Arakawa Under the Bridge

Arakawa Under the Bridge is one of the amazing anime series from 2010, a manga series written and illustrated by Hikaru Nakamura. Arakawa Under the Bridge anime series is produced by Shaft and here’s some popular titles behind its studio like Nisekoi, Bakemonogatari, Mahou Shoujo Madoka Magica and Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei. Arakawa Under the Bridge consists of 12 episodes, runs about 24 minutes per episode and aired from April 2010 till June 2010. Opening song “Venus to Jesus” is performed by Etsuko Yakushimaru, and “Title nante Jibun de Kangaenasaina” is performed by Miyuki Sawashiro (Maria). Ending song “Sakasama Bridge” performed by Suneohair. Arakawa Under the Bridge anime series is directed by Akiyuki Shinbou.

Kou Ichinomiya is the only son of one of the wealthiest men and a belief in his elite status is to avoid becoming indebted to anyone. On one day after a run-in with some mischievous kids on Arakawa Bridge, Kou ends up falling into a river while trying to get his pants. Lucky thing for Kou, a passerby stranger saves him, and now he owes his life to this stranger. Kou insists on paying her back because he doesn't want to be indebted to anyone, a belief he always heard from his father. 

The stranger’s name is Nino, a tracksuit wearer homeless girl who lives in a cardboard box under the Arakawa Bridge and doesn't want any payment to receive from Kou. The only thing Nino wants is to fall in love and ask Kou to become her boyfriend. Kou has no choice but to accept Nino to be a girlfriend in return, Kou forces himself to leave his comfortable home and starts a new life living under the bridge.

Arakawa Under the Bridge's story focuses on Kou Ichinomiya, the only son of one of the wealthiest men and belief in his father that avoids becoming indebted to anyone. One day changes everything when Kou is being played by mischievous kids on Arakawa Bridge, he ends up falling unto the river while he reaches his pants around the bridge. A stranger saves Kou’s life and her name is Nino after his life is saved, Kou insists on paying the debt for saving his life because he doesn't want to be indebted to anyone. Nino refuses to be paid for what she did to Kou but there’s only thing she wants is to fall in love and Nino asks Kou to become her boyfriend. Kou accepted what Nino wanted and forced himself to leave his comfortable home and start a new life living under the bridge.

Arakawa Under the Bridge anime series is produced by Shaft and did a great job for its animation. The anime series sticks to its main story that focuses on Kou and Nino relationship development. The smooth scale moves of its anime is one of the good things to watch for as the story develops and knowing more about the main cast with others who are also living under the bridge. Character design is well improved and the bit detail factor and easy to distinguish each one of them is one of the highlights of the story. For the music choice is one of easy and entertaining to listen at all, the opening song Venus to Jesus is one to remember because I really enjoyed the voice of Etsuko Yakushimaru and the other song Title nante Jibun de Kangaenasaina is performed by Miyuki Sawashiro or Maria also part of the seiyuu cast, and ending song a bit background on why they living under the bridge as it reveals for every episode.

Arakawa Under the Bridge anime series deserves a great anime recommendation in terms of romantic comedy genre is one of easy to remember and to suggest to anyone. Anime or manga? Anime series is a great start to know the story of Arakawa Under the Bridge but also how things happen and unfolds. It's much easier to watch and enjoy things around when you see some action while enjoying every part of the story. Manga story is also good to read because you want to know more things or what to happen in one part or know more for other characters. Hard choice but I started watching the anime series and decided to read the manga series afterwards because a good romcom story is hard to miss in the first place. Is Arakawa Under the Bridge an overrated anime series? Nope, not at all one of the reasons is that a romcom story is one of favorite genre of most people is not just about the entertainment but also a great entertainment to watch and easy-going story flow is fun to watch most of the things explained as we know Kou is a new member that starts a new life under the bridge where everything felt new for him. Arakawa Under the Bridge is one of the great romantic comedies to watch and a fun story when Kou starts to meet Nino and his life change to enjoy a new life under the bridge.

Information:

Title:

• Arakawa Under the Bridge

• 荒川アンダー ザ ブリッジ

Type: Series (12 episode)

Aired: April 5, 2010 to June 28, 2010
Studio: Shaft

Source Story: Manga

Genre: Comedy, Romance, Seinen

Rating: PG-13 - Teens 13 or older

Song:

Opening:

• “Venus to Jesus (ヴィーナスとジーザス)" by Etsuko Yakushimaru (eps 2-4, 6-13)

• "Title nante Jibun de Kangaenasaina （タイトルなんて自分で考えなさいな)" by Maria (Miyuki Sawashiro) (ep 5)

Ending:
• "Sakasama Bridge (逆様ブリッジ)" by Suneohair

Director: Akiyuki Shinbou

Character and Voice Actor:

• Nino (Maaya, Sakamoto)

• Ichinomiya, Kou (Kamiya, Hiroshi)

• Hoshi (Sugita, Tomokazu)

• Maria (Sawashiro, Miyuki)