Review of A Lull in the Sea

Alright, let's just get this over with... The story (7) takes place in two towns; the one in the sea, and the one on the surface. Four of the main cast are from the sea but since their school closed, they go to school on the surface and endure the trials of discrimination because people are a**holes, but that isn't anything new. The fifth member of their melodrama band is a kid from the surface with a personality that is less than a square. But I'll get to that later. The idea of a town underwater was a good one, but it wasn't as expanded onas it could have been. It was just kind of there, like mostly everything in this anime, as a plot device to somehow prolong the drama to make a full 26 episode show. No, longer does not always mean better, but since the second half wasn't bad, just unnecessary, I'll deal with it.

But let's just talk about that ending! (I'm not spoiling anything, don't worry)
The reason the anime's rating as a whole was so low is probably because of how it ended. Nothing was really tied up (except the hatred between the two sides and the sea people's hibernation) and it felt rushed. I'm not sure how an ending of an anime with so many slow and boring scenes could be rushed, but it was. None of the characters get with the person they were crushing on and it fell pretty flat.

What I did like was the fact that they added in the discrimination and the drama between the two towns. You could feel the tension when both were on screen. The way the characters took the discrimination made sense as well. Also, the pacing was okay, although it was so god awfully slow at times that some of the episodes never felt like they were going to end.

The art (10) was the best part about this anime. The animation was gorgeous. It was bright and colorful and the water was done beautifully. P.A. Works proved themselves yet again.

The sound (8) was very good too, although the two opening and endings are worthy of hitting the skip button. The songs were mostly light piano pieces that really helped set the mood. Yes, some songs were played a lot more than others but I liked the songs, so no complaints there.

The characters (5)
Now, here's where the most complaints will come from. The drama was so over the top and the crying never stopped that I just wanted to take out my earbuds, set down my phone and do something else with my life. The romance, or lack thereof, never got tied up and, honestly, most of the characters were annoying. There was little to no character development and in a show like this, you kind of need it. Let's go down the character roster, shall we?

Tsumugu - This is that personality-less square I mentioned early. The only one born on the surface that wants so desperately to live with the sea folk. He's not really there for anything more than a plot device for our dear Manaka to like and stir up drama. I liked him better in the second arc, although his character doesn't change. He annoyed me the most because he rarely said anything and when he did it was emotionless. Some of the lines came across as funny that way but for the most part he was a static, flat character. At least he was the only one that didn't succumb to crying.

Chisaki - She spent most of the time debating on who she liked and cried a good majority of it. Again, little to no character development, although she gets props for (kind of) choosing a man in the end.

Kaname - Honesly, I was surprised he got any screen time. At first, I figured he was just going to be that one character that fits the role of the 'fifth friend.' He even said that he was the odd man out, and it was mostly true. Although he was interesting because he was level headed and also had some character development in the end, he was mostly just there for a plot device to confuse Chisaki.

Manaka - She was the cute little girl that had something happen to her that was supposed to give her character development but did nothing but cause more tears from the main character.

Hikari - The mainest of main characters, who hardly changes at all. It was sad, watching him never really change. Yes, he began to accept the surface people but other then that, he stayed the same. The way he acted and the way he felt never strayed from how he began. He never stopped loving the same person though, so props to that.

Sayu and Miuna - The latter is Hikari's sister. Nothing changes with her either. She comes to terms in the end, but thats it. Sayu is Miuna's best friend and she actually got development. *applauds* She goes from kind of a jerk to totally in love with a certain character, and I can see that relationship actually fairing out.

No other characters are really worth mentioning. They were the biggest disappointment because in a show like this, they are the most important.

Overall enjoyment is an 8 because although the drama was over the top and irritating, and sometimes I was so mind-numbingly bored that I just wanted to quit, I did like it enough it get through it.

Final Verdict: boring + melodramatic underwater hellhole = SeaWorld (no offense to those who actually enjoy watching animals doing tricks in cages)