"Daphne of Light and Water": A thorough evaluation of the charm of the underwater city and the depth of the story

"Daphne of Light and Water": A story of girls' struggles in a futuristic ocean city

"Daphne of Light and Water" is a TV anime series that was broadcast in 2004. It is set in a future world where the land has been submerged underwater due to rising water levels caused by global warming, and tells the story of girls working in an ocean city. This work is an original anime, and the original story is written by NeSKeS. It was directed by Ikebata Takashi, produced by JCSTAFF, and produced by the "Daphne of Light and Water" Production Committee. It aired from January 16th to July 1st, 2004, and consists of a total of 24 episodes.

story

In the future, global warming has progressed, sea levels have risen, and much of the land has been submerged underwater. In this world, 15-year-old Mizuki Maia, who lives in a marine city, dreams of becoming a high-ranking elite bureaucrat at the Ocean Agency. However, she fails the employment exam at the agency and is left without a job. Meanwhile, Maia finds employment at Nereis Kamchatka Branch, a small private all-round service company that operates a chain in the marine city. In this perpetual summer ocean city, Maia's new life begins as she takes on a dangerous profession for girls.

character

Mizuki Maia

15-year-old Maia lost her parents in an accident when she was 10 years old, and lived with her grandfather after that. However, her grandfather also passed away a year ago, and now she is alone. After failing the entrance exam to the Maritime Agency, Maia gets a job at Nereis, and while she reluctantly tries her best, she gradually establishes herself. Maia is a diligent and serious person, and although she is not the type to actively get involved in things, she is a meticulous person who does what she is told to do properly. Since she is basically a cheerful and cheerful person, this does not come across as sarcasm. She is always positive and acts with goals, and her current goal is to pass the Maritime Agency exam. She is also tough and does not get discouraged by small things. However, since she has just graduated from school and is naive, so to speak, she does not know the "field," so she ends up spending her days in a weak and weak manner as she takes on various jobs at Nereis.

Rena Honjo

25-year-old Lena is the leader of the Nereis, a bright and calm person. She has a keen sense of intuition and is good at figuring out what others are thinking and their weaknesses. She is the best when it comes to sex, and no man can resist her temptation. She is arrogant and uncompromising, and she manipulates people. She is a woman of moral hazard, saying and doing things that she doesn't care about. She is aware of her "feminine charm" and uses it as a weapon to entice others when necessary. Despite this, Lena never shows kindness in public. She may be shy at heart. Or she may be a true shrewd person who knows that being kind to people behind closed doors is the best way to win their hearts. In any case, no one can stand up to Lena.

Shizuka Hayama

Shizuka, 17, is a caring and energetic girl from the downtown area. She knows about mechanics and supports Lena in the Nereis. She's not good with guns, but she has big breasts and is a big eater. She is the first to open up to Maia, and as a close senior, she gives her advice on various things. She can be a little gentle, but she is basically a caring and lively girl. The director keeps saying, "You know, like a ramen shop poster girl." She is not reserved, as she is from the downtown area. She can even get along with the local biker gang. That's why she can play the role of moderation that is most lacking in the Nereis. And we must not forget that Shizuka loves her work at the Nereis more than anyone else.

Park Yu

20-year-old Yu was originally a wanted man, but was picked up by Rena and joined the Nereis. He is silent and nihilistic, boasting the best skills in the Nereis, and no one can match Yu in combat. He doesn't get along with Gloria, and they are always at odds with each other, making them an odd couple. Although he is cool and doesn't say much, Yu is surprisingly a man of honor. He could be called a female Takakura Ken. Long ago, he was caught by the Nereis as a wanted man and imprisoned. However, for some reason, Rena greeted him when he was released, and helped him get a job at Nereis and took care of him. Yu has never forgotten that kindness. He always follows Rena's orders. Although Yu is such a hard-boiled character, he also has a surprisingly cute side, such as loving animals and visiting famous places when he travels.

Gloria

25-year-old Gloria is a self-proclaimed lover, but no one knows her real name. She is a gun expert and a miser. She was once left in the middle of an enemy group by Lena, and she hates her. She doesn't get along well with Yuto. Gloria is an idiot. Or perhaps it would be better to say she's paranoid. She will pull out her gun at any moment, even if it means causing trouble herself. That's how much she loves guns. She always talks about money, and is the most fussy about it. But she can't calculate it. There's no cure for her, to be honest. In other words, she's the most lovable character of all. But she does have a knives skill. Once she gets into a gunfight, she shows overwhelming strength (also known as going berserk).

staff

The original work is by NeSKeS, directed by Ikebata Takashi, series composition by Mizukami Kiyosuke, scenario by Yamada Yasutomo and Sunayama Kurasumi, original character concept by Shiki Satoshi, character design by Iwakura Kazunori, planning cooperation by Takayama Fumihiko, chief animation director Nakayama Yumi, design works by Takehan Shingo, art director Tanimura Shinichi, color design by Ando Tomomi, director of photography by Okouchi Yoshio, editing by Nishiyama Shigeru, sound director Aketagawa Jin, sound production by Magic Capsule, music producer Ito Yoshiyuki, music by Otani Sachi, music production by Lantis, produced by GENCO, animation production by JCSTAFF, and produced by the "Daphne of Light and Water" Production Committee.

cast

The voice actors for Mizuki Maia are Nakahara Mai, Honjou Rena is Ohara Sayaka, Hayama Shizuka is Ueda Kana, Gloria is Asano Masumi, Park Yu is Kaida Yuko, Tsukasa is Nogawa Sakura, Milly is Noda Junko, Hanaoka Tsutomu is Iwata Mitsuo, Hanaoka Yukari is Koshimizu Ami, Yagi Kosuke is Nakamura Hidetoshi, Wong is Nomura Kenji, Chang is Kawada Shinji, and Lee is Nishimura Tomomichi.

subtitle

Episode 1 "Maia's Longest Day (Part 1)", Episode 2 "Maia's Longest Day (Part 2)", Episode 3 "Is There a Better Business Than the Nereids?", Episode 4 "Chaka-chaka-bang-bang", Episode 5 "The Return of the Wild Boy", Episode 6 "The Great Nighttime Investigation", Episode 7 "All That Dad", Episode 8 "Raging Speed!", Episode 9 "No Tomorrow for Me", Episode 10 "Extra Holiday in Siberia", Episode 11 "Such a Long Stay", Episode 12 "The Day the World Rised", Episode 13 "Raising the Rage", Episode 14 "The Old Man and the UMA", Episode 15 "Daihado", Episode 16 "Daihado 2", Episode 17 "Complete Defeat by the Baby!", Episode 18 "Shizuka's Conflict", Episode 19 "Submarine Yomogi No. 1 Fails to Surface", Episode 20 "Once Upon a Time in Siberia", Episode 21 "What Happened to Maia?", Episode 22 "Ai and the Days of Remembrance", Episode 23 "Escape from Kamchatka", Episode 24 "Daphne of Light and Water"

Related Titles

There is a special edition of "Daphne of Light and Water: DAPHNE IN THE BRILLIANT BLUE" not shown on TV.

Theme songs and music

The opening theme "Tomorrow's Blue Wing" was written by Aki Hata, composed and arranged by Kosuke Oshima, and sung by Saeda. The ending theme "Anata to Iu Jikan" was written and composed by rino, arranged by Kaoru Okubo, and sung by CooRie. Another version of the ending theme "Anata to Iu Jikan" is sung by Mai Nakahara.

Evaluation and Impressions

"Daphne of Light and Water" is a science fiction anime set in a futuristic ocean city, but it also depicts the growth and friendship of girls. The story of the protagonist Maia's growth is particularly moving to viewers. Her struggle to achieve her dream of joining the Ocean Agency has resonated with many people. Another part of the appeal is the unique characters of the Nereis members. Each has their own unique charm, such as Rena's leadership, Shizuka's cheerfulness, Yuu's coolness, and Gloria's humor.

Although each episode is a self-contained story, there is a consistent theme throughout the series. Each episode depicts a different case or request, so viewers will not get bored. The unique setting of an ocean city also adds to the appeal of the series. By depicting a future world against the backdrop of the realistic problem of rising water levels due to global warming, the series also contains elements that make viewers think.

The character designs and background art are beautiful, making the work highly visually appealing. In particular, the depiction of the ocean city creates a unique atmosphere that blends a futuristic and realistic feel. The music is also an important element in enhancing the atmosphere of the work. The opening theme, "Tomorrow's Blue Wing," and the ending theme, "Anata to Iu Jikan," have beautiful melodies that symbolize the theme of the work.

Recommended points

"Daphne of the Light and Water" is recommended for those who like science fiction and coming-of-age stories. In particular, it is perfect for those who want to empathize with the growth of the main character, Maia, and those who want to see the exploits of unique characters. It is also recommended for those who are interested in the unique setting of an ocean city. The future world, set against the backdrop of the realistic problem of global warming, also contains elements that make the viewer think.

Furthermore, even though this work is a one-off, it has a consistent theme throughout, so even people who don't like long-running series can enjoy it. The character designs, background art, and music are beautiful, making it highly visually appealing. The opening and ending themes are also important elements that add to the atmosphere of the work.

"Daphne of Light and Water" is a moving story about the struggles of girls in a futuristic ocean city. Please give it a watch.