Topic: Tom's TV Pilots marathon

[Tom]

Ghost Whisperer: Season One (2005/United States) IMDb | Wikipedia CBS DVD (United States) Length: 963 min. Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 1.78 Audio: English: Dolby Digital 5.1, Commentary: Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround Subtitles:

Plot:
Melinda Gordon (Jennifer Love Hewitt) is a young newlywed with the unique gift to communicate with spirits of people who have died - a talent that was inherited from her grandmother.

The dead seek out Melinda's ability to help them relay significant messages and information to the living. Despite her fear, compassion compels her to help these earthbound spirits cross over by completing their unfinished business with the living. Relive these amazing journeys in all 22 first-season episodes.


Ghost Whisperer
1.01 Pilot
Writer: John Gray (Writer)
Director: John Gray
Cast: Jennifer Love Hewitt (Melinda Gordon), Aisha Tyler (Andrea Moreno), David Conrad (Jim Clancy), Wentworth Miller (Sgt. Paul Adams), Jon Polito (Joe Grimaldi), Rodney Scott (Dan Clancy), June Squibb (Melinda's Grandmother), Grace Fulton (Young Malinda), Eddie Jones (Older Man), Deborah Strang (Thin Women), Balthazar Getty (Michael), Allison McDonell (Vera Adams), Diane Dorsey (Coffee Drinker), William Marquez (Older Man), John Eric Bentley (Army Chaplain)

It's a good pilot episode. Not necessarily something which gets you hooked, but it does a good job introducing the characters and the premise.
I enjoyed the first season of this series. But I got really bored with the second season and never bothered picking up the rest of the series.

Rating:

[addicted2dvd]

One of my all-time favorite series! 

[Tom]

Filmation's Ghostbusters: Volume One (1986/United States) IMDb | Wikipedia (United States) Length: 688 min. Video: Full Frame 1.33:1 Audio: English: Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo, Spanish: Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo Subtitles:

Plot:
With the cry of "Let's go, Ghostbusters!," Jake Kong Jr., and Eddie Spenser Jr. are following in their fathers' footsteps and have teamed-up with the original gorilla sidekick, Tracy, to become the new Ghostbusters! From their base of operations in Ghost Command, the Ghostbusters are always ready to battle Prime Evil and his never-ending army of bewitching monsters who are out to haunt the Earth! With its spookily cool animation and imaginatively colorful cast of characters - voiced by some of the best voice talent from that decade, including Alan Openheimer, Maurice LaMarche, Brad Garrett, and more - Ghostbusters has haunted its way into the halls of history! Now on DVD for the first time ever, you won't need to call anyone... you can "Go Ghostbusters!"


GhostBusters
1.01 I'll Be a Son of a Ghostbuster

I used to love this series as a kid. But it is something which is clearly only enjoyable to kids and does not hold quite up as well as He-Man and She-Ra does. Also this is the first time that I have seen it in English and the voice-acting is really annoying. I never knew the GhostBusters are supposed to be teenagers. They had much more adult voices in the German dub, as far as I remember.

Rating:

[Tom]

God, the Devil and Bob: The Complete Series (2000/United States) IMDb | Wikipedia Carsey-Werner Distribution, Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (United States) Director: Jeff DeGrandis, Dan Fausett Writing: Length: 282 min. Video: Full Frame 1.33:1 Audio: English: Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround, Commentary: Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround Subtitles: English, Spanish

Stars:
Alan Cumming as The Devil (voice)
James Garner as God (voice)
French Stewart as Bob Allman (voice)
Laurie Metcalf as Donna Allman (voice)
Kath Soucie as Andy Allman (voice)

Plot:
GOD IS IN ONE OF THOSE MOODS AGAIN...

...one of those "I think I'll cause another Great Flood to wipe mankind from the face of the Earth" kind of moods. He's always expected more from humanity and he's getting a little annoyed. Luckily God isn't quite ready to start all over again, so he decides that if one individual can prove the world is worth saving, he will spare it. And being a sporting kind of diety, God lets the Devil pick the man upon whose shoulders the fate of the world will rest.

Unfortunately, the Devil picks Bob Alman, a beer-drinking, porn-watching, "what's-in-it-for-me?" kind of guy who really doesn't want to be responsible for anyone or anything. Start praying...and start laughing.

Featuring the voices of Alan Cumming, French Stewart, Laurie Metcalf and James Garner.

God, the Devil and Bob
1.01 In the Beginning

A nice little comedy. This series was cancelled after four episodes, mainly because of pressure from religious groups.

Rating:

[Tom]

Gokusen (2003/Japan) IMDb | Wikipedia Anime Works, Media Blasters (United States) Length: 325 min. Video: Full Frame 1.33:1 Audio: English: Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo, Japanese: Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo Subtitles: English

Plot:
Kumiko Yamaguchi is the heir to the Oedo Yakuza family, but it's her dream to teach the youth of Japan. Putting aside her Yakuza cunning, she takes up the role of a normal bubbly graduate, landing a high-school teaching job. Now Kumiko is determined to understand the teenage mind, teach higher math and maybe carry on a little romance... yet she lives with the fact that her loyal army of brutal hitmen capable of murdering disobedient students are only one step away.


Gokusen
1.01 Rookie Teacher With a Secret Is Born! (2004-01-06)
Writer: Kozueko Morimoto (Original Material By), Yasuko Kobayashi (Screenwriter)
Director: Yuzo Sato
Cast: Japanese Voice Cast), Isao Yamagishi (Noda (voice)), Risa Hayamizu (Kumiko Yamaguchi (voice)), Kenichi Suzumura (Shin Sawada (voice)), Youichi Masukawa (Uchiyama (voice)), Takuro Nakakuni (Minami (voice)), Hiroomi Sugino (Kumai (voice)), Tomohiro Nishimura (Principal (voice)), Uoken (Vice Principal (voice)), Rica Matsumoto (Fujiyama (voice)), Hisanori Koyatsu (Iwamoto (voice)), Katsuhiro Toyokawa (Eguchi (voice)), Chihiro Suzuki (Kudo (voice)), Norio Wakamoto (Oshima (voice)), Haruo Sato (Wakamatsu (voice)), Keiji Hirai (Tetsu (voice)), Nanae Kato (Classmate in Girlhood (voice)), Nozomi Masu (Classmate in Girlhood (voice)), Chikao Ootsuka (Ryuichiro (voice)), Seizo Kato (Fuji (voice)), Hiroaki Yoshida (Minoru (voice)), Katsuyuki Konishi (Shinohara Lawyer (voice)), Yasuhiro Fujiwara (Senior (voice)), Takahiro Fujimoto (Senior (voice)), English Voice Cast), Matt Kaplan (Noda (voice)), Caroline Lawson (Kumiko Yamaguchi (voice)), Kevin T. Collins (Shin Sawada (voice)), Jamie McGonnigal (Uchiyama (voice)), Sebastian Arcelus (Minami (voice)), Ed Paul (Kumai (voice)), Jimmy Zoppi (Principal (voice)), Marc Diraison (Vice Principal (voice)), Sue Gillad (Fujiyama (voice)), Sean Schemmel (Iwamoto (voice)), Ed Napier (Eguchi (voice)), Peter Ganim (Oshima (voice)), Mike Pollack (Wakamatsu (voice)), Maddie Blaustein (Tetsu (voice)), Dan Green (Ryuichiro (voice)), John Abner (Fuji (voice)), Sean Schemmel (Minoru (voice)), Josh Moseby (Shinohara Lawyer (voice))

This was originally a lucky blind buy. It only cost 12 bucks (dirt cheap for an anime), and boy was it worth it.

Rating:

[Tom]

Gokusen I (2002/Japan) IMDb | Wikipedia (Malaysia) Length: 660 min. Video: Full Frame 1.33:1 Audio: Japanese: Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo Subtitles: Chinese, English, Other

Plot:
Newly graduated Kumiko Yamaguchi wants to make her mark on the Japanese educational system as a teacher. All well and good until she finds out that the school she'll be teaching at has its fair share of troublemakers and rabble-rousers. The ruffians at the school don't frighten her though for she has a secret of her own-she's a fourth generation crime syndicate member and next in line to head it up. She's gone straight and wants to be a teacher though, but she's one person in whose class you don't want to be caught fooling around!


Gokusen
1.01 A zealous teacher goes on a rampage!! (2002-04-17)

I like this live-action adaption even more than the anime. The actors are very well chosen and the comedy works. I always enjoy watching it (have done so multiple times now). The lead actress is the very definition of Hollywood Homely. Supposedly unattractive to the other characters, she is the hottest of them all. Of the main three female characters, I find the one, who is the supposed to be the most attractive, the least attractive of them (of course she still is beautiful).

Rating:

[Tom]

The Greatest American Hero: Season One (1981/United States) IMDb | Wikipedia Anchor Bay Entertainment (United States) Length: 440 min. Video: Full Frame 1.33:1 Audio: English: Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo Subtitles:

Plot:
William Katt stars as mild-mannered high school teacher Ralph Hinkley whose close encounter with aliens leaves him with a super-power suit that only he can control. But when Ralph loses the instruction manual, the safety of mankind is left in his fumbling hands. Now with the help of his attorney girlfriend Pam Davidson (Connie Sellecca) and FBI agent Bill Maxwell (Robert Culp), the world's most unlikely flying crime fighter is ready for action. It's a bird! It's a plane! It's... THE GREATEST AMERICAN HERO!

Michael Paré and Faye Grant co-star in the Emmy-nominated '80s hit created by Stephen J. Cannell. This collection features every first season episode — including the Emmy-nominated pilot — plus all-new interviews with the show's stars and the unaired pilot for the proposed spin-off series THE GREATEST AMERICAN HEROINE.

The Greatest American Hero
1.01 The Pilot
Writer: Stephen J. Cannell (Original Characters By), Stephen J. Cannell (Writer)
Director: Rod Holcomb
Cast: William Katt (Ralph Hinkley), Robert Culp (Bill Maxwell), Connie Sellecca (Pamela Davidson), Michael Pare (Tony Villicana), Faye Grant (Rhonda Blake), Richard Herd (Adam Taft), G. D. Spradlin (Nelson Cory), Ned Wilson (Col. Shackelford), Bob Minor (John Backe), Edward Bell (David Knight), Jesse D. Goins (Cyler Johnson), Don Cervantes (Poco Rodriguez), Robby Weaver), Brandon Williams (Kevin Hinkley), Hank Salas (Brother Michael), Robert Dunlap (Officer), Jeff MacKay (Officer Cowan), Jason Corbet), Roberta Jean Williams), Jody Lee Olhava), Robbie Kiger), Carol Jones (Susan, the Babysitter), Ed Deemer), James King), Corkey Ford), John Caliri), Lydia Fernandez), Cheryl Francis)

Overall a good pilot episode, but it dragged in some places. I have had this series for a few years now but I am still stuck in the beginning of season 2.
The actors are good. I love Robert Culp as Bill. He is probably the most fun character. Connie Sellecca is very easy on the eyes.

Rating:

[Tom]

The Greatest American Hero
Greatest American Heroine
Writer: Babs Greyhosky (Writer)
Director: Tony Mordente
Cast: William Katt (Ralph Hinkley), Robert Culp (Bill Maxwell), Connie Sellecca (Pamela Davidson), Mary Ellen Stuart (Holly Hathaway), Mya Akerling (Sara Hathaway), John Zee (Alien), Jerry Potter), Wayne Grace), Jeffrey Markel (Timothy)

Originally this was supposed to be a pilot for a new series, but it was not picked up. Instead in now serves as the last episode of the series. Which works quite well. It shows how and why Ralph has to give away the suit.

Rating:

[Tom]

Greg the Bunny: The Complete Series (2002/United States) IMDb | Wikipedia Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (United States) Length: 299 min. Video: Full Frame 1.33:1 Audio: English: Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround, Commentary: Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo Subtitles: English, Spanish

Plot:
He's rude, crude, and stuffed with attitude! Tired of being treated like a lowly puppet--he prefers the term "Fabricated American"--Greg The Bunny persuades his human roommate Jimmy (Seth Green), to get him a job interview with the director (Eugene Levy) on the "Sweetknuckle Junction" TV show. But instead of interviewing for the office job, Greg inadvertently lands the show’s starring role! Although he's never acted a day in his life, an ecstatic Greg soon realizes, "This place is full of freaks. I'm gonna fit right in!"


Greg the Bunny
1.01 Welcome to Sweetknuckle Junction
Cast: Eugene Levy (Gil Bender), Seth Green (Jimmy Bender), Bob Gunton ("Junction" Jack Mars), Sarah Silverman (Alison Kaiser), Dina Waters (Dottie Sunshine), Drew Massey (Count Blah/Dr. Aben Mitchell/Gay Bear), Dan Milano (Greg the Bunny/Warren Demontague), David Spade (Himself), James Murray (Rochester Rabbit/Susan the Monster), Victor Yerrid (Tardy Turtle/Cranky), Carl Bridge (Additional Performer), Scott Johnson (Additional Performer), Donna Kimball (Additional Performer), Jeffrey Ross (Additional Performer)

I really like the premise about the puppets being "fabricated Americans". And it was I show which I enjoyed every episode. I followed it when it was originally aired and was disappointed when it was cancelled. It has some great cast like Eugene Levy, Seth Green and Sarah Silverman.
The pilot episode is really great and sets up the show brilliantly.

Rating:

[Tom]

Grosse Pointe: The Complete Series (2000/United States) IMDb | Wikipedia (United States) Length: 360 min. Video: Full Frame 1.33:1 Audio: English: Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo Subtitles:

Plot:
The onscreen melodrama is nothing compared to what happens when the cameras stop rolling on the fictitious primetime soap GROSSE POINTE. The comedy follows the lives of six young actors trying to adjust to the demands of instant stardom, as their hit show launches them into the world of premieres, paparazzi and power. There's the two-faced diva, her insecure best friend, the wide-eyed newcomer who threatens the offscreen balance of power, the surfer stud, the show's heartthrob and his stand-in/gofer. Guiding these "innocents" through the savage world of network presidents and last-minute rewrites are the producers, who live in constant fear of the one misstep that would send ratings plummeting and their careers into oblivion.


Grosse Point
1.01 Pilot
Writer: Darren Star (Writer)
Director: Andrew Fleming
Cast: Irene Molloy (Hunter Fallow), Al Santos (Johnny Bishop), Lindsay Sloane (Marcy Sternfeld), Bonnie Somerville (Courtney Scott), Kohl Sudduth (Quentin King), Kyle Howard (Dave "The Stand-In"), William Ragsdale (Rob Fields), Michael Hitchcock (Richard Towers/Ted Johnson), Nat Faxon (Kevin the P.A.), Michele Dalcin (Mary Johnson), Katie Fountain (Marilyn the Extra), Bonnie McFarlane (Katie Ellis), Lisa Mende (Pat Kemp), Michael Mitz (The Director), Nicole Nieth (Jessica), Martin Spanjers (Adam), Jeb Armstrong (Ira)

I was really surprised about this series. I would have liked to see more of it than the one season we got. My favorite character is the one played by Lindsay Sloane (who I liked as Valerie on Sabrina the Teenage Witch).

Rating:

[Tom]

GTO: Great Teacher Onizuka (1998/Japan) IMDb | Wikipedia Ember Power (Malaysia) Length: 569 min. Video: Full Frame 1.33:1 Audio: Japanese: Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround Subtitles: Chinese, English, Other

Great Teacher Onizuka
1.01 Great 1
Cast: Takashi Sorimachi (Onizuka Eikichi), Nanako Matsushima (Fuyutsuki Azusa), Aya Enjôji (Kotani Hiroko), Naohito Fujiki (Saejima Ryuji), Atsushi Harada (Todo Shinichi), Tomoka Hayashi (Tsukushima Erika), Kunihiko Ida (Yuu Teshigawara), Hiroyuki Ikeuchi (Murai Kunio), Tae Kimura (Miyuki), Kirari (Nanako Mizuki), Sôichirô Kitamura (Kenzo), Masahiro Kobayashi (Hakamada Hajime), Yoshimasa Kondô (Nakamata Kouji), Yôsuke Kubozuka (Yoshito Kikuchi), Miki Kuroda (Tomoko Nomura), Erika Mabuchi (Yoshiko Uchiyamada), Rikako Murakami (Tsubasa Murai), Aimi Nakamura (Miyabi Aizawa), Akira Nakao (Uchiyamada Hiroshi), Baku Numata (Fujitomi Makoto), Shun Oguri (Yoshikawa Noboru), Eisuke Sasai (Todo Shinjin), Minami Shirakawa (Oshima Chikako), Yumi Shirakawa (Akira Sakurai), Reiko Tajima (Reiko Aizawa), Reiko Tate-i-shi (Uchiyamada Ryoko), Ryoko Tateishi (Ryoko Uchiyamada), Hidenori Tokuyama (Yoda Kenji), Yuta Yamazaki (Watanabe Masaru)

I have read the original manga, seen the live-action series and the anime adaption. And the live-action series is my favorite of the three. I like how the characters and how they fit the important stuff successfully into a rather short series. Also I like how they handled the love-interest. In the mange she was a minor character which really didn't go anywhere. There she was a new teacher like Onizuka and over time started to look up to him. But here she is already on the teacher staff but hates her job. In the beginning she also despises Onizuka but over time she starts to like him and also through him she starts to the positive side of her position as a teacher. Also interesting is, that the two actors met on this series and married each other a few years later.

Rating:

[Tom]

GTO: 1st Semester (1999/Japan) IMDb | Wikipedia (United States) Length: 0 min. Video: Full Frame 1.33:1 Audio: English: Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo, Japanese: Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo Subtitles: English

Plot:
Meet Eikichi Onizuka, a 22-year-old virgin and ex-biker. He's crude, foul-mouthed, and has a hair-trigger temper. His goal: to be the Greatest High School Teacher in the World! Wait, what?!? GTO is the fan-favorite story of Onizuka, a former motorcycle gang member whose goal is to become a teacher to make a difference. Once he's got his foot in the school door...can he squeeze his big head through it?

Watch in awe as Onizuka pummels through his teacher training only to be faced with the mammoth task of actually landing a teaching position. With unusual circumstances on his side, he just might pull it off. Using his street smarts to deal with colleagues, students, and troublemakers, Onizuka finds that he has too many lessons to learn!


Great Teacher Onizuka
1.01 GTO - The Legend Begins
Writer: Tohru Fujisawa (Original Material By), Masashi Sogo (Writer)
Director: Noriyuki Abe, Naoyasu Hanyu
Cast: Japanese Voice Cast), Wataru Takagi (Eikichi Onizuka (voice)), Isshin Chiba (Ryuji Danma (voice)), Yuko Miyamura (Nanako Mizuki (voice)), Shinichiro Miki (Hidero Ohsawa (voice)), Kiyoyuki Yanada (Nanako's Father (voice)), Astuko Tanaka (Nanako's Mother (voice)), Emi Kobayashi (Takahama (voice)), Haruhi Terada (Momoi (voice)), Tomiko Orikasa (Mikan (voice)), Satohiko Nakajima (Homeroom Teacher (voice)), Kazuhiro Oguro (Punk in Class O (voice)), Kosuke Okano (Punk in Class O (voice)), Hisao Egawa (Punk in Class O (voice)), Kenji Hamada (Street Punk (voice)), Tomoki Yanagi (Student (voice)), Ayako Kawasumi (Young Wife (voice)), English Voice Cast), David Lucas (Eikichi Onizuka (voice)), Ron Allen (Ryuji Danma (voice)), Cindy Robinson (Nanako Mizuki (voice)), Ron Allen (Hidero Ohsawa (voice)), John Smallberries (Nanako's Father (voice)), Wendee Lee (Nanako's Mother (voice)), Wendee Lee (Takahama (voice)), Cindy Robinson (Momoi (voice)), Midge Mayes (Mikan (voice)), David Lucas (Homeroom Teacher (voice)), John Smallberries (Punk in Class O (voice)), David Lucas (Punk in Class O (voice)), Ron Allen (Punk in Class O (voice)), John Smallberries (Street Punk (voice)), Ron Allen (Student (voice)), Cindy Robinson (Young Wife (voice))

This anime is good. Though I prefer the live-action series. The anime follows the manga more closely though. Funnily it incoporates a few ideas the live-action series came up with.
The pilot episode is a double-length episode. It covers about the same story as the first live-action episode. Only here Onizuka starts out as a student teacher at another school which he finishes successfully in this episode. This means that the student that he helps here will not be part of the series after this episode. In the live-action version she was. She was his biggest supporter there.

Rating:

[Tom]

The Guild: Season One (2007/United States) IMDb | Wikipedia (United States) Length: 42 min. Video: Widescreen 1.78, Full Frame 1.33:1 Audio: Subtitles:

The Guild
1.01 Wake Up Call
Writer: Felicia Day (Writer)
Director: Jane Selle Morgan
Cast: Vincent Caso), Felicia Day), Jeff Lewis), Amy Okuda), Sandeep Parikh), Robin Thorsen), Gaby Gantvoort), Kimberly Lewis), Blake Sheridan), Delainey Spillaine)

Not a TV series, but a web series. But I am including it anyway in this marathon. I always enjoyed this little series. Each episode is only a few minutes but always fun. Felicia Day (Penny on Dr. Horrible) also has written and produced this series.

Rating:

[Tom]

Gunslinger Girl (2003/Japan) IMDb | Wikipedia (United States) Length: 325 min. Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 1.78 Audio: English: Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo, Japanese: Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo, English: Dolby Digital 5.1 Subtitles: English

Gunslinger Girl
1.01 Fratello (2003-10-08)
Writer: Yu Aida (Original Material By), Junki Takegami (Screenwriter)
Director: Morio Aasaka
Cast: English Cast), Laura Bailey (HENRIETTA (voice)), Luci Christian (RICO (voice)), Caitlin Glass (TRIELA (voice)), Alese Johnson (CLAES (voice)), John Burgheimer ( (voice)), Eric Vale ( (voice)), Phil Parsons ( (voice)), Ian Sinclair ( (voice)), Mark Stoddard ( (voice)), David Trosco ( (voice)), Mark Lancaster ( (voice)), Grant James ( (voice)), Cynthia Cranz ( (voice)), Dameon Clarke ( (voice)), Troy Baker ( (voice)), Bob Carter ( (voice)), Orion Pitts ( (voice)), Christopher R. Sabat ( (voice)), Japanese Cast), Yuuka Nanri (HENRIETTA (voice)), Kanako Mituhashi (RICO (voice)), Eri Sendai (TRIELA (voice)), Ami Koshimizu (CLAES (voice)), Hidenobu Kiuchi (Gioseffo (voice)), Mitsuru Miyamoto (Gian (voice)), Masashi Ebara (Hilscher (voice)), Norihiro Inoue (Marco (voice)), Rie Nakagawa (Ferro (voice)), Masami Iwasaki (Alfonso (voice)), Hiroshi Yanaka (Lorenzoni (voice)), Shingo Hiromori (Dr. Marge (voice)), Harii Kaneko (Boss (voice)), Makoto Tomita (Louie (voice)), Takeshi Maeda (Man A (voice)), Hirofumi Shimozaki (Man B (voice)), Yuuichi Tsuchiya (Man C (voice))

I always enjoyed this series. My favorite Gunslinger Girls are Rico and Triela. Though both have only a small role in this first episode.

Rating:

[Tom]

Gunslinger Girl: Il Teatrino (2008/Japan) IMDb | Wikipedia FUNimation Entertainment (United States) Length: 315 min. Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 1.78 Audio: English: Dolby Digital 5.1, Japanese: Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo Subtitles: English

Plot:
The girls of the Social Welfare Agency are no ordinary children. They are the grizzly remains of human wreckage pieced back together with cybernetic implants and trained to kill by the government. The oldest, Triela, pursues her targets with a ferocious enthusiasm - unwilling to settle for less than total annihilation. Her mirror in this bloody stalemate is Pinocchio, a shell of a boy raised as an assassin by the FRF - a terrorist faction at war with the SWA. Cold and cruelly efficient, he wields sharpened steel as though it were his own hand. Once human, these shattered souls have become murderous machines with only vague recollections of what it meant to be real - and a brutal compulsion to be the last killer standing.


Gunslinger Girl: Il Teatrino
1.01 Distance Between Two: Brother and Sister
Writer: Yu Aida (Original Material By), Yu Aida (Screenwriter), Tatsuhiko Urano (Screenwriter)
Director: Akira Mano
Cast: Laura Bailey (Henrietta (voice)), Caitlin Glass (Triela (voice)), Luci Christian (Rico (voice)), Alese Johnson (Claes (voice)), Eric Vale (Jean (voice)), John Burgmeier (Jose (voice)), J. Michael Tatum (Hilshire (voice)), Brittney Karbowski (Enrica (voice)), Troy Baker (Alfonso (voice)), Colleen Clinkenbeard (Priscilla (voice)), Cynthia Cranz (Ferro (voice)), Mark Stoddard (Lorenzo (voice)), Scott Freeman ( (voice)), Nick Trautner ( (voice)), Ian Sinclair ( (voice)), Justin Cook ( (voice)), Joel McDonald ( (voice)), John Swasey ( (voice)), Phil Parsons ( (voice)), Cris George ( (voice)), Charlie Campbell ( (voice)), Barry Yandell ( (voice)), Japanese Cast), Kana Akutsu (Henrietta (voice)), Anri Shiono (Rico (voice)), Atsuko Enomoto (Triela (voice)), Risa Mizuno (Claes (voice)), Kozo Mito (Giuse (voice)), Takehito Koyasu (Jean (voice)), Masaya Matsukaze (Hirscher (voice)), Masaki Terasoma (Lorenzo (voice)), Mayuko Takahashi (Priscilla (voice)), Rie Nakagawa (Ferro (voice)), Hideo Watanabe (Alfonso (voice)), Yoji Ueda (Master of Antique Shop (voice)), Shinobu Matsumoto (Leader of Terrorists (voice)), Hiroshi Shimozaki (Terrorist (voice)), Takahiro Hirano (Terrorist (voice))

When a second Gunslinger Girl series was announced I was excited. BUt when I first saw it I was very disappointed. Another studio produced this one. They changed the character design, the voice acting and animation style. Everything I thought was great in the first series. The author of the manga was heavily involved in the second series and is responsible for the character design change. I have read that he wanted to bring it closer to the character design of later volumes of the manga. But I always preferred the early chapters.
The "handlers" of the Gunslinger Girls look much too young now in my opinion.
The only thing which I liked from the beginning is the new opening theme:


Rating: