Daphne in the Brilliant Blue, Vol. 3: Getaway (2004) – DVD Review

Film:
DVD:

Based upon the manga by NeSKeS
Directed by Takashi Ikehata
Music by Kow Otani

Features:

Japanese cover art gallery

Dindrane’s Anime Warnings:

Insane costumes

Ground beef flavored ice cream

Mammoth clone steak

Sensual situations

Gratuitous cheesecake

Barbie doll proportions

Released by: Geneon
Region: 1
Rating: 16+
Anamorphic: N/A; episodes appear in their original 1.33:1 format.

My Advice: Check it out.

Maia’s bad day may finally be over, but now that she’s ensconced in the Naiad HQ and working for the tyrannical Daphne in the Brilliant Blue, her real problems may be just beginning. In the first episode of volume 3, the company medical exam seems to indicate that tough-as-nails gun-girl Gloria has cancer and only a week to live. Her secret dream is to experience true love, so when Maia discovers that her perfect man is a lot like Maia’s friend Tsukasa, poor Tsukasa dresses up as a man and pretends to take her out. With Maia writing the dialogue, will Yu, Branch Manager, and the rest succeed in rescuing Tsukasa from Gloria’s tender mercies?

Episode 2 takes the Naiads on their company vacation in Siberia, a resort, ocean retreat and spa, complete with fine eating and casinos. Maia goes with Shizuka on a whirlwind dining tour, while Gloria gets stuck undergoing interrogation as a suspected terrorist. Maia and Yu are left to rescue Shizuka from slavers each in their own way, especially as Maia starts to recover some of her lost childhood memories. Episode 3 opens with Maia revealing her amnesia to the other Naiads and asking for leave to stay in Siberia City where she might be able to remember more of her missing life. But someone is trying to keep her from remembering, and it might be her beloved Ocean Agency.

Episode 4 has Maia rededicated to her present and future with the Naiads, who have been assigned to protect the city during its huge Centennial Celebration. The city used to be sealed underneath the sea, but 100 years ago, it and several other underwater cities rose to the surface again, except for one metropolis, that was destroyed, killing all inhabitants. Gloria is thrilled about being a government agent who can shoot anyone she wants, including Yu, who Gloria thinks would make an impressive ceremonial sacrifice. This episode reveals a great deal about the fascinating history and culture of the series.

The graphics are quite nice; the only real fly in the ointment is those ludicrous, offensive costumes. Women watching the show will be horrified and annoying, meaning that this should not be the first anime a female sees, lest she worry that all anime objectifies and abuses women in this fashion. At least the art is attractive, and the Siberia scenes are especially lovely. The sound is also satisfactory, with solid voice acting in both languages and a good balance between sound effects, vocals, and background music.

The only extra on the disc is a gallery of Japanese cover art from the Japanese DVD releases. They are very much like the covers used for the American releases, and there are eighteen in all. This is nice, but not outstanding. Interviews, cultural notes, conceptual art, and translator notes…now that would have been outstanding.

The reversible cover is absolutely shameless fan service; not only does it display their ridiculous costumes to best effect, the costumes and poses display the girls to, well, if not “best,” then at least “trashiest” effect. Whether your favorite is Maia or Rena, you should be pleased; feminists of course will be horrified.

All in all, the show is fairly conventional for its genre, with slick action, lots of jubblies, and some character interaction that builds character at the expense of action. As long as the cheesecake in the first volume didn’t turn you off, you should enjoy this volume. The characters continue to be the strength of the show, a notch above their counterparts in other similar series. Too bad they’re dressed so foolishly. Give this series a shot, and you just might like it, despite the idiot fan service.

Buy it from Amazon.