Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water (ふしぎの海のナディア, Fushigi no Umi no Nadia, literally "Nadia of the Mysterious Seas") is a Japanese animated television series inspired by the works of Jules Verne, particularly Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea and the exploits of Captain Nemo. The series was created by NHK, Toho and Korad, from a concept of Hayao Miyazaki, and directed by Hideaki Anno of Gainax. The series follows a young inventor named Jean and a former circus performer named Nadia, who wishes to return to her home in Africa. In its original Japanese broadcast, it aired from 1990 to 1991, running for 39 episodes, and was distributed by ADV Films in the United States. ADV's Anime Network has broadcast the series in the United States. Following the 2009 closure of ADV, Sentai Filmworks has re-licensed the anime series, and it was re-released on Blu-ray and DVD in March 2014.