Amazing anime, amazing story and build up and then a perfect ending for it...I have no complaints whatsoever. Full of feels and a solid built story, too good that it feels underrated cuz it didn't make a big hit I guess..but if you haven't seen this awesomeness anime yet just ignore the 8.1 rating and go watch it cuz it's much better than that...would 100% recommend this!

This twenty six episode series follows childhood friends Harry McDowell and Brandon Heat as they rise from being a couple of street punks to being major figures in the Millennion crime syndicate. At first things go well and they are taken under the wing of Millennion's boss Big Daddy but in time things change; Harry is determined to rise to the very top of the organisation and that will mean getting rid of both Brandon and Big Daddy. When Harry gets his hands on technology that enables him to run an army of the dead known as Orgmen it looks like Harry will run the organisation for a very long time but then after thirteen years he learns that Big Daddy had a daughter, Mika, and he decides she must die too. This is a mistake as the man who helps her survive his attack has the technology to bring Brandon back from the dead. Once back Brandon is determined to protect Mika and have revenge against the people who killed him and the people he cared about.I must admit that I had some difficulty getting into the story during the first couple of episode but after that found myself gripped by the plot and the interesting characters. The back of the DVD case may say this is about Brandon seeking revenge against his former friend Harry but until the half-way point they are still the closest of friends. Because of this we believe in their friendship before we see it break down in such a terminal manner. This also makes it all the more tragic when characters we've grown to care about start dying… unlike Brandon the others don't get to come back. I liked the character designs; in particular I liked how we saw Harry age over the series; from a young man to a middle aged one with grey hair and a lined face. Surprisingly despite all he did the creators managed to keep his character somewhat sympathetic making his ultimate demise feel as tragic… I'm not ashamed to admit I shed a few tears at the end! Overall I'd say this is well worth watching if you want a character led anime that also has plenty of action; just remember some of it is quite bloody so it isn't really suitable for younger viewers.

Oh, come on! How many almost-vampire vampire hunters and almost-zombie zombie killers can we stand? What? Normal guys can't kill zombies? Just look at Berserk! Ahem.Anyway, this series is a cliché and nothing more. Anime clichés are better than Hollywood clichés, but nonetheless, boring repetitive crap. When I saw the scene where the guy purposely accepts being hit but some huge monstrosity just to show us he doesn't care, then fills the creature with bullets to show that he does care, I knew this sucked. But that silly woman he always carries around and the scientist/truck driver that accompanies him... Geez!To avoid!

May contain small, non-significant spoilers. Finally, I've just saw the last episode and I am feeling strange, kind of like a person after being tortured. I won't lie, this anime do have some interesting points, a bleak lights seeing through the darkness of the infantile. This show is definitely not for the grown people. But lets start over.Friendship, trust, family, love, brotherhood, loyalty, total control and betrayal. Those are the basics, the main themes explored in this anime. Harry and Brandon, best friends since their childhood, are going to experience some dramatic stuff in their life. Starting as a small hustlers on the streets, they are becoming members of a very strong and influent crime syndicate. Soon they have a key positions inside, but from here everything can go only down, into the grave. First warning sign for me was Brandon Heat. It is very problematic to have the main character being silent most of the time. Language is a weapon when used properly, but the only weapons Brandon uses are guns and fists. Which is OK but pretty soon it is becoming empty and hollow without the talking. His lack of ability to do so, or probably intentional decision not to speak, is very annoying. It doesn't makes him more cool, it makes him more stupid. Not able to express or to explain himself, not able to talk to the girl that wants him, blindly following some idiotic syndicate rules and people, making sacrifices instead of profits. There are no real questions or doubts, no selfish behavior, no real feelings for him, only to serve and to obey. He is an autistic tool used by others, he has no real personality. As a heroic idol, as admiration icon - he is dumb. I can't respect dumb hero, no matter how brave and dedicated he is. The second sign, more clear and exact sign for the upcoming failure, is the women in this show. There are only three main female characters, and they are the most superficial, most dumb, most worthless and most unnatural characters in anime ever. It was real shame to see each and one of them. There are no real issues that occupies those women, they are plastic toys with stupid smile, a constant victim, a mindless decoration. No will of their own, no needs, just waist of color and animator's work.*** Aahhh, Faye Valentine! You are the only one of your kind. There is no competition here for you. ***And I think I found the reason the first episode and the second half of the series are so bad in the eyes of many Gungrave viewers. It's Mika. Every time I saw and heard this demon child, all I could think about is how can I grab her and choke to death over and over again. It is unbelievable how irritating and annoying she is. I don't have enough words to describe my disgust from this creature, this Antichrist. Please be aware and ready, long exposure can do lethal and irreversible damage. And of course, the last warning sign, more exactly the last confirmation how bad this series is, it's the story. I've seen a lot of anime. I know it is mainly for the teenagers and children, but the beauty is, that grown people can find really mature stuff in it. Thus we have so many anime for adults (no, not hentai). It's the total freedom of animation, the unlimited fantasy, the lack of limitations and boundaries of reality, that can add so much depth and interest into animation. Not Gungrave. The story is very simple, very clear, many cliché moments. When you see some sparkle of complexity, some dramatic or even tragic conflict, just before you wonder how does it get here, you realize - this is actually retarded. Because of the context, because of the pointless and the banality of this story. This show is not a smart one, it is ridiculously childish.And something positive for a change - action scenes are not so bad and can be nice to watch. Spilled blood and the killings are more or less realistic and believable. Some of the characters are creative and imaginative on the first impression. Some of the events are nice, some of the moments are surprising, and overall you just watch it because you want to know how it will end. Would you enjoy the ride? Not really. But I guess it depends who watching it.*** Some recommendations for better anime:The series: Cowboy Bebop, Berserk, Ninja Scroll, Samurai Champloo, Outlow Star, Yu Yu Hakusho, Reign: The Conqueror, Last Exile, Bible Black, Black Lagoon.The movies: Wings of Honneamise, Perfect Blue, Roujin Z, Memories, Vampire Hunter D, Steamboy, Lupin the 3: Castle of Cagliostro, Mind Game, Kite, Ninja Scroll, Akira, Paprika. There is more, much more.