CLXX: "Desert Punk"

Some anime deals with a post apocalyptic setting, and the setting for Desert Punk seems to fit the bill. A title filled with action and weird western traits, this anime is surely not for the younger crowd, thanks in particular to one character...

A nuclear attack reduced the once lavish Japan into a burning desert, where humans that remain struggle to survive. The Great Kanto Desert keeps on its grounds many guys with guns, working for profit or just for their humor. Among these individuals is the protagonist of the story, Kanta Mizuno. He is a 17 year old member of the Handyman Guild, and he is rather openly perverse when it comes to women, especially those with huge boobs. To top it off, he has a crude mouth, never afraid to say something in the witty and smartass category to whoever he speaks to. Despite this flaw, among some others, he is highly skilled. He is recognized as the Demon of the Desert: the legendary Desert Punk. The anime follows his exploits: from his encounters with Junko, his acquiring of an apprentice, and the many antics that ensue with his friends and foes alike.

Desert Punk is definitely a title you should keep away from the young, as it is filled with crude talk, and mature content. The anime series is 24 episodes long, and was shown here in the US under Starz Edge, which you NEEDED a subscription of Starz to get. It was also shown on the Russian network 2x2, which did do English voices, but unless you were somehow lucky enough to get such a channel, there is no way for you to get it by normal cable box means. It's original run started in October of 2004, ending March of the following year, with Funimation licensing it for US and Canada. Common to Funimation licensing, the anime featured voices that you have heard before, in a different way, but still. Keeping with that transition, we have Kanta voiced by Eric Vale (the voice of Yuki Sohma of Fruits Basket and Teen/Adult Trunks of both Dragon Ball Z and DBZ Kai), and Kosuna by Luci Christian (who also did the character Honey of Ouran High School Host Club, as well as Full Metal Panic's Kaname Chidori and One Piece's Nami)

Desert Punk is absurdly humorous, and crudely watchable. I could only grade this a 7 of 10, while I laugh my ass to the dialogue, some situations I just wouldn't feel okay watching with the little ones.