For crime and action thriller fans, Black Lagoon, an anime series based on Rei Hiroe’s manga, offers true style and excitement. Produced by Studio Madhouse, the series may remind audiences of Quentin Tarantino’s films due to its gripping narrative and intense action scenes.
As for the order to watch Black Lagoon, following the release date order is recommended, which typically aligns with the chronological order of events in the series.
1. Black Lagoon
- Episodes: 12
- Released: Spring 2006
Okajima Rokuro, a Japanese office worker in a bustling city filled with others like him, leads a mundane life of dealing with clients and enduring the wrath of his boss.
However, his routine is disrupted when his company sends him to the tropical seas of East China to deliver a disk. Unfortunately, his voyage takes a dangerous turn when his boat is hijacked by a group of mercenaries hired to retrieve the disk.
Dubbed “Rock” by his captors, he catches the eye of Revy, the group’s sole female member, when he suggests he could fetch a ransom. In a surprising turn of events, Rock ends up taking Revy hostage.
Unbeknownst to Rock, the stolen disk holds a dark secret, setting off a chain of events that plunges him and his captors from the Lagoon Company into chaos and confusion.
2. Black Lagoon: The Second Barrage
- Episodes: 12
- Released: Fall 2006
Okajima Rokuro, now commonly known as Rock, used to lead a mundane life as a typical Japanese office worker. However, his world is turned upside down when he is kidnapped by the Lagoon Company, a notorious group of mercenary pirates based in the lawless city of Roanapur.
Left behind by his former boss, Rock finds himself thrust into a new life as a member of the Lagoon Company. Now, he must navigate the treacherous waters of the criminal underworld, constantly adapting to its ever-changing politics. Meanwhile, he must also dodge death at the hands of his unpredictable and firearms-proficient coworker, Revy, who is nicknamed “Two Hand”.
3. Black Lagoon: Roberta’s Blood Trail
- Episodes: 5
- Released: Summer 2010
In this five-episode OVA series of Black Lagoon, Roberta, the former terrorist turned housekeeper, makes a dramatic return.
When the patriarch of the Lovelace clan, Roberta’s employer, is murdered during a political rally, she sets out on a relentless quest for revenge. Her pursuit leads her back to Roanapur, the city where her bloody past is intertwined.
On Roberta’s trail are Garcia, the new head of the Lovelace clan, and her apprentice, Fabiola Iglesias.
As Roberta’s rampage leaves a trail of bodies, tensions rise within the corrupt island of Roanapur. The Lagoon Company and other factions from abroad are drawn into the fray, threatening to escalate into all-out war.
For fans eager to legally watch this intense anime sequence, it’s available for streaming on Crunchyroll. Enjoy the action-packed drama as Roberta’s quest for vengeance unfolds!