Funimation has slung another anime series over to Crunchyroll for streaming with the Gun X Sword property. This license rescue of theirs now has the original Japanese language version being brought over while the dub remains on Funimation’s site. Availability for it is limited due to the original license contract as it’s open to viewers in the US and Canada.
Originally airing in 2005, the series was directed by Goro Taniguchi based on the script by Hideyuki Kurata. Takahiro Kimura served as the character designer and chief animation director for it with AIC ASTA handling the primary animation work.
The Japanese cast includes Houko Kuwashima as Wendy Gallet, Kikuko Inoue as Carmen99, Takanori Hoshino as Van, Junko Noda as Joshua Langlen, Kenyuu Horiuchi as The Claws, Mami Kingetsu as Elena, Saeko Chiba as Priscilla, Satsuki Yukino as Yukiko Stevens, Souichiro Hoshi as Michael Gallet and Takahiro Sakurai as Ray Langlen.
The English cast includes David Vincent as Van, Jennifer Sekiguchi as Wendy, Liam O’Brien as Ray, Michelle Ruff as Carmen99, Carrie Savage as Priscilla, Harry Molloy as Barrio, Johnny Yong Bosch as Michael Garret, Karen Thompson as Yukiko Stevens, Kirk Thornton as The Claw, Kirsty Pape as Fasalina, Michael Sorich as Nero and Russell Thor as Jose.
Plot concept: Van, a lanky and apathetic swordsman, is on a journey to kill the murderer of his fiancé. The only characteristic he has to go by is that the murderer has a claw for an arm, hence the murderer being referred to as The Claw Man. During his travels, Van happens to pass through the city of Evergreen, which is defending itself from bandits who aim to rob the city of its treasury. It is in this city that Van meets Wendy Garret, a timid young girl who is looking for her kidnapped brother. When the city pleads for Van’s assistance to defend it, he refuses, claiming it has nothing to do with him and thus leaves the city on its own to deal with the peril. Soon after, Van comes across the raiding bandits himself and they eventually tick off the swordsman to a degree where he takes action against them for his own personal vendetta. Surprisingly, Van learns that the bandits had ties with The Claw Man, and in kidnapping Wendy’s brother for a reason they did not disclose. After the bandits are dealt with easily, Van and, much to his chagrin, Wendy continue the journey in search of The Claw Man. Little do they know, however, that The Claw Man is involved with something more atrocious than either could fathom.