Daphne in the Brilliant Blue

We have a pretty old anime to review today. Daphne in the Brilliant Blue is the classic anime from 2004. It deals with the themes of Comedy, Mystery, Drama, Sci-Fi, and Ecchi. This anime has an episodic nature which gives it a little flexibility. This anime is also unknown to most anime fans. Usually, such unknown and obscure anime are hidden gems. But is this series a hidden gem or a complete mess? We’ll find about it in our in-depth review of the series Daphne in the Brilliant Blue.

The story opens in the near future, where water has covered most parts of the Earth due to Global Warming. Maia Mizuki is a 15-year-old orphan who just graduated from middle school. As soon as she graduated, she applied for a job in the Ocean Agency, an elite paramilitary agency of the futuristic government. It’s not easy to get into the Ocean Agency. Only those students who are physically fit, intelligent and capable can get into it. Maia is all ready to take part in the competition.

Maia’s dreams shatter in front of her when she fails to get admission because she can’t pass the entrance exam. Her life ultimately falls apart, and on top of that, she gets evicted from her house. She’s even pick-pocketed and taken hostage. What could be worse than that? Getting shot; yes, she got shot as well. However, her life is saved by two women named Rena and Shizuka.

Rena and Shizuka both are a part of an organization called Nereids, which helps people. As Maia is left alone, she decides to join Rena and Shizuka and their organization. Along with the two women, Maia takes up odd jobs and stays busy all the time. She is joined by Gloria and Yu later.

Let me tell you one thing; you’ll be spending a lot of time figuring out who Daphne actually is. The truth is, none of them is Daphne. Daphne is a Greek word that means “Laurel Tree.” Basically, the background of this series is that the Earth has been covered with water, but society has adapted to it and is living just fine. The anime is very light, fluffy, and easy to digest. There’s literally not much to think about while watching this anime. It’s just that simple.

Now, a lot of people will think that there’s just a lot of fanservice in this anime, and it’s just trying to reel people right in using that fanservice. However, this anime is more than just mindless comedy and action. It’s actually very well-thought and intelligent. It has a lot of plot twists that’ll keep you engaged and on the edge of your seat throughout the series.

We can’t deny the fact that the introduction of Daphne and the Brilliant Blue was definitely slow. It’ll make a lot of people bored. Also, the clothes the characters are wearing are just over-the-top. They’re just there for fan service. It might disappoint some people, but the series is pretty deep and entertaining if you don’t consider it.

Overall, we love the plot of Daphne and the Brilliant Blue. It is very well executed and catches us by surprise by serving us with such a unique storyline.

The characters in Daphne and the Brilliant Blue are all varied and exciting. They synergize well, which was very important for this anime because of its episodic nature. The best characters from this anime series are Shizuka, Gloria, and Yu. They’re very well made. On the other hand, Rena and Maia are just average.

Despite being the leader of the group, Rena doesn’t act like one at all. She’s just there sitting in the office and giving orders to others. It’s not that she’s a bad character; she’s just not well-executed.

Daphne and the Brilliant Blue is another such anime with a horrible main character. Maia is our main character, and she’s uninteresting and bland. Even side characters shine brighter than her. She’s the most annoying, air-headed, and clueless character ever.

The way her emotions are portrayed does not give a nice feeling. They made us cringe, to be honest. Other than Maia, every other character is well-executed. It would’ve been great if Maia’s character was handled with care as well.

There’s a difference between art and animation. For Daphne and the Brilliant Blue, the animation is average, but the art is phenomenal. The characters look charming. Their clothes look unique and exciting.

The animation for Daphne and the Brilliant Blue is pretty decent as well. The movements are fluid. Some lovely little details impressed us greatly. We really appreciate the animators for doing such a great job!

The opening and ending soundtrack for Daphne and the Brilliant Blue did a great job setting the mood for the upcoming events. Both are very catchy. The voice acting is pretty great. However, some people might find Maia’s voice a little annoying. Her character is just like that. There isn't much to talk about in the music department.

There are a few instances where this anime becomes a drag to watch. But stick to it, you’ll enjoy the ending! At the end of our review, we can say that Daphne and the Brilliant Blue is a dull gem, a diamond in the rough, and an unexplored anime.