Ranked #534

Tsuritama

If you distilled pure happiness into 22 weekly minutes of sight and sound, you’d have something a lot like Tsuritama.
So shall we Haino haino haino, yoisho yoisho into this?

Yuki is an introverted teenager whose intense fear of public speaking makes it difficult for him to make friends, so hoping for a fresh start, he moves with his grandmother to the small island of Enoshima. Shortly after his arrival he encounters Haru, a strange youth claiming to be an alien - and what's more, the otherworldly visitor requests his help to catch a strange being that inhabits the local waters! Along with fellow classmate and local angling celebrity Natsuki, the boys must now form a bond in the hopes of saving the town from the force that is threatening it. With a mysterious organization also lurking about and posing potential danger, Yuki must put his best face forward and protect the island... with the help of a trusty fishing rod?!

The first half of Tsuritama is a character-driven narrative, relating the development of transfer student Yuki Sanada and burgeoning friends Natsuki Usami & self-proclaimed alien Haru through the art of fishing. As anxiety-ridden Yuki grows from a beginner into an experienced fisherman his confidence builds in preparation for Tsuritama’s climactic 2nd half, a suspensefully whimsical fishing adventure that serves as a culmination of all the earlier growth of Tsuritama’s three leads.

Vividly hued, Tsuritama’s energetic animation fits the whimsical adventure of rescuing a locale from hypnotic aliens through friendship & the art of fishing to a tee. It’s light-hearted storyline provides a breath of fresh air while highlighting Yuki’s personal & relational growth. On the other hand, Tsuritama’s earnest approach to impending doom in the midst of such whimsy as duck-mascoted secret organizations & the threat of hypnotic dancing adds both a weight to its themes & delightful suspense that is satisfied with a thrilling climax.

The animation in Tsuritama is excellent. Tsuritama features bright, popping colors that is truly a sight to behold. The landscaping is very well done as well and I truly felt as though I was visiting Enoshima and viewing all of its beauty. Everything down to how the characters moved and danced was done exceptionally.

How could anyone not be in love with the music in Tsuritama? I found myself dancing the "Enoshima dance" several times as the opening credits rolled. The opening theme was called Tsurezure Monochrome by Fujifabric. If you have not heard it I strongly suggest a Youtube search. The music that played during the anime was apt as well. Everything felt put together smoothly and I was never distracted by it.

So to speak the voice acting depends on how much you like Haru’s voice. An affection for characters with borderline annoying voices in the name of extra-fun. Haru is one such character. Miyo Irino’s portrayal of his vivacity and the complex nuance of learning emotion helps sell the oddball alien and stands out as the best performance in the cast. Beyond him, Yamada and Akira's dad, Tamotsu, were probably most memorable. Like the character designs, each person’s speech pattern and mannerisms help further the ensembles development and camaraderie.

This is where this anime shines. The characters. And boy, the relationship between the main characters and supporting cast is excellent. It’s done in a way where it’s not too obvious, but you can definitely go back and point out things that have changed over time.

The characters each have their own personal issues that somehow tie back to the audience. Everyone struggles with a certain expectation- held by themselves or others, and the first half of the show does a fantastic job of portraying these characters as human beings- not just 2D characters. You really feel for them and the things they have to deal with. But their interactions with one another is what really makes Tsuritama shine. They open each other up and make each other confident, and it’s a wonderful thing to see.

The four main characters band together to learn and teach each other the ways of fishing. While it took a while for Akira to really shine I could understand why he was portrayed as a main character although at first I was extremely confused as to why he was portrayed as a main character in the opening credits. But Haru is the real champion here. He may be an alien but he learns to be as much of a human as any of the rest of the characters.

It has a sense of drama when it needs to, and can be exciting and intimate in turns. While the show didn't cause me to breathlessly marathon it, I enjoyed each episode. In short, if you even remotely like slice of life anime, watch Tsuritama. You'll be glad you did.
ENO SHIMA BOWL this on your plan to watch! read more

Ahh... Tsuritama. I didn't watch this show until the fifth episode came out so byt ehn I was practically bombarded with praise and gifs of the show showing off how amazing it was. So I decided to give it a try.

The beginning of the story made me feel so confused. All I understood was that there was a red haired awkward boy who was constantly followed around by an annoying white-haired self-proclaimed alien with a talking fish. However, as time passed on and more episodes were watched, everything became clear and the plot revealed to be about saving the world from an alien sea dragon named JFX. However, Tsuritama is so much more than that. It's about a group of misunderstood outcasts who bond together over the hobby of fishing and understand the true meaning of friendship.

The art absolutely captivated me. When I first watched Tsuritama, the colorful bright array of colors was one of the only reasons I kept on watching. Enoshima was beautifully designed and colored to make it seem like a wonderful, peaceful place to live; and when the emotion of the story became hostile, they used the correct setting and colors to represent it. The character art isn't super gorgeous, but it's better than most animes out there.

The music used in the story fit each setting in the story perfectly. Its upbeat songs set the mood perfectly and sometimes it really pumped you up and sucked you in the anime even more. It can range from happy, to emotional, to an adventurous-type song. Even the sounds of the sea were realistic. If you closed your eyes, you could imagine yourself to be standing right next to the ocean.

Tsuritama oozes character development. The show does not really take in the time to get the complete background of the characters, but it gives you just enough to make you feel like they're on of your friends. Each one experiences some form of emotional growth, whether it's realizing how important family is to learning the virtues and friendship. The characters and their relationships absolutely touched my heart.

In the beginning, Tsuritama gave me mixed feelings but now it's touched me in so many ways and makes me appreciate the bonds I have with people even more. I implore you all to try out the anime; just watch a few episodes and you'll understand all of the praise that I have for it. Thank you. read more

Tsuritama is definitely one of the most re-watchable animes that I've ever watched.

The story was quite different, and I'm not used to watch animes associated with 'fishing'??

Sanada Yuki is an introverted and socially awkward red-haired teenager who is used shifting schools with his grandmother, and somehow they happen to shift to this small island: Enoshima. There, Yuki encounters the cheerfully alien Haru and Natsuki, the fishing prince. The main reason why Haru and Yuki became friends is to save the world from the danger threatening the island of Enoshima. A mysterious organization ‘DUCK’ tries to capture Haru thinking he’s the main cause of the danger, and there they meet up with Akira (I didn’t like him at all but then he was wicked cool at the end!). And the only person who can save the world is Yuki, and that’s by learning how to fish. Thanks to Natsuki and other secondary characters in the story, Yuki’s confidence is built up and his determination to keep his friends close and saving the world kept me at the edge of my toes.

I really loved the characters and the art of the anime was quite different than the typical ones I watch. I enjoyed it though!

The thing I loved the most about this anime is that the 4 friends learn from each other and that Akira might have took too much time to shine but in the end it was Haru who saved the day. I laughed and cried in the same time, so that means this anime is sugoi sugoi!!


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The first thing that caught my eye was the superb art and colors. After watching the first episode, I was hooked (haha)
The entire show is amazingly amusing. It's the king that brings out the kindness and warmth to all of the viewers, the characters are astounding and unique, and the plot is original and and entertaining. I don't believe I have ever came across a better lighthearted comedy than this show, and the funny thing is, my favorite genre of anime is usually horror or action!

There is one more episode left, and I am on the edge of my seat right now waiting for it, I suggest all of you should watch it and enjoy it as much as I do! read more

Secret organization ‘Duck’ has been entrusted with protecting Enoshima, a seaside fishermen's town, from a potential alien threat. Serving as both Duck’s prominent figure and comical mascot, is none other than Tapioca, the duck. While this brief synopsis may pitch Tsuritama as being simply a comedy, it is much more than that. Tsuritama is a vividly painted, light-hearted, genuine tale of friendship that is, at times, quite serious, and also quite brilliant.

The staff behind Tsuritama make use of everything at their disposal to overcome one of the universal difficulties of creating a quality anime. That is, all of the elements (visuals, story, dialogue, characters, soundtrack, timing, etc.) conspire wonderfully, resulting in a story whose mood and tone progress naturally. A consistent goal is maintained throughout, in opposition to the feelings of disjointedness that often make the viewer question exactly what an anime is trying to accomplish. Tsuritama knows what it wants to accomplish and does so, which is something I believe to be of underrated importance.

The art takes on a pleasant hand-drawn look, it’s simple and opts for natural warm colours, which serve to enhance the summer atmosphere. Characters, as well as other objects of attention, are neatly drawn and crisply outlined, while the soft environments, which take on a watercolour-esk quality, are splashed about the background playfully. This allows for effective contrasting between the many vivid colours on display throughout the series, from our protagonist’s
bright red hair, to the comforting baby blue of the sea, to the flowers, to the fish.

Tsuritama soundtrack is absolutely phenomenal, from back to front. The upbeat, catchy, OP is a constant reminder of the shows light-hearted nature, while the soothing ED encourages us to reflect on the shows more serious aspects. The rest of the soundtrack is mainly composed of teasing flute or whistling melodies, quirky electronics, and fun, spunky, instrumentals, featuring instruments such as the harmonica, tambourine , and chimes. Depending on their nature, the more serious scenes opt for softer, classical pieces, or epic, string filled, ballads. Scene by scene, the soundtrack supports the content and couldn’t be further from the dreaded soundtrack that you struggle to remember.

Without divulging the plot details, Tsuritama will undoubtedly make you laugh. From Tapioca’s antics, to the incessant dancing, Tsuritama often calls for scenes of comic relief, and the likeable characters, along with quality writing, make the most of them. Equally important however, is that Tsuritama’s comical plot also contains much beneath the surface (get it?). There are many moments which may make you consider, tear up, or stare on in awe, and these are not to be overlooked. Sprinklings of moral lessons and the smallest hint of romance can be found, and they fit in with Tsuritama’s content seamlessly.

I may have to readjust my opinion of fishing, because watching this fishing adventure unfold was nothing short of a blast. Summer is in the air and Tsuritama is here to help us welcome it, with smiles on our faces and friends by our side.

Oh... and I almost forgot, “DUH-K!” read more

i usually dont finish 12 episode animes in two days, but when i do, i know its a real work of art.

if you're looking for a amazing anime to watch, than this is the one for you. it has everything you would want, awesome story, hilarious characters and one epic goal to bring them together.

the story does start of kind of slow, but for a good reason, the characters needs to develop the necessary skills in order to accomplish their goals, the real story actually starts around episode 5 than it really picks up, it picks up so much that i couldnt stop from episode 7-12, each episode keeps me wanting for more and more, and to me, i havent had an anime make me want to do that for a LONG time.

and also, one of my favorite hobbies is fishing, so this actually taught me a couple things, and thats always a bonus =)

give this anime a shot, you will be very surprised on how awesome it is read more

Tsuritama (2012) is an “odd duck” (pun intended) of an anime, meaning it uses a less common style of story telling. While many stories can happen almost “anywhere,” and many occur in a fantasy location, this show has a very strong sense of a real place; namely Enoshima.

Enoshima is an actual Island at the mouth of the Katase River in Sagami Bay, on the Pacific Ocean. The island is connected to the mainland by a pair of 600m bridges; a pedestrian bridge and a bridge for motor vehicles. Enoshima and Sagami Bay were made world famous for being the harbour and the area where the sailing races of the 1964 Olympic Games were held. The island is the centre of Shōnan, a popular resort area both because of the sandy beaches, and because of its proximity to Tokyo. Enoshima is roughly halfway between the center of Tokyo and the top of Mount Fuji.

The anime renders accurate depictions of the area, albeit with vibrantly exaggerated colours. The bridges, the sky tree (a prominent feature of Enoshima), the train stations, the high school, the beaches and piers, even the bridge at the mouth of the Katase River, and many other features of the area are all reproduced quite well for us here to enjoy.

This is a complex story with many layers and story types. It is partly a fishing story, partly a coming of age story, a story about the value of friendship and family, the importance of place, a even little bit of Man vs Alien, all with enough whimsy and over-the-top absurdity to keep it fun. With the exception of the opening of Episode 1, the entire story occurs in the Enoshima area, either on land or in the waters of Sagami Bay. And it is this strong sense of a real place that keeps the story somewhat grounded, even when the most absurd of events are occurring.

Almost all of the characters are, obviously, caricatures. The story is primarily about Yuki Sanada, a boy so helplessly self-conscious that he makes an absurd face when under stress which only makes him feel even more self-conscious and stressed. He lives with his Grandmother, Keito Sanada. Yuki is not particularly bright nor gifted in any way, but he is a nice guy when he’s not allowing himself to be too embarrassed to show it. Keito tries her best to guide and advise Yuki.

Upon arriving in Enoshima, an alien named Haru moves in with Yuki and Keito. Haru’s has arrived on Earth with his sister, Coco, and they have a mission to fulfil while here. Coco only shows up from time to time in the series. Haru immediately starts work on their mission, and Yuki is going to play a prominent role in fulfilling their mission on earth. Not being from earth, Haru is often unaware of human emotions and also find himself receiving plenty of advice from Keito.

Everybody needs a hobby, a pastime, or some goals in life. And everyone needs a mentor to be able to succeed at any of those. Natsuki Usami, a fellow high school student of Yuki and Haru, is a bit of a loner. Natsuki starts as the fishing instructor and mentor for Yuki and Haru and becomes a friend to them over time. He is a locally famous for his fishing skills and is called the “fishing prince” for his skills in competitions. Natsuki lives with his father and sister. His relations with his father are strained, but he holds his sister quite dear and is like another, much kinder, person around her.

The last of the main characters is the alien hunter, Akira Agarkar Yamada. He is older than Yuki, Haru and Natsuki, by about 10 years, but he ends up in the same high school anyway. Akira is quite aloof and another loner character. Akira keeps a white goose (or is it an oversized duck), named Tapioca, with him at all times, and constantly talks to it. Akira is an agent of “Duck,” a mysterious organization that tracks aliens. Akira has enough rank to have several agents who report to him, but still reports to several layers of superiors within “Duck.” Unsurprisingly, “Duck” has resources at its command that would make most Generals, and even most Commanders-In-Chief, jealous. As Akira follows and starts interacting with Haru and the rest, he becomes aware of the mission that Haru and Coco have, and starts to take part with fulfilling their mission while also making fiends with Natsuki, Haru and Yuki.

The story and action are the catalyst for the bringing together of these four characters. Haru, in part to fulfill his mission and in part because of how his character is, is usually the one to push and pull the story along until the climactic scenes. Learning any new skill takes time and practice and the process can be quite frustrating, even for fishing. But this learning process is the time when Haru, Yuki and Natsuki start to get to know each other, and during this process they become closer. It is also during this process that Akira stops watching from afar, and starts to participate with the others.

The story shows us how Yuki turns from an awkward boy with little by way of roots in any place, to a more confident young man with a deep connection to Enoshima; for this reason alone the story’s strong sense of place in Enoshima is critical. Haru, who knows little of human relationships, comes to learn of the importance of family and friends, and learns to participate as a friend amongst humans, all while receiving motherly advice from Keito and while being supported by his sister, Coco. Natsuki is able to open up enough to make friends with the others, and also opens himself up enough to improve his relations with his father. Meanwhile Akira is able to also open up and find friends, and to find the fortitude to stand up to what is important to him.

Fish tales are always hyperbole, and this anime is likewise over-the-top. But at its core is a heartwarming story about growing up and making friends, and about what friends can do together to overcome incredible hardships. It also shows that process of making friends is not without its own hardships, and that overcoming these hardships is well worth the effort. Likewise, the art style, the music, the story, the characters are all also over-the-top. But that it is all a bit over-the-top helps add to the comedy while softening some of the harsher moments.

Because it is a bit over-the-top it can be a bit hard to see the core of the story, specifically the character development of the main characters, at least at the beginning. But if you let yourself be taken in by this fish tale, you’ll have a whale of a time.
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Tsuritama, a Spring anime from last year about... fishing, friendship and aliens! At first I thought this was a way too colourful anime about nothing... maybe fishing, but it has a story (an odd one) and it has nice characters, AND the happy-go-lucky atmosphere is catchy!

Starting with the story... a shy-almost-antisocial teenager, Yuki, starts hanging out (against his will) with Haru, a boy who says he's an alien. And they... go fishing. But that is not an easy thing to do so they train under Natsuki, the "Fishing Prince". What they don't know is that they are closely followed by a strange Indian and his duck named Tapioca. And also, fishing might just be the only way to save the world! Except for Haru, the other main characters aren't really the friendly type, but they will soon learn the meaning of friendship. I truly enjoyed how the anime concentrated on developing the characters and teaching them lessons about life, friendship and fishing.

As you may know, art&sound reviews aren't really that good but I will try my best. The animation is really colourful, but it fits the atmosphere really well. The style suddenly changes to emphasize different feeling (sometimes they are really scary). As for the music, it's quite catchy and suitable for the show.

You won't find a deep story in Tsuritama, but it's not one of those anime with 10 episodes about nothing and 2 with the story. The first half of the anime concentrates more on the characters and fishing and... a lot of stuff that might make you curious about what the story is about. I am no salesman, really, and if Tsuritama is not your type then you shouldn't watch it, but if you have mixed feelings just watch one or two episode and it may just catch you too. I told you it's contagious! read more

The story was very unique, but in a way it was almost it's crutch. While I did l enjoy the creative mix of fishing, supernatural, and alien, sometimes the absurdity of it all made the the story feel kind of silly. There were where times when the mixing of genres would take away the bite out of serious moments, of course there were also those pitched perfect moments where everything just came together. It was a bit awkward, but for the most part, it just worked.

I am a real sucker for interesting art styles, I really couldn't help but appreciate that in Tsuritama. The vibrant colors really made this anime pop, and it really suited a lot of the characters. Towards the end of the series a lot of that color was brought down to fit the climax, what little color was left really gave it a surreal sort of tone, fitting for an alien.

The music was great through out the series, though I did wish they would have changed the eyecatch a little at times. Hearing its happy tone interrupting some of the more serious moment was a bit unsettling, luckily the series remained happy go lucky most of the time, so this problem didn't occur too much.

In all honestly, I had some trouble getting used to Haru at the beginning, but I eventually warmed up to is absurd personality. As the story went on, Haru along with the rest of the cast became easier to sympathize with or just generally like. Whether it is the father who is trying to fix the strained relationship with his son, or the hilarious antic of the love struck small time ship captain. More notably our MC Yuki, a severely socially awkward young man, who is changed by a couple of strange new acquaintances, brought together by fishing. We get a few really great character breakthroughs in the series that is just handled very well.

I'm not one who easily enjoys everything they watch, but I really enjoyed this series. I enjoyed it for its modesty, something I don't see as often in anime, something that was very apparent in this series (unless you misread friendships for something else). The bond shared by close friends, and their obstacles they overcome together, something simple in a complex setting, something that just work.

Overall this series although not the greatest anime ever. A colorful story, wonderfully designed/likable characters, odd setting and an equally odd plot. Tsuritama is a great watch, and a solid 8 from me. read more

by far one of the best animes i've watched. i was never interested in fishing, yet this completely caught my attention. if i were to describe the anime in one word: quirky.

the plot and story were original. the show did a good job of maintaining a nice air of mystery throughout, as in you dont see what the bulk of the plot is until later on. however, at the same time it was very enjoyable to watch and very warmhearted. so many humorous moments in the show, i honestly couldnt help but smile or laugh at various points.

the artwork and animation were superb. its so colorful that you think it's an overall happy show, and while it is, it's clear later on that there's a slightly darker side to the story.

the characters were great. you can see how each on progress until they become who they are in the end. i normally find very loud childish sounding characters annoying (ie the maid and whatnot from black butler, couldnt even watch more than 5 episodes because of that), but haru's voice acting was very well done!

the one thing that i greatly appreciate from this anime, was the fact that the ending provided good closure. i've noticed in many animes that the ending is somewhat half-assed, which is definitely not the case here. with the way it ended, im hoping for another season.

overall i would rate this a 10/10 and recommend it to anyone. i cant express how well done this anime was. read more

Watch the series from beginning to end. The first 5 episodes are slow, but it definitely picks up from there. The pacing of the story is like that of a swelling wave: first you don't notice how slowly it's building up, and then suddenly it's 30 feet high and growing more impressive by the second.

At first, I rated this anime an 8, but right now it's a solid 10, and it wouldnt have been without the earlier episodes to build it up to the final and beautiful conclusion.

The anime isn't exactly slice of life, if I had to pick a genre, it would probably fit best in that category in terms of feel.

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Characters: 10
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The story starts off with two main protagonists: Yuki (Japanese: Winter Snow) the red head with a fear of being stared at, and Haru (Spring), the innocent alien whose complete lack of self-consciousness allows him to bond with everyone. The story then expands to include Natsuki (Nastu=Summer), the reclusive fishing Prince with family problems, and Akira (Aki=fall), the indian who grew up friendless and claims that friendship is unnecessary. Each of these characters has a problem that they try to deal with on their own, but is unable to overcome until they accept the help from their friends.

Haru is the most polarizing character of the bunch. Because he's an alien, he inadvertently says or does some very, very offensive things. Like, "wow please just get punched in the face now" offensive. If you hate the series because of Haru, or because the plot is too slow, just stick with it, because I promise it gets better.


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Plot: 10
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Yes, there is some plot. From the first episode, you see that an fishy alien (Haru) comes down to earth and meets the socially-anxious Yuki, and asks him to fish with him. Plot wise, the anime goes deeper into how Yuki masters each fishing technique (shounen-style) from his tutor Natsuki, while Akira, the DUCK officer, tries to observe Haru without drawing suspicious. While this might not sound exciting enough to make you keep watching, I promise you it is better than it sounds. And that the main draw of the anime isn't exactly the plot as it is the character development and the forging of friendships

Perhaps the most beautiful part of this anime is seeing how each of these characters manages to change dramatically from the start of the series to the end, especially when you notice that a development in one character manages to spur maturity in another, and etc. Isn't this how we mature as people in real life, as well?

- Pacing Note -

First 5 episodes - slow, but the effort the show puts into developing basically every character and story you'll run into makes the emotional payoff from these episodes worth it. You have to pay attention, because there are so many beautiful little details scattered throughout that I didnt notice until I rewatched them (after episode 11)

All episodes after the first 5: just ridiculously amazing. The plot resurfaces after seemingly been shoved aside for awhile, and everything just picks up.

- Overall, this a beautifully drawn anime with a relatively simple (though eccentric) plot of how these 4 really different people meet, become friends, and change each other for the better. read more

When I first began watching Tsuritama, my expectations were pretty low, and all I thought it would be was just another comedy about friendship. However, upon watching just the first episode, I found that I was completely wrong about it.
The artwork and animation is magnificent, and the overall atmosphere and mood is very well communicated. I found myself wanting to live in Enoshima with the main characters Yuki and Haru in their beautiful home by the ocean!
Even the story line is very well thought out and the progression of the characters is very well depicted. Yuki's social anxiety and Haru's ignorance of human life really changes throughout the story.
Also, of course I can't give out any spoilers, but the ending is beyond perfect. The anime includes an epilogue that really wraps up the story nicely and is devoid of untied ends.
I really found myself enjoying every single episode and not being able to wait for the next episode to come out. Everything about this anime is magnificent and I would recommend it to anyone. Let's hope there's a season 2! :D read more

Ah, where do I begin with this amazing show?

I didn't know what to expect from the description when I first picked up this show and only 3 episodes were out. I wanted to see what all the hype was about and it all far exceeded my expectations that were already set high for silly show about fishing. I was curious.

The show is visually gorgeous. The colors used, the art, the animation...everything sets such a lovely and unique tone that is used throughout the whole show. It was unlike anything I have seen in such a long time. Mixed with the music, it was all super gorgeous. I haven't heard a soundtrack I enjoyed that much from an anime in a while. It is all so calming. Everything kept you hooked even when I wasn't quite sure where the plot was going. Speaking of plot, no one ever seemed to know what was going to happen in the next episode of the show, but not in a bad way. It was all done so well.

One of the things that makes this show so amazing is the characters. This show is great for any fans of real character development. I was so happy to see all the characters grow as people, and change so much over the run of the series. It couldn't help but bring a smile to my face, and feel so proud of Yuki and the others for overcoming their insecurities and troubles. I feel silly saying it like that, but it was like nothing I had ever seen for development in a show before.

The characters themselves are lovely, and everyone has an important part in the plot right down to the final scenes. This show, even through the rough times, gives off such a nice vibe and I always was so excited to see what would happen next. I really couldn't help but fall in love with each and every character. Even after watching the series a few times, I still could never pick just one favorite.

This show is a roller coaster of emotions, but it is certainly one of the best anime I have seen in years and one of my favorite. It is going to be hard for any show to compete to this one in terms of overall enjoyment. read more

*updated* Ah, fishing. It's how a group of four boys will quite possibly save the world.

I'll be first to say that the premise of four quasi-bishonen boys is what enticed me to start tsuritama. The statement that this show is about an amazing story of saving the world comes at a close second.

Tsuritama spends part of the show developing characters and relationships and such, like an entertaining extended backstory. It has a very light mood, heavily reminiscent of a slice-of-life comedy, mixed with a little "Growing-Up Protagonists". However, without saying too much, the series then takes a relatively dark turn; and the original hook for the series, the saving-the-world part, is addressed. The development of the characters from the earlier portion of the show further adds to the drama, and it makes a good normal-boys-turned-hero tale. With all this said, it is still not an action or fighting anime. It was never meant to be, but that doesn't mean it lacks suspense and emotion.

Speaking of the characters, they are all very interesting, to begin with. In the main cast, first impressions are as follows: There's the But-Not-Too-Foreign Yuki with his thizz face panic attacks, the adorable alien Haru, Akira, the turban-wearing spy guy, and Natsuki, the tsundere fishing prince. With glasses. That doesn't even begin to cover all of tsuritama's characters. All of the cast is quirky and well-developed and it's truly fun to watch them interact with each other.

I suck at critiquing art, but the art is particularly pretty and fascinating in tsuritama; with vibrant color palettes and seemingly brand new blends of ocean blue. The use of animated cut-out style backgrounds is kind of cool. In no way does the art style look cheap-o whatsoever, and they do great justice to the sea. They don't make water look overly realistic looking, but it is just as well-animated with the occasional cut-outs or lots of pretty blends of blue.

The sound makes good use of whimsical instruments and such, like flutes and recorders, to suit the relatively light mood of the series that takes place by the ocean. When necessary, the sound is able to take the central themes and create multiple semi-orchestral versions to suit the situation, varying from triumph to touching. Darker themes exist too, and they are executed quite well for such an airy series. It is well-suited to the series and fitting, but then again, it is nothing TOO spectacular; and for that it loses some points. I'd also like to pay special attention to the opening sequence, 'cause the song is really freaking catchy. The dancing OP is not as out of place as one would think it'd be, since it is a traditional Japanese dance (at least I think it is); and hey, Haru had the mind control gun. He could totally be controlling the cast to dance. The voice actors, as well, are very suited to their characters, especially Haru's bubbly voice.

I definitely recommend tsuritama: It's a story packed with great characters, humor, and captivating art. read more

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

Random? Yes
Ridiculous? Totally!
Frickin hilarious? YOU BEAT CHA!

If your looking for pure enjoyment then look no further. It's silly, it's different but it also has heart and a moral.

It's about friendship, family values, aliens, mind control causing people to dance, secret organisation involving a duck and people who look like theyre from an 80's music video, and above all FISHING. Who would have thought an anime about guys who fish could be so intriguing.

I watched this with my family at at one stage my sister was beating me with a pillow while she shouted at the TV with excitment haha

The art alone should make you watch it. It's is a pure colourgasm. The theme music and OPs are so catchy as well *thumbs up*

Plot? There is a plot but it's so far fetched and stupid that it actually works. I mean they use the alien as a lure to catch a fish to stop people from dancing?! I never knew what was going to happen next......which made it all more enjoyable.

Although there are the silly moments there are also the heart touching moments. Like I said; it's about making friends and sorting out family issues. The drama doesn't control the anime or dampen the mood but does add the needed realism among all the randomness.

Seriously, this anime deseves the high ratings. At first I was skeptical over all the high ratings but now I am so glad that this anime has embraced my life. Definitely worth the time. You won't be disappointed!

:3 read more

To be honest, at first I was quite hesitant to watch this anime. I mean I've personally never have seen any anime that was revolved around fishing, to me it just sounded odd.

I'm glad I decided to pick up these series though because it's way more than I expected, providing a great cast, humor, and stunning and unique art.

To begin, the story at first seems to be your typical slice of life, a group of high school boys with very different personalities become friends. Each boy though is very unique, providing an interesting and amusing ensemble of characters. You have Yuki Sanada, a boy who is easily flustered by situations, Haru a energetic boy who claims to be an alien, Natsuki Usami a somewhat distant and cold character, and Akira Yamada, who at this point is a mysterious man who carries around a duck named Tapioca.

These boys friendships are then tested through various events that build a strong bond between them all. In the beginning it is mentioned by Haru that they will have to save the planet, so it'll be interesting to see how this unfolds.

With the end of the world concept in the back of your head it makes the viewer really wonder. It''ll be nice to how the story transitions from being lighthearted to something more dramatic.

Being only five episodes in I'm really intrigued to see how this anime unfolds, I personally have a feeling that will turn out to be a great series.
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Tsuritama feels like something studio SHAFT would make, as it has weird artsy animation and characters that are or act like they are aliens.
- And yet it is not made by SHAFT but rather by A-1 Works, which translates to good production values.
- It is also part of the NoitanimA timeslot, so it is bound to have lots of artistic makeup and josei overtones.
- And it’s by Nakamura Kenji, the director of Mononoke, Kuuchu Buranko, and C, so expect some really crazy stuff in it.

STORY

My impressions about the plot were just one big MEH as there was literally no real hook in the story. It is supposed to be about making friends and fishing being the key to the salvation of the Earth but it is not motivational or educational or exciting or whatever. It is easy going right away and doesn’t try to have peaks of tension just to flavour the whole thing. Even the finale that is supposed to be one big major event is presented in a most easy going way. Just imagine that instead of panicking because of a major catastrophe, the people are dancing happily in the middle of the street.

CHARACTERS

I didn’t find the characters to be very funny or inspiring. The “earth people” felt and acted like they were bored half the time and kept their distance from you like they were afraid of something. There wasn’t any specific reason for not wanting to open up, they were just bored or anti-social. And this is where the “alien people” come up and motivate them to learn fishing, as means to make friends, be more social … and save the world in some ludicrous way. They are supposed to be a complete antithesis with the earthlings but because of the easy going nature of the show they didn’t manage to polarize their attitudes that much. Everybody’s personality was quite basic and simple and the whole “I’m an alien” thing that was supposed to keep things interesting, got old years ago.

A notice must be given to Yuki, the protagonist, who is anti-social and gets these panic attacks when pressed to do something. He is supposed to be your average blunt closet teenager we are to identify with. Although it is kinda funny to see him acting like he is drowning or about to blow up, I eventually disliked how everything seems to revolve around him, and happening just for him. The aliens are constantly pressing him to learn fishing because he is the chosen one or something, and he catches fish with no real talent. It gets quickly annoying if you don’t like anti-social people and convenient events.

Another notice must be given to the alien Haru’s water pistol. Yes, his pistol, not him, whom I want to strangle for acting like a coo-coo all the time . It brainwashes people to do anything he tells them to. This alone trashes all sense of free will and the whole bonding and friendship part turns to nothing but puppets controlled by Haru’s strings. So much for motivation.

As for the rest of the characters, they don’t matter much to the main plot. I mean there is this Hindu dude and his duck partner, and they are supposed to be part of a shady organization but the whole thing is there just for kicks. There is also Haru’s sister who is there just for fan service; she otherwise behaves exactly like him. And some other denizens of the island, like relatives and other schoolmates who are there to flesh out the setting and give it a fluffy atmosphere between slice of life and romantic comedy. The show focuses on them nicely, so they are not cardboards.

ART

I fancied the artwork for its uncommon and stylish looks. A weird blend of paperwork and water paints, with simplistic caricatures and vivid colours to make everything look like you are high on drugs. It keeps the eye occupied all the time with all the trippy things in it.

I disliked the animation. Not only there wasn’t much motion, but also because everything felt dumb. The way they keep shaking their hands and head felt half-dead compared to how extreme they are supposed to behave. It doesn’t feel exaggerated enough and that tends to make it dull to keep looking after awhile. And seriously, when one guy is talking or thinking, everybody else just freezes and waits for him to finish instead of doing anything else. It made it look very staged and artificial. Especially when the lead male is looking at his Pokedex … I’m sorry, I mean his amazing cell phone that has a whole wikipedia in it. Every time a new fishing-related word is spoken, he picks up his phone and looks for the explanation. This is quite a dull way of explaining things since all we see is letters and an internal monologue. Where is the interest in a still image where he reads and thinks about it, while every other character present patiently awaits for him to finish as if they await the approval of the king in order to move to the next scene. BOOORING!

MUSIC

Voice acting and dialogues were fine but because of the lack of proper bodily motions, they too weren’t as passionate as they could have been. Other than that, everybody talks in a comical way and especially Haru is so cheerful you just want to shoot him.

The background music was crap. They just threw a soft tune in the background and left the characters talking however they liked. There was very little effort given to make the music be in tune with whatever is going on in the foreground.

The music themes were soft lullabies full of flute tunes. Although fitting to the show’s mood they are not something memorable or good enough to not skip when they appear.

FINAL THOUGHTS

So what do I think of this show as a whole?
- It’s TOO DAMN TAMED! Completely easy going compared to what the same director has produced in the past. With such a bizarre premise and quirky artwork, you would expect it to be far more exciting that this lukewarm slice of life. It’s one of those shows you watch to ease your mind by not thinking much, instead of sleeping, watching commercials on television, or looking at the cars crossing the road outside your house. BOOORING! I don’t watch anime to fall asleep but to get my blood pumping and my brain working. Tsuritama felt to me like a dull variant of Sayonara Zetsubo or FLCL.
- Even the whole premise of making friends through fishing is not working out. FISHING IS A BORING HOBBY! All you do is shake a rod, keep quiet, and hope for a dumb fish to bite the lure. Even Bayblade felt more interesting to this and it was just about spinning tops.
- And even if it was trying to be about opening up and making friends, it is still boring compared to NHK, Princess Jellyfish, or even Boku wa Tomodachi. And brainwashing people to do your biding on top of everything else? Well thanks for trashing your own premise just like that.

SUGGESTION LIST
Aliens: Arakawa under the Bridge, Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko, Level E
Anti-socials: NHK, Princess Jellyfish, Boku wa Tomodachi

And now for some excused scorings.
ART SECTION: 8/10
General Artwork 2/2 (artsy)
Character Figures 1/2 (generic)
Backgrounds 2/2 (artsy)
Animation 1/2 (basic)
Visual Effects 2/2 (artsy)

SOUND SECTION: 7/10
Voice Acting 2/3 (corny but fitting with the feeling of the series)
Music Themes 3/4 (not great but fitting with the feeling of the series)
Sound Effects 2/3 (ok I guess)

STORY SECTION: 3/10
Premise 0/2 (stupid)
Pacing 1/2 (slow)
Complexity 1/2 (not much)
Plausibility 0/2 (none)
Conclusion 1/2 (cheesy)

CHARACTER SECTION: 7/10
Presence 2/2 (funny)
Personality 2/2 (silly but well founded)
Backdrop 1/2 (generic and simplistic but it’s there)
Development 1/2 (overblown but it’s there)
Catharsis 1/2 (overblown but it’s there)

VALUE SECTION: 4/10
Historical Value 0/3 (none)
Rewatchability 1/3 (low because of too little plot)
Memorability 3/4 (weird enough to bother remembering it)

ENJOYMENT SECTION: 3/10
Art 1/1 (looks artsy)
Sound 0/2 (sounds boring)
Story 0/3 (feels stupid)
Characters 2/4 (cute but nothing much)

VERDICT: 5.5/10 read more

Story: The entire story is random. All of it, so don't try to logic through it and put things together. That said, as things go along you get caught up in the nonsense to the point that it all makes perfect sense! It's difficult to describe, but this is pretty much it. My first impression was that the show might be a slice of life like Nichijou or Azumanga but with males and fishing. Totally wrong. What seems like a non-existent plot quickly comes together to form an epic fight to save the world. At the same time Tsuritama manages to shine light on all aspects of life in a meaningful way, touching on life, death, friendship, finding yourself, growing up, family and departure. Sometimes it even surprised me with the seriousness that often arose within the most ridiculous of situations, it creates a very interesting juxtaposition, but it works. Overall, it all comes together to form a ridiculously enjoyable plot work. The only thing I could've wished would be that it had been longer.

Art: The art is refreshingly simple and colourful. At first I thought it wasn't that good but that was just because the simple art combined with the simple story at the beginning gave me a children's show vibe but that feeling is quickly negated.

Sound: The music didn't stand out to me that much but I actually don't feel this anime needs too much going on with music while there are other elements that are already so exaggerated. Otherwise, the opening is very catchy and features more of the infamous Enoshima dance that you'll probably come to love. The ending was not as impactful for me.

Characters: The characters are well-developed and each undergoes a great deal of growth throughout this short series. The four main characters are so compatible with each other and it's a joy to watch as they interact with each other and come to know each other. Their personalities eventually become very real and very relatable.

Overall: Don't glaze over this anime without watching to at least episode three, then make your decision! It starts off confusing but it really does come together to be something great. It's probably one of the most exciting things about fishing I've ever seen and left me with a warm feeling and a stupid grin after every episode, it's not the kind of show you'll finish watching and then quickly forget about. read more