A Hidden Gem of the Japanese 80s: City Hunter
Do you remember the Japanese Bubble Era?
The Nippon archipelagos were met with a ballooning economy, welcoming technological innovations, perfect business attire, city pop music, and, of course, globally acclaimed anime during the 1980s. Just like Akira and Dragon Ball, City Hunter was a genre-defining anime but seems to be on the low key among the resurgence of vintage manga and animation. Funky, thrilling, and eclectic, City Hunter might be exactly what you need to binge during the next cold months.
Contemporary reviewers rave about the 1987 anime. Jump Comics debuted this series as a manga in 1985, and its popularity fueled the creation of the animated version. Although it has four captivating seasons, there are countless film adaptations, and also a K-drama version of the manga.
Written and illustrated by Tsukasa Hojo, the plot follows Ryo Saeba, a magnetic but clumsy Don Juan by day, and a top-secret member of the private group XYZ by night. XYZ is heavily involved in crime: when cops don’t cut it, Saeba already has a grip on the situation.
When his long-time work partner and detective Hideyuki is murdered, he pairs up with his sister, the earnest Kaori Makimura. The two are like handymen for keeping crime far from Tokyo, clearing impossible missions when their lives are at stake. Assasins, mafia leaders, and drug lords are no threats to Ryo and Kaori.
Part comedy and part ecchi, City Hunter is nonetheless entertaining and gets better as the episodes progress. Kaori’s big hammer is as prominent as suspense, balancing out light-heartedness, creative character development, and seriousness. Compared to many animes of the same era, the animation of City Hunter is exceptional, if not the best. Grave yet catchy, the series deserves a 10/10 for being well-rounded, artistically pleasant, and refreshing in terms of genre.
About the Author:
Mizuki Khoury
Born in Montreal, based in Tokyo. Sabukaru’s senior writer and works as an artist under Exit Number Five.
