Speed Grapher

Name(s): Speed Grapher / スピードグラファー
Format: TV series (24 episodes)
Release Date(s): April 7, 2005 – September 29, 2005
Studio(s): Gonzo

My Background and the Premise of Speed Grapher

Speed Grapher was nothing like what I expected. I think I was browsing MAL charts a while back and going endlessly down the list for stuff that looked unique. I spotted this and thought it’d be a political thriller set in the city, some sleek, cool ride. What I got was the story of a photographic journalist who happens upon a secret club attended by Japan’s most powerful people who commit indulgent, heinous acts in private of mostly a highly perverted sexual nature.

Saiga escapes with Kagura, the club’s 14 year-old “goddess” who is unknowingly being brainwashed into performing bizarre rituals while being lusted after by old men. By coming into contact with Kagura, Saiga gains the ability to make anything he photographs explode, and the two go on the run from the Tennozu Corporation, the most powerful entity in Japan that fosters the secret club meetings and holds nearly the entire country within its grip.

Genre-Bending

This is the kind of series that defies an easy categorization. It’s most consistently a thriller, one that aims to surprise the audience with where it’s going next with sudden twists and heavy suspense. Yet it also has some shonen-esque action sequences as Saiga runs into the club’s other members, some of which have unique abilities just like him tailored to their own personality. For example, one has the power to turn their body into diamond and their fingers into sharp claws.

At the same time, it’s also a mystery story as Saiga and Kagura are not only focused on outrunning Tennozu Corp. and defeating them, but also finding out what their goals are in the first place and the explanation behind their paranormal powers which is kept a secret from the audience at the same pace. Lastly, it at times feels similar to horror with many grotesque scenes designed to repulse or shock and the emphasis on innocence facing an abusive power.

Empathetic Characters

That’s the aspect that immediately makes the plot and characters empathetic. You don’t need to learn much about Kagura to feel angry at her situation and root for her freedom. It’s a very large scale example of sexual abuse and manipulation by those who should be trusted.

There’s a strong focus on just how trapped both her and Saiga are by the endlessly long arm of the Tennozu Corporation, and the despair of their situation and just how disgusting Kagura is treated feels like an inherent hatred towards those in power who abuse it and those who hurt children when they can’t get any help. It can be surprisingly frightening in how endless all the abuse is.

The Line of Exploitation

This show regularly teeters the borderline between empathy for its victims and exploitation itself. It’s actually almost unbelievable how much this show got away with for a TV series. I can’t think of anything off the top of my head that deals with so many taboos. A surprising amount of uncensored bloody kills, tons of sex and nudity, and actual rape, molestation, and abuse. It’s very sensationalist and pulpy, and regardless of whether it crosses the line or not it definitely takes more of a stomach to handle than most series do.

I don’t really think this show had deep insight on its themes, and I think it gave into the inherent interest people have in blood and sex as entertainment, but I think the themes are consistently demonstrated and that for an excuse to have a sensationalist blood and sex thriller it’s a pretty creative execution and a consummately well-constructed and absorbing thriller.

So any issues I have with the morality behind making this story I won’t make excuses for, but I was able to give into the insanity and at the end I don’t think Speed Grapher is pretentious enough to feel hypocritical to the point it becomes a frustrating experience. It’s not that meta of a show, it really is mostly about the actual story and the thrills. Just give into the excitement, it’s a fresh story but not likely one to make you keep thinking about it after it’s over.

The Antagonists of Speed Grapher

The threat level of the villains felt very high, which is completely necessary for an effective suspense story. The Tennozu Corporation genuinely feels impossible to deal with considering all their money and political power, not to mention their army of super powered freaks. There is nothing they cannot buy and no one they cannot control. Their stalking of Saiga and Kagura is relentless, and with each episode it remains a curiosity how they’ll possibly avoid them for a little while longer or overcome their latest scheme with such limited resources.

There’s a lot of craftiness of Saiga’s part, both in general and regarding how to use his power with cameras and it feels like the show never uses the same tricks twice. Every episode contributes heavily to the overall plot, mystery, or character development, and the intense scenarios the main duo has to deal with in addition to the natural hate of our enemies facilitates a natural bond with them and you just want to see them succeed more and more as it looks more and more impossible.

Consummate Shonen Progression

The show’s revolving cast of sub-villains each receive minor background just to characterize them a bit more than what their powers are, and their typically eccentric personalities make them stand out when they don’t have the time for further development. It can be fun just seeing what the next power is and how Saiga will deal with it. The aforementioned shock moments are separate from downtime, maintaining their appeal. The weird directions the show took without compromising the integrity of its core drama and tone were a surprise.

If anything, even these freakout moments fit perfectly as an example of how the upper class are beyond punishment or social reprimands, allowing for a culture of complete hedonism with no responsibility. The club are a bunch of people who’ve become too free for their own good and have collectively gone insane.

Visuals of Speed Grapher

The direction is well-done but consummate to the point I can’t think of much to comment on in particular. It avoids common trappings of poor framing and reused frames with a lack of differing camera angles and unique stills. Following the scenes is easy and it’s all kept dynamic and moving. But I can’t pick out any stylistic trademarks beyond that.

Yūsuke Kozaki of No More Heroes fame did character designs for the series. You’d never tell from the completely bland art style, however. This is one of the most average-looking shows I’ve seen. The production values are poor with some fairy blobby outlines on the characters and lazy background details. It’s rather surprising considering how care seemed to go into all other parts of the show. I’d like to blame budget, but who knows?

Audio of Speed Grapher

The theme song is “Girls on Film” by Duran Duran, a perfectly appropriate choice given Saiga’s expose journalism and “weapon.” And of course, the sexual exploitation themes. It’s also simply a bold choice for a song. It’s anachronistic and stylistically out of tone with the show’s heavier moments. It still manages to fit, capturing the eccentricity of those many absurd moments that punctuate the emotional ones. The opening’s animation and direction in the second half of the series is quite impressive as well.

The rest of the soundtrack struck me as stock at first, but over time I grew attached to its melodies. Instrumentally, I think it’s as predictable as possible. A few electric guitar chords for the bad guys. Sutained cold synthesizers with light piano playing for emotional or investigative moments. The works. A lot of it was catchy, and the surprisingly heroic victory music is very triumphant despite being out of place. Saiga and Kagura are always desperately trying to live another day.

Speed Grapher Verdict

I’ll just summarize the main appeal, since I want to finish this. Speed Grapher effectively tells a kind of story I haven’t seen before in anime in a familiar thriller format. The story’s mysteries were compelling, and I rooted for both main characters. I thought the villains were fun. I couldn’t predict where the show would go or how any problems would be dealt with. It kept me guessing, it kept moving, and it kept surprising. Pure thriller entertainment in a fresh package.