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English: My Bride is a Mermaid
Synonyms: The Inland Sea Bride
Type: TV
Episodes: 26
Status: Finished Airing
Aired: Apr 1, 2007 to Oct 1, 2007
Producers: Gonzo, AIC, Square Enix, FUNimation EntertainmentL
Genres: Comedy, Parody, Romance, School
Duration: 24 min. per episode
Rating: PG-13 - Teens 13 or older
Seto no Hanayome is one of the rarest types of anime you can find - a parody rom-com that is actually extremely funny!
This is without doubt ,one of the funniest animes released in the past few years, and I have never seen parody done so well
Michishio Nagasumi's life couldn't be anymore normal. In an odd twist of events, during his summer vacation he ends up almost drowning in the sea. Luckily, the cute mermaid Seto San appears to save him. However, San is from a yakuza mermaid family and according to their law, if a human is to catch sight of a mermaid, either he or the mermaid must die. The only other way is for Nagasumi to be taken in as a family member, marrying San. In attempts to save both of their lives, Nagasumi asks for San's hand in marriage. Nagasumi's summer vacation reaped more then what he would expect, as he must now protect San from others finding her secret out.
Make no mistake here. Yes, the episode start out predictable at first, but you have no idea what Seto is capable of. It will go from cliche and then takes a huge step forward and jump to embellished. It has a fast paced and frankly, I liked it.
Its a nice change of pace. You get to laugh non-stop in a whole episode.
One of the key factors of why Seto No Hanayome is so downright hilarious is its brilliant application of the K.I.S.S theory. Seto No Hanayome is by no means a laid-back anime, but at the same time, there is no dull moment here as every moment is hectic enough for you to go "lmfao!". It tries to be what it can and should be, simple and funny. Because of this, the formula works.The anime is all about comedy, nothing else. It wont throw you any cheap drama just for the hell of having it. Although because its lackluster for romance, it becomes a turn off people who hunger for something amatory. But that doesnt mean the relationship between Nagasumi and San doesnt develop, its just a little late thanks to the rest of the female cast that constantly grasps Nagasumi's attention.
The supporting characters also gives way for comedy, as each of one of them is provides comic antics albeit that all of it are horrifically trite. Whether its the over-protective father, the yandere, or the timid class president, they will all crack you up. Plus, the influence and interaction on each other have has a significance.And to my surprise, there is even character development. The typical lame protagonist not only goes through a transition, but something you can never imagine. He is able to mature, and he erase whatever bad impression you have for harem male leads.
The quality of the animation is really hard to describe, where at times it can look piss poor there are also times it looks great, but this is really just to suit the whacky nature of the show. The action parody moments are the times when the animation truly shines and it's those moments which are to look forward to. On the other hand the music is decent, nothing amazing or special about it but good enough to gain merit.
Seto No Hanayome adds nothing new to the genre. It is another recycling of harem anime's. But its sheer presence of comedy is outstanding that you'll pay no attention to its unoriginal qualities. For the first time in a long time, a harem is done right.
To sum up, Seto No Hanayome is the romantic comedy that you have been looking for. Its rollicking, its over-the top and its just plain straightforward. To say its funny, would be an understatement. This is cliche at its best.
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