Kaijuu no Kodomo

Ruka Azumi's ordinary summer vacation revolves around spending all her time on the handball court to avoid her only housemate, her alcoholic mother. When an incident at practice leads to Ruka's exclusion from the handball team, she is forced to find other outlets to enjoy herself, eventually winding up at the aquarium where her father works. There, she meets Umi, a mysterious boy raised by dugongs who is being kept at the aquarium in order to research his strange water-dependent body.

Ruka and Umi become fast friends, and the pair is soon joined by Sora, Umi's brother who also has an unusual relationship with the ocean. Together, the trio explore a dazzling undersea world while learning about a peculiar "festival" that all sea creatures around the world are preparing for.

[Written by MAL Rewrite]

Sora Main

Uragami, Seishuu Japanese

Azumi, Ruka Main

Ashida, Mana Japanese

Umi Main

Ishibashi, Hiiro Japanese

Anglade Supporting

Morisaki, Win Japanese

Dede Supporting

Fuji, Sumiko Japanese

Cusack, Jim Supporting

Tanaka, Min Japanese

Azumi, Kanako Supporting

Aoi, Yuu Japanese

Azumi, Masaaki Supporting

Inagaki, Gorou Japanese

Tanaka, Eiko Producer

Aoki, Masataka Producer

Watanabe, Ayumu Director, Storyboard

Kasamatsu, Kouji Sound Director

Reviews

Aug 13, 2025

HERMIT_PAIMON

Recommended

Fantastic, top of the line, hand drawn-C.G.I. hybrid animation, and a story that was so much bigger than I was expecting. I thought I was in for a little story about some kids swimming around with dolphins, and whales. What I got was something more thematically inline with "Tree of LIfe" .

It's a bit slow, but if you accept that and let yourself ride along then it's pretty good. Or you could just watch it in pieces.
4 degree studios really performed well in terms of art , music literally every details . Problem is that many people dislike children of sea because of poor ... plot theme ...It's too much philosphical for auidence who aren't into anime for a long time or in philosphical subjects/theories . So, there is always room to improve .
Looking forward to watch more work from this studio . In last all i say don't watch if you aren't into philosphical aspects .

Reviewer’s Rating: 10

What did you think of this review?

Nice 0

Love it 0

Funny 0

Confusing 0

Informative 0

Well-written 0

Creative 0

More reviews by HERMIT_PAIMON (101)

Show all

Read more

Show less

Open

Gift

Report

Sep 21, 2025

elumizu

Mixed Feelings

The ocean calls not with words, but with a silence so vast it feels like it remembers more than humanity ever could. Children of the Sea builds itself around this sense of mystery, weaving a story where a girl named Ruka becomes entangled with two enigmatic boys, Umi and Sora, who seem less like humans and more like fragments of the sea itself. Plot-wise, the film starts grounded in adolescent restlessness and family tension but quickly expands into a cosmic meditation, a shift that is ambitious yet disorienting, with the narrative sometimes dissolving into symbolism at the expense of clarity. Its complexity lies in layering ... themes of connection, origin, and the cycle of life, but the lack of a firm structure leaves some moments feeling more abstract than fully realized. Ruka’s arc captures the confusion of adolescence and the search for belonging, though her growth can feel overshadowed by the film’s grand metaphysical aspirations. Umi and Sora embody the story’s ethereal pull, but their characterization leans toward allegory. Side characters, including Ruka’s parents and mentors at the aquarium, ground the story in human concerns, though their roles often fade once the cosmic narrative takes over. The worldbuilding is extraordinary in its atmosphere rather than its rules. Sea life is depicted with reverence and awe, the ocean itself becomes a character, but the film offers little internal logic to anchor its fantastical leaps. Thematically, it explores humanity’s relationship with nature, the fragility of life, and the awe of existence itself, presenting a moral core that is poetic yet sometimes heavy-handed in its delivery. Visually, however, the film is stunning. Studio 4°C’s animation flows like water, capturing both the beauty and terror of the sea with a painterly touch, though the sheer density of detail can overwhelm rather than immerse. The score complements the visuals with haunting elegance, swelling between intimacy and grandeur. Voice acting delivers authenticity, particularly in Ruka’s vulnerability, though the dialogue occasionally struggles under the weight of its abstract themes. In conclusion, Children of the Sea is a work of breathtaking ambition and visual poetry. It's a film that dares to embrace mystery when its storytelling falters, leaving us adrift between awe and bewilderment, like standing on the shore after a dream you cannot fully explain.

Reviewer’s Rating: 7

What did you think of this review?

Nice 0

Love it 0

Funny 0

Confusing 0

Informative 0

Well-written 0

Creative 0

More reviews by elumizu (109)

Show all

Read more

Show less

Open

Gift

Report

Jul 17, 2025

tonaruto044

Not Recommended

What the f did I just watch?

I honestly got 0 clue on what I just witnessed. Universe spiralling into the sea? The kid's now the universe???? Wtf? I don't really understand a single thing going on in this movie.

I might be stupid, but someone please tell me what the past 1:30-ish hour have told me. The story - confusing, the dialogue - convoluted, the characters - completely impossible to understand.

They show us concepts that we weren't explained to: The party? What party? We are the same as the universe? Wtf? What are you even talking about? The wind carries the memories? Ok this honestly sounded ... pretty cool, but put into context wtf????

Honestly I felt like if it weren't for my friend watching along I would've dropped around ~40 minutes in. The only things got going for it is the visual.

If it's a comedy, 10/10, lit up our whole night

If it's what it's trying to be, 0/10 story wise, 7-8/10 visual-wise (also wtf was that universe section, me personally I think it's hard to even understand what's going on, let alone see it.)

Reviewer’s Rating: 2

What did you think of this review?

Nice 0

Love it 0

Funny 0

Confusing 0

Informative 0

Well-written 0

Creative 0

More reviews by tonaruto044 (12)

Show all

Read more

Show less

Open

Gift

Report

Famous Japanese Anime Movies

by ahmadmusa343

50 Entries · 10 Restacks

the ultimate guide to become an anime elitist watchlist

by Wasaaaabibaby

45 Entries · 382 Restacks

Disconnected World

by ryck66x

50 Entries · 75 Restacks

North American Anime & Manga Releases for September

Here are the North American anime & manga releases for September Week 1: September 1 - 7 Anime Releases Africa no Salaryman (TV) (Africa Salaryman) Complete Coll...read more

Aug 31, 2020 2:34 PM by ImperfectBlue | Discuss (1 comment)

23rd Japan Media Arts Festival Winners Announced

The award-winning works for the 23rd Japan Media Arts Festival was announced on Friday. Recipients include creators from numerous countries, including Japan, China,...read more

Mar 8, 2020 9:30 AM by Kingsman117 | Discuss (6 comments)

	Poll: Kaijuu no Kodomo Episode 1 Discussion ( 1 2 ) Klonoa7H - Oct 14, 2019	75 replies	by JackCompletes »» Jan 20, 1:16 AM
	does Ruka Azumi end up with Umi?? neel_senpai - May 29, 2024	3 replies	by babel0790 »» May 29, 2024 3:42 PM
	Underrated anime? madriiix - Oct 14, 2021	18 replies	by Zerephiehell »» Feb 3, 2022 3:09 PM
	Trailer Xeiros - Feb 26, 2019	20 replies	by saeran_choiiii »» Jun 11, 2019 12:51 AM