Azur Lane: Slow Ahead! (アズールレーン びそくぜんしんっ！, Azūru Rēn Bisoku Zenshin!) is a Japanese yonkoma comic series written and illustrated by Hori. It is based on the Chinese side-scrollingshoot 'em up video game Azur Lane by Shanghai Manjuu and Xiamen Yongshi. The series has been published in Ichijinsha's Manga 4-koma Palette magazine since March 2018 and collected into four tankōbon volumes to date. An anime television series adaptation produced by Candy Box and Yostar Pictures aired from January to March 2021. A second season has been announced.
An anime adaptation was announced on December 24, 2019.[8] The television series was directed by Masato Jinbo and written by Yū Satō at Yostar Pictures and Candy Box, with Hiromitsu Hagiwara designing the characters, and Shade composing the series' music. Yokohama Animation Laboratory is credited for production cooperation. It aired from January 12 to March 30, 2021, on Tokyo MX, BS11, and AT-X.[9][10] The opening theme song is "Longing for!" performed by Emi Nitta, while the ending theme song is "Midday-Color Siesta" (まひるいろシエスタ, "Mahiru-iro Shiesuta") performed by Yui Sakakibara.[11] Crunchyroll licensed the series.[12] An original video animation (OVA) episode is bundle with the second Blu-ray volume, which was released on July 7, 2021.[13] A second season was announced at the "Azur Lane 6th Anniversary Fes." event on September 10, 2023.[14]
Three ship girls, Javelin, Ayanami, and Laffey were almost late as they arrived in school, while Z23 also arrived as a substitute class advisor. After having a normal time in the classroom, apart from Laffey's constant attempts to stay awake, the four girls, Z23 included, ate together at lunch and they all decided to sleep with Laffey in her dorm room. While there, the three decided to do pillow fights before sleeptime until Laffey inadvertently throws her pillow at Z23, who she just came in.
2
2
"You Need Something Sweet After a Workout..." Transliteration: "Undō no Ato wa, Amai Mono..." (Japanese: 運動の後は、甘いもの…)
Javelin, Ayanami, Laffey & Z23 offers to help Baltimore for her basketball and volleyball club activities because of her overlapping schedules. After becoming exhausted for their work, they make several kinds of chocolates with Prinz Eugen and ate some together as a reward.
3
3
"Is Real Life a God Tier Game?" Transliteration: "Riaru wa Kamigē Nan Desu?" (Japanese: リアルは神ゲーなんです？)
Toshiya Niidome
Yū Satō
January 26, 2021 (2021-01-26)
With Ayanami's addiction to video games started to have a noticeable effect on Z23's class, she, and Javelin decided to set out and enlist the help of a Meowfficer from Akashi to help Ayanami with her game and restore order.
4
4
"Beach Time Is Barbecue Time!" Transliteration: "Umibe to Ieba Bābekyū yo ne!" (Japanese: 海辺といえばバーベキューよね！)
Takahiro Hirata
Yū Satō
February 2, 2021 (2021-02-02)
The four protagonists (Laffey, Javelin, Ayanami, and Z23) scour around to find ingredients for the barbecue after Rodney blows up the watermelon, along with their food. Minneapolis also appears and assists when they encounter one of her traps.
5
5
"With Friends, With Someone Special" Transliteration: "Tomodachi to, Taisetsu na Hito to" (Japanese: トモダチと、⼤切な⼈と)
Masato Kitagawa
Yū Satō
February 9, 2021 (2021-02-09)
Admiral Graf Spee has some struggle in trying to socialize with other shipgirls from different factions until she met and befriended Ayanami. While eating sweets made by Dunkerque, Laffey, Javelin, Ayanami, and Z23 talked about what to do on their next break.
6
6
"May I Have This Dance?" Transliteration: "Issho ni Odotte mo Ii Desu?" (Japanese: ⼀緒に踊ってもいいです？)
Takahiro Hirata
Yū Satō
February 16, 2021 (2021-02-16)
Javelin and the other shipgirls offers help with Bismarck on how to ask Tirpitz out on a dance. Javelin becomes nervous about her first-time experience in the ballroom party, which also includes Formidable.
7
7
"Pay Close Attention to Keeping Things Neat and Tidy!" Transliteration: "Seiri Seiton, Yōchūi!" (Japanese: 整理整頓、要注意！)
Hiroshi Hara
Yū Satō
February 23, 2021 (2021-02-23)
Taihou and Mikasa join the four protagonist shipgirls in cleaning up the Commander's office, but Taihou attempts to use the opportunity to gather information on the Commander and steal the key.
8
8
"Enjoying the Fair With Everyone!" Transliteration: "Minna de Waiwai Omatsuri!" (Japanese: みんなでワイワイお祭り！)
Masataka Nishikawa
Yū Satō
March 2, 2021 (2021-03-02)
The four protagonist shipgirls attend the academy's first ever costume fair and don costumes themselves after encountering North Carolina dressed as a bunny girl. They also encounter Washington, also dressed as a bunny girl, and Honolulu, who is nervous about wearing a revealing yukata that St. Louis gave to her.
9
9
"Maid, At Your Service!" Transliteration: "Meido no Go-hōshi, Desu" (Japanese: メイドのご奉仕、です)
Kyōryoku Tamae
Yū Satō
March 9, 2021 (2021-03-09)
Belfast is teaching a younger version of herself, Little Bel, on what is needed to be a proper Royal Maid like her. It begins with serving tea when the four protagonist shipgirls appear and are invited to be guests, leading Little Bel to do what she can to help her friends beyond just entertaining them or helping them clean up.
The four protagonist shipgirls help Shoukaku and Zuikaku set up a Japanese-style open air hot spring so they can bathe after the base's boiler malfunctions.
11
11
"A Fun Amusement Park Outing?" Transliteration: "Tanoshii Yūenchi Hapuningu?!" (Japanese: 楽しい遊園地ハプニング？！)
Motohiro Abe
Yū Satō
March 23, 2021 (2021-03-23)
The four protagoinst shipgirls, along with Yukikaze, Mutsu, and Nagato, spend their time to have fun with various activities at Manjuu Land amusement park.
12
12
"Friends Are Our Most Important Treasure" Transliteration: "Taisetsu na Takaramono, Sore ga Nakama-tachi" (Japanese: 大切な宝物、それが仲間たち)
Masato Jinbo
Yū Satō
March 30, 2021 (2021-03-30)
Upon discovering Laffey has seemingly developed amnesia because of the treasure jewels inside the chest, Javelin, Z23, and Ayanami tried to restore Laffey's memories by having her to sleep on the chests of several shipgirls; such as Formidable, Belfast, Honolulu, Baltimore, and Minneapolis, eventually revealing in the end that she was half-asleep the whole time.
OVA
OVA
"A Party at the Grand Base" Transliteration: "Hokorashiki Bokō ni Shukusai o" (Japanese: 誇らしき母港に祝祭を)
Shigetaka Ikeda
Yū Satō
July 7, 2021 (2021-07-07)
The four protagonist shipgirls discover there is another party scheduled to take place tomorrow night at a basketball court and they head there to practice. They discover Sirius still trying to practice to serve for her commander, but was hindered due to her clumsiness despite assistance. They encounter South Dakota and Massachusetts, who are in a similar situation as Sirius' as they are practicing for the piano duet. By tomorrow night, the grand party is at full swing.
Notes
^ abInformation is taken from the ending credits of each episode.
^ abEpisode 1 and 2 were included as a bonus in the special edition of the volume 2 of the manga on December 11, 2020.[18]
