Director: Takashi Ikehata,
Starring: Mai Nakahara,Carrie Savage, Kana Ueda, Michelle Ruff, Masumi Asano, Megan Hollingshead, Sayaka Ohara, Wendee Lee, Yuko Kaida, Erika Weinstein,
Running Time: 650 minutes
Certificate: 12
Based on the cover art for DAPHNE IN THE BRILLIANT BLUE, you’d probably be ready for another misogynistic anime with scantily clad women and inappropriate sex jokes. You would then notice the 12 rating and question “How could this be?”. Surprisingly, DAPHNE IN THE BRILIANT BLUE isn’t all tits and sexism, despite those risqué costumes. If anything, the show is a well calculated parody of shows that do objectify women – which makes the costumes just slightly confusing.
Maia Mizuki has trained incredibly hard to become a member of the Ocean Agency in a world that has become covered in water. Think WATERWORLD, but with style, class, and technology. We’re soon given a kick up the behind by the fact our protagonist fails to achieve this goal. The opening episodes wallow a bit in self-pity as they show us the unfair social class system and the difficulties facing the public. It’s a brave opening and also gives our hero a clear goal to aim for. Instead of ending up at the Ocean Agency, Maia is taken in by a gang of bounty hunters and mercenaries. Her innocence and girly charm become an unexpected advantage for the team, which leads to countless adventures. But it’s not all fun and frolics, as the writers also know the importance of well placed silence.
Throughout the first half of the season, we are introduced to Maia’s colleagues, who are each exaggerated forms of recognisable stock characters, as well as having subtle hints at deeper levels. For example, the ultra-violent but ultra-calm Yuu, loves taking selfies on holiday. It’s these sweet little touches that endear us towards all the characters. They never seem like a caring family unit, but work as colleagues, which is the perfect kind of relationship for a show such as this. There isn’t too much confiding in each other, nor are there valuable lessons to learn. You really get the feeling that all of these women have lives of their own and are not reliant on each other. This helps with the humour, especially the fighting between the likes of Yuu and the selfish but hilarious Gloria.
Outside of the amazing work on the characters, there is also a stunning plot that exists below the surface. Most episodes are self-contained, but halfway through the series we learn about a number of twists and turns that change everything. It may be slow to reveal its true intentions, but the individual tales are so much fun we’re in no rush to get to the end. Every element is explored to a satisfying extent, with the ocean covered world utilised in terms of plot and set-pieces. Set against a beautifully crafted backdrop of epic scenery and well thought out mythology, DAPHNE IN THE BRILLIANT BLUE is a truly underrated anime. The ending packs quite the punch, startling you into realising you grew to love these characters among all the laughs and action.
DAPHNE IN THE BRILLIANT BLUE is released on DVD on 19th August via MVM.
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