REVIEW: ‘Ride Your Wave’
Image: Ride Your Way is the latest Masaaki Yuasa film to make it to the United States. Image courtesy of G Kids / Provided with permission.
Director Masaaki Yuasa’s new movie, Ride Your Wave, is a tender two-hander that follows a young woman and young man as they navigate a difficult relationship that is cut too short. The anime movie, which comes to 500+ movie theaters Wednesday, Feb. 19, is one to enjoy mostly because of Yuasa’s mesmerizing animation skills, especially when he depicts the many diverse forms of water, whether the crest of a surfing wave or the ripples found in a cup of coffee.
Hinako (voiced by Rina Kawaei) is the main character of the 95-minute film. She is new in town and loves to surf, according to the film’s official summary, and she heads out into the breaking waves any chance she gets. But after a devastating fire almost takes her life at her apartment building, Hinako meets local firefighter and aspiring surfer Minato (voiced by Ryota Katayose, lead singer of the vocal group Generations from Exile Tribe). The two hit it off almost immediately and have several nice scenes of puppy-dog love, young awkwardness and genuine kindness.
Tragedy then strikes, and the final hour of the film deals with the consequences of this loss. Spoiler alert: Minato dies in a surfing accident, and Hinako feels guilty that the sport she loves so much killed someone so innocent and new to the joys of surfing.
But … all is not lost.
Soon enough Minato appears to Hinako in water form. That’s right, his ghostly image — still cool and still kind — pops up in anything liquid, so Hinako is able to talk to him as if they were still dating and had a whole life ahead of them. The problem is that the friends in Hinako’s life think she has gone off the deep end, and they don’t know why she keeps talking into her cup of water or carrying around an inflatable whale.
The premise for Ride Your Wave is original, fun and easy to follow, and for the most part it’s accessible to children and families. Much of this is a credit to Reiko Yoshida’s script. There’s some kissing and talk of love, but nothing too bad. In fact, the movie is being released under the banner of both Fathom Events and G Kids, so it comes with a stamp of approval.
Beyond the premise, the movie is simply a joy to watch because of its visuals by the director’s animation production studio, Science Saru.. The characters are finely and creatively drawn, and Yuasa is able to find interesting perspectives for the audience to watch the action (similar to his Lu Over the Wall and DEVILMAN crybaby). There are perhaps no more beautiful sequences than the surf scenes, with the sun casting different colors on the moving water, and the waves tumbling in such artistic display. Surfers should dig this movie for sure.
Ride Your Wave, featuring music by Michiru Oshima, is not earth-shatteringly different than other anime love stories, but what it’s able to accomplish with its two central characters is tender, poignant and refreshingly positive.
Plus, there’s a catchy song called “Brand New Story” by Generations from Exile Tribe that is sampled throughout the narrative and prominently displayed during the credits — meaning one would be hard-pressed to leave a screening without a big ol’ smile on the face.
By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com
Ride Your Wave (2019). Directed by Masaaki Yuasa. Running time: 95 minutes. Playing Feb. 19 in 500+ theaters thanks to Fathom Events and G Kids. Click here for more information and tickets. Rating: 
