Ride your wave review
Ride Your Wave is an animated romance movie created in 2019, produced by the Japanese company Science Saru, and directed by Masaaki Yuasa. I have often been on top of the latest anime movies so hearing that this odd, cutesy romance movie was going to be in the langely cineplex I jumped on that chance to watch it in theaters. Its run time is average, spanning for about an hour and a half but, in that time, a compelling story of love, tragedy, and moving forwards unfolds.
SYNOPSIS
The movie begins with the female protagonist, Hinako, and her cute surfboard, being rushed outside as a fire erupts in her apartment due to illegal fireworks. Stuck on the roof of the building, she is saved from her burning apartment by a handsome young firefighter, Minato. In hopes of growing closer to her he asked her to teach him how to surf and, over the months, that shared hobby slowly brings them together as they begin an adorable relationship together full of laughs and trips to the beach. Terrible news is followed as Hinako recieves a call stating Minato died saving two men at sea. Throughout the rest of the movie, Hinako swears to see Minato in the water and coaxes him out by singing a song they shared together, all the while the people around her think she is crazy or is in an extreme case of denial. As the movie progresses, she takes him everywhere in the form of water in a waterbottle or an inflatible baluga pool toy, believing she needs to be with him and that he has not left, not truly accepting the fact that he had passed away. Though, as the story unfolds, she learns that moving on does not mean forgetting the person but, instead, living a life without them physically there and cherishing the time they did spend together. In the end of the movie, she calls upon Minato one final time in a magical and truly mesmerizing way to prevent these rebellious teens from setting off illegal fireworks of a tall abandon building. With that grand final act, Hinako is brought safely to the ground as she says her goodbyes to Minato; though, the guilt and sorrow of not being able to stay with him still weighed heavily on her. She begins reconnecting with people she had distanced herself from like Minato’s sister and her best friends; as well as, continuing her new job as a lifeguard in hopes of saving anyone from the same fate as her boyfriend and making a positive impact in peoples life like Minato did to her.
MEANING
This movie does a good job showing in a beautiful and unique way how difficult the death of someone in their life, especially a sudden one, is and that it’s alright to miss them. From the guilt and pity she felt from not picking up his phone call before the incident to the anger Hinako carried against herself and Minato for leaving her after he promised her they would be together forever. The very raw feelings of love and loss are portrayed in Ride Your Wave as well as the coping mechanisms and results of missing people like depression. It also depicts, in a unique way, how many people notice small things that remind them of their loved ones, especially if they are no longer living, in everyday life; As Hinako constantly calls upon Minato in the water, a thing that brought them together and where they felt most alive. Though, the most impactful point of this movie is that one can move on and that moving on does not mean forgetting the person but, continuning life without them there physically and instead in one’s heart. The person who passed away would not want their passing to hold the other person back in life but, achieve all they can like Hinako realized after hearing a prerecorded message Minato had set up the year prior to his passing.
VISUALS
This film utilizes many bright colours and scenes that often contrast the dark and negative feelings being portrayed. One essential scene in particular though, when Minato dies, is extremely dark and out of character. This allowed the scene to be effectively remembered and, without directly stating what had happened, the audience understands. After reading the message Minato meant to send to Hinako before he passed away, the colours were very saturated but the setting she was in,(*) her messy living room, was very crowded and unorganized just like her emotions. It gave the movie a refreshing feeling as usually, especially in animated movies, the portrayal of emotions is quite reliant on the face and colours. I noticed many of the scenes were full body and establishing shots, showing off a lot of the beautifully drawing settings like the beaches or the city. Due to this fact, much more of the emotion is portrayed through the way the characters physically reacted and carried themselves like slouching or stiff movements. I enjoyed paying more attention to the characters and them interacting with their environment instead of the usual close-up shot to the face. I feel it also better showed the complex emotions Hinako and the other characters were dealing with throughout the movie.
SOUNDTRACK
The soundtrack throughout the movie is often super fun and uplifting giving the movie a more lighthearted feeling. One song in particular, Brand New Story by Generations from Exile Tribe, which is the song Minato and Hinako used to sing together is a key component to the story; despite the first few lines being repeated multiple times throughout the movie, I found myself smiling and singing along with the catchy melody.
END THOUGHTS
Overall, I really enjoyed Ride Your Wave. It did an amazing job depicting the complexity of losing someone and moving on all the while entertaining the viewers with mystically beautiful environments and intriguing characters. Though, I personally would not put this movie in my number one spot of animated movies, it definetly was enjoyable and a breath of fresh air comparatively to some of the movies I have watched in the past; especially pertaining around the subject of death and mourning. To this day, I listen to the version of the song Brand New Story sung by Minato and Hinako’s voice actor and voice actress. It is such a cute song with a seriously catchy melody. I would recommend anyone who wants a quick rush of emotions and lots of weird water bending to watch Ride Your Wave. You will not be disappointed.
Ride Your Wave: 7.5/10