Fact-checked by Grok 2 weeks ago

Speed Grapher

Speed Grapher is a television series produced by and aired for 24 episodes on from April 7, 2005, to September 29, 2005. Directed by Kunihisa Sugishima with series by Shin Yoshida and original character designs by , the series blends , , and genres in a dystopian exploring . Set ten years after a fictional "Bubble War" that exacerbated wealth disparities in , the plot centers on Tatsumi Saiga, a former war photographer who infiltrates an exclusive underground club and encounters Tennouzu, the daughter of a powerful figure. Through this meeting, Saiga acquires a supernatural ability to photograph and detonate objects, propelling him into conflicts against elite members of society who possess their own bizarre powers derived from extreme indulgences. The story critiques class divides and corruption among the ultra-wealthy, featuring graphic violence and mature themes that distinguish it from more conventional fare. Produced during Gonzo's of experimental , Speed Grapher received positive user for its unique premise and visual style, earning a weighted average rating of 7.67 on from over 2,600 ratings, though it lacks major industry awards. Licensed internationally by for North American release in 2006, the series has been noted for its unflinching portrayal of human depravity and societal critique without reliance on mainstream narrative sanitization.

Synopsis

Plot Overview

In the aftermath of the "Bubble War," an economic collapse that devastated Japan a decade prior, Tokyo has devolved into a dystopian landscape marked by extreme wealth inequality, where the impoverished majority toils amid ruins while a privileged elite indulges in grotesque fetishes at the secretive Club Baroque, an underground venue catering to the ultra-wealthy. Tatsumi Saiga, a seasoned war photographer retired from frontline combat, accepts a clandestine assignment to infiltrate Club Baroque and capture images of its central attraction, a young girl known as the "Divine Goddess," Kagura Tennouzu. During the operation, Kagura bestows upon Saiga a supernatural ability: any subject photographed through his camera lens detonates explosively, transforming him into the "Speed Grapher" and enabling him to combat threats with lethal precision. Saiga's encounter propels him into a perilous quest to liberate Kagura from the clutches of her father, Chouji Suitengu, the club's tyrannical overseer, and a network of affluent members who have similarly acquired bizarre, occupation-themed superpowers through exposure to Kagura's influence. The story progresses through episodic clashes with these empowered adversaries, each embodying facets of moral and societal corruption, gradually revealing an underlying conspiracy interconnecting the club's depravities with Japan's fiscal downfall and clandestine biological manipulations.

Characters

Protagonists and Allies

Tatsumi Saiga functions as the central , a seasoned photojournalist whose extensive experience documenting armed conflicts has rendered him emotionally numb to human suffering. Transitioning to freelance work for sensationalist tabloids in post-bubble , Saiga infiltrates the secretive Club seeking a groundbreaking image, inadvertently gaining an ability that enables his photographs to detonate targets when charged with intense emotion. This transformation restores his original drive for unvarnished truth-capture, rooted in a code that eschews harm to non-combatants and prioritizes evidentiary exposure of systemic abuses over exploitative spectacle, propelling him to safeguard while methodically dismantling the club's network through targeted documentation and confrontation. Kagura Tennozu emerges as the co-protagonist, the sheltered teenage daughter of the influential Tennozu financial empire, coerced by familial exploitation into performing as the "" at —a role entailing ritualistic kisses that activate recipients' deepest desires, manifesting as individualized superhuman powers termed . Her inherent naivety and lack of agency amid elite commodification position her as a catalyst for broader revelations of moral decay, with her vulnerability forging a causal bond with Saiga that motivates his redemptive arc; though non-combative, her presence directly enables alliances and escalates conflicts by amplifying adversaries' capabilities while symbolizing the innocence corrupted by unchecked power structures. Supporting allies bolster Saiga and Kagura's efforts through practical, non-supernatural means, underscoring contrasts with the antagonists' enhanced abilities. Hibari Ginza, a tenacious police detective harboring unrequited affection for Saiga, supplies investigative intelligence, surveillance, and direct intervention via her expertise in firearms—including custom gold-plated pistols—driven by personal loyalty rather than institutional mandate, often navigating ethical tensions between duty and attachment to advance their evasion and counteroffensives. Genba Hanagata, a disgraced ex-officer operating as , facilitates mobility and in urban pursuits, leveraging street-level knowledge and vehicular maneuvers to evade pursuits, embodying grounded amid the protagonists' extraordinary circumstances. These figures' reliance on skill, resources, and human networks highlights causal dependencies on empirical strategy over innate powers, enabling plot progression via logistical enablers like safe havens and intel that expose elite vulnerabilities without invoking .

Antagonists and Supporting Figures

Shinzen Tennōzu leads the Tennōzu Group, a vast financial conglomerate that amassed wealth following Japan's economic bubble burst, enabling her to orchestrate the Club as a clandestine venue for elite indulgences tied to and other obsessions. Her strategic use of her daughter 's bodily —which induces the "" virus granting superhuman abilities based on recipients' latent desires—positions her as the architect of a system perpetuating inequality through commodified excess, with her personal animosity toward fueling cover-up mechanisms that shield the club's operations from scrutiny. Chōji Suitengū functions as the club's de facto enforcer and operational head, a former orphan elevated through ruthless business tactics to command loyalty among subordinates via shared trauma and material incentives. As a Euphoric, he manipulates his blood into weapons or barriers, a capability activated by the virus aligning with his fixation on control and vengeance, thereby enforcing the club's hierarchy and eliminating threats to its financial underpinnings rooted in post-bubble elite privileges. Episodic antagonists among the Euphorics embody specific vices amplified by their professions, such as Kaoru Koganei (Lady Diamond), whose diamond-transmuting body and extendable crystalline nails reflect an obsession with invulnerability, enabling her to dominate confrontations while serving the club's voyeuristic spectacles. Similarly, Ran Yurigaoka manifests tattoos as tangible entities like spiders for entrapment, deriving from aesthetic fixations common in high-society estheticians, while Katsuji Kamiya's transformation into a utensil-limbed form caters to gluttonous excesses, illustrating how the causally links professional status to distorted capabilities that sustain episodic conflicts. Supporting figures reinforce systemic complicity, including Tsujidō, whose -enhanced olfaction allows remote tracking of adversaries without direct contact, aiding enforcement without personal ideological commitment, and Kikukawa, Shinzen's aide who handles administrative cover-ups to maintain the group's opacity. These roles highlight incentives like debt forgiveness or through the virus, which warp ordinary functions into obstructive mechanisms preserving elite decay.

Production

Development and Planning

Speed Grapher was developed as an original project by the studio , with planning commencing in 2004 for a 24-episode television series. Kunihisa Sugishima served as director, while Shin Yoshida handled series composition and contributed to scripting alongside writers such as Aya Yoshinaga and Yasuyuki . The series was structured around a mix of self-contained episodic narratives that progressively build toward a central conspiracy arc, emphasizing themes of societal decay and personal vice. The conception incorporated influences from aesthetics and storytelling, manifesting in a dystopian setting ten years after a fictional "Bubble War"—a cataclysmic event paralleling Japan's real-world asset price bubble burst in the early , which led to prolonged , rising , and reported spikes in suicides among the disenfranchised. Creative decisions included tying characters' abilities to their professions and latent desires amplified by an addictive substance called , reflecting a mechanistic view of human specialization where individual vices manifest as exaggerated capabilities under extreme conditions. Gonzo's production planning leveraged the studio's established digital , adopted since its founding in 2000, to address typical industry constraints on time and budget for original series; this approach enabled efficient handling of the project's action-heavy sequences and without relying on traditional methods.) The series was slated for broadcast on , premiering on April 8, 2005, and concluding on September 30, 2005, aligning with standard seasonal scheduling to maximize viewer engagement amid Japan's competitive television landscape.

Animation and Technical Aspects

Speed Grapher was animated by using predominantly traditional 2D techniques, eschewing the (CGI) commonly employed in the studio's contemporaneous projects such as Final Fantasy: Unlimited or Angelique. This avoidance of CGI prevented potential integration flaws that plagued other efforts, but the production still suffered from evident resource constraints, yielding animation characterized by inconsistent frame rates, jerky motion in dynamic sequences, and occasional blurriness. Reviews from 2005 onward consistently noted these shortcomings, attributing them to 's overburdened schedule during an expansion phase that included multiple high-profile series, leading to below-average visual polish for a mid-2000s television . Art direction under Koji Eto emphasized stark contrasts between decaying and opulent, distorted elite locales, with backgrounds in episodes depicting the Club Baroque fetish gatherings showcasing , exaggerated aesthetics to underscore themes of excess—such as ornate interiors marred by visceral horrors—though executed with limited fluidity in character interactions. sequences, while occasionally praised for in early episodes, devolved into choppy and static modeling, particularly for non-protagonist figures, reflecting the era's standard-definition constraints and studio prioritization of quantity over refinement. The original Japanese voice cast included Yuji Takada as Tatsumi Saiga, whose gravelly delivery suited the character's world-weary resolve, and Kei Shindou as Tennōzu, providing a vulnerable yet resilient tone amid escalating peril. These performances maintained professional emotional range despite directorial demands for heightened drama, though technical audio fidelity remained basic mixes typical of 2005 broadcasts, without advanced surround implementation until later home releases. Gonzo's output during this period, strained by financial pressures culminating in later insolvency, causally contributed to such unpolished execution, as evidenced by contemporaneous critiques linking quality dips to divided budgetary allocations across titles.

Media and Adaptations

Anime Series

Speed Grapher consists of 24 episodes, each approximately 24 minutes in length, produced by and directed by Kunihisa Sugishima. The series originally aired on in from April 8, 2005, to September 30, 2005, airing Fridays at 02:40 JST. The narrative structure employs an introductory episode establishing the core conflict, followed by 22 episodes primarily focused on individual villains empowered by the Euphoria virus—a granting abilities upon activation through specific catalysts—culminating in a finale resolving the overarching plot. This format centers on the protagonist Tatsumi Saiga's acquisition and use of a photography-based power derived from the virus, forming the canonical basis without variances in derivative media. Funimation Entertainment licensed the series for , releasing it on DVD volumes from July 4, 2006, to March 6, 2007, with uncut editions preserving the original mature content including violence and sexual themes. As of October 2025, no sequels, original video animations, or additional canonical content have been produced, maintaining the 2005 series as a self-contained work.

Manga

The manga adaptation of Speed Grapher was illustrated and written by Tomozo, serialized in MediaWorks' Monthly Dengeki Comic ! magazine from September 27, 2005, to 2006, and compiled into three volumes. As an of the 24-episode , the remains faithful to the core plot involving protagonist Saiga's photography-based and the Tenouzu club's , but its condensed three-volume format omits several episodic antagonists and subplots present in the televised series to maintain narrative momentum. It expands on internal monologues through text-heavy panels, allowing deeper insight into characters' psychological states, and extends key fight sequences with sequential artwork that builds tension via static framing, unhindered by animation's runtime constraints. Tomozo's art style features clean linework and dynamic layouts suited to the manga's action and supernatural elements, with hyper-detailed depictions of the series' decadence and perversion themes—such as ritualistic excess—leveraging the print medium's ability to linger on grotesque visuals without pacing dilution seen in animated sequences. Initial Japanese circulation was modest, reflecting the niche appeal of the source material amid 2005's competitive seinen market, but renewed English localization by Titan Comics—Volume 1 released April 2024, followed by subsequent volumes—has targeted urban fantasy enthusiasts, capitalizing on the anime's streaming availability to broaden accessibility beyond the out-of-print 2008 Tokyopop editions.

Light Novel

The Speed Grapher is a of the series, authored by Minoru Niki and published by Hayakawa Publishing in . The adaptation consists of three volumes released in 2005, with cover illustrations provided by the anime's original character designer. As a retelling, it adheres closely to the televised narrative while leveraging textual format to elaborate on internal monologues and environmental descriptions that complement the visual medium's constraints. The novels expand the source material's lore through detailed accounts of the Club Baroque's operations and the socioeconomic conditions in post-bubble economy , providing causal for the of "graphers" and the virus's engineered origins absent in condensed episodes. This format allows for psychological depth in characters like Saiga and Tennozu, depicting their motivations through introspective passages that underscore themes of moral decay without altering core plot events. Unlike original works, the functions as canon supplementary material, directly derived from the anime's scripts to enhance reader immersion in the dystopian underbelly. Availability remains limited outside , with no official English translation released as of October 2025, restricting access primarily to editions or fan communities. Early announcements of potential licensing, such as by in 2008, did not materialize into full publications, positioning the novels as niche extensions for dedicated fans seeking textual granularity.

Music

Soundtrack and Composition

The instrumental score for Speed Grapher was composed by Shinkichi Mitsumune, who integrated and orchestral elements to underscore the series' dystopian atmosphere and themes of . Mitsumune's approach emphasized tense, gritty motifs that aligned with the narrative's exploration of and abilities, using layered synths and strings to heighten unease during scenes of moral decay and high-stakes confrontation. This blend created a sonic palette that causally amplified the visual intensity, with rhythmic pulses and dissonant harmonies evoking and explosive power manifestations. The original soundtrack was released in two volumes by Geneon : the first on August 24, 2005, containing 23 tracks including cues like "Burst Shot Shutter Speed" for sequences and "City of Corruption" as the main theme; the second followed on February 22, 2006. These albums featured elements such as distorted electronic effects for grotesque depictions of indulgence and percussive bursts synchronized with on-screen explosions and combat pacing, enhancing temporal flow without overpowering dialogue or visuals. Mitsumune's scoring avoided overt lyricism, prioritizing atmospheric immersion that mirrored the protagonists' perceptual distortions from their "powers." No significant re-releases or remasters of the have occurred as of 2025, with the original CDs remaining the primary commercial availability for the instrumental tracks. This compositional restraint—favoring empirical over thematic excess—supported the series' critique of excess by letting auditory cues subtly reinforce causal links between power, vice, and consequence in key episodes.

Opening and Ending Themes

The opening theme for Speed Grapher is "" by the band , a track originally released in and licensed for use across all 24 episodes of the series. The song's lyrics, which depict the voyeuristic filming of glamorous models amid themes of and , align with the protagonist Tatsumi Saiga's photographic powers and the narrative's exploration of decadent elite fetishes in a post-economic collapse . Its upbeat tempo and energetic rhythm provide an ironic counterpoint to the 's grim depictions of corruption and human exploitation, heightening the satirical edge by evoking superficial allure over underlying moral decay. The series features two ending themes to reflect tonal shifts in the storyline. The first, "Hinageshi no Oka" ("Hill of Poppies") by Shione Yukawa, aired in episodes 1–12 and was released as a single on August 3, 2005, as part of the EP Midori no Arch / Hadaka no Oosama. Yukawa, a vocalist known for tie-ins, delivers a melancholic with imagery of isolated hills and fleeting connections, underscoring early episodes' focus on and quiet desperation amid societal extremes. This slower, reflective style facilitates emotional decompression after intense action sequences involving euphoric powers and class divides. The second ending, "Break the Cocoon" by Yoriko (also stylized as Yorico), a singer-songwriter, played in episodes 13–24 and was issued as a in by Universal Music. The title and lyrics evoke themes of emergence and transformation, paralleling the mid-series escalation where characters confront and shatter systemic , shifting from passive to active . Yoriko's rock-inflected performance adds a sense of urgency and release, contrasting the first ending's introspection while maintaining a fit with the plot's progression toward cathartic upheaval, though neither theme achieved significant commercial chart success beyond niche circulation in .

Themes and Analysis

Societal Critique and Decadence

Speed Grapher depicts Club Baroque, an underground venue where 's ultra-wealthy elite indulge in grotesque fetishes, as a symbol of moral and structural decay stemming from extreme economic polarization. Set a after the fictional "Bubble "—a cataclysmic financial collapse—the series illustrates how survivors among the rich exploit the impoverished masses, with the club's rituals representing unchecked hedonism amid scarcity. This mirrors the real Japanese asset price bubble's burst in , when stock prices plummeted 60% by mid-1992 and land values spiraled downward, fostering a "lost " of stagnation that widened wealth disparities as corporate wealth concentrated while wages stagnated for the majority. The virus central to the mechanizes by transforming individuals' obsessive desires into abilities, revealing causal pathways from personal to societal dysfunction: elites' fetishes evolve into weapons that perpetuate , as powers derive from perversions amplified by from consequence. In this framework, the virus acts as a literal catalyst for how affluence insulates the powerful, allowing base impulses to metastasize without restraint, thereby undermining collective stability—evident in episodes where club members' abilities ravage the . Reviewers interpret this as a pointed of desire's erosive potential when unbound by or , though some argue the prioritizes visceral over nuanced causation. Protagonist Saiga's camera-based power satirizes media's role in glorifying excess, as his explosive photographs capture and amplify the elite's depravities for public consumption, echoing real-world critiques of that normalize rather than expose roots. The series thus indicts how information flows reinforce , with complicit in perpetuating the very disparities it documents. However, detractors contend that Speed Grapher's reliance on graphic excesses risks diluting its commentary, favoring shock over substantive solutions to inequality's drivers, potentially rendering the critique more than analytical.

Power, Corruption, and Human Nature

In Speed Grapher, abilities manifest as direct extensions of individuals' professional roles and underlying vices, illustrating how amplifies latent personal flaws rather than originating solely from external structures. For instance, characters' powers derive from their obsessions—such as financial tied to banking expertise or destructive impulses linked to artistic pursuits—demonstrating that permeates all strata, not merely elites, as evidenced by the diverse members whose abilities reflect self-serving distortions regardless of prior status. This portrayal challenges notions of inherent by empirically tracing moral erosion to unchecked incentives for , where even ostensibly ordinary professions yield perverse outcomes when empowered. The series contrasts innate innocence, embodied in Tennōzu's untainted capacity to bestow powers, with the inevitable perversion of recipients, underscoring causal pathways from desire to decay: her ability activates only deepest compulsions, leading to self-destructive excess as users prioritize gratification over restraint. This first-principles depiction posits as predisposed to corruption under liberty, with events revealing how initial "gifts" devolve into tools of domination, absent external coercion. Villains like Chōji Suitengu serve as cautionary archetypes, their depth praised for embodying unchecked ambition's logical endpoint—systemic control via personal vice—rather than caricatures, though some analyses note inconsistencies in power mechanics that dilute causal coherence. Debates persist on the erotic elements, with critics arguing they risk glorifying amid corruption's , while defenders contend the raw depiction condemns depravity's inescapability, avoiding sanitized media portrayals that obscure incentives for vice. Fan perspectives often highlight this unflinching realism as a strength, countering "polite" objections by emphasizing the series' intent to expose 's role in normalizing perversion, though detractors cite uneven execution undermining thematic causality. Overall, the narrative privileges empirical observation of flawed over idealistic reforms, revealing as a mirror to unchanging impulses.

Release and Distribution

Broadcast and Initial Release

Speed Grapher premiered on on April 7, 2005, airing weekly in a late-night slot until its finale on September 29, 2005, for a total of 24 episodes. The series, produced by , completed its run without reported scheduling disruptions, aligning with the studio's output during that period. Initial home video distribution in occurred through Sony Pictures Entertainment, which issued twelve DVD volumes—each containing two episodes—from July 2005 to June 2006. Entertainment secured North American distribution rights in June 2005, launching subtitled and dubbed DVD releases starting July 4, 2006. This early licensing facilitated subtitled broadcasts on channels like Germany's Animax from June 2007 and the U.S. Independent Film Channel from March 2008.

Home Media and International Availability

In , Speed Grapher received a complete Blu-ray edition from Zenwami on April 9, 2021, compiling all 24 episodes without reported upgrades beyond standard high-definition transfer from the original masters. Earlier DVD releases were handled domestically following the 2005 broadcast, but no further remasters or editions have emerged as of 2025. North American home media debuted under ADV Films with six individual DVD volumes released between July 2006 and March 2007, each containing four episodes, followed by a Complete Series Collection box set on March 10, 2009. ADV's closure in 2009 prompted the transfer of numerous licenses, including Speed Grapher, to , which maintained physical distribution remnants while prioritizing digital formats. No new physical releases or HD remasters have followed under Funimation or its successor entities. Streaming availability shifted to following Funimation's integration, with the full series accessible since at least 2022 in English-dubbed and subtitled versions across regions supporting the platform. Digital purchases remain options via Amazon Video and in and select international markets, though geographic restrictions persist due to licensing. The series' TV-MA rating for explicit violence, sexuality, and themes of has confined it to adult-oriented distribution channels, barring mainstream retail expansions or youth-targeted editions. As of October 2025, no additional dubs, regional variants, or format evolutions—such as UHD Blu-ray—have been announced, despite 2024 re-releases by Titan Comics potentially elevating ancillary interest without altering accessibility. This static landscape underscores modest post-broadcast proliferation, reliant on legacy DVD stocks and subscription streaming for sustained availability.

and Impact

Critical Response

Speed Grapher received mixed reviews from professional critics, who praised its satirical take on societal and while frequently criticizing its inconsistent quality and pacing. Anime News Network reviewer Zac Bertschy, in his July 6, 2006, assessment of the first DVD volume, highlighted the series' over-the-top premise as "totally silly" and difficult to take seriously, pointing to erratic editing and sub-par visuals that undermined the narrative's ambitions. Theron Martin, in multiple Anime News Network reviews from 2006-2007, echoed concerns about animation shortcomings, describing it as hampered by "truly bad writing" in places, though he noted improvements in storytelling and compelling villainy that sustained interest for dedicated viewers. Critics often contrasted the show's thematic depth—exploring power imbalances and human depravity through its Club Baroque setting—with execution flaws, such as blurry and inadequate animation from studio . A THEM Anime review acknowledged the "intriguing concept" and "fascinating" Chouji Suitengu, deeming it subjectively enjoyable for fans of infused with erotic elements, yet faulted the visuals as "runny and blurry at [their] very worst," limiting its broader appeal. The explicit content, sometimes labeled gratuitous or "pornographic" by detractors, was defended by some as integral to its critique of elite excess, rather than mere titillation, aligning with the series' unapologetic genre-blending of and . Later retrospectives positioned Speed Grapher as a "forgotten gem" within niche circles for its prescient insights into , despite lacking major awards or widespread acclaim; Anime News Network's volume reviews averaged grades in the B- to C+ range, reflecting this ambivalence toward its bold ideas versus technical inconsistencies. No major industry honors were bestowed, underscoring its status as an underappreciated experiment in erotic-thriller rather than a critical darling.

Commercial Performance and Popularity

Speed Grapher's Japanese television broadcast on from April 8 to September 30, 2005, achieved limited viewership, consistent with Gonzo's mid-tier productions during an era of anime market saturation, though specific ratings data remains scarce in public records. Home video sales in , including DVD box sets released around 2005-2006, did not rank among top performers, with resale listings indicating niche collector demand rather than widespread commercial dominance. In , Entertainment licensed the series in 2006 following ADV Films' initial involvement, releasing it on DVD and airing it on the from March 7 to August 15, 2008, but it underperformed relative to contemporaries like Gonzo's , which benefited from broader international marketing and celebrity dubbing. Streaming availability on platforms such as has sustained modest accessibility, with user engagement metrics on showing approximately 43,000 scored entries and a 7.29 average rating as of 2025, reflecting a without mainstream breakout. The 2024 English manga re-release by Titan Comics, starting with volume 1 on April 23 at $12.99 MSRP after Tokyopop's partial 2008-2009 edition, signals residual interest tied to the 's mature themes, yet lacks evidence of significant sales revival.

Fan Perspectives and Legacy

Fans have praised Speed Grapher for its prescient critique of elite greed and societal , with a November 2024 discussion describing the series as "so ahead of its time" in its "insane" creative depiction of , countering perceptions of inconsistency in mainstream narratives. This view aligns with fan appreciation for its innovative superpower mechanics tied to personal desires, which some argue deliver a raw anti- message absent in sanitized media portrayals. However, detractors among viewers highlight pacing issues, noting a fast start that slumps in the middle before a rushed conclusion, alongside unresolved plot elements that leave minor threads dangling despite an overarching arc. The series' explicit content, including depictions of sex cults, fetish-based powers, and , has sparked divided fan responses, with some defending it as essential to illustrating causal links between unchecked desires and societal decay, rather than mere exploitation. Others criticize these elements as overly uncomfortable or trope-heavy, contributing to its niche appeal and discomfort for broader audiences, though proponents contend this unfiltered approach avoids politically sanitized filters in favor of realism. A 2011 analysis suggested its shock value could foster a comparable to B-movies like , emphasizing its endurance among those valuing gritty noir over conventional storytelling. In terms of , Speed Grapher maintains a cult status without direct adaptations or sequels since its 2005 release, influencing minor cyberpunk-themed works through its dystopian fusion of , fetishes, and elite corruption, though it remains underappreciated amid the post-2020 boom. As of 2025, fan forums continue calling for reappraisal, positioning it as a forgotten gem for its uncompromised exploration of over commercial trends.

References

  1. [1]
    Speed Grapher (TV) - Anime News Network
    Plot Summary: Ten years after the Bubble War, the dichotomy between the rich and the poor in the world becomes more prominent and Japan is no exception.
  2. [2]
    https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2006-03-15/new-australia-licenses
  3. [3]
    Speed Grapher - MyAnimeList.net
    Ten years after the Bubble War, the dichotomy between the rich and the poor in the world becomes more prominent and Japan is no exception.Reviews · Recommendations · Manga · Kagura Tennouzu
  4. [4]
    Speed Grapher (TV Series 2005) - IMDb
    Rating 7.1/10 (1,141) The plot starts out like every other anime story just setting it up but once it goes, it really goes. ... Release date · April 7, 2005 (Japan). Countries of ...
  5. [5]
    Anime: Speed Grapher - AniDB
    Nov 16, 2008 · Speed Grapher is a 24-episode TV series about Saiga Tatsumi, a war photographer who gains the power to make things explode when photographed.
  6. [6]
    Speed Grapher (TV Series 2005) - Plot - IMDb
    Ten years after the Bubble War, the dichotomy between the rich and the poor in the world becomes more prominent and Japan is no exception.Missing: anime | Show results with:anime
  7. [7]
    Speed Grapher: A Forgotten Anime Gem About Money and Corruption
    Jul 25, 2022 · Speed Grapher is about a photographer in a dystopian world who gains a power to destroy with photos, exploring corruption and wealth in a dark, ...<|control11|><|separator|>
  8. [8]
    Tatsumi Saiga - Heroes Wiki - Fandom
    Tatsumi Saiga is the protagonist of the anime Speed Grapher. He is a photojournalist who discovers the elements and clues relating to wars.
  9. [9]
    Characters in Speed Grapher - TV Tropes
    Protagonists: Tatsumi, Saiga, Kagura, Tennozu, Hibari, Ginza, Roppongi Club. Higher-Ups: Shinzen, Tennozu, Chouji, Suitengu, Tsujido, Makabe, Niihari & Kikukawa
  10. [10]
    List of Speed Grapher characters | Manga Wiki - Fandom
    Speed Grapher's main character is Tatsumi Saiga, a veteran war journalist who now survives on photographing for tabloids. He discovers the Roppongi Club while ...Main characters · Tatsumi Saiga · Tokyo Police Department · Chief Ekoda
  11. [11]
    Characters appearing in Speed Grapher Anime
    Main Characters ; Kagura TENNOUZU. Tags. Teenager ; Tatsumi SAIGA. Tags. Adult · Facial Hair · Photographer · Scar · Smoker · Superpowers.
  12. [12]
    Speed Grapher - Characters & Staff - MyAnimeList.net
    Characters, voice actors, producers and directors from the anime Speed Grapher on MyAnimeList, the internet's largest anime database.Missing: plot summary
  13. [13]
    Speed Grapher - AF3 - Anime Family
    Kagura is actually the daughter of the wealthiest, most powerful women in the world, Tennouzu Shinsen, who hates her daughter to the point of imprisoning ...
  14. [14]
    Suitenguu, Chouji - MyAnimeList
    He is a Euphoria with the ability to manipulate his own blood and use it at will to attack and defend. He carries around a music box that belonged to his ...
  15. [15]
    Kaoru Koganei - MyAnimeList.net
    Best known as Lady Diamond. Her Euphoric power is to turn her entire body into diamond, becoming almost indestructible. She can also extend her fingernails ...
  16. [16]
    Yurigaoka, Ran - MyAnimeList
    An esthetician whose Euphoric power enabled him to make the tattoos on his skin a reality. His most commonly used tattoos are the large spider on his back, ...
  17. [17]
    Katsuji Kamiya - MyAnimeList.net
    He also has a Euphoric power in which he becomes a huge, deformed spider-like creature with a huge head, spider legs with eating utensils attached, and a ...
  18. [18]
    Tsujidou - MyAnimeList.net
    His Euphoria power is super enhanced olfaction, allowing to smell his enemies miles away (unlike most Euphorias, Tsujidou does not require a physical ...
  19. [19]
    Speed Grapher/Characters | Tropedia - Fandom
    The ruthless, domineering and abusive mother of Kagura. ... She highly resents her daughter for being a constant reminder of her father and how he let her down ...
  20. [20]
    Speed Grapher - jasonuity
    Jan 8, 2024 · The anime's plot was that Saiga investigates a weird sex cult of politicians and others, ala Eyes Wide Shut, and is granted his innermost desire by an out-of- ...Missing: inspirations cyberpunk bubble Japan
  21. [21]
    Speed Grapher - Anime Reviews by crimson - AniDB
    Oct 13, 2005 · Apparantly it seems like Gonzo blew all of its budget on the other two titles, making the overal graphical quality of this anime below average.
  22. [22]
    Review of Speed Grapher
    'Hentai' might be the perfect word to describe "Speed Grapher." There's no genitalia on screen, but even in the first episode, there are fairly hardcore ...
  23. [23]
    Speed Grapher - THEM Anime Reviews 4.0
    Speed Grapher. Synopsis. In the aftermath of a devastating world war, Japan has embraced capitalism to the point of extreme gentrification and has become ...
  24. [24]
    Speed Grapher: anime review
    Jan 11, 2009 · And for the disappointing part, the animation quality falls far behind current standard of anime. It looks cheap and disturbingly jerky and ...Missing: CGI | Show results with:CGI
  25. [25]
    Speed Grapher - Reviews - MyAnimeList.net
    Bottom line: 8 If u are a looking for a good show that focuses on corruption and greed as well as fun action and good character build up and a good old revenge ...
  26. [26]
    REVIEW - SPEED GRAPHER
    Jun 20, 2009 · Saiga Tatsumi is a former war photographer who has turned to the freelance tabloid business to earn money. Through a series of events, he finds ...<|separator|>
  27. [27]
    Speed Grapher (2005) - TMDB
    Rating 7/10 (38) Series Cast · Kei Shindo as Kagura Tennouzu (voice) · Kei Shindo · Yuji Takada as Tatsumi Saiga (voice). Yuji Takada · Toshiyuki Morikawa as Chouji Suitengu (voice).Missing: actors | Show results with:actors
  28. [28]
    Speed Grapher - Kouhyou - WordPress.com
    Aug 16, 2015 · Gonzo, the now dormant/defunct animation studio due to financial reasons, has always been temperamental in their offerings, ranging from the ...Missing: limitations | Show results with:limitations
  29. [29]
    REVIEW: Speed Grapher 3 LE - Forum - Anime News Network
    Nov 17, 2006 · Ouch! Considering how little most people think of the animation and art in Trinity Blood, Speed Grapher must REALLY not stand up.
  30. [30]
    Speed Grapher - Reviews - MyAnimeList.net
    Speed Grapher is a satire anime which attempts at black humor. It specifically parodies fetish anime, and the anime relies heavily on sexual themes (ESPECIALLY ...
  31. [31]
    speed grapher - How did Suitengu's Euphoria Virus activate?
    Jan 14, 2014 · In order for the Euphoria Virus to activate, the virus carrier has to come in contact with an enzyme which can be found in Kagura's bodily fluids.Missing: plot element
  32. [32]
    Speed Grapher - Dubbing Wikia - Fandom
    Saiga, once a war photographer, works for Hibara Ginza in the capitalist state of Tokyo. He infiltrates into Roppongi Club, a secretive base located in the red ...Cast · Additional Voices · Video Releases
  33. [33]
    Speed Grapher - MangaUpdates
    Apr 17, 2025 · Tomozo. Year. 2005. Original Publisher. MediaWorks. Serialized In (magazine). Dengeki Comic Gao! (MediaWorks). Licensed (in English). Yes.
  34. [34]
    EXCLUSIVE: Titan Manga Unveils First Look at Speed Grapher ...
    Jun 26, 2025 · The anime series ran for 24 episodes. Tomozo serialized the manga in MediaWorks' Monthly Dengeki Comic Gao! magazine in Japan from September 27, ...
  35. [35]
    Speed Grapher–Paparazzi fantasy manga arrives in English - borg
    Apr 19, 2024 · The violence and tone put this unique fantasy story in the mature teen category. Former war photographer Saiga is now a paparazzi, looking for ...
  36. [36]
    SPEED GRAPHER VOL. 1 [Review] - Kabooooom!
    Feb 18, 2025 · The girl, Kagura Tennōzu, is a scion of the notorious Tennōzu Group. She is also, unbeknownst to herself, a catalyst, who can awaken ...
  37. [37]
    Exclusive: Titan Comics Releases Speed Grapher Manga in Print in ...
    Aug 18, 2023 · The first volume will launch in April 2024, and is available for pre-order on Amazon and Forbidden Planet. Titan Comics describes its story: In ...
  38. [38]
    Speed Grapher Vol.1 - Titan Comics
    Feb 18, 2025 · A troubled war photographer attempts to save a 15-year-old girl from a sinister cabal. Perfect for fans of urban fantasy and Shonen manga.
  39. [39]
    News Tokyopop Adds Anime-Based Speed Grapher Manga, Novel
    Mar 17, 2008 · Japan's Hayakawa Publishing originally published the novelization in three volumes in 2005 with cover illustrations by the anime's original ...
  40. [40]
    SPEED GRAPHER ORIGINAL SOUND TRACK 1 | GDDL-1002P
    Jun 30, 2010 · Commercial, Enclosure (CD) published by GONZO on Aug 24, 2005 containing original soundtrack, vocal from SPEED GRAPHER.
  41. [41]
    Shinkichi Mitsumune - VGMdb
    Mar 28, 2008 · Shinkichi Munemitsu, birthdate Oct 8, 1963, birthplace Fukuoka, Japan, credited works 141 albums in database, 7 products in database.
  42. [42]
    Speed Grapher Original Soundtrack — 光宗信吉 - Last.fm
    ... composer who writes music primarily for animated television series. His ... Kotaro Nakagawa. 47,894 listeners. Avatar for Kotaro Nakagawa. 大谷幸. 103,674 ...
  43. [43]
    SPEED GRAPHER Original Sound Track 2 | GDDL-1008P - VGMdb
    Jun 30, 2010 · Catalog Number, GDDL-1008P ; Barcode, 4560229550206 ; Release Date, Feb 22, 2006 ; Publish Format, Commercial, Enclosure ; Release Price, 7980 JPY ( ...
  44. [44]
    Speed Grapher Complete Soundtrack - YouTube
    Speed Grapher Complete Soundtrack · Burst Shot Shutter Speed | Speed Grapher OST · City of Corruption (Main Theme) | Speed Grapher OST · The Bankroll King ( ...
  45. [45]
    Speed Grapher piano sheets, please? [Archive] - Ichigo's Forums
    Feb 7, 2008 · they're from the anime Speed Grapher and the composer is Shinkichi Mitsumune. they're all reaally beautiful pieces! PM me for the mp3 if needed, ...Missing: style analysis
  46. [46]
    Speed Grapher | Duran Duran Wiki - Fandom
    The series ran for 24 episodes from April to October 2005 on TV Asahi and later released in North America by Funimation Entertainment. The series tells the ...Missing: OST | Show results with:OST
  47. [47]
    ‎Hinageshi No Oka - Song by Shione Yukawa - Apple Music
    Hinageshi No Oka. Midori No Arch / Hadaka No Osama - EP Shione Yukawa August 3, 2005. Preview. Performing Artists. Shione Yukawa. Vocals, Background Vocals.
  48. [48]
    Speed Grapher - Manga Wiki - Fandom
    Speed Grapher (スピードグラファー Supīdo Gurafā?) is a 2005 anime series created by Gonzo. The series ran for 24 episodes from April to October 2005 on TV ...
  49. [49]
    Japan's Lost Decade --- Policies for Economic Revival
    The bubble in Japanese stock prices burst in 1990 and, by mid-1992, equity prices had fallen by about 60 percent. Land prices began their downward spiral a year ...
  50. [50]
    Speed Grapher - THEM Anime Reviews 4.0
    Animation is also not a strong point in Speed Grapher. Being a GONZO studio production, there are moments where the animation quality dips and this weakness ...Missing: limitations | Show results with:limitations
  51. [51]
    Speed Grapher - Book Ichor
    Aug 16, 2014 · However there are quite a lot of changes, such as the rubber-man having more focus and some very big changes that might upset fans of the anime ...Missing: novelization | Show results with:novelization
  52. [52]
    Speed Grapher - Reviews - Anime-Planet
    SPEED GRAPHER's story of political corruption revolves around a social club for the elite that caters to sexual desires of it's overly-wealthy clientel. This ...
  53. [53]
    Sarcasm+Reviews: Speed Grapher - Anime - Amino Apps
    Aug 18, 2017 · Speed Grapher is a noir, gritty action anime that blends high concept philosophy and societal observations with a villain of the day format in a ...
  54. [54]
    Speed Grapher - All The Tropes
    The series ran for 24 episodes from April to October 2005. The series was licensed for release in North America by FUNimation Entertainment in 2006 and has been ...
  55. [55]
    Girls on Film: "Speed Grapher" is Dirty, Disturbing Entertainment.
    Apr 17, 2008 · Tatsumi Saiga is a former war photographer who found erotic satisfaction in his job. While investigating a secret club of the rich and famous, ...<|separator|>
  56. [56]
    "Speed Grapher" is a smart but sick ride - The Point
    She is essentially a perfect Mary-Sue who has no real flaws. She's innocent and comes from a rich family. Even with her background, she cares for the people in ...Missing: analysis | Show results with:analysis
  57. [57]
    SPEED GRAPHER - TheTVDB.com
    TheTVDB.com Series ID 78972 · Status Ended · First Aired April 7, 2005 · Recent September 29, 2005 · Airs Monday, at 12:15am · Network TV Asahi · Average Runtime 25 ...<|separator|>
  58. [58]
    https://solarisjapan.com/products/speed-grapher-vol-1-directors-cut-edition-limited-edition
  59. [59]
    FUNimation Has 'Speed Grapher' - ICv2
    Jun 20, 2005 · FUNimation Productions announced the acquisition of North American rights to Speed Grapher, a stylish 24-episode near future thriller from ...<|separator|>
  60. [60]
    SPEED GRAPHER Zenwami Blu-ray (Complete Episodes) - CDJapan
    30-day returnsSPEED GRAPHER Zenwami Blu-ray (Complete Episodes) ; Points You Earn, 3% (540p) ; Release Date, April 09, 2021 ; Availability, In Stock at Supplier:Usually ships in ...
  61. [61]
    Speed Grapher (2005) - Blu-ray.com
    Rating 7.4/10 (11) Runtime, 600 min ; Rated, TV-MA ; Technical details, 1.78:1 ; Movie plot tags. No plot tags ; Director: Kunihisa Sugishima
  62. [62]
    Speed Grapher: Complete Series Viridian Collection DVD
    Speed Grapher: Complete Series Viridian Collection DVD Release Date March 10, 2009. DVD reviews, news, specs, ratings, screenshots. Cheap DVD movies and ...
  63. [63]
    https://www.crunchyroll.com/series/GRWEJGZQR/speed-grapher
  64. [64]
    Speed Grapher - streaming tv show online - JustWatch
    Rating 38% (74) Rating. JustWatch Rating. 38% (74). IMDB. 7.1 (1k) ; Genres. Crime, Animation, Romance, Action & Adventure, Drama, Classic Japanese Anime ; Runtime. 24min ; Age ...
  65. [65]
    Titan Licenses 'Speed Grapher' Manga - ICv2
    Aug 21, 2023 · The first volume of the series will go on sale on April 23, 2024, with an MSRP of $12.99. ... October 24, 2025. Celebrate the King in ...
  66. [66]
    Speed Grapher DVD 1 - Review - Anime News Network
    Jul 6, 2006 · The biggest and most obvious is that the show is trying extremely hard to be edgy and winds up being lame; by cramming in as much extreme ...
  67. [67]
    Speed Grapher DVD 4 - Review - Anime News Network
    If anyone needs further convincing that the English dub for Speed Grapher is clearly superior to the original Japanese version, just listen to ...
  68. [68]
    Speed Grapher DVD 6 - Review - Anime News Network
    Review. by Theron Martin, Apr 3rd 2007. Speed Grapher ... Bullet/Bullet Episodes 1-8 Anime Series Review ... Sword of the Demon Hunter Episodes 1-13 Anime Series ...
  69. [69]
    Speed grapher is one of my favorite animes of all time but nobody ...
    Nov 20, 2024 · The creative endeavor that is Speed Grapher is so insane, I don't know why its never talked about, it was so ahead of its time.Why is Speed Grapher never recommended? : r/anime - Reddit(RECO) Speed Grapher (Anime Series 2005) : r/dvdcollection - RedditMore results from www.reddit.com
  70. [70]
    What has been the most uncomfortable/awkward scene for you to see?
    Dec 10, 2024 · These two scenes in particular were the club scene and the family tent scene. ... r/anime - Classic Engrish voice acting [Speed Grapher]. 83 ...Missing: Baroque | Show results with:Baroque
  71. [71]
    What are some of the most taboo/controversial anime of all time?
    Sep 17, 2024 · Sex cults, dick girls, pregnant women getting fucked and pissing, rape or pseudo rape via plot device—and a dude putting a shotgun in a girls ...Speed grapher is one of my favorite animes of all time but nobody ...Not every scene with nudity or sexual implications is fanservice, yet ...More results from www.reddit.com
  72. [72]
    Speed Grapher Doesn't Have Speed or Graphing | Awesomely Shitty
    Aug 26, 2011 · Speed Grapher, the 2005 anime series from Studio Gonzo, features neither speed nor graphing ... production. Reply. Glenn Davey's avatar ...
  73. [73]
    Why is Speed Grapher never recommended? : r/anime - Reddit
    Jan 30, 2012 · I think it goes unrecommended mostly because a relatively small number have seen it to begin with. Personally, I think it was good but not spectacular in any ...