Appeal and Review of the First Season of "BLUE DRAGON": An Adventure That Exceeds Expectations

"BLUE DRAGON": The charm of the anime that combines Akira Toriyama's characters with an epic adventure

"Blue Dragon" is an anime series that aired on TV Tokyo from 2007 to 2008 and is based on an Xbox 360 game. It was created by Pierrot with character designs by Akira Toriyama and original ideas by Hironobu Sakaguchi, and is a 51-episode long series. Here we will take a closer look at the story, characters, production background, and appeal of "Blue Dragon."

story

The story of "BLUE DRAGON" begins long ago, when the forces of light and shadow fought each other. This war was ended by the seven warriors of light, and the forces of shadow were sealed away. However, Zora and Nene, who possess shadow powers, appear in the village of Tata, where the main character Shu and his friends live, and chaos is threatening to descend upon the world once again.

Nene plans to use the power of shadow to rule the world, and Shu activates the shadow called Blue Dragon and sets off on a journey with Zola. Their goal is to find the descendants of the seven warriors of light and stop Nene's ambitions. During this epic adventure, Shu and his friends will face various difficulties and grow.

character

The characters in "BLUE DRAGON" are distinctively designed by Akira Toriyama, and the story is full of unique personalities. The main characters are introduced below.

Shu

The main character, Shu, is a lively and reckless boy. He dreams of adventure and has a strong will that never gives up on anything. He fights alongside the Blue Dragon and grows alongside his friends. Shu's character is one that gives courage and hope to the viewers.

Blue Dragon

The Blue Dragon, Shu's shadow, has a destructive impulse and a merciless personality. Although he is always at odds with Shu, he is an important presence that encourages his growth. The Blue Dragon's presence symbolizes Shu's inner conflict.

Giro

Jiro is a little distrustful of people, and is always at odds with Shu. He has a past connection with Nene, and revenge is his purpose in life. Minotaur, Jiro's shadow, has a bright and cheerful personality, and is the opposite of Jiro.

Crook

Kuruku, Shu's childhood friend, is a tomboyish girl who loves machines, but she is also a kind girl with deep affection. She is jealous of Bouquet, who follows Shu around, but she has complicated feelings that she is not aware of.

Zola

Zola is a key character in the story, with a calm and collected personality. She is on a journey to gather the descendants of the seven warriors of light to thwart Nene's ambitions. Zola's shadow, Killer Bat, is an all-around type shadow with extremely high combat abilities.

Marumaro

Marumaro is the last survivor of the Debi tribe, and is naturally perverted and mischievous. He has a habit of adding "Maro" to the end of his sentences and is known for his silly behavior, but he is a reliable companion in important situations.

bouquet

Bouquet is an original character from the anime, a girl from the Ra tribe with the special ability to become invisible. She falls in love with Shu at first sight, decides to marry him, and clings to him. Bouquet's presence brings a new development to the relationship between Shu and Crook.

Nene

Nene is the king of Granblue Fantasy and an axis of evil who plans to use the power of shadows to rule the world. He has special technological skills and knows how to artificially draw out the power of shadows. Nene's ambitions are the biggest obstacle to Shu and his friends' adventure.

Background

"BLUE DRAGON" is based on an Xbox 360 game and was created by Hironobu Sakaguchi. Character design was done by Akira Toriyama, known for "Dragon Ball" and "Dr. Slump," and his unique touch has had a major influence on the work.

The director was Yukihiro Matsushita, the series composition was by Yamatoya Akira, and the character design was by Ninomiya Tsuneo. The music was composed by Uematsu Nobuo and Ohashi Megumi, and the sound director was Takakuwa Hajime. The series was produced by Pierrot and produced by TV Tokyo and Studio Pierrot.

Theme songs and music

The theme songs for "BLUE DRAGON" are powerful songs that will capture the hearts of viewers. The theme songs are introduced below.

Opening Theme

・OP1「FRIEND」
Lyrics: Keita Tachibana, Composition: T2ya, Arrangement: Koma2 Kaz, Singer: Keita Tachibana

・OP2 "Munenikibouwo"
Lyrics: Ryoka, Composition: Ryoka and Kazuhiko Mizoguchi, Arrangement: Kazuhiko Mizoguchi, Singer: Ryoka

Ending Theme

・ED1「Fly So High」
Lyrics: TIGER, Composition: FLYING GRIND, Arrangement: FLYING GRIND, Singer: Yamada Yu

・ED2 "Kokoro"
Lyrics: SPIN, Composition: Akimitsu Homma, Arrangement: Taiwa Nakamura, Singer: SS501

・ED3 "Hana"
Lyrics: Masami Mitsuoka, Composition: Nao Tanaka, Arrangement: Nao Tanaka, Singer: Masami Mitsuoka

・ED4 "Sepia"
Lyrics: Yasuhide Yoshida, Composition: Kiichi, Arrangement: Nobuyuki Shimizu, Singer: D-51

Evaluation and Appeal

"BLUE DRAGON" is a grand adventure action story that combines Akira Toriyama's character design with Hironobu Sakaguchi's original story. It depicts the growth and friendship of Shu and his friends, as well as their battles with Nene, providing viewers with excitement and emotion.

The appeal of this work lies above all in the individuality and growth of the characters. The depth of each character, such as Shu's recklessness and strong heart, Jiro's distrust of people and desire for revenge, Crook's kindness and jealousy, and Zola's calmness and mysterious background, enriches the story. In addition, the shadowy presence of the Blue Dragon and the Minotaur symbolizes the inner lives of the characters and creates a visual impact.

Furthermore, Toriyama's character designs add a lot to the visual appeal. Characters such as Shu, Jiro, and Crook are drawn with Toriyama's unique touch, capturing the hearts of viewers. The world in which the adventure takes place is also colored by Toriyama's designs, providing a visual treat.

Music is also an important element that enhances the appeal of "BLUE DRAGON". The music by Nobuo Uematsu and Megumi Ohashi effectively expresses the tension and excitement of the adventure. The theme song is also powerful and inspires the viewers.

Related Titles

A related work to "BLUE DRAGON" is "BLUE DRAGON: Seven Dragons of Heaven." This work is a sequel to the original game, and depicts the new adventures of Shu and his friends. For fans of "BLUE DRAGON," it is a work you should definitely check out.

subtitle

The subtitles for each episode of "BLUE DRAGON" are important elements that indicate the development of the story. Below are the subtitles for all 51 episodes.

• Episode 1: Shadow, Activated (2007/04/07)
• Episode 2: Blue Power (2007/04/14)
• Episode 3: Shu and Jiro (2007/04/21)
• Episode 4: The trump card is pants (2007/04/28)
• Episode 5: General Logi (2007/05/05)
• Episode 6: Fluffy Mugyu (2007/05/12)
• Episode 7: The Lady's Trap (2007/05/19)
• Episode 8: Night Master (2007/05/26)
• Episode 9: The Big Proposal Plan (2007/06/02)
• Episode 10: Logi Attacks (2007/06/09)
• Episode 11: Breaking through the siege (2007/06/16)
• Episode 12: Dragunov Suicide Attack (2007/06/23)
• Episode 13: Infiltration (2007/06/30)
• Episode 14: Crook's Thoughts (2007/07/07)
• Episode 15: A Guide to Hope (2007/07/14)
• Episode 16: The Book of Beginnings (2007/07/21)
• Episode 17: Homeron is Dead (2007/07/28)
• Episode 18: Beloved Shadow (2007/08/04)
• Episode 19: The Mystery of the Ruins (2007/08/11)
• Episode 20: The Captive Knight (2007/08/18)
• Episode 21: Tracker/Informant (2007/08/25)
• Episode 22: The Disappearing Iyaaaan (2007/09/01)
• Episode 23: To the Blue Sky (2007/09/08)
• Episode 24: The Devil's Pursuit (2007/09/15)
• Episode 25: VS Independent Guerrilla Force (2007/09/22)
• Episode 26: Cynthia in Terror (2007/09/29)
• Episode 27: To Logi's Ship (2007/10/06)
• Episode 28: Sneaky Heart-Pounding (2007/10/13)
• Episode 29: Extra Seven (2007/10/20)
• Episode 30: The Dark Dragon (2007/10/27)
• Episode 31: The Strong (2007/11/03)
• Episode 32: The Shadow Master's Apprentice (2007/11/10)
• Episode 33: Panty Heaven (2007/11/17)
• Episode 34: Gilliam Returns (2007/11/24)
• Episode 35: Glowing Hippo (2007/12/01)
• Episode 36: The Whispering Thing (2007/12/08)
• Episode 37: Battle of the Sky Fortress (2007/12/15)
• Episode 38: The Final Battle (2007/12/22)
• Episode 39: Triumphal return (2008/01/05)
• Episode 40: Rosenkreuz (2008/01/12)
• Episode 41: The Bird in the Cage (2008/01/19)
• Episode 42: Awakening (2008/01/26)
• Episode 43: Seven Warriors of Light (2008/02/02)
• Episode 44: The Truth (2008/02/09)
• Episode 45: Shaking Poyon (2008/02/16)
• Episode 46: Dissonance (2008/02/23)
• Episode 47: Into the Darkness (2008/03/01)
• Episode 48: Two Vows (2008/03/08)
• Episode 49: Zola (2008/03/15)
• Episode 50: Bonds (2008/03/22)
• Episode 51: Shu (2008/03/29)

Recommendation

"BLUE DRAGON" is a must-watch for viewers who love adventure action anime. Combining Akira Toriyama's character designs with Hironobu Sakaguchi's original story, this work draws viewers in with its visual appeal and deep story. It depicts the growth and friendship of Shu and his friends, as well as their battles with Nene, providing excitement and emotion.

In particular, stories that focus on the individuality and growth of characters leave a strong impression on viewers. The depth of each character, such as Shu's recklessness and strong heart, Jiro's distrust of people and desire for revenge, Crook's kindness and jealousy, and Zola's calmness and mysterious background, enrich the story. In addition, the shadowy presence of the Blue Dragon and the Minotaur symbolizes the inner lives of the characters and creates a visual impact.

Furthermore, Toriyama's character designs add a lot to the visual appeal. Characters such as Shu, Jiro, and Crook are drawn with Toriyama's unique touch, capturing the hearts of viewers. The world in which the adventure takes place is also colored by Toriyama's designs, providing a visual treat.

Music is also an important element that enhances the appeal of "BLUE DRAGON". The music by Nobuo Uematsu and Megumi Ohashi effectively expresses the tension and excitement of the adventure. The theme song is also powerful and inspires the viewers.

A related work to "BLUE DRAGON" is "BLUE DRAGON: Seven Dragons of Heaven." This work is a sequel to the original game, and depicts the new adventures of Shu and his friends. For fans of "BLUE DRAGON," it is a work you should definitely check out.

Above, we have explained in detail the appeal and recommendations of "BLUE DRAGON". This work is a must-see for viewers who love adventure action anime, and you can enjoy a magnificent story that combines Akira Toriyama's character design and Hironobu Sakaguchi's original idea. Please watch it and experience its charm.