Ranked #124

Black Lagoon

Forget the eye patches, peg legs, and talking parrots--there's a new breed of pirates sailing the seas.

Black Lagoon is an action packed anime about modern day mercenaries known as the Lagoon Company who smuggle goods and take up other jobs that would be considered highly illegal. You give them a job, they work. Just be sure to pay them and pay well. From the very opening credits alone, you know that Black Lagoon is about money, blood and guns. The story hits you hard and fast when in the first actual scene, you watch a young Japanese business man getting punched in the face and being held at gunpoint by the Lagoon Company. A series of events occur while he's held in captivity in which he decides that he's had it with the boring, thankless job he had back in Japan.

He's done with being helpless, he's sick of nobody giving a damn, he's fed up with himself, his boss, and his empty apartment. He's had it with the nine-to-five life. He wants out, and wants in the Lagoon Company. And they accept. The rest is, as they say, history, as Rock sheds his salaryman lifestyle (though curiously, not his salaryman clothes) and becomes a member of the Lagoon Company alongside Revy, Dutch and Benny.

Black Lagoon's plot is given in arcs. Each arc is set with two or three episodes detailing one of the Lagoon Company's jobs in which they get into tons of scrapes. However, Black Lagoon's storyline is not some pointless shoot 'em up following the fun escapades of pirates. This stuff is scarily real. These people aren't out there to have fun. Their scrapes are constant near-death experiences. They do a dirty job, and they get the dirt that comes with it.

The art for Black Lagoon is extremely good. There are a lot of details in it, even if the character design comes off as simplistic. The area in which the anime is set, Southeast Asia, is beautifully drawn. A significant number of scenes occur in the ocean or in some body of water, and they are illustrated splendidly. You won't get a blue mass that just looks like the artists dumped their paint and called it a day. No, each frame has enough detail in it ranging from the creases in a loose tie to the shimmer of the ocean under the fiercely burning sun. The animation is excellent. There are countless fights, chase scenes and a lot of movement in Black Lagoon and each is carefully animated. The point-of-views and art direction are extremely well done. There are scenes shot at various angles, providing a lot more flair to the action that is seen.

From the tense pop beats of the OP to the weary, melancholy ED, Black Lagoon is littered with a pieces of a score that suits it. The ED theme song especially reflects the true mood and atmosphere of the anime and the characters' feelings as well.

Probably the best thing about Black Lagoon is the cast. The Lagoon Company is an unusual group made up of even more unusual people. There are the Americans, Benny and Dutch. Benny is the series' "smart guy". He's the brain behind Lagoon Company specialising in getting information and technology. He often provides dry wit during the show, and seems to be one of the warmer, less edgy characters. Dutch is the leader of the group, and experiences speaks for itself as he manages to get jobs, deal with clients and provide tactile advice and orders. He is a hard character to crack into, and his history and training shows that like a true leader, weakness is never acceptable. Even if that weakness is being open and letting people know him better.

Rock, who is the protagonist, changes throughout the anime without changing too drastically. You can take a man out of the office, but you can't take dozens of years of living law-abidingly and working hard while following the rules out of a man in one fell swoop. Rock learns his new trade and tries to apply his methods towards it. And while he is a voice of reason for the rest of his teammates, especially Revy, his characterisation isn't that of a preacher, professing the immorality of their methods. For the Lagoon Company, you can call him the PR man. He prefers peaceful ways to conduct illegal business, though his hopes are often dashed when he sees that a gun's barrel makes more noise than a mouth can. It's admirable, though, that he's the sort of guy who doesn't prefer to shut up about things, even if one voice is more powerful and resounding than his.

And then there's Revy.

She's a Chinese woman who has a bad mouth, a bad attitude--you can't help but falling in love with everything she says and does. Watching her is like watching poetry in motion. If that poem is about killing people, of course. She is probably the deepest character in the anime, having warped but realistic philosophies about the world around her. Life has never been easy and it has never been pretty for her. All she knows is violence and death. So why not turn it into a profession? She is the muscle for the Lagoon Company, recklessly though skilfully wielding her weapons and getting the job done. But she isn't just some tough talking gunner with no heart. In fact, the reason she is comes across coldly is due to an embittered mentality and her wanting not to just be left to die without a cause. She lives knowing that someday, she could die from doing what she does. And if that's how it will be, then it should be doing something she's good at with people who she actually can tolerate being around.

Lots of shoot-outs, explosions, fights--this anime is bursting with enough energy to make you feel exhausted just by watching. From the most intense game of 'chicken' ever seen to fighting Neo-Nazis to deadly servants, Black Lagoon is truly an excellent anime with a lot of well-crafted action scenes and consistently complex characters. It also has a lot of detail that many anime ignore, ranging from little extras in terms of the artwork to scenes with deeper meaning, such as the silent smoking of cigarettes between comrades.

This has been probably the most enjoyable action series I've seen to date. There's dark humour, great fights, characters who you'd just want to get a beer with.

Black Lagoon is a great series. Don't pass it up. read more

- - - - - [ Black Lagoon Season 1 :: Ep-12 ] - - - - -

- [ Intro ] -

Black Lagoon. That's a name that easily caught my eye. After reading the brief review, I said "why not?". And so I found a great anime that would get me hooked for quite a long time! And it definitely deserves rewatch! On with the review!

- [ Animation: Good quality and well-detailed -> 9 ] -

Let's set things clear now. Black Lagoon (BL) has one of the best animations i've ever seen! If you pay attention to details, you will like BL. The animators have invested great effort in creating detailed backgrounds and characters. OMG! You can even see the demin texture on Revy's short sometimes! Now, another thing that amazed me is that both the characters and background are animated at the same time. I know, this sounds simple but no! These two are almost independent of each other but even them, you will see the characters interacting with the backgrounds in a number of ways. When the characters are being shot at, notice the number of bullet-holes on the walls increasing. Notice the gun smoke that dissipates when the characters walk. All these details make BL's animation great and lively.

The character motions are smooth and natural, even during the very fast-paced action scenes. Even then, the background does not lose its details. On one scene on a ship, you can see the rivets as Revy is fighting! Quite a number of details to watch out for. The play on lights and atmosphere renders a great effect too. The animators definitely knew what they were doing.

- [ Sound: Suits situations and fast-paced -> 9 ] -

As usual, I don't pay much attention to sound. NOPE! Here, it got my full attention! The Opening (OP) and Ending (ED) credits music is very good, specially the OP. It really suits the mood of the series in my opinion. Now for the ending, you will notice that the music starts within the episode, starting at a very low hum to gradually attain its normal level as the episode ends. It's a superb blend. It's the first anime I know that uses this technique and I can say I'm impressed. It was a good idea.

Next, the in-series music is nonetheless amazing! It really enlivens the scenes to their respective paces. In dramatic situations, you will get the appropriate music. In fast-paced scenes, expect hard rock or similar. It was a good choice of music for the series. For once, the sound of an anime caught my attention. I am looking foreward to a Black Lagoon OST.

- [ Story: No real plotline ->7 ] -

Story? Don't expect any in BL! There is none. BL is a collection of short stories, pieced together to show you the lives of the characters at a point in time. There is no plot, not even in the second season (Second Barrage) of Black Lagoon.

However, the short stories are very good and definitely deserves watching if you enjoy action and gun-fights. They place the main characters in a variety of situations in which their work places them.

I have not introduced the story yet! Sorry. So, Black Lagoon is about a man, Okajima Rokuro, who is entrusted the mission of delivering a data disk to some people by his company. The man is travelling on a ship when the latter is attacked by pirates (not really pirates but anyway..). After some time, we are told that the pirates are after the data disk carried by Rokuro. The pirates, a man-and-woman team will eventually get the disk, but also take Rokuro as hostage to get some ransom from his company. However, the data disk contains sensitive data about the company, and merceneries are sent after the pirates to destroy them. The demand for ransom is immediately ignored and Rokuro is considered dead. Here begins the life of Rock, formerly Rokuro, as a delivery agent on the Black Lagoon speedboat, together with gun-slinger Revy, captain Dutch and computer whiz Benny.

As you can see, the plot is fairly interesting. You will soon see that delivering goods, specially illegal stuff, is not a safe business. Often, the characters are put in life-threatening situations and major gunfights resulting, specially with battle-maniac Revy around. Rock is sort of the negociator for Black Lagoon Company, negociating terms of business and often toning down conflicts. We are also presented with the clients of BLC, namely the Russian Mafia boss Miss Balalaika and Mr Chan, leader of the triads or even the Church of Violence.

The short stories are definitely worth watching, and seldom offers time for boredom. Watch if you need something fast-paced and energetic. There were no nudity, although some exposure was shown. Violence? BL is filled of it. Bad language? Same. Humour? Yes. Crude jokes and black humour is there for you. So, it's not an anime for young people.

- [ Characters: Development & Variety ->9 ] -

This is where the fun lies in BL, the characters. Each of them is so very unique in their own way that you feel that they really possess emotions. They fight for their own causes, have their own motivations which sound very heroic or plausible. They have their own strengths and weaknesses and can each be liked or hated by the viewer. The main characters of BL are each well-developed, this being one of the great parts of BL. The main characters are:

Revy: She is the gun of Lagoon Company who gets everybody out of trouble. Apparently she does not like Rock, but what she hates is his attitude. In fact, she will often go out of her way to help others and specially Rock. She is an expert when it comes to fighting techniques, who can single-handedly eliminate every enemy, armed with her twin-guns, Cutlass. Sometimes, she is so addicted to fights that she would go berserk. No one is spared then, not even her crew, as Rock saw for himself in an episode.

Dutch: He is the captain of the Lagoon speedboat. Tactial, he never does things rashly. He seems to be African, something rare in Japanese animes. He is equally talented when it comes to guns. However, he prefers to avoid fights when possible.

Benny: The computer genius of Lagoon. Not much is known about him. He never fights but is an expert getaway driver.

Rock: The newest member of Lagoon. Although he never fights, he is an expert in negotiations and at pacifying Revy, often at the cost of blows! He always try to hold back Revy and has a strong sense of justice. He will try to protect anyone and everyone, something which exasperates Revy.

Balalaika: The woman who controls Hotel Moscow. She was an ex-millitary and is very proficient when it comes to wars of any sort. She also commands a small army which often comes in play in BL.

As you can see, the characters of BL are varied. You have to see for yourself to enjoy BL. I can't say more.

- [ Value and Enjoyment: Very good -> 9 ] -

If you want action, and specially fast-paced action, BL is for you. But since there is no real plot, many viewers will be turned away. I, for my part, really enjoyed BL and even rewatched the whole series a couple of times, just for the action and butt-kicking. It kinda pumps up the adrenalin, if you see what I mean. The series, being short, is easy to rewatch without severe boredom. The small stories furthur eliminate boredom, and plotholes.

- [ Conclusion ] -

If you are looking for something good to watch, check out Black Lagoon. If you like it, there is a second season with 12 episodes called Black Lagoon: The Second Barrage. The situation is nearly same for Second Barrage. It's not really a continuation but just more short stories. There is no ending to BL, and I don't even know if there would be a real story. Some people have been speculating that the real Black Lagoon has not yet started and that we were merely watching the prequel. That would be the longest prequel I've ever seen, with 24 episodes! :S

I've got nothing more to say. Just go watch BL. The lack of a plotline made me give BL an overall 8. Apart from that, there are no major flaws. You won't regret it, in my opinion. And thanks for reading! read more

One word that keeps propelling itself to the forefront of my head when I go to describe this show is: ‘refreshing’. Generally, I tend to avoid those anime which are blatantly action-oriented, because an action anime series so often means that it will be generically shounen, or be some kind of absurd mecha-combat series; very rarely can I find an action series which does not fall to those and other traps, and Black Lagoon is one of them. From its premise to its execution, the show provides thrilling action sequences, from boat and car chases, to messy fisticuffs and bullet-spamming gunfights, the show covers all typical action bases you could expect from hollywood, but which, for one reason or another, anime rarely delivers. Although its depiction of battle features the usual problems of character shielding and the Stormtrooper effect, overall the show is very much grounded in reality, with no magic or science-fiction elements whatsoever. I found this refreshing because, typically, the only anime you are likely to find set in present-time reality are slice-of-life, revolving around dramatic or romantic themes. So Black Lagoon was a great change of pace; a hollywood style action/adventure shoot ‘em up but with a darker and more thoughtful approach to themes and characters (as is often found in mature anime) - it’s a splendid mix.

The production values for the show are certainly excellent, some of the best to have come out of 2006. It shines during the action scenes, which are very fluid and detailed, but overall has no real flaws other than the occasional lapse in consistency. The character designs are all attractive and original. The music is not something that impressed me; there isn’t a lot of score music in the show (which is slightly refreshing given anime’s habbit of blasting violin and choir over every scene), and what it has is fitting, but not really memorable.

The characters are well defined, although I felt the focus given to the characters was rather strangely distributed; Revy and Rock (the two main characters) aside, the rest of the Black Lagoon barely garnered any attention, and their involvement was so greatly reduced by the end of the series that you had to wonder why the show was even named after the group. I am not kidding that the majority of the villains the group encountered received considerably more character exploration than either Benny or Dutch (the other two Black Lagoon members). I understand the importance of giving depth to the antagonist perspective, but I got the feeling that the original creator just kept falling in love with the antagonists he introduced, and neglected the protagonists in order to delve indulgently into the villain’s pasts and characters. The best example would be Hanzel and Gretel, the goth-loli twins and their arc. They were given so much background, and such a poignant send-off yet had so little effect on any continuing plot, or on the characters.

Revy was certainly an interesting character. I’ve seen the hardened, indifferent criminal stereotype before, but Black Lagoon takes Revy to the next level and actually glorifies her as colourfully maniacal. It makes the show fun to watch because you never know how to feel about Revy; sometimes you’ll side with her and cheer her on, or feel sorry for her, but then the next moment she’s slaughtering innocent people for enjoyment. Essentially she’s a juxtaposition of ‘cool’ and ‘reprehensible’. Rock is a character who is much easier to make a connection with, in fact I like to see him as being the representative for the audiences perspective on the show as it traverses the challenging lands of immorality. He is described in the show as being ‘in the twilight’, neither living under explicitly righteous terms, nor wholly endorsing the injustice of the underworld. This allows him to be constantly critical of the actions of those around him, but from an intelligent objective position (ie he does not decry their actions through blind morality). His criticisms of the actions Revy and others around him take make for the most profound and thematically crucial dialogue in the show, and despite his outwardly plain personality, also make him a fascinating and important presence in the show.

This brings me to the real crux of the matter: the show is really about the criminal mind, and the life of crime in all its forms. It paints an alluring portrait of the attraction to such a life, but never forgets to challenge that attraction by showing the kind of sacrifices one has to make of their humanity. It shows crime as a dangerously beautiful thing, and also shows it at its most sickening. All the exciting action is secondary to this. In conclusion, Black Lagoon should be watched by all action fans, but is a step above most shounen series due to its challenging and, at times, risqué foray into the heart of the criminal world. It is for mature audiences, because, despite having such character and being so colourful about murder, it is also very dark at times. There are flaws in the way it is paced, and the way some of the characters are neglected, but it has some very sharp dialogue, and is regardlessly entertaining thrill read more

Black Lagoon is a action thriller that doesn't really have a storyline but does have enough action and character development to keep a person interested.

The story is the weakest point in Black Lagoon. To put it simply, there is no story. The Lagoon Company is a group of thugs that went into piracy because there isn't anything else in life that they accept as a job or that will accept them. So the Lagoon Company undertakes missions for various bosses. And that's just what every episode entails. It's either a continuation of the previous mission because it wasn't able to fit in with the first episode or the episode is a introduction to a new mission. The pacing of an episode could hurt or help this anime. For example the pacing for most episodes is very fast. To a person that likes a lot of fast action this is great news. But for a person that likes an anime that takes its time the fast pace could make this anime less enjoyable.

The animation is absolutely beautiful. This is where Black Lagoon shines. Everything, and I really mean everything, is drawn so cleanly it's like you can reach out and touch the characters. The water was my favorite thing about the art. The animals in the water were animated like they were real and the look of it is incredible. It's just amazing how well the animation for this anime is.

When you can have the opening song get on my iPod, you got something going on. I really mean it. I added the OP to my music. It's that great. The gunfights sounded like they were happening outside of my house. Everything felt really real about the sound.

The development of the characters, mainly Revy and Rock, is pretty good for a 12 episode anime. In the beginning Rock was absolutely nothing much to the series, but after a couple of episodes, his whole character seemed to have changed. I mean, he was even able to stand up to Revy. And don't even get me started on Revy. She changed so much throughout the show, it was just amazing. The only bad thing is that we didn't see enough of Dutch or the computer techie, Benny. Other than that the characters were great.

I enjoyed this anime. There were a lot of good action spots. I think my favorite episode was episode 9, when the maid that kills a lot was chasing the Lagoon Company through the streets. I just thought that was really well done and it kept me tuned in. This was a very good anime. I think if there was a story behind it and a couple more episodes I would have liked this anime more. Other than that it was really good and deserves a look. read more

One of the darkest animes I've seen in my life, Black Lagoon portrays quite brilliantly the gritty and obscene lives of mercenaries for hire and the underworld of crime. Casting an academic and otherwise completely innocent person as the protagonist just makes this anime even more explicit and realistic than any other.

The story follows a team of mercenaries known as Lagoon Company, who smuggle goods in and around the seas of Southeast Asia. Their base of operations is located in the fictional city of Roanapur in Thailand, and they transport goods in the PT boat Black Lagoon. Lagoon Company does business with various clients, but has a particularly friendly relationship with the Russian crime syndicate Hotel Moscow. The team takes on a variety of missions - which may involve violent firefights, hand-to-hand combat, and nautical battles - in various Southeast Asian locations and when not doing much, the members of the Lagoon Company spend much of their down time at The Yellow Flag, a bar in Roanapur.

The characters in this anime stay in the mind long after the anime is over. The story follows the plotline of Rock, a Japanese salaryman kidnapped in the early episodes by the crew of Black Lagoon which provided the various main characters of Revy, Dutch, and Benny. Rock of course is the gentlelest of the crew as he gradually assimilates after the various bloody mercenary jobs he undertakes. Using reasoned arguments and persuasion, he's the counterpoint to the jaded and oftentimes brutal teammates.

In the last point, specifically to Revy a hardened Chinese lady mercenary whose looks hide a merciless and cold exterior. She likes to systematically take apart the enemy and relishes gunfights. However, later she develops feelings for Rock.

The main point of this anime lies in the fact that the world is cruel, and dark. Throughout the series, Black Lagoon crew takes pay for various dangerous and very gruesome jobs, often paid for by Balalaika, the cynical lady boss of the elite Russian Mafia whose members consisted of basically "Russian SWAT".

The episodes are usually gritty and dark with plenty of disturbing themes and pulse pounding action. In this aspect, the gunfights are simply spectacular and perhaps the best in anime. It is definitely something worth seeing.
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Black Lagoon is an Anime that centers around a group of modern pirates who call themselves the 'Lagoon Delivery Company'. They operate in Southeast Asia, and they basically deliver anything at all as long as the price is right.


Story wise, the episodes are a collection of completely unrelated short stories, showing the different jobs that the Lagoon Delivery Company takes on. The storylines are fairly unique, ranging from a run in with a bunch of wannabe Nazis to delivering papers for a Chinese Triad. Each short story is packed with action and superb gunfights, and the plot speeds along, leaving no time to be bored.

There isn't an 'actual plot' to link the whole series together, but with all the fast-paced action, you don't really miss it. However, there are some recurring elements that ties the series together, such as the belief that there is no such thing as right or wrong, it just depends on how something is justified.


The animation quality for Black Lagoon is amazing, especially during the gunfights. The overall animation is extremely smooth and character movement is fluid, without annoying jerks in the animation. Also I love the angles that are chosen, as well as how they frame certain scenes, as it increases the impact that the animation gives.

The images are also well rendered and extremely detailed, especially the guns. Black Lagoon is rather more realistic than other Animes, and features very few exaggerated facial expressions and the like. Heavy attention is paid to details, especially in the rendering of the backgrounds. The animators also play around with dramatic lighting a lot, and this helps to create extremely outstanding scenes.


In terms of sound, the upbeat OP fits the show extremely well, while the ED is a quiet enigmatic piece. A unique feature of the ED is that unlike most other Animes, there is no clean break between the episode and the ED. The ED starts softly when the episode ends, and blends in very nicely.

Most of the in-episode music for Black Lagoon is fast and upbeat, and it fits the situation extremely well, and at times, it helps to create a very tense and dramatic atmosphere, which is very fitting for Black Lagoon, considering the nature of this Anime.


Characters may seem to be somewhat stereotypical at first, but as the series progresses, we discover the many different aspects of each character's personality. Black Lagoon places a lot more emphasis on character development than most gunfighting Animes, and the interactions between characters are interesting to watch.

The main characters are very diverse, each of them having a different set of beliefs and their own strengths and weaknesses. There are no perfect characters in Black Lagoon, every one of them has some kind of fault, and that makes them all the more human, allowing viewers to empathise with them more.

Throughout the series, many minor characters are also thrown into the mix, each of them unique in their own special way. While some stereotypes may be present in Black Lagoon, the characters are still sure to surprise you in some way or another.


I gave this series an overall 10, but I will be the first to admit that it may have been a little biased because I love action. But still, Black Lagoon is an amazing Anime, with high quality animation and a fitting soundtrack. If you are the type who cannot stand long, drawn out stories, then Black Lagoon is the Anime for you. With the fast-paced and epic butt-kicking action, Black Lagoon promises not to disappoint. read more

If there was an anime that would make you look like a pink pair of panties with a little bow on it, it's Black Lagoon.

This is seriously one of the toughest, bloodliest, sexiest, kick tushiest anime ever created and it is better than you can ever be. It's not better than me, because it does have some flaws, but then again, nothing is really better than I am.

The story follows some pirates (not the "Argh, mateys!" kind) who do all sorts of crazy shady jobs for MONEY. Yeah, it's original that these people are motivated by cash and not by personal beefs. Makes it realer. Most of the anime has a realistic storyline, except for the unrealistic parts like killer twins and fighting maids and whatever.

Art and sound were seriously good. Character design was really damn good. Music was always interesting to listen to.

Revy has to be the best anime character in this show. She can kick your ass right off your body and make you wipe your tears with it. Then there's the wet blanket Rock, but unlike most wet blankets, I don't want to hang him out to dry (or die) since he's actually just being a realistic character i.e. a wimp. Then, to spice it up, since you don't only want Asians, there's a Jew and a black dude. Way to spice it up, Japan!

All in all, if you want to be amazed by cool gun fights and pirates and boats, this is the anime for you. If you haven't seen it as yet, stop washing your undies for a minute, get some bladder control, and sit back and enjoy one of the coolest anime ever. read more

To start off, I will warn you that this is by far my favourite anime of all time. Thus, a little bit of bias is to be expected. However, I'm going to try my hand at writing this as objectively as possible. Here goes!

Story: Black Lagoon is an action packed, character driven anime following a group of multi-national pirates (in this context, mercenaries who take jobs from criminals based around the use of their boat and combat prowess). Taking place in the South East Asian Sea, the key setting is Roanapur, a fictional city which is best described as a 'hive of scum and villainry'. Against this backdrop, the anime explores many facets of modern crime - ranging from Neo Nazism to people trafficking.

Despite the occasional absurdity, the anime attempts a very realistic representation of criminal activity. In fact, the context is usually brutally (term not used lightly) real up until the point one of the more 'personable' characters is introduced (for example, maids/nuns with guns).

Past the often-crazy action sequences, the story is remarkabley deep. Existentialism is a constant theme, and the anime has a lot to say about morals or ethics, always giving each side of a story and questioning the viewer's idea of what right or wrong is. This is expertly handled by the inclusion of Rock, who is given an outsider's view into the world of crime. Importantly, crime is rarely glorified in this anime; the characters are no Robin Hoods (and don't they know it), and their is a large focus on their pscyhological issues and physical weaknesses (drugs, greed).

However, I can understand why some people may find fault in Black Lagoon's story; action sequences are sometimes given a higher priority, meaning story arcs may become underdeveloped.

Art: Animation in Black Lagoon is generally flawless. Overall, everything is fluid and smooth, which is especially important for the action sequences, which are a joy to watch. Compounding this is a heavy attention to detail. Weapons mechanically discharge their cartrigdes with small plumes of smoke in split seconds, buildings explode sending pieces of identifiable shrapnel spinning out, and gunmen distort their faces in the intensity of battle - these details and so many others join together to create some seminal scenes.

The art style is very realistic, with little distortion of the characters. Character design also manages to create distinctive people without going overboard - you can tell Benny apart from every other guy in Roanapur, but he wears a fairly average shirt and slacks, with ponytail. Even the show's most distinctive character, Revy, manages to fit in realistically.

Occasionally, the animation will drop slightly - some details will be ommited to keep the action fluid, but compared to other anime, this is hardly an issue.

Sound: No issues in terms of sound effects - guns bang, boats vroom and stuff blows up convincingly. Music during the anime is fine as well, meditative when dealing with the heavy themes, and pumping when the action gears up.

The opening credits are accompanied by an upbeat tune that suits the tone of the anime perfectly - pulse pounding, with a subtle, underlying layer of something like lonliness or depression. However, the ending credits fail to deliver appropriatley, with a quiet reflective piece. This works in a couple of episodes; one example that comes to mind is after Revy lights her cigarette off Rock's, and the subdued tone works wonderfully. In general, a better suit may have been something more upbeat.

Voice acting is Black Lagoon is especially important, considering the wealth of nationalities and the inevitable accents that come with them. The Japanese version generally delivers in this department, with Balalaika sounding convincingly Russian and Dutch sounding like the American he is. Each character also gets the voice they deserve; credit goes to Revy's voice actress who is honestly perfect.

After watching the English version, I couldn't help but feel a little disappointed. While Dutch and Benny were voiced well, Revy's voice actress hardly captured her tense, often psychotic articulation. Worse was Rock, who hardly sounded Asian at all. Even Balalaika sounded less Russian, which is very disappointing.

Character: The cast of Black Lagoon is one of its biggest draws. Not only are they interesting, flawed character studies, but they are hugely entertaining, with distinctive personalities. More than most anime, viewers are drawn to the supporting characters (Balalaika, Shenhua, Mr Chang), in a way not dissimilar to a movie following many characters.

All characters manage to be distinctive without being unoriginal. Revy takes the 'badass' girl one step further with some truly questionable (violent) tendencies, and Dutch exudes a sense of power and control, without being omnipotent (his profanities and occasional loss of temper are testaments to this).

Some viewers may be unimpressed by Rock (who shares the main character slot with Revy), but often it is for want of further investigation. While an outsider in the crazy world of crime, Rock develops a real strength of character that reflects a determined attitude, and our own desire for a life out of the oridinary.

Enjoyment: Black Lagoon will not appeal to the average anime viewer - this is fact. Its Western influenced storytelling is far removed from your typical anime. It lacks story arcs that last for more than a couple of episodes. Even the most popular characters do reprehensible things that can leave the viewer feeling a little sick. So, in terms of universal appeal, Black Lagoon loses a point.

However, Black Lagoon satisfies those looking for an action fix, or those looking for numerous action fixes tied together with well thought out plot lines, or those looking for a gritty character driven piece. If you like style, violence, and don't mind the sometimes heavy themes, Black Lagoon's 'slice of (criminal) life' will be just the thing for you. read more

When I first hears the title I thought it was some fantasy or horror show like "The creature from black lagoon." or something like that...then when I actually saw the series, I was in for a big surprise coz the series was way different from what I pictured.

so here's the Drill:
The series follows the mis-adventures of Revy, Dutch, Benny, and Rock, the merry (seriously....joking) crew of Black Lagoon, a transport team that delivers anything from guns to people,anything!

Basically that's the story...


Art:
There are only a number of anime that have outstanding art...and This is one of them. The perfect balance between anime look and realism. The background look so real! the characters are very well made.Heck Revy herself is a babe! XD The real masterpiece of the series is the way the transportations and WEAPONS (especially the weapons/guns!) were drawn. If you look at the guns of the characters closely, they are detailed right to the smallest part. And they looks like they're real life counterpart. How you see the real thing is how the gun was drawn. Animation is superb as well and very real. When the characters fire a gun, you'll see the bullets bounce on the ground. And they reload after a number of shots....and probably the best thing I like about this anime is the characters facial expressions. Take Revy for example, when she's curious you could really see how curious she is same is when she's angry and serious.



Sound:
Same with the art. The sound is top notch as well. The voice acting is awesome...the characters voice fit them very well. Oh i'm talking about the Japanese dub, I haven't heard the english dub yet. The Opening song is good. I was actually shocked, I didn't expect the Opening song to be an English song. You really can't tell coz of the singers accent...hehe...the Ending song is slow and mellow but it's good. It gives a calming feeling after all the gunfire, action and excitement...

Character:
Despite the story not being that great, the characters here more than make up for it. The thing that makes thins series great is the character development. You can see as you continue with the series, how the characters change. How each one became stronger with each episode.

Overall:
An awesome anime for those who love girls, guns, and lots of action.
It's a great show, the only downside about this is that it's very short, only twelve episodes but there's a second season! XD
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I really can't come up with the words to convince you to watch this anime, but if I wanted to describe my first reaction to it with two words, I think I would choose: "Holy %@$%". I think you get the picture. Absolutely amazing! From the first episode I was hooked, and it only gets more incredible as you continue.

This series sets itself apart from every action based anime I've ever seen, with incredibly detailed animation to support every fight scene. They are not afraid to use crude language or display gory violence, and it's one of the most refreshing things about this series - a great change of pace. The anime itself doesn't really have a plot, but rather each episode is a short story in itself, that feels like its moving in the right direction. Basically, if your a fan of Cowboy Bebop, then this series will make you think less of it :P It is generally played out in the same manner, but I found Lagoon to be a lot more intense. The fight scenes do not fail to impress. Whats even more impressive, is their use of humor in a lot of moments you wouldn't expect any.

Each of the main characters are given good character development, but most of the focus lies on Revy and Rock. If you like the bad boy types, like Spike Spiegel, then you haven't met his evil twin sister, Revy. She makes other villains look like fairy's frollicking in the grassy meadows. Her personality is dominitive, crude, brash, violent, and just downright scary, but she does show a softer side - roughly 15 seconds per episode! She can go from the cute girl you want to get to know, to the nightmare you wish did not exist in the blink of an eye. Revy makes this series what it is and then some.

If you aren't a big fan of gunfights, I think this series would change your attitude towards them. Each scene is brilliantly animated, with a large attention to detail. Despite its lack of a real plot, they do an excellent job with each episode in terms of their story. Although it is heavy on the action scenes, they do an excellent job of giving you plenty of interesting conversations, and oh so much humor in a one of a kind form. Hope you enjoy japanese curse words, because you will surely pick them up after this series!

I found the music in this series to be a great fit for each scene, keeping the momentum high - especially the opening and ending themes, which compliment the feel of the series well. The cuing of the soft music at the end of each episode, rolling into the credits, seemed like something simple, but it really brought out an interesting feel that I haven't seen used anywhere else.

In the end, I was simply blown away. If you want something to wake you out of the normal tear jerking, emotion filled anime, this one will propel you onto the battlefield in style. As mentioned, if you are a fan of Cowboy Bebop, I can guarantee your attachment to this series. I think the only thing I didn't enjoy about this series was the number next to the word "Episodes". Good old number twelve, inferior to thirteen, superior to eleven, just wasn't enough in my book. Even with a series devoted to no real plot, you can't help but demand more out of it - the episodes are too damn interesting.
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