Review of A Lull in the Sea

Don't be deceived by its cutesy, colorful outlook. You might think Nagi no Asukara is probably one of those run-of-the-mill school romances that always end up as a cliched failure, but that's most definitely not the case here. This anime's storyline is based on two seemingly different races of humans who have been feuding for as long as anyone can remember. They are the people of the sea and surface. Art: Let's start off with the foremost first impression, the art. Your eyes do not deceive you when they report the mesmerizing construction of the characters and settings. The artists of this show have done an outstandingjob pronouncing the colors of each little detail to produce a masterpiece of a scene. Meanwhile, the animators work on controlling the lighting so it seems as you are walking through a shimmering dream of precision and almost realistic reality. However, the perfection of the art isn't intense to the point where it robs the spotlight away from the actual story. Picture it as a sparkling, smooth wave of gentle sea water rolling alongside a rocky boat. It would make the boat ride more enjoyable to brush your fingertips on the soft water top, wouldn't it? The art does just that, it emboldens pleasure in watching the show.

Story:
I described the story as a rocky boat, but why is that, you might ask? Well, the first half of the story enhances the rivalry and feuding that has long been brewing between the sea and surface people. Four friends from the sea village Shioshishio have to attend of a surface school in a town called Oshiooshi. At first, the two different groups of children don't get along with each other, as the whole racism concept still remains. However, after a period of time, they begin to realize that they are more alike than different and decide to cooperate in an annual tradition called the Ofunehiki. Yet, don't be deceive by its new, lighthearted appearance, because a sudden turn of events plunges the story into a slightly different setting. This ends the first half and opens the doors for the second half of the story. The plot line in the second half is a heavy fog of mixed feelings and confusion for the characters as they attempt to unravel the answers to their ever-growing questions. With all that in mind, I could say the first half of the story was a rocky boat ride, but the whole plot is like a drop tower. It slowly builds up and teases you with mild drops of shock until you're confused on whether the real drop will occur, so once it does, you are in for it. Keep in mind that the ride isn't over after one plunge, it will continue its round until the very end.

Characters:
A story is nothing without good characters plots. In this case, the characters in Nagi no Asukara are, to the very least, much like us. They are all normal beings with the flaws of human nature. They share a society where racism, stereotypes, and discrimination dominate their lifestyles alike our own. One of the great things about this anime is that you can relate yourself to any character. That connection between you and a character makes the show much more enjoyable as you watch the scenes roll by and go, "I totally feel you, bro." Likewise, the connections between the characters themselves is much like our relations too. In their case, it's a flat-out love polygon. Think love triangles or harems are tough enough? Just wait till you see Nagi's. Normally, I'd hate how infuriating love polygons can be, but Nagi no Asukara intertwines their love plots with raw human emotions. Again the relativity of this show breaks through your armor of criticism and reaches into your soul to find something that will squeeze the feels out of you. You may hold your judgement against a particular character (as a matter of fact, I still do), but there is no absolute way you can hate any of them. Put aside the fact that half the cast can breathe in the ocean, they are otherwise all just as humane as you and me. Some may share some of your personality traits, and how could you possibly hate yourself? (C'mon, you gotta at least have some self-respect or arrogance in you) Nevertheless, this show really makes that strong connection with the viewer and I think that's a wonderful thing to have.

Sound:
I could never forget the impact this show's sound had on me. Nagi no Asukara's OST has made its way into my top 10 anime OSTs of all time. I can't even begin to describe how marvelous it was, but obviously I will have to attempt to describe it. Here goes. The first opening had that sweet, lighthearted feeling of a beautiful friendship. It was like it was stringing together all those days spent with your closest friends that consisted of sunny laughter and frivolous fun. The endings and second opening don't have this level of happiness anymore, but they still make their marks with creating that atmosphere of reminisce. It's like looking back at your life and going through a film of memories, laughing and smiling at the remarkable ones, or somberly regretting the unappealing ones. You can't make out a specific emotion when you hear those works of music, but rather a steady stream of feelings that make you enjoy your life as it is.

Enjoyment:
Do I even need to say anymore? Yes, I did enjoy Nagi no Asukara and I'm grateful that I came across this anime when I was looking for another satisfying roadtrip through the feels. If you find anything hindering, I'm sure you will come to overlook it and if not to its fullest extent, enjoy this exquisite piece of work.

Overall:
In conclusion, Nagi no Asukara is a show where you can calmly watch the perks and flaws of human nature unravel before your very eyes. The characters are startlingly relatable and enjoyable to root for as they try to follow their heart's desires. The art is pleasing to the eye and enhances the beauty of nature itself and our civilization. The sound is like watching a personal film of your life that only you know all about, but through your ears. It's the perfect option for pulling over from the fast lane and onto the sidewalk for a nice stroll through another take on what our life really looks like.