The manga is about a girl named Ruka, a girl who's better at using her fists to explain herself rather then her mouth. The result? She's kicked off the school handball team. In an attempt to run away from everything, she goes on a short trip to Tokyo and tries to find the ocean. There she meets Umi, a boy who was raised by dugongs.
What this beginning leads to is a brilliant, almost surreal story of fantasy, mystery, and adventure, yet it's portrayed in such a way that you could almost believe it (and if you're like me, hope for it) to be real. It draws inspiration from folk tales and myths all around the world to create an atmosphere much like the one found in Hayao Miyazaki's films. In other words, if you like Miyazaki's films then you'll definitely like this. The story is a quest of trying to answer one of the most intriguing questions in the world today: "How was the world made?" And it does it in a way that makes it both breath taking, fun, and a wonder to look at.
On that note, the Art is wonderful. The style the mangaka (Igrarashi) uses is one full of sketch-like lines, with lots of cross hatching and shading in the process. It's not glossy or cute and the proportions aren't always perfect, but that doesn't matter. The art fits the story. The marine world under water and the small coastal town Ruka lives in are perfectly portrayed by Igrashi's detailed drawings of fish, natural scenery, and towns. There are many times when you'll simply stare at one panel on the page, soaking up all the marvelous detail in. An incredible world is created in those pages, and the art just sucks you into the story, letting you smell the ocean breeze, feel the waves, and simply live it all.
The characters aren't neglected either. On the contrary, they're all quite memorable, even the minor ones. They all hold a certain charm, Ruka, the girl who's not good at using words; Umi, the rather strange and cheerful boy; Sora, the sickly and sarcastic wanderer; and Jim, the old surfer dude covered in tattoos who takes care of Umi and Sora. Even the sea creatures have their own appeal.
In conclusion, if you haven't read 'Children of the Sea', read it. Now. The only bad thing about the series is it's languid pace, but even that is part of its charm. You'll definitely be set onto a journey that will take you all throughout the seven seas, and by the time you finish one volume you'll be wondering to yourself whether the world is really how it seems to be. That and you'll want to go swimming.
