Cafe Anime

Anime Title: Gravitation

Number of Episodes: 13

Animation Studio: Studio DEEN

Broadcaster: WOWOW

Production: Sony

Shuichi Shindou

Shuichi is an aspiring singer in Tokyo who graduated high school and is now looking for fame and fortune in the music industry. He went to school with Hiroshi Nakano, and together with him formed the band Bad Luck. Later on, Suguru Fujisaki joined the band as the keyboard player. Shuichi is somewhat of a slacker; he cries a lot, nags all the time, has an obsession with Ryuichi Sakuma and basically drives everyone crazy. However, there is something about Shuichi, something that makes people love him regardless of his personality. In many of his pictures, it is hard to distinguish him as a male for his big eyes, shiny hair and round jaw reflect the finer points of the Japanese female. There are many different styles of animation that have been used to reflect Shuichi’s mood over the course of the story. They are all very hilarious and prove that Gravitation was a high–budget project. Meeting Eiri Yuki in a local park changed his life. He became consumed with the egotistical and undignified man that had called him an absolute zero. To prove Yuki wrong, Shuichi wanted him to come to Bad Luck’s first live performance. The love–hate relation between Yuki and Shuichi quickly turned into a romantic adventure and became the main focus of the story.

Eiri Yuki (Uesugi-san)

Eiri Yuki is one of Japan’s most successful novelists and very popular among women of all ages. At a young age, he was taken to America by Thoma Seguchi to study English and writing. However, some horrible event changed Yuki, which resulted in his return to Japan. His novels, though full of violence, are essentially love stories. He has an older sister Mika who is married to Thoma Seguchi, and a younger brother Tatsuha. Yuki’s father is mentioned a few times, which may be the result of a bad relationship. Yuki is engaged to Ayaka Usami, but their parents arranged their marriage. Yuki appears to be a cold-hearted man, but Shuichi’s presence reminds him of things he thought he would never have to face again. Eiri Yuki's real name is Uesugi, but used the name Yuki when he became a novelist.

Hiroshi Nakano (Hiro)

Hiro is a school friend of Shuichi, together they started the rock band Bad Luck. Not much is known about Hiro, however, it’s very likely that he started Bad Luck right after graduating high school. Though more masculine in appearance than Shuichi, Hiro has long hair, big eyes and a slender body. Despite the fact that he constantly argues with Shuichi, he only does this because he cares about him more than he will admit. Hiro is always there to give advice to Shuichi, and acts as a mediator in many circumstances. He fell in love with Ayaka, but her connection with Eiri makes him skeptical. Although it may sound unfair to his character, Hiro is mainly in the story to add to Shuichi’s plot line, rather than develop his own. In many cases, He adds a wonderful side to the story and creates many hilarious situations.

Mr. Sakano

Sakano is employed by Tohma Seguchi to manage the band, Bad Luck. Even when he tries his best in the workplace, Shuichi’s temper and unpredictable nature have caused many troubles for Sakano. Since he is only called Sakano, I presume that it’s his last name, and that his first name is never used because of his position. A lot of Japanese will recognize Sakano as the ideal Japanese worker. His qualities include his loyalty to his boss and firm, humbleness and enthusiasm, and his unselfishness towards others. Sakano is probably the least feminine character in the show, which is a refreshing difference, at least to me. Sakano–san is eventually replaced as manager by K, but remains as Bad Luck’s producer and director. His goal is to keep Shuichi happy, while making sure that Bad Luck becomes the number one band in Japan.

Thoma Seguchi

Tohma Seguchi was the keyboard player in the successful rock band Nittle Grasper. After their lead singer Ryuichi left for America, Thoma Seguchi started the production company NG. He managed many successful bands and his popularity and influence is enormous. Tohma has known Yuki since he was a little boy, and took him to America because of his rough childhood. However, he came back to Japan with Yuki after a terrible incident. Years later, he married Yuki’s older sister Mika. Tohma Seguchi is possibly the most androgynous character in the series, his appearance is that of a beautiful female and his voice is done by a female voice actor. Even so, Tohma is definitely one of the better characters in the show. His willingness to protect Yuki above all else makes him an important link in the romance between Yuki and Shuichi. Tohma manages the band ASK personally and assigns his assistant Sakano as manager of Bad Luck. The rivalry between ASK and Bad Luck drove Tohma to somewhat extreme measures, but his motives aren't always clear. Tohma eventually rejoined Noriko and Ryuichi and competed with Bad Luck by reuniting Nittle Grasper.

Mika Seguchi

Yuki’s older sister and wife of Thoma Seguchi, Mika is a sophisticated, attractive, and successful woman. Mika tries hard to get Yuki reunited with his family and wants him to marry Ayaka. However, sometimes Yuki’s stubbornness drives her crazy. Mika is aware of Yuki’s troubled past and urges him to end his relationship with Shuichi for his own benefit. Her role is only a small one, but important nonetheless. She may seem harsh and mean, but on the inside she is tormented by the fact that her brother is suffering.

A tall, handsome man with long, blond hair and sparkling, blue eyes, K is another example of how Gravitation artists used both feminine and male beauty in one character. K is a mysterious character, nothing is known about him, except that he was Ryuichi’s manager prior to Bad Luck’s appearance. It could be that he is not Japanese, but an American who knows the Japanese language. Either way, he uses a lot of English language during the series and always appears to have an arsenal of guns and explosives nearby. K is an effective and successful manager, who will do anything to reach the top of the industry. He eventually replaced Sakano as Bad Luck’s manager and violently supported their claim to being the best rock band in Japan. He has proved himself with his capabilities in managing many difficult situations and manipulating others to achieve his goals. K’s happy–go–lucky attitude combined with his large guns, sniper skills, and unfailing charisma make him a character you just can’t ignore. Though controversial in his ways, he is very good friends with all the people he has worked with, and has earned the adoration of Ryuichi and Tohma.

Ryuichi Sakuma

Ryuichi is the brilliant vocalist of the band Nittle Grasper, which sold over twenty million copies of their first album. After their success in Japan, Ryuichi left Nittle Grasper and went to America with K to pursue a solo career for three years. Ryuichi’s appearance is much like Shuichi’s. Although his singing is brilliant, Ryuichi himself is nothing short of an airhead. His childish, selfish behavior and his gullibility make him one of the jesters in the story. Ryuichi feels a strong connection with Shuichi and even asks for his autograph during a live performance at Hit Stage. Ryuichi is Shuichi’s idol, but doesn’t seem to realize his status from his actions towards Shuichi. He is one of the reasons why Bad Luck was formed, therefore, he plays a very important role.

Ayaka Usami

Ayaka is the only daughter of a hotel owner, and is Eiri Yuki’s fiancé. Ayaka’s family and Yuki’s family are probably both from Kyoto, and their marriage was arranged when they were young. Ayaka travels all the way to Tokyo to see Yuki, but is mugged in the park. Luckily, Shuichi and Hiro rescued her and took her to safety. She is a worthy opponent to Shuichi for Yuki’s attention, but since Yuki doesn’t love her, she’s fighting a battle she can‘t win. She takes a liking to Hiro, who actually loves her a lot. Though it’s hard for her to let go, she eventually moves on. Ayaka, like all the females in Gravitation, is as equally good looking as the guys. Though her role isn’t prominent, she plays an important part in the story.

Seguru Fujisaki

After Bad Luck’s first live performance, Tohma Seguchi decides that they need a new band member. Fujisaki is one of Tohma’s cousins and a talented keyboard player. However, Shuichi has some difficulty in accepting him as the new member, but eventually the two became friends. Fuijisaki is often pessimistic and the most realistic of all the band members, and often argues with Shuichi and K. Fujisaki, like Tohma, is an overwhelmingly androgynous character. His voice is very feminine and his face has no real masculine features. He may seem uninteresting at times, but he is an honest character who wants to live up to Tohma’s expectations and impress the audience with his keyboarding skills. Obviously, Fujisaki follows Tohma as role model, since the latter was the keyboard player in the immensely popular band Nittle Grasper.

Noriko Ukai

Noriko is keyboard player, and third member, of the band Nittle Grasper. She doesn’t appear until much later in the story when Ryuichi reunites Nittle Grasper. Noriko is good friends with Ryuichi and Tohma, and seems to know K as well. She’s a good looking, smart, and direct woman. She doesn’t appear very often in the story, and if she does, it’s usually only to add to Tohma or Ryuichi’s story.