Guilstein

Guilstein (2002): A Retro CGI Experiment That’s So Bad It’s Kinda Good

Let’s cut to the chase: Guilstein isn’t going to win any awards for its 3D animation. Released in 2002 by an uncredited studio (seriously, even the production details are a mystery), this 45-minute sci-fi horror flick is a relic of early digital anime—think Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within but with the budget of a student film. The CGI is clunky, the character movements are stiff, and the monsters look like they were rendered on a PlayStation 2. But here’s the thing: if you go in expecting a “so bad it’s good” B-movie vibe, you might just have fun.

Set in 2088, the story follows Chous Distour, a scientist who stumbles on the Caduceus Project—a shady experiment turning animals (and eventually humans) into Guilsteins: soulless, rampaging creatures. When Chous tries to expose the project, he’s captured and transformed into one of these monsters himself. Now half-human, half-beast, he’s on the run from the corporation that ruined his life, with only a few allies (including a badass female soldier named Leimei) to help him. The plot is straight-up 90s anime edginess: mind control, corporate greed, and a hero fighting to retain his humanity. It’s derivative, sure, but there’s a campy charm to its unapologetic melodrama.

The biggest divide among fans? That CGI. One MyAnimeList user called it “dated but surprisingly enjoyable,” while another joked it’s “a tower of wet shit in a hot summer sun.” Let’s be real—by today’s standards, it’s rough. Characters move like marionettes, and the action scenes lack weight. But here’s the twist: that cheesiness works. The low-budget effects give Guilstein a retro, B-movie feel, like a lost episode of Resident Evil: Degeneration but with more heart. As one viewer put it, “It’s so bad it’s goodbad.”

The story, for all its flaws, has its moments. The mind control subplot is a mess (seriously, why does Sina suddenly turn evil?), but the core conflict—Chous struggling to stay human while embracing his monster side—hits surprisingly hard. The ending leaves things on a cliffhanger (Chous holds Leimei in his arms, hinting at a possible sequel that never came), which has left fans wondering what could’ve been. “The story is really good,” one user wrote. “I would love to see a full series with a similar premise.”

Let’s talk about the positives: the voice acting (in Japanese, at least) is solid, with Chous’ gravelly tone selling his inner turmoil. The soundtrack, a mix of industrial rock and synth beats, fits the cyberpunk vibe perfectly. And even with the bad CGI, the action sequences are weirdly entertaining—think giant tentacle monsters and laser gun fights that feel like they’re straight out of a 90s arcade game.

Is Guilstein a hidden gem? No. Is it worth watching? If you’re into retro anime oddities or love laughing at dated CGI, absolutely. It’s a time capsule of early 2000s anime experimentation, warts and all. As one fan summed it up: “It had its flaws, but I liked it. It would’ve been better without CGI, but hey—you take what you can get.”

In a world of polished, high-budget anime, Guilstein is a reminder that sometimes the messiest projects are the most memorable. It’s not for everyone, but if you’re in the mood for something weird, wild, and unapologetically old-school, give it a shot. Just don’t expect Demon Slayer-level animation. And for the love of all things holy, skip the English dub—trust me.

Final Verdict: 6/10. A campy, flawed experiment that’s more fun than it has any right to be.

Note: This review is based on the 2002 theatrical release. No sequels or remakes have been announced as of 2024.