Ranked #854

Tsuritama

It's a bit early yet to say anything definitive about Tsuritama. And yet I think that it's not too early to describe the series as rather unique. Having said that, I'll edit this review as the season progresses.

Tsuritama was created by the same director who did Mononoke and Trapeze - two series memorable for distinctive visual style and approach to storytelling. I think in some ways Tsuritama is a younger sibling to those series - while it is certainly as interesting to look at and only mildly less thought-provoking, it has a sense of humor about it that is somehow invigorating - there's fun to be had here, in a fishing village called Enoshima. The setting is certainly colorful, and it's got nothing on the characters.

Our lead, Yuki Sanada, is an anxious young man who has the unfortunate tendency to make a hideous facial expression whenever something makes him uncomfortable. His foil is a self-proclaimed alien invader named Haru who thus far seems to be capable of controlling people with a single squirt of his water gun. If it sounds like Haru is in any way sinister, you've been misled - so far, the only thing he enjoys using this power for is forcing unwilling high schoolers to dance a folk-dance. Haru is irrepressibly upbeat and smiley, and his character is more charming than anything else. Soon we meet a few other boys with social issues - there's Natsuki Usami, the "fishing Prince," who seems rather friendless and resentful of his father. And perhaps best of all is an Indian boy with a duck accomplice - yes, a duck - who seems to be investigating Haru. The duck's name is Tapioca; the boy's name is Akira.

So far, these kids aren't exactly all that friendly with each other. But we should give them time.

This show pretends to be about fishing, but it's not. It pretends to be about an alien invasion, but that's not quite it either. It sometimes seems to be about social anxiety, and that's closer to the mark. As of now, Tsuritama is sprouting into a show about friendship among misfits. Our protagonists are as goofy a bunch of oddballs as any that anime proffers, but it is already apparent that the best friendships may be grown from mutual weirdness.

If all of this seems rather vague and plotless when laid before you, I think in some senses that's the point. This show is deliberately casual and nearly introspective in the way it develops its characters. There's something beautiful i how not a great deal of fuss is made about the fact that one of the lead protagonists is probably from a foreign planet. The show manages to be leisurely and captivating, and most importantly - it doesn't seem to take itself too seriously. This is disarming, of course - because I think the show itself should be looked at with a serious eye.


This should appeal to fans of Kuragehime and Welcome to the NHK. Artistically and tonally, it has been noted that this is similar to Mawaru Penguindrum. I hope that Tsuritama earns a following like Penguindrum did, because it's just quirky enough to merit it.

TL;DR: Tapioca is a duck; Akira feeds him duck curry. Ponder this. read more

Don't you find it funny when you chuck a bunch of high school boys with outrageously unique, colourised characteristics into an anime it becomes an instant hit? Why wouldn't it be when it's so damn interesting.

When I say interesting, I mean in terms of character. There isn't much going on based on the plot as of yet. It is apparent that the encounter with the boys will be destined to save the world from something that only Haru is aware of.

As I said the characters and their interactions was what made it so engaging to watch. We have the Yuki who is not the best at communicating having poor socialization skills, causing him to go through nervous breakdowns where his uncomfortable feelings are portrayed by him drowning. Haru a self proclaimed alien who holds some kind of water magic or power and wields a water pistol. He has a strong interest in fishing although it was shown that he wasn't very good when he was fishing with Natsuki. Natsuki is the closest person to real life in the main cast that you would consider a normal human being. He has a talent for fishing and is very manly but shy if that makes sense? I think it's just me that thinks that. According the MALs summary the last boy of the 4 is Akira Agarkar a mysterious Indian. He treats his duck like a person and has apprentices or disciples at his command. The author also let us in to some of the characters chains of thought which i thought was cool and I can't wait to find out how the 4 are related or be brought together and knowing more of their background.

The art is stunning especially the background. Gaze at the sky, mountains and sea and you can enjoy the simplicity yet glamorous landscapes. Skip to any where in the anime may it be a door, black board, house or the ground and be absorbed by the texture and shading of the sight. It can be called lazy and it may be more easier to undertake any flaws but I think it suits the anime well.

Lastly the sound, not much to say but the voice actors fits the character well. Some people are annoyed by Haru however he is the reason that I come back for the next episode and think the actor did a great job. The opening and ending was quite nice too.

Overall Tsuritama was enjoying to watch. When I first heard of Tsuritama and saw the display picture, I expected a slice of life. No where in my mind did sci fi and shounen pop up although this is emerging through Haru being an alien and the "save the world" talk. I have no clue where this is going. I presume them of water will play a major role later on. If the series gets better than I can see this being of my favourites.

Enjoy. read more