is a Japanese
science fiction
Science fiction (sometimes shortened to Sci-Fi or SF) is a genre of speculative fiction which typically deals with imaginative and futuristic concepts such as advanced science and technology, space exploration, time travel, parallel unive ...
yuri Yuri may refer to:
People and fictional characters
Given name
*Yuri (Slavic name), the Slavic masculine form of the given name George, including a list of people with the given name Yuri, Yury, etc.
*Yuri (Japanese name), also Yūri, feminine Jap ...
manga
Manga (Japanese: 漫画 ) are comics or graphic novels originating from Japan. Most manga conform to a style developed in Japan in the late 19th century, and the form has a long prehistory in earlier Japanese art. The term ''manga'' is u ...
created by
Akihito Yoshitomi. It comprises five chapters that were serialized in the
shōnen manga magazine
Manga (Japanese: 漫画 ) are comics or graphic novels originating from Japan. Most manga conform to a style developed in Japan in the late 19th century, and the form has a long prehistory in earlier Japanese art. The term ''manga'' is used ...
''
Dengeki Comic Gao!
, also known as ''Dengeki Gao!'' was a Japanese shōnen manga magazine that primarily contained manga and information about series featuring bishōjo characters. It was published from December 1992 to February 2008 by MediaWorks (publisher), Medi ...
'' from June 2004 to December 2005, and later collected into a single
volume
Volume is a measure of occupied three-dimensional space. It is often quantified numerically using SI derived units (such as the cubic metre and litre) or by various imperial or US customary units (such as the gallon, quart, cubic inch). The de ...
. In 2007, Yoshitomi began to work on a new ''Blue Drop'' manga, titled , which was serialized in the manga magazine ''Champion Red'' between February 19, 2007 and January 19, 2008, with its 14 chapters later compiled into 2 volumes. Each volume contained a chapter of another series called where Kasagi is a member of an alien race of females called the Arume. She spends her time playing matchmaker for unsuspecting, cute human girls. The third and fourth chapters were not released until 2008.
A ''Blue Drop''
anime
is Traditional animation, hand-drawn and computer animation, computer-generated animation originating from Japan. Outside of Japan and in English, ''anime'' refers specifically to animation produced in Japan. However, in Japan and in Japane ...
series directed by Masahiko Ohkura and produced by Asahi Production and BeSTACK aired in Japan between October 2 and December 25, 2007 under the title . The first DVD release on December 26, 2007 was accompanied with a bonus 6-chapter manga volume called . In 2008, two drama CDs were released. The first, released on May 23, was titled ''Lover Side'', and included the third chapter of ''Tenshi no Itazura''. The second, released on June 27, was titled ''Traitor Side'', and included the fourth and final chapter of the ''Itazura'' one-shot series.
All the ''Blue Drop'' stories revolve around a war between
human
Humans (''Homo sapiens'') are the most abundant and widespread species of primate, characterized by bipedalism and exceptional cognitive skills due to a large and complex brain. This has enabled the development of advanced tools, culture, ...
ity and the ,
an alien race consisting solely of women.
Both manga series are set after the war while the anime is set before.
The two manga series feature some degree of sexual content; the second manga being considerably more explicit than the original one.
Plot
The war against the ''Arume'' is set from 2000 to 2008, ending with the aliens winning the conflict.
In 2009 the aliens take control of the Japanese government, which sets the backstory for the ''Blue Drop'' storylines.
Manga
The decisive factor in the ''Arumes victory is the use of
biological weapons
A biological agent (also called bio-agent, biological threat agent, biological warfare agent, biological weapon, or bioweapon) is a bacterium, virus, protozoan, parasite, fungus, or toxin that can be used purposefully as a weapon in bioterrorism ...
and a modified version of an alien toy called .
Along the years, the remnants of this weaponry have become dangerous creatures which the government (run by the aliens) has to deal with.
This is the main premise of the original ''Blue Drop'' manga, which is set around a thousand years after the war.
The military uses an experimental vaccine that gives human children special abilities for a determined period of time. During this time the military forces them to confront the weapon remnants, an action that usually ends up in the children's death. Most of the chapters follow the conflict between the military and the resistance, which tries to save those who have been given the vaccine, as well as the relationships between the people involved. In addition, the story introduces the aliens' traits and behavior. All of them have blue eyes and their blood turns milky white when it touches air,
but their main characteristic lies in their
gender
Gender is the range of characteristics pertaining to femininity and masculinity and differentiating between them. Depending on the context, this may include sex-based social structures (i.e. gender roles) and gender identity. Most cultures u ...
:
they are all female, and their
sexual orientation
Sexual orientation is an enduring pattern of romantic or sexual attraction (or a combination of these) to persons of the opposite sex or gender, the same sex or gender, or to both sexes or more than one gender. These attractions are generall ...
is
homosexual
Homosexuality is romantic attraction, sexual attraction, or sexual behavior between members of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality is "an enduring pattern of emotional, romantic, and/or sexual attractions" to peop ...
.
The aliens'
sexual behaviour
Human sexual activity, human sexual practice or human sexual behaviour is the manner in which humans experience and express their sexuality. People engage in a variety of sexual acts, ranging from activities done alone (e.g., masturbation) ...
is dealt with even more prominently (and explicitly) in the ''Blue Drop: Tenshi no Bokura'' manga, which shows its consequences upon the human social structure.
[ These chapters show that the aliens have a private street wherein men are not allowed to enter. There they have bars for lesbian group sex among humans and aliens. The men end up with their own similar street, with boys cross-dressing to take the place of girls, whom the aliens have drawn away.] This manga also deals with the first
experiments done on human beings by the aliens;
specifically experiments concerning
sex change
Sex change is a natural or artificial process in which an individual's sex is changed.
Sex change may also refer to:
Biology and medicine
*Sex reassignment therapy
*Sex reassignment surgery
*Sequential hermaphroditism, a phenomenon whereby some ...
.
Set one year after the war,
it focuses in the relationship between Shōta, a normal high-school student, and Kenzō, Shōta's former-male best friend who has been turned into a girl by the aliens.
Anime
Unlike both manga stories, the ''Blue Drop: Tenshitachi no Gikyoku'' anime series is set before the war.
The storyline starts in 1999, with Mari Wakatake transferring to a girl's dormitory school called .
Mari's background hides a traumatic past: five years before her arrival at Kaihō, all the inhabitants of the island where she lived died in one night. Mari was the only survivor, but lost all her memories prior that point. At the Academy, Mari meets Hagino Senkōji, the school idol and class rep. Although Hagino is introduced as a calm and collected person, when she touches Mari's hand she panics and attempts to strangle Mari. From then on, Mari is torn between anger and attraction towards Hagino, who pretends as if nothing had happened.
Unknown to Mari, Hagino is actually the commander of an alien battleship called ''Blue'', which is the vanguard of the invasion to Earth. The incident on the island where Mari lived occurred when the crew of the ship and the island's inhabitants killed each other. ''Blue'' was seriously damaged and hidden, and Hagino blended into human society and continued her reconnaissance.
The story focuses on the relationship between Mari and Hagino;
as Mari begins to come out of her shell, Hagino, who has been living a double life, gradually begins to have doubts about her mission. While the invasion and war draw closer unnoticed, they begin to understand each other.
Characters
Although most of the chapters in the original ''Blue Drop'' manga are auto-conclusive, the first recurrent character and main protagonist is Yui,
an alien/human hybrid introduced as a member of the resistance.
Because of her alien heritage, Yui possesses their characteristic blue eyes, the white-colored blood, and their sexual orientation.
Other recurrent characters include , an alien initially introduced as a school nurse but later shown to be working for the military, and , a high-school girl that Yui rescues from Misato.
''Blue Drop: Tenshi no Bokuras main protagonist is , a regular high-school student. At the beginning of the story, Shōta is met by a girl who asks him to have sex with her. Not much time passes until Shōta finds out this girl is actually , his former-male best friend, who has had his sex changed by the aliens and has been commanded to get pregnant.
The main characters in the ''Blue Drop: Tenshitachi no Gikyoku'' anime are ,
voiced
Voice or voicing is a term used in phonetics and phonology to characterize speech sounds (usually consonants). Speech sounds can be described as either voiceless (otherwise known as ''unvoiced'') or voiced.
The term, however, is used to refer ...
by
Akiko Yajima
is a Japanese voice actress from Kashiwazaki, Niigata. Her best-known role is as the title character Shinnosuke Nohara in the long-running anime series '' Crayon Shin-chan''. She also voices Mipple in the original '' Futari wa Pretty Cure'', ...
(Japanese) and
Hilary Haag
Hilary Haag () is an American voice actress who is known for her work for ADV Films and Sentai Filmworks. Haag has been involved in several lead roles in anime series, including Nene Romanova in ''Bubblegum Crisis Tokyo 2040'', Teletha Testarossa ...
(English), and ,
voiced
Voice or voicing is a term used in phonetics and phonology to characterize speech sounds (usually consonants). Speech sounds can be described as either voiceless (otherwise known as ''unvoiced'') or voiced.
The term, however, is used to refer ...
by
Miyuki Sawashiro
is a Japanese actress, voice actress and narrator. She has played voice roles in a number of Japanese anime including ''Beelzebub'', Bishamon in ''Noragami'', Petit Charat/Puchiko in ''Di Gi Charat'', Mint in ''Galaxy Angel'', Sinon in '' Sword ...
(Japanese) and
Monica Rial
Monica Jean Rial (born October 5, 1975) is an American voice actress and ADR script writer affiliated with Funimation and Seraphim Digital/Sentai Filmworks. She provides voices for English language versions of Japanese anime films and televisi ...
(English).
After the incident on the island, Mari is taken in by her grandmother, who has her educated by tutors at home. Eventually, knowing that she herself may not have long to live, her grandmother enrolls Mari in Kaihō Academy. Enrolled against her will, she misses her home, and can not hide her distress and anger.
Hagino, on the other hand, is calm and collected, an excellent student, and an all-round athlete. Despite being very popular among her classmates, however, she never shows emotion, surrounding herself with an aura of mystery.
Media
Manga
Written and illustrated by
Akihito Yoshitomi, the original ''Blue Drop''
manga
Manga (Japanese: 漫画 ) are comics or graphic novels originating from Japan. Most manga conform to a style developed in Japan in the late 19th century, and the form has a long prehistory in earlier Japanese art. The term ''manga'' is u ...
was serialized in the Japanese
shōnen magazine ''
Dengeki Comic Gao!
, also known as ''Dengeki Gao!'' was a Japanese shōnen manga magazine that primarily contained manga and information about series featuring bishōjo characters. It was published from December 1992 to February 2008 by MediaWorks (publisher), Medi ...
'', published by
MediaWorks. The manga was initially a collection of five
one-shot stories: the first chapter was called , and was published on June 27, 2004;
the second chapter followed on December 27, 2004 under the title ;
the third release was on July 27, 2005, and was titled ;
the fourth chapter, called , was released on October 27, 2005;
and the final one, , was published on December 27, 2005.
The five chapters were later collected into a single
bound volume which went on sale on January 27, 2006. In the volume release, the order of the chapters was altered: ''Kaminoko'' was first, followed by ''Kowareta Tenshi'', then ''Kaijin'', ''Tenshi no Yakusoku'', and finally ''Tenshi no Sentaku''.
Yoshitomi's second ''Blue Drop''
manga
Manga (Japanese: 漫画 ) are comics or graphic novels originating from Japan. Most manga conform to a style developed in Japan in the late 19th century, and the form has a long prehistory in earlier Japanese art. The term ''manga'' is u ...
, titled ''Blue Drop: Tenshi no Bokura'', was serialized in the magazine ''Champion Red'' (published by
Akita Shoten
is a Japanese publishing company headquartered in Chiyoda, Tokyo. It was founded by Teio Akita on 10 August 1948. As of 2020, the company's president is Shigeru Higuchi.
Magazines Male-oriented manga magazines ''Shōnen'' magazines
* – Bimo ...
) between February 19, 2007 and January 19, 2008.
Subsequently, a two-chapter story called (also by Yoshitomi) was published in ''Champion Reds sister magazine ''Champion Red Ichigo''; the first chapter being released on June 5, 2007 and the second one on October 5, 2007. The first part was later included as a special chapter in the first volume of ''Blue Drop: Tenshi no Bokura'', which was released on September 20, 2007.
The second part was included in the second (and last) volume of ''Blue Drop: Tenshi no Bokura'', released on March 19, 2008.
Radio drama
A ''Blue Drop''
radio drama
Radio drama (or audio drama, audio play, radio play, radio theatre, or audio theatre) is a dramatized, purely acoustic performance. With no visual component, radio drama depends on dialogue, music and sound effects to help the listener imagine ...
was broadcast in Japan from July to September 2007.
The drama aired every Monday on
fm osaka
is an FM radio station in Osaka, Japan. The station is an affiliate of Japan FM Network (JFN).
FM Osaka started broadcasting on April 1, 1970. It was the second commercial FM radio station to launch in Japan after FM Aichi. During its early ...
, starting at 12:30 AM and running for twenty-eight minutes at a time.
It focused on the original manga's storyline and featured
Kaori Nazuka
is a Japanese actress, voice actress and singer. She played Nunnally Lamperouge in '' Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion'', the eponymous character in ''Eureka Seven'' and Cosette in '' Les Misérables: Shōjo Cosette''. She announced her ma ...
as Yui,
Mami Kosuge as Misato, and
Ryoko Nagata
Ryōko or Ryouko is a Japanese name, Japanese female given name. The meanings of Ryoko vary depending on which Kanji is used to write the name.
Possible writings
* 涼子 – "refreshing, child"
* 亮子 – "helpful, child"
* 良子 – "good, c ...
as Shōko.
The radio drama was released as two
drama CD
Radio drama (or audio drama, audio play, radio play, radio theatre, or audio theatre) is a dramatized, purely acoustic performance. With no visual component, radio drama depends on dialogue, music and sound effects to help the listener imagine ...
s called ''Blue Drop vol.1 Lovers Side'' and ''Blue Drop vol.2 Traitor Side'', on May 23 and June 27, 2008 respectively.
Anime
After a year and a half of planning,
Asahi Production and BeSTACK produced the ''Blue Drop''
anime
is Traditional animation, hand-drawn and computer animation, computer-generated animation originating from Japan. Outside of Japan and in English, ''anime'' refers specifically to animation produced in Japan. However, in Japan and in Japane ...
series. Directed by Masahiko Ohkura, the show aired in Japan between October 2, 2007, and December 25, 2007 containing thirteen episodes. The series featured character design by Itsuko Takeda, series composition by
Natsuko Takahashi
is a Japanese anime screenwriter. After learning about the profession of screenwriting in middle school, in university she entered a contest. Although her entry did not fit the theme of the contest, the examiners liked it so much that they gave ...
, and
screenplay
''ScreenPlay'' is a television drama anthology series broadcast on BBC2 between 9 July 1986 and 27 October 1993.
Background
After single-play anthology series went off the air, the BBC introduced several showcases for made-for-television, fe ...
by Akihito Yoshitomi and Masahiko Ohkura themselves.
3D modeling
In 3D computer graphics, 3D modeling is the process of developing a mathematical coordinate-based representation of any surface of an object (inanimate or living) in three dimensions via specialized software by manipulating edges, vertices, an ...
was done by studio
Gonzo
Gonzo may refer to:
People
* Gonzo (nickname), a list of people with the nickname
* Radislav Jovanov Gonzo (born 1964), Croatian music video director Radislav Jovanov, also known as Gonzo
* Matthias Röhr (born 1962), German musician whose sta ...
.
The soundtrack was composed by The Kintsuru,
providing mostly orchestral music, with violin and piano pieces. The opening and ending themes, "Blue" and , were performed by
Suara.
A single containing both songs was released on October 24, 2007.
The anime has been licensed for release in North America by
Sentai Filmworks
Sentai Filmworks, LLC or just Sentai, is an American entertainment company owned by AMC Networks. Located in Houston, the company specializes in the dubbing and distribution of Japanese animation and Asian cinema. Its post-production arm is S ...
and is distributed by
Section23 Films
SXION 23 LLC, doing business as Section23 Films is an American multimedia distributor based in Houston, Texas specializing in releasing anime and Japanese films. Established in 2009, Section23 is one of five successors to ADV Films; alongside Se ...
. The complete collection was released on November 17, 2009 with English subtitles. Sentai Filmworks re-released ''Blue Drop'' with a dub on DVD on September 7, 2010. The
Anime Network
Anime Network is an American video on demand (VOD) network dedicated to anime owned by AMC Networks.
History
The network was launched in North America in late 2002 and is marketed to multi system operators (MSOs) as both a free and subscript ...
began airing the dub of ''Blue Drop'' on Anime Network On Demand on July 22, 2010 and on the Anime Network Online Player on July 23, 2010.
Voice cast
Reception
Reviews were generally positive. Allen Moody of
T.H.E.M. Anime Reviews praised the series for its visual design, interesting technology, strong dramatic aspects, the sequence in one of the episodes where Hagino invites Mari aboard her ship, and "really nice quiet moments" between Hagino and Mari. However, he argued that more time in the anime could have been used to "develop the Mari/Hagino relationship" or the backstory of Hagino and Ekaril, and wished that the ending has been less conventional. Theron Martin of
Anime News Network
Anime News Network (ANN) is a news website that reports on the status of anime, manga, video games, Japanese popular music and other related cultures within North America, Australia, Southeast Asia and Japan. The website offers reviews and oth ...
argued that the series resembled ''
Darker than Black
, is a Japanese anime television series created and directed by Tensai Okamura and animated by studio Bones. Twenty-five episodes were broadcast on MBS, TBS and their affiliated stations from April to September 2007. The series is set ...
'' with its "common gimmicks and story elements" like lesbian love, a play, and lost memory. Even so, he argued that the show succeeds because it is "more about the characters than the gimmicks," is a "low-key series" and called it a "nearly-overlooked gem of a story" which will not have as big of an audience as it should have.
References
External links
Official website
*
Review of animeat
Anime News Network
Anime News Network (ANN) is a news website that reports on the status of anime, manga, video games, Japanese popular music and other related cultures within North America, Australia, Southeast Asia and Japan. The website offers reviews and oth ...
{{Asahi Production
2000s LGBT literature
2004 manga
2007 Japanese television series debuts
2007 Japanese television series endings
2007 manga
Akita Shoten manga
Alien invasions in comics
Asahi Production
ASCII Media Works manga
Dengeki Comic Gao!
Dengeki Comics
Extraterrestrials in anime and manga
Japanese LGBT-related animated television series
LGBT speculative fiction television series
Science fiction anime and manga
Sentai Filmworks
Shōnen manga
Yuri (genre) anime and manga