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ANIME REVIEWS

Based on the comic by: Ozawa Satoru
Director: Maeda Mahiro
Mechanical Design: Kawamori Shoji, Maeda Mahiro, Yamashita Ikuto
Character Design: Murata Range, Kusanagi Takuhito
Copyright © 1998 Ozawa Satoru/Bandai Visual · Toshiba EMI · GONZO










Episode 1: Blues
—by Eric "Scanner" Luce

There are many shows coming out now that are touched in one way or another by computer animation or digital compositing. That is one of the bylines that is frequently used to promote AO NO ROKUGO (BLUE SUBMARINE NO. 6). With such heavy handed marketing about this I had my doubts on approaching this story, but the character designs and mecha designs convinced me that it would be something worth watching. Now the story itself has me hooked.
  In the near future, the oceans have risen dramatically and much of the land presently near sea level is submerged. An airplane zooming over the ocean drops a sonar probe. A nearby submarine commander watches from his sub before it submerges. They are tracking the movements of the Zondyke. They must not let them attack Blue Submarine #6 while it is in dock.
  Back in Tokyo the pilot of Blue #6's Grampus, Kino Mayumi, and an ensign go to one of the derelict buildings to find Hayami Tetsu. Mayumi's mission is to try to convince Hayami to come back to the Blue Fleet as they need him. However Hayami refuses to be persuaded and will not return. Eventually Hayami is able to anger Mayumi enough for her to leave.
  As she heads back towards Blue #6, the Zondyke attack. The attack consists of a bunch of Crab-like mecha that attack everything in sight. These were released from an under-water behemoth that is shrouded in some sort of sonar deadening cloud. Mayumi and the ensign are waylaid by two of the Crab-mecha as they try to rescue a civilian. They appear trapped when Hayami shows up on his boat and dispatches the two menacing monsters.
  Hayami now reluctantly agrees to help out. When the time comes to pilot Blue #6's attack submersible, the Grampus, Hayami takes over the cockpit much to Mayumi's chagrin. Mayumi asks Hayami why he bothered to save her. Hayami replies in kind with a question asking why she is doing this. Mayumi quietly says that it is her home, the ocean.
  The battle between the Zondyke attack units and the Grampus and between Blue #6 and the 'ghost ship' is action packed and fairly well directed. The most important part of this sequence, however, is when Hayami, when confronted with one of the enemy pilots saves her and puts her back in to the water where she can breathe, despite Mayumi's attempt to kill the enemy pilot. The sea-creature stares at Hayami from the water with a look of hate and puzzlement. Eventually she swims off, giving an ultra-sonic scream.
  The most striking thing about the story is the composition of familiar cel animation and 3D computer graphics. The producers of this show are pushing many boundaries in composition and editing. We are all familiar with 3D computer graphic animation as well as the traditional 2D animation; this show is probably one of the best uses so far of integrating the two.
  The mechanical design should appeal to many fans as it uses some of the best talent out there. Many people know of Kawamori Shoji and ardent fans of the manga DARK WHISPER will know Yamashita Ikuto's work. Their skill lends a really strong, workable sense to the Grampus attack ship, Blue Submarine #6, and the Zondyke attack crabs.
  With character designs by Murata Range and Kusanagi Takuhito we are presented with familiar styles that have a unique strength to them. They give us faces we are somewhat used to but having a striking uniqueness nonetheless.
  The direction is tight and quick. We are handed background information in little pieces. There is no exposition on how the world got to this state. This is no explanation on what the Blue Fleet is. We do not know why Hayami left it in the first place nor why he is being called back now. We only see one cover of a Time magazine talking of a Professor Zondyke. With these tidbits the story raises a dozen unanswered questions that intrigue viewers more than the rote "humans vs. other creatures for dominance of the Earth" story this would seem capable of. In 30 minutes of animation we are drawn in. We want to know what will become of the enemy-pilot that Hayami saves. We want to know what secret pain is hidden in Mayumi's past. Why did Hayami leave? Where did the Zondyke come from?
  This show is worth watching alone if you like tight animation, computer graphics, and good action sequences. If you like mysterious implications, tension, and a view in to the personalities of the characters that may be at odds with their stated goals, so much the better.

Bandai Entertainment
1 LD, CAV, 30 minutes
BEAL 1023
¥4800
Available now in Japan
Where to buy


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