Weed (manga)

Weed (manga)
File:Jknljk.PNG Ginga Densetsu Weed Japanese manga cover, volume 1
Genre	Shōnen, drama
Manga
Written by	Yoshihiro Takahashi
Published by	Nihon Bungeisha
Anime
Studio	Studio Deen

Ginga Legend Weed (銀牙伝説ウィード Ginga Densetsu Uīdo) is a Japanese manga series by Yoshihiro Takahashi, which was serialized between 1999 and September 2006 in the magazine Mana Goraku. Ginga Legend Weed takes place 6-7 years after Ginga: Nagareboshi Gin. The main character, Weed, is the son of Gin, and appears to have been born with powers similar to his father's.

Studio Deen produces the anime version, which premiered in November 2005 on Animax.

FutureFilm in Finland has translated the anime for Scandinavia, and released DVDs in November 2006. A complete box set is in the works. No plans to release the anime in the English-speaking world are in the works at present date.

Story

Template:Spoiler The following synopsis describes the story as presented in the anime. Some events in the manga may be different (for example, in the manga, Smith does not meet Weed until after Sakura's death). The story begins 14 years after the events of Ginga Nagareboshi Gin, where Gin led 750 dogs into a battle against a bear demon, Akakabuto. He became a hero by vanquishing Akakabuto using the Battouga attack, the technique of the wolf. Gajou, the stronghold Akakabuto built for himself in Futago Pass, through the Ōu Mountains, became a monument of the battle and the ruling seat of Gin's new territory.

After 14 years of peace, a strange, horrible monster (Kaibutsu) invaded and overtook Gajou. During the battle, Gin sent his mate, Sakura, off with one of his commanders, Smith, to keep their unborn pups safe.

Six months later, a young Tora-ge (tiger-striped) Akita pup that looks just like Gin met GB, an English setter and a slave of a rogue boss dog named Nero. The pup tried to save one of GB's friends from a farm's guard dog, but all three ultimately are saved by Smith, who now has lost his right foreleg. Smith recognizes the Tora-ge pup and is led to Sakura, who is deathly ill. Soon after Smith's arrival, Sakura dies. With his father missing and his mother dead, GB and Smith take the pup in; GB names the pup Weed, due to his tenacious spirit.

The group has several adventures on their way back to the Ohu Mountains, and find more allies as they battle and defeat Kaibutsu, who was a genetic experiment gone wrong. But Gin and his lieutenants are still missing. They are found and captured by Hougen, a rogue boss dog from the Southern Alps. Using Gin as a hostage, Hougen launches an invasion to take over Gin's territory. Weed and his followers must gather allies in order to save the dog's paradise.

Characters

The oldest Ohu Soldiers

Gin

(Tora-ge Akita Inu) Weed's father. The hero of the battle with the bear demon Akakabuto 14 years ago, and now the ruler of Futago Pass. Was captured and held hostage by Hougen, but later rescued by Kyoushiro and Toube.

Akame

(Kishu Inu) One of Gin's direct lieutenants. The last living Iga ninja dog. He assists in the defense of Gajou after escaping during Gin and John's capture by Hougen.

John

(German Shepherd) Gin's other direct lieutenant. He was killed by Hougen in episode 9 after escaping with Reika.

Smith

(English Setter) One of Gin's commanders. He was sent off during Kaibutsu's invasion to protect Sakura. He was killed by Kaibutsu in episode 4.

Sakura

(White Akita Inu) Gin's mate, and Weed's mother. She died of disease-induced starvation in episode 1.

Ben

(Great Dane/Mastiff mix) The oldest of the surviving Ohu soldiers from the battle with Akakabuto. Ken's father. He's still very strong despite advanced age, but virtually blind. He has to be guided by his mate, Cross.

Cross

(Saluki) The only female Soldier of Ohu. Ben's mate, and Ken's mother. She serves as Ben's eyes in his old age.

Kurotora

(Kai Ken) One of Gin's commanders. Kagetora's father and Shigure's uncle.

Tokimune

(Tora-ge Akita Inu) Gin's body double, for defense of Gajou in his absence. He was killed by Kaibutsu in episode 3.

Weed and his followers

Weed

(Tora-ge Akita Inu) The son of Gin. He became the interim ruler of Gin's territory and leader of the Ohu soldiers in Gin's absence, officially as of episode 5.

GB

(English Setter) Cowardly and formerly a slave of rogue boss dog Nero. His life was saved by Smith several months before Weed's birth. He is now Weed's godfather and closest friend.

Sasuke

(Shiba Inu) One of GB's friends. Weed saved him from a hunting dog in the first episode, then he left on his own to find his old master. He turned up in episode 19, a slave of Hougen, and GB and Weed were able to bring him into the Ohu soldiers.

Mel

(Golden Retriever) A puppy younger than Weed. Formerly a slave of rogue boss dog Blue. He has shown considerable tenacity, especially in defense of Gajou.

Hook

Formerly a pet, and a slave to Blue before that, he escaped and helped save Mel from Blue. He is working for Weed independently. He is the one that told Gin about Weed, and helped Gin in secret during his detention by Hougen. He brought Reika to Gajou after Weed's first encounter with Hougen.

Ken

(Great Dane/Mastiff/Saluki mix) One of the commanders of the Ohu Soldiers prior to Weed's arrival.

Kagetora

(Kai Ken) One of the commanders of the Ohu Soldiers prior to Weed's arrival. Ken and Kagetora, like their parents Ben and Kurotora, are extremely close friends.

Jerome

(German Shepherd) A trained guard dog and assassin. He was sent after Kaibutsu by its creators to destroy it. He originally had 15 subordinates; the last four of them died in episodes 4 and 5. He became Weed's advisor, but was driven out when he murdered two of Hougen's assassins in episode 16. He worked for Weed independently from then on. He drowned after Hougen threw him into a river in episode 25. Before his death, he eagerly awaits to meet his fallen comrades again and, interestingly, Kaibutsu too. (In the manga Jerome, does not drown in the river.) Jerome's breed is German Shepherd this is said in the anime, manga, fanpages.

Reika

(Akita Inu) Daughter of one of Gin's old commanders. She was captured with John and Gin by Hougen, but escaped with John and Hiro.

Rocket

(Borzoi) Formerly one of Hougen's spies, he defected and joined Weed's group. His loyalty was solidified when his brothers, Missile and Jet, were murdered by Hougen.

Hiro

(Saint Bernard mix) Nicknamed "the ballsnatcher", as he usually defends himself by neutering his enemies. He helped John and Reika escape from Hougen's clutches, then joined Weed's group. He seeks vengeance on Kamakiri for murdering his father and slashing his left eye. He finally defeated Kamakiri and avenged his father in episode 22.

Kyoushiro Shirogane

(Kishu Inu) The leader of a large but strong group of pups, all abused by their parents. Weed wins his loyalty, and the entire pack comes under Weed's leadership. He almost defected when Jerome was exiled, but Jerome convinced him to remain with Weed. In episode 20, he infiltrated Hougen's pack in an attempt to rescue Gin; he made his pups believe he was really defecting, to test their willingness to fight.

Tesshin

(Shikoku Inu) Leader of the Koga ninja dogs. Prior to Weed's birth, Gin chose him as the successor to Gajou to Futago Pass. Now he and his ninja dogs are under Weed's leadership.

Shigure

(Kai Ken) Kagetora's cousin. Shigure's brothers, Shouji, Dodo, and Burukin were killed in Genba's invasion in episode 13. He escaped, and returned with reinforcements in episode 17.

Enemies

Kaibutsu

Experiment P4, he is a genetically altered dog created by humans, an enormous beast, about as large as a horse or larger, may weight 600 pounds or so. During the painful lab experiments, Jerome was the only dog to comfort him. After escaping his laboratory, Jerome and his corps were sent to destroy him. He eventually holed up in Gajou where he killed and devoured humans as he pleased. With the combined strength of Weed, Ken, Kagetora and Jerome, Kaibutsu's reign of terror finally came to an end when he fell from a cliff and was impaled on a fallen tree in episode 6.

Nero

(Alaskan Malamute) A rogue boss dog in the Northern Alps. He once encountered Gin, but was scared off when he was easily defeated by John. He was killed by Hougen for his cowardice.

Blue

(Alaskan Malamute) A rogue boss dog in the Northern Alps, generally believed to be subordinant to Nero. He was hit by two semis and killed in episode 2 while trying to escape Weed, GB and Smith. The second time he saved Weed's life after Weed tried to save Blue from being hit again. He stated to Weed before he died that 'Nobody has every shown me kindness like this. I wish I could've met someone like you sooner.'

Hougen

(Harlequin Great Dane) A rogue boss dog in the Southern Alps. He took Gin captive and intended to take over Futago Pass. He is rumored to be a maneater, and possibly a dog-eater as well. In episode 26 Weed used the Battouga, with the aid of the strong wind to make it more effective, on Hougen's head and left him half-dead. However, Hougen secretly climbed to the top of Gajou. He stood triumphant that he had won until a bolt of lightning struck him, killing him instantly.

Genba

(Harlequin Great Dane) Hougen's younger brother. He leads Hougen's invasion of the Futago Pass in episode 13. Hougen killed him in episode 18 out of mercy after he suffered a massive head injury from being pushed off a cliff by Tesshin and Shigure.

Thunder and Lector

(Dobermanns) Hougen's top assassins. Their teeth are essentially steel. Weed used a branch and then a razor to shatter their fangs. Jerome killed both of them in episode 16, leading to his exile from the Ohu Soldiers.

Kamakiri

(Irish Wolfhound) A rival of Hiro in the Southern Alps, he allies with Hougen in the takeover of Futago Pass. After Genba's death, however, he develops ambitions of his own. Kamakiri is also the murderer of Hiro's father and scarred Hiro's left eye. In episode 22, he was defeated by the vengeful Hiro, with his fangs and testicles ripped off. Before Hiro leaves, however, he told Kamakiri to head south where there was a high population of rats - prey easy to catch with no fangs. As Hiro leaves, Kamakiri grieves in pain, despair and defeat.

Toube

(Tosa Inu) He was chosen as one of Hougen's generals, but was kicked out by Hougen in connection with Genba's injury and death. He was rescued by Weed, but was reluctant to change sides initially, mainly seeking vengeance on Hougen. He is also an old opponent to Musashi, who he fought against in a dog-fighting tournament. In episode 21, he meets his end when he helps Kyoushiro save Gin from Hougen's stronghold. He battled and was defeated by Kamakiri's group, but he refused to fall in front of them. The next day Toube's body was found by Weed's friends, frozen and still standing.

Characters not shown in the anime

The storyline in the manga is some what different than the anime. There are new characters as well as reapperances from Ginga Nagareboshi Gin.

Lenny

(Golden Retriever) Lenny is a house dog as well as Mel's mother. She meets up with Weed while trying to find her son who is stealing dog food for a boss dog named Blue. She later reunites with Mel, but she dies shortly afterwards from an illness.

Golvy

(Siberian Husky) Mel was abandoned in the woods right after his owners brought Golvy into their home. He acts aggressive when he first meets Weed and Lenny but then offers them food and shelter. When Weed and Lenny meet up with Hook and go off to find Mel, Golvy stays behind. He is afraid of leaving the safety of the fence and going off into the wilderness.

Daisuke

Gin's former owner and best friend. Daisuke has grown from "adventurous little kid" into a young man. He hears about a monster (Kaibutsu) in Futago Pass that's been attacking people and killing them. Daisuke drives up to the mountain to see if it's true. On the way, he sees Weed and is speachless: The young dog is a Tora-ge, just like Gin. Positive that the puppy is Gin's son, Daisuke goes after him but then runs into Kaibutsu. Weed saves him and Kaibutsu is driven off by hunters and their rifles. Daisuke then takes Weed home and treats some shot wounds that he has. After Weed is fully recovored, Daisuke lets Weed return to Futago Pass.

Kisaragi

(Siberian Husky) The former leader of the Mutsu Generals. When he hears about the brothers Hougen and Genba trying to take over Gajou from Kurotra's nephew Shigure, he sends his six sons to Gajou to aid Shigure and the others in the battle.

George

(Great Dane/Mastiff/Saluki mix) Ken brother as well as Ben and Cross's son. He more resembles his mother than his father. He meets up with his brother and Weed while they look for the Koga dog Tesshin.

Willson

(Collie) An old friend of Gin and a veterian from the battle against Akakabuto. Like Ginga Nagareboshi Gin, he dosn't have a big role in the story.

Anime

File:Vlcsnap2970015ru.jpg

Screenshot from the opening of the Ginga Legend Weed anime

The anime began production in September 2005, and ran through May 2006. The entire series ran for 26 episodes. As usually happens with conversion from manga to anime, there have been some changes made to the plot, some of them major.

Other info

• Category: Adventure / Drama
• Studio: Studio Deen
• Station: Animax
• Total of 26 Episodes

Theme Songs

• Opening

Ginga Densetsu Weed by Dohatsuten

• Ending

Tsuki Akari by Dohatsuten

Trivia

• Interestingly enough Gin's remaining group of comrades from the beginning of the series (John, Akame, and Smith) are the same breeds as Weed's formed group (Jerome, Kyushiro, and G.B.)

See also

• Ginga: Nagareboshi Gin

External links

• Animax's official Ginga Densetsu Weed website (Japanese)
• Hopeanuoli.com (Finnish/English)
• Gingaworld.net (Swedish)