So yes, this is heavy. The most emotionally charged film I’ve witnessed since ‘A Silent Voice’, and how apropos that this astonishing narrative was penned by the exact same lead screenwriter. Ride Your Wave immediately held promise, from Yuasa’s involvement from its early production phase. The director delivered an abstract in the Netflix original Devilman Crybaby, that has yet to be matched in terms of its dedicated genre. The juxtaposition totally lies in that series being a depiction of such a trip, but this romedy/drama shows fantasy in such a touching light that exudes charm. I knew that I was in for something special seeing the magnificence within its sleek animation, and beautiful environments. There’s something about Anime being able to depict flowing environmental with natural capabilities. It’s astounding, if anything magical and this film demonstrates it based purely on its premise alone. Really, it has to; It’s a key focal point of the entire presentation.

Merit Leighton and Joey Richter both portray our main characters respectively, with such charisma. I was so encapsulated by their appealing disposition, that at one point I forgot that I was watching an animated movie. For a film of such magnitude, casting two newcomers to the scene was totally fortuitous. I was of the expectation that the film may have enlisted someone of the likes of Erika Harlacher, or Laura Post, but Leighton’s range shined, ultimately setting Hinako’s personality as the entire feature’s resolve. Her ability to captivate viewers with the character’s charisma, finding peace amongst the pandemonium, the struggles of closure and mental well-being are highlighted here and it’s all due to this wonderful cast,and their vocal backings that make it a gold standard.

The film itself delivers a circle-of-life nuance that details how everything that’s important to a person may disappear in the blink of an eye. There’s only three things we’re guaranteed in life; you’re born, you live, you die. Was this film designed as an attack on emotion? On personality? On human nature itself? Yes, in every sense of the aforementioned labels. It’s thought provoking in everyway, challenging your own feelings towards connection, love, mourning, healing, resolve and closure. Every facet is given it’s own arc within this narrative. Some quirk in-between to break the monotony and gloom, with comical relief that was appreciated and landed on every beat. Never once did I feel out of place watching the film. It had be glued to my screen from beginning to end. Ride Your Wave is an emotional trip, an absolute journey through every state of mind imaginable, and a story I’ll be dissecting for years to come.