OVA
Description
Inspector Percy, whose full name is Lieutenant Percy Bacharach, is a police officer working for the Chicago Police Department. His central role in the story is defined by an intense and personal mission to apprehend the professional getaway driver and courier known as Bean Bandit, who is also referred to as the Road Buster. This rivalry is not merely professional; Percy has made it his personal mission to see Bean incarcerated, largely due to the high cost and embarrassment caused by the numerous police cruisers that have been wrecked during high-speed pursuits of Bean’s custom vehicle.
Percy is characterized by an obsessive and maniacal determination that borders on the irrational. He is often described as a bumbling detective and a bombastic blowhard, prone to fits of exasperation and an almost cartoonish enthusiasm for the chase. This relentless nature drives him to pursue Bean at every opportunity, even if it means bending or breaking the rules. In later storylines, as seen in the related series Gunsmith Cats BURST, his obsession leads him to desperate and illegal methods, including hiring terrorists, protecting crime lords, and blackmailing his own superior to continue his operations.
Despite this animosity, the relationship between Percy and Bean is more nuanced than a simple criminal-versus-cop dynamic. A strange level of mutual respect exists between the two rivals, rooted in their shared passion for powerful automobiles. Percy prefers to use American muscle cars in his police work, claiming that doing so makes him feel like an American hero, a sentiment that mirrors Bean’s own philosophy. This common ground allows the two enemies to occasionally negotiate, often centering on the promise of a one-on-one race to finally settle their score, and both men are known to adhere strictly to their agreements. The interplay between Percy and Bean is a key element of the narrative, providing moments of high-octane action and dark comedy akin to classic anime rivalries.
Percy’s backstory reveals that he originally hails from Detroit, a city where Bean frequently conducted business and would often leave a trail of destroyed patrol cars in his wake. This history planted the first seeds of obsession, leading Percy to transfer to the Chicago area once his investigation pointed to Bean's headquarters being located there. Throughout the main story of Riding Bean, he is seen driving a powerful 1967 Ford Mustang Shelby Cobra G.T. 500, a car he believes is a close match for Bean’s RS-200, though it is often destroyed in the ensuing chaos. His key relationships include his partnership with his more sensible and long-suffering colleague, Dick, who often serves as a passenger for Percy’s reckless schemes.
While Percy does not undergo significant character development within the original short OVA, his role is more extensively explored in the subsequent manga series. During the Gunsmith Cats BURST storyline, he succeeds in arresting Bean but ultimately releases him after coming to a new understanding. The two rivals agree to a death match on the road, demonstrating that their conflict extends far beyond a simple arrest record; it is a personal and almost ritualistic battle of wills and driving skill. In terms of abilities, Percy’s primary skill lies in his driving. He is proficient enough to handle a high-powered muscle car and is a persistent threat largely due to his refusal to give up the chase, rather than any exceptional investigative prowess.
Percy is characterized by an obsessive and maniacal determination that borders on the irrational. He is often described as a bumbling detective and a bombastic blowhard, prone to fits of exasperation and an almost cartoonish enthusiasm for the chase. This relentless nature drives him to pursue Bean at every opportunity, even if it means bending or breaking the rules. In later storylines, as seen in the related series Gunsmith Cats BURST, his obsession leads him to desperate and illegal methods, including hiring terrorists, protecting crime lords, and blackmailing his own superior to continue his operations.
Despite this animosity, the relationship between Percy and Bean is more nuanced than a simple criminal-versus-cop dynamic. A strange level of mutual respect exists between the two rivals, rooted in their shared passion for powerful automobiles. Percy prefers to use American muscle cars in his police work, claiming that doing so makes him feel like an American hero, a sentiment that mirrors Bean’s own philosophy. This common ground allows the two enemies to occasionally negotiate, often centering on the promise of a one-on-one race to finally settle their score, and both men are known to adhere strictly to their agreements. The interplay between Percy and Bean is a key element of the narrative, providing moments of high-octane action and dark comedy akin to classic anime rivalries.
Percy’s backstory reveals that he originally hails from Detroit, a city where Bean frequently conducted business and would often leave a trail of destroyed patrol cars in his wake. This history planted the first seeds of obsession, leading Percy to transfer to the Chicago area once his investigation pointed to Bean's headquarters being located there. Throughout the main story of Riding Bean, he is seen driving a powerful 1967 Ford Mustang Shelby Cobra G.T. 500, a car he believes is a close match for Bean’s RS-200, though it is often destroyed in the ensuing chaos. His key relationships include his partnership with his more sensible and long-suffering colleague, Dick, who often serves as a passenger for Percy’s reckless schemes.
While Percy does not undergo significant character development within the original short OVA, his role is more extensively explored in the subsequent manga series. During the Gunsmith Cats BURST storyline, he succeeds in arresting Bean but ultimately releases him after coming to a new understanding. The two rivals agree to a death match on the road, demonstrating that their conflict extends far beyond a simple arrest record; it is a personal and almost ritualistic battle of wills and driving skill. In terms of abilities, Percy’s primary skill lies in his driving. He is proficient enough to handle a high-powered muscle car and is a persistent threat largely due to his refusal to give up the chase, rather than any exceptional investigative prowess.