Hikari to Mizu no Daphne

2004TVFINISHED64% Score

Synopsis

In the future, water has covered much of the Earth due to the effects of global warming. The orphaned Maia Mizuki, 15, just graduated from middle school and has already applied for employment in the elite paramilitary Ocean Agency, part of the futuristic world government. Only the best, most intelligent, and physically fit students are eligible for admission. Maia, the series' protagonist, is set to become one of the few.

But her ideal life quickly falls apart. To her disappointment, Maia unexpectedly fails her entrance exams. Making matters worse, she promptly gets evicted from her house, pick pocketed, taken hostage, then shot. She is "saved" by two women (Rena and Shizuka) that are part of an unorthodox help-for-hire organization called Nereids (inspired by the Greek mythological Nereids ). With nowhere to go, Maia joins up with Nereids, taking jobs from capturing wanted criminals to chasing stray cats, often with unexpected results. Gloria and Yu later join up with Nereids.

"Daphne" in the title refers to a subplot that starts midway into the series and eventually become important to Maia. "Brilliant Blue" refers to the fact that this is a world covered by water with almost no land. The world consists of vast oceans, a few islands, and floating cities.

(Source: Wikipedia)

EP 1

Maia's Longest Day (1)

Maia gets rejected by the Ocean Agency, gets chased out of her house, can’t find a job that offers room and board, gets her wallet stolen and gets taken hostage by a bad guy and then shot.

EP 2

Maia's Longest Day (2)

Maia is involved in a detainee exchange that goes bad. The housing agency confiscates all her belongs. She joins Nereids the all-around service provider.

EP 3

There's No Work as Great as Neres?

Maia and Shizuka solve the mystery of the Martin’s missing matrimony money. Trouble lies in wait for Rena in the form of a blonde woman.

EP 4

Chacachaca Banban

EP 5

The Hooligan's Return

Maia gets introduced to a martial arts expert, Yu Park. Rena and detective Yagi get taken hostage on a cruise ship. Yu gets reinstated as a Nereids agent after serving 90 days in jail and saving detective Yagi.

EP 6

The Great Nighttime Manhunt

Maia gets partnered with Gloria and Yu and discovers the tense relationship they have. Car thieves kidnapped Maia as Yu and Gloria chases a suspect truck.

EP 7

All That, Papa

The branch manager’s daughter discovers he has been lying to her about his role at work. The gang catches a group of poachers.

EP 8

Risk Everything for Speed

Maia takes the wheel of a test vehicle when Shizuka’s childhood friend, Millie, is injured. Maia gets caught in some industrial espionage.

EP 9

I'm the Only One Without a Tomorrow

Gloria is told she has a week to live. Tsukasa gets elected to help Gloria meet her ideal man.

EP 10

Siberian Special Vacation

The girls go to Siberia City where slave traders kidnap Shizuka. Maia has no recollection of being in Siberia before but knows the fastest way to intercept the fleeing kidnappers.

EP 11

Like This for a Long Visit

When Maia passed a Loral Tree it sparks an odd feeling. Maia tells the girls about her past. The gang spends an extra day in Siberia looking for clues about Maia’s past.

EP 12

The Day the World Surfaced

The 100-year anniversary of the underwater cities raising to the surface is celebrated. The 100-year memorial service for the city of Elpida is also held. Maia, Tsukasa and Millie have a race to show off the Ocean Agency's new hovercraft.

EP 13

Giving Hatred

Wong, Chang and Lee along with their rescuer, Mai, seek revenge on Nereids for putting the three brothers in prison. Nereids confiscates the submarine Mai stole.

EP 14

The Elderly and UMA

The submarine is costing a fortune just sitting around. The crew goes out looking for work and Maia finds them a job. The job will be used as a training mission. Maia and an old man go looking for a sea monster. The Yomogi-1 is disguised as a sea monster.

EP 15

The Great Surge (1)

A grade-school boy runs away from home and Maia is sent to Siberia to find him. The branch manager in that city is holding a grudge against Rena. A mechanic is paid off to sabotage the private jet of a wealthy CEO then murdered. Terrorists take over the wave negation towers in Kamchatka.

EP 16

The Great Surge (2)

Maia and the boy are caught in the plot to kill a wealthy CEO. Rena and Shizuka track down the people behind the plot. Maia must pilot and land an aircraft carrying 1000 passengers in the confines of a very large water holding facility.

EP 17

Defeated by a Baby

Yu finds an abandon baby at her door. Who would do such a thing? Gloria is against taking the child to the police.

EP 18

Conflicts Winding Down

Shizuka’s heart deals with an injured con artist.

EP 19

Submarine

Mai, Wong, Chang and Lee steal the Agnus, the name they gave the submarine, back. Maia gets taken hostage in an attempt to stop them. Plans for a less than lethal recovery by Nereids goes awry. Maia rescues the treasure hunters from a potentially watery grave.

EP 20

Once Upon a Time in Siberia

The stress of almost certain death in her rescue of the treasure hunters triggered Maia to remember an event from her past. She goes to Siberia to look for the time capsule she and her big brother buried under a Loral Tree.

EP 21

What Happened to Maia

Maia is distracted by the return of her memories that lend to her poor performance on a mission to return a kidnapped girl captured by slave traders. Shizuka is seriously injured as a result of Maia’s lack of concentration.

EP 22

Everyday Life of an Eye and Recollection

A band of slave traders captures Maia. The same traders Nereids raid ruined. Millie and Tony Long, a guy that has appeared watching Maia from the shadows many time in previous episodes, save her. As Maia recovers she dreams of her past in the city of Elpida. Tony confirms Maia is the soul survivor of the city. The information branch of the Ocean Agency then kidnaps Maia to insure she can say nothing about past events.

EP 23

Escape from Kamchatka

Maia is told the reason behind her false memories. Tony tells the girls of Nereids about Maia’s capture. Shizuka, Yu and Gloria quit Nereids on account of Rena’s apparent cold-heartedness. Tsukasa returns from Greenland City and is immediately taken by Shizuka to help rescue Maia from the Ocean Agency.

EP 24

Daphne in the Brilliant Blue

Kevin forwards the coordinates of Elpida to the Yomogi-1. Tony gives Mai, Wong Chang and Lee the use of an attack sub. The Ocean Agency trails the Yomogi-1 to Elpida. While the treasure hunters chases off the Ocean Agency’s pursuit vehicle. Maia descends into the shell of the city proper. Once inside memories flood her mind. Suddenly she recalls the outbreak from the biological facility. She finds the time capsule she and her brother buried and then realizes the person that raised her as her grandfather was really her older brother.