One of the most frustrating anime I've ever watched. Maybe because I, a grown woman, wasn't the target audience. I imagine if I were still a teenager I might've related to the characters. I'm not and as such, I couldn't relate to Fuuka's stupidity of running away from home on a whim.

Like, you're the one who willingly gave up her idol centre spot to appease another girl's selfish desire. What did she think would happen? The Idol industry is brutal. You can't be stepping aside just because someone begs you to. That's completely absurd. Ultimately, you need to have the mentality and the willingness to step over your competitors' bodies to succeed in the idol industry.

Evidently, Fuuka lacked this required mentality, and this is what kicks off the premise of Aquatope on White Sand; a loser, soft-hearted idol who got fired for giving up her spot to a rival. Yes, that girl who took Fuuka's spot wanted her sick grandma to see her performance, but I don't care. Fuuka should never have her dream set below anyone else's.

Fuuka then ends up at the main aquarium of the first half of the series called "Gama Gama" by pure chance and, magically, sees a strange, unexplained illusion that makes her wanna stay and work there despite having no prior interest in the aquarium. Even the main character, Kukuru, was bewildered by Fuuka's abrupt declaration. It's very lazy writing. The aquarium's illusion was never, ever explained either. It was simply put in there to facilitate the plot because Fuuka would've had no reason to work there otherwise.

Following this sees a poorly written relationship form between our central characters, Fuuka and Kukuru. The girls become attached to the hip absurdly fast. Barely 5 episodes into the series and they were already acting like they've known each other for years. It made any further developments feel shallow and forced. I don't understand how the abrupt close friendship formed between them either.

In episode two, Kukuru literally dashed Fuuka in the deep end, having her attempt to feed the penguins with no prior training and very little guidance, then she had the audacity to chew her out when she failed. Uh, like, bitch. She wasn't trained. What did you think would happen, stupid? Ugh. The characters were just on full stupid mode.

Fuuka insists she wants to "support Kukuru's dream" but why? She barely knew Kukuru. She had no reason to be there other than the fact she wanted to try and forget the idol industry.

Fuuka's mom showed up in an episode to take Fuuka home and Kukuru does everything in her power to buy time, from nonsensically telling Fuuka to run away while her mom was distracted, to getting her mom drunk, etc. It's all juvenile and cringey. Kukuru has no reason to stop Fuuka's mom from taking her home. She hasn't known her long enough to form a justified connection.

Fuuka, likewise, didn't have a reason to stick around other than "wanting to figure things out". Basically, the story "had" to go on and Fuuka leaving then might've ended it. Otherwise, Fuuka had zero motivation to stay beyond episode 6 or so when her mother came to pick her up. Kukuru didn't have much of a reason to want her to stay either.

There simply wasn't enough time to establish an emotional connection between the two despite what the series wanted us to believe. There was this weird Yuri-like moment in one of the early episodes where Fuuka suggests if they touch each other, they could gain a better understanding of one another. It was incredibly cringeworthy. They even opted to start referring to each other by their forenames right after the creepy Yuri moment.

Despite the atrociously written friendship and the abandoned fantasy aspect, the series was on course to redeem itself by the end of the 1st half. It's just too bad it ended up continuing for a further 12 episodes because I might've awarded it a 5, at least.

The first half ended on a lovely note. Kukuru's stubborn immaturity had a reality check when a storm hit the old, rundown aquarium which she desperately wanted to save and Fuuka even got another idol opportunity when her junior, whose she surrended her spot to begin with, got in touch with her to tell some producers wanted her to star in a film.

I wasn't pleased to see Kukuru's 1st reaction upon learning Fuuka might be leaving. She looked distraught. Why? Just because your so-called "bestie" who you only knew for a month is getting another once in a lifetime chance to achieve her dream? It's so ridiculously selfish and honestly made me despise her character. A real friend would NEVER be sad to see their friend leave to greater heights. Least, it wouldn't be their first and most prominent emotion. They would be elated for them that they could potentially be what they've always wanted to be. They would encourage them right off the bat to take that plunge, not discourage them by being sad of their potential departure.

Yet, it was only after Gama-Gama had fallen that Kukuru encouraged her so-called best friend to accept the producer's offer. It just leaves a sour taste in my mouth. It was made worse when Fuuka raced back the way she came before boarding her plane in the last scene of the 1st act to comfort her, missing her first flight. It was all very cliche and predictable.

Still, I could've given this a low 5 if the series had ended there.

It didn't. Fuuka came back, giving up another opportunity at fame to be with a girl she only knew for a FUCKING month. It wasn't like they were lovers or anything despite the cringey Yuri-bait moments sprinkled through the series.

Imagine, you're an aspiring professional athlete who dreams of being a footballer, throwing away years and years of dedication when a second chance to achieve your dream lands in your lap, all to stay close to someone you've only known for a month? It's quite frankly ridiculous. It makes me wonder, did Fuuka really want to be an Idol? If not, then why spend so many years training and dieting for that express purpose?

Sure, she lost her dream once, but she had a second chance to achieve said aspiration when her junior got in touch with her regarding the producer's offer. Is Kukuru, a month-long friend she knew very little about before forming the absurd attachment to her, really more important than a lifelong dream? I would think not for any real character, something Fuuka couldn't be further from the sort.

Story - 0/10. It's as slice of life as it gets. What little plot we got in the Gama-Gama's illusions was abandoned.
Characters - 0/10 Undeveloped and vastly unlikeable
Music - 7.5/10. The ost provides a calming atmosphere
Animation - Beautiful

Overall - 2/10

I wouldn't recommend.