Hiroya Oku, the artist behind Gantz, says he's done. Speaking about his current Kanrekihime manga — which he calls his creative shūkatsu, or end-of-life preparation — Oku said he "just doesn't have the energy to keep drawing anymore." For a generation that met seinen through the black sphere, that's a cue to go back and ask the obvious question: is Gantz still worth watching, and where do you stream it?
Quick answer
Hiroya Oku confirmed plans to retire after finishing Kanrekihime, per Anime News Network (August 11, 2026). His signature work, Gantz, spawned a 2004 TV anime, the 2016 CG film Gantz:O, and two live-action films. On SenpaiRanks, Gantz:O is the highest-ranked entry at a 7.23 adjusted score, with the TV run's second stage close behind. Streaming availability varies by region.
What Oku actually said
Oku launched Kanrekihime (The Sweet Sixty Princess) in December 2025, and told readers it's the work he's ending his career on — elderly characters modeled on himself and his team. He also created Inuyashiki and GIGANT, but Gantz is the one that defined him: a brutal, sci-fi survival series that ran from 2000 to 2013 and pushed digital manga art forward.
Is Gantz good?
Depends what you want. The premise — dead people press-ganged into hunting aliens by a black sphere — is pure adrenaline, and the O film is where the visuals finally caught up to the concept. Per SenpaiRanks, the franchise reads as upper-mid tier on the dual-axis board: strong on Consensus for its shock factor, more divisive on Quality because the early TV adaptation stops short of the manga's ending. That Consensus-versus-Quality gap is exactly the read a single score hides — and the reason our board answers "is it good" better than one number. If you've only used MAL, our dual-axis explainer shows why.
Where to watch it
The 2004 TV anime and Gantz:O have moved across services over the years, so availability shifts by region — our where to watch anime in 2026 guide is the neutral place to check current platforms. If you like this era of gory seinen, the live-action adaptation trend continues with our Parasyte live-action ranking piece.
The ranking
Per SenpaiRanks, the Gantz entries on the adjusted board:
- Gantz:O — 7.23 — the CG film, the franchise's visual peak
- Gantz 2nd Stage — 7.04 — the back half of the 2004 TV run
- Gantz (2004) — 6.97 — the original adaptation
Think it's underrated? Rate Gantz on SenpaiRanks and move its position — that's the part MAL's static number won't let you do. For a broader watchlist, the best anime to watch in 2026 hub has the current board.
Frequently asked questions
Q: Is the Gantz creator really retiring?
A: Yes — Hiroya Oku said he plans to retire after completing his current manga Kanrekihime, citing a lack of energy to keep drawing, per Anime News Network (August 11, 2026).
Q: Where can I watch Gantz?
A: The 2004 TV anime and the Gantz:O film have rotated across streaming services; availability depends on your region. Check our 2026 where-to-watch guide for current platforms.
Q: Is Gantz worth watching?
A: If you want brutal, high-concept sci-fi, yes. On SenpaiRanks, Gantz:O leads the franchise at 7.23 adjusted; the TV run scores a bit lower because it doesn't adapt the full manga.
Q: What is the best Gantz anime?
A: On SenpaiRanks, the 2016 CG film Gantz:O is the highest-ranked at 7.23 adjusted, ahead of the two-stage 2004 TV series.
Q: What else did Hiroya Oku make?
A: Besides Gantz, he created Inuyashiki and GIGANT. His final work is Kanrekihime, launched in December 2025.