Slow Loop

Slow Loop is not the first anime series about fishing I have seen so far, and it is decidedly not the first anime series about cute little girls engaged in some kind of activity, so I have material to compare it to. I was not much impressed with the first episode, although I saw some similarities to the Laid-Back Camp anime series in the style of introducing Koharu and Hiyori. In addition, the family storyline (about the half-sisters) felt out of place. It seemed like most other romantic dramas or comedies, which are not very good and full of hackneyed tropes I have already watched a million times. Luckily, Slow Loop is not about the love story. There is certainly no drama; it is dedicated to building a genuine sisterly relationship, letting cute girls do cute things, and educating the viewer about fishing and cooking. The way this show’s creators mix things does not always work and seem to fight each other for adequate screen time. Some parts appear to be relaxing, although the girls will suddenly start explaining in detail something related to fishing. This creates a “jump” from relaxing scenes to scenes of cooking, so the mood changes quickly. Fortunately, I think everything worked out well. Cooking whets the appetite and inspiration. Fishing is demonstrative and informative, with the ability to capture most things about it that a person can enjoy. The interaction between the girls is sweet and sometimes entertaining. Family relationships are also built slowly and charmingly. However, it jumps around a bit, so it does not feel so natural. I wonder if there is too much going on for one anime series (and each episode). Therefore, I cannot work out what the anime's creators primarily wanted to focus on and what was the main idea behind this anime series. If I take the aforementioned Laid-Back Camp, the most important thing is camping and the experiences it brings. They throw out a lot of advice and demonstrations, even though the experiences help you tune in to the pleasant vibe of the show. Even the likes of Diary of Our Days at the Breakwater, which is also about fishing, were much easier to watch and ultimately a slightly more enjoyable and entertaining show. The truth is that Slow Loop concentrates more on fishing facts and the cooking aspect. However, that might only be my problem, because I guess I prefer it when a show is about an experience rather than knowledge and has a clear main concept that the rest of the show is built around. Still, it was an enjoyable anime series; the girls were fine; I liked the animation and the soundtrack. So while the jury is still out on this anime series, I wonder how much of it I will remember. There is one thing I am sure of: the final rating expresses how much I enjoyed the whole thing - 6.6/10. (25.03.2022)