Ride Your Wave

Name: Ride Your Wave
Genre: Drama, Fantasy, Comedy, Romance, Animation
Released: February 19, 2020
Duration: 95 min
Rating: 65
Cast: Honoka Matsumoto, Joey Richter, Kentarô Itô, Merit Leighton, Michael Johnston

2020

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Generally favorable reviews based on 10 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 6 Ratings

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8.0	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 6 Ratings

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Ride Your Wave (Trailer 1)

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Movie Details & Credits

GKIDS | Release Date: February 19, 2020 | Not Rated

Starring: Honoka Matsumoto, Joey Richter, Kentarô Itô, Merit Leighton, Michael Johnston, Rina Kawaei, Ryôta Katayose, Sarah Anne Williams

Summary: Hinako is a surf-loving college student who has just moved to a small seaside town. When a sudden fire breaks out at her apartment building, she is rescued by Minato, a handsome firefighter, and the two soon fall in love. Just as they become inseparable, Minato loses his life in an accident at sea. Hinako is so distraught that she can noHinako is a surf-loving college student who has just moved to a small seaside town. When a sudden fire breaks out at her apartment building, she is rescued by Minato, a handsome firefighter, and the two soon fall in love. Just as they become inseparable, Minato loses his life in an accident at sea. Hinako is so distraught that she can no longer even look at the ocean, but one day she sings a song that reminds her of their time together, and Minato appears in the water. From then on, she can summon him in any watery surface as soon as she sings their song, but can the two really remain together forever? And what is the real reason for Minato's sudden reappearance?… Expand

Director: Masaaki Yuasa

Genre(s): Drama, Fantasy, Comedy, Romance, Animation, Family

Rating: Not Rated

Runtime: 95 min

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Critic Reviews

Carlos Aguilar

Feb 20, 2020

Fancifully heartfelt, Ride Your Wave doesn’t constitute his top effort, but it’s inviting enough to persuade audiences unfamiliar with him to dip their feet and then fully dive into the profundity of his imagination, where wonder awaits. Read full review

Polygon Tasha Robinson

Aug 18, 2020

It’s rare to see an anime story that solely focuses on adults navigating the issues of maturity, personal development, and a stymied future. It’s even rarer to see anime that simultaneously tackles those ideas, and wraps them in such an extravagant visual fantasia. Read full review

Slashfilm Rafael Motamayor

Jan 13, 2023

Ride Your Wave may be predictable, but it quickly becomes a charming and heartfelt story about loss and clinging to life, one with realistic and likeable characters that may even teach you something about yourself. Read full review

RogerEbert.com Simon Abrams

Feb 19, 2020

Ride Your Wave moves without a great sense of urgency, but only because Hinako’s emotional turmoil isn’t a great conflict or a tragedy. It is, however, as real as the private heartaches that we self-consciously wear on our sleeves. Read full review

Glenn Kenny

Feb 20, 2020

The director, Masaaki Yuasa, is adept at stories and visuals where water is a major character. Read full review

Christopher L. Inoa

Feb 19, 2020

Ride Your Wave is the sweetest and most conventional story Yuasa has ever directed. Even with its formulaic story occupied by characters who would have benefited with more development and personality, there’s still plenty to enjoy in this light-hearted romance. Read full review

Peter Debruge

Nov 5, 2019

Sooner or later, Hinako is going to have to learn to face the world on her own, which is where the tension finally arises before this dopey film reaches its sappy conclusion — by showing its heroine, so effortless on water, “learning to ride life’s waves, too.” Read full review

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User Reviews

Rideonwaves3666

Mar 24, 2020

It's a truly a masterful movie by legendary director Masaaki Yuasa. It didn't tried to find ways to make new way storytelling but it was one of most whole some romantic anime movie.

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alejandro970

Oct 29, 2022

Another argument in favor of anime is that they give romance stories a fresher touch. This one that refers to the acceptance of death has its bittersweet moments capable of reaching the heart. If you were able to resist crocodile tears, congratulations.

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