Nagi no Asukara 26 + Final Thoughts
I've never had a huge problem with Okada, though that could be because I've avoided some of her more infamous shows. I was attracted to this one because of the idea of a world beneath the sea. It's the same thing that hooked me on Umi Monogatari, and it worked just as well here. The sea is simple, the sea is primordial, and given as big of a place in folklore as the sun and moon.
While it had some of the Okadaisms I've come to expect (quirky episode titles, melodrama), I liked what it did. The time skip in particular was an interesting way to move the story forward, and the conclusion wrapped up a lot of ongoing plot points in a way that feels satisfactory.
This was, in many, many ways, her story. Hikari changed too (he was much more sympathetic in the second half), but both of their growth was documented well. Everything looked beautiful, and the supernatural elements always felt like they were in on the story just the right amount. Driving it, but not overpowering it.
It was a fun experience, and while I don't have much strong feelings on romance in anime - since the romance is usually a supplement to at least one or two other stories going on, be they comedy or drama - this one mostly pulled off the balancing act of keeping people guessing while also laying hints for what the final pairings would eventually be. And of course, it looked beautiful. A surprisingly pleasant watch.
I've never had a huge problem with Okada, though that could be because I've avoided some of her more infamous shows. I was attracted to this one because of the idea of a world beneath the sea. It's the same thing that hooked me on Umi Monogatari, and it worked just as well here. The sea is simple, the sea is primordial, and given as big of a place in folklore as the sun and moon.
While it had some of the Okadaisms I've come to expect (quirky episode titles, melodrama), I liked what it did. The time skip in particular was an interesting way to move the story forward, and the conclusion wrapped up a lot of ongoing plot points in a way that feels satisfactory.
Miuna's broken-heartedness is kind of sad, but as the story said, for someone to fall in love, someone must be hurt.
It was a fun experience, and while I don't have much strong feelings on romance in anime - since the romance is usually a supplement to at least one or two other stories going on, be they comedy or drama - this one mostly pulled off the balancing act of keeping people guessing while also laying hints for what the final pairings would eventually be. And of course, it looked beautiful. A surprisingly pleasant watch.
