Gantz (film series)

Lore & Background

The first film, Gantz, follows two high school students, Kei Kurono and Masaru Kato, who die in a train accident and are transported to an alternate world. There, a black sphere called Gantz forces them to hunt and kill aliens to earn points; reaching 100 points allows resurrection or bringing someone back to life. Another Gantz, a TV movie airing before the sequel, presents an alternate version of the first film from the perspective of an investigative journalist. Gantz: Perfect Answer continues the story: Kei works at a convenience store, cares for his friend's orphaned little brother, and seeks to resurrect Kato. He succeeds, but Kato returns as two versions—one good, one evil. An investigator named Shigeta tries to understand Gantz-related violence, and an actress named Eriko Ayukawa wakes up with a small Gantz ball. Aliens attack, and the Gantz ball glitches, leading to a battle on a subway with shapeshifting aliens.

Reader's Guide

The Gantz film series represents a notable live-action adaptation of a popular manga, blending action, horror, and science fiction. The first film received mixed reviews: Entertainment Today noted that the voice-over work detracted from the experience, while Twitch Film called the effects impressive and described it as 'a pretty good slice of Japanese-style popcorn cinema.' The Japan Times found the sequel, Gantz: Perfect Answer, action-packed but disappointing. The films were released in Japan in January and April 2011, with special screenings in the United States and United Kingdom. They were also shown at Comic-Con International in San Diego. The series is significant for bringing the manga's violent, existential premise to a wider audience through live-action cinema.

Did You Know?

• The first film was simulcast to theaters in 46 U.S. states on January 20, 2011, with an English dub.
• Another Gantz is an alternate version of the first film, airing on TV before Gantz: Perfect Answer.
• Computer-generated animation for the films was done by Digital Frontier.
• The sequel features a character who comes back to life as two people—one good and one evil.