City Hunter 1 Review (
TV Series,
51 Episodes,
1987)
City Hunter is a fantastic, hilarious, heartfelt show that not only hits all of the right notes; but it does so with flying colors and keeps its audience fully entertained from start to end as it twists and turns through some of the most hilarious and yet emotional scenarios in a show of this fashion to ever grace the medium. From the absolutely fantastic character designs by the man, the myth and the legend
Tsukasa Hojo, to the gorgeous Soundtrack,
City Hunter does everything within its power to make each and every episode memorable and each and every character lovable. You’ll laugh and you’ll most definitely shed some tears as you follow these characters throughout 51 impeccable episodes.
Animated by
Studio Sunrise, released all the way back in
April 1987 and directed by
Kenji Kodama, director of
Detective Conan Case Closed, each episode follows an episodic format with each of these episodes trailing a very similar story beat. The main character, the lovable
Ryou Saeba is what’s known as a sweeper (the type without a broom), a private eye and a man who knows his way around a gun, namely his trusty Colt Python, a .357 Magnum revolver. When people have a problem; they come to this guy in order to get them sorted out. From people who want to get rid of old habits to people whom have old habits chasing them as their pasts catch up to them (from the Yakuza and all sorts of other nasty people), anything is game for the impressionable
Ryou…as long as that person happens to be a beautiful lady! Exceptions are made, and he’ll certainly help out a man in need, but a pretty girl has to be in the equation somewhere down the line in order to gain his attention and his heart. Ryou may come across as pervy, often being called a sexual manic, and these scenes are certainly hilarious, but without a doubt his heart is in the right place and this is one of the key elements in making City Hunter above and beyond any other show that’s cut from the same cloth. The show not only has tact, it has heart.
Hey Mr. Private Eye
Oh help me with my private life
Where oh where can he be
Find that man for me
Oh hey Mr. Private Eye
I keep rememberin' our private nights
You gotta bring back my love to me
The lyrics above from one of my favorite songs from the soundtrack (
Mr Private Eye) really drive home the relationship between Ryou and his clients. He’s a man who helps people find their lost love, a person who helps people love themselves again, mends their hearts and helps them to move on, forward to the next day, selflessly as he teaches them to love again. Ryou is a person who throws himself in the line of fire in order to help others, people who he often doesn’t even know. It’s a job to him, and it pays well, but it’s clear that the
sentiment is what drives Saeba, the smiles on the faces of his clients is what pushes him forward and makes each and every day worth it to him. This along with many other personality traits are what make Ryou a character whom you root for, who you want to see succeed and one day find his own true [STRIKE]mokkori[/STRIKE] love. He’s handsome (thanks to the amazing designs by
Tsukasa Hojo) and that adds to the charm and endearment you share towards him as he goofs around like the lovable oaf that he is. Make no mistake, like another one of my favorite characters in anime,
Gotou from
Patlabor, his goofiness is often a front to hide his more serious side, a pissed off Ryou is somebody you don’t want to be in the crosshairs of. Saeba is sharp as a pin and skilled in all walks of life, well outside of getting in bed with a girl I guess! The best marksman in the world, shooting off the belt buckle of a man a kilometer away is just another day on the job for Ryou, so you know when somebody walks from a fire fight against him alive that he
let them live. This actually adds a lot to his character, as you see him first hand giving people chances to redeem themselves. In fact, just the mere utterance of his name sends shivers down the spines of criminals, people who generally have heard of the name City Hunter but have no idea what he looks like, like the urban legend that he is. Looks can be deceiving, and the silly Ryou is not what he often seems to be and that definitely adds to the charm of it all.
This adds a lot to the comedy of
City Hunter, as Ryou taunts his foes before embarrassing them as they trip and stumble over themselves. Clients generally don’t take him seriously at first, with girls mistaking him for a pervert, neglecting his help, but as he gets to know them and they get to know him a beautiful bond is often formed between his clients and himself. These are the moments where
City Hunter shines, and where
City Hunter becomes a truly heartfelt show, a show in which you love each and every character dearly. An episode in particular for example revolved around a girl who was once saved by a man when she was a child, and ever since that day she’s kept away from men, hoping to find that man again. It happens that the man in question looks a lot like Ryou, so he’s hired in order to reinvigorate her love and open her heart up again, so she can finally love again…but was that man all those years ago
actually Ryou? These are the types of scenarios you find in
City Hunter, and it’s absolutely brilliant.
The art for
City Hunter is truly something that I appreciate, with the character designs being iconic and attractive, which is a word I’d also use to describe the females of this show. Make no mistake, the girls of
City Hunter are truly formidable allies and enemies of his, with many of them being Ryou’s equal, or damn close and sometimes even his superior, forever keeping him in his toes. But he wouldn’t have it any other way, because he’s Ryou. From follow private eyes, to scientist, princesses, police officers, a gifted croupier, a revolutionary girl, singers and actresses, the females are all talented, diverse and important people in this story, and what makes them more fun to see is how their looks can often be deceiving as they punch well above their own weight and beyond, often protecting themselves without the need for Ryou at all. Sometimes all they need is a face that believes in them, that makes them at ease before they tackle their issues head on and Ryou is often that face that calms the wavering heart. Ryou often plays the part of the stabilizers on a bike, hold them up until they learn to ride by themselves, as the wind blows in their hair and they learn to be young at heart again, free from their troubles
It’s clear that the defining element to
City Hunter and its mastery is its characters, and the voice acting has a huge play in that. The Japanese voice cast for this show is sublime, and what I’d describe as utter perfection. Ryou goes from ditzy and silly to slick and serious at the drop of a hat, and this coupled with his mannerisms and character design works in order to create a dynamic and fun character that’s both lovable and desirable. His partner in crime,
Kaori is also a favorite of mine and for good reason. A lady who works close with Ryou, living under the same roof, they often exhibit a sense of resentment for each other in an endearing way which brings to mind the image of a married couple, bickering and shouting at each other, but in the end are just two people who truly trust each other as they entrust their lives in the arms of one another. The partnership and bond of these two is very fun to witness grow as you see them in hilarious situations but also emotional ones. These are two people who deep down care for each other, and it’s a beautiful thing to see bloom.
The music for
City Hunter is easily a highlight, embracing its 80’s life; it’s jazzy, cheesy and full of emotion with each song doing a stand-up job of signalling what type of scene is coming next. You know something heartfelt is coming your way when you hear
The Shining of Cat's Eye play, and you know Saeba is going to do something badass when you hear
Want Your Love. The music is energetic, dynamic and punchy, unashamed to tap into its cheesy 80’s action heritage. I will say that the verity of music is a bit lacking, with the same select pieces being used at the appropriate times time and time again, with even the opening music being used within the show in the background many times, but in the end I personally didn’t mind this at all as what’s there is top notch and straight up my alley. The
opening and
closing themes are also fantastic, with one of the greatest fade-ins in any anime, period.
Easily a top 10 soundtrack for me when it’s all said and done and easily a top 10 show to boot. Funny how that works.
Even though I previously mentioned how each episode is episodic in nature, with the beats often being the same from episode to episode, yet each episode still feels truly fresh and interesting, which again is thanks to the great cast that appear in each and every one of those 51 episodes. A girl grieving about a lost lover wanting to be able to move on, a girl who has to play a game of pool in order to keep her families bar, a father who wants to see his little girl again after being framed for a hit and run, a princess who wants just a few days of freedom, to live a normal life even if just for a few days, each scenario is emotional, funny and engrossing and satisfying to watch. You care about the outcomes and the relationships feel truly genuine. It’s a show that’s not a downer, and is made to make its audience happy, so it’s no mystery why I had a massive smile plastered across my face during each episode, as I giggled and laughed to no end with each passing minute.
City Hunter is without a doubt a show that everybody should see, it’s on the longer side (
51 Episodes) with
4 seasons in total bringing it to a total of 140+ episodes, and a few spin offs and films in the mix, so it’s a long trek, and one that even I feel that I’ve only just begun. The story goes on, and with it I too go on, eagerly awaiting the next episode, wanting to know what happens next, where the characters go and where they find themselves next has become a part of my daily routine. Whatever the case,
City Hunter is one of the greatest shows I’ve had the pleasure of watching. It’s funny, genuinely so with an amazing cast of characters that you care for, with each episode reeling in a new story for you to enjoy, all wrapped up with a soundtrack that gets your blood flowing, and the smiles long, a show that’s pure, and upfront about its intentions. A show that’s aged with grace, with comedy as sharp and funny as ever, with each and every gag hitting all the right spots, you’ll find yourself entertained during the 21 hours of animation goodness. Drama, comedy, action, M&M’s and beautiful girls, it’s all here, in the city that never sleeps, with its watchful protector looking over as long as one beautiful girl still exists, ready to strike. At the end of it all, through thick and thin, with chance and luck, all I can truly say is, Mokkori!
10/10
A must watch, the pinnacle of shounen, and the prototype for shows like GTO and even Bebop. Great music, sublime art with some of the best character designs to grace anime, with humor that hits all of the right notes. A must watch, and a show I won't soon be forgetting, Mr. Private Eye. Now if you don’t mind I’m going to get some M&M’s…
GET SOME NUTS! Wait, wrong snack.
