WAVE!! -Let's go surfing!!-

YAPPE...a surfing anime! Let's go ride the Waves! Surfing Yappe!! Show must go on! ...only except that this is not only just bad, but it's boring also, catering to the niche audiences. And being the TV version of a 3-part film trilogy released in October 2020, I'd presume that the reception for this is moderately lukewarm (when COVID is still a thing), but who the hell was thinking to green-lit the "complete edition" TV version to milk more of the mixed-media project. This should've just stayed in Japan and not come out either way, we don't need mediocrely bad shows like this to waste our precioustime. There have been many sports anime, but if there's anything to prove this Winter season, is that the unknown have risen and emerged from the depths of the sports themselves, from volleyball to figure skating, and skateboarding to surfing. But as one can say, those representations are nothing if the shows they come from aren't as good as they are, and in the case of "Wave! Surfing Yappe!", the case in point inferred is true. There's no story for this, it's just the usual shenanigan case of a newbie being invited to the world of the sport, learning tricks and treasuring friendships along the way. Think along the lines of Sk8 the Infinity, only that it fails to do everything decently, despite being faithful from the supervision of the Nippon Surfing Association, the supervision cooperation of Surf Magazine and Murasaki Sports. I've gotta say that this show knows how to "bait" a story just because there's nothing going for it, but through the characters instead: - Your typical newbie Masaki Hinaoka who is drawn to the sport and giving it a try before being fully immersed in the sport. But Oh My Gawd, never have I hated such a character playing the usual tropes and cliches, just in a very irritating manner that with Tomoaki Maeno's voice, increases the cringe tenfold. What's the point of repeating the show's tagline and the same quote umpteen times over when once is already excruciatingly bloody to the ears? This is not how you want to paint the central MC as a young, angsty happy-go-lucky teenager, and that to me, is a make-and-breaker. - Thw two initial surfers alongside Masaki, Shou Akitsuki and Nalu Tanaka, both pro surfers, but with the former looking like the most gay and pretty Bishounen and the latter, a foreign student who's well-versed overseas. Also, please don't try to "bait" people by removing characters off for seemingly no rando reason for the sake of character "development", it just doesn't work that way (unless you can call it anime logic). - The rest of the pro surfers ranging from a reigning champion, an otaku, the analyst, and much more. Needless to say, these characters are all cookie-cutter ones just for interaction purposes and give some "Wave!" of steam for the surfing competitions. Just very mediocre. From a production standpoint, Asahi Production will definitely not ring a bell of hints and whizzes, because most of the works that this low-budget studio have done over the years are objectively uninteresting, boring and at times, unappealing. Heck, I'd even say of the 2 shows that this studio have pumped out this season, I'd recommend Tenchi Souzou Design-bu (a.k.a Heaven's Design Team) as the better show anyday, indefinitely. Honestly said, it can tackle some good 2D animation, but the 3DCG (especially on the sea of waves) is pure poggers bad, more than looking unremarkable, prosaic, and unrealistic with the way these Bishounen characters try to ride the waves just for the looks. Of all the things that this show managed to ace is the music, and for good reason: it combines the songs that it uses for both versions of the same source material. But even then, it's full-on Bishounen stuff so I can't imagine the general populace will like tunes like these that only appeal to either the Shoujo or the Josei audience. I've already stated my case earlier, and I'll emphasize again: this TV version should have been completely canned since I presume that the film trilogy didn't do all that well in Japanese theatres. It's only because of COVID and decent backing that the TV version is made accessible as a means to watching the complete 3-part film in 12 episodes, with the same overall content combined time. But whatever it is, please go surfing at your own leisure. This show is an easy skip for all the right or wrong reasons, and I can't fathom people watching this will be satisfied on a decent level.

This anime really had me thinking that they were pulling something interesting in the middle, but, alas, I was misled. Honestly, it isn't a bad show, it just isn't worth watching. There were some solid characters in there who were genuinely likable, but overall the writing was not great. I think the best way to watch this show is with a friend that you can make fun of it with-- it's how I watched it and is really the only way I was able to get any enjoyment out of it. Also, fair warning because this show has No Warning, you probably shouldn't watch thisif you're already depressed and are looking for a light-hearted show. It mostly keeps up a fun tone, but there are a few moments that are pretty dark (not enough so to make it an especially interesting watch, sadly). The last scene of the last episode was enough to lower my overall score by a full point. Overall, it's a fine show. I can't say I recommend it, but it has the potential to be a fun watch under the right circumstances.

In the COVID-19 era, when we have to stay home during lockdown, I found this anime very enjoyable :)) it even gives me hints to understand my life more. Because of the mood and tone this anime gives, I can hear the sea, see the waves, and feel the joy of surfing along with the characters without leaving my house. That's WHY I like this anime. But If I have to rate it, I will go with... Story: 6/10 The episodes still don't fit together neatly into a continuous story. The story is overly simplistic but I like it and the way it ends.Art: 5/10 The art is so-so, and a CGI doesn't blend well enough with the rest of the animation. Sound: 5/10 The seiyuu are fitting for the characters they portrayed, but the background music could be more fit for the story and atmosphere (in some scenes). Character: 7/10 Most of the characters are too flat, but they are HANDSOME. Enjoyment: 8/10 or 10/10 (watching during COVID-19 lockdown)

There's 4 sport anime in Winter 2021 featuring ikemen characters and this anime is one of it. I watched this because I'm curious about surfing despite this anime seems like 'Handsome Boys Doing Handsome Things'. (spoilers below) Story Masaki Hinaoka is an ordinary middle school student and always get along with Nalu Tanaka, his childhood friend and a surfer. At first Masaki didn't interested with surfing. But when he saw a random guy surfing in the beach, he got attached with surfing. Turns out the random guy Masaki admires is become a transfer student named Sho Akitsuki in Masaki's school. After that, Sho teaches Masaki how to surfingand the three of them always hang out together. Even they joins surfing competition together. In some time, Sho seems presumably dead when Masaki saw Sho's board on the ocean and Nalu moved to Hawaii. Then Masaki meets his new friends which he meets in surfing competition. They also gonna joins the surfing competition together. The story is not bad, but I ever got bored in some episodes. I must say the first episodes are somewhat don't have anything interesting. The characters don't always joins the surfing competition, they even literally hang out together as well. Oh there's brief info about Duke Kahanamoku in episode 10! Art I don't have a problem with the art, character design, and animation, it looks decent. But when the characters going surfing (is it CGI?), the art looks weird. Sound Wave is a multimedia project. So, the theme songs (both opening and ending) are sung by the main characters seiyuu. I think the voice acting and theme songs are pretty good. I saw some people felt weird when Masaki's voice sounds too deep for a 14 years old, I felt that too but I get used in later episodes. Character What I can summarize about the main characters: Masaki: an energetic protagonist. He interested about surfing because of Sho Nalu: Masaki's childhood friend (who's half Hawaiian) Sho: A transfer student which Masaki always look up. Seems presumably dead in later episodes. Yuta: He learning about surfing when he was a child and always analyzed something when he doing (or saw someone) surfing Kosuke: An ex-baseball player. He started surfing because he got persuaded by Yuta Naoya: A magical girl otaku and always talking about his favorite characters Soichiro: A rich guy who surprisingly friendly Fuke: A surfing champion who always with Soichiro. He seems intimidating but he could get along with Masaki and his friends in later episodes. Some characters have a flashback episodes about what they do in the past and I think it's pretty good. There's some supporting characters as well. Who grabs my attention are Hayamichi Inada and Tadao-san. Hayamichi is Sho's older brother who appeared in later episodes, he has different surname with Sho probably because their family circumstances. Hayamichi teaches Sho how to surf and his personality somewhat harsh to Masaki and his friends. Tadao-san is a guy who lives with Yuta and Kosuke (iirc). He always says random English sentences and always doing Shaka sign. I saw most of people are disliking Masaki because he looks naive and annoying. Well actually he is. He also has a slow development for advancing surfing. He seems always losing when joins surfing competition, but in later episodes he improves his surfing. For Sho, it's still ambiguous is he dead or what? He finally appeared in last episode, he wears white shirt with sunglasses and looking at Masaki's surfing in the competition. Then he just walk away. (I didn't notice it was Sho, I'm sorry. I just realized when someone pointed it out) Overall The anime (more precisely, the story) is average and don't have anything special in it. I rarely watch sport genre, but I think this is somewhat Handsome Boy Doing Handsome Things. If you like sports involving ikemen casts, but didn't bother the protagonist's slow improvement, maybe you'll try this.