Blue Submarine #6 (Aono roku go) has been highly anticipated by anyone who reads Newtype Magazine -- and looking at screenshots, the reasons are fairly obvious. The computer artwork rivals the renderings of companies like Squaresoft and Namco. Too bad the plot can't compete.

In the near future, global warming has finally melted the polar ice caps, resulting in the flooding of all land residing at sea level. The new off-shoot of the human race, the sea-dwelling Zorndyke, are locked in a fierce war with the land-dwelling humans. The Last Hope of the humans is one submarine, Blue #6.

Young pilot Mayumi is sent to ask Tetsu Hayami, a former pilot turned druggie salvager, to come back to the fleet--a request that he turns down in the rudest, most incoherant way possible. She's not too thrilled with the guy, but when they meet again in the heat of battle, she's surprised to see him working alongside them... and even more surprised to see his humanitarian side.

Visually, Blue Submarine #6 is striking, offering CG work that puts most feature films to shame. Oceanscapes are beautifully rendered, aircraft looks extremely realistic, and the underwater fighting is simply breathtaking... but that's not the whole anime, regrettably.

The characters, although nicely designed, are sparsely drawn and shaded, and there is absolutely no personality to them whatsoever. In fact, a majority of the time is spent on the battle, which is rather sloppily told and really can't be followed at all. The result is fairly mindless, and, despite the action sequences, rather boring.

At only one episode per tape, and with a plot taken 60% from Waterworld (although, mercifully, there is no Kevin Costner here), Blue Submarine #6 can't be considered a good buy by any stretch of the imagination. It's really just eye candy...