Nami yo Kiitekure, Under Ninja Recommendations
On a streaming service, I actually saw "Under Ninja" being recommended while watching "Wave, Listen to Me". Which was a coincidence, because the entire time watching the latter series, I was thinking how similar it is to the former. The premise of these shows couldn't be more different—one is action, one is slice-of-life—but they do have the "comedy" genre in common. And their comedic tone is one in the same. Lots of nonchalant mundane banter and moments with varying levels of surrealism and dry humor. The characters in both anime don't tend to act over-the-top or cartoony; rather, I love how the characters tend to
have monotone, at-times cynical attitudes toward utterly absurd events.
The way the MC of "Wave" abrasively charges into situations reminds me of how the ninjas in "Under Ninja" deal with things. The temperaments of the characters are the same, entailing similar tones and forms of humor.
Also, you don't really know where either anime is going. "Under Ninja" doesn't quite present a clear end goal to the viewer—what are the ninjas even trying to achieve in their missions (as it intersects with their persona lives)? "Wave"'s MC doesn't have a concrete future with either company she's working for, therefore we just watch her stumbling around day-to-day. Despite how chill both anime can be, they do both have a plot progression, in which one episodes leads to the next, building off of the last one.
Finally, both anime lack the sappy, gushy, cornball emotional moments. Even during stress-worthy and/or sentimental moments, characters tend to quickly revert to—or remain—their blunt/nonchalant or enigmatic selves. Sure, the characters are always indeed likable, but it never gets tropey. And as I type this, I'm realizing—perhaps, it's because these series are seinen rather than shounen!
If someone watches one of these anime and is craving a similar vibe, I'd recommend the other with no hesitation.
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