Miami Guns

Miami Guns (Japanese: マイアミ☆ガンズ, Hepburn: Maiami Ganzu) is a manga and anime series. The anime takes place in Miami City, which is similar to Miami, Florida, except for several locale changes. It's mainly about the life of two female Miami City police officers having to stop crimes before they get worse. The setting thus has some similarities to that of the popular TV show Miami Vice.

Characters

Yao Sakurakouji (桜小路 妖, Sakurakōji Yao)

Yao is the daughter of one of the richest people in Miami City and seems to ask for her money a lot. She is part of the Miami City Police and sometimes is unaware of what danger she's in. She has a love for senseless violence, not to mention a desire to be the center of attention to whatever her whim is. To her, being on the police is just an excuse to shoot people and blow buildings up. She just doesn't care about anyone else... except herself and her partner Lu.

Voiced by: Megumi Toyoguchi (Japanese); Nicole Gibson (English)

Lu Amano (天野 ルウ, Amano Rū)

She is part of the Miami City Police and is a lot more calm and aware of things than her partner, Yao. She seems to always be on top of things. Her father is the Chief of the Miami Police. One of her hobbies is wealth management, and sometimes whenever Yao's dad would cut her off, Lu would lend Yao money... but at a high rate of interest. But otherwise, Lu cares about Yao a lot, and although she doesn't show it, often worries about her.

Voiced by: Yukari Tamura (Japanese); Suzanna Willard (English)

Kaken Masume (科 研 娘, Masume Kaken)

Kaken Masume is a scientist and part of the Miami City Police, but doesn't usually go on missions. She does come with Yao and Lu in episodes like "The Sea! Bikinis! Ghosts!" and "Princess Nokemono". Her clothes features a dart gun in her bow tie, helpful for subduing distraught bystanders... or when used by Yao, to knock out the chief so that she could do her grandstanding.

Voiced by: Rie Tanaka (Japanese); Mary Evans (English)

Chief Amano (署 長)

He's the Chief of the Miami City Police and is the father of Lu. He's a bit tight with money, especially when payday comes at the department. He also gets a lot of flak about his dated afro hairdo, and would like nothing more than to get rid of Yao.

Voiced by: Mitsuru Ogata (Japanese); Charles Dee Rice (English)

Nagisa Tojo (東條 ナギサ, Tōjō Nagisa)

Believed to be a major player in "the Organization", Nagisa Tojo has been awarded many honors in the past until Yao ruined one of her hugest plans yet. She now plans to take revenge on Yao, but Yao believes her to be her greatest friend and sometimes Nagisa takes advantage of this to find a way to get rid of Yao.

Voiced by: Chiaki Osawa (Japanese); Crystal Waters (English)

Julio Peacemaker (ウォーターメロンマン フリオ, Furio)

A freelance bounty hunter. He refers to himself as a "Messenger of Peace" and travels around with his pet alligator Al. He runs into Yao and Lu in several episodes of the 13-episode series. He seems to sometimes get into Yao's personal space, but she usually treats him as some sort of gigolo.

Voiced by: Akira Ishida (Japanese); Bill Munoz (English)

Al (アル, Aru)

Julio Peacemaker's pint-sized pet alligator. Originally, Al was a test subject in the Tojo Conglomerate's animal-testing labs until he escaped. As a result of the experiments, Al possesses human-level intelligence, for which he uses to help out Julio. He is also very fascinated with panties.

Voiced by: Yukari Tamura (Japanese); Nozomi Shikauchi (English)

Jii (ジ イ)

Jii is Yao's assigned bodyguard. Not much is known about this man: his birthday, country of origin... even his real name. But whatever, he is a loyal servant to the Sakurakougi family, also serving as a butler, mechanic, even a mercenary. He also has a side-job as a professional wrestling trainer.

Voiced by: Tomomichi Nishimura (Japanese); Ralph Redpath (English)

George and Anthony:

They're two gay lovers/commandos who seems to pop up in episodes including "The Sea! Bikinis! Ghosts!" and "Spy! Miami Girls School". It is rumored that they are major players in "the Organization". However, they seem to be more interested in each other than in what vague plans that are in store.

George: Voiced by: Hiroyuki Yokoo (Japanese); Frank Marshall (English)

Anthony: Voiced by: Hiroki Takahashi (Japanese); Josh Batenhorst (English)

Kosuke, Haruki, and Taruko

These three are officers of the Miami Police and seem to get into trouble sometimes.

Kosuke: Voiced by: Hiroki Takahashi (Japanese); Jess Wells (English);

Haruki: Voiced by: Norihisa Mori (Japanese); James Morasso (English);

Takuro: Voiced by: Masaya Takatsuka (Japanese); R.K. Roberson (English)

Mr. Sakurakouji (妖の父, Yao no Chichi)

He is the mysterious father of Yao and doesn't want her to be in the Miami City Police. He'll become angry at Yao from time to time, usually either because of her money problems or because the city is being destroyed because of something she did. He would like to see her off the Miami City Police, but realizes it just get her out of his hair.

Voiced by: Shingo Horii (Japanese); Scott Bailey (English)

Anime episodes

The approximate time is 25 minutes per episode without commercials.

Theme songs

Opening

"SEEDS" by Lastier

Ending

奇蹟の城 (Kiseki no Shiro, Castles of Miracles) by epidemic

Parodies

Miami Guns parodies and references to other anime and such, like, Friday the 13th, Desperado, Die Hard with a Vengeance, Jean Reno's Leon: The Professional, Saturday Night Live, Neon Genesis Evangelion, Detective Conan, Speed Racer, Wacky Races, and an alleged(via DVD description) 'world famous extended homage' to the hit anime series Initial D .

Comparing Miami Guns' Miami to the real Miami

While the series takes place in "Miami", there are some things in the anime's Miami that don't fit in with the real Miami, Florida. Such as:

• Many of the signs are in English and Japanese, though the most predominant languages in the real Miami are English and Spanish.
• Cars in the anime Miami drive on the left side of the road as in Japan, not on the right side as in the United States.
• Majority in the anime Miami are of the Yamato people, and most have Japanese names. The real Miami is mostly composed of Caucasians, Cubans and Caribbean Creoles (generally from Haiti).
• The anime Miami has its own currency, complete with city seal (which resembles that of the real Miami's seal).
• The anime Miami is close by to the desert and mountains, while the real Miami is close by to the Everglades, with the nearest mountains in Cuba and north Georgia, and desert in the western US. Even though an alligator was featured in the series, the Everglades were never featured.

External links

• (Japanese) Official site
• (English) Official site
• AN Entertainment's official Miami Guns site released the DVDs in 2004

• Volume 1: Episodes 1-3 released June 22
• Volume 2: Episodes 4-6 released August 3
• Volume 3: Episodes 7-9 released September 14
• Volume 4: Episodes 10-12 released October 26

• Miami Guns (manga) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia
• Miami Guns (anime) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia

Group TAC
Television series	Space Battleship Yamato (1974–1975) Huckleberry no Bōken (1976) Manga Ijin Monogatari (1977–1978) Space Battleship Yamato II (1978–1979) Space Battleship Yamato III (1980–1981) Tokimeki Tonight (1982–1983) Igano Kabamaru (1983–1984) Touch (1985–1987) Hiatari Ryōkō! (1987–1988) Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water (1990–1991) Sunset on Third Street (1990–1991) Yadamon (1992–1993) Tama of Third Street: Do You Know My Tama? (1993–1994) Jungle King Tar-chan (1993–1994) Gakkō no Kowai Uwasa: Hanako-san ga Kita!! (1994–1995) Soar High! Isami (1995–1996) Street Fighter II V (1995) Bonobono (1995–1996) Those Who Hunt Elves (1996) YAT Anshin! Uchū Ryokō (1996–1998) Fair, then Partly Piggy (1997–1998) Those Who Hunt Elves 2 (1997) Android Announcer Maico 2010 (1998) Flint the Time Detective (1998–1999) Legend of Himiko (1999) Kyorochan (1999–2001) Oruchuban Ebichu (1999) Ippatsu Kiki Musume (1999) Miami Guns (2000) Gensomaden Saiyuki (2000–2001) Fighting Foodons (2000–2001) Grappler Baki (2001) The Family's Defensive Alliance (2001) Cosmic Baton Girl Princess Comet (2001–2002) Gyōten Ningen Batseelor (2001–2002) Grappler Baki: Maximum Tournament (2001) Captain Tsubasa: Road to 2002 (2001–2002) Gilgamesh (2003–2004) Saiyuki ReLoad (2003–2004) Twin Spica (2003–2004) Area 88 (2004) Viewtiful Joe (2004–2005) Ton-Ton Atta to Niigata no Mukashi Banashi (2004) Grenadier (2004–2005) Gakuen Alice (2004–2005) Nanami-chan (2004–2009) Kage Kara Mamoru! (2006) Hanbun no Tsuki ga Noboru Sora (2006) Ballad of a Shinigami (2006) Tokko (2006) Tama and Friends: Search For It! The Magic Puni-Puni Stone (2006) Black Blood Brothers (2006) Tetsuko no Tabi (2007) Happy Happy Clover (2007)
Films	Jack and the Beanstalk (1974) Space Battleship Yamato (1977) Farewell to Space Battleship Yamato (1978) Yamato: The New Voyage (1979) 11 Piki no Neko (1980–1986) Be Forever Yamato (1980) Zō no Inai Dōbutsuen (1982) Final Yamato (1983) Nine (1983) Nine the Original (1983) Nine 2: Sweetheart Declaration (1983) Nine 3: Final (1984) Captain Tsubasa: Europe Daikessen (1985) Night on the Galactic Railroad (1985) Captain Tsubasa: Ayaushi, Zen Nippon Jr. (1985) Captain Tsubasa: Asu ni Mukatte Hashire (1986) Touch: Sebangō no Nai Ace (1986) Captain Tsubasa: Sekai Daikessen!! Jr. World Cup (1986) Touch 2: Sayonara no Okurimono (1986) Touch 3: Kimi ga Tōri Sugita Ato ni (1987) Murasaki Shikibu Genji Monogatari (1987) Hiatari Ryōkō! Ka - su - mi: Yume no Naka ni Kimi ga Ita (1988) Run! White Wolf (1990) Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water (1991) Huckleberry no Bōken (1991) Tama of Third Street: Please! Search for Momo-chan!! (1993) Bonobono (1993) Street Fighter II: The Animated Movie (1994) Spring and Chaos (1996) Touch: Miss Lonely Yesterday (1998) Street Fighter Alpha: The Animation (2000) The Laws of the Sun (2000) Touch: Cross Road (2001) Gensomaden Saiyuki Requiem: A Requiem for The One Not Chosen (2001) The Golden Laws (2003) Arashi no Yoru ni (2005) The Laws of Eternity (2006) The Rebirth of Buddha (2009)
OVAs/ONAs	Tama and Friends: Third Street Story (1988–1990) Manga Edo Ero Banashi (1989) Everyday is Sunday (1990–1992) Nozomi Witches (1992–1993) Tenshi Nanka Ja Nai (1994) Princess Minerva (1995) Strange Love (1997) Grandeek (2000) Gensomaden Saiyuki: Kibou no Zaika (2002) Submarine 707R (2003) Blame! (2003) Ajisai no Uta (2004) Shinran-sama: Negai, Soshite Hikari (2008)
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