It’s not hyperbole to say anime and the outdoors removed the noose from my neck. I’ve never been content with life for reasons I can’t figure out. Regardless of my achievements or the love I receive, there’s an emptiness in me that I’ve always struggled to fill. Much of my life has felt rather colorless. And I’m confident that’s how it would have remained were it not for two things: watching D-Frag and hooking my first tarpon. Those two things brought happiness into my life that I long thought was unattainable. To me, anime and fishing are what colonization was to the British Empire. So, whenever there’s a fishing anime, my excitement is through the roof, and that was the case with NegaPosi Angler (Negative Positive Angler).
What’s Negative Positive Angler About?
The show tells the story of Tsunehiro “Hiro” Sasaki, a college student who’s heavily in debt, depressed, and dealing with a terminal illness. Realizing that life sucks and it’s going to suck even more, Hiro decides to opt out of life. But his suicide attempt doesn’t quite go that way. While he doesn’t attempt to end his life again, his problems are far from solved. And to make matters worse, loan sharks come to collect his debts. In desperation, Hiro panics and runs away. In the process, he falls into a bay where he’s rescued by a group of anglers who welcome him along and protect him.
Unfortunately for Hiro, right when it seems his luck is turning, life tells him to suck it. When he returns home, he’s greeted by a demolished apartment. Luckily for him, one of the anglers (Takaaki) who rescued him decides to give him another go at life. And he hooks Hiro up with a job, a place to crash, and a debt payment plan. As Hiro integrates into the motley crew of anglers he now works with, he slowly welcomes excitement back into his life through fishing.
Why You Should Watch NegaPosi Angler (Time to Ra-ra-ra-ra-raramble!)
As a diehard angler, one of the most common questions people ask me is, “How/why is fishing fun?” That’s never a question I answer truthfully, or at least not anymore. I noticed long ago that telling people I got into it because of depression and suicidal ideation quickly sours a conversation. But, as I’ve wandered through the world of sport fishing, I realized it’s a refuge for the brokenhearted. I always joke that the sport fishing industry would terminate 90% of its workforce overnight if they administered drug and psychological tests. It attracts people who need peace in their lives. It’s not about fun. It’s about centering yourself. Nature heals. There are mountains of evidence to back that statement.
While that’s a lovely sentiment, it’s one hard to capture. The only time I’ve ever seen the feeling depicted clearly in any fishing show (anime or not) was in Slow Loop. Even the renowned Jeremy Wade complained about this in his River Monsters book, stating that it’s impossible to capture the excitement and turmoil coming from fishing. NegaPosi Angler does an eloquent job of conveying this excitement through Hiro. Fishing is not a pressing need or want of his. Instead, little by little, it’s angling that’s exciting him and giving him new opportunities. His growth is a long haul, and that makes it so believable. Hiro is still struggling with his demons five episodes into the anime. His foray into angling wasn’t a quick fix for his issue (like it wasn’t for the rest of us).
Slice-of-life shows usually promote healing, but we witness someone here live through the healing process. And the character’s journey isn’t fast-tracked. There are minor wins and major stumbles, and that’s usually the process.
NegaPosi Angler Production Values and Cast Interaction
I have a complaint about this show: Studio Nut’s art style is sometimes jarring. It’s too sporadic. And as much as I hate to say it, some characters are visually unappealing. If I wanted to see questionable-looking people fish, I’d go fishing with my friends. Having the art go from stunning vistas to plastic-looking fish is disheartening, though I admit that it does little to distract one from the story.
That complaint aside, at least Kozue and Hana are cute. Their mannerisms are loveable, too, especially Hana whenever she’s gushing over lures or gear (something I often do to myself). The store manager in which Hiro ends up working is a diehard fishing addict who always plays hooky fish. I mention this because if you’re in the sport fishing community, you’ll run into people like this. The show knows its target audience.
The power of friendship thrives in this show, but it’s never in your face. Hiro and Takaaki flawlessly execute their budding friendship. The cast gives each other enough space while being accepting and encouraging of those around them, and that’s a satisfying touch. Even Takaaki, who’s housing and helping Hiro, takes a relaxed but firm approach with him. The voice cast has been doing this original production justice (but I say that about anything with Ai Fairouz). Though seriously, the cadences and tones in conversations are easy to pick up. So is everyone’s hidden excitement or doubt, which isn’t especially easy to accomplish.
Fishing and Overall Comments
The show’s explanation of fishing gear is, for the most part, well done. Hardcore anglers will find things to complain about, but it’s good enough to satisfy beginner and veteran fishermen. That’s not to say that there isn’t room for improvement. The show hasn’t appropriately explained topics like reel size, line test, and rod action, which is a massive (and expensive) disservice to new anglers. So, I’m hoping we get these explanations before the show’s conclusion. Letting people buy a reel without knowledge about size and line capacity is a bad idea.
As this show starts with a suicide attempt, most would assume it is drama-heavy, but that’s not the case. Even though Hiro is deep in depression and dealing with a terminal illness, he’s slightly centered throughout the show. And that may seem like a questionable decision, but I’d argue it’s perfect. Many people appear perfectly fine or seem to be managing well before they end it all, and this is something that more people need to understand. For anyone who’s dealt with the topic of depression, this show is undeniably relatable. That said, if you’re looking for a good fishing show and one that paints a proper picture of why so many people love the pastime, NegaPosi Angler is for you. It’s streaming on Crunchyroll, so be sure to check it out.
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