Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water – An Unforgettable Journey: Review and Analysis

This is a review based on watching the re-broadcast on NHK E-Tele around 2012.

Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water – Episode 23 “The Little Castaway” Review

Re-broadcast on NHK E-Tele. I thought it was okay, but I started watching it from the middle because I got curious.

Episode 23 “The Little Castaway” (out of 39 episodes)

Nadia and the others reached a deserted island. The wreckage of Gargoyle’s ship. There’s a shipping lane in the distance.

I think when I started watching it back then, it was around this deserted island part. The scene where Nadia is riding a bicycle is a digest of the story. There were bicycles in this era (1889).

Tour de France. Held since 1903. It seems there was already a sports newspaper company.

Where in Africa is Nadia’s hometown? I think it’s easy to get there even without an airplane in this era… I can’t help but think about various things. The Sahara Desert area is almost entirely a French colony. Amazing.

According to the flashbacks, it seems to be the Roman era. The people of Nautilus have different skin colors. Well done. Or rather, that engineer grandpa is from the same country as Nadia. Electra too. Are they all Africans? North Africa, maybe? An island, right?

Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water – Episode 24 “Lincoln Island” Review

Episode 24 “Lincoln Island”

The opening narration changed. It’s a woman now. She was saying very harsh things to Nadia.

I thought Jean was very skilled. These kinds of situations are where various special skills are demonstrated.

Lincoln Island. Lincoln apparently did something like emancipating slaves.¹ The American Civil War?? If so, then by the late 19th century, slavery wouldn’t have existed, right?

They’re saying something rare, the coexistence of science and nature. Nowadays, people don’t say such things much, and there’s no questioning the development of science. Is it correct to say that it’s convenient?

How old is Marie? She seems to be able to write sentences. Around 7 years old?

I’ve always loved this anime, and for some reason, it’s being re-broadcast this year. Science and civilization… At first, I knew it was on, but I thought it was too late to watch it now, so I didn’t watch it for a while. But I’ve been watching it because I was curious. I can’t help but feel like I can redo my life.

Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water – Episode 25 “The First Kiss” Review

Was Episode 25 “The First Kiss”?

As expected, it’s an old anime, so there are many different presentations compared to today’s anime. Though I don’t watch that much modern anime…

It’s also amazing that it’s broadcast on NHK.

Jean can do so many things, he’s like a mother… Nadia is always angry and childish, and Marie is like an older sister.

Back then, I might not have realized how short-tempered and angry Nadia was. I just thought she was cute. Nadia not being angry feels out of character…

At the end of this episode, Nadia’s personality changes a bit.

Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water – Episode 26 “Lonely King” Review

After reevaluating Jean, Nadia’s personality changes. King, overcome with jealousy, runs away from home… How cute.

But this Nadia doesn’t feel like herself and isn’t very appealing. If there was a person who was always angry but had a cute face, I wonder what men would think? Would they think it’s okay because she’s cute? That’s probably why they set it up that way.

Nadia’s image is a culmination of the creators’ male preferences.

I think I might like Jean better. I also think Grandis is good. Maybe it’s because I’ve re-watched this anime after decades and understand more.

In the latter half of this episode, Nadia regained her anger. But she’s a little nicer. Her voice doesn’t sound 14 at all. A calm voice actress.

Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water – Episode 27 “The Island of the Witch” Review

The opening narration is profound. I wonder how long Nadia and the others intend to stay on the island? Electra is strict.

A typhoon came, and an island drifted in. On that island, plants from tropical and frigid regions coexist, a strange island. There, they reunited with a person named Ayrton. I remember the name Ayrton, but who is he? The monster looked like Gratin… I’m shocked that I didn’t see the beginning, both now and then. I spent several months thinking it was okay, even though I knew it was being re-broadcast this year. What a waste. The art this time was also strange. It’s typical of old anime. It would probably be beautiful if the art were remastered and digitally redone.

The drifting island. When I read the original “Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea,” the afterword mentioned that there was a sequel to this story, a long and difficult work over 800 pages. I remember borrowing it from the library and reading it during summer vacation in my third year of junior high. But I don’t remember the content at all. It was a story about a few people living on a deserted island, like Nadia and the others in this episode, with Jean making various things for their survival. I kept reading even though Nadia didn’t appear. I think the anime had finished broadcasting the year before. What was I doing?

There’s another island story, “The Floating Island.” It’s a story about traveling from San Diego, USA, to the area above Australia. I mistakenly thought this was the sequel and read it. It’s exactly like the moving island this time. It’s a ship that’s like an island. Nadia doesn’t appear in this one either…

Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water – Episode 28 “Drifting Island” Review

Only about 10 episodes left.

Today’s story is the usual feel. But it’s interesting. I might actually like the trio.

In the end, it’s a misunderstanding between two people who like each other. They’re 14, there’s no need to rush, right?

Apparently, this island is still drifting. Or rather, it’s moving?? I wonder what kind of story will unfold today? I think I started watching around this island part. It was also broadcast for a year back then. It was on Fridays at 7:30 PM. That was extended to that ninja manga. I wonder how many decades it’s been running since then.

Will the directors move on to Evangelion after this? A new movie is coming out again. It was on TV yesterday too.

Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water – Episode 29 “King vs. King” Review

“King vs. King” aired on November 10th.

It was a common story, but it was interesting. It seems they were openly admitting to having trouble with ideas around this time. Does Evangelion have something like this too? Nadia always seems to have this “we’re struggling for ideas” vibe throughout. Lately, the art has been stable. Though this is quite an old story…

In a good way, it feels like an old-fashioned Jump manga. You can see the creators’ perspective, with the art being rough or the story feeling disjointed. It’s not a criticism, but modern anime are so polished. It feels more human when you can see the handmade aspects.

Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water – Episode 30 “The Underground Maze” Review

“The Underground Maze” aired on November 17th.

In the previous episode, during King’s story, Jean discovered an iron door at the bottom of the sea. But it wasn’t really brought up much afterward.

As the title suggests, it wasn’t underground but a cave. There was a place like the one in Antarctica, and Nadia disappeared. And that’s how it ended.

“Jean is my friend” – this kind of phase might be the best. A relationship where it’s unclear whether they’re friends or lovers, even they themselves aren’t sure.

They were looking for a goat right before the disappearance incident… They said they’d reach the east coast of Africa if they kept going. So it’s not the Atlantic Ocean…

We’re nearing the climax. It’s been 7 episodes since they parted ways with Nemo, about a month and a half. During this time, the relationship with Jean subtly changed, and Nadia’s selfishness powered up, among other things. But I think that’s normal for a human, not just selfishness.

While the latest Evangelion movie is being released and creating a buzz in the world, this past masterpiece is quietly being re-broadcast on NHK… How sad…

Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water – Missed Episode 31

I didn’t record it. I realized it was Monday, and I missed it. How unfortunate. It doesn’t seem like there are any videos online either…

It seemed like a very important episode too…

There doesn’t seem to be a rental either…

Maybe I should just buy the whole set at an auction. After all, I haven’t seen the beginning either, so I’ll definitely buy it someday.

Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water – Episode 32 “Nadia’s First Love?” Review

I wonder what today’s title is about?

Hama Hama-kun, born in 1877… Currently, 1889. 12 years old??

The opening narration gave me some insight into the previous episode. Nadia is apparently an alien…

Anyway, they’ve arrived in Africa. They reached a city that looks like it.

In the temple of this city, there was a can of Gargoyle.

I heard that Nadia’s music is used in the soundtrack of the latest Evangelion movie!

Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water – Episode 33 “King’s Rescue” Review

This episode was about everyone working together to rescue King, who had been captured by Gonzalez.¹ It turns out Hama Hama had a childhood sweetheart who was his fiancée. And with only a few episodes left, I wonder why they’re taking it so easy? Old anime really are profound. They have expression methods that aren’t seen in today’s anime.

The name Gonzalez is quite something. Is this the same Gonzalez who was Grandis’s first love? Was Grandis Italian? She mentioned being swindled…

What era is this? It’s 1890. Do modern anime even have settings from this period? It feels quite unique.

Nadia is also amazing. A female protagonist with her personality would be unthinkable in today’s anime. A heroine? She openly falls for another man… Isn’t the current standard a gentle and pure character? Pure love? I thought the story would become more mystical after they left the island. But watching Nadia, I feel a slow and peaceful passage of time. Happiness, perhaps…

Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water – Episode 34 “My Dear Nadia” Review

This was a musical episode with songs playing throughout. Apparently, all the music was composed by Shiro Sagisu.

The theme, as always, is the relationship between Nadia and Jean… They clearly love each other, but for some reason, they act like they don’t. The problem is that Nadia often acts cold for no reason.

Old anime often had these “filler” episodes…

Long-running anime tend to have episodes that are like clip shows or recaps when they run out of material. We understand that, so we see them as episodes where they’re having trouble with content or making adjustments.

Looking at it now, it’s amazing. I don’t think I thought anything of it back then.

I wonder what kind of person Shiro Sagisu is? He was born in 1957 and is a composer, arranger, and music producer. His current range of activities is incredibly global. He also does idol songs, so he seems to be involved in a wide variety of genres. You can see his face on his official website.

However, if the main characters were in love from the start, the story wouldn’t develop at all. It’s more dramatic if they keep missing each other.

Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water – Episode 38 “To Space” Review

Captain Nemo’s strategies always seem so bold. I’m starting to understand what might be the underlying inspiration. Was it in Verne’s original works? I certainly didn’t notice it back then.

It seems the Atlanteans aren’t Earthlings. If they’re aliens, everything makes sense. Humans are artificial beings created by these Atlanteans. It’s a concept that resonates with Evangelion. Just recently, or perhaps in the previous episode, Gargoyle and Nadia passed through a place with human prototypes. There was a similar scene in Evangelion, and Rei wasn’t human either.

Perhaps the differences in skin color aren’t just about that. Or something along those lines.

The Eiffel Tower was destroyed, wasn’t it? I wonder if there are other French anime or movies where that happens?

I’d love to see it remade into a movie!

Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water – Final Episode Thoughts

The ending didn’t feel like an anime made by the person who created Evangelion. It concluded with the idea that a woman finds happiness in marriage. I wonder if Evangelion will end up the same way.

From the beginning, there were hints of this old-fashioned view of female happiness, so it wasn’t entirely surprising.

Marie’s final line was particularly memorable: “On Sundays, we’ll take walks in the park.”

I have a feeling this peace won’t last. In a few years, foolish humans will start another war.

Gargoyle’s portrayal as a villain was also lackluster. He turned out to be a human who turned into salt?

The reasoning behind “humans are foolish” is… questionable.

I wouldn’t want Electra’s child either. It feels like a male fantasy.