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(Mostly spoiler-free but be wary if you're one of those people that hates any type of spoiler)

"This world is filled with so many shining feelings."

Nagi no Asukara, an original story by P.A. Works is an unequivocal tale about harmony and relentless sacrifice. Now, Nagi no Asukara was not something that I was expecting nor hyped up for. It was just a series that was there, had an interesting unique premise, and an original story which was the selling point for me since most anime these days are adaptations of manga and light novels. The series in my opinion, was quietly hiding behind the giants of ... Golden Time and Kill la Kill (both of which were great shows of the season by the way) like a diamond in the rough. I started watching it and the first things that caught my eye were the amazing visuals and poignant story line I felt it was going for. The visuals stayed true but I could have never been more wrong about the story. After watching more episodes because of these factors, I had begun to realize that this show was something more; something that constantly managed to draw me in like the ebb and flow of the sea.

Story: 10

Arguably the most important thing of any show, the story for Nagi no Asukara is simply put, outstanding. The setting is just amazing. When I first got into the show, the premise immediately stuck out to me. A quaint little town at the bottom of the ocean in conflict with the people of the surface? Why not. Most shows these days, despite the occasional great ones, have very drab and predictable story lines because they follow almost every anime trope in the book. With Nagi no Asukara however, the story plays with your emotions from start to finish and it always leaves you wanting for more just to see how the characters might develop next or to see how the main plot might progress. The heroes of this tale are five friends who in essence just want to stay together. Much like the tumultuous sea however, they soon realize that it's becoming increasingly harder for them to relate. Nevertheless, from overcoming simple obstacles to massive tribulations, the gang does whatever it takes for them to stick together, no matter the cost. That is my summary of the plot without spoiling too much and I feel like this story is one of the most unique and memorable narratives I have ever seen unfold, ever.

Characters: 10

The characters are key and rest assured, Nagi no Asukara doesn't pull any punches when it comes to this category. The characters are the soul for this show. They breathe life into this beautiful world which otherwise would be dead without them. Watching the characters that you sympathize for and love is like magic. They were all so equally developed and perfect that I could not pick out my favorite or best girl for that matter. Hikari like his name, is the light and strength of his friends, always headstrong but maybe a little stubborn with his will to protect. Manaka is the innocence and purity exemplified out of this group, constantly worrying about her friends and loving them all unconditionally. Chisaki symbolizes maturity and sensitivity. She is logical unlike a lot of her somewhat immature friends but she is sometimes blinded by sheer emotions which is shown many times throughout the series. Kaname, the voice of friendship is the friend who always has everyone's back even though it might sting like cold iron for him. Tsumugu, the only one from the surface, is depicted as stoic and sympathizing. Although he suffers from showing a lack of emotions, he is always the one that can talk to the others and relate to them in some way. There are many other prominent characters like Sayu, the sarcastic but strong-willed lady, and Miuna, the one who is like the sea, but the five friends are definitely in my opinion, the inseparable five that really make the show shimmer and gleam. There is quite a bit of romance in the story and you can see how love triangles and what not can be formed with these characters but I believe that friendship and just being there for one another is more noteworthy and important as the story goes.

Art: 10

Unparalleled eye candy, just plain gorgeous. P.A. Works must have pulled out all the stops for this one because the visuals for this show are just jaw-dropping. From the beautiful sky shots to the shimmering refraction of light underwater, the animation and cinematography in this show are top-notch. The character designs are amazing as well especially the characters from Shioshishio (the underwater town) with their unique uniforms and their deep mesmerizing azure eyes. I don't think there's much to say about this category other than that the visuals are outstanding. I definitely recommend you to watch it in the highest quality available to truly immerse yourself underwater and into this gleaming world. The architecture is also very interesting in my opinion and the OP's and ED's are just so damn beautiful. Underwater in my opinion, is difficult to depict well and I feel like P.A. Works really outdid themselves in providing an immense amount of detail from the glistening bubbles to the glimmering reflections of the sky.

Sound: 10

The music is very good. The songs for the two OP's and the two ED's are both amazing, the OP's done by Ray and the ED's done by one of my favorite singers, Nagi Yanagi. The soundtrack as well does an excellent job in translating the feelings shown on the screen. The voice acting is great too featuring Hanazawa Kana (I love anything done by her) and many other extremely talented voices. The detail from the echoes of voices under the deep to the ambiance of school and city life, really shine through and you'd be surprised to hear many pleasant sounds and songs. As for favorite ED and OP's, the second OP is my favorite OP of all time this season and the second ED is extremely beautiful as well. You do not know how I excited I was to watch the second OP premiere for the first time; I was like the kid in the candy store with $50.

Enjoyment: 10

11/10 is impossible but my overall enjoyment was immense. Maybe it was because I wasn't expecting much from it but I watched this weekly, never missing an episode because everything about this show was so wonderfully done. Now there might be some hiccups here and there for some people since not everyone can have the same opinions but in my humble opinion, this show was simply amazing. As strange as it may sound, this show gave my eyes a new light on certain perspectives and how relationships are so important and how they can be so damn powerful. The rewatch value is immense as well since the story has so much detail that you definitely might not pick up the first run through. I'm sure as hell gonna rewatch it soon to immerse myself into this atmosphere once more.

Overall: 10

In conclusion, Nagi no Asukara is an endearing tale about love, friendship, and prejudice. The characters are amazing and the setting is all too amazing coupled with great writing and music. I cannot stress enough that this anime is just plain stunning and is going to my top five favorite anime of all time. I know this review wasn't too great and I did not elaborate too much on the logistics of the actual plot and what not but take my word for it and dive into the amazing world of Nagi no Asukara and I promise you that you won't surface without being pleasantly surprised at the sheer amount of detail and thought-provoking complexities Nagi no Asukara has to offer. Thank you for reading my review and I really hope this gave Nagi no Asukara a chance for you.

Like a lull in the sea, the ebb and flow of my mind ties into a trefoil knot in this aqua terrarium.