This is one awesome series, despite only three episodes. As much as I like girls with guns (especially in anime), grenades added to this made me want to see it, and I'm happy to say that I enjoyed it. One thing about this series is the action. The car chase in episode 2 is mind-blowing and has to be seen to be believed. Also, it takes place in Chicago, not any old Japanese city! My only complaint is the lack of comedy on episodes 2 and 3. But overall, it's an awesome series and brilliant action helps the show go along! If you're into girls with guns (and the added grenades) and a good laugh, then check it out. If not, go see something else!
13 Reviews
Enjoyable old anime...
paul_haakonsen21 April 2020
Well, "Gunsmith Cats" was an anime that I watched back when I was 20 years old, back in 1995, and it also made me pick up the comic book afterwards, because I enjoyed it back then.
So I revisited "Gunsmith Cats" - the original Japanese language version, of course, now in 2020. And I must say that, while "Gunsmith Cats" definitely shows signs of its age, it is still an anime that is quite entertaining and watchable. Sure, it is goofy and stereotypical, but it is enjoyable - and that is what matters.
The animation is adequate, although the drawing style itself is a bit outdated in my opinion. There wasn't as much attention to detail crammed into the episodes, nor was the style actually smooth enough - it was a bit old and gritty.
The voice acting - at least in the Japanese version - was good, and they had some talented performers here. However, I am puzzled though about why people in America, with American names and obviously not Japanese in heritage, were speaking Japanese. That just made no sense at all.
There is a good amount of action through the episodes to make it interesting, and the character build and development was adequate - perhaps a bit too light on the character development side. But it was two very lovable main characters - no doubt about that.
If you haven't already seen this 1995 anime, then you should do so if you get the chance. I am rating "Gunsmith Cats" a six out of ten stars, and it was a nice trip back down memory lane re-watching it 25 years after I watched it the first time.
So I revisited "Gunsmith Cats" - the original Japanese language version, of course, now in 2020. And I must say that, while "Gunsmith Cats" definitely shows signs of its age, it is still an anime that is quite entertaining and watchable. Sure, it is goofy and stereotypical, but it is enjoyable - and that is what matters.
The animation is adequate, although the drawing style itself is a bit outdated in my opinion. There wasn't as much attention to detail crammed into the episodes, nor was the style actually smooth enough - it was a bit old and gritty.
The voice acting - at least in the Japanese version - was good, and they had some talented performers here. However, I am puzzled though about why people in America, with American names and obviously not Japanese in heritage, were speaking Japanese. That just made no sense at all.
There is a good amount of action through the episodes to make it interesting, and the character build and development was adequate - perhaps a bit too light on the character development side. But it was two very lovable main characters - no doubt about that.
If you haven't already seen this 1995 anime, then you should do so if you get the chance. I am rating "Gunsmith Cats" a six out of ten stars, and it was a nice trip back down memory lane re-watching it 25 years after I watched it the first time.
Guilty Pleasure
guyb4 November 2001
I checked the DVD out of our library thinking it was for my 8 year old daughter. We watched the trailers (which she liked!) and I quickly realized it wasn't for kids. Since it was laying around, I peeked at one of the 25 minute episodes and got hooked. Interested how each episode gets one sexy "sneak peek" of one of the girls. I loved the art work. I just wish they had been more careful on picking the English voices for them. They didn't match the sexy but macho cute looks and actually sounded kind of tacky.
Better than the manga, better than a lot of anime
himitsu4 August 2001
Gunsmith Cats the OAV is based on Sonoda Kenichi's manga series, but is even better. Rally Vincent has a penchant for guns; her partner Minnie May Hopkins takes a liking to bombs. Rally runs a gun store and is approached by the ATF to cooperate with them on a sting. After being blackmailed into it because of a lack of a gun license, Rally and May get involved in a government conspiracy and pursued by a Russian assassin (who is, in my opinion, one of the greatest anime characters ever). The animation is not the greatest but well done, the voice actors are excellent (featuring Araki Kae in her only good role), the plot is engaging (though the ending wasn't stellar), the characters are very believable, and the music compliments the series perfectly. If you like action series or good anime, this is a must.
Good fun
Jeremy_Urquhart31 March 2024
Given this entire thing runs for just three episodes that are all a little under 30 minutes each, watching Gunsmith Cats in one sitting basically makes it a movie. However you want to judge it, it's pretty fun, following two young women who own a gun shop and get caught up in a dramatic scheme to take down an illegal gun running.
The miniseries/film keeps the tone light throughout, it's pretty breezy and has some good action, and I think I also have to give it props for not being quite as sleazy as it could've been (PG sleaze, really. "Pgleaze"?)
It's a fun and lesser-known piece of anime from the 1990s, and it made for an enjoyable watch.
The miniseries/film keeps the tone light throughout, it's pretty breezy and has some good action, and I think I also have to give it props for not being quite as sleazy as it could've been (PG sleaze, really. "Pgleaze"?)
It's a fun and lesser-known piece of anime from the 1990s, and it made for an enjoyable watch.
What's not to like?
ataru moroboshi15 March 2001
For the original audience, it was probably a look into America-- though not neccesarilly accurate with everything. Excellent animation-- especially the driving scenes and gun battles. Clever all the way around.
Looking at it with the Clinton years and the BATF, it becomes rather ironic: The heroine is a gun store owner while the villains were the head of the ATF and an anti-gun politician. If made in America, it would be labelled "right-wing propaganda."
Looking at it with the Clinton years and the BATF, it becomes rather ironic: The heroine is a gun store owner while the villains were the head of the ATF and an anti-gun politician. If made in America, it would be labelled "right-wing propaganda."
Great, that's all I need to say.
Rezultz14 November 2003
This was a good comic and a good 3 chapter series, there wasn't a moment where I lost interest. Not only did this movie emphasize on Rally as the main character, but it also gave May the chance to take down a worthy opponent, which shows her skills as well.
Like I said before, great work.
Like I said before, great work.
A disappointment
Locdog0720 March 1999
Well, I was looking forward to seeing this seeing as I enjoyed the Manga comic strips very much so, but after seeing the Anime version I was deeply disappointed. There is a total lack of realism for one. The seemingly massive explosions that are set off many a time only seem to slightly knock the wind out of people who are standing a few metres away. I was upset that they only managed to do each part for half an hour. If the plot had been deeper and longer, I'm sure that maybe it would have been more enjoyable, but unfortunately it seemed very unfulfilling when it ended. Still, I guess it had its moments....the animation wasn't awful, and the backgrounds were very well drawn.
The best Japanese animation about armed and dangerous women
bcnkor13 January 2022
Warning: Spoilers
Japan is the master of world animation, but it has also brought women as a protagonist, giving it the role of strong and dangerous armed forces. With an explosive combination, change the aggressive role of the man to the woman. And with time, that role has been taken to the cinema and to series. Losing on the way the great advice and values that gave the most traditional animation such as Heman or Walt Disney.
Gone In 60 Seconds
dbf197915 March 2006
A good example of the Japanese, Absorbing American TV of the 70's and 80's and beaming it back at Americans, With that definite Japanese twist.
If you enjoy action car shows like "Knight Rider"?, Then the corny loose plot, Weak Supporting cast and excessive explosions shouldn't bother you much.
However, I feel It should have been edited as one movie length story, Rather than 3 separate episodes, As the episodes aren't really that strong on their own? This is great 'Beer and Curry' light entertainment, Some nice Eye candy for a lazy afternoon and the fact that the show's creator, Does actually try to draw detail is a plus too.
If you enjoy action car shows like "Knight Rider"?, Then the corny loose plot, Weak Supporting cast and excessive explosions shouldn't bother you much.
However, I feel It should have been edited as one movie length story, Rather than 3 separate episodes, As the episodes aren't really that strong on their own? This is great 'Beer and Curry' light entertainment, Some nice Eye candy for a lazy afternoon and the fact that the show's creator, Does actually try to draw detail is a plus too.
Cats with Guns
DarthBill27 April 2004
Three part anime adaptation of the manga developed by Kenichi Sonoda in response to the cancellation of his "Riding Bean" series (which also had a one shot anime feature of its own).
Rally Vincent (originally a character in "Riding Bean") is a bounty hunter and gun store owner who, along with her short statured bomb loving partner Minnie May Hopkins, hunt down criminals for the right price. Then an ATF agent by name of Bill Collins shows up and he has dirty information on them that he uses to blackmail them into helping him uncover a gun ring which connects to both his boss and a crooked politician and eventually involves a giant hulking Russian assassin the size of a basketball player.
Kind of like a bizarre mix of "Lethal Weapon", "Blues Brothers", "Die Hard", and other big explosion action features. It's bright and it's funny and it'll kill time on a slow night.
Rally Vincent (originally a character in "Riding Bean") is a bounty hunter and gun store owner who, along with her short statured bomb loving partner Minnie May Hopkins, hunt down criminals for the right price. Then an ATF agent by name of Bill Collins shows up and he has dirty information on them that he uses to blackmail them into helping him uncover a gun ring which connects to both his boss and a crooked politician and eventually involves a giant hulking Russian assassin the size of a basketball player.
Kind of like a bizarre mix of "Lethal Weapon", "Blues Brothers", "Die Hard", and other big explosion action features. It's bright and it's funny and it'll kill time on a slow night.
"You gotta be tough in this town"
Irishchatter24 April 2019
Warning: Spoilers
I gotta say, this 3 part OVA was pretty well done and unbelievably underrated.
The characters were definitely enjoyable especially Radinov, whom I consider her one of the best villains that I have ever seen on an anime. Like literally she's a rare breed of an extreme bad guy type who does the job well lol. Hell the near ending was a shocker when she turned out to be alive all along and suddenly jumped at Rally who then killed her fully.
Definitely fans of Noir, V for Venus, Madlax, Black Lagoon, El Cazador de la Bruja, Trigun, Ex-Driver and many other anime should watch this if they haven't already!
The characters were definitely enjoyable especially Radinov, whom I consider her one of the best villains that I have ever seen on an anime. Like literally she's a rare breed of an extreme bad guy type who does the job well lol. Hell the near ending was a shocker when she turned out to be alive all along and suddenly jumped at Rally who then killed her fully.
Definitely fans of Noir, V for Venus, Madlax, Black Lagoon, El Cazador de la Bruja, Trigun, Ex-Driver and many other anime should watch this if they haven't already!
From badass fighters to giddy explosion experts
bhermann-4060831 March 2020
This short OVA is one of my new favorite animations which has a James Bond-y feel to it. It follows the story of Irene "Rally" Vincent and her partner, "Minnie" May Hopkins, a former prostitute, who run a gun shop named Gunsmith Cats in Chicago. They are also bounty hunters with Rally as an expert shooter and excellent shooter while Minnie is a giddy weapons expert. It is implied that Rally is lesbian due to the fact that Minnie lives with her and is occasionally intimate with her. In any case, she is a badass fighter in this series which has great storylines and characters, with even the dubbing of this series being great, as is the song and animation opening each episode. I wish the series had been longer because there's so much more that could have been done, especially with the themes of political and bureaucratic corruption. Due to all of this, I give this series its current rating.
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