Blue Seed vol. 3

volume 3
by Peter Cahill

When I first saw BLUE SEED volume 1, I was not impressed. The story was cute, but more than a little confusing. The characters were pretty opaque and only the central one, Momiji, seemed fully introduced. In fact Kusanagi, the cat-eyed guy with the variable sweep forearms, was the most confusing element of the story. He and almost everyone else had a reason to kill poor little Momiji, but each group seemed to be protecting her from all the other groups! Huh? And while the artwork was good, my eyeballs were firmly in their sockets.
I probably would not have ever seen another episode if my editor had not handed me BLUE SEED volume 3, dubbed in English. So I watched the first three volumes, subtitled, to bring myself up to speed on the story. I was surprised to find myself enjoying the show. My initial reaction was just a reflection of my frustration with a seemingly pointless video. It turns out I was just too dumb to figure out what was going on! If you're going to start watching this show, I recommend seeing at least the first two volumes together.
The story centers on these parasitic little "seeds" that house the souls of the Aragami, a kind of demon race. Momiji's family bloodline is all that stands between these monsters and their plan for world destruction. And the only people equipped to help and protect Momiji are the Terran Administration Center. Throw in an Aragami servant gone renegade named Kusanagi, and you've got a show!
Now, should you see it? It is cute. If you're looking for lots of explosions, lunch-tossing aerobatics, heart-wrenching drama, or thoughtful sociological debate, this is not for you. On the other hand, BLUE SEED is a good mix of mutant critters, endearing characters, and light humor. And the stupid underwear jokes kind of grow on you.
The dubbing on this tape is not bad. Actually, it is pretty good compared to some of the translation food-processor detritius floating around out there. But then, I would probably prefer a bad subtitle to a mediocre dub anyway. I know this is an old debate, and I do understand that dubbing stuff in English is the only way to make anime truly accessible to more people on this side of the lake. It is just that it breaks my heart to hear all those Japanese words and names being bent, folded, and spindled in English. And a need for diverse voices is one thing, but a Japanese construction worker with a heavy southern drawl is another!
Ah, well...these are really just minor and personal nit-picks. The show is a fun romp with big monsters who have big appetites and lots of towns to level. If you need a break from heavier stuff, check it out.
And no, I have no idea why the seeds are shaped like the number 9.

ORIGINAL STORY: TAKADA YUZO
DIRECTOR: KAMIYA JUN
SUNRISE / EMOTION VIDEO, ¥42000 (Box Set)