Water and Fire, like acceptance and denial, are opposites. While water and fire are distinct, tangible elements that we encounter in our daily lives, acceptance and denial are internal processes that, though less visible, can manifest and affect our day-to-day lives in profound ways. Masaaki Yuasa delves into acceptance and denial through the lens of loss in his 2019 film Ride Your Wave, which examines grief and the varied ways people cope with loss. Do we accept it, or do we deny it? Do we ride the wave life presents us, or do we resist it and risk being burned?
Hinako Mukaimizu has recently moved to a seaside town to attend college, her apartment so cluttered with boxes that even the slightest movement could send them toppling. As an avid surfer, being near the ocean holds special meaning for her. However, one day, a fire breaks out in her building due to illegal fireworks. Forced to climb to the roof, she calls for help. Minato Hinageshi, one of the firefighters, rescues her, sparking the beginning of a relationship between Hinako and Minato. As the film unfolds, we witness their bond deepen as they share interests and create new memories together.
It’s difficult to discuss this film without spoiling a major reveal that I believe is best experienced firsthand. To preserve that experience, I’ll do my best to avoid explicit spoilers.
Hinako suffers a devastating loss, and we see her struggle to cope. She enters a stage of denial, unwilling to accept what has happened. This is where Ride Your Wave introduces its more fantastical element: when Hinako sings a certain song, the water around her seems to respond. She sings it often, clinging to memories of a time she desperately wants to relive. Her denial prevents her from moving on, as she fights against the inevitable waves of life. Through this, Yuasa illustrates the dangers of denial—it can pull you under, threatening to drown you. To cope with loss, we must learn to ride life’s waves.
However, with denial, there is also acceptance, and we see this through Youko Hinageshi and Kawamura Wasabi. Understanding that they must move on and take the valuable lessons they have learned from the loss to become better people and achieve their goals. It is a lovely and deep message from both sides and unexpectedly normal from a Yuasa film.
Hinako has a vibrant orange aesthetic that resembles fire, while Minato’s blue tones evoke water. The color contrast between the leads is striking, adding to the visual appeal of the entire film. The water and fire effects are particularly impressive, making each scene visually dynamic. While the film carries Yuasa’s signature style, it also feels mature—prioritizing the story over exaggerated character expressions, which lends it a grounded, thoughtful quality.
Ride Your Wave is an ideal introduction to the works of Masaaki Yuasa. It is beautifully animated, expertly told, and consistently enjoyable. The film offers an expressive journey through loss and the ways we confront it. It is simply fantastic.
★★★★1/2
Available on Blu-ray and DVD / Merit Leighton, Joey Richter, Sarah Anne Williams, Michael Johnston, Erica Lindbeck / Dir: Masaaki Yuasa / Anime Limited / 12
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