"SURF SIDE HIGH-SCHOOL" review: An anime that lets you enjoy the exhilaration of youth and surfing

Surfside High School: Riding the Waves of Youth

Surfside High School, which aired on TBS in the summer of 1999, is an anime series that brings a refreshing breeze of youth and surfing. It is based on the manga of the same name by Ken Sawai, and was animated by Magic Bus under the direction of directors Hiroyoshi Yoshida and Kenichi Maejima. The series aired for just one month, from June 1 to July 2, 1999, with a total of 20 episodes, and was loved by many viewers despite its short run.

Story and Characters

"Surfside High School" is set in a seaside town, where surfing is a part of life, and students enjoy riding the waves every day. The main character, Kohei Mizushima, is the son of a fishmonger and a boy with naturally curly hair. He is passionate about surfing and goes on various adventures with his friends.

Kohei's best friend, Abe Hiroya, is a surfer and womanizer who is always trying new love interests. His light-hearted character brings humor and liveliness to the story. Mita Michiru, a transfer student from Tokyo, challenges herself with surfing despite her frail constitution and is portrayed growing as a person. Her nemesis, Mori Mitsuko, is a muscular PE teacher who trains her students with strict guidance. And Miho, a beautiful surfer who is the object of admiration for Kohei and his friends, is an important key person in the story.

Episodes and themes

Each of the 20 episodes has a different theme and story. Episode 1, "Nagashima's Debut," depicts the appearance of a new surfer and his growth, while episode 2, "Michiru's Debut!?", depicts Michiru's attempt at surfing. Episodes 3, "Pantyhose Brothers," and 10, "Mormon Brothers' Hair Removal Mission," are humorous episodes that will make viewers laugh.

In episode 5, "Visiting the Mita Family," Michiru's family background is revealed, and her background and growth are depicted in depth. In episode 6, "Operation Cleaning the Bay," an episode is depicted that tackles environmental issues, and social themes are also addressed. In episodes 7, "Cherry Boy Graffiti," and 9, "Nagashima in Love," the love lives of young people are depicted, resonating with viewers.

Episodes 11, "Masa the Tattooist" and 12, "Masa Returns," introduce tattooist Masa and tell his story of life and passion for surfing. Episode 13, "A Star is Born," sees the birth of a new star, while Episode 14, "Run, Abe-chan," shows Abe's growth and challenges. Episode 15, "Revival!! The Strongest Tag," tests Kohei and Abe's friendship once again, and Episode 16, "The Truth of the Way of Judo," shows Abe's growth through judo.

Episodes 17, "Moisture Brothers," and 18, "Reward for an Affair," feature humor and romance, while episode 19, "The Gambler's Blood Sacrifice Immovable," depicts the intersection of the world of gambling and surfing. And the final episode, "Surfside Forever," brings all the episodes together and concludes Kohei and his friends' youth.

Production and staff

Surfside High School was produced by TBS and Magic Bus. It was directed by Yoshida Hiroyoshi, animated by Maejima Kenichi, with character design by Tanaka Jo, art direction by Ishigaki Tsutomu, color design by Kobayashi Kei, and music direction by Tanaka Kazuya. Maejima Kenichi, Tsuchiya Hi, and Ishizaki Susumu are in charge of direction, bringing out the individuality of each episode.

The original author, Ken Sawai, wrote a story with themes of surfing and youth, and the staff did their best to recreate that worldview in the anime. In particular, character designer Jo Tanaka faithfully recreated the characters from the original while bringing out the anime's unique charm. Art director Tsutomu Ishigaki also beautifully depicted the scenery of the seaside town, drawing viewers into the world of Surfside High School.

Music and Soundtrack

Music director Kazuya Tanaka created a variety of music to express the refreshing atmosphere of surfing and youth. The opening theme, "Surfside Dream," is a powerful song that draws the viewer into the world of the story, while the ending theme, "Waves of Youth," is a beautiful song that symbolizes the end of Kohei and his friends' youth. The background music for each episode was also carefully chosen to match the story and enhance the viewer's emotions.

Viewer reactions and ratings

"Surfside High School" has been loved by many viewers since it was first broadcast. In particular, the refreshing theme of youth and surfing resonated with many young people, and the viewer ratings were high. In addition, the humorous episodes and the storyline depicting the growth of the characters touched the hearts of viewers.

Surfside High School has received positive reviews in anime magazines and on the Internet. In particular, the beautiful character designs, art, and high quality music have been highly praised, creating a large fanbase. Fans of the original work have also been drawn in by the unique charm of the anime version, allowing them to experience the world of Surfside High School once again.

Recommendations and related works

For viewers who enjoyed Surfside High School, we also recommend the following titles:

• "SLAM DUNK" - A work with themes of youth and sports, depicting characters growing through basketball.
• "Hajime no Ippo" - A boxing-themed work that depicts the protagonist's growth and friendship. Like "Surfside High School," it is a youth story through sports.
• "Natsume's Book of Friends" - A work with themes of fantasy and youth, depicting the growth and friendship of the protagonist. Although it is in a different genre from "Surfside High School", the theme of youth is shared.

We also recommend the original manga of "Surfside High School." The original manga contains detailed episodes and character backgrounds that were not depicted in the anime, allowing you to enjoy the world of Surfside High School in greater depth.

Conclusion

"Surfside High School" is an anime series that breathes fresh youth and surfing into the air. Despite its short broadcast period, it was loved by many viewers and became a memorable work as a youthful memory. The high quality of the character design, art, and music was also praised, and many fans were born. Please watch this work and ride the wave of youth of Kohei and his friends.