Umi Monogatari - Sea Story... is a story about Marin, Urin, and Kanon. How they become friends and triumph over an evil being named Sedna.
With that being said, the first few episodes hold some promise but after episode 3 the story develops really really slowly.
Animation - Average...
What can I say about the animation? The character models look nice, I liked Kanon the most out of the trio of girls. While the animation was fluid and the lines looked good, there was something lacking. It is 2009, this animation is just average... at best. While a few years ago it would have been spectacular... it isn't a few years ago.
There are quite a few recycled scenes that you do notice. Especially when Kanon and Marin transform into the magical Shrine Maidens. Which is oddly reminiscent of Sailor Moon in my opinion. The girls are naked during the transformation, while they don't strip prior... then the scene has some glowy flashy lights that wrap around their bodies and magically become their outfits.
Sound - Eh... get closer to the microphone
I watched the OP and ED on the first episode, which was so-so. The rest of the series they were skipped, the background music was there and at times you'll question why the music that is playing was chosen. There are quite a few scenes near the end that are on the sad side, but the music was on the cheery side and upbeat, like it was trying to make the scene happy when all the characters are crying, and not happy crying.
My biggest problem with the sound was the frequency of the seiyuu's distance with the microphone. There are a few scenes where the characters are supposed to be yelling, yet it sounds like they were standing across the room or in a room over. There was more than one occasion that I had to turn up the volume to hear what was being said then to have my ear drums nearly burst because it suddenly gets loud again.
Story - One of the weakest aspects
The story revolves around Marin and Kanon. There are a few side characters, but it is mostly those two that are the focus, occasionally Marin's sister, Urin, is the spotlight.
Marin and Urin are two sisters that live in the sea, like mermaids without tails. One day while they are swimming around, Marin finds a pretty ring and decides to go to the land of the sky dwellers and return the ring to its lost owner. However, Urin doesn't want to go because there are nasty rumors about the sky dwellers being cruel people to the sea people. That once you go up to the sky, you'll never return to the sea.
However that isn't enough to deter Marin and she persuades Urin to let her go. Urin allows her on the condition that she can go as well. Skipping some boring details, Marin and Urin find the owner of the ring and return it to her. A sudden thunderstorm appears and scars Urin who is seperated at the time, resulting in Marin and the ring owner, Kanon, to go look for her. Urin accidentally stumbles upon this shrine and hears a voice, which she breaks the seal on a large tomb, releasing half the evil being known as Sedna. Marin and Kanon eventually find Urin and it is revealed that Marin and Kanon are the Sea and Sky Shrine Maidens and they are tasked with the duty of resealing Sedna in the tomb before she can plunge the world into darkness.
Very few things happen of the course of the next 8 episodes, some minor character development, some predictable things happen and then the story ends...
While the concept is a new one to me, the execution leaves a lot to be desired. This could have easily been a great story, but due to it unfolding so slowly mixed with a fair amount of predictability ultimately plunges Umi Monogatari into mediocrity.
Character Development - Wha... What character development?
Even if the story was lacking and poorly explained/developed. Some decent character developed could have been the savior to this show. But it came down to some minor character development, shallow romances and poorly explained history/antics over power any chance at decent character development.
Marin - Marin is the Sea Shrine Maiden. She is pure hearted and loves everyone. She has good intentions and doesn't want to see anyone sad or in a fight. Over the course of the show you learn that she loves her sister, Urin, very much and doesn't want anything bad to happen to anyone, regardless of what they may or may not have done to her.
Urin - Urin is Marin's sister. She is a young girl and is jealous of other people that detract Marins attention away from herself. She is the one responsible for the release of Sedna and through some rather original, yet predictable plot developments she comes to the realization that Marin will always love her, no matter what happens or who receives Marin's attention.
Kanon - Kanon is the Sky Shrine Maiden. She is a loner and constantly pegged as having an evil aura. She only has one friend before Marin's arrival, even though she has a boyfriend, she questions whether or not he truly loves her and is waiting for the moment when he dumps her and distances himself from her. Over the course of the show she learns that she is liked more than she thinks she is as well as dealing with and accepting the feelings in her heart.
Sedna - She is the "villian" of the show. But of the course of the show, it comes to light that she really isn't as evil as she seems and that the legends passed down through the Shrine Maidens by the old talking sea turtle are really huge misunderstandings.
Value + Enjoyment - Not much gained after watching this
Even though it is only 12 episodes, the rather slow pace of the show really makes it seem longer. While there is no deep story to mull over in your mind after watching this, it is a rather cute show with some good looking characters. There could have been a lot done to improve the show and raise the ratings but ultimately those ratings are just personal opinions.
I did enjoy aspects of the show and there were a few surprises revealled near the end. Would I burn it to a DVD? No. Would I rewatch it? Not any time soon.
