I come with a Question:

Greetings. I discovered the Gunslinger Girl anime just over a month ago, and loved it. While I haven't read the manga yet (no money to buy it, and I can't stand reading manga online), it's on the eventual to-do list.

While the anime's not one of my very favorites, a question has irked me since episode 1, and I can't fnd the answer anywhere: what does the poster on Henrietta's left in the 1st opening, the one about "Socialismo" (Socialism) say? And is the image itself modelled on a real one? Does it have any significance in the series? Since the politics of Gunslinger Girl are a great interest to me, I've gotta know, and figured this would be the place to come (maybe someone with the DVD can see the whole text clearly). Any assistance will be much appreciated!

As far as I can tell, it appears to say "Socialsimo: una storia che non si fama", which would translate roughly as "Socialism: a history of the/that bad/not reputation", meaning that it is a poster, possibly an advertisement, for a showcase about the bad reputation of socialism, namely after the failure of the U.S.S.R. and the situation in China, and to garner support for it. More importantly, socialism is rather popular in Italy, mostly in the south. However, the north is very secessionist, and the Padanian terrorists are, of course, from Northern Italy. Northern Italy and the various Padanian political groups are generally in support of democratic capitalism. It's cool how this little poster relates so much to the plot of the series.

According to Googgle translate it comes across as "Socialiam: A Story that is not known." Considering that it was drawn by a team of Japanese artists who might have gotten an odd translation to begin with I can not hazrd a guess as to any hidden meaning. Considering the politically charged setting of the story it does fit in well.

I think the scene has more to do with establishing the setting and the fact that Henrietta (and indeed all the girls) is a somewhat isolated pawn thrown into it.

In any case, welcome to the forum!

Welcome to the forum! The manga is better than the anime, so read it when you have the chance. I think the poster would translate to something similar to the English phrase: "the unknown story". At least, I'm guessing that's what was intended.

Welcome mate... you can still get hold of the ADV translations of the first 6 volumes of manga, it just takes some hunting. A combination of second-hand dealers on Amazon and mooching around on eBay are good starting points. I managed to get a couple of volumes out of a local comic store as well.

As to the poster, I'd agree with Five_X (and from Voodoo's translation) that it's probably a poster for an exhibition of film showing a more positive view of Socialism. Or at least one less clouded by a long running western fued with the former USSR. Considering the government in Rome is essentially using northern money to shore up the poorer south (hence, in part, the Padania fight and urge to seperate the North from the South) it could also be a commentary on the more left-wing politics that the SWA are helping to enforce.

Thank you for the speedy and worthy responses! I hadn't noticed the filmreel, and find the movie showing idea fascinating. I will have to read the manga (presently I've been working on my collections of DearS, Godchild, and Rosario + Vampire[/i]), but I've always been interested with how the Social Welfare Agency was apparently covertly established by Silvio Berlusconi, and yet spends most of its time fighting terrorists working for the same ends as the Northern League, his real life coalition partner! Hence, the secrecy is all the more important; I discussed the conflict of interests in my review of the anime on my blog here.

As further introduction, my favorite cyborg girl is Claes; I'm a sucker for pedantish, dark-haired, modestly dressed Ami Mizuno types. My all-time favorite series are Peach-Pit's DearS and Rozen Maiden. I am presently a college senior with majors in Political Science, Philosophy, and Theology. I am also an avid bibliophile and a poet (who usually writes sonnets).

Good tidings Jade Star.

I have read your blog at Blogspot,Jade Star.

I'm impressed with your thought and the Scabourough Fair's link!

Welcome to the forum, and just wait until you reach Season two...

And yes, the manga is a must, but if you want to get the ADV versions, they are getting hard to come by. Funimation (or some other company) is supposed to re-release them sometime next year. Maybe Amazon.com still has the old ones left?

As far as I can tell, outside of some dumb political poster, its just up there to show, showing that Henrietta is in the more seedier section of town, where such posters reside. You will never find posters out up in the rich and well to do sections of town unless it says "BEWARE: CONSTRUCTION AREA!"

WELCOME!!!!

Funimation (or some other company) is supposed to re-release them sometime next year.

Seven Seas Press, not Funimation (thank God). The first six volumes will be re-released in three-volume sets at $15.99 each, then will release the later volumes individually as they finish them. The first Omnibus is slated for February.

Welcome to the forum! And no, we don't have a time machine to go forward in time and... oh... I can't divulge our master plans.

Welcome to the Gunslinger Girl boards! Hope you like it here! ^__^

Welcome to the forum! I hope you enjoy your stay here~

Welcome to the forum!
For your interest in in it, the politics of the series is really just a backdrop for the character drama though, especially in the anime. I never understood why many others here on the forum are interested in it, especially considering its secondary role. Real life politics usually makes my blood boil and makes me feel like breaking furniture. Oh well.

ElfenMagix wrote:Welcome to the forum, and just wait until you reach Season two...

Here's some of the best advice you will ever receive when it comes to anime, specifically watching season two, "Il Teatrino". DON'T.

Welcome aboard!

Godot wrote:
Here's some of the best advice you will ever receive when it comes to anime, specifically watching season two, "Il Teatrino". DON'T.

Made me laugh! ^o^

Aw, I'm the only person that genuinely liked Il Teatrino and accepted its artwork.

Yay to me for being the sole fan of GSG season 2!

I didn't think that it was that bad. It showed Pino for the badass he was.

I (and most of the others) had trouble with the eyes. Okay, it's an anime and big anime eyes are expected, but it was such a change from the previous season with the more realistic (or at least toned down) eyes, that it's hard to get over. Other than the eyes, I had no real sticking point with Il T, except maybe Elizabeta's voice.

Five_X wrote:Aw, I'm the only person that genuinely liked Il Teatrino and accepted its artwork.

Yay to me for being the sole fan of GSG season 2!

I like Il Teatrino for putting the manga into an anime. But the artwork sucked the almighty Oscar Meyer Wiener!