Review of A Lull in the Sea

I've been deciding if I should write a review for Nagi no Asukara. I asked myself, what if I get carried away? What if I give it too much credit? What if I don't credit it enough? In the end, I realized that I had to, somehow, try to convey how amazing this anime is. Story: 8/10. I'm going to start and say that Nagi no Asukara isn't for everyone. The story is set up in a different world, where some people from the sea (not mermaids, just regular, ol' humans) left their home to live on land. The two different kinds of people became more distant afterthat separation. The story itself revolves around 4 14-year old friends who lived in the sea. They went to school on land, however, because their school in the sea had to close down. The plot then takes off as they try to acclimate themselves onto living on land. The plot may seem like it's heavily fantasy laiden - and it is - however, romance is the most prominent element in this story. If you're not into romance, Nagi no Asukara may be a turn off for you because there isn't just a love triangle, but a love decagon going on. I myself am not an avid romance-genre watcher, but I still found myself completely in love with this anime. Nagi no Asukara focuses the most on the goodness of people when it comes to their friends and those they love. Instead of showing the negative side of human nature that comes with love - envy, greed, selfishness - this anime allows the positive nature of human nature to shine instead. We see the beautiful love and sacrifices that the 4 sea children have for each other. Though the plot may be simple, there is so much more the lies just beneath the surface of the plot, which is what makes this anime so beautiful.

Art: 10/10.
The very thing thing that I noticed when I first started Nagi no Asukara was art that took my breath away. The first scene immediately catches your attention, with beautiful drawn food laid out befre your eyes. Not a single detail is missed. Usually in animes, the background of the scene is neglected and half heartedly drawn. Nagi no Asukara puts that to shame. The backgrounds are all painstakingly drawn, colored, and painted to perfection - from the largest scale waves to the the the smallest detail. Each coral polyp and mountainous treae is there. I spent as much time paynig attention to the background as I would with what's happening in front of me. The background, however, is not the only aspect of Nagi no Asukara's art that should be commended. Not only are the backgrounds drawn to precise beauty, the animation is nothing short of impressive. Focusing on just things drawn underwater alone, the animation (the movement of fish and other aquatic life) is fluid and dynamic. The colors are vibrant and contrasting, enough to compliment the palette that is introduced on the screen. This animation is truly top notch.

Sound: 9/10
Aside from the forgettable opening and closing themes, the sound of Nagi no Asukara is what really moved me to tears. Instead of having a powerful and overbearing OST, with epic pieces and dramatic crescendos, the soundtrack for this anime is subtle and graceful. The notes caress you like a wave; every note is in place. The soundtrack doesn't just contain lyric-less pieces, it includes all types of music. The music matches the tone it tries to create in the scene - no, it SETS the tone itself. From deep voice chanting to delicate operatic pieces, the music is a wide arrangement that makes Nagi no Asukara so refreshing to watch. To me, the music touched me deeply. The pieces are distinct and beautifully composed. The music for Nagi no Asukara should not be taken lightly because it tells so much of the story itself.

Character: 10/10
I have to admit, that when I first started Nagi no Asukara, I didn't like half of the main characters introduced. However, my prejudice quickly fell away as the plot thickened and developed into something I could never imagine. Each characters broke the stereotypes I had against teenagers in love; in fact, they completely and successfully contradicted where I would think their actions and feelings would lead to. As I said in the story portion of my review, the characters' pureness and goodness shine radiantly. The most refreshing thing about this anime is the innocence and selflessness of each of the characters that you will come across. During 26 episode, you will experience joy, laughter, tears, and heartbreak right alongside with them. These characters are so incredible that whatever moves them will move you. Even though, as the series progresses, new characters are introduced, they are not the type of characters to be forgotten easily; rather, all of them will be part of your memory for a long time. They will be a part of you not because of how they're drawn or the words they say, but by their unsaid feelings and their sacrificial actions. Instead of some cliche romance story that you might be familiar with, Nagi no Asukara breaks away from that cliche and creates something to be contended with.

Enjoyment: 10/10
I loved, loved this anime. I absolutely loved it. The story is a beautiful work of originality that creates something so paramount that it makes it unforgettable. It's just a memorable anime because of its unprecendented characters. The art comes no where near the animation you will see with the most popular animes. The delicate sounds brings another layer of feelings and emotions that you didn't think are possible, yet they're there and you welcome it.

Overall: 10/10
I mean, I think I've said it all, really. If you have another doubts about Nagi no Asukara, then let me help you out: Go and watch it. You won't be disappointed at all. :D