History Anime / ValkyrieDriveMermaid

* BadassGay:
** The entire cast fits the bill, with special mention to Lady Lady and Mirei Shikishima, considered the most capable combatants on the island.
** Momoka's strike team for the villainous side, being able to take down the aforementioned Lady Lady and Mirei on their first appearance with ease.

The series takes place on one of five artificial islands, Mermaid. Mamori is transferred to one of the islands but has no knowledge why she's there. To make matters more confusing she's attacked by the first two people she comes across, [[EquippableAlly one of them even turning her partner into a gun]]. Fortunately, she's saved by Mirei, another girl who also just transferred to the island. Still their attackers won't let up and in order to save both of them Mirei kisses Mamori which transforms Mamori into a powerful sword.

!!''Valkyrie Drive: Mermaid'' provide examples of:

* AndTheAdventureContinues: [[spoiler:After freeing the inhabitants of Mermaid Island, Mamori and Mirei, along with Meifeng and Lady Lady, decide to help others inflicted with the Arm Virus]]. Also serves as a SequelHook.

* BeneficialDisease: The Armed Virus, which gives the infected their powers. For Liberators, it gives them an increase in physical prowess and the ability to transform their Extars. For Extars, it mostly takes the form of them transforming into weapons. Though, some do transform into other things like Lady J's motorcycle form and Nimi's [[spoiler:giant form]].

* BroughtDownToNormal: [[spoiler:Once Mamori and Mirei reach a 100% Valkyrie Effect, they are able to absorb the Armed Viruses out of all the females in Mermaid island, turning everybody normal with the exception of themselves and Lady Lady (whom refused to be cured)]].

** Setsuna Kisaragi and Urara Sahshou, main characters of the now defunct mobile game ''Valkyrie Drive -Siren-'' are shown along the Kagurazakas in the manga adaptation of the above scene.

* DispelMagic: Rain can turn into a huge gun, capable of firing blasts that forcibly reverts an Extar's transformation.
* DragonWithAnAgenda: Momoka manages to pull this ''twice'' She helps Charlotte become leader of Wärter because she knows Charlotte will try to round all the inhabitants on the island and bring them to Veste. Having everyone in one place makes it easier for her and her partners to find the one that is the source of the Valkyrie effect. Once she localizes the source of the Valkyrie Effect, she takes the power for herself and goes in a RoaringRampageOfRevenge.

* GenderRestrictedAbility: The Armed Virus doesn't affect xy chromosomes, so only females can become Extars and Liberators. [[spoiler:Momoka knows this; it's why Akira's disguise isn't able to fool her.]]
* GildedCage: Mermaid is amazingly comfortable for a combination leper colony and prison. It's a tropical island with a big fancy castle in the center that gives them all the supplies that they need, even supplying holographic videophones and armored personnel carriers. Just hope that you never want to speak to your family, because the inmates have no contact with the outside world.
%%** CrapsaccharineWorld: Oh, and there aren't any guards or support staff, so you're going to have to fight off the other inmates by yourself, and try real hard to avoid developing a physical or mental condition that requires any kind of doctor, because the only people around were tossed in as teenagers. There ''might'' be a medical database included in the castle's computer systems, but that's the best that you're getting. Oh, and if you're ever "invited" off the island, it's at the beck and call of agents to a criminal organization that absolutely does '''not''' have your best interests in mind.

* ICanSeeYou: Miyasato and Kouzuki try to ditch work and lounge on the beach. When they get a call on their communicator they simply state they're not there. Unfortunately for them the person on the other end is their captain and she can see them.

* LateToTheTragedy: The end of episode 9 is this as [[spoiler:Mirei and Mamori return to Torino village after foraging for food, and not only found the place completely ransacked, but all the people gone.]]

* ThePollyanna: Mamori is nothing but this. The only way she withstood what appears to be horrific bullying in her flashback, and the AttemptedRape of episode 2 is the belief that "her prince will come." She's suitably shocked when she realizes her "prince" is Mirei.

* PowerPerversionPotential: Mamori and Mirei get attacked by a Liberator and Extar that can [[MasterOfIllusion cast illusions via telepathy]]. For Mamori they makes her think she's being fondled by Akira so she can get aroused and go into Arm mode. For Mirei they make her think she's being [[AttemptedRape nearly gang-raped]] by bunch of [[ImprovisedGolems mudmen]].

** A disease that only affects women, granting superhuman abilities only when said women are sexually aroused? On a mechanical island forcefully separated from the rest of human society and men?
** However, is important to point out that every major character (and even some minor ones) are explicitly shown as being lesbians ''despite'' the disease.

* SweetPollyOliver: [[spoiler:Akira is a reveal to be a woman in Episode 7. Her mother had her disguise herself as a man in the hopes that being the only male in the island would give her an advantage over the other girls.]]
* SpiritualSuccessor: The franchise is this to ''VideoGame/SenranKagura''. Both series feature busty girls, are heavy on fanservice with breasts being the main fetish, and are conceptualized by the same creator. ''Mermaid'' ramps up the fanservice [[UpToEleven to another level]].

* ATasteOfTheLash: Episode 3 begings with Charlotte having Ange give Miyasato and Kouzuki a brutal whipping for failing to keep Mirei locked up.
* TeenageWasteland: While Mermaid has been operating long enough that some of the girls might have hit twenty, almost everyone was sent was sent as a teenager, and it shows.
* ThanksForTheMammary: Mirei ends up groping Mamori's breasts when carrying her out of the way of Miyasato's attacks. She gets embarrassed and lets go when Mamori complains about her squeezing them too hard.

* TomboyAndGirlyGirl: Mirei and Mamori have this dynamic with Mirei being the tomboy despite being one year younger.

* WorldOfActionGirls: Is easier to count what characters aren't one. Justified since the Arm Virus only affects females.

* MoodWhiplash: The rapid switches from fanservice to epic fights can be this, but the later episodes fit even better; more than one finishes on [[CerebusSyndrome rather dark notes]] before segueing right into the ending song; the peppy, upbeat ''[[TastesLikeDiabetes Super Ultra Hyper Miracle Romantic]]''.

'''''Valkyrie Drive: Mermaid''''' is the anime portion of Marvelous's ''Valkyrie Drive'' project.

* ActorAllusion: Torino Kasami, who looks older but is 17, is voiced by Creator/KikukoInoue. Inoue sometimes address her age as "17 years old and X days" even though she clearly isn't.

* ATasteOfTheLash: Episode 3 beings with Charlotte having Ange give Miyasato and Kouzuki a brutal whipping for failing to keep Mirei locked up.

* BrainsAndBrawn: As time goes on, Mamori and Mirei develop this type of dynamic with Mamori as the brains and Mirei as the brawn while Mamori is not in Arms mode. Good thing Mirei is a SubmissiveBadass and prefers to follow Mamori's lead, as long as the situation is not too dire.

* ActorAllusion: Torino Kasami, who looks older but is 17, is voice by Creator/KikukoInoue. Inoue sometimes address her age as "17 years old and X days" even though she clearly isn't.

** Momoka's strike team for the villainous side, being able to take down the aforementioned Lady Lady and Mirei on their first appearance.

* AuthorAppeal: The director of this series, Hiraku Kaneko, is well known for directing near-pornographic {{ecchi}} series with tons of busty characters and a lot of breast-focused fanservice. This series continues that trend.

* BadassGay: The entire cast fits the bill, with special mention to Lady Lady and Mirei Shikishima, considered the most capable combatants on the island.

* TheCameo: Rinka and Ranka Kagurazaka, the main characters from ''Videogame/ValkyrieDriveBhikkhuni'' have a small scene in the last episode of the series.

* EquippableAlly: What the V-Virus causes on Extars.

* EvolvingWeapon: Extars can change and become better weapons when their sync ratio with their Liberator partner is high enough. [[spoiler: This happens to Mamori in episode 8.]]
* {{Gainaxing}}: Even when they're not moving that much, there's quite the bounce to a lot of characters' breasts.

* GenderRestrictedAbility: The Armed Virus doesn't affect xy chromosomes, so only females can become Extars and Liberators. [[spoiler: Momoka knows this; it's why Akira's disguise isn't able to fool her.]]

** CrapsaccharineWorld: Oh, and there aren't any guards or support staff, so you're going to have to fight off the other inmates by yourself, and try real hard to avoid developing a physical or mental condition that requires any kind of doctor, because the only people around were tossed in as teenagers. There ''might'' be a medical database included in the castle's computer systems, but that's the best that you're getting. Oh, and if you're ever "invited" off the island, it's at the beck and call of agents to a criminal organization that absolutely does '''not''' have your best interests in mind.

* KillSat: Episode 12 reveals that "The Organization" set up one over Mermaid as a final measure in case somebody managed to break the forcefield and escape. [[spoiler: It didn't do squat against Momoka and the stolen Mamori's Arm form.]]
* KnightOfCerebus: The series takes a darker tone with the introduction of Momoka and her team. [[spoiler: Momoka's defeated Akira, who was largely responsible for keeping the peace on the island, and helps Charlotte become governor. Charlotte, being more of a tyrant tries to forcibly round up all the girls not in Veste.]]
* LateToTheTragedy: The end of episode 9 is this as [[spoiler: Mirei and Mamori return to Torino village after foraging for food, and not only found the place completely ransacked, but all the people gone.]]

* MookFaceTurn: In episode 11 An army of Ritter, the same people who were rounding up girls in episodes 9 and 10, and serve as the foot soldiers of Wärter stood between Mirei and Lady Lady and Momoka. [[spoiler: Rather than fighting, however, they stood down and let Mirei pass without incident.]]

* PowerOfLove: Unlike most Extars, Rain and Lady J don't need to get each other aroused to transform. Rain credits it to their strong bond.

* RapeAsDrama: [[spoiler: Momoka violates both Akira and Mamori. The former to see if she was the cause of the Valkyrie Effect and the latter to force her to Drive and use her powers]].

* SituationalSexuality: A disease that only affects women, granting superhuman abilities only when said women are sexually aroused? On a mechanical island forcefully separated from the rest of human society and men?

* SweetPollyOliver: [[spoiler: Akira is a reveal to be a woman in Episode 7. Her mother had her disguise herself as a man in the hopes that being the only male in the island would give her an advantage over the other girls.]]

** RecycledInSPACE: By extension, this is basically ''VideoGame/SenranKagura'' that is high on [[YuriGenre yuri]].

* TwelveEpisodeAnime

* YuriGenre: One of the most blatant examples.

* AndTheAdventureContinues: [[spoiler:After freeing the inhabitants of Mermaid Island, Mamori and Mirei, along with Meifeng and Lady Lady, decide to help others inflicted with the Arm Virus]].
** It also serves as SequelHook

* ArtisticLicenseLaw: Granted Rain is no legal scholar, and she most likely believes that the UN drafted legislation to "honor the human rights" of those infected with the Arms virus by shipping them off to Mermaid and the other four artificial islands. This is not how the UN works, however. The UN does not write bills and have them signed into law. They can propose resolutions and deliver sanctions, but more often than not, they propose treaties that are then taken back to the member countries and ratified there.

* BadassGay: The entire cast fits the bill with special mention to Lady Lady and Mirei Shikishima who are considered the most capable combatants on the island.

* {{Gainaxing}}: The animation of a lot of the characters' breasts is very bouncy, even when they're not moving that much

* GenderRestrictedAbility: The Armed Virus doesn't affect xy chromosomes so only females can become Extars and Liberators. [[spoiler: Momoka knows this hence why Akira's disguise isn't able to fool her.]]

* KnightOfCerebus: The series takes a more darker tone with the introduction of Momoka and her team. [[spoiler: Momoka's defeated Akira, who was largely responsible for keeping the peace on the island and helps Charlotte become governor. Charlotte, being more of a tyrant tries to forcible round up all the girls not in Veste.]]

* ShoutOut: The series scriptwriter, Yousuke Kuroda slips a pretty obscure one to {{Anime/Madlax}} and Anime/BestStudentCouncil (both previous works of his) on Lady Lady's backstory: They are [[https://twitter.com/chalcopin/status/833191455510372353 members of Nafrece Intelligence Service.]]

* AllThereInTheManual: The setting of the series was expanded through six short stories written by the anime's staff, it was on these stories were Lady Lady and Akira's backstories were revealed.

* GovernmentConspiracy: Implied. Mamori is literally grabbed by MenInBlack [[AdultFear while she's on the track field of her public school.]] It's also implied that her parents knew this was coming but could do nothing about it when the results of her annual medical exam showed "an irregularity."

** And let's not forget that this franchise is made by Kenichiro Takaki, the creator of ''SenranKagura''. Like the director, he is ''very'' fond of breasts.

* SpiritualSuccessor: The franchise is this to ''SenranKagura''. Both series feature busty girls, are heavy on fanservice with breasts being the main fetish, and are conceptualized by the same creator. ''Mermaid'' ramps up the fanservice [[UpToEleven to another level]].
** RecycledInSPACE: By extension, this is basically ''SenranKagura'' that is high on [[YuriGenre yuri]].

* DespotismJustifiesTheMeans: Meifeng explains in episode 3 that this is the way the Welter organization does things. New recruits are tested in combat. The weak are forced to obey "for protection" and the strong are "invited" to join the organization.

* TyrantTakesTheHelm: [[spoiler:Charlotte becomes leader of Welter after she (and largely) Momoka defeat Akira. Unlike Akira, she decides that order on the island is best kept under her watch and sends Welter agents to capture the girls from Tokino village and Lady Lady.]]
* WhamEpisode: Episode 8 reveals that [[spoiler:Mermaid isn't the only artificial island used for housing carriers of the Armed virus. Also, the company line Welter uses to encourage order is at least half-true. The inhabitants of Mermaid ''are'' being observed by external forces, but for the sake of a more sinister agenda than what Welter preaches or is perhaps even aware of.]]

* AndTheAdventureContinues: [[spoiler:After freeing the inhabitants of Mermaid Island, Mamori and Mirei, along with Meifong and Lady Lady, decide to help others inflicted with the Arm Virus]].

* DespotismJustifiesTheMeans: Meifong explains in episode 3 that this is the way the Welter organization does things. New recruits are tested in combat. The weak are forced to obey "for protection" and the strong are "invited" to join the organization.

* DragonWithAnAgenda: Momoka manages to pull this ''twice'' She helps Charlotte become leader of Walter because she knows Charlotte will try to round all the inhabitants on the island and bring them to Feste. Having everyone in one place makes it easier for her and her partners to find the one that is the source of the Valkyrie effect. Once she localizes the source of the Valkyrie Effect, she takes the power for herself and goes in a RoaringRampageOfRevenge.

* GratuitousGerman: They have ranks and organizations such as "Kommandeur" (commander), "Gouverneur" (governor), "Wächter" (guard), "Hexe" (witch) and "Adel" (nobility).

* KnightOfCerebus: The series takes a more darker tone with the introduction of Momoka and her team. [[spoiler: Momoka's defeated Akira, who was largely responsible for keeping the peace on the island and helps Charlotte become governor. Charlotte, being more of a tyrant tries to forcible round up all the girls not in Feste.]]

* MookFaceTurn: In episode 11 An army of Ritter, the same people who were rounding up girls in episodes 9 and 10, and serve as the foot soldiers of Werter stood between Mirei and Lady Lady and Momoka. [[spoiler: Rather than fighting, however, they stood down and let Mirei pass without incident.]]

* WorldOfBuxom: Almost every female character is decently stacked. Something that causes a lot of distress to [[ACupAngst Meifong.]]

* TheCameo: [[spoiler:Rinka and Ranka Kagurazaka, the main characers of ''Valkyrie Drive: Bhikkhuni'', make a very brief appearance in the final episode.]]
** The manga adaptation of that scene adds [[spoiler: Kisaragi Setsuna and Urara Sashou, protagonists from the now defunct mobile game ''Valkyrie Drive -Siren-'' as well]]

* TheCameo: Rinka and Ranka Kagurazaka, the main characters from ''Valkyrie Drive: Bhikkhuni'' have a small scene in the last episode of the series.
** Setsuna Kisaragi and Urara Sahshou, main characters of the now defunct mobile game ''Valkyrie Drive -Siren-'' are shown along the Kagurazakas in the manga adaptation of the above scene.

* MoodWhiplash: The rapid switches from fanservice to epic fights can be this, but the later episodes fit even better; more than one finishes on [[CerebrusSyndrome rather dark notes]] before segueing right into the ending song; the peppy, upbeat ''[[TastesLikeDiabetes Super Ultra Hyper Miracle Romantic]]''.

* CastFullOfGay: Every named character is a lesbian.

* ADateWithRosiePalms: [[spoiler:In episode 4 Mamori thinks she's being fondled by Akira but it turns out to be an illusion from a Warter. She's actually just masturbating.]]
* AndTheAdventureContinues: [[spoiler:After freeing the inhabitants of Mermaid Island, Mamori and Mirei, along with Meifong and Lady Lady, decides to help others inflicted with the Arm Virus]].

* ArtisticLicenseLaw: Granted Rain is no legal scholar, and she most likely believes that the UN drafted legislation to "honor the human rights" of those infected with the Arms virus by shipping them off to Mermaid and the other six artificial islands. This is not how the UN works, however. The UN does not write bills and have them signed into law. They can propose resolutions and deliver sanctions, but more often than not, they propose treaties that are then taken back to the member countries and ratified there.
* AttackOfThe50FootWhatever: Nimi Minimi. [[spoiler:Turns out, that's her Exster ability]].

* BeginnersLuck: Not long after awakening as an Exster and Liberator, Mamori and Mirei have already defeated other Exsters and Liberators with far more experience than them. Though it's heavily implied Mirei isn't exactly new to these sort of things.
* BeneficialDisease: The Armed Virus, which gives the infected their powers. For Liberators, it gives them an increase in physical prowess and the ability to transform their Exsters. For Exsters, it mostly takes the form of them transforming into weapons. Though, some do transform into other things like Lady J's motorcycle form and Nimi's [[spoiler:giant form]].

* BroughtDownToNormal: [[spoiler:Once Mamori and Mirei reach Valkyrie Drive, they are able to absorb the Armed Viruses out of all the females in Mermaid island, turning everybody normal with the exception of themselves and Lady Lady (whom refused to be cured)]].

* ChildSoldier: In episode 2, a flashback is shown of Mirei, who's only fifteen in the present story, and another Exster fighting in a warzone.

* CoitusUninterruptus: Miyasato decides to give Mamori a demonstration of what Exsters and Liberators are by fondling her partner, Kouzuki, right in front of her (Exsters need to be sexually aroused to transform).

* DaydreamSurprise: In episode 4 Mamori is awoken in the middle of the night by Akira. He leads her outside where the two have a conversion, which ends with Akira fondling her on the ground. [[spoiler:However, it's quickly revealed that Akira is just an illusion made by another member of Warter and Mamori's fondling herself.]]

* DeusSexMachina: To turn into weapons, Exsters have to enter a trance-like state. While sexual arousal isn't required, it is the easiest way to get Exsters to transform.
* DispelMagic: Rain can turn into a huge gun, capable of firing blasts that forcibly reverts an Exster's transformation.
* DragonWithAnAgenda: Momoka is helping Charlotte become leader of Walter because she knows Charlotte will try to round all the inhabitants on the island and bring them to Feste. Having everyone in one place makes it easier for her and her partners to find the one that is the source of the Valkyrie effect.

* EquippableAlly: Exsters can turn into powerful weapons for their partners, Liberators, to use. In some cases, the roles can apparently switch between partners.
* EvolvingWeapon: Some Exster can change and become better weapons when their sync ratio with their Liberator partner is high enough. [[spoiler: This happens to Mamori in episode 8.]]

* GenderRestrictedAbility: The Armed Virus doesn't affect xy chromosomes so only females can become Exsters and Liberators. [[spoiler: Momoka knows this hence why Akira's disguise isn't able to fool her.]]

* ImmodestOrgasm: A lot of Exsters usually let out a loud moan when being transformed.
* KickTheSonOfABitch: Charlotte breaks the defeated Saejima's hand by stomping it with her high heel [[YouHaveFailedMe after she lost to Mirei]]. Considering how cruel Saejima is to her Exster, it's kinda deserved.

* KnightOfCerebus: The series takes a more darker tone with the introduction of Momoka and her two unnamed partners. [[spoiler: Momoka's defeated Akira, who was largely responsible for keeping the peace on the island and helps Charlotte become governor. Charlotte, being more of a tyrant tries to forcible round up all the girls not in Feste.]]

* OnehandedZweihander: Mirei always wields her huge Exters one-handed.

* OnlyTheChosenMayWield: A two-fold example. First, only Liberators can properly use Arms. Second, if there is a too large of a class difference between a Liberator and an Exter, the Exter has a barrier that prevents the Liberator from touching them.

* PowerOfLove: Unlike most Exters, Rain and Lady J don't need to get each other aroused to transform. Rain credits it to their strong bond.

* PowerPerversionPotential: Mamori and Mirei get attacked by a Liberator and Exter that can [[MasterOfIllusion cast illusions via telepathy]]. For Mamori they makes her think she's being fondled by Akira so she can get aroused and go into Arm mode. For Mirei they make her think she's being [[AttemptedRape nearly gang-raped]] by bunch of [[ImprovisedGolems mudmen]].
* Pun: Half of the girls on the island transform into weapons through sex. They're objects of desire, you see.

** However, is important to point out that every major character (and even some minor ones) are explicitly shown as being lesbians despite the disease.

* SurveillanceAsThePlotDemands: Episode 1 has Mamori, and later Mirei being tracked by using some sort of unique electronic signature in a control room used by Kasumi. Yet, in Episode 3, Kasumi, Charlotte, and Agnisi are all surprised to find Mirei at Torino village despite using the same type of equipment tracking electronic signatures.
* ATasteOfTheLash: Episode 3 beings with Charlotte having Agnis give Miyasato and Kouzuki a brutal whipping for failing to keep Mirei locked up.

* TransformationIsAFreeAction: It's apparently considered bad manners to interrupt a Liberator making out with her Exster partner. The time when Mirei and Mamori were attacked in the arena is seemingly an exception only because Mamori was hesitant.

* WorldOfActionGirls: Almost every female character is an ActionGirl. Justified since the Arm Virus only affects females.
* WorldOfBuxom: Almost every female character is decently stacked.

* CastFullOfGay: Every named character is a lesbian