When it comes to bringing in nostalgia, this anime has done a perfect job of giving me that feeling. Shiroi Suna no Aquatope was a touching yet beautiful summer anime I've watched during that season. Not only did it bring back memories of watching "Nagi no Asukara," my first official anime, but it made me interested in aquariums more than ever. Combining the typical slice-of-life genre with a tidbit of the supernatural, the two works well together and it made me intrigued to watch more. With that, here is what this anime did right and what it missed during the twenty-four episodes.
The plot had a different feel when it came to the events throughout the episodes, and not because it's an anime about aquariums. The central theme that is common during the first half is dreams. The portrayal of those dreams by the characters felt realistic in terms of what they wanted to accomplish. Even though their ambition towards achieving their goals was motivating, but setting unrealistic stands for some of them is impossible to make them come true. That portrayal of dreams was done perfectly, and it sets up the tone towards the second half of the anime. The second half felt slow at times, but the aspect of getting settled in a new area was fun to watch. Character development is a general theme in this anime as it gives the two protagonists the chance to realize what they want to in life and improve in their work environment. Even though I loved the aquarium illusion surrealism during the first half, it felt odd that it rarely showed up in the second half until the final two episodes. Although some may say those illusions need a better explanation, the answer to that is simple. A specific character created them, acting as an island deity.
The story for this anime contained two parts with the two-cour episodes, and it was intriguing to watch. It starts with a former idol going to Okinawa and meets an aquarium-loving girl who allows her to work in a run-down aquarium. From there, it features that idol getting used to working in the aquarium named Gama Gama, while figuring out her new goal there. At the same time, the aquarium will close soon, but the other girl wants to keep it alive. Despite their efforts, she realizes that all things must come to an end, and soon, Gama Gama closes for good. The second half focuses on everyone getting adjusted to Tingarla, while the two girls continue their character development. Overall, the first story was breathtaking and motivating, and it was a strong start for the anime. The second half was slow at first, but it was still enjoyable for the two girls to realize their new purpose in their work environment. The ending finished brilliantly, which anime originals barely do until this year.
I love how diverse the cast of characters are in this series. Their design was a great combination of realism, yet they fit well in their personalities. The two girls, Kukuru and Fuuka, had great chemistry together. Even though this anime isn't in the yuri genre, their support for each other was endearing to watch. Both of their character development fits in well with each of the cours. Fuuka's story was the first half. Even though her dream as an idol ended, her realization of her new goal she developed ties in with supporting Kukuru with her ambition. Looks aside, she's my favorite character in the series. For Kukuru, she was more relatable in her work environment in the second half. Her development might've been rough, but towards the end, it paid off as it showed her change from a naive aquarium lover to a full-fledged working young woman. The other characters were great, but some were dislikeable at first. However, the anime explained their backstories, and it redeemed them in my eyes. On a separate note, that being with the red hair is called a Kijimuna, who is the reason why those illusions were there in the first place. In short, the characters, their personalities, and backstories were perfect and realistic.
The animation for the aquariums was beautiful as it felt like it was a real-life aquarium. The CGI used for the fish is an example of CGI done well, and it makes sense as animating all the fish in 2D would've been difficult. Combined with the realistic character design, the magic surrealism was animated beautifully, bringing aquariums to life throughout the series. Outside of the aquarium environment, the animation for the rest of the work was generic and nothing special. In terms of everything combined, the visuals for this series were breathtaking yet simple during certain moments in this anime.
The music was the second best part of the anime. The soundtrack gave off a rural island-like vibe, eventually transitioning into a more modern-like sound during the two halves of the series. The openings by Arcana Project sound incredible, as both of those songs describe the tone for the first and second half of the anime, which fits them perfectly. Both of the ending songs have a majestic vibe, with sounds like it takes place underwater, fitting in with the aquarium theme had. All of the songs sound beautiful, and it's also the first time I've ever listened to Arcana Project, and I've become a big fan of their music.
Overall, Shiroi Suna no Aquatope is one of PA Works' best anime to date yet. Everything about this anime is done perfectly, from the characters to the animation. The pacing was smooth, and nothing was done wrong with it despite no source material. It inspires you to go to an aquarium in real life and to realize your dream throughout your life. This anime has done a perfect job in portraying those aspects. By understanding how everything in this anime functions, then this original anime is a masterpiece in my eyes. I recommend this anime if you enjoyed watching Nagi no Asukara, and you'll not be disappointed.
