What is Gantz?#
Somewhere in Tokyo, there is a room containing a mysterious black sphere known as Gantz. This sphere periodically collects people who should have died and transports them to the room. Once there, Gantz provides them with specialized suits and weapons, forcing them on lethal missions to hunt and kill aliens living on Earth.
While the rest of the world remains oblivious to these battles, the participants face a brutal reality: few survive, and the sphere is far from kind. If you are looking for a high-stakes story blending technology and survival, you can watch the anime on Prime Video.
Is the Anime Really Finished?#
If you are looking for a complete, satisfying conclusion solely through animation, you may find yourself wanting more. The anime adaptation consists of a first season (released in 2004) and the later adaptation GANTZ:O (2016). However, the original source material—the manga—ran from 2000 to 2013, covering a vast amount of ground that the anime does not fully encompass.
To get the full story and a definitive ending, viewers will need to continue with the source material. We highly recommend you buy the Gantz manga to see how the saga truly concludes.
Audience and Appeal: Is This for You?#
Gantz is not for the faint of heart. It is a dark, psychological journey that leans heavily into horror and science fiction. The series is best suited for audiences who enjoy:
- Mature Themes: The story explores death, life after death, and the psychological toll of survival.
- Visceral Action: Expect a significant amount of gore, fighting, and monsters.
- Complex World-Building: From mecha and advanced technology to vampires and espers, the series blends various sci-fi elements.
- Interpersonal Drama: Amidst the carnage, the story weaves in romance and the tension of love triangles.
If this sounds like your kind of story, you might also want to pick up some Gantz merchandise to commemorate your descent into this brutal world.
Recommended Watch and Read Order#
Navigating the world of Gantz can be tricky due to the gap between the anime and the manga. For a clearer picture of how these pieces fit together, please refer to the relationship tree provided on this page.
The Release Order#
If you want to experience the franchise as it was released to the public:
- Gantz (First Season Anime, 2004)
- GANTZ:O (Anime, 2016)
The Completionist Order#
For those who want every single piece of content, including the spin-offs:
- Gantz (First Season Anime)
- GANTZ:O (Anime)
- Gantz (Original Manga)
- GANTZ:G (Spinoff Manga)
- GANTZ:E (Spinoff Manga)
The “Best Experience” Order#
For those who don’t mind switching mediums to ensure they get the full story:
- Start with the Gantz anime to get a feel for the world.
- Transition to the original manga to experience the complete narrative and the actual conclusion.
- Watch GANTZ:O as a high-quality adaptation of a specific arc.
Supporting our research into these complex watch orders helps us keep the site running! If you’ve found this guide useful, please consider supporting us on Ko-fi.
Final Thoughts#
Gantz offers a unique, albeit brutal, look at survival and technology. While the anime provides a visceral introduction, the manga remains the essential destination for any true fan of the series.
Gantz • manga • 2000-07-13 to 2013-06-20 (serialized in Weekly Young Jump)
└─(adaptation)→ Gantz • anime • 2004-04-12 to 2004-06-22 (First Season)
└─(adaptation)→ GANTZ:O • anime • 2016-10-14
└─(spinoff)→ GANTZ:G • manga • 2015-11-17 to 2017-02-28 (Miracle Jump, Dec 2015 - Mar 2017)
└─(spinoff)→ GANTZ:E • manga • 2020-01-09 to 2023-12-07 (monthly in Young Jump, 2020 #6/7 - 2024 #1)
