Arakawa Under the Bridge

This show had me LOL-ing all throughout the series. I really enjoyed watching every single chapter within the episodes. The characters are well done and portrayed. One thing, in my opinion, don't continue reading if you don't want a spoiler! I wished they closed the series properly. Like they didn't add how Rec and his father ended up, or what happened to Nino's parents and why she says she's from Venus and how she ended up there. I hope they make a season 3 and close-knit everything properly. Other than that, series is great and funny! I highly recommend it if you want something to relax to and get a great laugh from.

If ya actually look through this, excuse me ahead of time for relative long-windedness; I was just really excited when they threw this program up on crunchyroll, and I think this show really merits viewing for multiple reasons.

Arakawa Under the Bridge operates, for me, on both the thematic and comedic levels. The relationship between the main character, Ichinomiya Kou, and the community of eccentrics by the Arakawa is, in my opinion, an interesting and surprising exploration of capitalism and communalism as it impacts people on the individual level. In Ichinomiya we are presented with the capitalist reified, born of a great conglomerate and into a family of economic expectation. His father was a businessman, and he will be a businessman. But Ichinomiya doesn't just have the money and connections - he comes loaded with an ideology that is not directly about capital (or even frugality) as it is about self-reliance.

Kou's self-reliance is so hyperbolic that it at first just appears to be a joke. But it's not just for comedic effect - by tying a man of money to a ridiculous ideology of self-reliance, the show is engaging in a rather smart satire of the logical moral conclusions of neo-classical capitalism. While taking a page from Weber and Durkheim, Arakawa Under the Bridge quietly suggests that the self-reliance and individuality that has permeated capitalism since the Protestants is actually a socialized ideology of conformity; that, ironically, true individualism is actually achieved when bolstered by a community. The individual is not suffocated by group solidarity, but is forged by it. In this show, the self-reliant person is a joke, a papa's boy, while the true individual is a part of the community.

That's one-half of what draws me to the show. The other half is that it's damn funny. Directed by Shinbo Akiyuki of Bakemonogatari and Sayonara, Zetsubou-Sensei fame, the show slaps you over the head with absurdist jokes, camera pans, and character designs. Each character has a wild personality that just adds more fuel to the fire, and some of the referential material (I suppose being almost all the material) flies close to inspired. Theme aside, it's just a funny show for anyone who's bonkers for references, visual humor, and kappas.

Granted you like crazy shiz, there's only one downside I can foresee, one that's been remarked upon before; the characters. Don't get me wrong; they can be damn funny, and Hoshi has got to be one of my favorite comedy characters of any anime, if not any show. But if you're looking for a more emotionally enriching experience, don't bother. Kou's the only bloke who gets serious development, at least in the first season, and I mean that literally - he's the only person. This is in spite of the fact that some characters are truly intriguing. I found myself wishing for more on Nino (the blond beside Kou in the poster), as her hints speak to a fascinating psychology and backstory that could have served a great foil to Kou's own evolution.

This show is really more of a 4.5 than a 5, but that's quibbling, and why knock a good thing? I think it's intellectually interesting, and it's damn funny. Give it a shot - I bet you'll like it too.

Set in Arakawa, Tokyo, the series tells the story of Kou Ichinomiya, a man who has accomplished everything by himself. Ever since he was little, his father has taught him one rule: to never be indebted to another person. One day by accident, he falls into the Arakawa River and almost drowns. A girl by the name of Nino rescues him and, in return, he owes her his life. Unable to accept the fact that he is indebted to her, he asks her about a way for him to repay her. In the end, she tells him to love her, beginning Kou's life of living under a bridge. However, as Kou starts to learn, Arakawa is a place full of weirdos and all of the people living under the bridge are what society would call "denpasan".

-Mr.Tolentino-

Idea
Force an elite, rational, intelligent, and successful man into an environment full of homeless people living under a bridge who lack common sense, stupid, and full of fails in life and you'll have yourself one of the best anime comedy of all time.

Arakawa Under the Bridge features familiar voices such as Sakata Gintoki from Gintama, (The legendary Sannin) Jiraiya from Naruto, and Koyomi Araragi from Bakemonogatari series, (Senjougahara is in it, though uses a different voice). One thing is sure, their role in this logic-forsaken anime is one of their best performance.

Strenght
Arakawa Under the Bridge strength lies in its unfathomable cast who's thinking and behavior knows no boundaries. Their lack of common sense can drive a civilized man like Kou Ichinomiya to his limit. Just look at the cover...Yes. These are people.

The Japanese man with a punctual attire is Kou Ichinomiya (same voice as Araragi). He will be the victim of this under-the-bridge-stupidity. The guy with a star head is Hoshi (same voice as Gintoki). Obviously a nutcase. The kappa guy is refer to as chief. Obviously a nutcase. Sister, No. I'm not talking about the pink-haired woman but the big man with a sister attire is obviously another nutcase. Maria, the pink-haired woman. If you're a guy, stay away. She's a nutcase. There are more nutcase! I'll let you discover them yourself. Assume everyone living under the bridge in Arakawa is a nutcase. Only outsiders like Kou Ichinomiya uses common sense. At least, before he was infected with their stupidity.

Although Arakawa Under The Bridge sounds stupid, it's definitely not. The cast is stupid but the thinking behind it is smart. You'll only need to see the first few minutes of the first episode to realize that it's well thought-out. Unlike some stupid-based anime, its stupidity is used to make a point; What is common sense? Perhaps no one is stupid but only different perspective and definition of common sense.

The biggest takeaway you can receive from the Arakawa Under the Bridge is from Kou's experience. Success is written in his face and takes pride of it—all the time. However, he is really unhappy. Perhaps, success and materialistic products have its merit in life but does not always equate to true happiness. True happiness can be found anywhere and in any point in life even in the oddest places. Perhaps, achieving true happiness could be the greatest form of success in life.

Weakness
Arakawa Under the Bridge manga is still ongoing at a snail pace. This mean after finishing second season, some questions will be left unanswered and some characters left unexplored. Read the manga to continue.

Who is it for?
If you enjoy straight-man comic setup, this is the anime for you. Its setup is perfect because you have a man with common sense surrounded by people who have none. Just look at the cover. Do they look like normal people?
Note: This anime has romance but it isn't the dominant feature. If you're watching it only for romance, there are better options.