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Studio : Geneon Entertainment, Inc.
Also involved: Madhouse Studios
Licenced by : Geneon Entertainment (USA)
Length : 12 Episodes
Year : 2006
Genre : Action - Drama
Synopsis :
Okajima Rokuro didn't know what he was up for when he was entrusted with a top secret disk with his company.
He ends up getting kidnapped by the pirates of the "Black Lagoon" (a shooting-crazy girl and two other guys), a sort of boat equipped with torpedoes, and is then and henceforth abandoned by his company (who thought that he would inevitably die anyway). With nowhere to go, and, having no clue what to do (since his company already proclaimed him "dead"), he decides to join the Black Lagoon's crew.
Note : Season One contains episodes 1-12. Season Two contains episodes 13 and up.
Added : 2006-04-08
Synopsis by : Ren Yin
Last update : 2008-03-06
Last update details : Link added
Score : 8.75
Number of reviews : 20
Link(s) :
Official #1 : Official Black Lagoon Website (Japanese)
A-Source #1 : Anime-Source.com DVD Review by Nigoki (Limited Edition Volume 1)
Song(s) :
Opening #1 : MELL - Red Fraction
Ending #1 : EDISON - Don't Look Behind
Release(s) :
2006-12-09 -- Episode(s) 22 by Shinsen-Subs. BT Link
2006-12-04 -- Episode(s) 21 by Shinsen-Subs. BT Link
2006-11-14 -- Episode(s) 18 by Shinsen-Subs. BT Link
Found 26 releases. Click here to [ Find them! ]
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Posted by : Stonewolf
Posted on : 2009-11-16 
My buddy had been pushing me to watch this series for months before I finally got around to it, so in that aspect I was behind the times in getting to this gem of a series. I initially didn't like a lot of the art stylings, especially Rock's character design. However, as the story progressed the characters really grew on me and it ended up leaving me wanting more upon completion of the first season.
Animation - 7
I'd really like to give this a higher score due to the fact that the action scenes were done extremely well. Unfortunately there are some cheap scenes and bad facial distortions that make me obligated to lower the score.
Sound - 9
Loved the OP (Red Fraction - MELL) one of my favorite anime songs thus far, as it really sets the pace for the show. I enjoyed the ED very much as well, even though it is instrumental.
Story - 8
As I said before, the story is really what made me come to love this series, and come to love the characters as well. I'll say it straight out, I want Revy for myself, even if she is insane. She is one of the most memorable and dynamic characters I can remember from any anime. I felt Rock was a fairly weak lead, but Revy more than makes up for any shortcomings, especially with her interactions with Rock becoming more and more intriguing as the show goes on.
Overall - 8
Not the best series I've ever seen, and not my favorite either, but the characters stick in my brain to this day. It stays within its setting, yet pushes the boundaries to their limits as well, which is what makes it great. It certainly is not a show for the faint of heart or squeamish folk and it does bring up adult topics quite frequently, but I still recommend it to anyone who enjoys great action and gunfights.
Posted by : illu
Posted on : 2009-07-02 
Storyline: Uhm yeah this storyline is set for what becomes a bunch of action and lives being put on the line, which becomes really good when it's mixed in with the character development (that is pretty much mastered to a T) throughout the whole series. haha My only concern about this series is the gun fights - I mean, pretty much everyone these pirates fight against are like retards holding a gun, even the army that they encounter (I mean c'mon). First I'll tell you that there is one part where Revy is jumping from boat to boat shooting up these guys and while she's jumping it's like they're just staring at her....and then you have a gun fight between her and this ex army girl running at each other shooting like a whole clip each and not one of them gets hit..... Yeah, I know. Just watch the series for yourself. And yes, there is more. Then you have her not getting hit sometimes when she's being fired at from point blank range... c'mon, people.
Animation: The animation was flawless - I loved every second of it as it was very well done. I especially enjoyed the eyes of Revy and the killer maid; it was captivating to see their facial expressions change but still have that sane look about them.
Music: I thought the music captured the moments in the series very well, to the point where you don't really notice it because it matched perfectly
Character development: I mean the conflict that Revy and Rock have throughout the series is just perfect for the transformations that we see and the more insight we get in to Revy's emotions and her being. As I told you, the guy who created this KNOWS character development as not only did he develop on Rock and Revy but there was a conflict between two other guys that were sometime in the later part of the series that actually are well developed to the point you get to know them - I mean, 2 episodes with guys that weren't even a main part throughout the series with developed character - WELL DONE. But I have to say, with strong character development comes lots of dialogue, and I thought the dubbing for this series was horrible and only Duches's voice matched so I watched this in subs and it made my head hurt at times but it was all good because I survived lol.
Over All: This series is a must see for anime fans, minus some action flaws that are possible to over look as this series really shows you how far animation and character development can go. Gave this series a BIG 9 .........peace
Posted by : ManU-Alchemist
Posted on : 2009-03-14
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.
Posted by : nitrojin
Posted on : 2008-10-04
Whoa! Geneon and Madhouse really did it this time. I’m breathless, I can’t even think of a witty joke to toss in here. Guess I’ll just start with the review.
Story: (9/10) Pretty simple plot here. A Crew of villainous pirates driving around, getting money anyway they can and bumping into some pretty awesome fights. The story is mostly focused around the two lead characters Revy and Rock. All in all, a very enjoyable show.
Music/Soundtrack: (8/10), Well, I didn’t hate the music, and I didn’t really like it, but nevertheless it was still good.
Art: (9/10) Some pretty good stuff here. I gotta give them some extra credit on the background work and the fight scenes, they were awesome.
Characters: (8/10), Like I said, the story mainly focuses on Revy and Rock. The rest of the characters stay frozen in a time warp; zero development.
Overall: (8.5/10), This is the Bruce Willis kind of action show, only, instead of just one buff guy slinging a gun, we got an ultra fit I-don’t-give-a-crap girl that will kill anything that moves and a salary man who doesn’t even use weapons. I think there are few audiences that wont be able to enjoy this show. I suggest you give it a hit, in my opinion it was one heck of a awesome show.
Posted by : kevinchaosvs 
Posted on : 2008-08-15
Story: 75%
Characters/Dev: 78%
Probably among the darker anime I have ever watched, Black Lagoon is a story about outlaws, Mafia, the most hardened of criminals, social misfits, and such. There are absolutely no “Heroes," so to speak, in this series. No main distinction between “good guys" and “bad guys" – it really depends on the viewer’s perspective. No noble ambitions, cheery qualms and such; just the simple but blunt and brutal concept of the survival of the fittest in a world with no laws and the only rule is anything goes, to survive and to win.
Overall, the best way I can describe this series is that it is stylishly crude. The portrayal of the derogatory setting about social misfits who crowd the land Roanapour (as it is a fallen place) gives the viewer a crude and pessimistic impression of the plight. And yet, it is stylish in the execution of the story in how the characters live, particularly with Revy and her just-STFU-and-die-already attitude, preceded by lots of crazy gunfights and badass sequences.
Girl in tights, inhumanly powerful maid, nuns with outrageous supplies of armaments…Lagoon would have been the perfect picture of the stereotypical otaku’s dream – if it weren’t for the fact that the girls wouldn’t hesitate to stuff an RPG down one’s throat. And don't forget the other characters in the cast: a laid back Chinese Triad Boss... and, of course, how can we forget the ruthless and seemingly invincible Russian Mafia? Without a doubt, Revy’s the star of the show. The way she won’t hesitate to pull the trigger and go on a killing spree further enhanced the spunk of the series. Even Rock turned out to be no pushover, though his main role seemed to be more of presenting to the audience the stark contrast of the plight the characters are in: Rock constantly facing the conflicting issue of trying to hold on to moral values AND still be able to survive the vile situations.
Animation/Graphics/Design: 87%
While it is not perfect, the animation quality is superb and the graphic design is great too. I particularly liked the art style for Revy. The highlights are obviously the gunfights: fast-paced, furious and definitely highly enjoyable to watch. Even the background is detailed and production team certainly has put in considerable effort for the car chase scenes.
Music: 78%
The OP is – there’s no other word to really describe it – kickass! Accompanied by the animation for the OP, it delivers the rebelliousness that is the very essence of Black Lagoon. ( I won’t criticize the “Engrish-ness" of the lyrics though :D ) The ED is also another plus point; I like the way it is orchestrated with a slow, mournful feel, but ends off with the rapid drum beats. Nice use of rock music for the BGMs.
Summary:
A must watch for fans of action series, packed with lots of gun swinging and explosions. There are certainly no dull moments in this series. And oh, you’ll have to kick morals to the curb if you want to enjoy this series … … because of the lack of it in the series. Well, as I mentioned, there are technically no heroes in this story. Most importantly however, the series turned out to be way better than the manga. Then again, gun fights are static in manga, and they are like the flesh of the series.
Personal overall rating: 85%
Posted by : Molenir
Posted on : 2008-04-23
Black Lagoon is very nearly as good as it gets when it comes to an action anime. A small crew sails the south China seas, doing odd jobs for cash that keep them afloat. The crew of 3, pick up a 4th, who then slowly, becomes a part of the crew. Revy, the slightly crazy, hot gun wielding chick is particularly antagonistic at first, settling down eventually to acceptance and perhaps more.
I originally got interested in Black Lagoon after reading one of the reviews on the site here, however it wasn't until I watched the OP, which quite frankly kicks a$$, that I decided to give it a try. I'm very happy I did too. Very little sentimentality, drama, without all the posing and lame-ass angst that so many other shows have. Action where the heros actually kill their opponents, not shoot guns out of their hands or some other lame excuse for not getting their hands dirty. Real people, doing real things. Really cool.
The animation and music are steady throughout, and very good. Not perfect by any means, but good even still. The OP as I already mentioned is terrific. The main weak point from an artistic standpoint is the ED. Never really cared for it, though I admit it was laid back, and after the action perhaps a little laid back theme would be a good thing. That is, if you weren't already jumping to the next episode to see what happens next.
The plot and the characters were amazing as well. I love Revy, though she is seriously messed up, she was still fun to watch. While I deduct a point for the superheroines, The Terminator Maid, Sword chick, Gun Nun etc, they added some humor to the show, and were cool as heck to watch. I particularly loved when the maid climbed onto the fleeing car, ala Terminator 3.
Overall, this is one anime you shouldn't miss. If you care for hardcore action, and minimal thinking, this is the show for you. It brings everything to the table, and leaves nothing behind. Highly recommended!
Posted by : Terentius
Posted on : 2008-03-07
I had seen clips of this show about a year ago on a friend's PC and had always wanted to see what the fuss was about. I was caught by surprised by just how entertaining I had found it.
Story
Think of it as pirates/bounty hunters (ala Cowboy Bebop without the dog) sailing the seas of South East Asia, doing jobs, getting into and 'trying' to stay out of trouble. Pretty unoriginal stuff considering it did reek of Cowboy Bebop, but I still found it engrossingly addictive. Seeing how the crew members go about their business in their own way was always the highlight for me. Throwing in the Russian mafia and Chinese triads as well as the odd eclectic weapon-wielding nun into the mix was always going to result in something unusual. In that regard, it pulls it off superbly with a nice balance of pacing too.
Character
I liked how at first there was a strong feeling of antagonism towards Rock at first by the crew (especially Revy), that eventually changes to one of gradual acceptance and then respect. As expected of a bunch of smugglers/pirates there was a fair bit of background that could have been explored in more depth if they had desired.
Animation
Is it me or did Revy resemble a cross between Major Kusanagi from GiTS and Captain/Major Katsuragi (NGE)? Not that I'm one to complain, but I always loved a strong female character in the show. I really enjoyed the animation and some of the scenes in the decrepit locales were animated well. You really did have a feel of the place when you saw just how rundown some of the places they visited were.
Summary
I was expecting something more average from this generic action show. Yes, it's violent and gory in places, but I still found it incredibly entertaining. There's nothing like giant monsters or super-cute characters here. Instead, you've got an action packed show that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
Posted by : sssl0202
Posted on : 2007-12-18
Black Lagoon can be considered your typical action anime.
In very much of Cowboy Bebop fashion, there is group of mercenaries (Bounty hunters in Cowboy Bebop's case) and they take bunch of jobs that becomes a good reason for them to shoot.
The story manages to be interesting, but it's mostly contained within each episodes. Solid stuff, but it's like watch episode of CSI. It's certainly not a large scale anime.
The setting is interesting, but not unusual or that unique in this type of story and there are plenty of characters that catches your attention, but it's nothing you haven't seen before...
Except one thing.
That one thing becomes the ultimate difference for Black Lagoon, and that is Levy (Revy? I've seen her named spelled both ways)
Levy is the reason why this anime is spectacular. She is very unique character to be seen, and has strong personalties. She's got that tomboy like thing going on, and although she dresses sexy, she doesn't put herself out there as sexy. That just comes naturally with her as she just go by on her killing spree.
Levy is really powerful character that can attract viewers. I don't think I've seen anime babe that can influence viewers like her while being a type of girl you would never want to introduce to your parents. There has been many anime chicks that really drove it's series to their success, such as trios in Suzumiya Haruhi series and Konata etc, but they all scream moe~ and has that cute adorable factor going.
Levy on the other hand makes you want to push her down to the floor and just go for it. (or the other way around) She reaches deep down to your instincts instead of feeling.
Black Lagoon does leave a lot to be desired. It looks like the anime could've taken music theme like Cowboy Bebop by adding strong rock music to it. Initially it does look like it will take that theme, but it doesn't so that is little disappointing.
Overall, Black Lagoon is quick action fun. The pacing is slow for action anime, but when action hits, it's furious. With characters that has chip on their shoulders and Levy who has multiple chips on her shoulders, this is solid anime to watch. Nothing epic, but just solid.
Posted by : solidsnakex
Posted on : 2007-11-30
A typical shounen anime here. Gun shootings violence, sexy girl....action.
Plot/Animation:
Simple plot with very little character development...the only ones who had some is Revy and Rokuro(Rock). Or should i say a developing relationship?
The whole story revolves around the 2 of them (how they met and continue their lives changing each other), their gang and their daily missions received. Character designs looks fine (with Revy looking hot)...typical shounen types. Actions are well done, nice guns, just love the gun fighting and action scenes. A little unrealistic in some cases.
Music:
The opening theme rocks but the ending theme sounds so off....a little dull in my sense.
Overall:
Good anime for those who have time to spare. Short series though. It's linked with Black Lagoon: The 2nd Barrage. So don't just stop at season 1. No full score for the lack in plot.
Posted by : du5k
Posted on : 2007-11-28
A very simple series, actually. They just create a simple introduction and plot setting, and all the violence can do the job. They delivered the selling parts of the series well, and the show gets interesting.
Plot-wise
Rock didn’t really become the main character, so the story isn’t really about the life of a normal person in the world of thugs. The series is more about the jobs they get and the way they go about accomplishing it, so the main focus about this series is action and gangsters. I suppose there’s a little bit about the relationship between Rock and Revy, but I don’t think it really mattered.
Story Style
One downside about this anime is the unrealistic gunfights. Although the action are pretty intense, it’s really like those old action movies, the main character never seems to get hit, the villains never learn to shoot before they got shot, and even if they did, they never seem to hit their target.
Other than that, the action scenes are pretty well-delivered. You know, like in the movies…
Quality
The opening and ending theme’s pretty cool, but not worth listening every episode. The animation’s really good with all the action scenes.
Overall
It can somewhat get a little gory and sick, but if you overlook that, you’ll never get bored. 4 for quality and 4.5 for enjoyment, giving this a… 9.
Posted by : MrSentimental
Posted on : 2007-09-19
Well done. I quickly got into this one, and couldn't wait to get more. The storyline was only OK, and not really the strong point here. The characters were very interesting, and I really wanted to see how things would turn out for them. Revy was yet another merciless killing machine that, well... ... was likeable (like Lucy from Elfen Lied). The action was pretty good, and only occasionally over-the-top.
The artwork was very good, nicely detailed, and helped make the characters appealing. The opening theme song had the right "attitude" for this series.
So, I found this one definitely worthwhile, and it made me have to check out the Second Barrage. 9 out of 10 Rating. 4 1/2 STARS.
Posted by : Faceless87
Posted on : 2007-05-30 
By far one of the best animes I have seen to date, this anime delivers in every way.
Plot: It all starts with the kidnapped becoming a part of the kidnappers, at first glance a case of the Stockholm syndrome but it goes deeper than that. Though the anime is more in an episode by episode setting you get to learn more and more about his fellow team members and the hellhole he has landed in, and every episode has its fair share of surprises.
Characters: You don't get to know the color of their underwear or their favorite TV show what you do get is the feel that each character really belongs there, they all seem to be done just right. There are no lame characters in Black Lagoon, although many of them remain in the dark they are all interesting in their own way and none feel out of place.
Animation: The animation is crisp and never boring, and there isn't a fight that doesn't deliver or a setting that doesn't look good in its own way. Everything is detailed from the weapons to the outfits or the landscape itself.
Sound: With an excellent anime comes excellent music is something I like to believe (though there are enough cases in which it isn't the case of course) and Black Lagoon really hits the nail on the head with their choices.
Overall: If you’re looking for an anime that delivers something different from the usual this is it. You will get a glimpse of heaven and hell in one place, where things like black and white don't exist.
This anime doesn't disappoint in any way if you can appreciate action combined with the unexpected.
Posted by : kovich87
Posted on : 2007-03-06
This is a really well done shounen anime. I love the way that it starts off, it really caught my attention.
Plot: 9/10
I thought that the stories were pretty cool. They did a good job of helping you get to understand the characters through the different missions they had.
Characters: 10/10
I like how each one of them is basically a criminal at the heart. It made them seem a little cooler to me. I wish they did go more in depth for some of the characters though. Really easy to like the characters.
Sound: 10/10
I loved the opening and ending songs and the animations that went along with them. I thought that voice actors chose were really good matches for each of the characters. One of the best I've heard.
Animation: 9/10
Starts off really well but in the end it seems like it kind of fell off. Weapons were good lookin though.
Overall: 9/10
Great series. You don't have to think to much while watching it. It really draws you in at parts. Recommended for anyone who likes shounen anime or it is recommended for anyone actually.
Posted by : Drunken
Posted on : 2007-02-16
This is one of the few anime series that I liked after first episode and by just that it get's a high score.
Plot: 10/10
Stories are well made, showing characters profiles quite well ( altough some interesting characters are only introduced, and not further developed ).
Characters: 10/10
They are all same, yet different, only Rock stands out with his different position of view, but as the series progres, he learns to fit in.
Sound 10/10 ( actualy it's 15/10 ;D )
Best made sound I've ever heard, music passes perfectly.
And voice actors have made their work with great care, voices pass good to their characters and the scene in the submarine when Revy/Levy speaks with cigarette in her mouth her voice sounds as if she really has something in her mouth is one which was one of the best voice acting I've ever heard.
Animation 9/10
Greatly done, with very detailed weapons, vehicles and enviroment, but there is problem with characters, at some points they do not look so good, although they are well drawn, it's just my taste...
Overall 10/10
Well done series, in which are brought up some sad stories from "criminal world".
I dont know what else to say as final word, except that I recommend this anime to anyone who like good action with good story ( not stupid like those action movies )...
Posted by : denaclias
Posted on : 2006-12-13
I'm an avid anime viewer and I have to say this: Black Lagoon is one of the most memorable ones I have seen to date. It doesn't fall into your average anime genres. Its funny at times, dead serious and just plain fun to watch.
Plot- 9/10: Not much of a plot, each episode had its own way to go, which I enjoyed, but I would like to see some plot developement in the second season.
Animation- 10/10: Call me a gun freak, but I loved the gun fights here, they were so fluid and enjoyable to watch, and the characters and environments were fairly well done as well.
Sound-8/10: Hmm... the sound was okay, not the best and I really didnt notice the BGM much (too busy watching gun fights ^^), but the OP and ED were enjoyable.
Characters- 9/10: The characters were interesting and fun to watch, but there was no character developement that I noticed. You do find out some back story to the characters as you go along, but not much, but personally I didn't mind that much.
So if you haven't watched it now, I highly recommend that you do because it is an enjoyable anime and, well, it's just fun.
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