Arpeggio of Blue Steel began as a popular science fiction manga series created by Ark Performance and published in Shonen Gahosha’s Young King Ours before being adapted into a hit anime by Studio Sanzigen.
Taking place in 2056, the story follows the adventures of Gunzo Chihaya who is the captain of a small group of privateers known as “Blue Steel” working against the “Fleet of Fog” - a mysterious collection of sentient warships who have devastated most of the Earth’s naval forces. The Fleet of Fog has also developed humanoid avatars known as “Mental Models” to better understand human tactics, but Iona, the Mental Model of the I-401 submarine, has defected and joined Blue Steel, making them an unrivalled force. The gang are then tasked by the Japanese government to deliver a powerful weapon to the U.S. so it can be replicated and used in the fight against the Fleet of Fog, but their mission is far from smooth sailing.