Black Lagoon
Summary: Salaryman Rokurou Okajima spends his days trying to climb his company's corporate ladder, until one day when a business negotiation in Thailand goes awry. During the botched deal, he falls hostage to the Lagoon Company—a band of ruthless pirate mercenaries. Left to the whims of his captors after his managers refuse to pay his ransom, Rokurou does the unthinkable: instead of begging for his life, he joins the very crew who kidnapped him.
Now a member of the group, Rokurou must adjust to his new residence in the dissolute hellscape known as Roanapur, a city where corruption and crime run rampant, and even the smallest slipup could cost him his life. If not for one of the many crime syndicates on the island, Rokurou also constantly finds himself at odds with his brash, gunslinging colleague, Revy.
As Rokurou struggles to abandon his past—and with more than just the profits from the Lagoon Company's illegal trading on the line—he must quickly find the resolve to make tough decisions in high-stress situations while keeping his humanity intact.
[Written by MAL Rewrite]
Description
Salaryman Rokurou Okajima spends his days trying to climb his company's corporate ladder, until one day when a business negotiation in Thailand goes awry. During the botched deal, he falls hostage to the Lagoon Company—a band of ruthless pirate mercenaries. Left to the whims of his captors after his managers refuse to pay his ransom, Rokurou does the unthinkable: instead of begging for his life, he joins the very crew who kidnapped him.
Now a member of the group, Rokurou must adjust to his new residence in the dissolute hellscape known as Roanapur, a city where corruption and crime run rampant, and even the smallest slipup could cost him his life. If not for one of the many crime syndicates on the island, Rokurou also constantly finds himself at odds with his brash, gunslinging colleague, Revy.
As Rokurou struggles to abandon his past—and with more than just the profits from the Lagoon Company's illegal trading on the line—he must quickly find the resolve to make tough decisions in high-stress situations while keeping his humanity intact.
[Written by MAL Rewrite]
Available At
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Black Lagoon Trailers
Black Lagoon Pictures
Black Lagoon Review
Black Lagoon — Salaryman Rokurou Okajima spends his days trying to climb his company's corporate ladder, until one day when a business negotiation in Thailand goes awry. This overview is intentionally spoiler-free and focuses on tone and intent rather than plot specifics.
Thematically, It sits firmly within Action conventions as a TV work and has garnered attention (MAL score: 8.03). This work explores character dynamics, tonal shifts, and the interplay between narrative ambition and execution. The story's pacing and tonal choices are crafted to complement the central ideas, often emphasizing atmosphere and emotional truth over explicit exposition. The show's ability to evoke a consistent mood — whether melancholic, exuberant, or contemplative — is a recurring strength, and the scenes are constructed so viewers can infer stakes without needing explicit spoilers.
Characterization is a core pillar here. Protagonists and supporting figures are written with distinct motivations and narrative roles; even when archetypal, the series invests in small behavioral details that make choices feel earned. Character arcs are handled with an eye for gradualism: development often arrives through incremental beats rather than abrupt, expository shifts. The interactions between characters create texture, and relationships are used to illuminate both personal flaws and larger thematic concerns.
On the visual front, production values play a significant role. The animation quality varies by sequence but frequently showcases thoughtful direction and composition. Background art, framing, and color palettes are used deliberately to support tone — quieter scenes favor muted palettes while action or heightened emotional beats employ brighter, more kinetic visuals. Direction choices, such as camera movement and shot selection, often elevate scenes beyond their raw script, creating moments that linger in the viewer's mind.
The soundscape — score, incidental music, and sound design — complements the visual language. Music cues are placed to maximize emotional resonance without manipulating the audience with melodrama; this restraint often leads to more authentic emotional payoff. Sound design punctuates key moments, and when the series leans on silence, those quieter moments are given weight by measured audio choices.
Pacing and structure are handled with craft. Episodes are arranged to build tension and release methodically, and the narrative rarely rushes through important emotional beats. That said, the deliberate pacing may feel slow to viewers who prefer faster plot turnover; the reward is greater nuance and an accumulation of meaning across the series. Accessibility is generally good — one can appreciate surface-level pleasures, while repeat or attentive viewing reveals additional layers.
No title is without flaws. Occasional unevenness in subplots or variable animation across episodes can be distracting. Some tonal shifts might feel abrupt if you expect uniformity; others will argue that those shifts are purposeful. These are worth noting, but they seldom undercut the larger achievements of the work.
In sum, Black Lagoon offers a rich experience for viewers who value character-driven storytelling, considered visual design, and a soundtrack that supports rather than overwhelms. For fans of Action, this is an especially rewarding watch. It's recommended for those who appreciate layered narratives and artistry in animation, and best approached with patience and attention to nuance.
Characters & Voice Actors
Benny
Main
Hirata, Hiroaki
Japanese
Benny
Main
Drummond, Brian
English
Benny
Main
Loddi, Loris
Italian
Benny
Main
Banken, Christoph
German
Benny
Main
Pasquier, Laurent
French
Dutch
Main
Isobe, Tsutomu
Japanese
Dutch
Main
Redman, Dean
English
Dutch
Main
Petruo, Thomas
German
Dutch
Main
Gimenez, Pascal
French
Dutch
Main
Marchese, Paolo
Italian
Dutch
Main
Vallés, Alfonso
Spanish
Okajima, Rokurou
Main
Namikawa, Daisuke
Japanese
Okajima, Rokurou
Main
Swaile, Brad
English
Okajima, Rokurou
Main
Quarta, Alessandro
Italian
Okajima, Rokurou
Main
Nath, Tobias
German
Okajima, Rokurou
Main
Laquet, Damien
French
Okajima, Rokurou
Main
De Gracia, Ángel
Spanish
Revy
Main
Toyoguchi, Megumi
Japanese
Revy
Main
Liberatori, Perla
Italian
Revy
Main
Hendrikse, Marÿke
English
Staff
Cook, Justin
Producer
Matsuo, Ryouichirou
Producer
Ogura, Mitsutoshi
Producer
Okamoto, Junya
Producer
Katabuchi, Sunao
Director, Episode Director, Script, Storyboard, Series Composition
Araki, Tetsurou
Episode Director, Storyboard
Katsuki, Kunio
Episode Director, Animation Director
Kawamura, Kenichi
Episode Director, Storyboard, Assistant Director
Muroi, Fumie
Episode Director, Animation Director
Nigorikawa, Atsushi
Episode Director
Shino, Masanori
Episode Director, Storyboard, Animation Director, Chief Animation Director, Character Design
Panetto, Anthony
Script
Komai, Kazuya
Storyboard
Nishimura, Satoshi
Storyboard
Soeta, Kazuhiro
Storyboard, Animation Director, Key Animation, Assistant Animation Director
Edison
Theme Song Arrangement, Theme Song Performance, Theme Song Composition, Music
MELL
Theme Song Lyrics, Theme Song Performance
Takase, Kazuya
Theme Song Composition, Theme Song Arrangement
Abe, Nozomu
Key Animation
Ajiki, Kei
Animation Director