Gabriel and the Guardians: Episode 1
Summary
Gabriel and the Guardians is a splashy new Christian anime from Colossul Studios and hosted by Angel Studios. Young Celestial gardener Gabriel is forced to enter the mortal realm of Ara chasing an ancient artifact of light. There, giant hunter Nok and alchemist-princess Namay’ah face struggles of their own against foes both physical and spiritual.
Assessment
The style blends elements from old school anime classics (think Dragonball and Naruto), American cartoons such as Avatar: The Last Airbender, with the flair and colors of 1980s neon nostalgia. Despite juggling so many different elements and influences, the show carries its own unique voice and completely avoids feeling like a cheap rip-off or an overwhelming mess. There is plenty of epic, well-animated action and the overall quality of the show is top-notch, especially for a pilot episode.
The story has a surprising theological depth, emphasizing a message not just of God’s power, but His will. Characters may call upon His stand-in for one thing, but but stand-in decrees another should happen, moving away from the “miracles at our command” philosophy that Christian media is sometimes prone to. Additionally, Gabriel leans into some of the most mystical elements of the Christian faith, diving into a world where the lines between the natural and supernatural worlds are blurred.
Light-o-Meter
Writing: 6 out of 7 Little Lights
Animation: 7 out of 7 Little Lights
Acting: 6 out of 7 Little Lights
Cleanliness: 6 out of 7 Little Lights (plenty of action and some injuries, but little to no blood, gore, or sexual elements)
Theological Message: 7 out of 7 Little Lights
Overall: 6 out of 7 Little Lights
Talk
To borrow a phrase from fangirls everywhere: I am immediately obsessed. This is arguably one of the highest-quality pieces of Christian media I have seen in a while. In my opinion it has the potential to rival secular greats like Avatar: The Last Airbender and the myriad of Netflix animations that seem to be releasing every week. The animation quality is superb, the voice acting immaculate (it should be, with anime dub alum Johnny Yong Bosch as Gabriel), and both the storytelling and worldbuilding engaging and intriguing.
I think it’d be impossible to pick just one part of this show to be my favorite, so I’ll list a few. First, I love how the show incorporates artistic references from a lot of the classics of anime without feeling like an awkward American rip-off. I’m going to be honest, most Western attempts to recreate anime miss the mark by a wide margin because they don’t understand the wild and fantastical chaos that is true Japanese anime. While it is fairly obvious that this is not from Japan, it is a beautiful imitation that, in my opinion, hits the right notes. Additionally, the show is very bright and colorful (which I was a little hesitant about in the beginning, afraid of an “ow! my eyes!” situation), but it doesn’t strain the eyes to watch. There are plenty of neutral or dark colors to balance the bright, neon that is found throughout.
Second, I love the worldbuilding. I love that it is completely and unashamedly its own, contained universe that reflects the real one — with the real God — without being heavy handed. It’s also set up perfectly as a tool to explain real-world theology in a way that does not feel awkward, preachy, clunky, or like its going to reach through and beat the audience over the head with a Bible. Everything is already built in from the struggle between good and evil spiritual forces to paradise to God’s sovereignty and why He lets things happen the way they do. There are times when characters call upon their version of God and He does not give them the answer they are seeking; forcing them to humble themselves to His will. I cannot tell you how much I love this. Too often even the most respectful Christian fiction will slip into the idea of God as sort of a genie that can be prayed to in order to receive the exact desired outcome. Having a piece of fiction that says “no, God is sovereign, His will is not our design, and we are the ones who have to submit” is amazing.
Third, I love how it is setting the characters up for a journey. Not only in the worldbuilding, which promises to be expansive and rich, but in their own personal arcs. Each character has a strong motivation to get to a specific end goal — and are likely to clash with the others’ motivations in ways that will feel natural. I am thoroughly looking forward to the next episode (or the manga!!) and seeing how these characters interact, grow, and develop.
Wrap-up
Gabriel and the Guardians is a splashy, high-action anime series hosted by Angel Studios. This colorful animation launches the audience into the world of Ara, a place plagued with dark forces seeking to control, corrupt, and reign in chaos over the land. It is up to Gabriel, Nok, and Namay’ah to navigate their own stumbling blocks, overcome the odds, and fight for what is right.
Where to Enjoy
Check out Gabriel and the Guardians, Episode 1 streaming for FREE at Gabriel and the Guardians | Official Website | Angel Studios
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