Review of Arakawa Under the Bridge
I’ve been watching anime for more than a decade and I’ve watched so many series with so much similarities. Honestly, it can really be boring and I ended up being fed up. And so, it is always refreshing to see something so original. There’s a long review coming…………. About the STORY This series is anything but cliché. There is so much uniqueness in this series that it’s almost like a sin. Nowadays, there are thousands and thousands of animes and manga so it’s really hard to create such original story. After watching this series you can’t help but be amaze how magnificently it is done. Indeed, the plotmight be common with the story about a guy from the rich world and a girl from the poor world but the storyline in this series has made that kind of common plot to the next level. This is far beyond your typical couple from different worlds because they are literally from different worlds. The guy is from the rich world and the girl is from a very weird as in WEIRD world. Plus, the setting is under a bridge! And finding love in the weirdest and unusual place. How original can that be! Another amazing thing is how the seriousness and the gags are balance. Just when you thought that it is a serious scene you will end up laughing your hearts out. And if you think that this is all about laughter then you are horribly wrong because it actually have a very solid storyline that you will definitely anticipate to unfold. It even have a very cute love story and not just for comic relief but a serious growing sweet love. Surprisingly enough, I am the type who always wants to see the main plot unfolds immediately but in this one I couldn’t care less. I just love and enjoy their everyday lives and that shows how amazing it is. Even though every episode may not be that important to the main plot, it is still interesting to watch and makes you want more of it. I also love the lines whether it’s for comedy or serious dialogues which is very important for me because it always leave a strong impression.
About the CHARACTERS
The one that shows how original this series the most are the characters. The characters are so original and unique. In fact, in my more than 10 years of anime life I’ve never seen such characters. You might see them on hardcore fictional type of stories but the characters in this series can actually be real. They might be crazy but they are actually real people who just created a community under the bridge. Each of them is unique and has their own weird personalities. They’re weirdness is just so hilarious. And their past and real identity is also very interesting because of its mysteriousness. Speaking of mysteriousness, the most enigmatic of them all is Nino who claims she is from Venus. Her weirdness is just like a character of a child who still has a lot to learn. Of course, Ric who stumbles in the world of the weirdoes. He believes that everyone is not normal and he is the only one with a straight mind but if everyone around you is the same and you’re the only whose not then you might as well think that you are actually the weird one. I like all of them from supporting characters to main characters.
About the ANIMATION
The animation was magnificently done whether the scene is for laughter or for serious conversation. The colors and the landscape are breathtaking. Scenes where important lines are delivered are amazingly done. The seiyus are well picked and it’s like a gathering of all the most famous and talented seiyus. Seeing the lineup of seiyus gives an assurance that the characters will be great and their lines will be memorable.
With so much originality, it is no wonder why this series is considered one of the most famous animes of today. It will be a sin not to watch this and not love it.