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View Full Version : Arakawa Under the Bridge


Kim
05-19-2010, 10:15 PM
Romantic comedy done right.

The basic idea of the show is our main character, whose real name I've long forgotten, is the heir to a massive company, and is obsessed with never being in debt to anyone. When he falls off a bridge and nearly drowns, he ends up owing his life to the girl who rescued him. Her name is Nino, and she thinks she's from Venus. As he has a panic attack, begging her to let him do something so that he won't owe her, she asks him to fall in love with her. And so he starts living under the bridge with her. Mayor, a kappa also living under the bridge, makes the main character take the name Recruit, and that's where our story starts off.

This show is full of colorful characters, all with their own brand of crazy. Many of them are likable and funny, and Recruit even finds himself some friends among them. The show is about Recruit learning to accept life under the bridge, and the romance between him and Nino. Since they're already "lovers" it doesn't focus on what many romantic comedies do. In fact, it doesn't even focus on the romance half as much as you'd expect.

One thing I really like about the show is that something is always happening. No episode feels like pointless filler. Characters and roles are always being set up, and Recruit finds ways to fit in under the bridge. A couple episodes in, he goes on his first date with Nino. By the seventh episode, he starts a school under the bridge. It never focuses too much on any one idea, meaning it actually feels like the plot is going somewhere. I honestly don't know what's going to happen next, and I love that about this.

In case that weren't enough, the show is just plain hilarious. There's humor in it for everyone. Clever wordplay, puns, or simple character interaction. Even when you know a new character is going to be the opposite of what Recruit is expecting from them, you never know how they'll be the opposite. The best example is the little girl, Maria. Her introduction honestly surprised me, and was better for it.

Also, the animation and art for this show is excellent. Really damn good. SHAFT puts in a lot of work, and they're constantly understaffed. It's also cool knowing that the DVD version will have even better art than the TV version. They really are putting most every other animation studio to shame.

So yeah. Who else is watching it? If you aren't already, get on that shit!

Julford Hajime
05-19-2010, 10:23 PM
The basic idea of the show is our main character, whose real name I've long forgotten,

I'mma guess Arakawa.

Anywho, gonna start watching this now if I can find it anywhere. How long's it been out (ie Is it still running, or has it finished yet), and should I be looking for fansubs or has a company picked it up for an American release?

Kim
05-19-2010, 10:28 PM
I'mma guess Arakawa.

Actually, I think Arakawa is the name of the river.

Anywho, gonna start watching this now if I can find it anywhere. How long's it been out (ie Is it still running, or has it finished yet), and should I be looking for fansubs or has a company picked it up for an American release?

It's still going on fansubs, no company has picked it up for localization yet, and it's on its seventh episode.