GetBackers

{{See also|List of GetBackers characters{{!}}List of GetBackers characters}}

The series follows Ginji Amano and Ban Mido—a pair of super-powered individuals known as the "GetBackers". The duo operates a freelance repossession service operating out of one of the seedier areas of Shinjuku, Tokyo. For a fee, they will recover any lost or stolen item for a client with "an almost 100% success rate". The GetBackers' job often leads them into bizarre and dangerous situations in order to "get back what shouldn't be gone". Their targets range from lost video games to misplaced components of an atomic bomb. The story mostly revolves around their adventures, often complicated by the pair's individual convoluted pasts.

One of the main locations where the story develops is a mysterious place known as the Infinity Fortress (Limitless Fortress in the anime's English release). A conglomeration of disused, condemned buildings clustered together to form a self-contained habitat, the Infinity Fortress is subdivided into three specific tiers—Lower Town, the Beltline, and Babylon City. Lower Town is the lowest in altitude, with several layers extending below ground level. The Beltline is the most dangerous area of the Infinity Fortress. Babylon City, the uppermost level, is said to be where the Brain Trust—a secret organization responsible for the creation of the Infinity Fortress— resides, and is also the home of Ginji's mother. It is later revealed that Babylon City is the "real world", and the rest of the series' world consists of a virtual reality creation. To enter Babylon City, only those who win an event known as the Ogre Battle will be able to do so, and once they do, they can change the world as they see fit.

Ban and Ginji go to the Infinity Fortress; Ban goes to rescue a kidnapped girl named Himiko, and Ginji seeks a chance to reunite with his mother. Going to the Beltline, the GetBackers encounter various warriors taking orders from a being known as the Voodoo King. The Voodoo King seeks to unlock the gates of Babylon City, sealed several years ago by Ban's grandmother, the Witch Queen. The Voodoo King is eventually defeated, and following this, both Ban and Ginji face each other in the Ogre Battle. Ban gives up, impressed with Ginji's will, and Ginji goes to Babylon City, where he meets his mother from a parallel universe. She explains how she created the Infinity Fortress and its surrounding world. After a discussion between the two, the Infinity Fortress finally remains largely unchanged, except that the virtual people become real beings. Ban and Ginji continue their retrieval job, and the series concludes with the GetBackers accepting a mission that will lead them to meet Ban's mother.

Yuya Aoki conceived the idea of GetBackers two years before it started serialization. By that time he had few notes about it. Aoki remembers giving many troubles to his editor when he started writing it, but was glad he could finish it.{{cite book|last=Aoki|first=Yuya|title=GetBackers, Volume 1|year=2004|publisher=Tokyopop|chapter=Act 1: Behind the scenes Story|isbn=978-1-59182-633-0|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/getbackers0000ayam}} The character of Ban Mido was originally meant to appear in another series from Aoki, but his editor liked it and wanted it to be one of the manga's protagonists. Ginji was meant to appear in the series, but his original personality was first meant to belong to Ban.{{cite book|last=Aoki|first=Yuya|title=GetBackers, Volume 6|year=2004|publisher=Tokyopop|chapter=Character Profiles #1|page=46|isbn=978-1-59182-638-5}}

{{Main|List of GetBackers chapters}}

GetBackers, written by Yuya Aoki and illustrated by Rando Ayamine, was serialized in Kodansha's Shōnen manga Weekly Shōnen Magazine from March 23, 1999,{{efn|The series started in the magazine's 17th issue of 1999 (cover date April 7),{{cite web|script-title=ja:週刊少年マガジン1999年17|url=https://mediaarts-db.bunka.go.jp/id/M536021|website=Media Arts Database|publisher=Agency for Cultural Affairs|access-date=March 16, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230316000000/https://mediaarts-db.bunka.go.jp/id/M536021|archive-date=March 16, 2023|language=ja|url-status=live}} released on March 23 of the same year.{{cite web|script-title=ja:更新情報|url=http://www.shonenmagazine.com/new_1999.htm|publisher=Kodansha|access-date=March 15, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000407112224/http://www.shonenmagazine.com/new_1999.htm|archive-date=April 7, 2000|language=ja|quote={{lang|ja|1999.03.23 週刊少年マガジンNo.17情報　登録}}}}}} to February 21, 2007.{{efn|The series finished in the magazine's 12th issue of 2007 (cover date March 7),{{cite web|url=https://mediaarts-db.bunka.go.jp/id/M535631|script-title=ja:週刊少年マガジン 2007年 表示号数12|language=ja|website=Media Arts Database|publisher=Agency for Cultural Affairs|access-date=March 8, 2020|archive-date=March 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210325174317/https://mediaarts-db.bunka.go.jp/id/M535631|url-status=live}} released on February 21 of the same year.{{cite web|author=Ayamine, Rando|author-link=Rando Ayamine|script-title=ja:アニメとか映画とか・・・|url=https://sijimi217.hatenadiary.org/entry/20070220|website=Rando Ayamine's Diary|access-date=March 15, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230315235511/https://sijimi217.hatenadiary.org/entry/20070220|archive-date=March 15, 2023|date=February 20, 2007|quote={{lang|ja|さて明日はマガジン発売日。とうとうGBの最終回ですね。}} [The magazine will be out tomorrow. It's finally the last chapter of GB.]|url-status=live}}{{cite web|author=Ayamine, Rando|author-link=Rando Ayamine|script-title=ja:最終回です！|url=https://sijimi217.hatenadiary.org/entry/20070221|website=Rando Ayamine's Diary|access-date=March 15, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230315235728/https://sijimi217.hatenadiary.org/entry/20070221|archive-date=March 15, 2023|date=February 21, 2007|url-status=live}}}} Kodansha collected its chapters in 39 {{Transliteration|ja|tankōbon}} volumes, released from August 17, 1999,{{cite web|url=http://shop.kodansha.jp/bc2_bc/search_view.jsp?b=3127311|script-title=ja:GetBackers奪還屋 (1)|trans-title=GetBackers: Recovery Service (1)|language=ja|publisher=Kodansha|access-date=August 8, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031102082847/http://shop.kodansha.jp/bc2_bc/search_view.jsp?b=3127311|archive-date=November 2, 2003}} to April 17, 2007.{{cite web|url=http://www.bookclub.kodansha.co.jp/bc2_bc/search_view.jsp?b=3638146|script-title=ja:GetBackers奪還屋 (39)|trans-title=GetBackers: Recovery Service (39)|language=ja|publisher=Kodansha|access-date=March 2, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120606144129/http://www.bookclub.kodansha.co.jp/bc2_bc/search_view.jsp?b=3638146|archive-date=June 6, 2012}} An additional one-shot chapter was published in Magazine Special on February 20, 2009.{{cite web|last=Loo|first=Egan|title=GetBackers Manga Returns in One-Shot Side Story|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2009-01-21/getbackers-manga-returns-in-one-shot-side-story|website=Anime News Network|access-date=March 2, 2023|date=January 21, 2009|archive-date=February 7, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230207145554/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2009-01-21/getbackers-manga-returns-in-one-shot-side-story|url-status=live}}{{cite web|script-title=ja:マガジンＳＰＥＣＩＡＬ No.3 2009年02月20日|url=http://kc.kodansha.co.jp/magazine/index.php/20658/newest/388|access-date=September 19, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090501140539/http://kc.kodansha.co.jp/magazine/index.php/20658/newest/388|archive-date=May 1, 2009|language=ja}}

GetBackers was licensed for English release in North America by Tokyopop, who first announced the acquisition in the Anime Expo 2004 in July 2003.{{cite web|url=http://www.icv2.com/articles/news/3023.html|title=Tokyopop Announces Seven '04 Manga Series|publisher=ICv2|date=July 7, 2003|access-date=October 15, 2010|archive-date=June 11, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110611100823/http://www.icv2.com/articles/news/3023.html|url-status=live}} Tokyopop divided the manga in two parts: GetBackers featuring the first twenty-five and GetBackers: Infinity Fortress the following ones. The volumes were published from February 10, 2004, to July 7, 2008;{{cite web|title=GetBackers Volume 25|url=http://www.tokyopop.com/product/1199/GetBackers/25|publisher=Tokyopop|access-date=September 19, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090615134140/http://www.tokyopop.com/product/1199/GetBackers/25|archive-date=June 15, 2009}} only the first two volumes of Infinity Fortress were released.{{cite web|url=http://manga.about.com/b/2009/09/01/the-kodansha-tokyopop-split-which-manga-are-left-in-limbo.htm|title=The Kodansha-TokyoPop Split: Which Manga Are Left in Limbo?|publisher=About.com|author=Aoki, Deb|date=September 1, 2009|access-date=October 13, 2010|archive-date=April 11, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140411195524/http://manga.about.com/b/2009/09/01/the-kodansha-tokyopop-split-which-manga-are-left-in-limbo.htm|url-status=dead}} On August 31, 2009, Tokyopop announced that the rights to the series had expired.{{cite web|last=Loo|first=Egan|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2009-08-31/tokyopop-confirms-its-kodansha-manga-licenses-will-end|title=Tokyopop Confirms Its Kodansha Manga Licenses Will End|website=Anime News Network|date=August 31, 2009|access-date=September 1, 2009|archive-date=September 3, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090903020302/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2009-08-31/tokyopop-confirms-its-kodansha-manga-licenses-will-end|url-status=live}}

An artbook, titled G/B was released on March 15, 2005.{{cite web|url=http://shop.kodansha.jp/bc2_bc/search_view.jsp?b=3646114|script-title=ja:G/B GetBackers 奪還原画集|trans-title=G/B GetBackers: Recovery Service – Artbook|language=ja|publisher=Kodansha|access-date=October 18, 2010|archive-date=November 25, 2005|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051125174927/http://shop.kodansha.jp/bc2_bc/search_view.jsp?b=3646114|url-status=dead}} A guidebook, titled GetBackers: The Last Piece, was released on April 17, 2007, containing information about the series' plot, characters, and popularity polls.{{cite web|url=http://www.bookclub.kodansha.co.jp/bc2_bc/search_view.jsp?b=3722813|script-title=ja:GetBackers 〜奪還屋〜The Last Piece|trans-title=GetBackers: Recovery Service – The Last Piece|language=ja|publisher=Kodansha|access-date=October 18, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121019155921/http://www.bookclub.kodansha.co.jp/bc2_bc/search_view.jsp?b=3722813|archive-date=October 19, 2012}}

{{Main|List of GetBackers episodes}}

The anime adaptation of the GetBackers series was produced by Studio Deen and was directed by Kazuhiro Furuhashi and Keitaro Motonaga.{{cite web|url=http://www.tbs.co.jp/getbackers/staff.html|title=GetBackers Staff|language=ja|publisher=Tokyo Broadcasting System|access-date=October 18, 2010|archive-date=January 22, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122060202/https://www.tbs.co.jp/getbackers/staff.html|url-status=live}} The series was broadcast for 49 episodes on TBS from October 5, 2002, to September 20, 2003.{{Cite web|url=http://www.deen.co.jp/works/200704/02162222.php|title=Works Information|publisher=Studio Deen|access-date=October 10, 2010|language=ja|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719123127/http://www.deen.co.jp/works/200704/02162222.php|archive-date=July 19, 2011|url-status=dead}} The series was released to Region 2 DVD in Japan by TBS in seventeen individual volumes with three episodes per disc.{{cite web|url=http://www.tbs.co.jp/getbackers/dvd.html#17|script-title=ja:DVDリリーススケジュール|language=ja|publisher=Tokyo Broadcasting System|access-date=April 24, 2008|archive-date=April 15, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080415000959/http://www.tbs.co.jp/getbackers/dvd.html#17|url-status=live}} The anime's music was composed by Taku Iwasaki, and two original soundtracks were released by Pioneer Corporation on January 24 and July 25, 2003.{{cite web|script-title=ja:GetBackers 奪還屋 オリジナル・サウンドトラック|url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/183/products/498180/1/|publisher=Oricon|access-date=September 19, 2024|language=ja|archive-date=September 19, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240919070526/https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/183/products/498180/1/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|script-title=ja:GetBackers～奪還屋～オリジナル・サウンドトラック2 [TWINS]|url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/183/products/512863/1/|publisher=Oricon|access-date=September 19, 2024|language=ja|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240919070631/https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/183/products/512863/1/|archive-date=September 19, 2024|url-status=live}}

The anime was first licensed in English by ADV Films. The series was released on ten DVD volumes from August 24, 2004, to November 1, 2005.{{cite web|last=Beveridge|first=Chris|title=Get Backers Vol. #01 (also w/box) (of 10)|url=http://www.mania.com/get-backers-vol-01-also-wbox_article_76333.html|website=Mania.com|access-date=September 19, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090221005045/http://www.mania.com/get-backers-vol-01-also-wbox_article_76333.html|archive-date=February 21, 2009|date=September 8, 2004}}{{cite web|last=Beveridge|first=Chris|title=Get Backers Vol. #10|url=http://www.mania.com/get-backers-vol-10_article_77709.html|website=Mania.com|access-date=September 19, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090221005802/http://www.mania.com/get-backers-vol-10_article_77709.html|archive-date=February 21, 2009|date=September 8, 2004}} Two DVD box sets were released on October 10, 2006, and January 2, 2007,{{cite web|last=Dungan|first=Mike|title=Get Backers Season 1 Box Set (Thinpak)|url=http://www.mania.com/get-backers-season-1-box-set-thinpak_article_78766.html|website=Mania.com|access-date=September 19, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110211074614/http://www.mania.com/get-backers-season-1-box-set-thinpak_article_78766.html|archive-date=February 11, 2011|date=October 10, 2006}}{{cite web|last=Dungan|first=Mike|title=Get Backers Season 2 Box Set (Thinpak)|url=http://www.mania.com/get-backers-season-2-box-set-thinpak_article_79005.html|website=Mania.com|access-date=September 19, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090221004705/http://www.mania.com/get-backers-season-2-box-set-thinpak_article_79005.html|archive-date=February 21, 2009|date=November 1, 2006}} The entire series was released on single box set on January 15, 2008.{{cite web|last=Thompson|first=Mark|title=Get Backers Complete Series Collection (Thinpak)|url=http://www.mania.com/get-backers-complete-series-collection-thinpak_article_79971.html|website=Mania.com|access-date=September 19, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090206153255/http://www.mania.com/get-backers-complete-series-collection-thinpak_article_79971.html|archive-date=February 6, 2009|date=September 8, 2008}} In April 2009, A.D. Vision started streaming the series online on its Anime Network website.{{cite web|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2009-04-18/anime-network-streams-getbackers-pet-shop-of-horrors|title=Anime Network Streams GetBackers, Pet Shop of Horrors|publisher=Anime News Network|date=April 18, 2009|access-date=October 18, 2010|archive-date=October 12, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101012013013/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2009-04-18/anime-network-streams-getbackers-pet-shop-of-horrors|url-status=live}} The series has been re-licensed by Sentai Filmworks, who re-released it on DVD on May 8, 2012.{{cite news|last=Loo|first=Egan|title=Sentai Filmworks Licenses GetBackers Anime|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2012-02-01/sentai-filmworks-licenses-getbackers-anime|website=Anime News Network|access-date=February 1, 2012|archive-date=February 2, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120202071923/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2012-02-01/sentai-filmworks-licenses-getbackers-anime|url-status=live}}{{cite web|last=Hodgkins|first=Crystalyn|title=North American Anime, Manga Releases, May 6–12|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2012-05-08/north-american-anime-manga-releases-may-6-12|website=Anime News Network|access-date=September 19, 2024|date=May 8, 2012|archive-date=October 17, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221017072048/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2012-05-08/north-american-anime-manga-releases-may-6-12|url-status=live}} On August 25, 2016, the series began airing on ShortsTV.{{Cite tweet|user=ShortsHD|number=753988501495046144|date=July 15, 2016|title=GETBACKERS *STARTS 25TH AUGUST 2016*: http://youtu.be/zOMaWrVFhVE?a via @YouTube}}

The series was broadcast on Animax Asia in Southeast Asia,{{cite web|title=Mega Zone|url=http://www.animax-asia.com/megazone/default.asp|publisher=Animax Asia|access-date=September 19, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040723022945/http://www.animax-asia.com/megazone/default.asp|archive-date=July 23, 2004}} and ABS-CBN/Studio 23 in the Philippines.{{cite thesis|title=Japanese Cultural Influence in the Philippines Through Anime's Popularity and Persuasiveness|first=Bernadette Canave|last=Bravo|url=https://dspace.wul.waseda.ac.jp/dspace/bitstream/2065/40000/1/Honbun-6044.pdf|publisher=Waseda University|access-date=May 11, 2015|publication-date=2012|at=List of Anime Shown in ABS-CBN|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518102923/https://dspace.wul.waseda.ac.jp/dspace/bitstream/2065/40000/1/Honbun-6044.pdf|archive-date=May 18, 2015}}

Two drama CDs have been released for the story arcs not found in the TV series, namely the news involving the GetBackers searching for disappeared kids involved with a card game named the Divine Design, their search for a red wine named the Marine Red, and the war between Shido Fuyuki's clan, the Maryudo and their rivals, the Kiryudo. The first CD, entitled 'GetBackers "TARGET G"', was released February 21, 2003.{{cite web|title=GetBackers "TARGET G"|publisher=Neowing|url=http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/detailview.html?KEY=PICA-1267|access-date=March 14, 2009|archive-date=August 17, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090817142124/http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/detailview.html?KEY=PICA-1267|url-status=live}} The second entitled 'GetBackers "TARGET B"' was released on March 21, 2003.{{cite web|title=GetBackers "TARGET B"|publisher=Neowing|url=http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/detailview.html?KEY=PICA-1268|access-date=March 14, 2009|archive-date=August 17, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090817142138/http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/detailview.html?KEY=PICA-1268|url-status=live}}

A total of five video games based on GetBackers have been released in Japan, all of them developed and published by Konami. The first was a fighting game GetBackers Dakkanoku: Ubawareta Mugenshiro for the PlayStation 2 and PC on September 26, 2002.{{cite web|script-title=ja:GetBackers奪還屋 〜奪われた無限城〜|publisher=Konami|language=ja|url=http://www.konami.jp/products/get_mugenjyou_ps2/|access-date=October 26, 2010|archive-date=June 15, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110615080047/http://www.konami.jp/products/get_mugenjyou_ps2/|url-status=live}} GetBackers Dakkanoku - Jagan Fuuin! followed it in 2003 for the PC and Game Boy Advance, as well as the PC exclusive RPG GetBackers Dakkanoku: Metropolis Dakkan Sakusen!.{{cite web|script-title=ja:GetBackers奪還屋 〜邪眼封印〜|publisher=Konami|language=ja|url=http://www.konami.jp/products/get_jyagan_ps2/|access-date=October 26, 2010|archive-date=June 15, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110615080106/http://www.konami.jp/products/get_jyagan_ps2/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|script-title=ja:GetBackers奪還屋 〜メトロポリス奪還作戦!〜|publisher=Konami|language=ja|url=http://www.konami.jp/products/get_metolo_gba/|access-date=October 26, 2010|archive-date=June 15, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110615080115/http://www.konami.jp/products/get_metolo_gba/|url-status=live}} Two more fighting games, GetBackers Dakkanoku: Dakkandayo! Zenin Shuugou! and GetBackers Dakkanoku - Urashinshiku Saikyou Battle, were released in 2003 and 2004, respectively.{{cite web|script-title=ja:GetBackers奪還屋 〜奪還だヨ!全員集合!!〜|publisher=Konami|language=ja|url=http://www.konami.jp/products/get_szenin_ps2/|access-date=October 26, 2010|archive-date=June 15, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110615080218/http://www.konami.jp/products/get_szenin_ps2/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|script-title=ja:GetBackers奪還屋 裏新宿最強バトル|publisher=Konami|language=ja|url=http://www.konami.jp/products/get_shinjyuku_gba/|access-date=October 26, 2010|archive-date=June 15, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110615080247/http://www.konami.jp/products/get_shinjyuku_gba/|url-status=live}} While the former was only for PCs, the latter was also released for the PlayStation 2. Rando Ayamine worked for all these video games, making illustrations for them.{{cite book|last=Aoki|first=Yuya|title=GetBackers, Volume 18|year=2007|publisher=Tokyopop|chapter=Character Profiles #1|page=176|isbn=978-1-59182-980-5}}{{cite book|last=Aoki|first=Yuya|title=G/B|year=2005|publisher=Kodansha|isbn=978-4-06-364611-5}}

The 2009 PlayStation Portable fighting game, Sunday vs Magazine: Shūketsu! Chōjō Daikessen, also produced by Konami, included Ban Mido as a playable character.{{cite web|title=Konami Mashes Manga Characters Together For PSP Fighter|url=https://www.siliconera.com/konami-mashes-manga-characters-together-for-psp-fighter/|website=Siliconera|access-date=January 24, 2023|date=January 29, 2009|archive-date=January 24, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230124035529/https://www.siliconera.com/konami-mashes-manga-characters-together-for-psp-fighter/|url-status=live}}

GetBackers manga has had over 18 million copies in circulation. English volumes from the manga have also been popular, appearing various times in Diamond Comic's rankings of best selling graphic novels.{{cite web|url=http://www.icv2.com/articles/home/7059.html|date=June 20, 2005|title=Top 100 Graphic Novels Actual--May 2005|publisher=ICv2|access-date=October 15, 2010|archive-date=May 29, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100529163811/http://www.icv2.com/articles/home/7059.html|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://www.icv2.com/articles/news/4951.html|date=May 24, 2004|title=Top 100 Graphic Novels Actual--April 2004|publisher=ICv2|access-date=October 15, 2010|archive-date=May 15, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130515133015/http://www.icv2.com/articles/news/4951.html|url-status=live}} Anime News Network's Liann Cooper has commented on the manga, praising for using the "simple concept" in order to create an entertaining plot. The manga has been noted to have a large number of types of fan service, showing several kinds of beautiful women and noted a "relationship" between the two main characters and giving the series a nice {{Transliteration|ja|bishōnen}} tone. The art of Rando Ayamine has been praised for having the dark and gritty mood emphasizes he makes in the series making readers think that the Jagan scene of Ban Mido is a "horrifying nightmare". The Tokyopop translation of the manga has been criticized for making the main characters sound like gangsters giving them strange dialogues.{{cite web|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/getbackers-gn-1|author=Cooper, Liann|date=April 27, 2004|title=GetBackers G. Novel 1: Vol. 1|website=Anime News Network|access-date=April 30, 2008|archive-date=April 17, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080417215641/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/getbackers-gn-1|url-status=live}} Cooper later noted that readers from Clamp's works or Rurouni Kenshin would find GetBackers appealing due to the several aspects it has.{{cite web|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/right-turn-only/2004-08-19|author=Cooper, Liann|date=August 19, 2004|website=Anime News Network|title=Right turn only|access-date=October 15, 2010|archive-date=May 12, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110512051229/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/right-turn-only/2004-08-19|url-status=live}} He still found issues with Tokyopop's translation, but still found the final product entertaining, also complimenting the series' comedy.{{cite web|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/right-turn-only/2004-06-03|author=Cooper, Liann|date=August 19, 2004|title=RIGHT TURN ONLY!! Snips and Snails and Puppy Dog Tails|website=Anime News Network|access-date=October 15, 2010|archive-date=May 12, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110512053357/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/right-turn-only/2004-06-03|url-status=live}}

The anime adaptation of GetBackers was also well received. In the 26th annual Animage readers' poll, it took various categories: it was third in "Favorite Anime Series", ninth in "Favorite Episode" (episode 49) and fifth and eighth in "Favorite Male Character" (Ginji and Ban, respectively).{{cite web|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2004-05-12/animage-awards|date=May 12, 2004|title=Animage Awards|website=Anime News Network|access-date=October 15, 2010|archive-date=April 22, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080422011305/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2004-05-12/animage-awards|url-status=live}} It also received positive reviews ever since the first episode's premiere in Japan. For such an episode, Anime News Network liked the animations' quality as well as the main characters Ban and Ginji. The mix between drama and comedy was also well-received, hoping that it will continue like that for the remainder of the series.{{cite web|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/feature/2002-10-11|author1=Bertschy, Zac|author2=Bundy, Rebecca|date=October 11, 2002|title=The Fall 2002 Anime Season Preview Guide|website=Anime News Network|access-date=October 15, 2010|archive-date=February 9, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130209212354/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/feature/2002-10-11|url-status=live}} DVD Talk's John Sinnott called it a "solid show", enjoying the characters' growth as the series continued. However, he gave a low score on the DVDs' presentation mainly due to the lack of extras.{{cite web|url=http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/33177/get-backers-seasons-1-2/|author=Sinnott, John|date=August 19, 2004|title=Get Backers Seasons 1-2|publisher=Internet Brands|work=DVD Talk|access-date=October 15, 2010|archive-date=January 16, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100116143251/http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/33177/get-backers-seasons-1-2/|url-status=live}} While comparing it with the manga, Chris Beveridge from Mania Entertainment found the anime's introduction more appealing than the manga's but mentioned various issues already shown in the first episodes of various anime.{{Cite web|url=http://www.mania.com/get-backers-vol-01-also-wbox_article_76333.html|author=Beveridge, Chris|date= September 8, 2004|title=Get Backers Vol. #01|work=Mania Entertainment|publisher=Demand Media|access-date=October 16, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090221005045/http://www.mania.com/get-backers-vol-01-also-wbox_article_76333.html|archive-date=February 21, 2009|url-status=dead}} Bamboo Dong from Anime News Network enjoyed how the story was built during the first season, finding appealing the fact that the characters he found appealing would take part in a larger story arc.{{cite web|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/shelf-life/2005-01-24|author=Dong, Bamboo|date=January 24, 2005|title=Shelf Life Back With A Vengeance|website=Anime News Network|access-date=October 15, 2010|archive-date=April 16, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100416165248/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/shelf-life/2005-01-24|url-status=live}} Agreeing with Dong, Dani Moure from Mania liked the interaction between the characters, as well as a bigger exploration to some of them.{{Cite web|url=http://www.mania.com/get-backers-vol-03_article_77320.html|author=Moure, Dani|date=June 7, 2005|title=Get Backers Vol. #03|work=Mania Entertainment|publisher=Demand Media|access-date=October 15, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090220233353/http://www.mania.com/get-backers-vol-03_article_77320.html|archive-date=February 20, 2009|url-status=dead}} Sinott concluded that the story arc involving the Limitless Fortress was "a good story" due to the expansion in the backgrounds from various of the main characters, but found it relatively longer than previous story arcs.{{cite web|url=http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/15222/get-backers-vol-5-virtual-apocalypse/|author=Sinnott, John|date=April 26, 2005|title=Get Backers Vol. 5 - Virtual Apocalypse|publisher=Internet Brands|work=DVD Talk|access-date=October 6, 2010|archive-date=December 11, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111211040829/http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/15222/get-backers-vol-5-virtual-apocalypse/|url-status=live}} Active Anime writer David C. Jones praised the focus on the anime's second season, liking how many secondary characters got their own episodes, as well as how the comedy was delivered across them, citing the episode focused on Ginji in the hospital as the best one from the season.{{Cite web|last=Jones|first=Davey C.|url=http://activeanime.com/html/2007/01/25/get-backers-complete-season-2-dvd-box-set/|title=Get Backers Complete Season 2 Box Set|work=Active Anime|date=January 25, 2007|access-date=December 10, 2011|archive-date=December 11, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111211032850/http://activeanime.com/html/2007/01/25/get-backers-complete-season-2-dvd-box-set/|url-status=live}} On the other hand, Beveridge found that in the second season, characters were "overused", but like Jones, enjoyed the focus on other characters as well as the flashbacks exploring them.{{Cite web|url=http://www.mania.com/get-backers-vol-08_article_77393.html|author=Beveridge, Chris|date=August 11, 2005|title=Get Backers Vol. #08|work=Mania Entertainment|publisher=Demand Media|access-date=October 15, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090221010635/http://www.mania.com/get-backers-vol-08_article_77393.html|archive-date=February 21, 2009|url-status=dead}} The anime's last story arc left mixed thoughts to Beveridge who found some of its events predictable or rushed, but still enjoyed the action sequences shown.{{Cite web|url=http://www.mania.com/get-backers-vol-09_article_77506.html|author=Beveridge, Chris|date=September 14, 2005|title=Get Backers Vol. #09|work=Mania Entertainment|publisher=Demand Media|access-date=October 15, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090608121729/http://www.mania.com/get-backers-vol-09_article_77506.html|archive-date=June 8, 2009|url-status=dead}}

{{notelist}}

{{reflist}}

• {{Official website|http://www.tbs.co.jp/getbackers/|Official anime website at TBS}} {{in lang|ja}}
• {{Anime News Network|manga|2407}}

{{GetBackers}}

{{Shin Kibayashi}}

{{Weekly Shōnen Magazine - 1990–1999}}

{{Kazuhiro Furuhashi}}

{{Studio Deen}}

Category:ADV Films

Category:Action anime and manga

Category:Anime series based on manga

Category:Comedy anime and manga

Category:Kodansha manga

Category:Mainichi Broadcasting System original programming

Category:Sentai Filmworks

Category:Shōnen manga

Category:Studio Deen

Category:Supernatural anime and manga

Category:TBS Television (Japan) original programming

Category:Tokyopop titles