Black Lagoon: Exciting action and deep characters

Black Lagoon: A hard-boiled action game set in the underworld

The TV anime series "Black Lagoon", which aired in 2006, is based on the manga of the same name by Hiroe Rei and directed by Katabuchi Sunao. Set in the South China Sea, the hard-boiled action of the members of the lawless courier group "Lagoon Company" is full of charm that draws viewers in. In this article, we will introduce detailed information and reviews of "Black Lagoon", as well as recommended points.

Overview

The first season of "Black Lagoon" aired from April 11 to June 27, 2006, and the second season aired from October 2 to December 18 of the same year. It was made into a UHF anime with 24 episodes, each 30 minutes long. Animation was handled by Madhouse, and production was carried out by the BLACK LAGOON Production Committee (Geneon Entertainment, Shogakukan, GENEON ENTERTAINMENT (USA) INC.).

story

Okajima Ryokuro, a top trading company employee, is attacked by the Lagoon Company, a lawless group of couriers, during a business trip to the South China Sea. However, Ryokuro is attracted by their unconventional way of life, so he abandons his previous name, calls himself "Rock," and decides to become a member of the Lagoon Company. He boards the Black Lagoon and sets out into the ocean of the underworld, where money and bullets fly.

character

The appeal of "Black Lagoon" lies in its unique characters. The main characters are introduced below.

• Revy : A gunslinger belonging to the Lagoon Company, he is nicknamed "Two Hands". He has a short temper and can get into trouble, but he has lived in the slums since he was a child and hates anyone talking about his past. He is voiced by Megumi Toyoguchi.
• Rock : His real name is Okajima Rokuro. He used to work as a trading company employee for Asahi Heavy Industries, but an incident led him to join Lagoon Company. He's not good at rough work, but he often uses his language skills to negotiate. He's a character who tries to stick to reason in a ruthless world. He is voiced by Namikawa Daisuke.
• Dutch : Leader of the Lagoon Company and captain of the Black Lagoon. He is an intelligent man who can handle any rough situation with ease, and his gun skills are top-notch. He is highly regarded by Balalaika and other forces. He is voiced by Tsutomu Isobe.
• Benny : Lagoon Company's high-tech equipment specialist. Revy rescues him from the FBI and the mafia, and he becomes a member. He uses his wizard-level hacking skills to support the company's activities from behind the scenes. Voiced by Hiroaki Hirata.
• Balalaika : The female boss of the Thai branch of the Russian mafia "Hotel Moscow" which has branches all over the world. She once participated in the invasion of Afghanistan as a member of the former Soviet army, and her subordinates are members of the guerrilla unit that fought alongside her at that time. She is voiced by Mami Koyama.
• Zhang : The boss of the Thai branch of the Hong Kong-based international mafia "Triads". Behind his nonchalant demeanor, he is a strategist who coldly calculates his own profits. He is also good at rough dealing, and it is said that his gun skills are better than Revy's. He is voiced by Morikawa Toshiyuki.
• Hansel and Gretel : After a political upheaval in a certain Eastern European country, the twins are bought by the local mafia and trained to be assassins for fun. They use battle axes and large rifles to slaughter the mafia members one after another, terrorizing Roanapur. Hansel is voiced by Omi Minami and Gretel is voiced by Tomoko Kaneda.

Production Staff

The following staff members were involved in the production of "Black Lagoon".

• Original story : Rei Hiroe (serialized in Shogakukan's "Monthly Sunday Gene-X")
• Director, series composition, scriptwriter : Sunao Katabuchi
• Assistant Director : Kenichi Kawamura
• Character design and chief animation director : Masanori Shino
• Mechanic design, prop design : Masahiro Kimura
• Art director : Hidetoshi Kaneko
• Color design : Yuriko Kadomoto
• Director of photography : Yukihiro Masumoto
• Edited by : Yoshiko Kimura
• Music : EDISON
• Sound Director : Yasunori Honda
• Executive Producers : Shinichiro Tsuzuki, Jungo Maruta, Hideki Goto
• Animation producer : Ryoichiro Matsuo
• Producers : Jun Nishimura, Mitsutoshi Ogura, Junya Okamoto
• Animation Production : Madhouse
• Produced by : BLACK LAGOON Production Committee (Geneon Entertainment, Shogakukan, GENEON ENTERTAINMENT (USA) INC.)

subtitle

The subtitles for each episode of "Black Lagoon" are as follows:

• #1: The Black Lagoon (2006/04/08)
• #2: Mangrove Heaven (2006/04/15)
• #3: Ring-Ding Ship Chase (2006/04/22)
• #4: Die Rückkehr des Adlers (2006/04/29)
• #5: Eagle Hunting and Hunting Eagles (2006/05/06)
• #6: Moonlit Hunting Grounds (2006/05/13)
• #7: Calm Down, Two Men (2006/05/20)
• #8: Rasta Blasta (2006/05/27)
• #9: Maid to Kill (2006/06/03)
• #10: The Unstoppable Chambermaid (2006/06/10)
• #11: Lock'n Load Revolution (2006/06/17)
• #12: Guerrillas in the Jungle (2006/06/24)

Related Titles

"Black Lagoon" has the following related works:

• BLACK LAGOON The Second Barrage
• BLACK LAGOON Roberta's Blood Trail
• BLACK LAGOON Bonus Video

Theme songs and music

The theme songs and music for "Black Lagoon" are as follows:

• OP1 : Red fraction
  • Lyricist: MELL
  • Composer: Kazuya Takase
  • Arrangement: Kazuya Takase
  • Sung by: MELL
• ED1 : Don't Look Behind
  • Composer: EDISON
  • Performed by: EDISON

Rating and Recommended Points

"Black Lagoon" is a work that is characterized by its hard-boiled worldview and detailed depiction of weapons. Below we will introduce the evaluation and recommended points in detail.

Story and worldview

The story of "Black Lagoon" centers around the action and drama of the members of the "Lagoon Company," an underworld courier group. The unique setting of the South China Sea gives the entire work a unique atmosphere. In particular, the process in which the main character, Locke, transforms from a top trading company employee into a member of the Lagoon Company leaves a strong impression on viewers. In addition, different clients and opposing forces appear in each episode, adding depth to the story.

character

Each character in "Black Lagoon" is unique and charming. Revy's short-tempered personality and fighting ability, Dutch's intelligence and leadership, Benny's skills as a hacker, Balalaika's cold-heartedness and past experience, Zhang's calmness as a strategist, and Hansel and Gretel's fearsomeness - each character adds excitement to the story. Locke's growth and change in particular resonate with viewers.

Action and weapon depictions

"Black Lagoon" is a work that focuses on the depiction of action scenes and weapons. The gunfights and battle scenes are realistic and powerful, and have the power to draw the viewer in. In addition, the types of weapons and how to use them are depicted in detail, which is a must-see for viewers who like weapons. The detailed depictions that director Sunao Katabuchi paid particular attention to enhance the quality of the work.

music

The music of "Black Lagoon" also enhances the charm of the work. The opening theme "Red fraction" matches MELL's powerful singing voice with Kazuya Takase's composition, livening up the atmosphere of the work. The ending theme "Don't Look Behind" is also impressive, with EDISON's performance leaving a lingering impression on the viewer. The background music is also selected to suit each scene, effectively supporting the development of the story.

Recommended points

"Black Lagoon" is recommended for those who like hard-boiled action, those who are interested in the world of the underworld, and those who like unique characters. It is also a work that can be enjoyed by those who are particular about the depiction of weapons and battle scenes. Furthermore, it is a work that will satisfy those who pay attention to music and background music.

Conclusion

"Black Lagoon" is a hard-boiled action movie that has captivated many viewers as it depicts the underworld. Combining unique characters, detailed depictions, and powerful action scenes, this work provides entertainment that is well worth watching. We encourage you to step into the world of "Black Lagoon," set in the lawless zone of the South China Sea.