The appeal and reviews of "Arakawa Under the Bridge": A unique worldview and character depth

Arakawa Under the Bridge - A unique world view and charming characters

Arakawa Under the Bridge is a TV anime series that was broadcast in 2010 and is based on the manga "Arakawa Under the Bridge" by Hikaru Nakamura. The story is set on the Arakawa riverbed and tells a humorous and moving story of a unique cast of characters. Below, we will introduce detailed information and the appeal of this work.

■ Public Media

TV anime series

■ Original Media

comics

■ Broadcast period

April 5, 2010 - June 27, 2010

TV Tokyo April 4, 2010 to June 27, 2010 (Episodes 1 to 13) Every Sunday 25:35 to 26:05

TVQ Kyushu Broadcasting April 5, 2010 to June 28, 2010 (Episodes 1 to 13) Every Monday 26:23 to 26:53

TV Osaka April 6, 2010 to June 29, 2010 (Episodes 1 to 13) Every Tuesday 26:05 to 26:35

TV Aichi April 7, 2010 to June 30, 2010 (Episodes 1 to 13) Every Wednesday 25:28 to 25:58

TV Setouchi April 8, 2010 to July 1, 2010 (1st to 13th episodes) Every Thursday 25:58 to 26:28

TV Hokkaido April 9, 2010 to July 2, 2010 (Episodes 1 to 13) Every Friday 26:00 to 26:30

AT-X April 10, 2010 to July 3, 2010 (Episodes 1 to 13) Every Saturday 8:30 to 9:00

Biwako Broadcasting July 9, 2010 to October 1, 2010 (1st to 13th episodes) Every Friday 26:00 to 26:30

Kagoshima Television September 9, 2010 to December 2, 2010 (Episodes 1 to 13) Every Thursday 26:10 to 26:40

■Broadcasting station

TX series, AT-X, UHF

■Frequencies

half an hour

■ Number of Episodes

Episode 13

■Original Story

Nakamura Hikaru (published in "Young Gangan" by Square Enix)

■ Director

Akiyuki Shinbo

■ Production

・Animation Production: Shaft

・Production/Arakawa UB Production Committee

■Works

© Nakamura Hikaru/Square Enix/Arakawa UB Production Committee

■ Story

The setting is the Arakawa riverbed. There they meet Ichinomiya Kou, a young, successful elite known as Riku, and Nino, a beautiful homeless girl who calls herself Venusian. The love between these two awkward people is sometimes funny, sometimes painful... This is a heartwarming love comedy based on the original electric wave genre, depicting the daily chaos caused by the strange riverbed residents, with the two at the center.

■Explanation

Ichinomiya Yuki, the heir of a large company, has lived his life without relying on anyone, following the family motto of "never owe anything to others." The first person he ever owed anything to was a girl named Nino who calls herself a Venusian. In order to fulfill Nino's wish to "fall in love," Yuki moves into the Arakawa riverbed where she lives, and is given the name "Recruit" by the village chief. The story is full of strong characters, including the village chief who claims to be a kappa.

■Cast

・Recruit (Ichinomiya Line) / Hiroshi Kamiya

・Nino/Maaya Sakamoto

・Village chief/Keiji Fujiwara

・Star/Tomokazu Sugita

・Sister/Takehito Koyasu

・Maria/Miyuki Sawashiro

・Stella/Chiwa Saito

・Ichinomiya Yuki (childhood) / Saito Chiwa

・Shiro/Yotsuka Yoshitada

・Iron Brothers Tetsuo / Yuuko Sanpei

・Tetsuro the Iron Brothers / Ryoko Shintani

・P-ko/Chiaki Omigawa

・The Last Samurai/Yuichi Nakamura

・Jacqueline/Yuko Goto

・Ichinomiya Tsumami/Koyama Rikiya

Billy/Fumihiko Tachiki

・Takai/Cho

Shimazaki/Rie Tanaka

Suzuki/Naoki Kusumi

Narration by Fumihiko Tachiki

■ Main staff

・Planning: Koji Taguchi, Atsushi Moriyama

・Original story by Hikaru Nakamura (published in Young Gangan, Square Enix)

・Series composition, scriptwriting: Akao Deko

・Character design and chief animation director: Nobuhiro Sugiyama

・Art director: Azuma Koji

・Color setting: Izumi Takizawa

・Visual effects/Motoi Sakai

Director of photography: Shohei Uchimura

Edited by Rie Matsuhara

・Sound Director: Yota Tsuruoka

Music: Masaru Yokoyama

・Music Production/Starchild Records

・Music Production Cooperation: TV Tokyo Music

Visual effects: Masahiro Kurahara, Soo-jeong Song

・Assistant Art Director: Koichi Kadouma

Edited by Seyama Editorial Office

・Editing assistants: Hiromi Sasaki, Keiko Kadokawa

Video editing: Saori Tadokoro, Yusuke Orita

・Sound effects/Hiroki Nozaki

・Sound recording: Yasunori Ebina

・Recording assistant/Mai Sunaniwa

・Recording studio/studio2010:

・Sound production: Rakuonsha

・Sound Production Manager: Yoshimi Sugiyama

・Sound production cooperation: Motoyoshi Tai

Planning cooperation: Atsushi Kitamura, Nobuyuki Kurashige, Emi Sato

Assistant producers: Misato Kaneko, Miki Oshima

・Advertising and promotion/Noriko Yamazato

・Program Director: Nara Hatsuo (TV Tokyo)

・Program Promotion／Yosuke Aoki (TV Tokyo)

・Cooperation: "Young Gangan" editorial department, Taketo Muroichi

・Production cooperation: Ganges

Line producers: Tadao Iwaki, Mitsuru Ohara

・Production Manager: Nobuhiro Okihara

・Setting Production: Shinya Takano

・Opening Director/Naoyuki Ryurin

・Series Director: Yukihiro Miyamoto

・Producer/Tsuyoshi Yadori

・Animation Producer/Mitsutoshi Kubota

・Director: Akiyuki Shinbo

・Animation Production: Shaft

・Production/Arakawa UB Production Committee

■ Main Characters

Nino

A homeless beauty who calls herself Venusian. Her parents are on Venus and she will soon have to return home...or so it seems.

・Ichinomiya Line (Riku)

He is the heir to the Ichinomiya Group, a large conglomerate, and a young elite who runs a number of companies while still a university student. In order to repay his debt to Nino, who saved his life, he becomes Nino's lover and lives with her on the banks of the Arakawa River.

Village chief

He is the godfather of the people who live on the riverbank, and if you don't have a name from him you can't be recognized as a resident.

Star

A man wearing a star mask who lives in a trailer house. He is said to be a former popular musician. He is in love with Nino.

Sister

He is a strong man over 2 meters tall, wearing a nun's uniform for some reason. He is actually a former mercenary from a certain country and is skilled in handling firearms. He holds mass every Sunday at a church on the riverbank.

Maria

A very sadistic older sister who owns a ranch on the riverbank. She's good at verbal attacks. Does she have a past connection with the sister?

Stella

A girl who was once raised by sisters in an orphanage. She came to Japan to follow her beloved sister. Although she is from England, she speaks in Hiroshima dialect for some reason.

White

An old man in a sleeping bag who can only walk on the white lines. If he goes off the white lines, his wife will turn into a chicken.

・P-ko

A girl who grows vegetables in a field by the river. She is the ultimate clumsy girl and often gets Riku involved in her problems. Is she in love with the village chief...?

・Iron Brothers (Tetsuo and Tetsuro)

Mysterious brothers wearing iron masks. They claim to be psychics, and apparently they escaped from a research facility and are suppressing their powers with the masks to avoid being discovered.

・Ichinomiya Seki

Riku's father. He is the representative of the large company "Ichinomiya Group." Ever since Riku was a child, he has strictly instilled in him the family motto of "never owe anyone anything."

・Takai

She is the secretary of the company that Riku manages, and has been his caretaker since he was a child. She dotes on Riku.

Shimazaki

A beautiful and capable woman who works as a secretary alongside Takai at the company run by Riku.

・The Last Samurai

A former charismatic hairdresser with a topknot who runs a beauty salon on the riverbank. He uses a sword instead of scissors, but his skills are top-notch.

Billy

He is a man among men, the epitome of chivalrous dandyism. However, he calls himself a cockatoo and is always chewing on Japanese mustard spinach.

Jacqueline

She is the self-proclaimed queen of bees, who ran off with Billy after abandoning her 30,000 children and 10,000 husbands in her hive. She runs a beauty salon on the riverbank.

■Subtitle

・1 BRIDGE (2010/04/04)

Episode 1: A man who cannot owe anything

Episode 2: Under the Big Star Bridge

Episode 3: Positive Thinking

Episode 4: Green Green

Episode 5: Green Contents

Episode 6: The Truth About Green

Episode 7: Riku Under the Bridge

Episode 8: A Place of Rest

Episode 9: GO!

・2 BRIDGE (2010/04/11)

Episode 10: New Life

Episode 11: After a bath

Episode 12: Sea Urchin

Episode 13: Riku's Memories

Episode 14: Welcome Party

Episode 15: Battle Sister

Episode 16 / Mass

Episode 17: Teachings

・3 BRIDGE (2010/04/18)

Episode 18: Sister's Confession Room

Episode 19: Man's Friendship

Episode 20: Riku's Determination

Episode 21: Invitation

Episode 22: Plan

Episode 23: To the mouth of the river

Episode 24: Arakawa's one-shot comedy qualifying round

・4 BRIDGE (2010/04/25)

Episode 25: First Date

Episode 26: The Great Passage

Episode 27 / Stella

Episode 28: Let's play together

Episode 29: Aniki's Qualifications

Episode 30 / Maria

Episode 31: Bleeding Service

Episode 32: Arakawa's one-shot comedy qualifying round

・5 BRIDGE (2010/05/02)

Episode 33: I can't hide my feelings

Episode 34: Hello at the Vegetable Garden

Episode 35: If it's paprika...

Episode 36: For You

Episode 37: Family

Episode 38: Gigolo

Episode 39: I'll do it

Episode 40: Music Battle

Episode 41: Great Music

Episode 42: Arakawa's one-shot comedy qualifying round

・6 BRIDGE (2010/05/09)

Episode 43: Ah! Wonderful Music

Episode 44/Last Song

Episode 45: If there is a fish, there is a water

Episode 46: Riku's Teachings

Episode 47: The Beginning

Episode 48: Polypropylene

Episode 49/Hint

Episode 50: Job Decision

Episode 51: Arakawa's one-shot comedy qualifying round

・7 BRIDGE (2010/05/16)

Episode 52: The teacher under the bridge

Episode 53: Interest

Episode 54: Lessons Begin

Episode 55 / Island

Episode 56: I can't be honest

Episode 57: If you change your partner, you change your person

Episode 58: When Winter Comes

Episode 59: Change

Episode 60: What is common sense?

Episode 61: Arakawa's one-shot comedy qualifying round

・8 BRIDGE (2010/05/23)

Episode 62: Lie

Episode 63: Employees Under the Bridge

Episode 64/Secretary

Episode 65: Deep Relationship

Episode 66: The First Time...

Episode 67: Alone

Episode 68: The Blue Bird

Episode 69: Before the Arakawa comedy preliminaries

・9 BRIDGE (2010/05/30)

Episode 70/Present

Episode 71: Sparks

Episode 72: MSB (Mad Shitsureng Brothers)

Episode 73: The King of Tyranny

Episode 74 / Main Body

Episode 75: First Magnitude Star

Episode 76: Arakawa's one-shot comedy qualifying round

・10 BRIDGE (2010/06/06)

Episode 77: Disaster Prevention Training

Episode 78: Teamwork

Episode 79: The Village Chief Under the Bridge

Episode 80: Enlightenment

Episode 81: Emergency

Episode 82: Don't worry

Episode 83: Official

Episode 84: Pig

Episode 85: Here

Episode 86: Arakawa's one-shot comedy qualifying round

・11 BRIDGE (2010/06/13)

Episode 87: Oath

Episode 88: Boss Aura

Episode 89: Under the Bridge Without Riku

Episode 90: Father and Son

Episode 91/Plan

Episode 92: The Power of Ichinomiya

Episode 93/TEL

Episode 94: Arakawa's one-shot comedy qualifying round

・12 BRIDGE (2010/06/20)

Episode 95: Wish Upon a Star

Episode 96: Strange Event

Episode 97: The father of a man who cannot owe anything

Episode 98: Father's Thoughts

Episode 99: Conclusion

Episode 100: Arakawa's one-hit comedy training

・13 BRIDGE (2010/06/27)

Episode 101: The Last Samurai

Episode 102: Haircut

Episode 103: Billy and Jacqueline

Episode 104: Arakawa Dreamland

Episode 105/Attraction

Episode 106: An Unforgettable Parade

Episode 107: Treasure

Episode 108

■ Related works

・Arakawa Under the Bridge × Bridge

■ Theme songs and music

・OP1

Venus and Jesus

・Lyrics by Tika Alpha

・Composer: Tika Alpha

Arrangement: Kenji Kondo

・Song: Etsuko Yakushimaru

・OP2

Come up with a title yourself

Lyrics by Hitomi Mieno

・Composition: Masaru Yokoyama

Arrangement: Masaru Yokoyama

・Singer: Maria (Sawashiro Miyuki)

・ED1

・Upside-down bridge

Lyrics: Kenji Watanabe

・Composer: Kenji Watanabe

・Arrangement: Suneohair

・Song: Suneohair

The appeal and reviews of Arakawa Under the Bridge

Arakawa Under the Bridge has attracted many fans with its unique worldview and unique characters. Below, we will explain in detail the appeal and evaluation of this work.

A unique worldview

Arakawa Under the Bridge is set on the banks of the Arakawa River in Tokyo. The location is depicted as an otherworldly space, isolated from ordinary city life. A quirky cast of characters, including the village chief, live on the banks, and they weave a humorous and moving story. Despite the unrealistic setting, this world draws viewers in with its realistic portrayal of human relationships and the subtleties of emotion.

Charming characters

The greatest appeal of this work is its unique characters. The protagonist, Ichinomiya Yuki (Riku), is the heir to a large company, but begins living on the riverbank after he owes a debt to Nino. His growth and change are at the heart of the story. Meanwhile, Nino is a beautiful, homeless girl who calls herself Venusian, and her purity and mysterious charm draw Riku in. Additionally, the residents of the riverbank, including the village chief, Hoshi, Sister, Maria, and Stella, each have their own strong personalities, and their anecdotes enrich the story.

A balance of humor and emotion

Arakawa Under the Bridge has an exquisite balance of humor and emotion. The eccentric characters make the audience laugh with their comedic scenes, while the romance between Riku and Nino and the relationships between the people living on the riverbank provide heartwarming emotions. This balance enhances the overall quality of the work.

Animation Production

Shaft, the animation studio, completed this work under the direction of Akiyuki Shinbo, making full use of their unique visual style and direction. In particular, the characters' expressions and movements, as well as the depiction of the backgrounds, are carefully crafted down to the smallest detail, making the work very visually appealing. The music also plays an important role in enhancing the atmosphere of the work, and the opening and ending songs are also memorable.

Recognition and Awards

Arakawa Under the Bridge has been highly praised since it was first broadcast. It was especially praised for the individuality of the characters, the development of the story, and the quality of the visuals. It has also gained support from fans, leading to the production of a sequel, "Arakawa Under the Bridge x Bridge." Furthermore, this work has also gained popularity overseas, where it is loved by many fans.

Recommendations and how to watch

Arakawa Under the Bridge is a work that combines humor and emotion, and you will definitely be drawn into the story woven by the unique characters. It is especially recommended for those who are interested in the unique world view and charm of the characters. You can also enjoy the world of this work more deeply by watching the sequel, "Arakawa Under the Bridge x Bridge."

You can watch it by purchasing the DVD or Blu-ray, or by streaming video services. In particular, streaming video services are easy to watch, so they are recommended for those who are experiencing this work for the first time. Please come and experience the unique world of Arakawa Under the Bridge.