Blue Dragon - Character Designs by Akira Toriyama, Famous for Dragon Ball

Blue Dragon is a Japanese role-playing game (JRPG) created by Hironobu Sakaguchi, the creator of Final Fantasy, with character designs by Akira Toriyama, famous for Dragon Ball, and music composed by Nobuo Uematsu. It was released in 2006 for the Xbox 360 and later adapted into an anime series. Here's an overview of the complete story from both the game and anime.

1. Setting and Premise :

The world of *Blue Dragon* is one where Shadow powers play a crucial role. Shadows are powerful creatures that some individuals can summon and control to aid them in battle. The protagonist of the story, Shu, and his friends gain the ability to control Shadows as they embark on a journey to stop the evil forces threatening their world.

2. Game Story Summary :

Prologue :

The game begins in a small village where Shu and his two childhood friends, Jiro and Kluke, witness an attack by a mysterious airship and a deadly land shark. Determined to stop the attack and protect their village, they go after the ship and meet a villainous sorcerer named Nene.

Nene is a powerful ruler who uses advanced technology and magic to terrorize people. During a confrontation with him, Shu, Jiro, and Kluke are captured. However, they discover that they can summon powerful beings known as Shadows, which take the form of blue dragons. These Shadows are linked to their souls and give them immense power.

- Shu’s Shadow takes the form of a Blue Dragon and represents his courage and determination.

- Jiro’s Shadow is a Minotaur, symbolizing his intelligence and tactical mind.

- Kluke’s Shadow is a Phoenix, representing her healing and protective nature.

The trio uses their newfound powers to escape from Nene and begin a quest to defeat him.

The Journey :

As Shu, Jiro, and Kluke travel across the world, they meet new allies, including:

- Marumaro : A member of the **Devee Tribe**, whose Shadow is a saber-toothed tiger. He is energetic and provides comedic relief.

- Zola : A mysterious warrior who has a bat-shaped Shadow and becomes the group's mentor. She is calm, strategic, and keeps many secrets.

The group journeys across various lands, learning more about Nene’s control over the world and his plans for dominance. They also encounter ancient ruins and powerful technology from a long-lost civilization, discovering that Nene has been alive for centuries due to his connection to ancient machines.

Climax :

As the story progresses, the group confronts Nene multiple times, but he is always one step ahead. They eventually discover that the source of Nene’s power is a massive, ancient device called the "Mechat", which can control Shadows and time itself.

The group infiltrates Nene’s floating fortress for the final showdown. In the epic battle, they manage to defeat Nene, but not without significant sacrifices. Nene, in his desperation, merges with his Shadow, becoming a monstrous form, but Shu and his friends overpower him using their teamwork and resolve.

Ending :

After defeating Nene, the group returns to their peaceful lives, having saved the world from tyranny. However, the final scene hints that a new threat may emerge, as the true origins of the Shadows remain unknown, leaving the door open for future adventures.

3. Anime Story Summary :

The *Blue Dragon* anime follows a similar but expanded plotline, with additional characters, story arcs, and deeper exploration of the world. It ran for two seasons and had 102 episodes in total.

Season 1 :

The first season closely follows the events of the game. Shu, Jiro, Kluke, and their friends discover their Shadow powers and embark on their journey to stop Nene. The anime adds more background to their world, fleshing out side characters and adding subplots involving different villages and kingdoms affected by Nene’s rule.

As in the game, Neneservs the main antagonist, with the group facing off against his various minions, who also wield powerful Shadows. The anime introduces more of Nene’s backstory, showing his rise to power and obsession with immortality.

The season ends with the defeat of Nene, similar to the game, but with a more detailed look at the destruction of his empire and the liberation of the people.

Season 2 :

In the second season, a new enemy arises: Rogi, a rogue Shadow user, and later Rudolph, the true mastermind behind the chaos. The anime explores the origins of the Shadows more deeply, revealing that they are connected to an ancient race and were originally tools for controlling the balance of power in the world.

- Rudolph : The final antagonist, Rudolph, has his own army of Shadow users and seeks to gain ultimate power by absorbing all Shadows into himself. He reveals that he was manipulating Nene all along to weaken the world’s defenses.

Shu and his friends must now prevent Rudolph from merging with an ancient relic that would grant him the power to reshape the world. In the end, they confront Rudolph in an epic battle that spans multiple dimensions, with Shu’s Blue Dragon evolving into a more powerful form to defeat him.

Finale :

The anime concludes with peace returning to the world, but the characters remain vigilant for any new threats. Shu reflects on how much he and his friends have grown, as they continue to protect their world from danger.

Themes and Legacy :

*Blue Dragon* explores themes of friendship, perseverance, and courage. The characters grow as they face personal challenges and learn to rely on each other. The bond between humans and their Shadows serves as a metaphor for inner strength, as the characters must overcome their fears and doubts to harness the full potential of their Shadows.

While *Blue Dragon* didn’t achieve the widespread popularity of *Final Fantasy* or *Dragon Ball*, it gained a dedicated fanbase for its unique combination of RPG gameplay, iconic character designs by Akira Toriyama, and an epic fantasy story. The anime expanded the lore of the game, making it a memorable entry in the world of JRPGs and anime.