90/ 100
Finished Airing
TV R - 17+ (violence & profanity)
Gunslinger Girl
ガンスリンガー・ガール · 2003
Terminally ill orphan girls are rebuilt into deadly government cyborg assassins.
StatusFinished Airing
SeasonFall 2003
StudioMadhouse
SourceManga
Where to watch
Story
Synopsis
Beneath the public guise of a charitable hospital, the Italian government clandestine Social Welfare Agency rescues young girls from catastrophic medical trauma and violent domestic abuse. Mechanically reconstructed with cybernetic prosthetics, artificial muscle fibers, and chemical brain conditioning, the girls are transformed into cold-blooded political assassins. Each child is assigned an adult handler who oversees her training and field operations. Among them, gentle cyborg Henrietta forms a desperate, tragic emotional attachment to her stoic handler Jose. As dangerous missions take a toll, the girls struggle to maintain their fragile humanity.
⚠ Background — may contain spoilers
Airing thirteen episodes from October 2003 to February 2004, *Gunslinger Girl* was produced by studio Madhouse and directed by Morio Asaka. Adapting Yu Aida popular manga, the series distinguished itself through its melancholic pacing, meticulous depictions of modern firearms, and sensitive philosophical examination of psychological grooming and instrumentalization. Set against picturesque Italian architecture and scored with classical chamber music arranged by Toshihiko Sahashi, the production remains an artistic landmark of dark psychological drama.
Watch
Trailer
Watch
Episodes
13- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
- 11
- 12
- 13
Cast
Characters
25
Crew
Staff
1632nd Key Animation2
ADR Director2
Animation Director11
Art Director1
Assistant Animation Director2
Assistant Director1
Background Art1
Character Design1
Chief Animation Director2
Color Design1
Color Setting1
Director1
Director of Photography1
Editing1
Episode Director11
Executive Producer1
In-Between Animation10
Companies
Studios
Main Studio
Producer
Critics
HakiPoints
75
- Conquers 33% · 2 reviews
- Hero's Choice 17% · 1 review
- Average 50% · 3 reviews
- Skippable 0% · 0 reviews
90/ 100
UK Anime Network
Ross Locksley
Fantastic visuals, an excellent soundtrack and bumper value make this a must see.
Read full review80/ 100
THEM Anime Reviews
Samuel Arbogast
I personally would give this a five, but I think it might be too episodic and lacking in a strong plot for most people, so I'll take it down one star. Add that star back if you like to see guns, or if you just want to watch something and enjoy it.
Read full review70/ 100
Anime News Network
Jacob Chapman
The understated development of the character drama is Gunslinger Girl's greatest strength. This is not angst-filled, suggestive girls-with-guns lolicon despite the suggestive nature of the box art or character designs. Gunslinger Girl is more rife with cold subtlety than a healthy number of seinen titles.
Read full review60/ 100
UK Anime Network
A. H.
Not a bad series, but one that will forever be consigned to live in the shadow of its predecessor.
Read full review60/ 100
THEM Anime Reviews
Enoch Lau
I would give it two stars if not for the incredible attention to accuracy regarding the weapons, and the engaging gun battles (when they *do* happen, of course). Only for fans of the genre, and only if you can stand the slow dialogue and pacing.
Read full reviewDiscover
More like this
Same studio
Death Note
Same studio
Monster
Same studio
Memories
Psychological · Suspense
Yukikaze
Same studio
Parasyte: The Maxim
Psychological · Suspense
Human Lost: Ningen Shikkaku
Psychological · Suspense
Mardock Scramble: The First Compression
Psychological · Suspense
Mardock Scramble: The Third Exhaust
Psychological · Suspense
Steins;Gate
Same studio
Shigurui: Death Frenzy
Psychological · Suspense
Inuyashiki: Last Hero
Same studio
The Animatrix
Community
User reviews
0Sign in to write a review.
No reviews yet. Be the first.
From the blog
Fresh reads on anime, the craft, and the community.
What is Conqueror’s Haki? All Types of Haoshoku Haki in One Piece Explained
Conqueror’s Haki explained: what Haoshoku Haki is, its types, who can use it, and who has the strongest Haki in One P…
Where to Buy Anime Posters: A Fan’s Real, No-BS Guide
I checked every link in this “best sites to buy anime posters” list myself, so you don’t land on a dead page or a sca…
8 Biggest One Piece Mysteries That Still Have Fans Losing Sleep (And Their Minds)
From Joy Boy’s true identity to the secret of the One Piece itself — explore the 8 biggest One Piece mysteries that O…