The problem with the anime industry is the continuous failure to capitalise on titles that are actually good, and instead redirect time and resources to producing shows that leave you as empty as a tectonic bowel movement. Every genre has suffered this iniquity, but while most bounce back with other, much better offerings (comparatively speaking), comedy continues to prove the medium's "Achilles heel". Those of you who are fans of Gintama may disagree with that perception, but consider for a moment the number of anime released during the last year that have borne the "comedy" label.
Now have a think about whether they made you laugh,
...
or simply made you smile (or in the worst case scenario, made you want to punch the people who made it in alphabetical order).
Based on the manga by Anbe Masahiro, Shinryaku! Ika Musume (Invasion! Squid Girl), tells the story of Ika Musume, who has come from the sea to exact revenge on humanity for polluting the waters of Earth, and she plans to do this by conquering the world.
Unfortunately her first foray onto land doesn't go as planned ...
The series is presented in the style of a sketch show rather than as a continuous narrative, with each episode split into three independent stories. Normally this approach would present several problems where plot and character development are concerned, but thankfully that isn't the case here as each tale is well crafted and paced, with little time wasted on pointless trivialities (which is ironic as there are people who would consider the whole show to be trivial). In addition to this, there is an autonomy to each chapter that allows for a variety of themes over the course of one episode, and this makes for some decent storytelling and visual gags.
As an aside, one thing that should be pointed out is the rather obvious homage to the first ten minutes or so of Up! that occurs in episode five. The nice thing about this particular chapter is that there has been a conscious effort to follow Pixar's example and simply use music, sound effects and imagery to tell the story, and the result is something ... rare, especially in terms of audio/visual choreography.
Which brings up an interesting point.
On the surface Shinryaku! Ika Musume looks a lot like the common or garden moe based "comedies" that abound these days, but as everyone knows, one should never judge a book by it's cover. The design principle verges on the generic at times, and this rather simplistic approach to the characters is reflected in the backgrounds and settings as well. The animation is generally decent, with nice movements and some interesting ways to use tentacles (I never thought I would ever use that sentence in an anime review), but the initial perception may be that Diomedea simply didn't try hard enough to make the series look great.
There is something that should be taken in to account though, and that's the fact that Ika Musume wasn't only made to make you smile. The main purpose of the series is to make you laugh, and that it does. The "generic" look of the show allows for a number of well executed visual gags and parodies, as well as some creative moments like the Mini Ika Musume chapter. In addition to that, the style of humour actually works better when the viewer is comfortable with the imagery, which may be the reason why Diomedea opted for a look that many people will already be familiar with.
After all, it's reasonable to assume that the majority of viewers would find the slapstick comedy aspect out of place in a series series featured stunning scenery and beautiful characters, no matter how funny the show was.
One thing that is slightly annoying about Ika Musume is the devilishly catchy opening theme (Let's Invade by ULTRA PRISM featuring Kanemoto Hisako), which may have been designed to loiter in the viewers head, waiting for the opportune moment to strike. That doesn't mean it's a great song though, as it's a very typical example of the "cute" J-Pop anime introduction - with everything that entails.
On the other hand the ending theme, Metamerism by Ito Kanae, is a melodic ballad that's rather pleasant on the ears (even if it is a tad generic), but seems a little out of place in a comedy show. As for the incidental pieces, they range from slightly ditzy jazz styled jingles to the slow piano piece of the Mini Ika Musume chapter. Unlike many other shows though, the music is only pushed to the fore when the occasion demands, and one will generally hear it as a very subtle accompaniment to the on screen action (it should be pointed out though, that a good portion of the series features no music whatsoever).
As with any comedy, delivery is everything, and it's here where the seiyuu really shine. While the voice acting may sometimes be a little on the bland side, the characters really come alive when there's something quirky or funny going on. Kanemoto Hisako's performance as the precocious invader from the sea is actually pretty good, especially as her only other main roles are in Sora no Woto and Kore wa Zombie Desu ka. Her coordination with the other voice actors, especially Fujimura Ayumi and Tanaka Rie (the Aizawa sisters, Eiko and Chizuru), allows for some nice comedy set pieces.
Which brings up another point.
By its very nature, comedy isn't the greatest tool for characterisation or development, especially as the usual methods can seem out of place amongst all the slapstick. Ika Musume neatly sidesteps the issue by inserting a few choice tales that highlight a particular bond or personality trait, but it does this by creating a metaphor which can sometimes change the whole tone of the series. That said, any growth is sporadic, and there are occasions where viewers may find themselves wondering what the point of a particular chapter was.
There is a plus though, as the series creates comedy pairings between disparate, and sometimes unlikely, characters, which adds to the whimsical nature of the show. Eiko and Ika-Musume represent the primary straight and funny "men", but in truth there are multiple parings, trios and groups that form over the course of the series, all of which is only achievable because the characterisation is actually pretty decent for a comedy anime.
Now I will be honest here, as I didn't expect to like this series as much as I did. That's not to say it's a classic, as there are definitely better purebred comedies out there, but when compared to many of the more recent offerings in that genre, the charm, quirkiness and feelgood atmosphere of Shinryaku! Ika Musume is definitely a step in the right direction. The series bears a few similarities in terms of style, content and layout to such comedy worthies as Potemayo and Jungle wa Itsumo Hale Nochi Guu (but without as much insanity), whilst Mini Ika-Musume didn't simply remind me of Pixar's Up!, but also of Binchou-tan.
There is something to bear in mind if you decide to give this show a try though. Comedy is probably the most subjective genre in any medium as it requires far more investment from the viewer in order for it to work, and one of the things that we in the West often forget is that the vast majority of anime are made for the Japanese markets. Because of that it becomes difficult for Westerners to relate to certain aspects of the humour, but that doesn't automatically mean a series is bad just because we don't understand it.
Besides, after some of the debacles that have been produced over the last few years by an industry that's trying a bit too hard, it's a welcome change to watch something a little bit silly.
Alternative Titles
Synonyms: The Invader Comes From the Bottom of the Sea!
Japanese: 侵略!イカ娘
More titlesInformation
Type:
TV
Episodes:
12
Status:
Finished Airing
Aired:
Oct 5, 2010 to Dec 21, 2010
Premiered:
Fall 2010
Broadcast:
Tuesdays at 02:00 (JST)
Studios:
Diomedéa
Source:
Manga
Genre:
Comedy
Theme:
Anthropomorphic
Demographic:
Shounen
Duration:
24 min. per ep.
Rating:
PG-13 - Teens 13 or older
Statistics
Ranked:
#22282
2
based on the top anime page. Please note that 'Not yet aired' and 'R18+' titles are excluded.
Popularity:
#1203
Members:
201,845
Favorites:
1,104
Available AtResourcesStreaming Platforms | Reviews
Filtered Results: 48 / 55
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Your Feelings Categories Jan 13, 2011
The problem with the anime industry is the continuous failure to capitalise on titles that are actually good, and instead redirect time and resources to producing shows that leave you as empty as a tectonic bowel movement. Every genre has suffered this iniquity, but while most bounce back with other, much better offerings (comparatively speaking), comedy continues to prove the medium's "Achilles heel". Those of you who are fans of Gintama may disagree with that perception, but consider for a moment the number of anime released during the last year that have borne the "comedy" label.
Now have a think about whether they made you laugh, ... Dec 26, 2010
I would never imagine, in my lifetime, to see a squid this adorable!
Im telling ya, after years experiencing Squidward from SpongeBob Squarepants, I started to give up hope for all squids in the world... That is until I met little Ika-Chan... So what's so special about another failure invader anime? Don't we already have a frog for that? How can you say that! Squid>Frog anytime! Anyways, the story isn't very deep and there's no much of a plot buildup however the comedy and cuteness is enjoyable nevertheless. You'll have a drama episode, a horror episode (Oh damn that doll was scaaaaary) and also a tearjerker moment (I ... Oct 7, 2010
Adaption success? Adaption success. Unlike that of Dance in the Vampire Bund I had meant to do with a long time back with, among other things. Don't pay attention to my scores as my writing, as I tend to rate most things highly.
This is a simple show that does what it is supposed to, but is a big deal because shows like these can have a lot of expecation behind them from the manga fans like me. Could you imagine how much expectation you would have if someone animated Yotsuba&!? Exactly. Shinraku! Ika Musume, is another Slice of Life Comedy show. A very good one. They're ... Mar 12, 2012
That's right de geso! I have come to tie you in my tentacles and make you my undersquid de geso! Don't even THINK of trying to escape from my wrath DE GESO!
Shinryaku! Ika Musume is quite a refreshing retake of the slice-of-life comedy scene. It was really nice to finally get one that didn't cop out and take the way-too-overused (high) school setting. The premise is actually quite creative and leads for some equally creative little stories and jokes as well. (Who knew the idea of a squid girl could be so interesting?) The series is really the only thing I've ... Jan 9, 2011
I was eating instant ramen while watching the first episode... I never thought I'd start a review with that sentence, but it leads to a point. I almost threw up when Ika Musume did you-know-what to the pasta, but then I was choking from laughter by the time the episode ended. The entire series left me a similar impression, from disgust and rejection to appreciation and attachment.
'Shinryaku! Ika Musume (Invasion! Squid Girl)' is an anime series that appears to be flawed in almost every way imaginable, but somehow... somehow, I found this series to be extremely enjoyable and memorable. Ika Musume has invaded my mind. Case ... Nov 2, 2010
This is the kind of show that you could just watch and enjoy.
The story itself is quite original and simple. It gives a nice setting for a comedy like this, but there's still not much to it. To be fair though, you wouldn't expect much from the story anyway, so you probably wouldn't be disappointed at all. The comedy however, is simple and funny. It doesn't need much cultural reference to understand, and its jokes aren't forced or awkward. It has a comedic style similar to Azumanga Daioh, and maybe also like a crazier version of Yotsuba, which also applies to the art style. The characters ... Nov 16, 2014
Squid girl was something I found while just browsing around for something to watch. Its intriguing title led me to watch over the weekend and I feel glad that I watched it.
Story 3/10 Story in itself is not very great at all. It is one of those short animes but it does not do much with its story though thats mainly the fact that it is for the most part a comedic anime. The line, "I am Squid Girl, emissary of the sea," would make you think what else could Squid Girl do with herself besides spit ink and use her tentacles. Art 8/10 Its a pretty ... Dec 22, 2010
The story is pretty simple, its about a girl who comes from the see and proclaims to be a squid and has come to invade earth because she believes earth is responsible for polluting the ocean, the show does mention this a few times as if trying to send an obvious yet subtle hint at real world problems.
Its a great slice of life and spends most of its time on the beach in a cafe hut and its surroundings and is just brilliant at how it uses its comedy, which mostly comes from Ika Musume out lead girls over active imagination and thus always comes ... Apr 23, 2011
I know this might sound a little girly coming from me, but this is one of the cutest animes I have seen. The is that a girl called Ika Musume, which I think is japanese for Squid Girl, comes to the surface to invade the human race for polluting the ocean. However she knows nothing about the human world and when she busts a hole in the resterant called Lemon (I think), she ends up working at the place with to a group of two sisters and a brother to pay for the damages.
Characters are the best I seen in any other anime composing ... Sep 21, 2011
Shinryaku Ika Musume is the story of a squid girl who invades the surface because humans are ruthlessly polluting the sea. She subsequently gets side-tracked and ends up working at a beachside restaurant stall. The story, while creative, is essentially just a framing device for the zany comedy. So the real important question is: does the comedy work? The answer is an ardent yes. The situations Ika Musume ends up in are generally pretty mundane but her involvement adds a surrealistic element that works very well. The result is pure hilarity. One of the best aspects of the humour is that it never falls
...
Apr 13, 2013
Sometimes in the anime world, there are a lot of sub-genres that are very subjective, depending on what kind of anime you’re watching and one of the other subjective forms of media is comedy. For example, some people can like Love Hina for being some new turn of the Harem genre but most of them (including me) hated it for how annoying and juvenile it is. Others like Azumanga Daioh & K-On! For being innocently enough funny to entertain people for all ages without being too edgy and for others, they find it either too boring or moe for their taste. For me, comedy is
...
Oct 6, 2010
This anime at the first glance shows that this is one of those anime for comical and funnies. From what I heard, the director who made "Hare and Guu" is in charge of this, so this already kind of gives it away that this is going to be a fun one.
Much like Hare and Guu and other animes, it only goes up to certain quality of story and art, but what matters is the characters, and the anime does a good job giving a brief character description in the first episode and still be fun while elaborating it. So for those of people who want serious ... May 20, 2021
DISCLAIMER: This is more a review of both seasons, but it works just fine as a review of s1. There won’t be any spoilers for s2 either (not that there’s really much of anything to spoil).
SoL and Comedy anime are 2 genres I have a weird history with. I often enjoy them, but they have to be paired together with some other genre to usually interest me. If a show’s genres are just SoL and Comedy I often am not interested in it. HOWEVER, Squid Girl is one of the few exceptions, and it’s quite the delightful little show. Years ago when I saw this ... Dec 29, 2015
This show is so good, that after doing the math I found out that if we were to gather a squid girl body pillow, and the blu ray disc for shrinryaku ika musume, and send it back in time, we could give it to Hitler and prevent the holocaust. Once I reached episode 4 I realized just how powerful the tunes that play in the soundtrack are, whenever the opening song played my life flashed before my eyes and I was taken to heaven, that's right, this show is in fact heaven. There is no afterlife, once we die our spirits are sent to the
...
Nov 11, 2012
I've known about this anime for a long time know and I'll would always pass it by or say is this a gross hentai. One day in the App Store I was looking at the crunchyroll apps and stumbled upon the squid girl one. For some reason I was drawn to this one and the blue exorcist one, BUT I DIDN'T USE THE BLUE EXROCIST. Watching episode instantaneously drew me in. Squid girl is a very funny anime about a girl who tries to "invade" the surface to punish humans for polluting the sea. While trying to do so she becomes drawn to human customs
...
Jun 18, 2015
All these terrible tentacle jokes and I can't decide on one...
Story: This is a very episodic Anime and doesn't really follow a story, so all I can rate here is the premise and how it is dealt with. Ika Musume is a squid who is fed up with humans who throw their trash into the ocean, so she decides to conquer the humans. Too bad she is just a little girl with no knowledge about the human world. The idea is very interesting and reminds me a little of Yostuba&!, though the main characters are quite different. The premise is often made fun of, as it ... May 23, 2014
For decades, mankind has taken the vast, epic ocean environment for granted. As our technology has advanced, so has the scale our pollution, with oil, garbage and toxic waste killing millions upon millions of innocent aquatic life forms. But now, the world below the surface has finally taken enough abuse from the world above, and they’re sending their most powerful, most terrifying soldier to deal with us.
All 1,000 of us. Okay, so it’s information may be a bit dated, but it’s desire to enslave us and force us to pay for our crimes is no laughing matter. She’s coming, and we have no choice to prepare ... Sep 22, 2013
Usually I'm not a fan of comedies, animes or otherwise. However this one was different, all the jokes were genuinely funny and the story surrounding the whole series was (while admittedly silly) well put together and enjoyable to watch.
Unlike most anime this one follows a non-linear style where story is episodic, where each episode is a self-contained story that is loosely connected to the larger story as a whole. I feel like it adds to the atmosphere as well as helps to make the jokes that much more funny. It allows the writers to focus on how to make each individual episode good rather ... Nov 14, 2012
Shinkryaku! Ika Msusme is an anime about a squid girl called Ika Musume who has came out of the ocean to terrify human beings so that she can dominate the world!
Story: 6 The story? Ika Musue is a squid who notices pollution in the ocean from things such as cans and wrappers left from human beings. She then decides to get out of the ocean and try and take over the world and teach the humans a lesson! She then bumps into two girls called Eiko Aizawa and Chizuru Aizawa, and it turns out they they are sisters who own a small cafe/restaurant right outside the beach. ... Aug 4, 2011
When I first read about Shinryaku! Ika Musume, I became incredibly interested. It was great: an original premise, incredbile art, and seemingly exciting characters made it seem like an above average show. Thankfully, the actual anime did not disappoint completely.
Story: There is not much wrong with the story, but there is also not much amazing. The whole "I want revenge against humans because of pollution" thing is never really taken farther than a several jokes an episode. Each episode simply covers Squid Girl discovering new things with comedic outcomes which isn't that bad. Art: Other than characters, this is probably the most outstanding aspect of this show. ... |