Blue Dragon (TV series) facts for kids

Blue Dragon is an exciting Japanese anime TV show. It's based on the popular Blue Dragon video game series. The show was made by Studio Pierrot. It first aired in Japan on TV Tokyo. The first season had 51 episodes and ran from April 2007 to March 2008. A second season, called Blue Dragon: Trials of the Seven Shadows, also had 51 episodes. It aired from April 2008 to March 2009. In North America, Viz Media brought the series to fans.

Main Characters

Meet the brave heroes and their powerful Shadow companions in Blue Dragon!

Human Characters

• Shu (シュウ, Shuu): Shu is the main hero of the story. He is a brave and determined young boy. Shu is always ready to protect his friends and village.
• Zola (ゾラ, Zora): Zola is a mysterious and powerful warrior. She helps Shu and his friends learn about their Shadow powers.
• Jiro (ジーロ, Jiro): Jiro is one of Shu's best friends. He is often serious but very loyal.
• Kluke (クルック, Kurukku): Kluke is another close friend of Shu. She is kind and caring, and often the voice of reason.
• Marumaro (マルマロ, Marumaro): Marumaro is a fun-loving and energetic character. He brings a lot of humor to the group.
• Bouquet (ブーケ, Buke): Bouquet is a skilled fighter with a unique ability. She can change her appearance.
• Noi (ノイ, Noi): Noi is a small, cute, and helpful creature. He often accompanies the main group on their adventures.

Shadow Creatures

These are the powerful monsters that the characters can summon from their shadows.

• Blue Dragon (ブルードラゴン, Bruu Doragon): This is Shu's incredibly powerful Shadow. It is a giant blue dragon.
• Killer Bat (キラーバット, Kira Bat): This is Jiro's Shadow. It is a fast and agile bat-like creature.
• Minotaur (ミノタウロス, Minotaurosu): This is Zola's strong and tough Shadow. It looks like a bull-man.
• Phoenix (フェニックス, Fenikkusu): This is Kluke's Shadow. It is a fiery bird that can heal.
• Saber Tiger (サーベルタイガー, Sarberu Taigar): This is Marumaro's speedy and fierce Shadow. It looks like a saber-toothed tiger.
• Hippotamus (ヒポポタマス, Hipopotamasu): This is Bouquet's Shadow. It is a large and powerful hippopotamus-like creature.

Exciting Story

The story of Blue Dragon begins when Shu's village is attacked. An unknown enemy causes giant holes to appear in the ground. Shu and his friends, Jiro and Kluke, decide to protect their home.

They soon meet a mysterious warrior named Zola. Zola teaches them about the power of Shadows. This special ability lets them turn their own shadow into a powerful monster. Shu gets one of the strongest Shadows, the mighty Blue Dragon.

With their new powers, Shu and his friends set out on a big adventure. Their goal is to defeat the unknown enemy and save their world. They face many challenges and discover secrets along the way.

How it Was Made

The famous artist Akira Toriyama helped create the characters for the Blue Dragon video game. He is also known for his work on Dragon Ball. In February 2006, Studio Pierrot asked him about making an anime TV show.

Toriyama was excited about the project. He knew the game's creator, Hironobu Sakaguchi, was building a detailed fantasy world. Toriyama felt a lot of pressure to make the anime great. He believed Blue Dragon would be a masterpiece because everyone working on it was dedicated.

Release Information

The Blue Dragon anime was directed by Yukihiro Matsushita. Akatsuki Yamatoya wrote the story. Studio Pierrot animated the series. It was co-produced by SKY Perfect Wellthink, TV Tokyo, and Pierrot.

The show started airing in Japan on April 7, 2007. It had 51 episodes. The voice actors for the anime were different from those in the video game. The anime also told a new story, different from the game's plot.

A second season was announced. It was called Blue Dragon: Trials of the Seven Shadows. This new season premiered on TV Tokyo on April 5, 2008.

Where to Watch It

On April 16, 2007, Viz Media announced they would bring the anime to North America and Europe. An English version of the show first aired in the United States. It was shown on Cartoon Network on April 5, 2008. It also appeared on Cartoon Network's Toonami Jetstream streaming service.

Later, it was found that Viz Media had an uncut English version of the anime. This uncut version was released on DVD in the UK by Manga Entertainment. These DVDs included the original Japanese opening and closing songs. They also restored scenes that were edited for TV. You could also watch the series in Japanese with English subtitles.

Since July 22, 2011, Viz Media has streamed Blue Dragon episodes online. You can find them on VizAnime, Tubi, and Hulu. Viz Media has said they might release more uncut episodes on DVD if enough people watch them online.