This project and the conversations that have resulted from it have brought me to something of sticking point. When is anime no longer anime? As a genre it's heavily based on adapted materials. At least half of all anime is based on manga, which itself creates something of an issue. Manga comes in both single-shot and serialized forms, but the transition to anime doesn't necessarily retain that original format. Serials become feature length movies and graphic novel manga become TV series.
Confounding the problem further is the issue of artistic medium. It's easy enough to retain the feel of the original manga using hand-drawn cartoons. But by the late 1990's, computer animation was about the most fashionable thing around. These days CGI and other computer animation techniques have been toned down and allowed to flow with the long-established styles surrounding them. Take for instance the transition in South Park from stop motion using paper cutouts to computer animation that effectively mimics stop motion. That certainly has had more staying power than, say, the Canadian cartoon Reboot. So, what happens to anime when computers start to muscle in on the handcrafted territory? Studio Gonzo and director Mahiro Maeda practically developed the thesis on this topic with their adaptation of Satoru Ozawa's manga Blue Submarine No. 6.
Released in mid-2000, the Blue Sub 6 anime is easily one of the most stylistically impressive examples of the genre I've ever seen. The computer effects are used sparingly and only to create a sense of dimension, scale and depth that would be difficult, if not impossible, to achieve by hand. The story's expansive ocean environment practically requires such visuals. Rather than being frothy and acrylic-colored, the world of Blue Sub 6 just looks wet all over. Watching it made me feel like my clothes were soaked through and everything around me was hopelessly sodden. In a good way.
The success of this anime has everything to do with Ozawa's excellent story. Set in the not-too-distant future, a scientist of the mad but not absurd variety named Zorndyke uses Earth's oceans to swallow most of human civilization and then wages war on the survivors using bizarre hybrid creatures. Giant wale-like attack ships filled with monstrous crews pop up out of nowhere to break whole cities apart. The humans defend themselves using some hi-tech but still outdated submarines. The story opens with a fantastic battle scene and the attempted recruitment of our young but world-weary hero, Tetsu. Before you know it, we're on our way to the South Pole to stop Zorndyke from basically ending the world.
Last week, I talked about how the industry behind anime pressures storytellers into accepting a visual style whether they like it or not. Along with that style usually come distracting cliches of the genre. That the adaptation of Blue Sub 6 avoids pretty much every one of those cliches is as much an accomplishment as the excellent animation. The ending is especially satisfying, and not just for an anime. The concluding moments of Blue Submarine No. 6 are as poignant and, dare I say, meaningful as any great novel or work of live action cinema. In a story all about conflict and death, the ending is fittingly funereal. Even its villains become heartbreaking, sympathetic figures.
Comprehension: 10/10- A good story is universal in its appeal and good direction transcends cultural boundaries. If you want a sharp, clear anime, this is your best bet. Coming from a doubter like myself, that should mean a lot.
Enjoyment: 10/10- Good is good, regardless of qualifiers. Blue Sub 6 is pretty, it's atmospheric, it's well-plotted and the voice acting is good enough to make a dub worthwhile. It's just too bad the premiere of this film was on Cartoon Network and not in major theaters.
Improvement of Understanding: I'm leaving this one alone for now. Continuing with the discussion of adaptation, Blue Submarine No. 6 is set to be given the live-action treatment for just shy of $90 million. I don't know if we'll ever see it, considering the entertainment climate in the States. Anime adaptations are scarce around these parts and people are even getting tired of movies made from beloved, familiar comic books. With the upcoming Dragonball movie, we'll see if the public can stand the idea. Of course, I myself could think of about a dozen animes more deserving of adaptation than Dragonball. If Blue Sub 6 with real people ever gets made, I'd be interested to see if the story and atmosphere managed to survive so much processing. Until then, my grasp of anime and its place in mixed media will have to remain incomplete.
Next Week: Akikan
