Overman King Gainer is a 2002 mecha anime created by Yoshiyuki Tomino of Gundam fame that is a very, very loose adaptation of the French novel series, "La Compagnie des glaces" by Georges-Jean Arnaud. It's also my favourite mecha series.
It takes place in a world aftera catacylsm happened due to humanity and technology advancing too quickly. The world is seemingly covered in ice and snow. Humanity decided to close itself off and live in domed cities called "Domepolis" to give the planet a chance to recuperate. At least, that's what the organizations and railway companies that run the Domepolis want the citizens to think. There are many people within Domepolis that believe that the Earth has recovered enough that humans can exist outside these communities. These people usually participate in an illegal process called "Exoduses". Of course, these companies do not want the source of their taxes, business and whatever else leaving to live on their own so they push anti-Exodus propaganda and even go so far as to use military force to keep people inside these domed cities.
The story primarily takes place in Siberia. Our main protagonist is Gainer Sanga, a high school student with a massive truancy problem (he gets better) and the champion of an online game where you pilot mechas. He is known as King Gainer online and later names his Overman, a biomechanical robot species, this once he obtains his signature "long haired" one. He opposes the on-going Exodus to Yapan which is organized by Gain Bijou, a supposed Exodus Specialist. Gainer is mistakenly arrested by the Siberian Railway for suspicion of Exodus and meets Gain in a holding cell. The two team up to break out of prison, steal the Duke's Overman and start the Exodus.
Little does Gainer know, his teacher (Mamadou Azaf), classmates (Bello Korissha) and crush, Sara Kodama, are in on the Exodus to Yapan! Somehow, Gainer doesn't piece together that he's helping the very thing he hates. He's kind of a stupid bitch but I love him dearly. Over time, Gainer grows close with his fellow Exodus members and becomes a staunch ally and supporter of it. Gain and Gainer consensually "kidnap" the Domepolis' princess, Ana Medaiyu, and use her as a 'hostage' to ensure the Exodus' safety. However, the Siberian Railway is not happy with the Exodus and begins to chase them. One of the organizations that run the many Domepolis, London IMA, is also after Gain. Asuham Boone has made it his personal mission to capture Gain Bijou and make him pay for sleeping with his sister. Shit is so funny.
The series follows the Exodus to Yapan where shenanigans ensue. It's a considered a light-hearted series by Tomino standards but there is definitely some serious shit going on.
If you're looking for genres/tags that could describe the series; coming of age, post-apocalypse, scifi, comedy, drama (near the end lol), action.
This is by no means an exhaustive list. If you're interested in everyone, check out king-gainer.net (JP Only) or the anidb page! If for whatever reason you'd like to know my opinions on everyone... let me know in my guestbook.
Name: Gainer Sanga
Voice Actors: Nojima Hirofumi (JP), Darrel Guilbeau (ENG)
Age: 17
Occupation: High School Student, Pilot of King Gainer
Personality: Stubborn, passionate, a little whiny, pretty dorky but ultimately a good guy. He's a teenager. Teenagers are just like that.
My Thoughts: My favourite character! Admittedly, I got into this series because a friend showed me a picture of him and well... I liked him a lot, haha. He has his faults for sure (he is a little bitch LOL) but he's just so charming and sweet in the end. Maybe you'd like him if you like reluctant (in the start) protagonists?
I ship him with Gain, Lioubov, Cynthia, Sara, Adette and Jaboli lol.
Name: Gain Bijou (Black Southern Cross)
Voice Actors: Otoya Kawano (JP), Ron Allen (ENG)
Age: 28
Occupation: Exodus Specialist, sniper
Personality: Strategic, determined to get the job done by any means necessary, a jokester who moonlights as a ladies' man.
My Thoughts: WHAT A DICKHEAD, LMAO. I love him. He always knows how to get under Gainer's skin and to get him to do shit. I think he's a good balance to Gainer who definitely would not do even a quarter of the stuff that happens in canon if he didn't have a push. Maybe you'll like him if Gainer doesn't do it for you?
I ship him with Gainer, Sara, Lioubov, Asuham, Adette and Karin.
Name: Sara Kodama
Voice Actors: Kobayashi Ai (JP), Colleen O'Shaughnessey (ENG)
Age: 17
Occupation: High School Student, Member of the Gauli Squad and Silhouette Engine Pilot.
Personality: Serious, headstrong and intelligent
My Thoughts: The leading lady! She's cute and is closer to Gainer in personality than Gain is but still pushes him to be a more proactive protagonist. Unfortunately, I kinda prefer the other gals more. Still. 8/10!!! There's a lot of cute ship moments with her and Gainer.
I ship her with Gainer, Gain, Cynthia and Asuham.
Name: Ana Medaiyu
Voice Actors: Kitou Noriko (JP), Michelle Ruff (ENG)
Age: 8
Occupation: Princess of Wulgusk Domepolis, Poor Pathetic Hostage
Personality: Outgoing, mischievious, extremely curious and opinionated
My Thoughts: She's cute! She's baby! I do wish I had more to say about her because I really do like her. A lot of kid characters can be cringey in a non-fun way but Ana's... sassiness (is that the right word?) isn't obnoxious and adds just the right amount of spice to the gang. She's so silly.
I ship her with Bello. Don't tell anyone!
Name: Lioubov Smettana (Liubov, Lyubov)
Voice Actors: Futamura Ai (JP), Julie Ann Taylor (ENG)
Age: 20
Occupation: Tutor and caregiver for Princess Ana
Personality: Soft-spoken, loyal and determined, lovesick, "strong morals" (stick in the mud)
My Thoughts: My favourite fem char in the series. If you know me at all, you're probably not surprised considering my penchant for side characters and shy, sweet types with glasses. Anyway, I think she's a lot of fun for what little actual screentime we get with her. Also sorry that she arguably has the most smut in the western fandom as of writing (12/21/2023). That's my fault.
I ship her with Gainer, Gain, Adette.
Name: Bello Korissha
Voice Actors: Otake Shushaku (JP), Derek Stephen Prince (ENG)
Age: 20
Occupation: Student, Gauli Squad Member, Sihouette Engine (Mammoth) Pilot
Personality: Jokester, loyal if jealous
My Thoughts: WHAT THE FUCK DO YOU MEAN HE'S 20 LMAO. He apparently was held back a grade according to the official OKG site which is how he's Gainer and Sara's classmate. ANYWAY, this guy takes so many Ls that I feel kinda bad for him? He doesn't really get to do much either. I like him though, he's cool.
I ship him with Ana. Don't tell anyone!
Name: Adette Kistler
Voice Actors: Hayashi Marika (JP), Wendee Lee (ENG)
Age: 25
Occupation: Commander of the Siberian Railway, High School Teacher
Personality: Hot headed, passionate, lovesick, confident, childish and extremely competitive
My Thoughts: If Lioubov didn't exist... Holy shit. Adette makes an extremely strong (if horny) first impression and she's an extremely fun character. There's some choices that are made with her character in the latter half of the series that I'm not a fan of at all but hey... that's life. If you like hot-headed big sister types, you'll prolly love Adette.
I ship her with Yassaba, Gainer, Gain, Lioubov and Jaboli.
Name: Jaboli Mariela
Voice Actors: Tamura Maki (JP), Karen Strassman (ENG)
Age: 23
Occupation: Officer for the Siberian Railway
Personality: Quiet, Stoic (though lets things slip when it comes to Meeya or Asuham), a follower and not a leader
My Thoughts: I like her! Granted, she's a minor character with glasses... and has a one-sided crush on another character... ANYWAY, I thought her scenes with Asuham were incredibly cute. She definitely stuck out in my mind because of that. I kinda wish that anti-vaxx Persona lady didn't voice her in the dub lmao.
I ship her with Asuham, Gainer and Adette.
Name: Asuham Boone
Voice Actors: Koyasu Takehito (JP), Doug Erholtz (ENG)
Age: 28
Occupation: Officer of St. Regan Police and London IMA
Personality: Obsessive, incredibly driven, seemingly cold and collected, hot-headed
My Thoughts: The same friend who introduced me to Gainer said that I'd like Asuham too. I do. I'm mad at how predictable I am LMAO. He's a fun antagonist, one I wish we got to see more of but that's just me being greedy. I mistakenly thought that he was voiced by DIO's English VA as well but it was Polnareff. God bless.
I ship him with Jaboli, Gainer, Karin and Sara.
Name: Cynthia Lane
Voice Actors: Mizuki Rena (JP), Kari Wahlgren (ENG)
Age: 18
Occupation: Pilot for the Siberian Railway
Personality: Fun-loving, immature and tends to treat everything like a game.
My Thoughts: I Am Not Immune To Pink and Purple Girls. Her design is so silly though why is she walkin' around like that!!! Anyway, she kinda confuses me a little in canon so I'm not sure what I truly think about her aside from... wow, she's cute and I like her with Gainer a lot.
I ship her with Gainer and Sara.
Name: Cona Madaya
Voice Actors: Honda Mayumi (JP), Julie Maddalena (ENG)
Age: 27 lmfaooo Occupation: Mechanic for the Yapan Exodus
Personality: Spunky, hot-headed, flirtatious?
My Thoughts: She's hardly an important character but I like her a lot. Cute, fun design and a fun personality. She's thirsty as shit for Gain and butts heads with my baby girl, Lioubov, but it's fun.
I ship her with no one really. I'm open to anything with her though.
Name: Hughes Gauli
Voice Actors: Kusano Tooru (JP), Tony Oliver (ENG)
Age: 28
Occupation: Commander of the Gauli Squad, A Ninja
Personality: Stoic, driven (perhaps to a fault?)
My Thoughts: FUCK THIS GUY! FUCK THIS GUY! FUCK THIS GUY! I didn't wanna put him on my site because I wish he didn't exist but he is kind of a secondary character... so... y'know.
I ship him with NO ONE. HE SUCKS.
Name: Meeya Laujin
Voice Actors: Nakanishi Yumiko(JP), Kate Higgins (ENG)
Age: 20
Occupation: Pop star, One of the Five Wisemen, Exodus Supporter
Personality: Air-headed, very "go with the flow"
My Thoughts: Man, they treat her like she's super important and then she barely shows up LMAO. I dig her vibe though. I wish we got to see more of her. I really like "Honto Kai" from the soundtrack which she sings in canon.
I ship her with... no one? I mean I'd slap her with Gainer and Louvre maybe.
Name: Yassaba Jin
Voice Actors: Egawa Hisao (JP), Michael McConnohie (ENG)
Age: 32 lmfao what Occupation: Squad Commander of the Siberian Railway
Personality: Confident, perhaps overly so, loud, hot-blooded, and childish... but a massive Chad.
My Thoughts: THIS CHAD DESERVED BETTER!!! The disrespect he got in canon. God damn. A fun antagonist. His relationship with Adette was so sweet ;;
I ship him with Adette.
Some Official Art
Fanworks
I won't be posting other people's work without permission and will instead link to galleries, tags etc.
The series follows the Exodus to Yapan where shenanigans ensue. It's a considered a light-hearted series by Tomino standards but there is definitely some serious shit going on.
