I had a lot of fun way back in the day when Desert Punk first came out in anime form as it delivered some silliness and fanservice that amused younger me and likely still works for me. Funimation recently started adding the show to YouTube to give it some new life with the first half dozen or so episodes now streaming in its original Japanese with English subtitles, the first of which you can see below. Check the regional availability here.
Check out our Ten Years Later article about the series from 2014.
Originally airing in 2004, the series was directed by Takayuki Inagaki based on the series composition by Hiroshi Yamaguchi. Takahiro Yoshimatsu worked on the character designs and served as the chief animation director with the animation produced at Gonzo.
The Japanese cast includes Chihiro Suzuki as Sunabōzu, Chiwa Saito as Kosuna, Jiro Saito as Fuyuo Kawaguchi, Norio Wakamoto as Amagumo, Tomoko Kotani as Junko Asagiri, Wotoya Kawano as Haruo Kawaguchi and Yasuhiro Takato as Akio Kawaguchi.
The English cast includes Eric Vale as Kanta “Desert Punk” Mizuno, Luci Christian as Kosuna, Callie Young as Junko Asagiri, Cole Brown as Narrator, Jamie Marchi as Natsuko Kawaguchi, Jeremy Inman as Fuyo Kawaguchi, Justin Cook as Akio Kawaguchi, Kenny Green as Rain Spider, Mike McFarland as Haru Kawaguchi, Randy Tallman as Kaoru Kaizuka and Stephanie Young as Junko Asagiri.
The manga began in 1997 and spawned the 2004 anime adaptation but the manga has had some hiatus periods along the way for a couple of years. The series wrapped up with twenty-two volumes in October 2020.
Plot concept: The Great Kanto Desert is a place of extremes where a hero dies an anonymous death and a villain goes down in a blaze of glory. And then there’s this guy.
Meet Kanta Mizuno. He’s not your typical hero and his methods are not always honorable, but he’s the closest thing to a good guy the desert’s got. Self proclaimed as the Desert Punk, he’s out to make a name for himself as the best handyman for hire.
No job is too tough, no opponent too nefarious Once Desert Punk’s on the job, it’s as good as done!
Get the job done. Collect the money. Repeat
