“GATE Complete Collection” is an anime series that is probably one of the better anime series I have seen from Sentai Filmworks in the past few years. It’s addictive, exciting and so much fun! I definitely recommend it
Image courtesy of © Takumi Yanai/AlphaPolis/GATE Project. All Rights Reserved.
TITLE: GATE Complete Collection
ORIGINAL AIR DATE: 2015
DURATION: Episode 1-24 (600 Minutes)
BLU-RAY INFORMATION: 1080p High Definition, Japanese and English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0, Subtitles: English
COMPANY: Sentai Filmworks
RATED: TV MA VSL
Release Date: July 11, 2017
Original Creator: Takumi Yanai
Original Character Design: Daisuke Izuka
Directed by Takahiko Kyogoku
Series Composition by Tatsuhiko Urahata
Music by Yoshiaki Fujisawa
Character Design by Jun Nakai
Art Director: Maho Takahashi
Chief Animation Director: Jun Nakai
Anime Production: A-1 Pictures
Featuring the following voice talent:
Hisako Kanemoto/Juliet Simmons as Tuka Luna Marceau
Junichi Suwabe/David Wald as YÅji Itami
Haruka Tomatsu/Jessica Boone as Pina Co Lada
Hiroki Yasumoto/Ty Mahany as Akira Tomita
Ikumi Hayama/Shanae’a Moore as Hamilton Uno Law
Kaito Ishikawa/Tyler Galindo as Takeo Kurata
Maaya Uchida/Stephanie Wittels as Shino Kuribayashi
Nao TÅyama/Brittney Karbowski as Lelei la Lelena
Risa Taneda/Molly Searcy as Rory Mercury
Satomi Akesaka/Allison Sumrall as Mari Kurokawa
YÅko Hikasa/Rachel Landon as Yao Ha Ducy
Yumi Uchiyama/Patricia Duran as Bozes Co Palestea
When a mysterious gate suddenly appears in Tokyo’s Ginza district and begins spewing armed warriors and flying monsters, the world is thrown into turmoil. Although the deadly attack is thrown back by Japan’s Self Defense Force, there’s now a new and entirely unknown land on the other side of the portal, and Japan is effectively at war with a nation on the other side.
Determined to secure peace, the JSDF must send an armed force into the Gate, but ogres, dragons and a ruthless Empire populated by elves, humans, and half-animal warriors aren’t the only dangers they’ll face. With the resources of two worlds at stake, the balance of power on both sides of the Gate is destabilizing, and betrayal can come at any time, from any quarter. There, trapped right in the middle of the ensuing firestorm, stands officer Yoji Itami and the JSDF’s Third Reconnaissance Team as they plunge into the GATE.
In 2006, author Takumi Yanai and illustrator Daisuke Izuka and Kurojishi created a fantasy novel series titled “Gate: Jietai Kano Chi nite, Kaku Tatakaeri” (“Gate: Thus the Japanese Self-Defense Force Fought There!”).
The novel would receive a manga adaptation in 2011 and spin-off mangas in 2015. And an anime adaptation of the series was created by A-1 Pictures and released in July to September 2015 and its second half airing in January through March 2016.
The anime series is directed by Takahiko Kyogoku (“Love Live! School Idol Project”), a screenplay by Tatsuhiko Urahata (“Beyblade”, “Black Bullet”, “DNA2”, “Nana”), music by Yoshiaki Fujisawa (“Dimension W”, “Love Live! School Idol Project”), character design by Jun Nakai (“Generation Gawl”, “Mardock Scramble”) and art direction by Maho Takahashi (“Amagami SS”, “Cross Game”, “Himawari!”, “KanColle”).
And with the announcement of a new novel series titled “Gate: Weigh Anchor”, the anime adaptation titled “GATE” and the complete collection was released on Blu-ray and DVD in the United States on July 2017 courtesy of Sentai Filmworks.
The series revolves around Yoji Itami, a 33-year-old otaku who loves doujinshi. While he may seem like a clumsy otaku, in truth, Yoji is actually a soldier of the Japan Self Defense Force that works in Special Forces and a certified Ranger.
One day, a portal from another world appears in Ginza and soldiers from that other world including monsters attack Tokyo but the Japan Self-Defense Force (JSDF) has advanced weaponry and manages to kill and repel the enemy. But thanks to Itami, he helped escort hundreds of people to safety during the attack on Ginza and is promoted to first lieutenant.
And because of his heroism, the Prime Minister tasks Itami to go with a JSDF task forced backed by the United States to go through the gate and explore the new world but most importantly to capture and demand reparations from those responsible for the attack.
As the Empire of the other world sends a large army to fight against the JSDF, the JSDF displays their power with modern weaponry and obliterates them. Itami is then assigned to lead the 3rd Recon Unit and through his travels, meets the following people who are from the other world but join him on his adventures:
- Tuka Luna Marceau – A 165-year-old High Elf. She lost her family and fellow villagers when a flame dragon attacked her village. She is having a hard time coping with her father’s death.
- Lelei La Lelena – A 15-year-old sorcerer of the Rurudo nomad tribe and a student of an elderly sorcerer. Very intelligent, she quickly learns Japanese and becomes a translator. Her tribe was also devastated due to the Fire Dragon.
- Rory Mercury – A 961-year-old demi-goddess and an apostle of Emroy (God of death). She cannot die and recovers from all wounds. When she becomes 1,000-years-old, she will become a full goddess. She has excellent fighting skills and carries a large scythe and wears gothic lolita clothing.
- Yao Haa Dushi – A 300-years-old Dark Elf, who seeks the aid of the JSDF to help her village which is being ravaged by the Fire Dragon.
- Pina Co Lada – The princess from the Empire. She is dedicated to the Empire’s welfare and wants peace between Japan and the Empire after seeing their awesome power. But also seeing how the Japanese are not after their land and how they treat their people, including prisoners. Seeing how they truly are, she wants to let her father, the king of the Empire know.
VIDEO:
“GATE Complete Collection” is presented in 1080p High Definition. Animation is very good, detailed and vibrant. From many location scenes and varying backgrounds, the background art is great. Character designs and animation from A-1 Pictures is great and if anything, with A-1 Pictures behind the production, they really go all out and have not been disappointed with any of their anime series releases.
AUDIO & SUBTITLES:
“GATE Complete Collection” is presented in Japanese and English 1.0. Dialogue and musical score is crystal clear through the front channels and the voice acting on both soundtracks are well-done.
Subtitles are in English.
SPECIAL FEATURES:
“GATE Complete Collection” comes with the following special features:
- Japanese Promo Videos
- Animated Comic
- Clean Opening and Ending Songs
EXTRAS:
“GATE Complete Collection” comes with the Blu-ray and DVD versions of the anime series.
There are times when I watch an anime with no expectations and if anything, I wish for something original, refreshing and overly entertaining. Having reviewed anime since the early ’90s, I have been fortunate to watch anime series that really captivates me and just makes me want to watch it over again.
“GATE” is one of those anime series. Each and every episode, I absolutely enjoyed them.
While one can say it’s an anime version of “Stargate”, not really. When the otherworld invades Ginza, Japan, they are reminiscent of knights of past fighting a war with ogres and monsters in the present.
The twist is when Japan sends their Japan Self Defense Force (JSDF) to the otherworld, with modern technology, the first army battalion sent by the Empire are literally obliterated. Shields are not going to guard machine gun bullets. Armies are not going to survive mortar attacks. Battalions on horseback are not going to beat tanks. And archers are not going to defeat military helicopters or jet bombers.
But while the JSDF seem like they may be the bad guys to those in the empire, in truth, they don’t want to kidnap, take over the land or do anything nefarious. They want to send a warning to the empire, to put it bluntly, don’t come into our territory, kill our people and expect to rule our land.
And as much as it may seem like a serious anime, it really isn’t thanks to the person heading the operation for the JSDF to protect the people (not just in Japan but anywhere they arrive) and that’s Officer Itami. A man who is a decorated Ranger but in truth, he just wanted a job that would allow him to be an otaku fanboy, so he can read doujinshi.
And with each tribe he meets and visits, he and the JSDF saves them and wants nothing in return.  He eventually is joined by High Elf Tuka Luna Marceau, a 15-year-old sorceress named Lelei La Lelena, a demi-goddess named Rory Mercury and a dark elf named Yao Haa Dushi.
People grateful for what Itami has done for them and now they want to help get his message across to the Empire and other people in the land.
And when Itami and the others meet Pina Co Lada, princess from the empire, at first she thinks that the “men in green” want to take over the empire but the more she stays with Itami, in hopes to spread peace and hopes for the JSDF to not destroy them, she is willing to negotiate a peace agreement with the Japanese.
And the path to protecting people is not easy, thanks to a corrupt empire with a corrupt son wanting to usurp his father, the king. Then you have a giant flame dragon killing people all over the land. And on Earth, you have countries who want to go after the other world friends of Itami and causing problems for the JDSF. So, it’s not an easy path.
But no matter the difficult, Yoji Itami keeps his cool, keeps positive and is willing to go to great lengths to protect people not just in Japan but also people living in the other world led by the empire.
Also, another plus is the many supporting characters featured and the series really becomes a wonderful anime series with action, adventure and fantasy elements combined.
As for the animation on Blu-ray, A-1 Pictures always does a phenomenal job and they did a magnificent job with animating this series along with providing a plethora of background art, to compliment the large area of land and areas that these individuals visit. The lossless soundtrack is 2.0 but both English and Japanese dialogue are crystal clear. And there are a few special features included as well.
Overall, “GATE Complete Collection” is an anime series that is probably one of the better anime series I have seen from Sentai Filmworks in the past few years. It’s addictive, exciting and so much fun! I definitely recommend it
