Desert Punk (TV)

Episode 5 is styled after Akira Kurasawa's 1954 film "Seven Samurai"

In episode 3's English dub, when Kanta is fantasizing about Junko, Fire Dragon Kong breaks through the fourth wall of the fantasy and as it does, Kanta shouts "Oh yeah!," like the Kool-Aid Man.

In episode 7, In the first scene of the English dub, after getting shot in the arm, Desert Punk falls to the ground and yells "AAAHHHH!! Somethin' bit me!". This is a reference to the movie Forrest Gump, when the title character shouts the same line after being shot. Though Forrest was shot "directly in the buttocks."

Animation Error: In episode 7, after Kanta explains to Kosuna why he is such an awesome mercenary he stands up, and an extra copy of the straw he is chewing on remains floating in the air.

Beginning in episode 9's English dub the characters frequently talk about "The Game of Living". This is an obvious reference to "The Game of Life", a board game by Parker Brothers (TM).

In episode 14 there is an homage to, or perhaps a shot at Gankutsuou, which aired during the same season. The mostly naked sunbather uses a reflector with colored textures like the fabric in Gankutsuou.

In episode 19, Scratching the Surface, at the beginning of the episode, we see Kosuna burrowing around underground. She pops her head out, and says "I was supposed to take that left at Albuquoi-que." This is am homage to Bugs Bunny.

In episode 22's English dub, after the rather large explosion we find the mercenaries combing the desert for parts of the guardian. Haru shouts to Fuyo, "You find anything over there yet?" Fuyo replies "Man, I ain't found shit!" this exchange, and the situation, was borrowed from the Mel Brooks movie, Space Balls.

In episode 24's English dub, after the Machine Gun Brothers defeat the Fire Breathing Kong they all shout "Wolverines!" in unison. This is a reference to the movie "Red Dawn", where a group of communist fighting American high school students calling themselves the Wolverines after their school mascot defend their hometown from invading Soviets.