Anime # 1: Gatekeepers - Overview

Gatekeepers
Characters:

• Shun Ukiya
• Ruriko Ikusawa
• Reiko Asagiri
• Banba "Bancho" Chotaru (Choutarou)
• Fen Fei-ling (Fen Feiring)
• Kaoru Kanoe
• Megane
• Yukino Houjou
• Megumi Kurogane
• Keiko Ochiai
• Saemi Ukiya
• Jim Skylark
• Jun Thunders
• Misao Sakimori
• Shirei
• Reiji Kageyama

Original Manga Writer: Hiroshi Yamaguchi
Director: Koichi Chigira
Executive Director: Junichi Sato
Storyboard: Koichi Chigira
Music: Kouhei Tanaka
Art director: Masanori Kikuchi
Director of Photography: Ryou Fukushi
Sound Effect Director: Yota Tsuruoka
Character Design: Keiji Gotoh
Studio: GONZO DIGIMATION
Theme Song Performance: Yumi Matsuzawa
Opening Theme: "Asu no Egao no Tame ni (For the Smiles of Tomorrow)" by Yumi Matsuzawa (eps 7-23)
Ending Theme: #1: "Asu no Egao no Tame ni (Special Version)" by Yumi Matsuzawa (eps 1-6,24) #2: "Kyou Kara Ashita E" by Yumi Matsuzawa (eps 7-23)
Number of Episodes: 24 episodes
Episodes:

• Episode 1: Begin the Defense of the Earth
• Episode 02: Stand up for Peace
• Episode 03: Play the Dazzling Music
• Episode 04: Finding a New Warrior
• Episode 05: Run towards your Dream!
  Episode 06: Infiltrate the Girl's Dormitory of Terror!
• Episode 7: Shoot Down the Enemy Out of the Sky
• Episode 8: Find the Invader!
• Episode 9: Break the Pitch Dark Gate
• Episode 10: Get Over the Devil's Dream
• Episode 11: Stop that Bullet Train!
• Episode 12: Fly to the Northern Land
• Episode 13: Bring down, two of the Powerful Brass: Part 1
• Episode 14: Bring down, two of the Powerful Brass: Part 2
• Episode 15: Ruin the Arranged Marriage
• Episode 16: Sally Forth, Gate Robot!
• Episode 17: Flying Down Your Own Road
• Episode 18: Protect the Invader?!
• Episode 19: Listen to the Opinion of the Youth
• Episode 20: Leap into the New Year!
• Episode 21: Protect the Festival of Progress and Harmony!
• Episode 22: Beat the Jet Black Robot!
• Episode 23: Exert all your courage to fight!
• Episode 24: For Tomorrow's Smiles...

Story: It starts in the year 1969 in Japan, wherein Japan is seen as uundergoing an economic boom period. However, they seem to be attacked by a paranormal force (Invaders) that possess and transform humans into fighting creatures that are described as gray-faced, black-suited men with energy weapons. To prevent further damage from the Invaders, an Earth's defence force called AEGIS (Alien Extermination Global Intercept System) has been formed to find a team of teenagers with the power to open interdimensional portals (gates) that is used to summon massive energy. The story goes on as the invaders continue harming the humans and appears to be stronger in each encounter, and as AEGIS expands its members with a boy named Ukiya Shun leading them through the invaders' attacks.
Other: Apparently there is two sequels to this anime story, one of which is Gate Keepers 21, a 6-episode OVA sequel, and Gate Keepers 1985, a novel. Also, this animation is based on the PS game console. Lastly, there is a manga translated by Tokyopop.

OVA sequel Gate Keepers 21 and Gate Keepers in CD/VHS

PS version

Manga Versions (Tokyopop)

Listen to the opening song of Gate Keepers: Asu no Egao no Tame ni (So We Can Smile Tomorrow)

time check...2006.03.24 11:44 PM last edit... added other info about japanese staff and opening and ending songs...