TV-Series
Description
"Gun Frontier" is a 13-episode anime series set in a fictionalized version of the American Wild West, blending elements of science fiction, action, and dark humor. The story centers on two main characters: Tochiro Oyama, a brilliant but eccentric inventor, and Harlock, a stoic and skilled gunslinger. Together, they navigate a lawless frontier filled with corrupt officials, ruthless outlaws, and mysterious forces. The duo arrives in Gun Frontier, a desolate and dangerous land where survival depends on wit, strength, and a quick trigger finger.

The narrative begins with Harlock and Tochiro searching for a lost clan of Japanese immigrants who were rumored to have settled in the region. Their journey is driven by personal stakes, as Tochiro seeks to reunite with his people, while Harlock is motivated by a sense of justice and loyalty to his friend. Along the way, they encounter a variety of characters, including the enigmatic and resourceful Sinunora, who becomes a key ally in their quest. The trio faces numerous challenges, from violent gangs to corrupt lawmen, as they uncover the truth about the missing clan and the dark secrets of Gun Frontier.

The series explores themes of survival, loyalty, and the clash between tradition and progress. Harlock’s unwavering moral code and Tochiro’s inventive genius often serve as their greatest assets, but they also face moments of vulnerability and doubt. The harsh environment of Gun Frontier is depicted as a place where trust is scarce, and alliances are constantly tested. The story builds toward a climactic confrontation with the series’ primary antagonist, a powerful and malevolent figure who embodies the greed and corruption plaguing the land.

"Gun Frontier" is notable for its gritty tone, blending action-packed sequences with moments of introspection and dark humor. The dynamic between Harlock and Tochiro drives much of the narrative, with their contrasting personalities creating a compelling partnership. The series also incorporates elements of Japanese culture and history, adding depth to its portrayal of the Wild West. While the story is rooted in a fictional setting, it reflects broader themes of resilience and the pursuit of justice in a world where both are in short supply.
Information
Gun Frontier
ガンフロンティア
Type: TV-Series
Anime Episodes: 13
Movie/Episode length: 25 min.
Date: 03/28/2002 – 06/20/2002
Categories
Genre
ActionDramaComedy
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Episodes
Staffel 1
1Departure to Gun Frontier
Harlock and Tochiro arrive in a dilapidated town on the lawless planet Gun Frontier. A pawnshop owner hires the pair as guards. A man attempts to rob the pawnshop,and Harlock shoots him dead. The sheriff informs the duo the dead man carried a bounty and pays them the reward. Later, Harlock mistakes a customer for another robber and kills him as well. The pawnshop owner fires them on the spot. At a saloon, the men notice a mysterious woman watching them. They approach her, apologize for killing a man they assume was her associate, and give her the dead man's rifle and their entire bounty. The woman, Sinunora, pawns the rifle for five hundred dollars. Two hitmen confront Harlock and Tochiro, but Harlock shoots them both. A sniper takes aim at the duo, and Sinunora kills the sniper. Sinunora explains that women in town are hiring gunmen to eliminate Harlock and Tochiro. At a barn, the women seduce their hired killers to attack. Harlock fires warning shots, and the sheriff arrives. The sheriff shoots the women dead and then attempts to frame Harlock and Tochiro for murder. The sheriff orders the town to hang them. Tochiro draws a sword hidden inside his cane, kills the sheriff and his deputies, and cuts himself and Harlock free. Tochiro states his hands are too small for a gun, so he fights with a blade. The two men leave town, and Sinunora follows them into the desert. The sheriff's assassination plot fails, but Sinunora's true motives remain unclear as she joins their journey.
2Fall of a non-alcoholic town
Sinunora continues traveling with Harlock and Tochiro after joining them in the previous episode. Ferocious bandits attack the trio on the open plains. The Indians arrive in the nick of time and drive off the bandits,saving the three travelers. The Indians then guide Harlock, Tochiro, and Sinunora to a nearby town. The town appears unusually quiet and calm upon their arrival. Harlock immediately notices the absence of a saloon and a gun shop, two staples of any frontier settlement. The lack of a place to drink or buy firearms makes the town deeply suspicious. The residents offer no explanation for these missing establishments. The trio decides to stay and investigate the town's strange atmosphere. Their presence disrupts the town's enforced order, and hidden tensions begin to surface. The episode ends with the group preparing to uncover what secret keeps the town so unnervingly placid.
3Episode 3
4Episode 4
5Praise for the Short-Legged!
The three travelers arrive in Flint Town,a settlement where no laws restrict any action. Drunken cowboys in the town attack Tochiro and beat him severely. Harlock and Sinunora carry the injured Tochiro to a local doctor named Sulski. Dr. Sulski treats Tochiro's wounds and reveals his true identity as Dr. Madarvic. Dr. Madarvic previously helped survivors escape from the massacre at Samurai Creek. He possesses a document concerning Samurai Creek and hands it to Tochiro. The document contains crucial information about Tochiro's destroyed homeland and his kinsmen. The group once again loses their horses during their travels in the episode. Catherine accompanies Dr. Madarvic and interacts with the three protagonists. The doctor's document points Tochiro toward the next step in his search for the truth about Samurai Creek. The episode closes with Tochiro holding the document, knowing the Organization that destroyed his people still hunts any remaining survivors.
6Samurai Sword In A Deserted Land
7The Bedroom Dream
8The Wild Utamaro
9Episode 9
10Episode 10
11Episode 11
12Sitarunen and Gatling Gun
Simunora reveals her true intentions to Tochiro and Harlock. She admits she betrayed her master,a man known as Dark Master. Tochiro and Harlock decide to help her resolve the problems created by this betrayal. Their agreement places them in direct opposition to Dark Master and his forces. Simunora explains the specific reasons for turning against her master. Her actions stem from a desire to escape his control and undo past wrongs. Tochiro and Harlock accept her request for assistance without hesitation. They begin preparing to confront the enemies Dark Master will send after them. Meanwhile, Shizuku falls into a grave and immediate danger separate from the main group. The episode cuts between the main characters' strategic discussions and Shizuku's escalating peril. Shizuku's situation deteriorates rapidly as Dark Master's agents close in on her. The episode ends with Shizuku's rescue uncertain and her captors moving to eliminate her. Tochiro and Harlock must now divide their attention between protecting Simunora and saving Shizuku from Dark Master's retaliation.
13Footprints to future
Shizuku receives an order from Shitarunen to fire the railway cannon at Tochiro. She gives a signal that only Tochiro and his companions understand,warning them to cover their ears before pulling the trigger. The cannon's deafening blast disorients Shitarunen and his forces. Tochiro attempts to rescue Shizuku, but Shitarunen regroups and counterattacks, preventing Tochiro from advancing. Shitarunen orders a temporary retreat. Tochiro and Harlock jump onto the locomotive to pursue. The two confront Shitarunen's group directly. Both sides aim at each other, creating a standstill where neither can move. Shizuku pulls the railway cannon's trigger again. The recoil from the barrel blows Shitarunen and his men away. Tochiro orders the engineer to stop the train, but previous gunfire has destroyed the brakes, leaving the train unable to halt. A junction lies ahead. If the train does not switch tracks, it will crash into a broken, unrepaired cliff. Harlock jumps from the train with Shizuku. Tochiro attempts to follow but Shitarunen, using his last strength, pins Tochiro down. Sinunora tries to free Tochiro but fails. Harlock braces himself for Tochiro's death as the train races toward the cliff.
Cast
Comment(s)
Staff
  • Director
    Sōichirō Zen
  • Script
    Kenichi Araki
    Mugi Kamio
  • Episode Director
    Kazuyoshi Yokota
    Shunji Yoshida
    Norio Kashima
    Yukiyo Teramoto
    Kōtarō Miyake
    Sōichirō Zen
    Hisato Shimoda
  • Original Manga
  • Art Director
    Makoto Dobashi
  • Mechanical design
    Katsumi Itabashi
  • Executive producer
    Takaji Matsudo
    Takayuki Yanagisawa
    Akira Tsuburaya
    Yoichi Machino
    Yukio Terao
    Fueto Kikuchi
  • Series Composition
    Dr. Serial Nishioka
  • Storyboard
    Takaaki Ishiyama
    Norio Kashima
    Yukiyo Teramoto
    Sōichirō Zen
    Toshikatsu Tokoro
    Hisato Shimoda
    Hiroyuki Shimazu
    Hon Shimazu
    Noriko Kashima
  • Music
    Hiroshi Motokura
  • Character Design
    Keisuke Masunaga
    Miho Nakata
  • Animation Director
    Ikuo Shimazu
    Noboru Takahashi
    Masumi Hattori
    Miho Nakata
    Konomi Sakurai
    Jōji Yanase
    Tadashi Oppata
  • Sound Director
    Hiroyuki Hayase
  • Producer
    Tomoyuki Imai
    Toshiharu Namiki
    Akimoto Okagawa
Production
  • Production
    AT-X
    TV Tokyo
    Vega Entertainment
    Medianet
    Tsuburaya Productions
    Tsuburaya Eizo
    Maxam
    Pronto
    Maczam
  • Animation Production
    Vega Entertainment