The best kind of entertainment are the ones that make you question your personal beliefs. The entertainment that pulls at your emotions and makes you want to go out and change the world. That’s how I felt when I watched Gunslinger Girl. Unlike the happy go lucky anime I watched several weeks ago; Gunslinger Girl has a dark and melancholy feel to it but was undoubtedly one of the most compelling shows I have ever watched.
In Italy, a group called the Social Welfare Agency rescues young girls that are in horrific conditions in the hospital. Some of these girls are near death, mangled, and have severe birth defects that make them unable to function in the real world. Sure, this may sound like a touching and heartwarming situation… a group of people giving young girls a second chance at life. Aww. But… this agency rescues these girls, modifies their bodies with the latest cybernetic advancements, brainwashes them, and turns them into ruthless assassins that carry out the dirty work for the Italian Government. Yeah, this anime is not as “sweet” as it sounds. These girls, as young as 11 years old, are trained assassins that use assault weapons, pistols, and more. The show is violent, tragic, and almost painful to watch. Even though these girls have been brainwashed, they are still young children that struggle with their youth.
Gunslinger Girl is a show that is certainly not for the faint of the heart. The anime focuses on controversies that many people are afraid to question or even discuss, however, Gunslinger Girl is more than just a violent show about girls wielding powerful weapons. The characters have unique back stories, personalities, and relationships that really pull at your emotions. The children struggle with their past, the uncertainty of their futures, and with their emotions. Are their feelings manufactured along with their bodies? The anime executes a unique story that should not be missed.