Sunabouzu

Title:Sunabouzu
Desert Punk
Sunabozu
砂ぼうず
Overall:Rent
Keywords: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Notables: Animation - GONZO
R1 License - FUNimation
In a dry desert world lost to it own destruction, which bakes in the sun and freezes at night, where the hollow shells of abandoned buildings stand like tombstones to a forgotten age, humanity still manages to survive by preying on itself. Hidden behind a mask of mystery, Sunabozu manages to eek out a living by taking on those special jobs that are too trivial for the surviving justice system, and too tough for the bounty hunters. And if he could catch that full figured Asajiri Junko, who set him up to fight the entire Kawazu clan and then tricked him out of the bounty, he would be a lot happier. But Sunabozu always finishes any job that he accepts, even if it takes some time.

(24 episodes, R1 license by Funimation)
"砂" ("suna") means "sand", "ぼうず" is the kana sound pattern "bouzu" (usually written as "坊主" in Kanji) which can mean a lot of things such as "buddhist priest", "shaved head", and a boy. So this guy's name might mean something like "the young sand monk".
1:30min Series OP - YouTube Video
30sec English Language Promo - ANN (high res) Streaming Promo
Episode Details 
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 99
OverallArtAnimationCharacter Design MusicSeries StoryEpisode StoryReviewer
Watch 7 6 6 5 5 5 Ggultra2764 [series:879#1552]
I suppose Desert Punk is supposed to be some sort of black comedy focused on our titular scumbag of a lead taking part in jobs and attempting to sexually harass any busty female he comes into contact with in a post-apocalyptic future. The anime seems to attempt using Desert Punk's over-the-top scumbag behavior and others living within the merciless future environment as satire of titles set within post-apocalyptic anime titles, especially with the cynical mentalities found with much of the show's cast. However, I never really found myself getting into the show's comedy as it was a bit too mean-spirited for my tastes as even the occasions where Desert Punk got his comeuppance for his behavior never got me laughing and many episodes felt rather repetitive in their structure with comedy. The final episodes of the series appeared to make an attempt to incorporate an ongoing plot yet this doesn't do much to improve things in my book. Overall, this is pretty much another dud from Gonzo in my book.

Last updated Saturday, May 23 2015. Created Saturday, May 23 2015.
Watch 8 8 7 7 8 8 Innishfree [series:879#2295]
A very funny and enjoyable series. That can be quit prevented at times. Sunabozu always seems to be suckered into jobs by very cute and large breasted women. He always gets the job done thou. This series is taken in the future were mankind has to live in the heat with very little water. Humor is the main stay with this anime series. Especially when it comes to Sunabozu's boob fetish. Sunabozu isn't your typical hero. He is short and young and a temper that gets him in trouble a lot. So sit back and enjoy the ride (show).

Last updated Monday, July 17 2006. Created Monday, July 17 2006.
Buy 8 8 7 5 8 Kari [series:879#798]
I've watched a lot of comedy themed anime shows, and if they make me laugh a lot, I buy them. Desert Punk is a very entertaining show. Kanta may be really short, but he's also extremely tough and smart...and very horny.



I hate Desert Punk's music. I think the English Dubbed version of the songs sound better. Another thing I don't like are the character designs. Junko looks as if she has two melons under her shirt, and Kanta is not the usual 'dashing' male character, but I don't watch shows for character designs.



FUNimation did well with Sunabouzu's English script. I love Eric Vale as Kanta, and I think he's very believable as the mini pervert Desert Punk. Yes, FUNimation's dubs have improved tremendously.



Last updated Sunday, September 24 2006. Created Tuesday, April 04 2006.
Rent Forbin [series:879#1573]
Drama : Low/Med
Comedy : High
Action : Med/High
SciFi : Med
Ecchi : Med

Ok for the first 5 R1 disks this is an EXTREMELY funny ride. Junko, Kosuna and Punk himself are a great little story.

But then disk 6 and the end arrives and the whole darn thing goes to HELL! I am so angry with Gonzo for basically writting a 26 episode anime then cutting it at episode 24. The last episode has not resolution!

For those of you who are squeamish. Watch out for episode 11.

Last updated Wednesday, August 09 2006. Created Thursday, March 02 2006.
Unevaluated Stretch [series:879#628]
I was afraid Sunabouzu would turn out to be grim, violent and disturbing, so I just downloaded a couple episodes to take a look. My first impression was 'Is this live-action?' (no, just the OP sequence). as soon as I heard the exciting, upbeat music, the OP sequence sight gags, the episode title and the first scene, I knew this was going to be a winner and I immediately returned to the website to begin downloading the rest of the episodes. I love this show! There, I've said it. There are all sorts of humorous touches above and beyond what you ordinarily get--the grotesque faces of the Kawazu punks, the gestures they use, Sunabouzu's combat techniques, Makoto's dietary preference, the inflamatory letter, the trick Asagiri Junko plays on Sunabouzu--it just overflows with comedy. Nothing like the grim, "Roadwarrior" style show I feared it would turn out to be! Episode one was so much fun that it sort of inflated my expectations and I found the following episodes to be slightly inferior--but still quite enjoyable. Sunabouzu can be a real jerk at times, which, believe it or not, I find refreshing. An interesting feature of this series is the tendency of characters from past episodes to reappear--including ones you'd never expect to see again. The setting in the Kantou desert reminds me of Trigun.

The fansubs stopped becoming available abruptly without any explanation after episode 9--had the fansubbers simply lost interest in the project? Turns out Sunabouzu has been picked up by Funimation, and will be released under the title "Desert Punk"(?). I heard the quality might take a dive towards the end, and my interest began to fall off, but I bought DVDs for part but not all of the series. I eventually lost interest and have never seen the entire thing. Some shows have a neat premise with plenty of potential, but somehow they become repetitive and run out of truly fresh and entertaining material--if I remember correctly, that was what happened to Sunabouzu.

Catch Kosuna's montage at the Cute Girls with Guns page!

Last updated Sunday, May 24 2015. Created Wednesday, March 16 2005.
Buy 10 10 10 9 10 10 dirtyd12 [series:879#1785]
Sunabouzu is one of my favorites. This is definitely higher quality than your usual animes. There are a lot of elements in the story that aren't typical in your average anime. Sunabouzu (Kanta) is definitely not your typical hero. Even thought he's one of the coolest anime characters I've seen, there's not much heroism in his actions or demeanor. Sometimes the fact that he always comes through in the end makes him seem kind of hero-like, but he's mostly an especially perverted fiend. He threatens, bullies, extorts, and takes advantage of others, though he seems to always uphold contracts. He takes absolutely no pity on the weak and helpless and usually finds a way to extort money from them. He's not well-liked by other characters in the story and he doesn't even care. Even though he doesn't look like a power to be reckoned with, he's pretty talented, professional and ambitious.

This anime is mostly an action/comedy, but I would say it ends like a seinen. I guess some people don't like that, but I loved it. Don't expect typical characters and character development in this anime. What I like the most is that the girls don't fall into the typical weak, supporting roles like they do in most shonnen and ecchi animes. They are strong-willed and independent (despite their looks). That's right! The girls in this anime actually have personality and even some brains in their heads!

I Highly Recommend Sunabouzu.

Last updated Sunday, June 15 2008. Created Tuesday, January 11 2005.
Unevaluated Jan-Chan [series:879#967]
Having seen only one episode so far, this might be a really a fun series. There is a bit of fan service, with lots of violence and mayhem. I will share more when I see more episodes.
The short Sunabozu, always hidden behind a hat and a face mask, has some really incredible skills and weapons when it comes to doing battle with the nasty and violent Kawazu clan, (explosions, lots of weapons fire, more explosions, tear gas, even more explosions), but he gets suckered in and setup by a cute girl with an ease that suggests that there might be pervert behind that mask.

Last updated Sunday, October 31 2004. Created Sunday, October 31 2004.

Other Sites
NameURL
Japanese Sunabozu site http://www.sunabozu.com/

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