Since childhood, Hiyori Yamakawa has witnessed her father's various eccentricities, but one activity she has always loved doing with him is fly fishing—a complicated yet rewarding method of catching fish. Even after his sudden death, Hiyori still visits the seaside in her spare time, savoring the joy that her father's memento brings her.
Three years later, Hiyori's mother decides to remarry and arranges a dinner with her fiancé, his daughter, and Hiyori to celebrate. Anxious and wanting to pass the time, Hiyori goes to her usual fishing spot when a rather energetic girl named Koharu Minagi suddenly appears before her. The two soon become acquainted, with Koharu taking an interest in fly fishing herself. However, their meeting is more than just a coincidence: Koharu turns out to be Hiyori's future stepsibling, which is only the beginning of treasured memories the both of them will reel in as they foster their sisterhood.
[Written by MAL Rewrite]
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Comentários
TheRockzSG
Slow Loop at the surface looks like a typical moe SoL anime where the only selling point is the character is cute. A carbon-copy moe SoL anime where the only difference is the character design and the activity they focus on. However, I was proven otherwise after the first few episodes. Slow Loop did not attempt to copy from moe anime but instead created its own identity. If I want to summarize the whole anime, I will say that it takes the good part of Laid-Back Camp (Yuru Camp) and Dairy of Our Days at the Breakwater (Houkago Teibou Nisshi) and combine it into thismasterpiece.
======SPOILER AHEAD======
The anime starts when Hiyori and Koharu become a step-sister after their parents re-married. The sister learned that they have a common hobby in fishing. After every episode, you can see the subtle character development of Hiyori and Koharu.
Hiyori is an introvert, who hates social interaction. To the point where she intentionally makes her unsociable. While Koharu is an extrovert who can make friends with ease. I was expecting a clash between personalities where Hiyori rejects Koharu or goes tsundere. However, instead of that, Hiyori embraces Koharu to the best of her ability.
You can see the character development after a few episodes. Hiyori is more open to conversation and takes the role of a mentor for Koharu and Aiko. Meanwhile, Koharu becomes more reserved while slowly becoming better with fishing. Thru fishing, Hiyori and Koharu slowly become closer and closer to each other. To the point where they are inseparable and behave like sisters than strangers.
Supporting characters like Koi and Aiko have some character development as well. Koi at the start hates fishing due to her dad's obsession with fishing, but progressively warms up to the idea of fishing. For Aiko, she was unsure about fishing because she felt it is a hobby for boys and girls should not participate in that. To now she openly embrace fishing and even introduced fishing to her friend. These character developments are slow, organic, and natural. Which makes Slow Loop stands out from other moe SoL.
======SPOILER ENDS======
Slow Loop has a relaxing and comfy atmosphere. Similar to what we experienced in Laid-Back Camp. There is some conflict and drama. However, those conflicts are minor and insignificant and they do not affect the atmosphere that the show wants to create.
While you are relaxing, the anime slowly spoon-feeds you the fishing technics and tips. Sometimes, the show will switch to Koharu's Cooking Time where it teaches you how to process the fish and make them into a delicious meal. Diary of Our Days at the Breakwater did have similar segments but Slow Loop executes the concept better.
I enjoyed Slow Loop from start to finish. So I will be giving it a 9. This is one of the better CGDCT anime I have watched. A must-watch if you love SoL anime or something to relax with.
TLDR:
Slow Loop is a mix of Laid-Back Camp (Yuru Camp) and Dairy of Our Days at the Breakwater (Houkago Teibou Nisshi). It has the relaxing and comfy atmosphere like Laid-Back Camp. While teaching the viewers the fishing technics like Dairy of Our Days at the Breakwater. I enjoy this anime from start to finish and it deserves a very strong 9.
Story: 8/10
Art: 9/10
Sound: 9/10
Character: 9/10
Enjoyment: 10/10
Overall: 45/50 (9.0)
ACasualViewer
As a fisher who still occasionally fishes and given that some of my fondest memories growing up were fishing trips with my family and friends, I had surprisingly high expectations for what initially appeared as a generic CGDCT and SOL anime. Slow Loop managed to not only match my expectations but genuinely surpass them in terms of how well researched the series is and how effectively they covered the hobby. This review will provide a quick summary on why I enjoyed Slow Loop and what aspects were covered well. In terms of story, Slow Loop is fairly basic, similar to most CGDCT anime, 2 girls, hadsingle parents that got remarried together, which turned them into sisters. It turns out one of the girls enjoys fishing and the other girl gets into it through her. Functionally this is the story, there are some other aspects but most of it falls under characterization that is developed during fishing trips and general bonding through living together. As long as the characters mesh well, then the story is typically good enough for this type of series. Still since I do try to be objective in reviews, the most this story can get is a 6/10 since its very bare bones and even the execution feels rather basic and overly simplified half the time.
In terms of art, the character designs really remind me of Is the Order a Rabbit? Everyone, including the adults, look a bit underdeveloped and flat, but this low detail art suits a SOL series fairly well. Overall, the girls do have a nice cutesy look, although the animation and background art leaves a lot to be desired. I do enjoy how the fish are handled and how preparing fish kept all the blood and made it the process look more realistic with the organs and such, definitely some plus points for accuracy.
What really appeals about this anime is the accuracy in terms of fishing as a hobby, the show properly explains fly fishing including the various styles and techniques, this was all researched very well. The segments where Hiyori explains to Koharu how certain techniques are exercised are very good, the instruction quality is the same as you would receive in real life and the beginner mistakes are conveyed accurately. In addition, the cooking segments were nice as well, from preparing the fish after catching to properly cleaning them out and seasoning them, Slow Loop actually goes into detail on this topic beyond a superficial lens like many other hobbyist anime do.
Overall, I would give Slow Loop a 7 out of 10, its story is a bit weak and art style a bit basic, frankly the audio isn’t even worth discussing, however the characters mesh well and the actual hobby they focus on is very well researched and explained in an interesting and effective manner. This anime is definitely one that is unlikely to be worth watching outside of the season it aired in, unless you really like fishing, but it’s not bad to watch on a weekly basis.
nienai
Depending on what genres of anime you watch, Winter 2022 may or may not have been a good anime season for you. For me it wasn't, with 2 of the 3 seasonal animes I watched getting dropped. However, the last seasonal would prove to be a masterpiece in my opinion. That anime is Slow Loop, and in my opinion, is very underrated (even being overshadowed by Winter 2022's other CGDCT, Akebi). Story - 10/10 Slow Loop's summary gives you the idea that it's a fishing anime, and that is true to an extent. However, family plays a key role in the story itself. Throughout the anime, wesee the characters dealing issues regarding their family, be it Hiyori and Koharu, Koi and her parents, or Ichika and Futaba. The drama moments, blended in with the comedic moments found in a lot of CGDCT, makes for an anime that can make you laugh, and make you cry. Slow Loop also looks into the backstories of each characters, and how it shaped who they are. The anime's tagline: "connected by fishing line, the loop of family" really makes sense here.
Art - 7/10
With slice of life in general, art isn't something that is a high priority. Connect's animation doesn't match the heights that Silver Link hit with Non Non Biyori or say Doga Kobo hit with Koisuru Asteroid. However, to heavily focus on the art would be missing the point of the anime.
Characters - 9/10
Slow Loop shines strongly in this aspect, with Hiyori's and Koharu's dynamic being strongly reminiscent of character dynamics like Rin/Nadeshiko (Yuru Camp) or Ao/Mira (Koisuru Asteroid). Koi's character is quite unique, and really adds some uniqueness to this anime (a character who has a dislike towards to the main interest of the show for good reasons is quite rare). Slow Loop also does avoid a pitfall of CGDCTs by adding a decent number of recurring male characters. Hiyori's character development was good, as she looks to deal with the grief of losing her father. Koi has multiple sides shown to her, improving on her already well-written character. Koharu delivers many of the show's good gags, through their faces and jokes, making Slow Loop extremely enjoyable.
Sound - 9/10
Slow Loop's OP (Yajirushi) and ED (Shuwa Shuwa) are both quite enjoyable to listen to. Along with that, it has great background music, being composed by Takurō Iga, who also worked on Koisuru Asteroid's OST.
(Note that for Yaijurshi, both Kiyono Yasuno and Nao Touyama sang it)
Enjoyment - 10/10
Slow Loop in my opinion is very enjoyable. The educational bits are pretty nice, and don't feel like boring monologues (and is a nice addition to the series itself). The show's dramatic bits are nice, and really show the theme of family. These 2 elements combined really reminds me of 2 of my favourite anime: Hanayamata and Koisuru Asteroid, along with the show already giving off strong Yuru Camp vibes.
Overall - 10/10
If you are fan of Koisuru Asteroid, this show is definitely for you, as they are very similar in my opinion. In general, I would say this show is definitely worth a watch for CGDCT fans, as it also has strong Yuru Camp vibes. Slow Loop in my opinion is the sleeper hit of winter 2022, avoiding a lot of the tropes of CGDCT, and exploring the topics of family in a way that's not commonly seen in slice of life.
_slowdiver
I like slice of shows. It's what I watch quite often. But this is the first one that I've watched where I was really bored. The show repeats the same formula for every episode. They go fishing, there's some tidbits about fishing technique and equipment. I have no problems with that. Problem is that the characters seem to not vary their reactions much than just be the token bubbly/reserved/sarcastic characters that I've seen quite often. And everyone else outside of Koharu, Hiyori, and Koi are just one-dimensional. I was hoping the show would add something more on top of Hiyori's loss to add more depth... Butit doesn't.
It had some good touching moments here and there.
But not enough to break the monotony that made the show drag on and made me wish it would be over already...
Dontsweattt
Slow Loop on the surface looks like a pretty simple cute girls do fishing anime, and while it does that, it also covers a topic near and dear to my heart and that is the loss of family member and finding happiness in the activates you spent together. Spoilers ahead Story: I felt the story did a great job and bringing in the emotional moments of losing a family member and mixing the fun of fishing/camping/cooking. I know a lot of people turn to SoL for good vibes aspect of this genre, the mix of the serious and fun felt right to me. The cooking aspects of theshow were a lot of fun as well. Simple recipes for preparing fish and side dishes were a great touch to a show like this.
Characters:
The main character Hiyori loses her father and her mother remarries and low an behold, she gains an upbeat and comedic step sister. The dynamitic of these two was very Rin & Nadeshiko-esk from Laid Back Camp. Straight laced big sister and over the top little sister. It was a lot of fun seeing these two interact on screen, nothing groundbreaking, but an overall good time.
Sound:
OST was nice. Not LBC levels but the omniance of the mood was set and was fitting.
Animation:
It was fine. I am not really looking to get blown away by a show like this in terms of visuals but in no way was it appalling.
Enjoyment:
I watched this week to week and was the first show I sought after on Friday's. Its nice going into the week on good vibes and a smile on my face.
Overall:
If you a SoL junkie like I am, Slow Loop is treat. Loved the mix of fun, fishing, cooking and sometimes pretty hard hitting emotions, especially for someone like me. I think the show is a solid 8/10 and would recommend it to a lot of people looking for something to relax too and have fun.
ren0080
I like this more grounded slice of life CGDCT compared to the usual yuri-bait CGDCT animes. There's this satisfaction when the girls are actually talking with their parents and getting permission for everything they wanna do. It just feels so realistic and there's this feeling of growth from the characters that we see from the perspective of the parents (like how they see their children going to their own adventure, that kind of feeling). The story is as expected from a CGDCT anime. Average. The only plot thread that was fairly important is the MC's father. Other than that, there's no stand out in the plot. Thecharacters are all good. They don't excel in any areas nor lacked anything. I quite like how each characters grow in each scenes, which shows progression to the series and development for them. They aren't particularly memorable, but the time I have watching them is something that I won't forget... probably lol
The animation is pretty standard. It's better than most anime out right now, but comparing it to some of the CGDCT animes in the past... well, it's not really excellent if you think about it. One thing I like though is how consistent the art is. It's great stuff.
The music is nothing out of ordinary. I like the OP and ED, as well as the ost. But there aren't any time where the ost blows me away. The op and ed grew on me, but that's really about it.
Overall, a great show this season and definitely stands out as one of the better anime in the CGDCT genre.
84DaysWithout
Conceptually, Slow Loop is about using a cherished pastime to overcome grief and build close friendships. You may not know a single thing about fly fishing going in (I sure did not), but we can all understand the desire to partake in a fun hobby and seek the company of others who are mutually passionate. There are approximately five million SOL anime that execute this very same concept, but this one is at least slightly better than average in that it is legitimately educational about its subject matter and creates likable characters with relatable conflicts. It also fails in some key ways that keep itfrom being a “great” SOL, primarily the uninspiring artwork in a setting that is more often than not outdoors, but you kind of have to take what you can get in the most regurgitated genre in the medium.
First, lets elaborate more on the positive - Slow Loop does a fine job of making the audience understand the nuances and joys of fishing. You go out on a boat or sit by a shore surrounded by nothing but the natural world, free from all technological obsessions and urban concerns. Just man, a rod, and aquatic wildlife. The lead characters Hiyori and Koharu have dealt with immense hardship in their young lives related to the tragic passing of loved ones, but those concerns are eased gradually as they’re connected with nature and grow closer to the friends that surround them. This presents a wholesome message about how no matter the tragedy, you can seek happiness and heal your sorrow with the company of companions over time. There’s also a lot of effort to detail the theory of fishing in terms of effective techniques, equipment and routines. So much so that if a viewer decided to take up fishing, they would be able to do so using the knowledge gained from the episodes.
On the other hand, the production values are bad all around. Not just in terms of animation - there is a profuse use of panning shots during fishing expeditions, but the background art is very bland. There are many instances where the detailed character models appear jarringly out of place compared to the ironically static nature that surround them. As a result Slow Loop fails to make one feel immersed into the outdoors as I'm sure its intention was to do. This extends to the texture of the dishes as well - there are few times in this show that something was prepared that made me salivate at the idea of eating it.
Perhaps its a bit unfair to harp too much on this point though - this was not some highly anticipated, heavily advertised show. Those who chose to watch Slow Loop likely will have their expectations exceeded. There was just potential here to be something great if the artwork were better. My score of a six may seem to imply this show is bad, but I mean it to describe a show that has enough positives to at least be worth watching and perhaps enjoyed by niche communities. This may perhaps be you if you fancy the premise of cute girls fishing and bonding over time.
OG_Otaku
Slow Loop is a niche anime that fits in a number of niches. Slow Loop is the perfect series for: -Lovers of Slice of Life, Iyashikei, and CGDCT -Gourmets or foodies who want to learn how to cook various fish -Fans of educational anime and anime geared towards children and adolescents -Kids and teens and the young-at-heart -Anglers from stream to seashore, lake to ocean -Anyone who has lost a parent or loved one -Members of blended families and families with second marriages -Girls who fish or have hobbies that are typically thought of as boys' activities Slow Loop is as wholesome as it gets. There is no romance except maybe a couple ofmarried couples serving as healthy role models for how to adapt and compromise to keep a marriage healthy. There is a red-headed, beer drinking, sexy tomboy with a tan who seems to move from anime to anime. And I'm sure there are those who are shipping her with her best buddy the short-haired blond who hunts and fishes. But really, the show is as wholesome as Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood.
The only flaw I can catch is that the ending was a little rushed, but that is typical of anime studios trying to cram in one last Iyashikei moment while the end credits are rolling. They needed just 3 more minutes.
10/10 and Highly Recommended.
Crimson-Rosella
This is a standalone review of the anime adaptation. The original material is beyond the scope of this review and is not a factor for consideration. Story: The overarching story of Hiyori and Koharu overcoming the awkwardness of their new family dynamics is executed fairly well. The episodic nature of the show naturally meant that certain episodes stand out more than others, depending on one's tastes, but objectively speaking every story arc was written and executed very well. The final episode felt a little bit lacking: the writer(s) clearly wanted to make the climax of the final arc a character scene between the two main charactersbut it lacked the "oomph" needed to make the final payoff feel complete. As it stands, the end of the final episode feels more like the end of a regular episode than the end of the show.
Character: The characters were the absolute heart and soul of the show and it was great to see all of them get at least a little bit of development. The focus on family and the fact that even the parents got some screen time and character development is a rarity in the medium and an absolute delight to see. Character interactions are well-executed and charming to watch. Dialogue is fluid and well-written.
Visual: The animation was perfectly serviceable and never dipped below an acceptable bar of quality. The small number of high-quality still frames scattered throughout each episode really help to bring out the show's motif of photographs and the memories they contain. The character designs are good but, unfortunately, they suffer from 'same face syndrome' in that all the facial features of the main girls are virtually identical.
Audio: The music, voice acting (Japanese), and sound design were all splendid. All of the soundtracks were generally above average, though there were no standout tracks. Both the opening and ending songs are enjoyable, but neither is objectively exceptional in their own right. The sound effects were solid and did their jobs well. The (Japanese) voice acting was also well done, with a commendable first-time main role performance by Kusumi Rin as Minagi/Yamakawa Hiyori.
Enjoyment: Slow Loop is among my favourite shows of the year and one of my favourite slice-of-life shows ever. Almost every episode managed to click with me and I loved all of the characters, main and support. The character designs are very cute and the visual and sound design create a perfectly relaxing atmosphere. Both the opening theme and the ending theme are among my favourite anime soundtracks of all time. I especially love the ending theme - hearing the three main voice actresses singing the ending theme for the show is an absolute treat.
Objective Score Breakdown:
[2/3] Story
[3/3] Character
[1/2] Visual
[2/2] Audio
Final score of 8 out of 10.
Subjective Score Breakdown:
[3/4] Story
[4/4] Character
[4/4] Visual
[4/4] Audio
[4/4] Enjoyment
Final score of 19 out of 20.
ExCluSin90
Slow Loop or Family Loop? Is fishing a good activity to do together? One of the CGDCT genres that stand out in the story of cute characters. The designs and lines from the manga are good. When it was converted into an anime more cuter From director Noriaki Akitaya, who previously directed Ms. vampire who lives in my neighborhood. (2018) and ORESUKI Are you the only one who loves me? (2019), during this time he mainly focuses on the life style. daily And it counts on Slow Loop as well. The story tells about Hiyori's passion for fishing. Until one day her father passed away. and the motherhas decided to live with the new father As a result, she has come to live with a similar-age girl named Koharu. She has no knowledge of fishing at all. But when she saw hiyori's fun, she wanted to be good at fishing. and wanting to be closer to her
however The plot is quite standard, especially the CGDCT genre, so it can be said that it is not very special. To give an example, it's a presentation about acceptance of what you like. which is the way to solve the problem which makes the story a bit ordinary Or even family relationship issues as well. The pacing part looks a bit too fast because of the dialogue.
Teaching fishing, cooking, and selling Japanese tourist spots is good.
Character design, line art, Studio Connect has adapted the line to respect the original manga very well. It looks cute, bright, fascinating, using images to teach both fishings. And the cooking came out looking good.
In summary, Slow Loop is one of the bog-standard CGDCT. But at least the character designs are outstandingly cute. and intensive fishing education Or including the successful sales of Japanese tourist attractions?
Naneo
This is a slow paced Slice of Life anime. You will experience how it feel to be a hardcore fishing fan. You will also know one or two info about fishing technique, fishing gear, and fishing place. They also explain what kind of fish they catch and how to cook it. However i do not reccomend following their recipe on how to cook this, because they are not very detail about it. Story 10/10 Simple, but not so simple. At first we just have these girl talk about fishing. As the story progress, we know what kind of problem they have. But they didn't make the problema main spotlight, they didn't make it a big drama. Instead, they make it like a side story. It still runs in background while the main theme about this anime is being performed in front stage. I like this because my main reason watching this anime is for the relaxing feeling you get when watching Slice of Life. And the comedy part, you will laugh everytime you watch an episode of this anime.
Art 10/10
Art is really really great. Every characters here is so cute, especially their facial expression. They changed art style when there is something to explain, and the characters looks more cuter in this art style. Not only the characters, the background is also beautiful. They are fishing so they usually set place around sea or river, the water look so real. The sea is blue and have a wave detail, the river have a clean water and we can see some rocks or fishes inside. You can also feel the atmosphere, its hard to explain but you just feel like you are there in the area feeling sea breezes.
Sound 10/10
The characters voice sound so cute. Although sometimes they just sound like a little child with that high pitch voice, considering they are in high school. For me its not a problem, because some anime girls did speak like that. OP song is catchy and the ED is relaxing, of course it would be great because the 3 main characters VA sing both of it. Beside from the VA work, they also nail the SFX part. You can hear the nature noise, like sea waves or leaves getting blown by wind.
Characters 10/10
They didn't just throw a character in and make them comfortable with each other. I'm usually see this kind of action in other anime with the same genre. Instead, you'll see how every MC overcomes their arkwardness of meeting a new people. While its not that obvious, this little thing is what makes the characters feel more realistic. The supporting cast also get treated the same, they're there for a reason. So in the end we get this well-rounded characters with the support of side characters. Its all coming together and make a perfect match.
Enjoyment 10/10
We have a lot of big titles coming out this season, like AoT and KnY. But why am I choose to watch this anime? I only watch 2 anime at the same time, 1 airing and 1 finished. I choose Slow Loop for airing anime because I really like this genre. Cute Girls Doing Cute Thing and nothing else, this kind of genre will make you relax and dive into their world. Not worrying about characters death, not worrying about who to fight next, just following this girls go fishing and not worried about anything is what i love. Actually i already want a season 2 from this anime, but unfortunately that won't happen any sooner because the manga is still very short. Speaking of the manga, I will definitely read it sometimes in near future.
With all that being said, should you watch this anime? Well if you have spare time, why not. When you got bored, just watch this not-so-heavy anime. Just sit and enjoy their wholesome or clumsy moment to fresh your mind from the real world. Maybe you'll also get interested to start fishing yourself. Thank you for reading my review.
noodles_soop
I think the anime was quite a little boring since they went fishing in like, every episode. The "side story's" about Hiyori's past were quite interesting and cute. I do feel sorry for Hiyori, which lost her father in a young age. I think tho, it would've been better knowing more about Koharu's past, which actually never got shown. Rather than in other anime, they made the fishing, i think, very realistic and showed a lot of struggles, when doing it the first time. I actually learned very much about it when i watched it, and would like to try fishing too.
FlexySpagoot
Slow Loop was exactly everything I expected it to be and a bit more, a moe SOL anime about some girls going fishing. I didn't exactly have high expectations for this anime, but it certainly surpassed them and earned its place in my eyes as a "solid" show. In many ways its very similar to Yuru Camp, as it follows a very similar formula except with fishing instead of camping. Mixed in between the girls doing cute, moe-anime things are neat fishing facts and delectable looking fish dishes. I think I personally enjoyed it more than Yuru Camp because while I am already decently familiarwith the subject of Yuru Camp, camping, I know complete jack about fishing, so it had a bit of added novelty that kept me a bit more engaged than Yuru Camp did.
The characters of Slow Loop were pretty much exactly what you'd expect, without anything that special. A more introverted girl, a headstrong girl, and a stoic or grumpy girl serve as our main trio and are accompanied by a cast of side characters. Oh and obviously they all fulfill the moe quota of cute expressions and silly jokes. It was pretty basic as far as casts go, but honestly what more are you asking of moe? If it succeeds at being cute then it's done what it set out to do.
The art style was pretty damn good, the colors popped and really brought the nature in the show to life. Everything was just nice and comforting to look at, which helped give the show a nice homey feel.
Overall I was pretty satisfied with my experience and would give it a moe out of 10.
Tonwing
Just like the title suggests, it will take you in a slow pace relaxing chilling adventure of fishing and cuteness. Full of laughter's, smiles, and warmth to be felt deep within our hearts. Some personal reviews: Watching through the anime, I felt Koharu tend to get left out and that cause her to try harder in expressing herself, making it a little hard to watch because it leads to me feeling a little bad for her, though its understandable since she just moved in, and Hiyori and Koi are childhood friends. Also, as I watch through the anime not once did Hiyori and Koharu call someonesomething (I make it vague for spoiler purposes, since its a relaxing and chilling anime by no means is there stress or frustration as you watch it so really do recommend you enjoy it to the end), I was really hoping them to actually call or say it, but well they didn't, kind of depicting that they have not really move on yet with their past even the mom. I hope that if there would be S2, I hope to see them become a real family not only from the outside but fully moving on and becoming one as well from the inside.
JanJohansen
Cute girls doing cute things? Sure, on the surface. It's so sweet you might get cavities, but underneath, it's an enjoyable (and very accurate) introduction to fly fishing with some great tips (like practice casting indoors with a stick (or the first segment of your rod) and some wool yarn), how to tie on a fly and when and how to change the leader. And so many tips on how to cook delishious fish dishes. The drama is written well, but what you're left with at the end of each episode is the joy of learning something new about fishing and cooking. I knew a littleabout fly fishing before, but learnt a bunch. And I might even try some of the dishes!
Pretty good show!
SanaeK10
You can usually count on a Kirara show for a good time, and Slow Loop is no exception. After a drought of CGDCT shows for the past two seasons or so, it's so good to see something this soothing make a comeback, with more to come next season. Slow Loop isn't anything special, its comedy is fine and its relaxation value is also just fine. Its focus on fly fishing makes it stand out a bit, but the occasional swerve into family drama with issues like familial deaths and all do take away some of the focus from it. To its credit it does goquite a bit into fishing as a hobby, though not as much as Houkago Teibou Nisshi did some two years ago.
I've said it before and I'll say it again, a SoL show lives and dies on its characters. For Slow Loop, it's Koharu who made the show for me. Her childish and bubbly disposition is incredibly charming and it's a treat whenever she's onscreen. Hioka Natsumi does a fantastic job at bringing her alive and her voice perfectly captures the genkiness and cuteness of her. It also helps that Koharu is the only character to receive any resemblance of an arc, with her journey from a beginner to a more seasoned angler. As for the rest of the main cast, Hiyori is kind of boring with her being the silent, shy type, and Koi is fun and provides a nice foil to the two sisters.
Slow Loop may just be yet another Kirara show in a sea of very similar shows, but it's still an enjoyable time nonetheless.
7/10
zerofox75
I know nothing about fishing. In fact I find it one of the most boring things in the world, up there with golf. But I am FULLY invested in this anime. In a very similar vein to Yuru Camp, this is a chill, wholesome anime about two step-sister's fishing together. It's an anime you can show your parents with no worries. Story & Characters: By far the show’s best aspects. You have the more experienced, reserved girl (Hiyori) who inadvertently encounters the energetic novice (Koharu) who eventually becomes enamored with fishing and decides to take up the sport herself (again very similar to Yuru Camp).And as the story progresses you meet other characters who share their interests (Koi, Futaba, Ichika). As someone who has never fished in their life, I can't speak about all the different fishing terms they throw around but it seems like they do a good job representing the sport and all its subtleties.
One of my favorite things about the show is the family dynamic of the characters is particularly endearing. Hiyori was introduced to fishing by her late father, and clearly uses the activity as a way to stay connected to him. And now through fishing she meets her new step-sister. They both bond and heal through this shared activity/
Art & Sound: The art and animation are eh. You don't really need high-quality animation when you're just watching two girls stand at a body of water. And that's fine, albeit kinda lazy. You almost never see any actual fishing. The shots change from the girls struggling with their poles to the fish suddenly out of the water. But then shows like this thrive more on characters than the visuals. So of course the visuals aren't anything write home about. The character designs aren't busy, the environments that fill the background are sufficiently detailed, and for a show that features so much water, it all looks good. The food doesn’t quite have that instant “why does anime food look so good” quality to it that other shows like Yuru Camp or the all powerful Food Wars have.
I really like the OST. It perfectly suits the relaxed nature of the show. The sound design is solid. For a show that features so much water, everything sounds very realistic almost as if they just went out to the beach and recorded the sounds of waves crashing (maybe they did).
Overall: I plan to pick up the manga once the anime concludes so I can keep enjoying this chill fishing series. It's not perfect, few shows are. It’s the kind of show to turn on when it’s cold out and you want to warm up from the inside out. Sit back, relax with a mug of something warm and enjoy.
