"Muromi-san on the Shore" review: Charming characters and a humorous story

Muromi-san on the Shore - Muromi-san on the Shore

■ Public Media

TV anime series

■ Original Media

comics

■ Broadcast period

April 7, 2013 - June 30, 2013

■Broadcasting station

TOKYO MX, MBS, Chiba TV, tvk, Teletama, TV Aichi, TVQ Kyushu Broadcasting, BS11, AT-X, Bandai Channel, Niconico Video, showtime, Video Market

■Frequencies

15 min

■ Number of Episodes

Episode 13

■Original Story

Keiji Najima

■ Director

Tatsuya Yoshihara

■ Production

Animation Production: Tatsunoko Productions

■Works

©Keiji Najima, Kodansha, Inc. / Muromi-san on the Shore Production Committee

■Cast

・Muromi-san/Yukari Tamura・Takuro Mukojima/Masahiro Mizushima・Hi-chan/Ai Nonaka・Sumida-san/Sumire Uesaka・Fuji-san/Hitomi Harada・Levia-san/Mai Nakahara・Harpy/Kanako Sakai・Yeti/Chiwa Saito

■ Main staff

・Original story by Keiji Najima (serialized in Kodansha's Weekly Shonen Magazine)
・Director: Tatsuya Yoshihara ・Character design and chief animation director: Kikuko Sadakata ・Series composition: Kazuyuki Fudeyasu ・Sound director: Yuichi Imaizumi ・Sound production: HALF・H・P STUDIO
・Background / Studio Tulip ・Animation Production / Tatsunoko Production ・Music Production / Starchild Records ・Music / Osamu Tezuka

■ Main Characters

Muromi-san is a mermaid who speaks Hakata dialect for some reason. She is more like a fish than a human. Her age is estimated to be over eight digits. However, her mental age is about 18 years old.
・Takuro Mukojima The only member of the fishing club at his high school. He accidentally catches Muromi-san on a nearby embankment. He goes by the nickname Takkun.
Hii-chan is Muromi's younger sister. Although she calls Muromi "Onetan," they are not sisters, but simply childhood friends.
・She often travels with Sumida and Muromi, drinking with them, and having girl talk. She is a girl who falls in love easily.
・Fuji-san's chest is also "Mount Fuji" class. Because she had a strong admiration for Muromi-san's tail fin, she is scheming in various ways to restore it to its current state, which is a shadow of its former self.
Levia-san is Muromi-san's senior and has a big sister-like personality. Her true identity is a giant sea dragon that has appeared many times in past legends. For some reason, she speaks in the Kokura dialect. She is even more free-spirited than Muromi-san.
A monster bird that was caught in a harpy trap and saved by a yeti. It recognizes Muromi as food. Its bird brain forgets after walking three steps.
Yeti: Commonly known as the Snowman. He has been friends with Muromi ever since he rescued her from the frozen mountains. He is very shy and quite reliable.

■Subtitle

・Episode #1/"Muromi-san on the Brink"
・Episode #2: "The Legendary Sea Beast and Muromi-san"
・Episode #3: "Long-held feelings and Muromi-san"
・Episode #4/"The Food Chain and Muromi-san"
・Episode #5/"Twin Mountain and Muromi-san"
・Episode #6/"Ryugu-jo and Muromi-san"
・Episode #7: "The Boy, the Kappa, and Muromi-san"
・Episode #8 / "The soothing (?) Tomoromi-san"
・Episode 9: "The Secret Super Civilization and Muromi-san"
・Episode 10: "Worldwide Muromi-san"
・Episode #11/"Tsun and Muromi-san"
Episode 12: "Various forms of love and Muromi-san"
・Episode #13 / "Muromi-san of the old and the new"

■ Theme songs and music

・OP1
・Your Sea is More Than the Seven Seas ・Lyrics by Aki Hata ・Composition by Akira Kobayashi ・Arrangement by Akira Kobayashi, Ryuichi Takada ・Singer by Sumire Uesaka

Muromi-san on the Shore - Detailed evaluation and recommendation

"Muromi-san on the Shore" is a TV anime series based on the original manga by Keiji Najima, which was broadcast in 2013. This work is a story full of humor and fantasy that begins with the encounter between Muromi-san, a mermaid who speaks Hakata dialect, and Takuro Mukojima, a high school student who caught her. Below, we will explain in detail the appeal and features of this work, as well as the recommended points.

Story and Characters

The story of "Muromi-san on the Shore" begins when Mukaijima Takuro accidentally catches Muromi-san. Muromi-san is a unique character who speaks Hakata dialect and is estimated to be over eight digits old, but has the mental age of about 18. Her free-spirited personality and her interactions with Takuro are at the center of the story.

In addition to Muromi, there are other characters with unique personalities, such as her younger sister Hii-chan, the lovelorn maiden Sumida-san, the tail fin-loving Fuji-san, the giant sea dragon Leviathan, the monster bird Harpy, and the yeti Yeti. The world of comedy and fantasy woven by these characters will keep viewers entertained.

Animation and visuals

Tatsunoko Productions, the animation studio, paid particular attention to the character designs and movements. Muromi's fishy characteristics and the unique visuals of the other characters are particularly impressive. Kikuko Sadakata, the character designer and chief animation director, made a major contribution, as each character's personality was clearly expressed through the animation.

The background art was also created by Studio Tulip, depicting the beauty of nature such as the sea and mountains. These visual elements enhance the atmosphere of the story and provide visual enjoyment.

Music and Sound

With the cooperation of Starchild Records, who was in charge of music production, and Osamu Tezuka, who composed the music, the BGM was prepared to match the atmosphere of the work. In particular, the opening theme "Your Sea is Better than the Seven Seas" is a song that symbolizes the theme of the work, with the voice of Sumire Uesaka, lyrics by Aki Hata, and music composed and arranged by Satoru Kanzaki and Ryuichi Takada.

Thanks to sound director Yuichi Imaizumi and HALF・H・P STUDIO's sound production, the character voices and sound effects are reproduced realistically, enhancing the viewer's sense of immersion. The dialects, especially Muromi's Hakata dialect and Levia's Kokura dialect, are natural and appealing.

Episodes and themes

Each episode revolves around Muromi-san, Takuro, and their interactions with other characters. For example, "The Legendary Sea Beast and Muromi-san" reveals Levia's past, while "Muromi-san and a Long-held Feeling" depicts Fuji-san's admiration for the tail fin. Through these episodes, the characters' backgrounds and emotions are explored in depth, evoking sympathy from the audience.

The themes throughout the series are "friendship" and "freedom." Muromi's free-spirited way of life and her friendships with the characters around her convey a positive message to viewers. The humor and comedy elements depicted in each episode are also important elements that entertain viewers.

Recommended points

"Muromi-san on the Shore" can be recommended for the following reasons.

1. **Unique Characters**: The unique characters, including the Hakata-ben speaking mermaid Muromi-san, entertain viewers. Muromi-san's free-spirited personality and her interactions with other characters are particularly appealing.

2. **Humor and Comedy**: The humor and comedy elements in each episode will make you smile. You can especially enjoy the dialogue between the characters and the unexpected plot developments.

3. **Beautiful Visuals**: Tatsunoko Productions' careful animation and Studio Tulip's beautiful background art provide a visual treat. The depictions of nature, such as the sea and mountains, are particularly impressive.

4. **Moving Story**: The backgrounds and emotions of the characters depicted in each episode resonate with viewers. Stories with themes of friendship and freedom resonate particularly well with viewers.

5. **Attractive Music**: The music by Starchild Records and Osamu Tezuka really sets the tone for the film, especially the opening theme, "Seven Seas, More Beautiful Than You."

summary

"Muromi-san on the Shore" is a work filled with humor and fantasy, and viewers will enjoy the interactions between its unique characters, beautiful visuals, and charming music. The story, which is centered on the themes of friendship and freedom, resonates with viewers and conveys a positive message. This work is highly recommended for viewers who are looking for humor and inspiration.