The Cinematheque

“Enduring charm and emotional validity … The combination of Vernean adventure, Dickensian richness of characterization, and steampunk technology is irresistible.”

Jonathan Clements & Helen McCarthy, The Anime Encyclopedia

Before Neon Genesis Evangelion, Anno Hideaki was tasked with directing the series Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water, a Paris-set adventure tale that branches out into hidden worlds. The idea wasn’t entirely Anno’s; the series treatment was actually written by Miyazaki Hayao, and elements of its story eventually appeared in his film Castle in the Sky. But Anno’s take is distinctly his own. Nadia, a circus acrobat, and Jean, the nephew of an inventor, are both orphans. Nadia doesn’t even know where she’s from—she doesn’t feel at home anywhere. Together, they literally fly away from their problems and embark upon a journey that references, in ways that won’t surprise Anno fans, both Jules Verne and the Bible. This program condenses the series’ first major arc, which introduces Nadia and Jean’s friendship, Captain Nemo and his submarine crew, treasure hunter Grandis Granva, and a nefarious plot, masterminded by the evil Gargoyle, to harness a world-destroying power.

“The Girl at the Eiffel Tower”
エッフェル塔の少女
(Episode 1)
Japan 1990
25 min. Blu-ray English dubbed version

“Nautilus, the Fantastic Submarine”
万能潜水艦ノーチラス号
(Episode 4)
Japan 1990
25 min. Blu-ray English dubbed version

“Infiltration of the Secret Base”
孤島の要塞
(Episode 6)
Japan 1990
25 min. Blu-ray English dubbed version

“Mission to Rescue Nadia”
ナディア救出作戦
(Episode 8)
Japan 1990
25 min. Blu-ray English dubbed version

“Nadia is a stylishly immersive coming-of-age story … What remains surprisingly unique about [the show] is its ability to deliver a cinematic experience that satisfies the expectations of mass audiences and yet does not sacrifice, in the process, its [exploration of] ethics or its pictorial charm.”

Dani Cavallaro, The Art of Studio Gainax