"Silent Service": A thorough analysis of deep sea strategy and a moving story

Full review and recommendation of Silent Service

■ Public Media

OVA

■ Original Media

comics

■ Release date

December 18, 1995
December 18, 1995: Video pre-release
March 3, 1996 TV broadcast on TBS

■Release and sales

TBS

■Frequencies

120 min

■ Number of Episodes

Episode 1

■Original Story

・Original work: Kaiji Kawaguchi

■ Director

・Director: Ryosuke Takahashi

■ Production

Sunrise

■Works

©Kaiji Kawaguchi/Kodansha, Sunrise

■ Story

The Seabat, Japan's first nuclear submarine, was built in secret by a joint Japanese-American effort. However, during a test voyage, the Seabat suddenly rebelled and fled under the command of Captain Shiro Kaieda. The US military decided to sink the Seabat. The Seabat appeared before the pursuing US Navy, proclaimed the independence of Yamato to the world, broke through the encirclement of the US fleet, and headed for Japan to conclude an alliance. The Japanese government, in distress, decided to dispatch the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force escort fleet to escort the Yamato. Japan and the US entered a state of imminent conflict. An emergency summit held to settle the situation became chaotic, and the escort fleet was exposed to an attack by the US fleet without a conclusion being reached. The escort fleet was helpless in the face of the national policy of exclusively defensive defense. However, Yamato, which considered this an attack on an ally, dealt a devastating blow to the US fleet. Having fired all of its conventional torpedoes, the Yamato, now armed only with nuclear weapons, surfaced in Tokyo Bay...

■Explanation

An anime adaptation of the original comic by Kaiji Kawaguchi, serialized in Kodansha's "Weekly Morning." (Video released first on December 18, 1995)

■ Main staff

・Original story: Kaiji Kawaguchi ・Director: Ryosuke Takahashi
・Character design: Shigeru Kato
・Mecha design/Yamane Kimitoshi
・Screenplay: Soji Yoshikawa
・Music by Akira Senjyu

■ Main Characters

・Character design: Shigeru Kato
・Mecha design/Yamane Kimitoshi

■ Related works

・[OVA] 97.09.25 Silent Service VOYAGE 2 (1 episode)
・[OVA] 98.01.25 Silent Service VOYAGE 3 (1 episode)

■Detailed evaluation and recommendation

"Silent Service" is a 1995 OVA based on the manga of the same name by Kaiji Kawaguchi. This work is known for its thrilling storyline depicting the tension and political maneuvering between Japan and the United States. Below, we will provide a detailed review and recommendation of this work.

Story and Themes

The story of "Silent Service" is about Japan's first nuclear submarine, the "Seabat," which was built in secret, rebelling and declaring the independence of the nation "Yamato." This setting reflects the international situation after the Cold War, depicting the military cooperation between Japan and the United States and the underlying tension. In particular, the character of Captain Kaieda Shiro, who is torn between his personal beliefs and the interests of his country, is portrayed realistically, leaving a deep impression on viewers.

The film also raises ethical questions by depicting Japan's exclusively defensive stance and the situation in which it is forced to make the ultimate choice of using nuclear weapons. It depicts the horror that the use of nuclear weapons would bring and the efforts to prevent it, encouraging deep reflection in the viewer.

character

Each character in "Silent Service" has a deep background, which is an important element in enhancing the story. In particular, Captain Kaieda Shiro's history leading up to the rebellion and his beliefs are depicted in detail, evoking sympathy from viewers. In addition, the members of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force's escort fleet and the characters of the U.S. Navy also add excitement to the story from their own perspectives, allowing viewers to enjoy the story from multiple perspectives.

The character designs, created by Shigeru Kato, are realistic yet distinctive. In particular, Captain Kaieda Shiro's facial expressions and movements reflect his inner thoughts and are excellent visual expressions.

Mechanical Design

The mecha designs for "Silent Service" were created by Kimitoshi Yamane, and feature realistic submarines and escort ships. In particular, the designs for "Seabat" are based on real submarines, but have a unique atmosphere and create a visual impact. In addition, the battle scenes feature realistic depictions of mecha movements and attacks, drawing the viewer in.

music

Akira Senju's music is an important element in heightening the tension of the story. In particular, the music in the battle scenes holds the viewer's attention and adds an extra layer of tension to the story's development. The music in the quiet scenes also plays an important role in portraying the inner thoughts of the characters, and is essential in achieving the overall balance.

Director and scriptwriter

Director Ryosuke Takahashi and screenwriter Soji Yoshikawa faithfully reproduce the themes of the original work while adding expressions unique to anime. In particular, the development of the story and the portrayal of the characters have deeply moved viewers, and the series has been widely accepted not only by fans of the original work but also by anime fans.

Related Titles

Silent Service has been released as a trilogy of OVAs, each with its own independent story, but with a consistent theme throughout. In particular, VOYAGE 2 and VOYAGE 3, as sequels to the first film, delve deeper into themes and provide viewers with new perspectives. By watching these films together, you can gain a deeper understanding of the world of Silent Service.

Recommendation

Silent Service is a work that is appealing for its political themes, realistic characters, and tense storyline. It is especially recommended for those who are interested in the tension between Japan and the United States and the issue of nuclear weapons. It also has a particular attention to detail in the mecha design and music, so it is recommended for those who enjoy those elements as well. Furthermore, it is a work that will be widely accepted not only by fans of the original work but also by anime fans, so it will be enjoyed by a wide range of people.

summary

"Silent Service" is an OVA released in 1995, based on the manga of the same name by Kaiji Kawaguchi. The story depicts the tension and political maneuvering between Japan and the United States, as the first nuclear submarine, the "Seabat," built in secret, rebels and declares the independence of the nation, "Yamato." The series combines various elements, such as the deep backgrounds of the characters, realistic mecha designs, and music that heightens the tension, to create a work that deeply moves viewers. By watching related works as well, you can understand the deeper themes, making it a work that can be recommended to a wide range of people.