- Get Your Own - Get Your OwnThe first thing to know about Legend of the Blue Wolves is that, technically, it isn't yaoi -- it is actually a gay anime, possibly the only one of its kind. The second thing to know about Legend of the Blue Wolves is that whether it's yaoi or not doesn't matter. In just 45 minutes, this fantastic OAV combines romance, science-fiction, camraderie, rape, betrayal, rescue, love, pathos, and of course, hot sex.
This all-too-short OAV is showcased at its finest on Media Blasters' DVD release, with a strong translation, interesting special features, and absolutely no censoring. The blurs obscuring genitals that were present in the fansub version are no longer there, and everything is drawn in complete detail. All the men are built like men, have real genitals -- no glowing cones, no drippy outlines -- and even body hair. It's completely different from anything else out there, and one of the finest Region 1 yaoi releases yet.
- Get Your OwnThe plot is simple, with a typical science fiction story set as the backdrop for the relationship story. In our universe's distant future, Jonathan Tiberius is a military pilot, stationed to fight a war against Apocalypse, an alien threat to mankind. Apocalypse not only destroys spacegoing man's settlements, it captures human soldiers and makes them into robots to fight against their own kind. Jonathan is part of humanity's last-ditch effort against this apparently unbeatable foe. When he reaches the outpost, he meets his roommate, tall, blond Leonard Schteinberg. The men quickly become friends, assisted by the fact that each reminds the other of an important person from his past. Despite what you may have read, Jonathan and Leonard did not actually meet in a past life, those "flashbacks" are only memories.
However, Jonathan has also caught the attention of the fleet's commander -- the grossly large, sadistic Captain Continental. The captain tries to subdue Jonathan sexually, but he will not submit. Meanwhile, the relationship between Jonathan and Leonard is growing and developing. Just a few scenes portray their blossoming friendship, and more, with poignant sweetness. Eventually, the fat commander forces himself on Jonathan, assisted by his submissive second-in-command. Leonard rushes in to rescue Jonathan, but what he does in retaliation leads to his reassignment to the front battle lines. Leonard and Jonathan have only one night together before Leonard ships out.
In such a short time, Legend of the Blue Wolves develops a relationship that feels real and true, and pulls on the heartstrings of the viewer at all the right moments. Jonathan and Leonard have an equal relationship, a strong friendship which unfolds tenderly into love. By the end, I was sniffling and in tears, so touched by the heroic and beautiful story of these two lovers.
Their love is further contrasted by the gross ugliness of the fat commander and his appetites. Make no mistake, there is graphic rape and bondage, and the sort of gore that will squick most viewers right off the end of the show. But after this frightening scene comes some of the most beautiful sexual imagery ever done in yaoi anime.
There isn't much to speak of sound-wise, though the background music is nice and appropriate. The only voice actor I recognized was Koyasu Takehito as Jonathan, bringing his considerable talents to another dark-haired uke role (a la Izumi in Zetsuai). Leonard's voice actor does an equally fine job portraying the many difficult emotions that his character runs through.
Legend of the Blue Wolves feels like a mainstream anime with a yaoi relationship mixed in. In the end, it's this completeness of plot and characters that make this anime a truly wonderful
- Get Your Own.
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