Nadia - The Secret of Blue Water Vol-1 (1989)
Animation Production: Gainax
Released by: ADV Films
Official Website: ADV's Nadia Vol -1 Page
Episodes: 4
By Jeffrey Couto

Introduction

The first time I saw Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water I knew I was witnessing something that was timeless and vastly different from the anime staples that I typically enjoy. Without a doubt, Nadia is not only one of the best anime series ever made, but one of the greatest stories ever told and a testament to Gainax's creativity and its great storytelling skills.

Story

"The World’s Fair, Paris, 1889: a young inventor crosses paths with an enigmatic girl and her pet lion. Suddenly they find themselves pursued by a villainous trio intent upon stealing the magical Blue Water. Thus begins an epic adventure inspired by Jules Verne’s masterpiece 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. Join Nadia and Jean as they travel the high seas in search of Nadia’s homeland and her past, their only clue the mysterious jewel Nadia wears. Can they unravel the Secret of the Blue Water before it is too late?"
-- ADV's Nadia Webpage

Review

The series begins in Paris, France, close to the turn of the century. There is a great sea of change in Europe as the Industrial Revolution begins to take hold and influence a new way of life for the populace. It's against this backdrop that we meet Jean, a young boy with an enthusiastic passion for science and technology and Nadia, a mysterious young girl we first encounter atop the Eiffel Tower.

These first 4 episodes of the series serve as our introduction to the two main characters of the series and the unlikely relationship that begins to blossom between them. We see how their personalities are in great contrast, with Jean's enthusiasm for anything mechanical (he fancies himself an inventor) and Nadia's more reserved nature, which when combined, create a great learning experience for our young adventurers. We are also introduced to several other characters in these episodes such as Jean's uncle, Grandisand and her two partners in crime, Nadia's pet lion King, but none are focused on as much as Nadia and Jean are.

While these first episodes are on the slower end of the anime curve they should be seen and understood as nothing more than the building blocks to what will become an unforgettable storyline. Outside of the initial core development of the characters they also serve as our introduction to the world of Nadia, which is largely, inspired by Jules Verne "20,000 Leagues".

The animation for this TV series is exceptional and does a great job in conveying the story and while it may lack the technical prowess that is standard in modern anime series, there is a great feel and fluidity to the drawings that make the characters come to life in a way that today's more advanced shows lack; to me Nadia's artistry embodies everything that makes anime one of my favorite artistic and storytelling mediums.

Supporting the series' amazing animation is one of the most beautifully realized crafted anime soundtracks of all time. From the opening song (Blue Water) to the ending theme (Yes, I will...) Nadia is filled with beautiful music and melodies that help cement this series as one of the greatest achievements in modern animation. (Please note ADV Films is releasing the complete soundtrack to Nadia on 4 separate CD's in North America on November 25, 2003)

This ADV DVD release contains the following episodes from Nadia - Secret of Blue Water:

Episode 1: Girl at the Eiffel Tower
Episode 2: The Little Fugitive
Episode 3: The Riddle of the Giant Sea Monsters
Episode 4: Nautilus, The Fantastic Submarine

It also comes with a small insert that contains the same artwork found on the cover of the box, English dubbed & original Japanese soundtracks, textless opening & closing themes, and previews for other ADV Film releases.

Final Thoughts

I've used many adjectives to describe Nadia - Secret of Blue Water, from timeless to amazing and a classic, but the truth is that I can't really convey how much I've enjoyed this TV series, it truly has to be experienced to be appreciated. If you are an anime fan, you should really make it a point to check out this anime, regardless of whether you prefer more action or mechanical driven series. Nadia is truly Gainax's greatest achievement.

Jeffrey Couto