Gad Guard

Japanese anime television series

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Gad Guard

Genre| Adventure, Mecha, Science fiction
Created by| Gonzo
Yoshitsune Izuna
Hiroshi Nishikiori
Anime television series
Directed by| Hiroshi Nishikiori
Produced by| Kazuhiko Ikeguchi
Katsuharu Nagata
Shinichirō Ishikawa
Takatoshi Hamano
Toshio Hatanaka
Katsuhiro Yoshikawa
Sei Matsumoto
Written by| Hiroshi Nishikiori
Kazuhiko Ikeguchi
Music by| Kazuhiko Sawaguchi
Kohei Tanaka
Pe'z
Studio| Gonzo
Amber Film Works
Licensed by|

* AUS: Madman Entertainment

* NA: Geneon Entertainment (expired)
Crunchyroll

* UK: ADV Films

Original network| Animax, Fuji TV
English network|

* CA: G4techTV (Anime Current)

* US: G4 (Anime Unleashed)

Original run|  April 17, 2003  –  December 30, 2003
Episodes| 26
Light novel
Written by| Umoto Kyouhei
Illustrated by| Izuna Yoshitsune
Published by| Media Factory
Imprint| MF Bunko J
Demographic| Male
Original run| May 24, 2003[1] – September 25, 2003[2]
Volumes| 4

Gad Guard (ガドガード, Gado Gādo) is a 26-episode anime television series created by animation director and screenwriter Hiroshi Nishikiori, manga artist and mechanical designer Yoshitsune Izuna, and Gonzo. Produced by Media Factory, GDH, IMAGICA Imageworks, Hakuhodo, Amber Film Works, and Fuji Television, the series was broadcast across Japan by the anime satellite television network Animax, and the terrestrial Fuji TV network. It has been licensed for North American distribution by Geneon Entertainment, and also aired on Anime Unleashed on G4 in 2005. With FUNimation's "New Show A Go-Go", they have acquired the distribution rights of the anime, and it was available in early 2009.[3]

## Story

[edit]

See also: List of Gad Guard characters

Several hundred years in the future, the natural resources of the Earth are exhausted, and the progression of the human race has stagnated. Hajiki Sanada, a delivery boy, lives with mother and sister in Unit Blue, in the impoverished part of the Unit known as 'Night Town'. While delivering a package, he unwittingly stumbles upon a 'Gad', a mysterious device that reacts to the strong feelings of a nearby person. The Gad transforms, taking on the form of a humanoid robot referred to as a 'Techode'. Hajiki soon discovers he isn't the only one who has had contact with a Gad, and that contact with one doesn't always end well. The series follows his struggles to cope with his new friends, his techode, and his life in Night Town.

## Setting

[edit]

### Unit Blue

[edit]

The central Unit in which Gad Guard takes place is Unit Blue, which is separated into three levels: Gold Town, Day Town and Night Town.

Gold Town is the upper-class area, where the wealthy and well-off live in comfort and luxury, and plays host to Global Electronics, the foremost provider of electricity in Unit Blue, a commodity not everyone can afford to have all the time. The characters Takumi Kisaragi and Aiko Mary Harmony live in Gold Town.

Day Town is a middle-class area, equipped with running water and electricity and is busy and metropolitan in most places. The character Arashi Shinozuka is originally from this area where her father owns a karate dojo. While not as perfect as Gold Town, Day Town is seen by people on the other side of the tracks as the place where they'd rather be.

Night Town is the ghetto of Unit Blue, and is called "Night Town" because all the electrical power shuts off at midnight and does not come back until dawn. In Night Town gangs and punks run the streets, and all the local kids go to school at a church, taught by a nun and a young teacher, in hopes of giving them what they need to escape their meagre living. Leaving something outside at night is guaranteed to have it stolen, and even walking around in broad daylight can be dangerous. Night Town is the dank and grimy setting for most of Gad Guard, where Hajiki and his family live along with Katana, the Jacque Bruno Gang and a host of other characters.

## Gads

[edit]

Known in the Gad Guard world only as "powerful stones", everyone who knows of them desires Gads and believes that they can fulfill people's dreams. Though the real importance of a Gad is unknown, they are used as very high sums of currency and are usually only owned by the rich or powerful. A Gad has many peculiar abilities and can take shape into a number of things depending on the personality and thoughts of the owner. These creations are separated into three groups: Techodes, A-Techodes and Gadrians. It is unknown what initially triggers a Gad's transformation, while strong feelings are involved, other times there is no reaction at all. Upon a Gad's transformation into something, all metal and most other material around it are violently absorbed and used as a base for the final product.

### Techodes

[edit]

A Techode is one of the three things that sprout from a Gad, and is also called a "Gadrian" occasionally by characters who aren't aware of the difference between the two. It usually takes the form of a large, humanoid robot roughly 20 feet (6.1 m) tall fueled by the emotional bond between the robot and the owner. These robots are "born" after contact with the Gad's owner while they're having a strong or serious emotion in an area occupied by a lot of metal. Once it has transformed into a Techode, a Gad is considered 'lost' and 'useless'. Only a Techode's 'owner' is capable of controlling it, so it is nearly impossible to sell or trade Techodes. It is implied that those with pure or good intent end up with Techodes, while those with darker, more twisted feelings getting a hold of a Gad leads to the creation of A-Techodes or Gadrians.

The five main Techodes of the series; Lightning, Zero, Thunderbolt, Messerschmitt and Hayate are all named after World War II-era fighter planes.

### A-Techodes

[edit]

An A-Techode is a manifestation of one's darker feelings. Most Gads take the form of A-Techodes, Techodes being very rare. They generally take the shapes of chaotic-looking monsters and are formed in the same way Techodes are, by absorbing the materials around them. Unlike Techodes, A-Techodes are independent creations. An A-Techode's creation can also be the result of a Gad falling into the hands of someone without any kind of strong, impacting emotions or intentions, such as a young child; the result is a sentient manifestation of whatever the child was thinking about at the time.

### Gadrians

[edit]

A Gadrian is what is formed when feelings of hate or greed completely consume the owner of a Gad, and likewise, the Gad itself. The Gad then absorbs these thoughts of greed and anger, usually killing the owner of the Gad and creating a monster, organic in nature with technological modification. Unlike Techodes, Gadrians are made of both inorganic and organic matter. Gadrians can be considered a sub-class of A-Techodes.

## Music

[edit]

Opening theme:

* "Boomerang Boogie ~Nanpudou no Ojisan~" by PE'Z

Ending theme:

* "Song for My Buffalo" by PE'Z

## References

[edit]

1. ^ ガドガード1 (in Japanese). MF Bunko J. Retrieved June 18, 2012.
2. ^ ガドガード4 (in Japanese). MF Bunko J. Retrieved June 18, 2012.
3. ^ "FUNimation's New Show A Go-Go Updates With Gad Guard". Funimation Entertainment. Retrieved 2008-12-23.

## External links

[edit]

* Gad Guard (anime) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia
* Gonzo page
* Media Factory page
* Geneon Entatainment site
* FUNimation Entertainment Official Site
* Madman Entertainment's official Gad Guard website

* v
* t
* e

Works directed by Hiroshi Nishikiori

Animated series|

* I'm Gonna Be An Angel! (1999)
* Angelic Layer: Mobile Angel (2001)
* Azumanga Daioh: The Animation (2002)
* Gad Guard (2002)
* Melody of Oblivion (2004)
* Kaiketsu Zorori (2004–2005)
* Oku-sama wa Mahō Shōjo: Bewitched Agnes (2005)
* Jyu-Oh-Sei (2006)
* Ghost Slayers Ayashi (2006–2007)
* A Certain Magical Index (2008–2009)
* A Certain Magical Index II (2010–2011)
* Futari wa Milky Holmes (2013)
* Trinity Seven (2014)
* Tantei Kageki Milky Holmes TD (2015)
* Schoolgirl Strikers: Animation Channel (2017)
* Dances with the Dragons (2018)
* A Certain Magical Index III (2018–2019)
* Argonavis from BanG Dream! (2020)
* Delico's Nursery (2024)
* Honey Lemon Soda (2025)

Animated films|

* Doki Doki Wildcat Engine (2000)
* Dorami & Doraemons: Space Land's Critical Event (2001)
* Azumanga Daioh: The Very Short Movie (2001)
* Magic Tree House (2011)
* A Certain Magical Index: The Movie – The Miracle of Endymion (2013)
* Trinity Seven the Movie: The Eternal Library and the Alchemist Girl (2017)
* Monster Strike The Movie: Sora no Kanata (2018)
* Trinity Seven: Heavens Library & Crimson Lord (2019)
* Gekijōban Idolish7 Live 4bit Beyond the Period (2023)

OVAs|

* Mahō Sensei Negima! Introduction Film (2004–2005)
* Ghost Slayers Ayashi: Ayashi Divine Comedy (2007)
* Yotsunoha (2008)

* v
* t
* e

Gonzo

Television series|

* Gate Keepers (2000)
* Vandread (2000)
* Samurai Girl: Real Bout High School (2001)
* Final Fantasy: Unlimited (2001–2002)
* Hellsing (2001–2002)
* Vandread: The Second Stage (2001)
* Full Metal Panic! (2002)
* Tai Master of Characters (2002)
* Saikano (2002)
* Kiddy Grade (2002–2003)
* Gravion (2002)
* Digigirl Pop! STRAWBERRY&POP MIX FLAVOR (2003)
* Kaleido Star (2003–2004)
* Last Exile (2003)
* Gad Guard (2003)
* Peacemaker Kurogane (2003–2004)
* Chrono Crusade (2003–2004)
* Gravion Zwei (2004)
* Gantz (2004)
* Burst Angel (2004)
* Samurai 7 (2004)
* Desert Punk (2004–2005)
* Gankutsuou: The Count of Monte Cristo (2004–2005)
* Basilisk (2005)
* Speed Grapher (2005)
* Trinity Blood (2005)
* Transformers: Cybertron (2005)
* G.I. Joe: Sigma 6 (2005–2007)
* Solty Rei (2005–2006)
* Black Cat (2005–2006)
* Glass Fleet (2006)
* Witchblade (2006)
* Yoshimune (2006)
* Welcome to the N.H.K. (2006)
* Red Garden (2006–2007)
* Pumpkin Scissors (2006–2007)
* Marginal Prince (2006)
* Ani*Kuri15 (animated sequence) (2007–2008)
* Master of Epic: The Animation Age (2007)
* Afro Samurai (2007)
* Getsumento Heiki Mina (2007)
* Romeo × Juliet (2007)
* Bokurano (2007)
* Kaze no Stigma (2007)
* My Bride Is a Mermaid (2007)
* Dragonaut: The Resonance (2007–2008)
* Rosario + Vampire (2008)
* The Tower of Druaga: The Aegis of Uruk (2008)
* S · A: Special A (2008)
* Blassreiter (2008)
* Strike Witches (2008)
* Rosario + Vampire Capu2 (2008)
* Linebarrels of Iron (2008–2009)
* The Tower of Druaga: The Sword of Uruk (2009)
* Saki (2009)
* Shangri-La (2009)
* Slap-up Party: Arad Senki (2009)
* Nyanpire (2011)
* Last Exile: Fam, The Silver Wing (2011–2012)
* Ozuma (2012)
* Leviathan: The Last Defense (2013)
* Dog & Scissors (2013)
* A Town Where You Live (2013)
* Blade & Soul (2014)
* Seiyu's Life! (2015)
* Aokana - Four Rhythms Across the Blue (2016)
* Akiba's Trip: The Animation (2017)
* 18if (2017)
* Kakuriyo: Bed & Breakfast for Spirits (2018)
* Space Battleship Tiramisu (2018)
* Hinomaru Sumo (2018–2019)
* Conception (2018)
* Try Knights (2019)
* Phantasy Star Online 2: Episode Oracle (2019–2020)

Films|

* Origin: Spirits of the Past (2006)
* Brave Story (2006)
* Kiddy Grade -Ignition- (2007)
* Kiddy Grade -Maelstrom- (2007)
* Kiddy Grade -Truth Dawn- (2007)
* Afro Samurai: The Movie (2007)
* Afro Samurai: Resurrection (2009)
* Bayonetta: Bloody Fate (2013)
* Full Metal Panic! Director's Cut (2017–2018)

OVAs/ONAs|

* Blue Submarine No. 6 (1998–2000)
* Melty Lancer THE ANIMATION (1999–2000)
* Zaion: I Wish You Were Here (2001)
* Vandread Integral (2001)
* Gate Keepers 21 (2002–2003)
* Yukikaze (2002–2005)
* Vandread Turbulence (2002)
* Kaleido Star: New Wings Extra Stage (2004)
* Legend of Phoenix ~Layla Hamilton Monogatari~ (2005)
* Good da yo! Goood!! (2006)
* Burst Angel - Episode Zero: Infinity (2007)
* Strike Witches (2007)
* Red Garden: Dead Girls (2007)
* My Bride Is a Mermaid (2008–2009)
* Copihan (2011)
* A Town Where You Live (2014)
* Calamity of a Zombie Girl (2018)
* Saint Seiya: Saintia Shō (2018–2019)
* Hori-san to Miyamura-kun (2018–2021, #4–5)
* 7 Seeds (2019)
* Hero of Robots (2019)

Video games|

* Lunar: Silver Star Story Complete (1996)
* Silhouette Mirage (1997)
* Lunar 2: Eternal Blue Complete (1998)
* Radiant Silvergun (1998)
* Gensō Suikogaiden (1999–2001)
* SkyGunner (2001)
* Suikoden III (2002)
* Zone of the Enders: The 2nd Runner (2003)
* BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger (2009)
* Infinite Space (2009)
* Super Street Fighter IV (2010)
* BlazBlue: Continuum Shift (2010)

Category

* v
* t
* e

Amber Film Works

Television series|

* Najica Blitz Tactics (2001)
* Gad Guard (2003)
* Kaiketsu Zorori (2004–2005)

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