Watch No Guns Life

No Guns Life is an anime television series produced by Madhouse and based on the manga of the same name by Tasuku Karasuma. The show revolves around the protagonist Juzo Inui, a man with a gun for a head, known as an Extended. Extensives are humans who had their bodies modified to have certain abilities, which grants them immense physical strength and speed. However, the price they pay for their powers is their autonomy as they must serve the company that created them.

The story takes place in a gritty world where the segregation between humans and Extensives is palpable. The audience is thrown into the action from the very first episode, where Juzo is hired to solve a kidnapping case. Along the way, he meets Mary, a talented engineer, and Tetsuro, a young boy who is himself a victim of the same company that created the Extensives. Together, the three of them form an unlikely team to bring justice to those who suffer at the hands of the powerful corporation that controls the city.

One of the best things about No Gun's Life is the characterization. Every character feels unique, and each one brings something different to the table. Juzo himself is a fascinating character, with his deadpan humor, his love for cigarettes, and his unwavering sense of justice. Suwabe Junichi does an incredible job bringing Juzo to life, and his voice acting is top-notch.

Mary, the engineer, adds a lot to the show. Despite being a non-combatant, she's very capable and highly respected in her field. In many ways, she acts as the team's brains. There's a lot of potential for her character to grow, and she feels like a breath of fresh air in a sea of archetypical anime women.

Then there's Tetsuro, who is both the show's biggest strength and its greatest weakness. On the one hand, the dynamic between him and Juzo is heartwarming. Juzo, who is essentially a cyborg, learns how to be more human from Tetsuro, and that dynamic is incredibly endearing. On the other hand, Tetsuro is a bit of a stereotypical anime child, and some of his dialogue feels forced. Nevertheless, he's an integral part of the story, and the audience can't help but feel a bit protective of him.

As for the show's animation, it's simply fantastic. Madhouse has done an excellent job here, and the show's aesthetic fits the gritty, cyberpunk feel of the story perfectly. The fight scenes in particular are well choreographed, and they're both intense and visually appealing.

The music is also noteworthy. Kenji Kawai, who is famous for scoring the soundtrack for Ghost in the Shell, takes the helm here, and his work doesn't disappoint. The opening theme, "Motor City," by Kenichi Asai, is a fantastic rock ballad that sets the tone for the show perfectly. The ending theme, "Game Over," by Kana-Boon, is an amusingly upbeat song that's frequently used after tense moments in the show. Together, the two songs bookend each episode perfectly.

Overall, No Guns Life is an excellent anime that's well worth watching. Its themes of social inequality, corporate greed, and political corruption are all too relevant, and the way the story handles them is both thought-provoking and entertaining. The characters are well written, the animation is superb, and the music is fantastic. There's something here for everyone, whether you're a fan of cyberpunk, action, or just good storytelling.

No Guns Life is a series that ran for 2 seasons (24 episodes) between October 10, 2019 and on Tokyo Broadcasting System