Setting Sail: The Transition from Ghibli to Gainax
Broadcast on NHK Educational TV from April 1990 to March 1991, Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water was a work in which Hideaki Anno fully demonstrated his abilities as a series director. It was originally based on an undersea adventure project conceived by Hayao Miyazaki in the 1970s and shares adventure-story elements with Miyazaki’s Future Boy Conan and Castle in the Sky. Anno had previously handled mechanical animation for works such as Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind at Studio Ghibli, but was selected to direct this Gainax production. Set in the era of the 1889 Paris Exposition, the story begins with the meeting of Nadia, an African girl, and Jean, a young inventor. Drawing on the world of Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, it created a new appeal through distinctive characterization and detailed world-building.
The Voyage Develops: Building Characters and a World
Nadia’s appeal lies in its complex portrayal of the heroine’s psychology and her growth. The 14-year-old circus worker initially distrusts people and keeps to herself, but gradually opens her heart through her interactions with the cheerful, optimistic Jean. Colorful characters such as Grandis and her gang, Captain Nemo, and Denshi also enrich the story. At its heart are a struggle over a mysterious jewel called the Blue Water and the mysteries of the ancient civilization of Atlantis. The structure gradually reveals intricately intertwined clues, including the relationship between Nadia’s origins and the jewel and the ambitions of Gargoyle, leader of Neo-Atlantis, continually keeping viewers engaged. The detailed depiction of the submarine Nautilus, in particular, exemplifies Anno’s strength in mechanical design and lends credibility to the late-19th-century setting.
Difficult Waters: Production Struggles and Turning Points
The production process was far from smooth. An increase in the planned episode count led to episodes 23 through 34, commonly called the “island arc,” straying from the main plot. Animation and script quality varied in this section, which Anno himself later described as “unnecessary.” From episode 35 onward, however, the story returned to its main course and rapidly approached its climax. Episode 37, “Blue Noah,” which reveals Nadia’s origins, and episode 38, “Electra’s Sorrow,” which depicts Captain Nemo’s past, were particularly moving. A turning point comes when the true nature of Gargoyle’s desire for revenge and the weight of Nadia’s destiny are revealed. Here, the work gains depth as a human drama beyond a simple adventure, and the theme of inner conflict characteristic of Anno’s work begins to emerge strongly.
The Voyage’s Destination: Its Legacy and Influence on Anno’s Work
Nadia ultimately won high praise, taking first place in the TV anime category at the 15th Anime Grand Prix. Its significance lies in the early signs of Hideaki Anno’s directing style that would lead to Neon Genesis Evangelion. In particular, the scene in episode 22, “Denshi’s Choice,” in which Denshi stands on a cliff against a red sky, was later recreated with a similar composition in Evangelion. The series also contains many elements that became foundations of Anno’s later work, including themes of humanity’s origins and the fall of civilizations, and the use of religious motifs. Nadia was a commercial success and expanded into manga, games, and film, but above all it decisively demonstrated the young Anno’s individuality and talent as a creator. Containing both his gifts and his limitations as a director, it remains loved by many fans as a valuable turning point in Japanese animation history.
