What is the weirdest first episode of anime to exist- a question that has surprisingly little relation to NegaPosi Angler episode 1, despite its nature. The problem is that weird isn’t necessarily the correct term to describe this debut with. Surreal? Maybe. Personally, I think ‘out of alignment’ is a better term to describe a suicidal debt-ridden NEET that literally gets hooked into fishing with some random people out on the ocean.
No, really, that’s about all the series explains itself to be. Tsunehiro Sasaki is buried in debt and receives a two year timeline due to a severe cancer diagnosis. A downward spiral ensues that is surprisingly real. Hiro is desperate to live despite his complaints otherwise, but he doesn’t find joy in the chase or freedom of responsibility. He wants to curl up in a corner and pass under the effects of his own anxiety and struggles. He’ll run away from supposed debt collectors (in a very well animated chase sequence), but the result is the same- another step down the stairs to rock bottom. But that’s the point of NegaPosi Angler episode 1- it is sort of in the name, after all.
Flip flopping between the two extremes is just par for the course, and the series does well to illustrate that. Hiro hits rock bottom with the cancer diagnosis? Let him win the big jackpot at Pachinko- but have the debt collectors scare him off before he can claim it. Have him down in the dumps out on the breakwater, but then give him a glimpse as to how fishing can be a positive influence on the time he has left…. and then destroy his apartment and all his belongings. You’d think with flip flopping between such extremes NegaPosi Angler episode 1 would be a bit more… well, extreme. The decision to stick a bit closer to reality though feels like a smart choice though. Because of it, Hiro’s story has some semblance of honesty and truth to it. It’s not the kind of “man loses everything” that you can really laugh at all that openly- but you can still get a chuckle or two out of it.
That humor largely comes from the supporting cast and just how relaxed their personalities are. You get to laugh at some of the interactions, how characters chat with Hiro, even how they end up looking. And that visual appeal comes from first time (lead) character design Hiromi Taniguchi. Hailing from Gainax (during its twilight years), and spending a brief stint with Trigger and some other more expressive studios, Taniguchi brings a lot of personality and flexibility with their designs in NegaPosi Angler episode 1. While yes, there are a great deal of characters with totally different design language (just look at the one debt collector or Ice), Taniguchi does some great work with using hair as a defining feature for their characters. No matter how silly or weird a shape they morph into, that hair is a bright sign that keeps the character together. Additionally, the sort of duck styled mouths that they use for comedic expression are always fun.
One piece (not the anime) that did concern me leading into NegaPosi Angler episode 1 was its production. The PVs did well at selling the personality of the series… but could struggle with really conveying the fact that it would be well done. I wasn’t expecting another Bullbust-er, but I did have my reservations about the quality. Thankfully, Nut proved my concerns to be unfounded (for the time being) as it delivers some consistently impressive animation where possible. Boarded by series director Yutaka Uemura as well as character designer Hiromi Taniguchi, NegaPosi Angler episode 1 sets the visual tone really well for the series. The pair make full use of quite a bit of camera movement to help naturalize the CGI cuts in the episode, and it works well because of the dedication to the use of it. It’s not thrown out as a way to cut corners or save on certain aspects (though it’s a massive help with the fish), and its extended use in certain scenes helps viewers come to that understanding. Though, I would say overall the episode is rather subdued in terms of boarding. However for what they intended, I think it’s a decision that ends up working well. It doesn’t sugarcoat much of anything, but it also doesn’t leave the episode bone dry or struggling to engage the viewer.
If you want to talk across the board good work on the episode though, look no further than art director Kei Ichikura. While not necessarily having the greatest track record, their work with Deca-Dence is a great example of their talent that’s on display with NegaPosi Angler episode 1. Which is rather interesting, given the difference in settings. All the same, Ichikura excels with their cityscapes in the episode, and with the help of incredible color designer Yukiko Kakita, is able to deliver some really great closeups on their environments as well. Just across the board solid work, which has me curious to see how they might factor into an anime that will spend so much time looking out at the water.
At the end of the day, or maybe even the beginning of the morning like Hiro, my perspective on NegaPosi Angler episode 1 is rather different from where I set out. I was always intrigued by how it marries a passion for fishing to Hiro’s life as a way to offer perspective and a way to grow and change, but I really did hold my breath a little on the production. Nut has a very high ceiling when it wants to, and while it’s not (yet) hit that limit, this first episode has shown that they’ll be aiming rather high with the series. So yes, I’m very much looking forward to where this series will go- as well as getting more of Fairouz Ai as a lead character.
Leave a Reply