Set in the seedy underbelly of Japan's cultural and societal elite, Speed Grapher is a program that grabs a hold of you and doesn't let go. I first caught a glimpse of this series during 2007's Anime Boston convention and it certainly peaked my interest. FUNimation released the show during the months that followed and recently it has been inducted into the ranks of the Viridian Collection line. It's safe to say that if you missed it the first time around then the reissue's affordability makes it a no-brainer if you ever had an interest.

Produced by GONZO and directed by Kunihisa Sugishima Speed Grapher ended up with 24 episodes by the time it wrapped up in 2005. With a photographer at the helm the series feels a little like Area 88 or Flag but it has significantly darker tones than you'd expect.

The show follows the exploits of a photo journalist named Saiga who has a strange sexual fetish revolving around taking pictures. In the series he's introduced to us on the battlefield of some war getting an erection while photographing someone being killed. This strange desire has led him beneath the streets of Japan where he meets a "goddess" who gives him powers known as Euphoria. As it turns out the goddess is little more than a young girl named Kagura who is unwittingly involved in the bizarre happenings of the cultural elite. At any rate with the mystical Euphoria, Saiga's right eye and camera have become powerful and deadly.

The first volume introduced us to the world of Speed Grapher and I must say that despite how seedy and disgusting it was; it was like a breath of fresh air. So many shows never think outside the box or explore subjects of a taboo nature. With sexuality, violence, and fetishism on the forefront of Speed Grapher's concept the series gained an edge that too few explore. Going into the second installment of the show I must say that I didn't know what to expect. As interesting as it was the series took a little while to get going but thankfully it didn't take too long for things to become clearer.

As Saiga and Kagura run from the nefarious Tennouzu Group the pair actually has some time to get to know each other. This was something that wasn't explored very much in the first volume as they were only just being introduced. If you caught the first batch of episodes then you already know that Kagura has essentially been squirreled away by her mother. This leaves her naïve to the true nature of the world which is a fine contrast to bleak manner with which Saiga views it. Needless to say the pair doesn't always see eye to eye but they realize that there is a connection between them. Then again, the fact that other Euphoria bearers are hot on their trail only helps in that regard I suppose.

Working for the Tennouzu is an interesting character who has the ability to smell things from a great distance and track them accordingly. With his powers employed another Euphoria who can become a diamond, the Tennouzu is certainly looking like a worthy adversary. Saiga and Kagura have to hide out while they're on the run and there are some strange situations before the action picks up again.

Towards the end of the volume the show also delves into the Euphoria and exactly what it is. We already know that it is a supernatural state brought about by contact with Kagura but there has to be a scientific explanation for it of course. With a trip to the doctor the series heads in some interesting directions and Kagura's character is fleshed out even more.

The second installment of Speed Grapher turned out to be a lot of fun just like the first though I have to admit that some of the pacing felt a bit off. It wasn't as nonstop as the opening volume was but it was necessary to spotlight the two main characters and their plight. This is definitely an interesting show that makes you think and it's not afraid to explore the darker side of humanity. If a unique and gritty series is what you're looking for then look no further; FUNimation has you covered with this one.

Speed Grapher was originally released a few years ago and as such the program benefits from the recent production. The designs; though sickening in some cases, are beautiful and the animation matches what you'd expect from a series by GONZO. The 1.78:1 anamorphic transfer offers an eerie glimpse at the seedy world that Saiga lives in but it's not entirely without flaw. While the colors and contrast stay on cue for the most part many scenes are blanketed by noise. It's difficult to tell whether or not this was a byproduct of FUNimation's transfer or if it was placed there purposely for the grit that this show loves so much. Either way it's a tad distracting but thankfully it's the only smudge on this otherwise solid looking series.

Like you'd expect from a series of this caliber Speed Grapher comes with a 2.0 track for each language (Japanese and English) with a 5.1 being reserved solely for the English speaking crowd. The dubbing for both tracks stands out as perfect and I'd definitely say that both drag you in and keep you on the edge of your seat. Lines are performed with precise emotions and the flare for the dramatic isn't lost in translation. The 2.0 tracks are acceptable enough for what they are but the 5.1 helps once the action picks up as it creates a better sense of immersion. Even so this is a somewhat quiet program and the channels aren't used to their fullest capacity.

The second installment of Speed Grapher follows the trend set by the first. That is to say that you can expect an art gallery, trailers, clean animations, and cast auditions for the English dub.

If you missed it the first time around FUNimation's re-release of Speed Grapher is definitely worth picking up. So far the series has been powerful and provocative which is quite the statement for a show that's only a third of way through its run. The second volume delivers the necessary plot exposition and it delves into the characters a bit while at the same time opening up the world. The producers created an interesting backdrop for this series and though the pacing suffers because of that exploration I can't help but be fixated on each episode. This is a solid watch if you're looking for something off the beaten path.

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