Blue Gender: Volume 1 - Factors 1-3 [DVD]

I saw it originally when it was shown on Sci-fi channel with Nadesico and Evangelion. I hadn't seen Nadesico before and really wanted to see it and was looking forward to watching Evangelion again having previously seen it on VHS. I knew very little about Blue Gender and when I watched it I didn't take a great deal of notice of it. I enjoyed it but nothing special.

Watching it again in isolation I realised that I had formed the wrong opinion of Blue Gender. I know it isn't as well known or revered as shows like Evangelion or Nadesico but Blue Gender is incredibly well written.

The basic plot line of Blue Gender is about a young main, Yuji, who having been cryogenically frozen in the hope that a cure is found for an incurable illness he has. He awakens much later than expected to find that the world is a very different place - a derelict wasteland over-run by insect like monsters called the Blue. A rescue team saves Yuji and gets him back to some orbiting space stations known as Second Earth where the remains of the human race figure how to retake the planet for themselves and eliminate the Blue.

Blue Gender is essentially a sci-fi/mecha series but what really runs through the heart of the series is a very credible love story between Yuji and one of the rescue team, Marlene. The story is very involved and there are some clever sub-plots and plot twists as well. The character development is second to none and you really get to know and feel for Yuji and Marlene as their relationship develops in fits and starts, forced along by the circumstances and pressures that surround them. Marlene is incredibly cold to start with but changes as she falls for Yuji and realises what is really important to her and Yuji struggles to come to terms with has happened and begins to harden as he struggles for survival.

Blue Gender is also very adult and has many scenes of a sexual nature and is very violent and gory at times. This isn't for young audiences.

What lets Blue Gender down is the animation. It was produced on a small budget and that is reflected in the quality of the animation. Which is a real shame because some of the designs are fantastic and there is some lovely artwork too. The problems lie with a lack of detail sometimes and some obvious shortcuts in the animation to save costs.

Blue Gender loses the last star because of this, the story telling fully deserves 5 stars as there aren't many shows that can remained that interesting throughout the whole series. If Blue Gender had animation like RahXephon or Stand Alone Complex then it would probably be the perfect series.

Wholeheartedly recommended.

The Story is pretty solid for a Sci-Fi Anime, at the beginning of the series its fairly annoying with Yuji Kaido's whining, Marlene is boring and has no Emotions for the first half or so. But after the 5th Episode it really starts to advance and the parts of the story start to add up. You could say the story is about a Man's regained Strengh and a Women's regained Tenderness.

The Animation of Blue Gender is outstanding, the colours blend in well together and the Backgrounds are very well detailed and the character designs even better. Although in Episode's you may notice that the Animation change's slightly as if the Animator's couldnt decide on what to go with.

Also Blue Gender contains alot of Blood and Gore and not to mention Nudity, so it might not be an intrest to those with Weak Stomachs...