Black Lagoon

Title: Black Lagoon Genre: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Drama Rating (season 1): 9/10 Rating (season 2): 9.2/10

Summary: The story follows a team of pirates/mercenaries known as Lagoon Company, who smuggle goods in and around the seas of Southeast Asia in the early 1990s. Their base of operations is located in the fictional city of Roanapur in Thailand, and they transport goods in the 80-foot (24 m) Elco-type PT boat Black Lagoon. Lagoon Company does business with various clients. 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.

Review: Black Lagoon is easily one of my favorite action animes so far. It actually be one of my favorite animes of all time. I really can’t tell you what’s not to like about this anime. The hardcore action is constant. Dark, mysterious pasts create interesting characters. The art style allowed audiences to watch bullets flying through the air, and explosions taking place in the background. The details put into the guns, cars, and boats actually were so well done that you can readily identify what type it is. For example, the series goes as far as mentioning Revy’s custom Beretta 92FS’s, drawing the etched words on the side. They even showed custom clips being thrown during intense combat. The short stories kept a lively pace, and I was rather happy they decided to do small story arcs rather than one big arch. The different arcs introduced a variety of new characters and the multiple crime syndicates such as Hotel Moscow, The Chinese Hong Kong Triad, The Colombian Manisarela Cartel, and The Church of Violence. Each syndicate had its own unique flavor. The Chinese Hong Kong Triad seemed welled organized and level headed. Hotel Moscow on the other hand was basically its own military that showed no mercy; if you hire them make sure you know what you are getting into. The various stories also showed changes between members of the Black Lagoon. You watch as Rock becomes better adapted for the job, and Revy slowly become … well I’ll leave that up to you to watch. The soundtrack was amazing. Song likes “Don’t Stop”, “Red Fraction”, and “Peach Headz Addiction” blew my mind. I feel so pumped up when I listen to them, my adrenaline flowing. And let’s be honest guys, chicks with guns? Who doesn’t want to see that?

Final statements: I loved this anime through-and-through. I suggest it for anyone who is looking for kick-ass characters and thrilling firefights. This series is a definite multiple-watch. And for that I give it a rare but worthy, must see.

P.S. A season three will be released! It will consist of five OVA’s that tell the story of Roberta. So look forward to a review of Black Lagoon: Roberta’s Blood Trail.