Black Lagoon (TV series)

Black Lagoon (stylized in all caps) is a Japanese anime television series based on Rei Hiroe's manga series Black Lagoon. It was produced by Madhouse, Geneon Entertainment and Shogakukan and directed and written by Sunao Katabuchi, with Masanori Shino designing the characters and Edison (composer) composing the music. The first season was broadcast in Japan from April to June 2006; it was followed by a second season, titled The Second Barrage, broadcast from October to December of the same year. A five-episode original video animation (OVA), subtitled Roberta's Blood Trail, was launched from July 2010 to June 2011. In North America, the anime series was originally licensed by Geneon Entertainment in 2006 and was later acquired by Funimation in 2008, who also licensed the OVA and released it in 2013.

Plot

Rokuro "Rock" Okajima is a 25-year-old Japanese salaryman employed by Asahi Industries in Tokyo during the mid-1990s. While on a business assignment, he is captured by the Lagoon Company, a crew of pirate mercenaries operating an Elco-type PT boat named Black Lagoon, which specializes in smuggling operations throughout Southeast Asia. The group consists of Dutch, an African-American veteran of the U.S. Navy who serves as the captain; Revy, a Chinese-American markswoman and the crew's primary combatant; and Benny, a Jewish-American mechanic and electronics expert who handles technical operations.

After his company disavows him, Rock chooses to remain with the Lagoon Company, adapting to their criminal lifestyle while maintaining his diplomatic demeanor and corporate skills. He assumes the role of negotiator and intermediary, providing the crew with a legitimate facade for their dealings. The group operates out of Roanapur, a fictional Thai port city that functions as a haven for criminals, including the yakuza, the Chinese triad, the Russian Bratva, the Italian mafia, and the Colombian cartel.

The Lagoon Company engages in various high-risk missions, frequently encountering violent confrontations with rival criminals, law enforcement, and other mercenary groups. Their operations span maritime smuggling, armed escorts, and illicit trade, often leading to large-scale firefights and tactical engagements across the region.

Production

Sunao Katabuchi, the series director, was a fan of the original manga prior to the adaptation, citing its energy and dynamism as key attractions. Noting a shared appreciation for American novels with author Rei Hiroe, Katabuchi found common creative ground. Having previously directed the family-oriented film Princess Arete, Katabuchi stated that working on the mature-audience Black Lagoon was not fundamentally different, as he aimed to create material that resonates individually with each viewer. He and Hiroe bonded over a mutual interest in Stephen King and American gothic horror and action novels, which solidified their collaborative rapport.

Hiroe had minimal involvement in the anime's production to avoid impacting his manga schedule, entrusting Katabuchi and the staff with the adaptation.[3] He prioritized preserving the series' spirit without constraining the director's vision. The adaptation retained the manga's violent content without dilution. Animation producer Ryoichiro Matsuo was instructed to emphasize gruesome depictions, with Katabuchi aiming for a visceral, "bloody" atmosphere.[4] To ensure consistency in visual storytelling, Katabuchi held meetings to align the staff's vision for each episode.

Katabuchi introduced several original elements to the adaptation. These included expanded backstory for the salvaged U-boat crew and a car chase sequence during Roberta's pursuit of the Lagoon Company.[4] A fight between Dutch and Roberta was added at Katabuchi's request. In the Hansel and Gretel arc, a scene was inserted where Rock embraces Gretel to symbolize his compassion for both twins, who cross-dress due to their multiple personalities.[4] This storyline was Katabuchi's favorite, though concerns were raised regarding its perceived cruelty for television audiences.

Hiroe acknowledged the adaptation's narrative deviations but praised Katabuchi's skill in making the story concise and understandable.[5][6] He noted that the anime conveyed certain story points more effectively than the manga, particularly through dialogue and vocal performance, which added emotional depth he had not initially envisioned.[7] One of Katabuchi's favorite scenes was Roberta's combat sequence with an umbrella, which the staff dubbed "The Evil Mary Poppins"—syncing with Hiroe's original concept of a "Death Poppins" character.

The animation team researched firearms by handling real guns (without firing) to understand their weight and feel, as actual shooting was not possible.[4][8] The U-boat depiction was designed to be highly realistic, exceeding the accuracy typically found in war films.[8] The series' late 1990s setting was chosen to reflect the global instability following the Dissolution of the Soviet Union, providing a backdrop for the Russian mafia and other criminal elements.[8]

Following The Second Barrage, Katabuchi expressed interest in producing more episodes but cited the extensive research and development time required, which mirrored Hiroe's meticulous process. Limited resources prevented immediate continuation.[8] Katabuchi planned to subsequently work on a children's project before eventually returning to a series like Black Lagoon.[8]

Release

The series, which adapted eight story arcs from the original manga, was produced by Madhouse, Geneon Entertainment and Shogakukan and directed and written by Katabuchi, with Masanori Shino designing the characters.[9] The series was broadcast for twelve episodes on Chiba TV (and on other fifteen terrestrial stations) from April 9 to June 25, 2006.[10] A second season, Black Lagoon: The Second Barrage, consisting of twelve more episodes, ran for the first time on Sendai Television from October 3 to December 19, 2006.[11]

The first season was released on six DVDs, each containing two episodes, from July 26 to December 27, 2006.[12][13] The second season mirrored this, being released from January 31 to July 27, 2007.[14][15] Both seasons were re-released on a total of eight Blu-ray Disc sets: the first season was released on four sets from December 23, 2009,[16] to February 10, 2010;[17] the second season was released on four sets from February 24[18] to March 25, 2010.[19] The Blu-ray Disc releases of both seasons included seven short comical omake specials produced from 2009 to 2010.[20][21]

A five-episode original video animation (OVA), titled Black Lagoon: Roberta's Blood Trail, which covered the El Baile de la Muerte arc of the manga, was released from July 17, 2010, to June 22, 2011.[22][23][24]

Music

The music of the series was composed by Edison (composer).[47][48] The original soundtrack album was released on August 30, 2006.[49][50] The opening theme is "Red Fraction" by Mell and the ending theme is "Don't Look Behind" by Edison.[47][48] Episode 15 features the ending theme "The World of Midnight" by Minako "mooki" Obata,[51][48] and episode 24 features the ending theme "Peach Headz Addiction" by Breath Frequency.[48] The original soundtrack for the Roberta's Blood Trail OVA was included with the limited edition of the first Blu-ray Disc set, released on July 27, 2010.[52] The opening theme for Roberta's Blood Trail is a remixed version of "Red Fraction", titled "Red Fraction (IO Drive Mix)",[53] while the ending theme is an instrumental version of the American Civil War song "When Johnny Comes Marching Home".[54] The last episode ending theme is "This Moment: Prayer in the Light" by Minako "mooki" Obata.[55]

Reception

Further reading

External links