Blue Dragon (TV series)
Anime adaptation of the Blue Dragon video game series.
Blue Dragon (stylized in all caps) is a Japanese anime television series based on the video game series of the same name by Mistwalker. Produced by Studio Pierrot, it aired on TV Tokyo across two seasons totaling 102 episodes: the first season ran from April 2007 to March 2008, and the second season, titled *Blue Dragon: Trials of the Seven Shadows*, aired from April 2008 to March 2009. Viz Media licensed the series for North America.
The story begins when Shu, along with his friends Jiro and Kluke, tries to defend their village from an unknown attacker. They meet Zola and gain the ability to transform their shadows into powerful monsters called Shadows. Shu receives one of the strongest, Blue Dragon, and the group sets out to defeat their enemy.
Shu, the main protagonist from the village of Talta, is impulsive and adventurous but also honest, loyal, and courageous. His shadow is Blue Dragon, a blue dragon voiced by Masaya Takatsuka in Japanese and Lex Lang in English. Jiro, a skilled and strategic boy from the destroyed village of Muffei, is driven by revenge against Nene. His shadow is Minotaur, a green-furred minotaur voiced by Kōji Ochiai (Japanese) and Kirk Thornton (English). Kluke, Shu’s best friend, is a mechanical expert who is cautious but quick to anger. Her shadow is Phoenix, a purple and pink bird voiced by Konomi Tsuboi (Japanese) and Michelle Ruff (English). Marumaro, a Devee they meet after leaving Talta, is immature and easily distracted by girls but brave. His shadow is Saber Tiger, a humanoid smilodon voiced by Jin Horikawa (Japanese) and Neil Kaplan (English). Bouquet, who claims to be Shu’s girlfriend, is cheerful and kind; her shadow is Hippopotamus, a humanoid hippo with bat wings voiced by Chō (Japanese) and Michael Sorich (English). Zola, a cold and detached sky pirate, wields the shadow Killer Bat, which she obtained after her father died protecting her in ruins. The true final antagonist of the first season is Nene, the tyrannical ruler who destroyed Jiro's village. In the second season, the good purged from Zola is used by Dr. Tarkovsky to create Primella.
- Genre
- Anime television series
- Seasons
- 2
- Episodes
- 102 (51 per season)
- Original network
- TV Tokyo
- Production company
- Studio Pierrot
- Original run
- April 2007 – March 2009
- Licensor (North America)
- Viz Media
Lore & Background
The series follows Shu, an impulsive and adventurous boy from the village of Talta, who along with his friends Jiro and Kluke defends their home from an unknown enemy. They meet Zola and receive the power of Shadow, allowing them to transform their shadows into powerful monsters. Shu's shadow is the titular Blue Dragon, one of the seven shadows of light. The group sets out to defeat their enemy, facing challenges that test their courage and friendship.
Key characters include Jiro, whose shadow is Minotaur; Kluke, whose shadow is Phoenix; Marumaro, a Devee with the shadow Saber Tiger; and Bouquet, who claims to be Shu's girlfriend and whose shadow is Hippopotamus. Zola, a pirate of the skies, wields the shadow Killer Bat, but the true final antagonist of the first season is Nene, the tyrannical ruler who destroyed Jiro's village. The second season, Blue Dragon: Trials of the Seven Shadows, introduces Noi, a young member of the Investiture Beings who can turn into a black dragon.
The anime was announced in December 2006, directed by Yukihiro Matsushita and written by Akatsuki Yamatoya. Akira Toriyama, character designer for the video game, noted that Studio Pierrot approached him about the
Reader's Guide
Blue Dragon represents a notable adaptation of a video game franchise into anime, produced by the experienced Studio Pierrot. The series expanded the game's world with a full narrative across two seasons, introducing original characters and plot elements. Its significance lies in bridging the video game and anime audiences, particularly through the involvement of Akira Toriyama, whose character designs lent visual appeal. The English dub, licensed by Viz Media, aired on Cartoon Network in the United States starting April 5, 2008, and was also available on Toonami Jetstream until that service ended. An uncut English version was released on DVD in the UK by Manga Entertainment, restoring original music and offering Japanese audio with subtitles, though further releases were cancelled due to low sales. The series remains a reference point for anime adaptations of Japanese role-playing games, showcasing the challenges of translating interactive media to a linear format.
Did You Know?
- The series was produced by Studio Pierrot and broadcast on TV Tokyo.
- Akira Toriyama, character designer for the Blue Dragon video game, said he was approached about the anime adaptation in February 2006.
- The second season is titled Blue Dragon: Trials of the Seven Shadows.
- An uncut English dub was released in the UK by Manga Entertainment, but further DVD sets were cancelled due to lack of sales.
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