Reviewer: Zandra [email]
Overall Rating: A
Media Reviewed: Fansub
Creator: Murakami Maki
U.S. Licensed: Yes
Released by: RightStuf International
Run time: 13 episodes; OAV: 60 minutes
BL Content: Soft (touching, kissing)
Genre: Comedy/Romance
Other media:
English manga [review]
OAV DVD: Lyrics of Love
English-licensed novel
What is there to say about Gravitation that hasn't already been said? It's smart. It's funny. It's sexy. It's angty. It's cute. It's bishounen. It's great.
Gravitation is my favorite anime series ever, yaoi or otherwise, so I'm a bit biased. But the majority of yaoi/shounen-ai fandom loves Gravitation. And with good reason!
We first meet hyperactive Shuichi Shindou, a pink-haired 19-year-old boy, as he runs into the park late for another meeting. Shuichi is an emotional soul who can be happy-go-lucky one moment and in tears the next. He's the head of the band "BAD LUCK" along with his buddy Hiroshi Nakano. Shuichi isn't the smartest, or the best, but he always tries as hard as he can at anything he does. Hiroshi, or Hiro for short, is laid-back and good natured. He is also extremely smart and talented at playing his guitar. Plus, with his long red-brown hair, he's absolutely gorgeous.
ShuichiShuichi is writing the lyrics for BAD LUCK's new CD album. He walks home at night through the park when a sudden gust of wind blows his lyrics out of his hands and to the feet of a mysterious, but very attractive blonde man. The man reads his lyrics and comments, "You have no talent. Give it up." He then walks slowly away as his words hit Shuichi.
Shuichi can't believe what happened and is determined to find this man. He later finds out that it is none other than the romance novalist Yuki Eiri! Shuichi meets Yuki again and offers him the oppurtunity to come to his concert and prove he has talent, challenging Yuki. Yuki backs him up into a wall while asking Shuichi why he's so obsessed. Then he proceeds to kiss Shuichi! and this is where we leave episode one.
YukiHonestly it only gets better, introducing more characters that each have their own personality. The entire show is character driven, there is no monster to fight or world to save. It's all about Shuichi & Yuki's relationship, and BAD LUCK's rise to the top of the charts. There are real feelings in this show, because the situations are realistic. You really feel for the characters in a way I've never really thought about before.
From Tohma, who looks mysteriously like Quatre, to K, the gun-toting american who likes to use random engrish phrases, to Ryuichi the 30-year-old with a stuffed pink bunny, Gravitation has some of the best characters in any yaoi anime. The humor is both outrageous and subtle depending on the scene. And while the angst for the series is rather light, especially considering the genre we're in, it's enough to keep you hooked.
K, Hiroshi, SakanoAnimation is all digital and was produced in 1999. It's bright and lively, with excellent use of color. The only thing that I could notice was that in different episodes, the characters had a different 'look' to them but this can be attributed to the different animation directors of each episode. The production values were substantial but not outstanding. Still, it's nothing that should bother anyone. If you can handle the animation of Weiss Kreuz, then you can handle anything.
The show is about a "rock band" but in all honest opinon the music is techno-pop. I personally LOVE Gravi's music, and have yet to get sick of my Gravi CDs. Almost all of the songs sung in the show feature the vocals of Kotani Kinya who is like a real-life Shuichi, minus the pink hair! Basically, if you like the Opening song, "Super Drive," you're bound to like the rest of the insert songs such as "The Rage Beat," "Sleepless Beauty" and "Blind Game Again."
From the OAVSeiyuu fans, take note! The lovable Shuichi Shindou is voiced by none other than Tomokazu Seki! Seki-sama has voiced other yaoi/shonen-ai characters including Dee Laytner from FAKE, Ken Hidaka from Weiss Kreuz and Touya Kinomoto from Cardcaptor Sakura. Also of note is Takehito Koyasu, the unofficial "king" of seiyuu, as the neurotic manager Sakano. You've probably never heard Koyasu-san like this, unless you've seen Saber Marionette J. Yuki's deep baritone is from the lovely Inoue Kazuhiko who is lesser known than the two above but is equally as wonderful. There are a ton more seiyuu fan-favorites in Gravitation, so if you're into that sort of thing (I know I am!) check and see if your favorite is in here.
Gravitation is based on a shonen-ai manga by Maki Murakami. There are also the hard-yaoi XXX doujinshi that she draws that relate to the series. Basically, this is everything you wanted to see in the series that they never did... and then some! All sorts of pairings populate the "Remix" doujinshis, so check it before you buy it if you're looking for a particular pairing. (Me, I own #4- Hiro x Shuichi!)
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
my friend in the university im going to for the past years gave me a DVD of this anime as a present for my 20th birthday..i was surprised when i received the gift! ITS GRAVITATION!!! ^__^
i've watched the 13 episodes but i haven't watched the OAV..
the series is great! i really liked the bands BAD LUCK & Nittle Grasper!!! the songs were nice..
thanks to boysonboysonfilm.com!!!!
here's the link...
http://www.boysonboysonfilm.com/anime/gravitation.html
..........pero aus din..........d ko ntapus eh.....aus ang shonen ai na to.... 
