The story presented in Ride Your Wave is one that I was able to enjoy, if only for the fact that it is a relatable enough story. The main character, Hinako, is attempting to figure out what direction to go in for her career and life (hence "riding her wave"), and she enjoys surfing. She falls in love, something tragic happens, she becomes lost, something dramatic happens, and she is made to realize which direction she feels compelled to go in. It falls a bit flat, as it is not anything incredibly detailed. Unlike the core of the story, the path through the story is not nearly as relatable. Hinako relies heavily on the other characters to find herself, which makes her seem dangerously dependent. What she accomplishes is diminished by the fact that she does very little of it for herself.
Art (9):
While the story falls a bit flat, the art is beautiful and the colors work well with the various settings. The movement of different things-- such as the waves that Hinako surfs on-- shows true strength in animation. The only thing that I think bothered me was how thin the characters' legs are. In some scenes, the characters appear to be walking on little sticks, even if they are not super distant. It is definitely a trait that stands out.
Sound (8):
Having a specific song as a recurring theme throughout the movie does lend to the story a bit, but the song started to wear on me by the end of the movie. The main song is a cute song, and the lyrics definitely fit the story, but I got a bit tired of hearing Hinako and Minato singing it.
Character (5):
The characters are where the movie truly falls flat. The main character, Hinako, is very dependent on others. She learns very little on her own, and therefore, her character development seems largely unearned. The other characters feel like someone you meet once and never see again, despite their presence throughout the movie. They are not very dynamic. Certain aspects of certain characters-- including their desires-- are cut terribly short or jarringly switch directions. In fact, Minato is probably the most interesting character in the movie, which is a shame. His story gives him the most depth and purpose of all of the characters, and he shapes all of the other characters in some way. I would say he is the true main character.
Enjoyment (7):
While the movie was not the most spectacular thing I have ever seen, I did enjoy it. It was simple and cute, and relatable, and there were parts that brought tears to my eyes or made me feel very warm and fuzzy. I would be willing to show it to someone else, but I would not rewatch it on my own. There are other stories out there that do everything this movie was intended to do, but with a bit more strength. Overall, though, this movie was not bad.
