Gate

About Gate

Looking for background on Gate (GATE 自衛隊 彼の地にて、斯く戦えり)? This action, adventure and fantasy series by A-1 Pictures (2015) starts out like this. What the story covers: The military fantasy series starts when a gate appears in Tokyo's Ginza district sometime in the 21st century. From the gate pours out monsters, knights from middle-age Europe, and other fantasy-like beings, and they kill many of the citizens of Tokyo.

Further in, this event is known as the Ginza Incident. The government sends a small group of soldiers from the Japanese Self-Defense Forces (a replacement for Japan's military) to the alternate realm beyond the gate. Led by otaku soldier Youji, they find that the villages in the world are being attacked by a dragon.

As an action title, fight choreography, pacing and sound design carry much of the weight. Voice work is led by Risa Taneda as Rory Mercury and Nao Touyama as Lelei la Lelena. It will appeal most to viewers who like fast, high-impact fights. The run is 12 episodes in total, so you know what you are signing up for.

Production & Appeal

Production sits with A-1 Pictures, which means the visual identity of Gate follows that studio's craft. The action focus matters here: fight choreography, pacing and sound design carry much of the weight. At 7.4/10 it earns a solid reception, a safe pick for fans of the genre. Voice casting, including Risa Taneda as Rory Mercury, adds to the appeal for fans who follow seiyuu. Released in 2015, it competed with that season's other new series for attention.