Is Gatekeepers fine art? Hardly. Is it entertaining enough to check out, definitely for those who have a sense of humor.
Basically this series follows a rather large group of teenagers with the ability to call forth energy for another dimension, called a Gate Ability.
Of course given a team of teenage heroes you need a villain to create chaos. In this case they are Invaders, a rather engimatic life form whose nature is a mystery beyond that they take the forms of normal humans until they are called forth to attack Tokyo (Of course, didn't everyone know that the city radiates an energy that attracts all forms of aliens, evil overlords and megalomanics. Also the most combustable place on Earth but that is irrelavant in this series.)
What is so fun about this series is that is is a complete parody of itself. It obviously is not meant to be entirely serious as it tosses in so many silly anime cliches as a running gag. For example, the female lead of course has to get a few licks on the lead male/love interest while another girl is trying to win him over. One episode features the absolute most backwards use of a mecha ever. (hint, mecha and pianos are never intended to go together without triggering some laughter.) All and all it is good fun.
However, it isn't entirely fun and games, particularly toward the end when they do address the consequences of such quick and profound economic growth and the greed associated with it.
One major downfall of this series is that there are quite a few characters who really serve little purpose to enhance the story line. Many of these characters do come into their own in the final episodes, however it is too late for many to care at this point. The series would have benefited from either fewer charcters overall or having more episodes with which to develop these stray characters.
My absolute favorite aspect was Reiji Kageyama, the dark gatekeeper. He is a little bit of every anime character rolled into one. He is intelligent and goes to take over Japan through his political thoughts group. He has the angsty past to justify his actions, he never suddenly realizes his wrongs in teh end, and if anything defends them to the end. He is part bipolar sociopathic megalomanic while pimping it up with all the ladies of the school. Just a very unique villain.
I suggest watching this in the original Japanese language if you can bear the subtitles. Whie the dub is not autroicious by any standards, it was really a case of miscasting by the directors. (I am sorry but it is too strange hearing Vash's voice trying to do a villain...) They got he right people but many of them I could just imagine having done different roles and nailing them much better.
But basically if you want something you don't really need to think through or if youwant to start someone out on an anime that is not DBZ, this is definitely worht the watch. If you are really looking for something thought provoking, stick with the likes of Lain and Boogiepop.
