Audience reviews
20 · Sample from the first available page, separate from the total number of ratings.
HotDoggoneit
Black Lagoon is a high-IQ action anime that you pretty much don't see made anymore. It combines 10 out of 10 animation from prime Madhouse with top-tier writing and an exhilarating story from beginning to end. Personally, if anime was filled with more series like Black Lagoon, I can only imagine how much more popular it would be. Other genres obviously do well, but it feels like almost everyone appreciates shows like this when they actually get made.
That's what makes Black Lagoon feel so special today. At this point, it's almost a historical anime. A lot of younger viewers on YouTube and social media are discovering it for the first time and realizing just how good it really is. I don't think enough people realize that some of the greatest anime ever made came out 15 or 20 years ago, and…
Read at the sourceKatsumataJ
Black Lagoon is a show that can barely be put into words.
Black Lagoon is special. The world, the characters, the fights, the one-liners, the jokes... I could go on. This show doesn't just introduce protagonists and keep adding onto them. You see protagonists, antagonists, and then you're not even sure which one they actually are. Some antagonists seem like protagonists, and then all of a sudden they're antagonists. The story moves quickly, but it works. In this war-filled, crime-ridden world, stuff happens, and shit changes fast.
Obviously, you have your main crew: Revy, Rock, Dutch, and Benny. The Lagoon Company's dynamic is incredibly compelling, but one definitely sticks out the most: Revy. One of the most badass female protagonists in anime, she's an absolute shitshow. You can dumb…
Read at the sourceJormungand-S943
Black Lagoon is one of my all-time favorite animes, and I can honestly give it a 10/10. It has an amazing story that keeps you interested, with great action, memorable characters, and a dark atmosphere that fits the series perfectly.
One of my favorite things about it is the animation style. I really like its gritty and unique look, which matches the tone of the story very well.
In my opinion, the anime is a great adaptation of the manga. It captures the characters and the overall feeling of the original really well.
The only minor downside is that the anime changes the order of some events compared to the manga. It was a bit confusing at first because I had already read the manga, but you can get used to it quickly, and I still think it's an excellent adaptation.
Overall, Black Lagoon…
Read at the sourceThePlutoMan
I like balalaika
She's my favorite
And to be able to release this review, I have to talk about the listed things
artstyle-
I think it's good because I can't do that even at my fullest. Unless I'm drawing balalaika, then i'm drawing beyond my fullest to draw them to perfection
story unique-
sure. yes. i think characters well-rounded/ flaws and strengths-
Not enough balalaika
Did the characters react to situations and events in a realistic way?
i dont know. I was too focused on balalaika
Do you think others will enjoy/dislike this series, even if you didn't? Why?
yes. because of balalaika
7 out of 10
Read at the sourcekopisusu73
This anime is simply an escape from a less-than-supportive environment into an adrenaline-pumping adventure in a crime ecosystem. An office worker is betrayed and drawn into a criminal network, accompanied by four bandits and involved in resolving a dispute.
It's like, "Your life is miserable, come join us, we'll have a decent life for you."
But here's the fun: they experience a lack of synchronization regarding the MC's various problems. Revy feels pessimistic about the office worker's abilities, notably because he's a bit clumsy at first. Her mixed feelings about a mission that should have been easy to complete become a burden, even leading Revy to the feeling of "crazy, how stupid I was to bring a loser who thinks he's so cool." Eventually, a conflict arises between the two characters…
Read at the sourcearesendez88
I think I finally want to write a review for this series and explain why this ranks so high up there as one of my favorite anime of all time. Black Lagoon is an unapologetic 80's action flick dialed up to 11 with all of the anime absurdity we've come to expect from the medium. Gun fights, alcohol, fist fights, cussing, and fast car (and boat) chases. This is a high adrenaline ride and it will not slow down for you if you are not ready for that.
Yet it's not ALL adrenaline and action, there is a lot of character development and slower moments of build up as the cruel world of Roanapur is viewed from the outside looking in perspective of our main character: Rokuro Okajima aka "Rock." Rock is a typical Japanese businessman just trying to do a respectable job when he is thrust into the world…
Read at the sourceArisu_02
I was postponing watching this Anime for a very long time, but finally completed it and didn't regret at all. I like action, but I was worried there will be too much of it, because non-stop fights aren't very entertaining. I didn't have any expectations before watching this anime, I just hoped it will be fine but I got something much better.
So, if you're a fan of action genre, it's a must watch, if you didn't watch it so far, do it immediately. Honestly I don't find anything that I didn't like about this anime.
First of all, art style is pretty and very to my personal taste. It made the whole experience of watching much more pleasant and also all fights and action scenes are perfect, it'd be weird if they weren't since it's pure action anime, but it's worth mentioning. They did a great j…
Read at the sourcelia_wings
Has interesting motifs, makes interesting stances, and has a surprising amount to say for what is, ostensibly, a love letter to Action Movie Bullshit™. Its characters are compelling, and despite their development feeling a bit rocky, watching them interact, banter, and scheme was still as engaging as the action. It has some rough edges on how it portrays and treats women; particularly when it keeps using prostitution as a visual shorthand for depravity in a show with this many kinds of criminals.
Definitely worth a watch if you're into action-oriented stuff but want something different from typical shounen messaging and themes.
Read at the sourceHughMungis
The villains all have a fun nickname +1
Revy is unlikeable through and through despite being one of the MCs +1
the guy MC goes through a little bit of character development in the beginning but doesn't change much -1
the maid is a badass +1
the final episode of the season doesn't really conclude anything. even a "ride off into the sunset" would be a better ending than no ending at all -1
the supporting characters remind me of Jet and Ed from cowboy bebop, which is cool, but they're just that, supporting characters. they aren't annoying in their own right but they don't add much in the way of personality and their own backstories are barely touched on +0
That said, seeing a crime anime based in asia where it doesn't focus on the yakuza is pretty rare and pretty refreshing actually
6/10
Read at the sourcein_situ
"If Roanapur is city of the dead than this is a city of the living. I knew everything in this place so well that i've almost forgot that it's a mirage for a dead man. No, it was already a mirage back then. Revy, i am here not for the homecoming, i am here to forget".
Black Lagoon seems to on a sober spectrum by anime standards, not being quirky for the sake of being quirky. And that is all in spite of manic pixie dream Revy who bares resemblance to Yoruichi Shihōin of Bleach fame and Motoko Kusanagi from Stand Alone Complex, but acts as a bitchy counterpart to both of them. Her sexy presence isn't fronted, so she comes across as a sincere character instead of some greasy incel fantasy. She is moderately edgy, but justifiably so, as there is a lingering reminder that she was put through a…
Read at the sourceRickyGgG
As far as first impressions go, this certainly is one of the more unique ones yet but somehow still lacks something. Black Lagoon, at face value, looks like your typical action gangster anime with many guns and cool quotables. But it really goes as far as being philosophical as it can be while still maintaining it's bravado and swagger. With just 12 episodes in its first season, it definitely peaked my interest.
Revy is the real showstopper here with her being over the top frightening gunslinger here. Her personality and prowess makes her one of a kind character. Rock too is a great character that provides the brains to the brawns and even has a moral side to all of this. It didn't leave much room for Dutch and Benny to shine but I'm sure this will be touched on in the second season.
The…
Read at the sourceSquare_Eyed
The best gun-action anime out there. Despite what some may think at first, Black Lagoon isn’t just action. It’s also a deep psychological story about a man thrown into an immoral world—where there is no true good or evil, only shades of gray. A world that tests and reshapes his very soul. The fights are intense and well-directed, making the series really engaging. Despite its mature, emotional, and serious tone, it doesn’t always take itself too seriously—it balances things with humor and a laid-back, sarcastic attitude.
What fascinates me most is watching an ordinary, law-abiding citizen get thrown into a world of criminals and mercenaries—and witnessing his struggle to hold onto his integrity and moral beliefs. At first, those values just begin to crack… but over time, they break apart…
Read at the sourcejoemaamah
Did you miss anime back in the 1980s? Well here's your chance to experience the vibe. So get out your parachute pants and Doc Martins. Lace 'em up tight,and mousse up your mohawk, because you're in for a wild ride!
The artwork really nails the late 80s/early 90s style. The characters are drawn kind of stark and edgy. The background work is OK but seems a bit of an afterthought. They do nail the animation, and add some modern improvements to the OG style. Revy's gunslinging is kick-ass. There's some 3D tossed in here or there, especially in chase scenes. But It's blended in nicely and doesn't detract at all from the experience.
I thought the character designs were well thought out, but maybe a little underdeveloped. Revy is a Human Cyclone of Hot Lead. There's a touch revealed about her,…
Read at the source06Devil
I've seen another Review before I, Myself wrote mine, but I much agree with what they say. Black Lagoon is an Action Genre Fan Wet Dream Come True!
Animation wise, compared to many modern animated shows that it sole purpose is just to pump out as many IP to be gacha-ed if it would be successful enough, Black Lagoon shine pretty bright in this aspect- The gun fight, hand to hand combat, car chasing it's all been made beautifully, that at least would be engaging.
The story is pretty much "Lacklusting" but once you accept that this show should've also put "Slice of Life" in it genre category, there's pretty much nothing to be complain about, I came onto the first episode, expecting on some grand story telling about line life work of Pirates, Mafia and Corrupt Business Practices all over So…
Read at the sourceManjirin
Black Lagoon in my view transcends anime and manga as a seminal work of crime-action fiction. This is a very approachable and accessible series that you can introduce to someone who either doesn't watch much anime or is not drawn in by typical anime tropes and more than likely induce a favorable or very favorable response. The themes it explores such as personal meaning and purpose, comradery, morality and honor among others resonate sharply while the very Hollywood, action-blockbuster presentation and polish yield undeniable charm and appeal.
It should be noted that this isn't a heavily serialized story working towards a definitive or planned ending, at least that is not the case with this original anime (the manga is currently ongoing). If that is something one must absolutely get out o…
Read at the sourcePapitaa
Black Lagoon is a fantastic blend of batshit craziness and emotional profundity. Aside from the action-packed entertainment and just being cool as hell, one of the most captivating things about it is its underlying joy of severing ties with what makes you miserable.
I'll start by saying that the series is strangely relaxing. No one from the main cast really seems to give a shit; gruesome violence is treated like it's nothing, and plot armour saves everyone's asses. In life-or-death situations, it is ultimately crude and black humour that prevails, not allowing pathos to completely take over. The influence of the Western "coolness" has definitely contributed to Black Lagoon having such a paradoxically laid-back atmosphere despite being one big gorefest. The sheer amount of cultural and his…
Read at the sourcemichciusan
This review includes my optics on the ,,Black Lagoon" anime as a whole - not the first season only.
I do believe that ,,Black Lagoon" is an inclusive proposition. It does not contain bright elements of japanese popculture like these you can see in Isekai like collecting harems or bright character designs in general. It's pretty ambitious but also contains half measures, which you will surely notice analysing a world construction of this anime. I would personally call ,,Black Lagoon" one of ,,bigger" titles, similarly to e.g ,,Shingeki no Kyojin"- titles, which are ambitious enough to grow beyond fiction with problems they represent through their plot. When Rock(a main character of the series) cannot bring himself to accept a harsh reality and then receives an answer like ,,you can't look d…
Read at the sourcenaranayay
might be the best show ever.
bulletproof freak girls killing unhealthy amount of armed men by dodging bullets.
best part of the show is stronK russian mafia mommy.
you will enjoy the show if you interested with 180cm masculine femdom mommy
it has zero story ig. i mean i couldn't understand what is going on. i was dreaming about balalaika all the time
balalaika looks great i mean artstyle is great
balalaika is such gre- i mean characterization is mostly good. i guess?
second season is unarguably better than first because The mighty balalaika is featured more in the second season
Read at the sourcehatakeushi
What in the Gary Stu school of character is this protagonist?
Never felt compelled to write a review on MAL but damn. Rock is so bland and uninteresting I actually rolled my eyes to some of the stuff he does and says, Revy should have been the protagonist.
Don't get me wrong, having a positive and regular guy in the middle of a chaotic situation is quite cool and a nice contrast to get such an action show going... but couldn't they just sprinkle a bit of personality on him? Just some flaws? They even tried giving him something to do in the few first episodes, which makes you think he'll change and then... back to being bland regular office guy. He proceeds to be a nuisance and they keep him around pretending he isn't. Alright.
The romance is also... something.
The blatant inspiration…
Read at the sourceHazamelis
Black Lagoon is an anime series based on a manga from 2002. I haven’t read the manga yet, but the series, in what it manages to adapt, is very good. Black Lagoon has only one issue, and that’s the tone of its villains, which varies too much. Sometimes they are almost semi-realistic, like guerrillas or ex-Nazi soldiers, and sometimes they’re crazy characters straight out of a Marvel comic, like two half-vampire twin children from Romania who destroy anyone they encounter, or a Colombian ex-FARC maid with abilities comparable to the Terminator.
Now, although the villains vary too much in tone, the series has excellent characterization. All the characters carry a burden, they suffer from something, and the hellish, immoral world they live in takes its toll on them. The protagonist, Rock, gra…
Read at the source
