Masaaki Yuasa’s Ride Your Wave (Kimi to, Nami ni Noretara) is a beautiful and emotional anime movie that shows a story about love, loss, and finding the strength to move on. The film is filled with sweet romance and deep feelings of sadness, all shown through Yuasa’s unique style of animation.
Story Summary
The story follows Hinako Mukaimizu, a cheerful young woman who moves to a seaside town for college, where she enjoys her passion for surfing. One day, her apartment catches fire, and she’s saved by Minato, a brave firefighter. The two quickly fall in love, and Hinako teaches Minato how to surf. They share a dreamy love, living happily and enjoying life together.
But their happiness doesn’t last long. Minato dies in an accident at sea while rescuing someone, leaving Hinako heartbroken. She finds it hard to move on from his death until one day, she realizes that by singing their favorite song, Minato’s spirit can appear in water. Though it gives her comfort to see him again, it also keeps her stuck in the past, unable to move forward.
Key Themes and Meaning
At its heart, Ride Your Wave is about dealing with loss and grief. Hinako’s struggle to let go of Minato is something many people can understand, as losing a loved one is one of the hardest things in life. The movie beautifully shows how hard it is to say goodbye, and how, with time, Hinako learns to stand on her own and move forward.
Water plays an important role in the film, symbolizing emotions and the ups and downs of life. It brings Minato back to Hinako, but it’s also the thing that took him away. Surfing, which Hinako loves, also becomes a symbol for finding balance in life—just like you need balance to ride the waves, you need it to deal with your emotions.
Animation and Music
The animation in Ride Your Wave is breathtaking. Yuasa’s style is full of movement, and the way he animates the ocean and surfing scenes makes you feel like you’re right there in the water. The colors are bright and lively, which helps keep the film visually exciting even during the sadder moments.
The music is also a key part of the film. The song Brand New Story by GENERATIONS from EXILE TRIBE is catchy and upbeat, and it becomes an important connection between Hinako and Minato. It’s both a happy memory and a way for Hinako to talk to Minato’s spirit, adding to the emotional depth of the story.
My Personal Opinion
At first, it seems like a simple love story, but it’s really about much more than that. The way the film shows the pain of losing someone is heartbreaking, but there’s also hope and healing by the end. The supernatural twist—Minato appearing in water—adds a magical touch that makes the story stand out.
The most touching moment for me was when Hinako finally realized that she had to let go of Minato to live her own life. It was a powerful scene, showing that even though letting go is hard, it’s also a part of healing.
Hinako and Minato are both likable characters. Their relationship is sweet and feels real, which makes Minato’s death all the more painful to watch. My only small complaint is that the ending felt a bit rushed, and I wish there was more focus on the side characters like Wasabi and Yōko, who were also interesting but didn’t get as much screen time.
