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Since ages, for odd reasons, people seem to have been fascinated by the concept of the “world’s end”. Countless movies, films, and series have been made solely to portray this notion. Perhaps people enjoy watching natural selection play its role. Maybe they love the idea of escaping this monotonous reality and somehow dwell into an apocalyptic version of this world. Whatever the reasons may be, Masaaki Yuasa took his notes well and came up with the perfect anime series with all these boxes ticked!
Japan sinks, a Netflix original series aired on July 9th, 2020 is created by a highly influential and easily one of the most exciting names in the world of animation, Misaaki Yuasa. Keeping in mind his previous brilliant works like the Devilman crybaby and mind game, it’s glaringly evident that he has a knack for creating extraordinarily accomplished and thought-provoking masterpieces.
The Plot
As the name says, Japan Sinks is about a horrific tale of the very ground that japan stands on, plunging into the depths of an ocean.
With death looming over every episode, the series paints a vivid picture of the Mutous, an average working-class family trying to stick together and survive the constant arrival of numerous earthquakes that have endangered an entire nation with a possibility of them going extinct. The plot starts off by showing a 14-year-old track star, Ayumu Mutou, her 10-year-old gamer brother, Goh, and their parents, striving to reunite after getting struck by a massive earthquake.
CHARACTERS
The characters ooze out optimism and stay emphatic and hopeful throughout the series. As the plot progresses, with each episode, there’s a new addition to the family. The pair of teenagers’ siblings and their relationships with their parents were also accurately represented. The only sad part about the series is becoming too attached to all of them, only to bid some of them grieving farewells eventually.
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE SHOW
Despite the show revolving around a heartbreaking tragedy, it is filled with hope and positivity to the brim. Astonishingly this was very new to me. It was as if the characters themselves encouraged me to wipe my tears off and get back on track! Amidst all the misery, I especially loved how they showed the concept of the Japanese people “rebuilding the country“. They never let go of their tradition, heritage, and culture and swore Japan’s promising future. The possibility alone of a “future” even existing, and watching people be so gracious about it was mind bobbling and incredibly inspiring. The second thing worthy of praise is diversity. Enriched with a diverse list of characters, each with their own style was a fun element added to the series.
DOWNSIDES OF THE SHOW
The pace! The people having to move on quickly after losing someone close to them, especially if they’re in a situation that requires them to be QUICK, is understandable. However, I feel like the plot could have unveiled its horrendous twists a little slower. Each character who dies should’ve gotten at least a few minutes for us to mourn over them. The fact that the other characters acted as if nothing had happened was disconcerting to watch.
CONCLUSION
The art style and animation were pretty decent. Certain natural disasters were accurately depicted and will surely keep your eyes glued to the screen. The amount of emotions you feel in one episode is bewildering. From feeling happy to sad to almost getting a heart attack, this series, guaranteed, will take you on an emotional bumpy roller coaster ride. However, whatever you may feel throughout the series, feel safe to prepare yourself for a satisfying end.
Lastly, I would add that you should give Japan sinks a try. You can easily finish it in one go.
