Review of Arakawa Under the Bridge

So I actually saw this show quite a while ago, but avoided it because of the "low" rating of 7.7. Normally this wouldn't matter very much, but judging from the type of show this was, it seemed like a mediocre comedy with a generic life lesson. And you know what, I can totally see how that's true for a lot of people. However, this show really struck a chord with me. If you like the random humor of (older) Gintama and the artsy feel to Bakemonogatari (aka Shaft), then you will at least not regret watching this show. In order to truly enjoy it, however,I think you need to have some experience with rejecting society. And I'm not talking about people who are picked on for being different--I'm talking about the other way around. I'll go into this in more detail in the character section, but I think this is why the show was a hit for me and a miss for others. Also, this is my first review... so bear with me!

Story 8/10
This show is not plot driven, so it's difficult for me to score it according to story. The scenario in itself is good, and it was well executed so that you can seamlessly accept the way things play out. However, there's no obvious progression of events. It's just like a slice of life--the daily shenanigans of these weirdos as they live day to day. To be fair, things are tied together by two things: 1) the romance between Rec and Nino 2) Rec's transformation as he slowly accepts and in turn is accepted by the Arakawa community/family. But this progression is slow and gradual and random--just like real life! Honestly, the weakest part of the story was the last few episodes regarding Rec's father. I enjoyed the occasional flashbacks/hints at Rec's relationship with his father, but I felt the show would have done better to continue its nonlinear explication vs turning to the standard format; it just didn't fit with the rest of the show.

Art 9/10
I enjoyed the art, with no real complaints (although I'm not an expert). The typical artsy style of shaft was well done, and it nicely added to the surreal environment of the Arakawa community. In general, I thought the show did a wonderful job of visually communicating the emotions of the characters and mood of the setting. Also, the little bits with live action Chief were great--it's easy to forget how ridiculous something in an anime would look until you see it in real life. Although I'm not saying much, I really did think the art was beautiful, and I like Shaft's style anyway (dat head tilt), so that's why I gave it a 9/10.

Sound 9/10
The music didn't seem special, but the voice acting was spectacular! There was lot's of great talent (not just Tomokazu Sugita!), and I felt they really made the comedy hit home. Every character had a strong personality, and the voice actors really made those personalities come alive.

Character 9/10
Ah, the best part. The characters were my favorite part of this show--as they should have been, since this show was character driven. I've read quite a few people say that these characters were all cookie cutter... but I disagree. Although you could place pretty much all the characters into one of the common "types," I think that doesn't make them bad characters. In fact, I think the types just reflect the types of people there are! To me, none of the characters seemed bound to a stereotype... it just seemed like the stereotype fit the kind of person they happened to be: the musician/artist who thinks he's better than he his, the salary man who runs away and distracts himself with an obsession/hobby, the guy who acts like a total idiot but actually hides a little wisdom. Even if their delusions or idiosyncrasies went beyond what is encountered in real life (in all but the most extreme cases), it was the right amount of exaggeration necessary for an anime like this.

But what was really genius about the show was that these people all chose to leave society of their own volition. Of course, they wouldn't have wanted to leave it they weren't already a misfit, but they were the ones who ran away--they were not cast out. They decided that the "real world" was no good, and so they left to live in their own little world. And I think this is why I really loved these characters--they had obviously experienced hardship... real hardship... and instead of facing it head on, they did what a lot of people do: they ran away, not only physically (by being homeless) but also mentally (by having delusions). Furthermore, one can easily see the common thread of human-ness that ties everyone together despite the superficial insanity. All the relationships have a level of depth and authenticity that makes a crazy show feel strangely real.

One thing I've seen people complain about is the lack of character development (with a couple exceptions). However, I think that this is actually just another strength of the show. It's good to see the growth of Rec--he is the main character and this experience MUST change him. However, the other characters (except for Nino with her first love) have had no significant lifestyle change; there's no reason for an obvious change. This show is not showing how Rec's new life changed him and those around him--it's showing Rec's evolution as he starts understanding the strange new people he meets. The show slowly reveals the complexity behind the side characters that already exists rather than giving them new depth through "character development." Of course, if the show were to continue for a long time, then some change would be necessary--it's just that I see no need for change within the short time frame of these 13 episodes (also we can't see change if we don't even fully understand the character in the first place!).

Enjoyment 9/10
I really liked this show a lot. I connected to the characters, and I truly felt their humanity shine through all the craziness. It had a really nice message that wasn't just "be yourself" (although that was one message)--it was also about how people can find happiness even after going through hardship. There's no reason to be serious and depressed if things don't go your way--you can start a new life and enjoy it for what it is! It's okay to forget your problems for a little while and be silly; it's okay to do things differently; it's okay to run away a little bit... Of course, there still needs to be some degree of responsibility, but I think the show does make this point as well.

The only reason I didn't give it a 10/10 was because the message didn't feel very powerful. I think it was an important message, I think it was well done, and I did shed a tear or two, but I never felt that this show changed my life. It was very well done and very touching, but I can't say that its impact was strong enough to justify a perfect score.

Overall 9/10
I really liked this show, and I think anybody who likes goofy comedy with a touch of surrealism will enjoy it too. However, I can see why some would get bored if they're looking for a more plot-driven/action filled/"intelligent" anime. But I still think it's worth a try no matter what!