The appeal and reviews of "Tide-Line Blue": A new horizon for science fiction animation

Tideline Blue: A tale of hope and despair across the ocean

The TV anime series "Tide-Line Blue," which aired in 2005, is a near-future science fiction drama on a grand scale, and a work that pursues the depth of human drama. This anime is set in a world 14 years after the natural disaster "Hammer of Eden" that struck the earth, and depicts the story of a young boy named Keel and the people around him. Below, we will take a closer look at the appeal, background, characters, and evaluation of this work.

■Overview of the work

"Tide-Line Blue" is a rare anime original. It was directed by Iida Umanosuke, and the original story was written by Ozawa Satoru, Iida Umanosuke, and Bandai Visual. It was produced by Telecom Animation Film and TV Asahi, and produced by Bandai Visual. It aired from July 7 to September 29, 2005, and consists of 13 episodes. However, episode 13 was not broadcast on terrestrial television, and was included in the 7th volume of the packaged DVD version, which was released on April 26, 2006.

■ Story

"The Hammer of Eden" was a cataclysmic event that engulfed 90% of the Earth and 6 billion people. 14 years later, the Earth was clear and blue, and humanity had formed the New United Nations to seek peace. However, national egos in each country were still strong, and Aoi, the female Secretary-General of the New United Nations, was struggling to help humanity get a fresh start. Meanwhile, in Ybitsu, a town where a nuclear aircraft carrier was brought in by the tsunami, a boy named Kiel lived alone in the world. Kiel was taken in by Aoi, the Secretary-General of the New United Nations, and treated her as his stepmother, but he had some lingering resentment in his heart.

Meanwhile, the soldier Gould becomes disillusioned with humanity and launches a coup d'état using the strategic nuclear submarine Ulysses. Kiel, along with his twin brother Teen and the young girl Isla, must confront Gould's plot. This story depicts the reconciliation between the younger generation and adults who cannot escape the curse of the past, and is a drama of hope and despair.

■Explanation

"Tide Line Blue" is set on Earth in the near future where civilization has sunk beneath the sea, and depicts a fierce submarine battle and a love-hate drama between twins at the mercy of fate. "Tide lines" are the boundaries between land and sea that change with the tides, and symbolize the work of humanity and the flow of history. One of the original authors, Ozawa Satoru, said, "Interactions between humans are also found in repetition," while director Iida Umanosuke said, "It is hard and difficult for humans to understand each other, but it is worth it."

This work is a full-scale science fiction drama that uses realistic submarine action in 3DCG and the dynamic movements that can only be achieved through animation to depict the growth of a boy who faces hardships and the lives of the adults who serve as guides for that growth. It is not only visually appealing, but also a deep human drama that can be enjoyed.

■Cast

The voice actors for the main characters are as follows:

• Keel: Daisuke Sakaguchi
• Teen: Daisuke Namikawa
• Isla: Wakusawari-ka
• Josee: Kyoko Hikami
• Aoi: Ryoko Sakakibara
• Gould: Takaya Hashi
• Brantile: Junpei Morita
• Liu Qian: Mitsuaki Hoshino
• KC: Ogata Mitsuru
• Eyebrows: Hiroto Okuda
• Angie: Akiko Koike
• Sunshine: Jun Osuga
• President of Tengger: Takashi Mito

■ Main staff

The following staff members were involved in the production of this work:

• Original creator: Satoru Ozawa, Umanosuke Iida, Bandai Visual
• Director: Umanosuke Iida
• Series Composition: Yuka Yamada
• Original character design: Akihiko Yamashita
• Character design and chief animation director: Yoshikazu Takiguchi
• Settings: Kazuhide Tomonaga, Hisao Yokobori
• Mechanical design: Kimitoshi Yamane
• Prop design: Akihiko Uda
• Action Director: Hiroaki Noguchi
• Art director: Makoto Shiraishi
• Color design: Tomoko Yamamoto
• Director of photography: Ichikawa Yukihiko
• Edited by: Yoshihiro Kasahara
• Recording Director: Toshio Sato
• Music: Tsuneyoshi Saito
• Producers: Kiyoshi Sugiyama, Akira Shimizu, Hedwig Schreck
• Produced by: Telecom Animation Film, TV Asahi
• Produced by: Bandai Visual

■ Main Characters

The details of the main characters are as follows:

• Keel : A 14-year-old boy living in Ybitsu. He was separated from his parents and twin brother Teen at a young age, and is now being taken in by Aoi, the new Secretary-General of the United Nations. He has some grudges against his stepmother Aoi, and has special feelings for Isla, but is unable to express them. He is impulsive, but not stupid.
• Teen : First officer to the captain of the "Ulysses". He lands on Ybitsu as Gould's messenger and announces the declaration of war. He reunites with his twin brother Keel in the midst of the chaos in the city, and is the catalyst for him and Isla to join the Ulysses. Perhaps because he was picked up by Gould at a young age and raised as a soldier, he always seems to be suppressing his emotions.
• Isla : A 16-year-old goldsmith girl. She became pregnant at a young age and became an unwed mother, but she is very positive. She makes a living by selling accessories she makes to sailors who stop by the town.
• Aoi : Kiel's adoptive mother and Secretary General of the New United Nations. She is trying to use the recent disaster as an opportunity for humanity to start anew and establish a new order that transcends differences in nation, race, and religion, but she is troubled by the egoism between nations that remains unchanged. She has no experience raising children, so she is worried about how to treat Kiel.
• Gould : Captain of the US Navy strategic nuclear submarine "Ulysses". He worked hard with Aoi of the United Nations to rebuild after the Hammer of Eden, but he became disillusioned with humanity's naked ego even at this late stage, and declared war on the whole world. The left half of his face has a gentle expression, and the right half has a stern expression.
• Josee : 19 years old. First officer of the Ulysses. Silent and beautiful. She risks her life to serve the stubborn Gould, but there seems to be something more than a soldier's duty or loyalty.
• Angie : A woman who works at a bar in Ybitsu. She is an accomplice to Keel's fraud along with Sunshine. A surrealist.
• President of Wei : President of Wei, the country with the largest population after the Hammer of Eden. When the New United Nations was established, the condition for membership was to have veto power over Council resolutions, but the Council rejected the request, so the Wei refused to join the New United Nations. There is a border dispute with the Tengel Kingdom.
• President of Tengel : After the Hammer of Eden, he is the president of Tengel, which is solely responsible for food production. Like Wei, he demanded veto power as a condition for joining the New United Nations, but his request was not granted and he refused to join the New United Nations. He is currently in a border dispute with Wei.
• Brantile : Captain of the nuclear aircraft carrier "Electra". Colonel. A straightforward and honest soldier who is loyal to his duties. In the past, he was the superior officer of Gould and Satoyama. He is also an old friend of Aoi.
• Kazuma Satoyama : Former captain of the Aegis destroyer "Teshio" belonging to the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force. Former lieutenant colonel of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force. He is in charge of tracking Ulysses. He is a soldier who always strives to be faithful to his missions and orders.

■ Main robot items

The main robots and items that appear in this work are as follows:

• Strategic nuclear submarine Ulysses : Submerged displacement 27,777 tons, length 202m, width 18.4m, height 31.1m. A former US Navy nuclear submarine commanded by Gould. It has a unique shape with an attack submarine attached to the lower front of the strategic nuclear submarine. In addition to carrying SLBMs (submarine-launched ballistic missiles), SLCMs (submarine-launched cruise missiles), conventional torpedoes, anti-ship missiles (Harpoon), etc., the lower hull of the attack nuclear submarine houses three underwater launching small submarines called "Loopers."
• Teshio : Standard displacement 5050t, overall length 160m, overall width 18.7m, overall height 49.7m. A former Aegis destroyer belonging to the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force. Commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Satoyama. The VLS (Vertical Launch System) is equipped with ASROC anti-submarine rockets, anti-ship missiles SSM-1B, Standard Missiles SM-3, etc. It is also equipped with short-range SAMs and 127mm rapid-fire guns, and can also carry anti-submarine helicopters. Satoyama and Gould seem to have a deep connection.
• Attack nuclear submarine Han : Submerged displacement 11,050 tons, overall length 120m, overall width 25.3m, overall height 21.2m. A nuclear submarine owned by the Wei state. Equipped with silent navigation and rocket torpedoes.
• Stealth Cruiser Gotland : Standard displacement 12,032 tons, overall length 155m, overall width 40.4m, overall height 40.1m. A stealth cruiser formerly belonging to the Swedish Navy. Commanded by Commander Klann. In cooperation with the Aegis destroyer Teshio, it is tasked with pursuing the Ulysses. Equipped with VLS (Vertical Launch System), CIWS (Computer Anti-Aircraft Cannon System), anti-ship missiles, and rapid-fire guns. Equipped with a heliport, anti-submarine helicopters can take off and land. The Gotland-class sister ship "Treklenor", which does not have camouflage paint, is also part of the fleet.
• Diesel Submarine Narushio : A diesel submarine formerly belonging to the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force. It pursues Ulysses alone, but...
• Looper: A small submarine . Three are installed on the Ulysses. It is amphibious and can move on land using caterpillar tracks. It has separate hatches for underwater and on land. It is basically unarmed, but is used for various missions such as landing.
• Freedom Observation Space Station : The only observation space station still in operation after the Hammer of Eden. It still collects and distributes data on the Earth's topography, weather, ocean currents, and more.
• Shuttle : A shuttle used to transport personnel and supplies between Freedom and Earth.
• Personnel transport helicopter : Belonging to the New United Nations. Its main role is to transport troops. It features a unique tailless form due to the use of contra-rotating rotors. It is also equipped with simple anti-submarine equipment.
• Anti-submarine helicopter : An anti-submarine helicopter installed on the new UN escort ships and frigates. Equipped with detection equipment such as surface radar, sonobuoys, and MAD, it can also be equipped with short-range torpedoes and anti-ship missiles as needed.
• VIP Transport Helicopter : A helicopter for transporting VIPs such as Secretary General Aoi. It is equipped with floats so that it can land on water.

■Subtitle

The subtitles for each episode are as follows:

• Episode 1: The Rising Ghost (2005/07/06)
• Episode 2: Traitor (2005/07/13)
• Episode 3: Duraviira (2005/07/20)
• Episode 4: Role (2005/07/27)
• Episode 5: Attack (2005/08/03)
• Episode 6: K2 (2005/08/10)
• Episode 7: City of Prayer (2005/08/17)
• Episode 8: Reunion (2005/08/24)
• Episode 9: New Map (2005/08/31)
• Episode 10: Farewell (2005/09/07)
• Episode 11: Battle of Metasequoia (2005/09/14)
• Episode 12: Blue (2005/09/21)
• Episode 13: Brothers (2006/04/26)

■ Theme songs and music

The opening and ending themes are as follows:

• OP1
  • Song Name: Blue Treasure
  • Lyricist: Minami Kuribayashi
  • Composer: Minami Kuribayashi
  • Arrangement: Masaaki Iizuka
  • Vocals: Minami Kuribayashi
• ED1
  • Song Name: VOICE
  • Lyricist: R.O.N
  • Composer: R.O.N
  • Arrangement: R.O.N
  • Vocals: Tatsuhisa Suzuki

■ Evaluation and recommendation

"Tide-Line Blue" is a work that combines an epic scale with deep human drama, and has been praised for both its visual appeal and storytelling. In particular, the 3DCG submarine battles are realistic and powerful, drawing viewers in. In addition, through the growth and conflicts of characters such as Keel, Tine, and Isla, the film depicts the difficulty of human understanding and reconciliation, deeply moving viewers.

This work is recommended not only for sci-fi anime fans, but also for viewers who want to enjoy human drama. In particular, it is a must-see for those who like stories set on Earth in the near future and submarine battles. In addition, the opening theme "Blue treasure" by Minami Kuribayashi and the ending theme "VOICE" by Tatsuhisa Suzuki also liven up the atmosphere of the work, making it enjoyable from a musical perspective as well.

"Tide-Line Blue" is a worthwhile anime that combines visual beauty with a deep story. Please give it a watch.