“I will adhere to your command. Throw down your gun. Take up your knife. Get in close and use CQC! Semper Fi! Right, my Lord?”

- Sister, Episode 13

Arakawa Under the Bridge x Bridge is a great sequel that builds on the strong foundations laid before it. The comedy is stronger, the characters are zanier, and the emotions are more tender than its prequel. Since this is a sequel, the focus of the anime has moved away from the beginning of Kou and Nino’s relationship to establish more of a plot beyond the comedy. There is, however, still a dedication to the absurdity of its premise which makes this an enjoyable watch.

The cast of Arakawa Under the Bridge x Bridge remains the series’ strongest element. The voice acting gives the character’s life and their designs are as distinctive as ever. Newer additions to this bizarre roster are handled well; integrating well into the plot and not feeling out of place. It is also nice to see some of the more neglected characters being given more of the spotlight. The core cast remains consistent with the previous series but they are still fun to watch; especially their interactions with each other. There are also a couple of small moments of character development which make Arakawa Under the Bridge x Bridge feel like it has some plot momentum. This makes the characters feel a little bit more real and also gives the audience more to engage with; especially in the case of Nino and Kou.

Unlike its prequel, there is a more noticeable plot sprinkled through this series which might make it a little bit more engaging for those who struggle with purely gag-based comedy. This is reflected in the more noticeable reorganisation of the order of events which allows the plot to carry over into the anime. Unfortunately, this does have the side-effect of making the episodes feel as though they are hopping backwards and forwards at random, but these moments are rare and quickly forgotten. The gags are given more time to develop in the series, with episodes having more of a core focus which works well; allowing for ideas to be explored in more depth. This means that the episodic structure feels a little bit less like a group of ideas thrown at the wall to see what sticks, and more like there has been thought put into which stories work well together. Some of the references that this series makes are also great, being easily recognisable and well contextualised.

Arakawa Under the Bridge x Bridge also offers some very touching moments that have a strong impact on those watching. This is especially true of the moments which echo the previous series; feigning an air of completion. The shift to focus a little bit more on the plot also means that there are a couple of unexpected twists which helps to keep the audience on their toes.

Much like in the first series, the animation is nice. While it doesn’t do anything too spectacular, it captures the mood well; especially through the use of colours. The reaction shots, and changes in art style, to match the comedic moments is also fun and, while it could have been used a little more, it makes these moments stand out. It also allows the animators to clearly mark which moments are comedy and which are serious which means that the audience doesn’t have to put much work into understanding a joke. While this might sound like a critique, it is more about culture-based jokes that people outside of Japan may struggle with; the subtle visual differences really can help. The soundtrack works similarly, being fairly understated but tonally fitting; allowing the animation to speak for itself.

Overall, if you ever need a short, fun series to watch or you are having a bad day, then Arakawa Under the Bridge is a great series to pick up. Its low stakes and comedy make it a great comfort series that doesn’t require any effort or focus to get through. Arakawa Under the Bridge x Bridge’s only flaw is that it establishes several small mysteries that remain unanswered so if you like perfectly concluded series then this won’t be for you. However, because having a complete and coherent plot isn’t this Arakawa Under the Bridge’s focus so it doesn’t have too much of an impact on the overall series if you don’t mind some unanswered questions. Or you could always pick up the manga if you want to know what will happen to Nino, Kou and the rest of the residents who have found themselves living under an unassuming bridge in Arakawa.