban forcefully persuades Gen to reveal secrets from his past, and Gen admits he once belonged to the Brain Trust, the organization responsible for creating the Limitless Fortress even after he left. Ban, Ginji, Kazuki, Juubei, and Akabane depart the pharmacy and head toward the Beltline. Upon entering the Beltline, the group encounters a field of flowers and realizes they have stepped into a virtual reality room. Ginji becomes separated from the others, and while searching for him, he encounters Masaki. Ginji confronts Masaki and demands to know why he is holding Makubex hostage.
47Episode 47
48Fated Showdown: Ban vs. Akabane
Makubex reveals himself as an illusion similar to Ren. Masaki leaves Makubex behind in the Archive and ignores him. Ban and Ginji leave Kaoru,hoping she will make the correct decision to help recover Sakura. Juubei and Uryuu continue their battle. A flashback shows that Kazuki, Juubei, and Uryuu once formed a group, but Uryuu's sheer strength caused the group to disband. Kazuki steps in and stops Juubei and Uryuu just as they prepare to unleash their full power against each other. Ban encounters Akabane, and Ginji faces Masaki. Masaki tells Ginji that the Brain Trust sent him to observe Lower Town and that he betrayed Ginji after Teshimine left Ginji in Masaki's care. Ban and Akabane fight as equals, matched in skill. Ban tells Akabane that Ginji's inspiration helped him break away from the urge to hurt others and move toward the passion to protect. Ban uses that inspiration to defeat Akabane. Gen enlists Ren and Paul to execute his plan. The episode ends with Ban's victory over Akabane while Ginji continues to confront Masaki.
49GetBackers
Cast
Comment(s)
Staff
  • Director
    Kazuhiro Furuhashi
    Keitarō Motonaga
  • Screenplay
    Reiko Yoshida
    Akemi Omode
    Toshizo Nemoto
    Masao Kojima
    Masashi Kojima
    Atsushi Maekawa
  • Episode Director
    Keitarō Motonaga
    Makoto Sokuza
    Shunji Yoshida
    Masami Furukawa
    Toshiyuki Kato
    Osamu Sekida
    Tomoko Hiramuki
  • Music
    Taku Iwasaki
  • Character Design
    Atsuko Nakajima
  • Art
    Chikako Shibata
  • Animation Director
    Atsuko Nakajima
    Yukie Sakō
    Akira Matsushima
    Hirofumi Morimoto
    Tateru Namikaze
    Kenji Hattori
    Akira Inoue
    Shin Komatsu
    Yukie Samitu
    Shōgo Morishita
    Minefumi Harada
    Kazuo Noguchi
  • Sound Director
    Yōta Tsuruoka
  • Producer
    Kazunori Noguchi
    Kaoru Sakamoto
    Satoshi Kohno
  • Series Composition
    Akemi Omode
  • Storyboard
    Kazuhiro Furuhashi
    Atsuko Nakajima
    Kōichi Ōhata
    Takashi Watanabe
    Keitarō Motonaga
    Toshiya Niidome
    Makoto Sokuza
    Shunji Yoshida
    Kazuhiro Soeta
    Tetsuhito Saitō
    Toshiyuki Kato
    Yukihiro Matsushita
    Toshiyuki Tsuru
    Ryōki Kamitsubo
    Masashi Kojima
    Akira Natsuki
  • Unit Director
    Kazuhiro Furuhashi
    Takeshi Saitō
    Toshiyuki Tsuru
    Ryōki Kamitsubo
  • Original creator
    Yuya Aoki
    Rando Ayamine
  • Art Director
    Chikako Shibata
  • Chief Animation Director
    Atsuko Nakajima
  • Mechanical design
    Toshiharu Murata
  • Director of Photography
Production
  • Production
    Kodansha
    Tokyo Broadcasting System
    Rondo Robe
    TEAM Get Backers
  • Animation Production
    Studio DEEN
Relations
Manga overview
Music
Opening
Ep. 1-25
“Yuragu Koto Nai Ai”
Ep. 26-49
“Barairo no Sekai”
Ep. 26-49
“Rose-Colored World”
Ending
Ep. 1-13
“Ichibyo No Refrain”
Ep. 1-13
“Ichibyo No Refrain (One Second Refrain)”
Ep. 14-25
“Namida no Hurricane”
Ep. 14-25
“Namida no Hurricane (Hurricane of Tears)”
Ep. 26-37
“Mr. Déjà vu”
Ep. 38-48
“Changin”
“Yuragu Koto Nai Ai”