The appeal and reviews of "BLUE DROP: The Play of Angels": A moving story and deep characters

BLUE DROP ~The Play of Angels~ Review and Recommendation

overview

"BLUE DROP: Angels' Play" is a TV anime series based on the original work by Yoshitomi Akihito, which aired from October 2nd to December 25th, 2007. The 13-episode series is set in a prestigious girls' school and delicately depicts same-sex love and hate. As the curtain rises on the collapse of the Earth, the story revolves around the encounter and heart-to-heart bond between Mari Wakatake, an amnesiac girl, and Ekariru, the captain of the battleship BLUE from the monosex planet.

story

The story of "BLUE DROP ~The Play of Angels~" is set against the backdrop of the meeting of two girls and the threat of the Earth's collapse. The protagonist, Wakatake Mari, lost her parents and her memories in the Spirited Away Island incident five years ago, and was taken in by her grandmother as the only survivor. Following her grandmother's decision, she transfers to the prestigious Private Kaiho Academy, a boarding school for girls, where she meets Ekariru. Ekariru is the captain of the battleship BLUE, which invaded Earth from the planet Monosex, and her presence has a great impact on Mari's heart. The story depicts how the two gradually come to understand each other, despite their occasional disagreements.

character

Each character in this work has their own unique personality and plays an important role in deepening the story. The main characters are introduced below.

Mari Wakatake

Mari is a 16-year-old girl who was taken in by her grandmother after losing both her parents and her memory in the Spirited Away Island incident. Following her grandmother's advice, she enrolls in Kaiho Academy and begins a new life, even as she loses track of where she belongs. Mari's character is portrayed as someone who is determined to move forward despite the anxiety and confusion that comes with the unique situation of memory loss. She is voiced by Yajima Akiko, whose delicate acting realistically expresses Mari's feelings.

Senkoji Hagino (Ekariru)

He is the class representative of the second-year high school class at Kaiho Academy, and the captain of the battleship Blue. He is an honor student with excellent academic results, an all-around athlete, and a calm and collected personality, making him well-liked, but he also has a mysterious air about him because he doesn't show his emotions. In his role as Ekariru, the story revolves around the purpose of the invasion of Earth and his relationship with Mari. He is voiced by Sawashiro Miyuki, whose powerful yet delicate voice brings out the character of Ekariru.

Michiko Kazuki

A 16-year-old girl who is a classmate of Mari's. Despite her complexes, she struggles to find her place among the girls from wealthy families who attend Kaiho Academy. She often takes care of the plants with the janitor, Gen-san, and is portrayed as a shy person. She is voiced by Satsuki Yukino, whose warm voice makes the character of Michiko charming.

Tsubair

He is the operator of the fifth ship of the Earth research fleet, BLUE, and has complete trust in Ekariru. Five years ago, during the invasion of Earth, the main engine Emil Force Drive went out of control and the hull of the ship was damaged, and he is currently working on repairing it. Tsubaeru's character is portrayed as being loyal to Ekariru and interested in Earth. He is voiced by Goto Yuko, whose calm voice supports Tsubaeru's character.

Akane Kawashima

A 17-year-old girl who had to repeat a year due to family circumstances and becomes Mari's classmate. She loves milk, loves cooking, and is a reliable, big sister type character. The voice actress is Watanabe Akino, whose lively voice brings the character of Akane to life.

Yuko Sugawara

She is a chemistry teacher who was appointed to Kaiho Academy and is Mari's homeroom teacher. She is a qualified counselor and also puts effort into caring for the mental health of her students. Her voice actress is Miho Yamada, whose gentle voice warmly portrays the character of Yuko.

Fukamachi

He is the principal of Kaiho Private Academy, and is a dandy and gentle man. He has a serious chronic illness, but has not revealed it to anyone. His voice actor is Jouji Nakata, whose calm voice brings out the character of Fukamachi.

Hiroko Funatsumaru

She is a third-year student at Kaiho Academy and the dorm leader of the Seikai dormitory. Although she is a carefree girl, she also shows a sensitive side and cares for her fellow dorm residents. Her voice actress is Kimiko Saito, whose powerful voice makes her character charming.

Kazumi Yamada, Futaba Suzuki, Mie Sato

They are the three members of Senkouji Hagino's guards, and are first-year students at Kaiho Academy High School. All three are students at the Seikai dormitory, and play an important role in supporting Hagino. They are voiced by Yukiko Hirotsu, Ai Nonaka, and Ai Bandou, respectively, and their voice harmony expresses the unity of the guards.

Chevalier

He is the captain of the Novar, the first ship of the Earth research fleet, and also serves as the commander of the research fleet. He is called the Master Commander, and his relationship with Ekarir is also an important element of the story. He is voiced by Yoko Asagami, whose calm voice brings out the character of Shibariel.

Onomiru

She was the operator of BLUE and died during the Spirited Away Island incident. Her death has a huge impact on Ekariru and other characters. Her voice actress is Masayo Kurata, and her voice lends a melancholy feel to Onomiru's character.

Azanael

A crew member of the Novar, she is the lover of Onomiru, who died in the Spirited Away incident. She believes that Ekariru is responsible for Onomiru's death, and her desire for revenge influences the development of the story. She is voiced by Ai Orikasa, whose powerful voice brings out the character of Azanael.

Main Robot Items

The main robot in this work is the battleship BLUE, the fifth ship of the Earth research fleet that invaded Earth from the planet Monosex. Ekaril is the captain and Tsubaer is the operator, and it is an important stage in the story. The design of the battleship BLUE was done by Atsushi Takeuchi, and its beautiful design enhances the atmosphere of the work.

subtitle

The subtitles of each episode are based on the name of a flower and symbolize the theme of the episode. Below are the subtitles of all 13 episodes.

• #1 Hydrangea -Water Container- (2007/10/02)
• #2 Lavandula - Doubt - (2007/10/09)
• #3 Datura -False Charm- (2007/10/16)
• #4 Dahlia pinnata -Anxiety- (2007/10/23)
• #5 Garden verbena -Bonds between parents and children- (2007/10/30)
• #6 Campanula -Small Eyes- (2007/11/06)
• #7 Crinum -Pure Heart- (2007/11/13)
• #8 Hyoscyamus niger -Desire to break through- (2007/11/20)
• #9 Lagenaria siceraria -Memories of the Night- (2007/11/27)
• #10 Cirsium -Revenge- (2007/12/04)
• #11 Thoroughwort -Memories of that day- (2007/12/11)
• #12 Cosmos -Beautiful Harmony- (2007/12/18)
• #13 Rosmarinus -Drops of the Sea- (2007/12/25)

Theme songs and music

The theme songs for this work are the opening theme "BLUE" and the ending theme "Tsubomi -blue dreams-", both sung by Suara. The opening theme "BLUE" was written by Masahiko Okura, the music was composed by Clara, and the arrangement was done by Jin Fujima (Elements Garden), and the powerful melody and lyrics bring out the theme of the work. The ending theme "Tsubomi -blue dreams-" was written by Bee', the music was composed by Michio Kinugasa, and the arrangement was done by Junpei Fujita (Elements Garden), and the gentle melody and lyrics deepen the emotion of the story.

Production Staff

The production staff for "BLUE DROP: The Play of Angels" includes Akihito Yoshitomi in charge of the original story, character concept, and design work, and Masahiko Okura in charge of direction and concept. Assistant director is Tomoda Masaharu, series composition is Takahashi Natsuko, character design and chief animation director is Takeda Itsuko, mechanical design is Yonemura Koichiro, Battleship Blue design is Takeuchi Atsushi, 2D graphics design is Yamada Kanako, 3D modeling is by GONZO, 3D director is Shirai Hiroyuki (GONZO), art director is Nomura Masanobu, color design is Kaiho Shigenobu, director of photography is Wada Naoyuki, editor is Shigemura Kengo, sound director is Tsuruoka Yota, music is by THE Kintsuru, producers are Iwase Shigenori, Nakamura Shinichi, Yamazaki Fuminori, Hori Keisuke, Ohashi Yutaka, animation producer is Sone Koji, animation production is by B-Stack and Asahi Production, and production is by PROJECT BD (King Records, Pony Canyon, Sho-Gate, Memory-Tech, B-Stack).

Broadcast information

"BLUE DROP ~Angels' Play~" was broadcast on the following stations from October 2nd to December 25th, 2007.

• KBS Kyoto: October 2, 2007 to December 25, 2007 (Episodes 1 to 13) Every Tuesday 26:00 to 26:30
• Chiba TV: October 2, 2007 to December 25, 2007 (Episodes 1 to 13) Every Tuesday 26:30 to 27:00
• Mie Television: October 2, 2007 to December 25, 2007 (Episodes 1 to 13) Every Tuesday 26:55 to 27:25
• Teletama: October 4, 2007 to December 27, 2007 (episodes 1 to 13) Every Thursday 25:00 to 25:30
• TOKYO MX: October 5, 2007 to December 28, 2007 (Episodes 1 to 13) Every Friday 26:30 to 27:00
• tvk: October 5, 2007 to December 28, 2007 (Episodes 1 to 13) Every Friday 27:15 to 27:45
• Wakayama Television: October 7, 2007 to December 30, 2007 (Episodes 1 to 13) Every Sunday 25:10 to 25:40

Evaluation

"BLUE DROP: A Play of Angels" is a delicate portrayal of same-sex love and hate, set against the backdrop of two girls' encounters and the threat of the Earth's collapse. The relationship between Mari Wakatake and Ekariru, which is at the heart of the story, is realistically portrayed, showing how they gradually come to understand each other despite their occasional resistance, deeply moving the viewer. In addition, the personalities and backgrounds of each character are carefully drawn, adding depth to the story as a whole.

The animation quality is high, and the character and background art are beautiful, making it visually appealing. The design of Battleship Blue in particular is an important element in enhancing the atmosphere of the work. The music also complements the theme of the work, and the voice of Suara, who sang the opening and ending themes, deepens the emotional impact of the story.

However, some viewers have commented that the story development is a bit complicated and difficult to understand. Some have also pointed out that it was difficult to fully depict the storylines of all the characters in the short 13 episodes. Nevertheless, looking at the series as a whole, it is a moving work that depicts the growth and emotional connections between the girls, and has been loved by many viewers.

Recommendation

"BLUE DROP: The Play of Angels" is a work that delicately depicts love and hate between women against the backdrop of the encounter between two girls and the threat of the Earth's collapse. I would especially recommend this work to those who are interested in the relationship between Mari Wakatake and Ekariru, as well as the personalities and backgrounds of each character. It is also a work that can be enjoyed for its beautiful animation and music, so it is also recommended for those who seek visual beauty.

This is a touching story that depicts the growth and emotional connections between the girls, and has been loved by many viewers. Please give it a watch.