Studio :
Also involved: Madhouse Studios
Licenced by : FUNimation Productions, LTD.
Length : 26 Episodes
Year : 2004
Genre : Romance - Music - Drama
SYNOPSIS:
Tanaka Yukio (although everyone calls him Koyuki) is 14 years old, an average student, and a nice guy. While walking home from school, he sees some kids picking on some weird looking dog and chases them away when the dog's owner show up. He meets him again while being out on town with his childhood friend and they slowly become friends.
The guy's name is Ryusuke and he plays in an underground rock band. After seeing one of his
* Yukio ("Koyuki") Tanaka:
The main character, the series follows his rapid development from an average person to an outstanding guitarist. Being extremely polite, he cannot help but let others push him around, a possible metaphoric stereotype on the very proper and manner conscious Japanese society. The last member of BECK, he is the second guitarist and vocalist. He is the last person to talk to Eddie and hears the song. Yukio has a very beautiful voice that is mostly used for Beck's slower songs. He owns a Fender Telecaster.
* Ryusuke ("Ray") Minami:
A Japanese character with a long history in America, he speaks fluent English, and frequently uses both Japanese and English in his conversation. He lives alone in a shack by the fishing pond. His skills and taste in music inspire Koyuki to take up the guitar. The band's creator, Ryusuke is BECK's lead guitarist. A once-younger Ryusuke and Eddie Lee stole the Lucille from the boot of Syke's vehicle.
*Ken'ichi Saitou:
Koyuki's guitar and swimming teacher, Saitou once swam in the Olympics but was unable to achieve his dream of winning so has turned his life to teaching others how to swim better. Saitou is loud and demanding in public, and especially strict when it comes to swimming. But when he is out of the water he is much more open, even turning to Koyuki for advice on his attractions to Momo. Saitou is a fan of British rock and his favorite band in the anime is the fictional Rocket Boys while in the manga it's The Beatles.
*Maho Minami:
Ryusuke's sister and a talented singer with a strange relationship with Koyuki. At times she seems attracted to him, others she brushes him off with little regard to his often ignored feelings.
*Izumi Ishiguro:
Koyuki's childhood friend, he eventually was left to choose between her and Maho, though by the time he reached his decision, the two girls also reached one of their own, luckily a similar conclusion.
*Yoshiyuki Taira:
The first recruited member of BECK, Taira is the bassist, and the most talented band member next to Ryusuke. He plays Music Man StingRay bass. Little is known about him, and his attitude may sometimes come off as uncaring. He has been seen working as a traffic officer.
*Tsunemi Chiba:
Main vocalist for BECK, he is the key member that Ryusuke needed to bring Taira into the band. Compared to Koyuki, his voice is more punk and rock oriented, like the majority of the band's songs. He also named the band "Beck" after staring at Ryusuke's dog for a few moments.
*Yuji Sakurai:
The fourth member to join, he was also Koyuki's first good friend, sticking with him even when the school bully and his gang beat him up for breaking the silent treatment on Koyuki. He is the drummer, inspired by his brother, and replaces the original drummer of BECK who followed Ryusuke from his original band, Serial Mama.
*Momoko ("Momo") Ogasawara:
Koyuki's music teacher at school, she gets to know Saitou through Koyuki and they start to develop a relationship through the series.
* Eiji
Originally in Ryusuke's first band, Serial Mama, he turned into his rival, and his new band, Belle Ame, formed as BECK's competition was mainly succeeding through appeal for the band member's looks and not sound. Getting all the big breaks, Belle Ame seemed destined for greatness, until BECK destroyed their ride to fame, at the cost of being blacklisted in the music industry.
* Eddie Lee:
Lead guitarist of the famous Dying Breed (DyBre) he was Ryusuke's only friend, and growing up helped him find Beck (the seemingly patchwork dog) and Lucille.
* Mark Reed:
The vocalist for Dying Breed, he is consistently drunk and a supporter of up and coming singer Koyuki. Called Mark in the english version.
* Leon Sykes:
A very rich and extremely influential music producer who produced many stars. Syke's is also the original owner of Beck and Lucille, which he takes back from Ryusuke violently after kidnapping him. He's involved in illegal things and is extremely dangerous to cross paths with. He's got blood of 5 different races flowing in him.
* John Lee Davis:
Sykes' uncle. He's an old blues man. One of Ryusuke's favourites. They meet after Ryusuke gets kidnapped, and they jam for a while. Probably only thanks to him Ryusuke is still alive. He was Sonny Boy's pupil and he got Lucille from him. At one time he abandoned music and gave it to Leon.
