Anime Reviews (2010-2019): The Silver Guardian – The Complete Series (a Neo-Tokyo 2099 Anime on Blu-ray)

If you enjoy anime series with RPG video game elements, then definitely give “The Silver Guardian” a try!

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TITLE: The Silver Guardian – The Complete Series

DURATION: Episodes 1-12 (Season 1) and Episodes 1-6 (Season 2) (300 Minutes)

BLU-RAY INFORMATION: 1080p High Definition (16×9), English Dolby TrueHD 5.1, Japanese Dolby TrueHD 2.0, Subtitles: English

COMPANY: Funimation

RATED: TV PG

Release Date: December 4, 2018

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Directed by Ohkura Masahiko

Series Composition: Kimura Hidefumi, Ohkura Masahiko

Character Design by Tsubata Yoshiaki

Music by Seki Minako

Anime Production: Emon Animation Company

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Featuring the following voice talent:

Saitou Yuka/Amber Lee Connors as Rei

Fukuyama Jun/Kyle Phillips as Suigin

Goto Yuko/Apphia Yu as Koshiriko

Nishida Nozomi/Brittney Karbowski as Farin

Hirakawa Daisuke/Christopher Wehkamp as Eeyuu

Daman Mills as Silicon

Tani Atsuki/David Wald as Temujin

Mizuki Nana/Elizabeth Maxwell as Phoebe

Miyamoto Mitsuru/Ian Sinclair as Ling

Matsumoto Sara/Jad Saxton as Wanchoi

Suzuki Yuuto/Jason Liebrecht as Ranshou

Jeff Johnson as Kitakaze

Sugo Takayuki/John Swasey as Riku Yuuki

Namikawa Daisuke/Josh Grelle as Wild Wolf

Monica Rial as Shin/Twin Star/Wei

Akesaka Satomi/Morgan Garrett as Elle

Sara Ragsdale as Maki

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Suigin and Rei both play the MMORPG Dungeon Century. But after adventuring together for weeks, the game’s servers shut down to make way for the latest world-altering title. Grave Buster—a video game proclaiming “reality beyond reality” hits the shelves, and Rei is pulled into it by forces unknown. Now it’s up to Suigin to rescue her from the virtual world, no matter the cost.

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Back in 2015, the Chinese web manhua created by Ling Meng and illustrator Ming Xung made its debut and was published by Tencent.

In 2017, the web manhua anime adaptation was created as a China/Japan collaboration between Emon and was directed by Ohkura Masahiko for Tokyo MX.

A total of two seasons (18 episodes) were produced and now they are available on Blu-ray/DVD courtesy of Funimation.

The series revolves around a teenage boy named Sui Gin, a poor high school student who works many part-time jobs and despite his failing grades due to working too much, he is great at online video gaming, especially on the MMORPG “Dungeon Century”.

No one really knows that Sui Gin is a great player but one person, his classmate Riku Lei (who’s father created “Dungeon Century”).  The two are unaware that they have played as teammates and online, they care deeply for each other.

As the two are often playing online,  it was announced that the game’s servers will be shutting down in order to make way for the company’s new game, “Grave Buster”.

And while Sui Gin and Riku Lei play together for the last time, someone mysteriously kills Riku Lei’s father. Meanwhile, Sui Gin tends to have dreams that he knows Riku Lei’s father, as it reminds him of a grandfather which he hasn’t seen for a very long time.

When Sui Gin hears what happened, he goes to offer his condolences to Riku Lei and a message on a special smartphone left to Sui Gin by the deceased.

Sui Gin finds out that from her father that Rei is not his real daughter and that she was adopted when her real parents were killed by an evil organization trying to steal the powers of a sleeping goddess and he is a Guardian.  His role was to protect the tomb of the goddess from people who wants its power.  Also, revealed…he is Sui Gin’s grandfather and that he will have a familiar to protect him named Twin Star.

For one, he must protect Riku Lei and left in his online gaming account is tremendous amount of money.

Meanwhile, debt collectors come to see Riku Lei and next thing you know they try to kidnap her.  Sui Gin tries to rescue her and is beaten up.  He tries to save her with the money he received to save her life and pay off her debt but finds out that the money he received from his grandfather is only for the game and can’t be withdrawn.

As the men kidnap, he tries his best to save her but when he follows them to the freeway, he finds the car the debt collectors driving having crashed.  A mysterious man appears and takes Riku Lei and brings her into the video game.

Now Sui Gen must enter the world of “Grave Buster” and find a way to save Riku Lei.

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VIDEO:

“The Silver Guardian” is created in 1080p High Definition (16×9 HD Native). The episodes are colorful and for the most part, Emon Animation Company did a good job.  I don’t think I’ve ever heard or seen any works from Emon before but I was quite pleased with the overall animation and character designs.

AUDIO & SUBTITLES:

“The Silver Guardian” is presented in Japanese and English Dolby TrueHD 2.0.  Dialogue, music and sound effects are crystal clear through the front channels.

SPECIAL FEATURES:

“The Silver Guardian comes with the following special features:

• Textless Opening Song
  
• Textless Closing Songs
• Trailers – Trailers for upcoming or currently available titles from FUNimation.

EXTRAS:

“The Silver Guardian” The Complete Series comes with the Blu-ray and DVD for both season 1 and 2 and a Funimation digital code.

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I am a big fan of anime series that tend to have a storyline featuring video gaming and RPG elements, especially acting and also dramatic elements.

From “.Hack” to “Sword Art Online”, I supposed that anime such as “The Silver Guardian” will appeal to viewers who enjoy video games especially online RPG’s and not expecting anything too deep.

“The Silver Guardian” is a series that begins with more of a fun, lighthearted tale about a poor guy named Sui Gin, who is always working, doesn’t have time to study but gives it his all in his online gaming interest, which happens to be the MMORPG, “Dungeon Century”.

Through the game, unlike reality, he is able to develop friendships and possibly romance, something much different than how his real life is.

But when “Dungeon Century” is killed and a classmate’s father is assassinated and for some reason, he feels a closeness to his classmate’s father for some reason.  The classmate is Riku Lei, who happens to be the girl that he plays with online and feels very close to her.

He learns that the girl’s father is not her real father, but happens to be his grandfather and it sets the wheels in motion where he becomes one of the most wealthy gamers for the new game “Grave Buster” but to make things even more challenging, Riku Lei has been kidnapped and has been whisked away to the online world.

Now Sui Gin must recruit other fighters to be on his team and prepare for the next battle ahead in order to rescue Riku Lei.

Throw in a multitude of antagonists that Sui Gin and others must take on and you get a storyline similar to a video game RPG.  The only difference is that you get a form of closure with a video game, while “The Silver Guardian” has a second season but for some reason, there is only six episodes.

One can hope the series continues because I was really getting into the series but it ends a bit abruptly.  I have not read the manhua, so not sure how far this anime goes when compared to Ling Meng’s storyline, considering the manhua is still ongoing.

But I will say that I enjoyed the series and while it may not be as deep or captivating when compared to “.Hack” or “Sword Art Online” but “The Silver Guardian” has its own style, different concept and is entertaining so far.

If you enjoy anime series with RPG video game elements, then definitely give “The Silver Guardian” a try!