Valkyrie Drive: Mermaid

About Valkyrie Drive: Mermaid

Meet Valkyrie Drive: Mermaid (ヴァルキリードライヴ マーメイド), an action, ecchi and fantasy anime by ARMS (2015). Here is the premise in a nutshell. The premise: After adorable “mermaid” Mamori is transferred to one of five artificial islands, she’s cornered, attacked and eventually saved by another beautiful transfer named Mirei. Unfortunately, even after the girl intervenes, Mamori’s attackers refuse to let up.

Another thread: Just when they think all hope is lost, Mirei and Mamori share a passionate kiss that turns the little “mermaid” into a powerful sword.

With action at the core, fight choreography, pacing and sound design carry much of the weight. Mamori Tokonome (Mikako Izawa) and Mirei Shikishima (Yuka Iguchi) are two of the characters you will meet early. This one is best suited to viewers who like fast, high-impact fights. At 12 episodes in total, it is easy to plan a viewing schedule.

Production & Appeal

Production sits with ARMS, which means the visual identity of Valkyrie Drive: Mermaid follows that studio's craft. Within the action category, fight choreography, pacing and sound design carry much of the weight. With a 5.5/10 score, it is more of a niche pick than a universal crowd-pleaser. On the casting side, Mikako Izawa voicing Mamori Tokonome gives the lead role a recognizable voice. It aired in 2015, which makes it easy to place in the wider anime calendar.