Black Lagoon: Roberta's Blood Trail

Overview

Black Lagoon: Roberta's Blood Trail is the third anime series of the Black Lagoon franchise that is based on the manga series created by Rei Hiroe. The series was directed by Sunao Katabuchi, music by Jun Nishimura. It's a seinen action series that is for mature viewers only. It is produced by the MADHouse Studios, and it was sold directly to the Japanese market as OVAs. The entire story follows the El Baile de la muerte story arc from the manga that was told in Volumes 6-9. The first episode originally released on February 15, 2007 on Blu-ray and DVD. Production delays after the release of Volume 2 would result in delays of Volumes 3-5 by two to three months.

At the 2010 Anime Expo, FUNimation announced they had acquired the license for this series and were initially intending to release the series in 2011. No English staff has been announced.

Plot

Black Lagoon: Roberta's Blood Trail

Everyone in the dirty city of Roanapur were sure they would never hear from the deadly maid known as Roberta ever again, but rumors have been spreading throughout town that the "Bloodhound of Florencia" has returned for an unknown reason and is looking to start a war with someone. Her master Diego Lovelace was murdered in a political assassination, and she has followed his killers to this corrupt city in hot pursuit. When everyone has planned to stay out of her way, Garcia Lovelace makes a surprise request of the Lagoon Company and brought another of his maids, Fabiola Iglesia. His request is to help him find Roberta and stop her from taking vengeance for his father's murders. After an investigation, it's discovered that the bombers were American soldiers from the Grey Fox squad as part of an NSA mission. If word reaches the United States that their soldiers have been killed in Roanapur it could create an international incident that could bring might of one of the greatest world superpowers. No one wants that. Not the Triad, Hotel Moscow or the Lagoon Company. It will be hard enough to find the enraged, former assassin, but stopping her could be impossible.

Characters

Lagoon Company

Lagoon Company

The Lagoon Company are a small group of guns for hire that transport anything they are paid to move. Dutch is the leader of the Lagoon Company and tends to give nicknames to his employees. Revy is the muscle of the company and her use of duel pistols earned her the nickname "Two Hands". She's a hot-head who tends to get lost in her own anger and goes on killing sprees. Benny is the mechanic and hacker who gathers the much needed information. Rock is the newest hire for the company. A former Japanese office worker, he brings a fresh look to the world and has a unique ability to find understandings between the hectic groups.

After being hired to track down Roberta, the Lagoon Company hired several well known mercenaries to bolster their forces. The Chinese blade expert, Shenhua; the cleaner, Sawyer; and the enigmatic Lotton.

Lovelace Family

Lovelace Family: Roberta

The Lovelace Family is one of the big thirteen crime families in South America. It was headed by Diego Lovelace, but he was caught up in a political assassination designed to create instability. This left his young son Garcia Lovelace as the new leader of the family that was already in decline. The head maid Roberta is actually a former FARC soldier who left after she discovered he was being used as an attack dog of the Colombian drug cartels. Garcia had no idea of her violent past until he had been kidnapped. Once he was rescued, he never wanted her to pick up a gun again. After Diego was murdered, Roberta abandoned Garcia to get justice by bringing revenge on Diego's killers, an elite squad of U.S. soldiers. To try and stop Roberta, he travels with another of his trusted maids, Fabiola Iglesias, to hire the Lagoon company to help him stop Roberta's rampage.

Hotel Moscow

Hotel Moscow: Balalaika

The branch of the Russian Mafia is Roanapur is called Hotel Moscow. It's run by a former Russian military commander named Balalaika. She and the rest of her squad were involved in the disastrous Russian invasion of Afghanistan. It was during this military engagement that she was horrible scarred over most of her body due to an explosion. Her second in command, Boris, is was also her subordinate in the military. Her squad was so loyal to her command, they all left the military after the Soviet Union's collapse. She's considered the most dangerous and influential women in the entire city.

Chinese Triad

Chinese Triad: Mr. Chang

The head of the Sun Yee On Triad in Roanapur is run by Bai Ji-Shin Chang who is better known as Mr. Chang. He's a former police officer and a rival crime lord to Balalaika. His direct subordinate is Biu Yuen. His interest in the reappearance of Roberta drove Mr.Chang to meet with Garcia and hired Rock to find Roberta. He's being pressured by an unknown U.S. government representative to make sure the Grey Fox squad escapes Roanapur to face the wrath of the United States.

Church of Violence

Church of Violence: Eda

The Church of Violence (also known as Rip-Off Church) is far from a place of God. The church is used as a front for black market guns and other supplies. The head of the church is Yolanda and she's assisted by a fellow nun, Eda, a friend of Revy. Eda is revealed to actually be a deep undercover agent of the CIA on an unknown mission in Roanapur. When she hears from Revy how the Grey Fox squad is being hunted by Roberta, she contacts Mr. Chang secretly to pressure him and the other crime lords to do all they can to ensure they escaped alive from the city.

Grey Fox Squad

Grey Fox: Caxton & MacDougal

The Grey Fox Squad is an elite Black-Ops team of the U.S. military that's led by Major Shane Caxton with his friend and Vietnam veteran, Lieutenant Ray MacDougal. On a mission form the NSA, they were the team that was responsible for the bombing that killed Diego Lovelace. They are sent to Roanapur while in transit for their next mission and have to fight their way through a city of violent thugs, Colombian terrorists, and survive Roberta's fox hunt.

Colombian Manisarela Cartel

The Colombian drug cartel is run in Roanapur by Abrego with his lieutenant Gustavo. When he learned about Roberta's return at the meeting of the local crime lords, he was more interested in fulfilling the vow of revenge for her desertion. Though, he understood the need to allow Grey Fox's escape. They are sent reinforcements from the FARC by the cartel leader. Among them is the FARC trainer, Alberto Camarasa. His hatred for the Americans puts the mission at risk when he tries to tempt Roberta to join him and return to Havana.

Theme Songs

Opening Theme

"Red fraction IO drive mix"

Lyrics: MELL

Arrangement and Composition: Kazuya Takase

Performed: MELL

Ending Theme

Ending 1

"When Johnny Comes Marching Home" (Ep. 25-28)

Performed: EDISON

Ending 2

"This moment 〜prayer in the light〜" (Ep. 29)

Lyrics: Minako "mooka" Obata

Arrangement and Composition: Minako "mooka" Obata

Performed: Minako "mooka" Obata

Merchandise

DVD & Blu-ray

Since the series was sold directly to market as OVAs they were distributed by individual DVD and Blu-ray. The standard price in Japan for each was ￥ 7,980. Though the actual episodes followed the numbering of the previous Black Lagoon seasons, these were still numbered as 001-005 on the covers. Alternate covers were released for each of the episodes.

Black Lagoon: Roberta's Blood Trail BD covers

Black Lagoon: Roberta's Blood Trail alternate covers

The FUNimation company has the rights for distribution of this series and and will most likely sell it as a completed collection.