Like many shows, the four episode OVA Blue Submarine No. 6 got started as a manga. The program was originally released in Japan nine years ago and it has found some love here in the States multiple times since then. Whether it was the fact that it was broadcast on Cartoon Network or simply released on VHS or DVD chances are very good that you heard about this somewhere.

Produced by GONZO, Blue Submarine No. 6 was one of the first shows to meld traditional animation and 3D computer generated artwork. It paved the way for anime series to come and in many ways could be looked at as a pioneer. Rumors abound regarding a live action version of the OVA being produced but until that actually happens this is arguably the best way to experience Blue Submarine No. 6.

The show takes place in a future where the world has become mostly submerged under the vastness of the ocean. This wasn't the result of natural selection and it certainly wasn't due to global warming. A mad scientist named Zorndyke screwed with the planet's electromagnetic field and caused mass destruction across the globe. Water rose, billions died, and a mutated army of aquatic creatures began to emerge.

Zorndyke's army is fierce and operates with a single goal in mind; eradicate all of humanity. Now you may wonder why someone would want to see the destruction and mutated evolution of his own race. I'll try to keep the spoilers to a minimum because we learn through the course of the OVA the purpose behind the scientist's plot. Basically by Zorndyke's reasoning we have grown too big for our own egos. We perpetuate our own destruction and build monuments to our greatness. By wiping us out and creating a race equal to mankind it was supposed to humble us and usher in a new era of peace.

While peace may seem like it is very out of reach, one thing that is evident is that humanity is teetering on the edge of extinction. Our society hides within the confines of skyscrapers not yet submerged and beneath the sea in military bases. A young upstart from Blue Submarine No. 6, Mayumi, heads to a location that was once China to locate a man named Hayami who used to work on the ship.

His past remains something of a mystery though it is evident that he was a man of some importance. Hayami is notably talented in many ways but getting people mad at him is a skill he excels at. Mayumi is constantly at odds with the man and though we get the sense that she respects, even befriends him, the two always seem to bicker.

In one of their first missions together Hayami and Mayumi manage to take down one of the enemy's creations. The mechanical beast crashes to land and spits out a female hybrid who begins flopping around like a fish out of water. Hayami is mesmerized by her and despite Mayumi's insistence on killing her Hayami brings the creature back to the water. He is bitten in the process but his kindness strikes a cord within the hybrid woman that brings about some interesting events in the latter part of the program.

The Blue Submarines continue to wage war with the hybrid beast army (or is that navy?). Throughout it all we learn more about Hayami's past and what kind of man he was before leaving the military. Humanity also launches an offensive aimed at destroying Zorndyke with nukes and getting revenge on the billions of lives that were lost due to his scientific whim. Does one act or horror balance out another? In the end this anime is really about compassion and whether or not humanity is strong enough to embrace it or allow itself to succumb to hatred.

Blue Submarine No. 6 remained dramatic and packed full of intrigue from start to finish. My only complaint about the show was that it was just too damned short! Four 25 minute episodes just didn't tell as much of the story as I would have liked. As a result the program feels slightly rushed but the brisk pace only keeps you on the edge of your seat. If you have not seen Blue Submarine No. 6 it's a title that should be put on the "watch" list. Strong character development, an interesting plot, and fine storytelling go a long way to make this collection an easy sell.

Considering Blue Submarine No. 6 aired nine years ago the quality of this transfer looks remarkably good. The 1.33:1 image does show a little bit of its age but for the most part you can't tell how old it is by looking at it. Most colors remain vibrant and there is very little wash-out with the contrast. A majority of the program contains grain that gives it a film-like look but some scenes appear fuzzy because of it. Compression is minimal though some blocking appeared mostly when the submarine was changing depths in the water. Overall this is a good looking show and despite some lower quality 3D graphics there really is nothing to complain about.

Blue Submarine No. 6 offers Japanese 5.1 and English 2.0 as the language selections. I have to admit that as a lover of original language tracks I really appreciated the Japanese presentation. The presence of this audio track on the soundstage was quite immersive with the rear channels picking up a good amount of playback and directionality. It wasn't the most impressive use of the sound field but it was leaps and bounds better than the English 2.0 selection. Either way you look at it though, this is a good sounding show with a decent cast of voice actors on both sides of the fence.

The Anime Legends Collection of Blue Submarine No. 6 comes with three discs. Two of them include the main feature with an episode on each side (yes it's a flipper) but the third disc is where you'll find most all of the extra features. There are some placed on the disc with the fourth episode. Namely those are a summery of the first three episodes and an interview segment with some of the production cast. They discuss many topics regarding the production of the show and I felt the most interesting thing was when they talked about the decision to use 3D mixed with the traditional animation. Jerky camera motions and weird lighting don't do this supplemental justice though.

The first feature on the third disc is the "Digital Plus" section which includes a 42 minute behind the scenes documentary that takes a look at the production of the Blue 6 PlayStation game. It's interesting to watch and there are a few snippets of new animation and such with OVA design but without having the game available in the States it seems kind of silly to have this.

Up next are the "Data Files" with character bios, information about the different forces, submarine terminology, Animerica Spotlight, and a gallery of cover art. There isn't much going for those apart from gaining more knowledge about the show. After that all you'll find some Cartoon Network Promo clips, trailers for Blue Submarine No. 6 and other Bandai titles, as well as a music video for Yukikaze which is basically just another trailer.

Blue Submarine No. 6 came out quite some time ago and has seen many releases over the years. If you own the previous DVDs there is no real reason to pick up the Anime Legends Collection. However, if you have not experienced this show yet this is an affordable OVA that is worth every penny. Everything from the character development to the story is top notch. I found Blue Submarine No. 6 to be a little on the short side but I was on the edge of my seat throughout it all. Recommended

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