Set in an alternative 1969 Japan, mysterious aliens known as Invaders are revealing themselves among humans, wreaking havoc all over the world. AEGIS (Alien Extermination Global Intercept System) is an organisation dedicated to stopping the Invaders, gathering young people with special powers to help them fulfil their objective. AEGIS' recruits have the ability to open and close different kinds of interdimensional gates that are used to fight the Invaders, thus they were called Gatekeepers.

       Gate Keepers is about a group of young people tasked with the responsibility of protecting and defending the Earth from Invaders. Ruriko and Shun head the Gatekeepers, separated childhood friends who are reunited by their AEGIS recruitment. Ruriko is the first Gate Keeper ever, and Shun is the second to be discovered. The reunion elicits mixed reactions from both parties however, because when they were little, Ruriko admitted to liking Shun... only to be spurned due to her um, runny nose problem. But two Gatekeepers are just not enough to handle the Invaders, who get more powerful and increasingly difficult to defeat with every encounter. Thus, investigating potential Gatekeepers become part of Ruriko and Shun's job. The episodes consist mostly of fighting Invaders, recruiting other Gatekeepers, and developing the existing characters. Keep watching and you'll discover quite a few surprises and revelations in the later half of the series, giving Gatekeepers that certain something that sets it apart from other kids-save-the-world fare.

       Although several other Gate Keepers are found after Ruriko and Shun, these two are given the most emphasis. They have an amusing love-hate relationship that's commonly shared by would-be anime couples, and in keeping with the usual anime tradition there are others who like Ruriko and Shun too. Gate Keepers is far from being a serious anime, as a good dose of humour is also included in the mix. The art and animation are excellent. If you want action, humour, and a bit of romance without the cryptic dialogues, philosophical themes, and other hard-to-grasp stuff -- this is one series to consider.

Characters

        Ruriko Ikusawa - Ruriko is the first Gatekeeper found in Japan. She goes to High School and is in the same class as Shun, Ruriko's childhood friend. Ruriko is pretty smart and good at everything, studies, sports and all sorts of stuff. And because of that, her classmates admire her. But there are exceptions like Megumi who is jealous of her. Although she seems confident and strong at times, she may doubt herself.
       During her child hood, she was called "Rurippe" or "Sniveler", a name given to her by Shun. Since then, she struggled to be the very best there is. So that one day she will be able to show Shun that she had gotten over it and has become a beautiful lady. But even with that he still calls her "Rurippe". Shun also describes her as a crybaby because whenever shun can't find her when they play "hide and seek" she cries he still describes her that even if she's 17. Because of that she may seem to hate Shun but there is a "hint" that she likes him more than a friend. Whenever it seems to Ruriko that Shun almost get the idea that she likes him (even if he doesn't really know) Ruriko would be a bit calm, but when it turns out that what Ruriko guessed is wrong she would get angry, walk away from him or her veins would pop up. She would also hit him with or without any obvious reason. ^_^
       Ruriko awakened her gate when she tried to save a dying kitten that was hit by a car. Her "Gate of Life" can be used to heal people, the land or anything that lives and this is called "Tears of Life". She uses a bow and arrow for her special attacks like "Arrow of Light".

        Shun Ukiya - Shun, the second Gatekeeper found in Japan, is also the leader of the group. He goes to the same class as Ruriko in Tategami High and I don't think that there are chances that he does better than Ruriko. Shun is carefree and may sometimes do things before he thinks. He isn't that mature even if he is 17. Even if it is obvious that almost all of the female Gatekeepers he has with him likes him. He still doesn't get it. It is very much like him that even if it is obvious that he likes Ruriko, he still didn't realise it. He has a sister named Saemi (who may sometimes seem more mature than her older brother) and a mother.
       In his childhood, other than calling Ruriko "Rurippe", he may sometimes become a sweet little kid and help her in her troubles as "Miracle Mask" With his cape and mask; he would jump in the scene. ^_^ He also gave his treasure to her (a Godzilla type of wooden doll).*kawaii*
       Shun, thinks that his father cares more for his work than he would care for him. Because he thinks his father would rather build something for a company (which was A.E.G.I.S) rather than go to his graduation. His father died in an accident on the way to his graduation. He never knew this because he wouldn't listen to his mother.
       Shun's gate, Gate of the gales, can control the wind around him. He may use a wooden sword to make the attack he calls "Vacuum Missile", "Ultra Whirlwind Thrust", "Ultra Whirlwind Slash" and "Ultra Whirlwind Cut". But there are exceptions to the "Ultra Whirlwind Cut". He may use anything to focus his gate on. Like the one he performed in one of the episodes. "Double Ultra Whirlwind Slash". He can also uses a gate robot (unit 0) with a gate engine.

        Kaoru Konoe - Kaoru joined the gatekeepers because of Ukiya. Kaoru was moved by his words and eventually have fallen in love with Ukiya. Kaoru however, knew that she would have a competition with Ruriko. Kaoru have a lot of traits that you will learn as you watch. She's loyal, nice, hard working and more. You'll like her, but maybe you'll be a little angry because of the competition.
       Kaoru's gate is the Gate of Close Combat which enhance her physical power. Her attacks includes 'kaoru punch' and 'kaoru kick'. ^_^

        Reiko Asagiri - Reiko is a very good piano player. She has been playing it since a child. Reiko's family is very rich. Unfortunately her parents always go away as rich parents always seem to be. Because of that, Ms. Ono is taking her care. The Asagiri's house keeper and Reiko's teacher. Reiko's pretty childish and because of that, she gets along with little kids. Reiko's gate is the Gate of Enchantment, which has the power of an illusion attack. It can be pleasant or very destructive. Her main attack are 'Maiden's Prayer' which comes in a form of music.

        Fen Feirin (a.k.a. Fei) - Fei is a Gatekeeper from the Shanghai branch, she is also the youngest Gatekeeper in the Team. She is cheerful and energetic. She's smart and she's in High School even if she's only 12. She is modest as well because she won't admit that she's smart. (She kept on making excuses that they made the test easy for her). She can be thoughtful and she loves to cook Chinese food as well. Her Japanese isn't all well and she says "ne" a lot. She has a pet monkey named Ukkiya. Ukkiya can help her lock on to the core of the invader. He also has a license like every other Gatekeeper!
       Fei used to stay with Ukkiya, her grandfather and brother. Fei reveals that she wanted to marry his brother when she grows up. But her grandfather and brother were taken away and killed by people. After that her Gate was awakened. Her attacks are "Fire Panda" and "Fire Dragon". "Fire panda" takes form of a panda and goes near the enemy and burns it while "Fire Dragon" takes form of a dragon, burns up the enemy like it's eating it.

        Megumi Kurogane - Megumi is the last official Gate Keeper to join Shun's team. She does well in school, but somehow, Ruriko is a bit better than she is. She is introverted and feels like she is always angry. She would rather be alone than to sit near the others. Megumi doesn't like the fact that she lives in a noodle house. She would rather keep on working in the A.E.G.I.S. Than work to help the restaurant. When Megumi talks she talks softly and in a low tone almost like mumbling. She thinks that every one looks down on her and would criticise her that she is not as smart and as popular as Ruriko. In short she is jealous of Ruriko and she feels that there was only one teacher who understood her, Sensei Yatsutaka Fukouka.
       She awakens the Iron Wall Gate when she asks her teacher-turned-invader not to kill Ruriko. Her gate can be used as a shield or it can be used to contain.

        Banba "Bancho" Chotaru - Bancho (as people call him) is a Gatekeeper found in Japan as well. He is in the same class as Ruriko and Shun. He may sometimes over react. Where streams of tears flow out. Like when he's SO happy because girls are at his feet. During fights, he would use his physical strength (although it won't compare to Kaoru's). He could be pretty funny as well at times. There are times when he would call Kaoru "princess" but the reason is not known yet.
       His Gate of Close combat only shows itself in one episode (last episode). When Kaoru jumps of the car to stop a white wolf that is an Invader from following them. Through his desire to protect Kaoru, he opens his gate and does a "Hyper Inner Circle Throw".

        Megane/Specs (means eyeglasses) - Megane isn't in battles. But he's one important character. Without the gate robot or the gate engine, I don't think the gatekeepers will have much chance against their enemy. Megane's very good in handling the machines. Except for the Gate Robot, it is only for Ukiya's use. Megane's like a normal kid. But you won't always see him in school. He's mostly working with the machines.

        Yukino Houjou - Yukino, is a gatekeeper found in the northern land of Japan at Mt. Daisetsu. She doesn't like to talk and has a very soft voice. Whenever she talks, she sounds like she's saying a part of a poem. Which Shun identified as "Tanka Poetry". Her "favourite" statement is "Everything Disappears". She can teleport herself from place to place, where ever, whenever she wants to. She can also go to a place, which she says is "Outside the Flow". Yukino seldom appears in the series, most of the time she goes from Gatekeeper to Gatekeeper to tell that the other is in trouble. Or to comfort Saemi from her troubles, and she is often seen with her. Yukino has a pet ermine named Hisame that has always been with her and most often resting on her shoulder.
       Yukino's gate, the "Gate of Snow and Ice" can produce blizzards. She doesn't name any of her attacks.

        Reiji Kageyama - Reiji, at first was a kind, active school student. He would do well in school and would help people even if he knows he can't. He would do anything to get them out of it. As the series progresses, he reveals his true self as the Dark Gate Keeper. He wants to crush humans like bugs on the sidewalk. Reiji often compares humans to bugs and wants to eliminate them.
       Reiji wasn't always like this, he used to be a son of a rich man. His real name is Mitsuoka Yuji. He was always cheerful and friendly, he would also entertain people with his Gate (even if he didn't know it was a gate power being a child). His gate used to be the "Gate of the Future". It allowed him to tell the future. He can also read minds. After a traumatic incident during his childhood. His gate was turned to the "Shadow Gate" and became known as the "Gatekeeper of Evil". His known attack is "Shadow Edge". He control's a black robot as well.

        Invaders - Invaders are mysterious beings. They can be found in groups. In these cases they may form into several huge black destructive balls. Invaders can be something that they call a "Cyclops". Which looks like a extremely large wolf with one eye. They can also be one of us as a teacher, an old man, or even a dog. In these cases, the Invaders who presume the identity "snaps", doubts his existence and turns to an Invader.

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