© NEGAPOSI-ANGLER PROJECT
I have never gone fishing. I haven't even stepped foot in one of those arcade simulators. Of course, this is my favorite longtime JRPG pastime, but other than that, I have no experience or connection to this sport/game/activity/hobby. Fishing anime is becoming my favorite show this season, though. The negative positive fisherman fascinated me.
One of the best ways to capture my interest is with strong characters, and this story is full of them. Front and center is Tsunehiro, and I love him like a loser. When we meet him, he is deep in debt, skipping college, throwing away his little money on pachinko, on the run from loan sharks and recently diagnosed with cancer . And it's not like he faced these obstacles with faith. We meet Hiro in the midst of a failed suicide attempt, and the premiere ends with him shocked to see his apartment complex destroyed. He had given up on life and it seemed like life had given up on him too.
Of course, we can expect Hiro to find a new lease on what's left of his life thanks to his new found fishing friends, and the show has done that story quite effectively so far. . But I think the important thing is that our main character is terrible and constantly criticized. He's more attractive that way! Compared to him, I lived a happy life, but I could sympathize with his suffering and despair. I noticed his quick immersion. He feels like a real guy. The narrator sympathizes with his situation and does not shy away from criticizing his patheticness. It might be more accurate to say that the story treats him with a refreshing neutrality. He's like the main character in a Steely Dan song—a loser with a layered and magnetic interior.
This full portrait of Hiro makes the opening moments of the premiere relevant to me. It's reasonable for audiences to feel uncomfortable with a joke about suicidal thoughts, especially one that begins a serious journey toward spiritual recovery. But considered part of the big picture, the juxtaposition of cartoonish banter with a serious subject sets the tone for NegaPosi Angler. It's certainly a precarious step to walk, but the writing, acting, and animation all come together to balance comedy and drama with surprising finesse. I encourage you to tune in to the next two episodes even if you're delayed by the premiere. NegaPosi Angler is charming and has a kind heart. It also doesn't mind tugging on your line (or fishing line).
As for fishing, it serves as an ever-evolving metaphor for Hiro's troubles, a means for him to find a community of like-minded friends. care about him. It is a specific topic that the story is concerned with. I can't help but draw comparisons to the similarly excellent tsuritama. The drowning scene in the first episode is especially reminiscent of the tsuritama image used to depict the main character's anxiety. However, NegaPosi Angler is more grounded in its storytelling (I don't expect to find aliens or sentient ducks here), and that also comes across in its fishing guides. It. Hana and Takaaki's explanations sound good for beginners and I think I might be learning something. Hiro benefits from the protagonist's luck. In the context of his life, this represents the vagaries of luck. He has cancer, but he can catch a bass. That's why sometimes the cookie crumbles.
Other than that, this is by far a pretty visually pleasing anime. Hiromi Taniguchi's character designs are some of the best of the season; Everyone is unique and instantly recognizable, and I love how varied their animations are. They fit perfectly with the ebb and flow of the series, as well as Yutaka Uemura's direction. I wasn't surprised to learn he also directed Punch Line, which I consider one of the more underrated (and weird) series of the past decade. The storyboards are especially beautiful, making clever use of dynamic angles and close-ups to convey the emotions of these characters. For example, the second episode features a fun sequence that focuses on Hana's feet to emphasize her intensity as she stomps off against Hiro. Touches like that would add a lot of personality and prevent the show from turning into a drama about talking heads. I hope production can continue like this.
If it sounds like I'm gushing, that's because I am. NegaPosi Angler is an anime aimed squarely at my strike zone. It's a realistic story with just enough eccentricity added to prevent it from becoming staid. It's an origin story. It's directed by someone who knows what they're doing. I liked every character, even the loan sharks. I love the guitar transition soundtrack. I'm excited by the collective potential between Hiro, Hana, and Takaaki. I want to learn everything about Ice and her style. This is a big win for those who love dramas with quirky characters. I don't care if I used the same fishing pun in my opening paragraph—I'm hooked.
Ranking episode 1:
Episode 2 rating:
Episode 3 rating:
Negative Positive Angler is now streaming on Crunchyroll.
Steve is on Twitter while it lasted. Fish are certainly not afraid of him. You can also catch him chatting about trash and treasure on This Week in Anime.