Before anything else, let’s first discuss this anime at face value. Forget about the plot, characters, and the pacing for a moment and focus on the art and music. We’re doing this simply because this anime’s artistic elements deserve that much attention. The art is breathtaking. From the design to the color palette, there’s nothing to fault it with. However, our favorite is the opening sequence. Each frame of the first cour’s opening is a piece of art. It’s vibrant, pretty, and gives the exact vibe the anime is going for. While that is our favorite, the other opening and both endings don’t fall far behind. Also, there’s the music. Each song matches the anime’s melancholic mood and calming art. It’s one of the series that we just can’t skip any of the OP or ED. Yes, they are that good.

Now that we’ve got that off our chest, let’s talk about the anime’s pacing. This is a slow-burn slice of life series that highlights the characters’ relationships and development, and it definitely delivered. It may have taken its time telling the story, but it never felt stretched out. In fact, there are even a few occasions wherein the scenario could’ve been expounded more. Nevertheless, its slow pace complimented its melodrama really well. This also allotted time for the viewers to empathize with the characters. Of course, the fact that the characters are very relatable to begin with also contributed to that.

At first glance, it seems like The Aquatope on White Sand is one of those chill slice-of-life anime, and we’re fine with that. However, the anime definitely proved us wrong. The reality is that it takes us on an emotional journey. From Fuuka’s point of view, we experience the gravity of failure and the harshness of losing a life-long battle. Even so, that doesn’t mean it’s over. We’ve seen how Fuuka managed to regain herself after discovering Gama Gama Aquarium and meeting Kukuru. She’s discovered something that she not only wants to do but also a place where she belongs. It may not even be an exaggeration to say that she’s essentially experienced a rebirth of sorts.

From Kukuru’s journey, we witness the transition of a young girl into a full-fledged adult. Kukuru realized from her experiences that passion alone won’t make her dreams come true. Even though she’s arguably one of the greatest protectors of Gama Gama Aquarium, she’s still too inexperienced and naive to save the aquarium on her own. Similar to Fuuka, that isn’t the end of it. Her experiences working for Tingarla Aquarium have pushed her to become a better person and aquarium personnel. Even though she’s changed the way she cares for marine life, her passion for it never disappeared.