Gad Guard

ggultra2764★ 7

I've seen a good number of people online call Gad Guard a mediocre title for one reason or another, which led me to rent the series via Netflix to see if there was any validity with those claims. While the series is far from being a masterpiece, I did see some meaningful elements to the series which at least made it watchable. The series ran on an ongoing theme of overcoming personal doubts and taking responsibility for ones own actions. This theme was conveyed through the Techodes that the central characters formed from GADs as the series comes to reveal the personal problems plaguing thecharacters and how these problems led their Techodes to manifest. The series does enough to flesh out these major characters to give one enough sense of their backgrounds, what they desire from their Techode and how they gradually come to develop as they meet one another and frequently clash over their differing beliefs with what responsibilities they should fulfill with their Techodes. Depending on the character, the series portrays a variety of differing moods from the seemingly mundane coming from Hajiki's deliveries to action-packed from Takumi's heroic vigilantism to dramatic with what we learn of the pasts of the characters. However, the show's shoddy plot development is what bogs the series down quite a bit. There are a number of glaring plot holes connected to elements of the series such as the origins of the GADs and some background concerning supporting characters encountered in the series is hardly explored, particularly Katana's connection with Sayuri and Catherine's connection to the GADs. In addition, the show often gets in the annoying habit of having some of its events occur too conveniently just to advance its plot, whether it be one character being saved in the nick of time or dealing with a seemingly impossible situation. In terms of presentation, don't expect much out of the visuals. While the series does feature good-looking and diverse scenery shots from the dark and vast landscapes of Night Town to scenes in the countryside, character and mecha designs look rough in their details and the latter designs also looking fairly simple with said details. Also, animation shortcuts are apparent rather frequently during action scenes. In terms of the soundtrack, Gad Guard is notable for its upbeat jazz beats used for the show's OP sequence and some of the insert musical tracks of the series, which fit rather well with the varying moods that the series portrays with its characters. While far from a perfect title, don't let the reviews from other sites deter you from giving Gad Guard a try. While the show's plot is subpar in quality, its characterization coming from the developments of the central characters and their desires with the Techodes do enough to make up for the show's shortcomings with plot delivery.

TEWG★ 7

Gad Guard was a good anime while it lasted. The characters were all unique and nothing like most animes in which you wish you can punch (shoot) them and drop the show. I honestly thought this when I decided to watch this show. Thankfully no one was really like that... with an exception for Hajiki. The story was original but doesn't go into much depth. In the first and middle episodes you don't really get an explanation about the gads which is understandable because Gads are rare and nobody really knows anything about them except for small hints. The final episodes you get a fewmore hints and, in my opinion, a half-assed explanation. Some questions are also left unanswered. The art is in the middle. It is not blown-in-your-face-holy-wow-that-is-good but not I-wish-the-animation-was-better. In Gad Guard you mostly hear jazz music. I am not one for jazz myself but the music is incredible. I have caught myself humming to one of the songs numerous occasions. There are some times in which the music does not fit the scene, however. I give this a 7/10. It will be remembered like all the other animes but it will not hold a speacial place in my heart.