If I watched a film in 2006 and decided that I wanted to watch it today, there is a good chance that I would be able to find a copy or two on either DVD or Blu-ray in my local retailer. The anime market doesn’t always work that way, and if you miss an opportunity to purchase a series before the publishers license expires, then there is a good chance you will be left scouring Ebay for a copy or be left hoping that a streaming service like CrunchyRoll has it on their list.
While it hasn’t been too long since Madman Entertainment seemingly ended their license for Black Lagoon, Universal Sony Pictures Home Entertainment have enabled the continued availability of the series in the Australian and New Zealand market for at least a few years to come with their releases of not only the first season but also The Second Barrage and Roberta’s Blood Trail. As an oddity for the region, unlike North America, all three collections are available as part of DVD + Blu-ray combo packs and come at starting price points of <$40. Having had the chance to finally sample this series, this is my opinion on if you should consider checking this older title in a continually growing crowd of new anime releases.
Storyline
Black Lagoon is best described as a series that starts off with a simple premise and continues to build upon the world and its characters in memorable ways. Based on Rei Hiroe’s 2002 manga series of the same name, Black Lagoon follows a team of pirate mercenaries known as the Lagoon Company who take on an unexpected fourth member after a request doesn’t go exactly to plan. The primary protagonist is Rokuro “Rock” Okajima, a typical Japanese businessman who finds himself taken hostage by the other crew members after a raid. After being declared dead by his employer and subsequently abetting his captors, he joins their crew despite being able to free himself from his formal / business-like attitudes. From there he is introduced to a new darker world from the one he had grown accustomed to, and begins taking part in the dangerous missions that the crew of the Black Lagoon are involved in.
The first season of Black Lagoon is split into multiple arcs consisting of between one to three episodes. Each of these arcs follow a particular mission or request that the crew of the Black Lagoon seek to fulfil, whether it is a mission to deliver a stolen disc safely to the requestee or exploring a sunken WWII submarine in the search of a painting, all the while having a group of neo-nazi’s on their tail who also seek to claim the treasures of the ship. None of the arcs are particularly unique in terms of their concept, but are bolstered by plenty of action/gunfire, a sufficient amount of development as the arc progresses and most of all a well developed and memorable cast of characters. There is just enough to keep you hooked on to the twelve episode season, but at the same time keeping things easy to follow and enjoy.
The Lagoon Company consists of four primary characters, meaning that each get sufficient dialogue and development throughout the season, even if there is plenty more that can be developed in latter seasons. While some series tend to focus on a few core characters and push others to the sidelines, all four have an active role in the series – both in action and development. While occasionally whiny as he transitions into his new life, Rock isn’t anything close to being a “loser” or one who stays sitting on the sidelines whilst letting everyone else do everything. Similarly, female lead Revy is the exact opposite of a damsel-in-distress, featuring a badass persona and commonly takes the charge in terms of action with her dual-wielding guns in tow. These two in particular are the most interesting duo in the series because of their continual development, however are joined by a memorable compilation of characters throughout the episodes.
Design / Music / Voice Acting
Originally airing in 2006, the design of Black Lagoon doesn’t keep up with some of the aesthetic greats we have seen in anime over recent years, and the transition to blu-ray would only do little to rectify this. However for a series that was released in 2006, it is hard not to say that the design is of a very high standard. Whether it is a simple scene with dialogue or an intense scene featuring a copious amount of gunplay, the visuals always leave an impression. Coupled with sufficient backdrops which provide a harmony between colour and scene-setting, and uniquely designed characters – both of which remained consistent across the episodes, it is clear Madhouse didn’t decide to cut corners as the series progressed.
The opening theme “Red Fraction” by MELL, who has also worked on Rideback and Sky Girls, leaves the right initial impression with an intense tone. However the instrumental ending theme “Don’t Look Behind” by EDISON was even more impressive. The subtle tune in “Don’t Look Behind” coupled with the complementing animation made an impact from start to finish. The remainder of the musical backing in the episodes don’t leave much of an impression individually, however complement the visuals and plot well.
As with all other anime releases from Universal Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, both the original Japanese and newer English dubs have been included in this release of Black Lagoon. The standard of the English dub is overall of high quality, with highlights including Brad Swaile and Maryke Hendrikse as Rock and Revy respectively, Dean Redman as Dutch and Patricia Drake as Balalaika.
Extra Content
The only extra content of note in the first season is a 15 minute documentary titled ‘The Crew’ Behind the Scenes of English Version Production, which as the title implies, provides a look into the dubbing process and insight into the localization and series. It is a pretty interesting insight in its own right and worth a watch. Other than that, they have included the Japanese opening and promotional videos for the series and an associated CD.
Final Words on Black Lagoon Season 1
With the concept of a ‘pirate’ anime generally being taken up by ‘One Piece’ which is targeted towards a more all-ages audience, it was welcoming and refreshing to be able to enjoy a series such as Black Lagoon which provides more mature characters as well as a darker and more detailed plot to follow. While some arcs impress less than others, each offers plenty of high quality action and are supported by a memorable and well developed cast that don’t simply come across as clichés. At a reasonable price of just $32.98 for 12-episodes on DVD and Blu-ray (as a combo to boot), Black Lagoon Season 1 is a release that I could personally recommend considering for your anime collection.
