Jun 22, 2017
Tsuritama- 8/10
Genres: Comedy, Slice of Life, Sci-Fi, Sports
Plot-8/10: Tsuritama takes place in a small fishing community called Enoshima. Here, the main character, Yuki, makes three unique friends: an alien, a fishing protégé, and a member of a secret agency (and his duck, Tapioca). Over the course of 12 episodes, Yuki learns how to fish and for the first time experiences true friendship and pure fun.
Having never watched an anime about fishing, I enjoyed the unique premise. I appreciate that the anime takes its time to explain certain things about fishing (most times through dialogue), like the importance of using the right lure, how
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to get better accuracy, etc. This information isn’t all thrown right in the audience’s face, but dispersed throughout, avoiding long and boring info-dump scenes.
Near the end of the anime, the atmosphere changes quite drastically. It feels more like an intense action anime than it does a slice of life anime. This change of pace does not come out of the blue, as it was built up with foreshadowing since the beginning of the anime.
Art- 9/10: From the start, the art is what attracted me and had me glued to Tsuritama. Its bright colors and attractive character designs caught my attention. The backgrounds were drawn with simplicity, yet were very pretty and created a strong setting. The ocean was especially beautiful. The animation was also good, though great like the art.
Audio- 8/10: The opening is very catchy and upbeat, setting the general mood of the anime. The ending is likewise cheerful. The voice actors put on compelling performances, especially Yuki’s. With so much emotion put into each role, it is easy to get attached to the characters and get caught up in their moments of joy, melancholy, excitement, and anger. The soundtrack was nothing I’d call memorable though it does accompany the animation and pacing of the anime quite nicely.
Characters- 10/10: The main cast of characters is diverse and interesting. Each of the four main characters gets development and defining moments.
First, there is Yuki, the socially awkward kid who is constantly moving from place to place. Because of this, he does not have any friends and is very shy. Despite being timid, he is a fast and adept learner and appreciates his newfound friends. Many can relate to his reserved nature, including me (though not as bad as his), making him a character we care for.
Then there is Haru, the alien who has a mission to carry out on Earth. Haru, not knowing anything about how humans work, is susceptible to making mistakes. He does not understand human emotions like anger, or ideas like trust. Still, Haru is always looking out for the people he cares about and makes an effort to keep them happy.
Next is Natsuki, a native of Enoshima. Nicknamed “Fishing Prince”, he is very skilled and disciplined. He at first seems arrogant and douchey, but develops as he spends time with Yuki and the others.
Lastly, there is Akira, a member of a secretive agency. There is not much to say about him without spoilers, other than he is of Indian descent and carries a duck named Tapioca everywhere he goes.
Effectiveness- 8/10: Like all comedy anime, it is either a hit or a miss. I found some parts to be funny, while others were over the top or even “cringy”. A lot of the comedy comes from Haru’s silly antics and curiosity.
The pacing was on point for the majority if not all of the anime. The suspense and build up to the climax was great and had me eager for the next episode. No part of the anime feels wasted as each scene either moves the story forward or develops the characters.
Everything comes together to give the audience a unique viewing experience, filled with laughs, excitement, and even a few tears.
Overall- 8.6/10: Tsuritama, an anime that conveys the importance and beauty of friendship through the sport of fishing, is one hidden gem. With stunning art, moving voice acting, and relatable characters, it is enjoyable from start to finish.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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