Top Coastal Anime Recommendations

Elfen Lied

Also known as Elfen Lied.

Studio: Arms
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Drama , Ecchi , Horror , Psychological , Romance , Supernatural

The Diclonius, a mutated homosapien that is said to be selected by God and will eventually become the destruction of mankind, possess two horns on their heads and have a "sixth sense" which gives them telekinetic abilities. Due to this dangerous power, they have been captured and isolated in laboratories by the government. Lucy, a young and psychotic Diclonius, manages to break free of her confines and brutally murders most of the guards in the laboratory where she is being held, only to be shot in the head as she makes her escape. She survives, falling off a cliff into the ocean and manages to drift along to a beach where two teenagers, Kouta and Yuka, discover her. Having lost her memories, she was named after the only thing that she can now say, "Nyuu," and the two allow her to stay at Kouta's home. However, it appears that the psychotic side of Lucy is not dead just yet...



Tags: Gore , Fugitive , Amnesia , Super Power , Tragedy , Dissociative Identities , Monster Girl , Seinen , Urban Fantasy , Philosophy , Female Protagonist , Nudity , Revenge , Body Horror , Yandere , Conspiracy , Incest , Love Triangle , Primarily Female Cast , Bullying , Kemonomimi , Male Protagonist , Military , Heterosexual , Family Life , Rural , Primarily Teen Cast , Coastal , Female Harem , Slapstick

Grand Blue

Also known as Grand Blue Dreaming.

Studio: Zero-G
Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Slice of Life , Sports

A new life begins for Kitahara Iori as he begins his college career near the ocean in Izu city, full of excitement for his new life. He will be moving into his Uncle's diving store "Grand Blue." There he finds the beautiful ocean, beautiful women, and men that love diving and alcohol. Will Iori be able to live his dream college life?

Tags: School Club , Slapstick , Coastal , College , Primarily Adult Cast , Seinen , Nudity , Male Protagonist , Scuba Diving , Surreal Comedy , Ensemble Cast , Episodic , Outdoor , Tsundere , Otaku Culture , Crossdressing , Educational , Yandere , Cosplay , Bar , Idol , Tennis

Summer Time Render

Also known as Summer Time Rendering.

Studio: OLM
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Drama , Mystery , Supernatural , Thriller

A sci-fi, summer story filled with suspense set on a small island with Shinpei Aijiro, whose childhood friend Ushio Kofune died. He returns to his hometown for the first time in two years for the funeral. Sou Hishigata, his best friend, suspects something's off with Ushio's death, and that someone can die next.

A sinister omen is heard as an entire family next door suddenly disappears the following day. Furthermore, Mio implicates a "shadow" three days before Ushio's death.



Tags: Time Loop , Time Manipulation , Shapeshifting , Urban Fantasy , Reincarnation , Super Power , Rural , Tragedy , Mythology , Alternate Universe , Body Swapping , Religion , Ensemble Cast , Dissociative Identities , Cosmic Horror , Primarily Teen Cast , Coastal , Survival , Male Protagonist , Heterosexual , Gore , Body Horror , Amnesia , Aliens , Ghost , Guns , Shounen , Denpa , Tanned Skin , Love Triangle , Unrequited Love , Nudity

Mushishi

Also known as MUSHI-SHI.

Studio: Artland
Status: Finished
Genres: Adventure , Fantasy , Mystery , Psychological , Slice of Life , Supernatural

Neither good nor evil, they are life in its purest form. Vulgar and strange, they have inspired fear in humans since the dawn of time and have, over the ages, come to be known as "mushi." The stories of the Mushi and the people they affect are all linked together by a traveling Mushi-shi, or "Mushi Master," who seeks rare Mushi sightings and uses his shaman-like knowledge of Mushi to help the affected people.

What are the Mushi and what do they want?



Tags: Environmental , Youkai , Mythology , Episodic , Philosophy , Rural , Male Protagonist , Travel , Snowscape , Tragedy , Outdoor , Seinen , Historical , Coastal , Primarily Adult Cast , Amnesia , Urban Fantasy , Cult , Suicide

Gake no Ue no Ponyo

Also known as Ponyo.

Studio: Studio Ghibli
Status: Finished
Genres: Adventure , Fantasy

A young boy named Sosuke rescues a goldfish named Ponyo, and they embark on a fantastic journey of friendship and discovery before Ponyo's father, a powerful sorcerer, forces her to return to her home in the sea. But Ponyo's desire to be human upsets the delicate balance of nature and triggers a gigantic storm. Only Ponyo's mother, a beautiful sea goddess, can restore nature's balance and make Ponyo's dreams come true.



Tags: Environmental , Primarily Child Cast , Rural , Magic , Coastal , Anthropomorphism , Natural Disaster , Urban Fantasy , Ships , Female Protagonist , Family Life , Kids , Male Protagonist , Gods , Swimming , Mermaid , Chibi

Josee to Tora to Sakanatachi

Also known as Josee, the Tiger and the Fish.

Studio: bones
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Romance , Slice of Life

The story centers on the relationship between Tsuneo and Josee. Tsuneo is a university student, and Josee is a young girl who has rarely gone out of the house by herself due to her being unable to walk. The two meet when Tsuneo finds Josee's grandmother taking her out for a morning walk.



Tags: Disability , Female Protagonist , Male Protagonist , Tsundere , Heterosexual , Coming of Age , Primarily Adult Cast , Rehabilitation , Tragedy , Drawing , Scuba Diving , Coastal , Josei , College , Love Triangle , Unrequited Love , Mermaid , CGI , Time Skip

Barakamon

Also known as Barakamon.

Studio: Kinema Citrus
Status: Finished
Genres: Slice of Life

Seishuu Handa is an up-and-coming calligrapher: young, handsome, talented, and unfortunately, a narcissist to boot. When a veteran labels his award-winning piece as "unoriginal," Seishuu quickly loses his cool with severe repercussions.

As punishment, and also in order to aid him in self-reflection, Seishuu's father exiles him to the Goto Islands, far from the comfortable Tokyo lifestyle the temperamental artist is used to. Now thrown into a rural setting, Seishuu must attempt to find new inspiration and develop his own unique art style—that is, if boisterous children (headed by the frisky Naru Kotoishi), fujoshi middle schoolers, and energetic old men stop barging into his house! The newest addition to the intimate and quirky Goto community only wants to get some work done, but the islands are far from the peaceful countryside he signed up for. Thanks to his wacky neighbors who are entirely incapable of minding their own business, the arrogant calligrapher learns so much more than he ever hoped to.



Tags: Calligraphy , Rural , Found Family , Iyashikei , Episodic , Male Protagonist , Rehabilitation , Family Life , Seinen , Coming of Age , Philosophy , Teacher , Coastal , Tsundere , Slapstick , Fishing

Nagi no Asukara

Also known as A Lull in the Sea (Nagi-Asu: Nagi no Asukara).

Studio: P.A. Works
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Fantasy , Romance , Slice of Life

Since long ago, human civilization had lived on the ocean floor. However, there were many humans who wanted to live above the surface and they moved to land creating a fundamental separation between the two. After their school closes down, four 14-year-old middle school students from the sea village, Shioshishio, have to attend Mihama Middle School on the surface. What follows is their struggles to adjust to a new environment and the relationships between the sea and land people, while dealing with their own newfound feelings that have just started appearing with the end of their childhood.



Tags: Love Triangle , Coming of Age , Time Skip , Heterosexual , Coastal , Tragedy , Ensemble Cast , Environmental , Gods , School , Age Gap , Amnesia , Lost Civilization , Swimming , Primarily Child Cast , Fishing , Male Protagonist

Skip to Loafer

Also known as Skip and Loafer.

Studio: P.A. Works
Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Romance , Slice of Life

This country girl is ready for the big city! Well, at least she thought she was. Mitsumi’s dream is to attend a prestigious school and make the world a better place. But when she finally gets to Tokyo, it turns out she isn’t exactly prepared for city life. Luckily, she runs into Shima, a sweet and handsome classmate who becomes her first friend! Can she make it in Tokyo with Shima by her side?



Tags: School , Female Protagonist , Primarily Teen Cast , Coming of Age , Urban , Seinen , Iyashikei , Heterosexual , Acting , Transgender , Rural , Coastal

Kimi to, Nami ni Noretara

Also known as Ride Your Wave.

Studio: Science SARU
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Fantasy , Romance

Upon entering university, Hinako moves to a coastal town. She loves surfing, and when she's on the waves she's fearless, but still feels uncertain about her future. When a fire wreaks havoc in the town, Hinako encounters young firefighter Minato. As they surf and spend more time together, Hinako feels drawn to someone like Minato who devotes himself to helping other people. Hinako also holds a special place in Minato's heart.


Tags: Tragedy , Surfing , Coming of Age , Female Protagonist , Ghost , Afterlife , Heterosexual , Urban Fantasy , Coastal , Swimming , Firefighters , Primarily Adult Cast , Tsundere , Urban , Male Protagonist , Work , CGI , College

Omoide no Marnie

Also known as When Marnie Was There.

Studio: Studio Ghibli
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Mystery , Psychological

Suffering from frequent asthma attacks, young Anna Sasaki is quiet, unsociable, and isolated from her peers, causing her foster parent endless worry. Upon recommendation by the doctor, Anna is sent to the countryside, in hope the cleaner air and more relaxing lifestyle will improve her health and help clear her mind. Engaging in her passion for sketching, Anna spends her summer days living with her aunt and uncle in a small town near the sea.

One day while wandering outside, Anna discovers an abandoned mansion known as the Marsh House. However, she soon finds that the residence isn't as vacant as it appears to be, running into a mysterious girl named Marnie. Marnie's bubbly demeanor slowly begins to draw Anna out of her shell as she returns night after night to meet with her new friend. But it seems there is more to the strange girl than meets the eye—as her time in the town nears its end, Anna begins to discover the truth behind the walls of the Marsh House.

Omoide no Marnie tells the touching story of a young girl's journey through self-discovery and friendship, and the summer that she will remember for the rest of her life.



Tags: Female Protagonist , Rural , Ghost , Outdoor , Tragedy , Time Manipulation , Drawing , Disability , Estranged Family , Amnesia , Classic Literature , Bullying , Ojou-sama , Kids , Coastal

Uzumaki

Studio: Akatsuki , Fugaku
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Horror , Mystery , Supernatural

Four episode anime adaptation of the Junji Ito manga.

Kurozu-cho, a small fogbound town on the coast of Japan, is cursed. According to Shuichi Saito, the withdrawn boyfriend of teenager Kirie Goshima, their town is haunted not by a person or being but by a pattern: uzumaki, the spiral, the hypnotic secret shape of the world. It manifests itself in small ways: seashells, ferns, whirlpools in water, whirlwinds in air. And in large ways: the spiral marks on people's bodies, the insane obsessions of Shuichi's father, the voice from the cochlea in your inner ear. As the madness spreads, the inhabitants of Kurouzu-cho are pulled ever deeper, as if into a whirlpool from which there is no return...



Tags: Achromatic , Cosmic Horror , Gore , Body Horror , Tragedy , Rotoscoping , CGI , Female Protagonist , Seinen , Augmented Reality , Survival , Primarily Teen Cast , Heterosexual , Urban Fantasy , Lost Civilization , Cannibalism , Coastal , Surreal Comedy , Episodic , Philosophy , Unrequited Love , Detective

Umibe no Étranger

Also known as The Stranger by the Shore.

Studio: Studio Hibari
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Romance , Slice of Life

After coming out to his parents, aspiring novelist Shun Hashimoto has no one to turn to, until the day he meets high schooler Mio Chibana on the beach. The two instantly click—just before Mio has to leave for the mainland. Now three years later, Mio returns with a confession. But after all this time, will Shun feel the same?



Tags: Boys' Love , LGBTQ+ Themes , Primarily Male Cast , Primarily Adult Cast , Time Skip , Cute Boys Doing Cute Things , Age Gap , Bisexual , Iyashikei , Writing , Bullying , Love Triangle , Coastal , Work

Kaze no Stigma

Also known as Kaze no Stigma.

Studio: GONZO
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Drama , Fantasy , Romance

Yagami Kazuma was originally part of the Kannagi family, a respected family of fire users who have an affinity to fire. However, after being easily defeated by his cousin Ayano and having no talent whatsoever in fire magic, Kazuma is banished and casted out from his family. 4 years later, Kazuma finally returns to Japan, this time as an exceptionally powerful wind user. A series of murders on Kannagi family members have occurred with his arrival. While most of the family including Ayano is convinced Kazuma is the culprit, he honestly isn't. These events begin an all out war against the Kannagi family, with Kazuma and Ayano right in the middle of it. Based on the novel by Takahiro Yamato.

Tags: Magic , Tsundere , Urban Fantasy , Incest , Revenge , Male Protagonist , Love Triangle , Coastal , Dragons , Fairy , Clone , Ojou-sama

Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko

Also known as Ground Control to Psychoelectric Girl.

Studio: Shaft
Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Slice of Life

Makoto Niwa just moved to the city to live with his aunt Meme after his parents were reassigned to work overseas. He is perfectly fine with that, saying it will give him the chance to live the dream life of an adolescent boy. He keeps track of the things he does by assigning "points" to them—positive or negative—and adds them up on a regular basis to grade his adolescent life.

And then he discovers Meme has a secret daughter (and self-proclaimed alien) named Erio. He finds her rolling around by the front door of Meme's house wrapped up in a futon. It is then he realizes that his dream adolescent life will not come true, and begins a life of experiences that are out of this world.



Tags: Denpa , Chuunibyou , Coastal , Male Protagonist , Female Protagonist , Rehabilitation , Aliens , Coming of Age , Primarily Female Cast , Baseball , Philosophy , Meta , Incest , Parody , Family Life , School , Memory Manipulation , Amnesia , Female Harem , Hikikomori , CGI , Chibi , Basketball

Kurenai no Buta

Also known as Porco Rosso.

Studio: Studio Ghibli
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Adventure , Comedy , Drama , Romance

Take flight with "Porco" Rosso, a valiant World War I flying ace! From tropical Adriatic settings to dazzling aerial maneuvers, this action-adventure from world-renowned animator Hayao Miyazaki is full of humor, courage and chivalry. When "Porco" —whose face has been transformed into that of a pig by a mysterious spell— infuriates a band of sky pirates with his aerial heroics, the pirates hire Curtis, a rival pilot, to "get rid" of him. On the ground, the two pilots compete for the affections of the beautiful Gina. But it is in the air where the true battles are waged. Will our hero be victorious?



Tags: Aviation , Foreign , Anthropomorphism , Historical , Philosophy , Primarily Adult Cast , Coastal , Male Protagonist , Pirates , Fugitive , Travel , Military , Heterosexual , Fairy Tale , War , Primarily Male Cast , Guns , Boxing

Shiroi Suna no Aquatope

Also known as The aquatope on white sand.

Studio: P.A. Works
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Slice of Life , Supernatural

Kukuru Misakino is a 18-year-old girl who works at an aquarium and she encounters a former idol who lost her place in Tokyo and escaped to Okinawa named Fuuka Miyazawa. Kukuru and Fuuka spend their days at the aquarium, their hearts filled with their own passions. But their precious place is about to be shut down forever. The girls face their dreams and reality, loneliness and friendships, bonds and conflicts... This summer is about to turn a glimmering, new page.



Tags: Coming of Age , Female Protagonist , Work , Animals , Environmental , Iyashikei , Educational , Primarily Female Cast , Coastal , Office Lady , Primarily Adult Cast , Time Skip , Urban Fantasy , Family Life , Mopeds , Scuba Diving

Love Live! Sunshine!!

Also known as Love Live! Sunshine!!.

Studio: Sunrise
Status: Finished
Genres: Music , Slice of Life

Uranohoshi Girls’ High School, a private school in the seaside neighborhood of Uchiura at Numazu city, Shizuoka prefecture. A small high school in a corner of Suruga Bay, it is home to nine teens, led by second-year student Chika Takami, driven by one seriously big dream: To become the next generation of bright, sparkling “school idols”! As long as we don’t give up, any dream can come true... All we have to do now is keep pushing hard for fame and glory! Now their “School Idol Project” begins to make their dreams come true!



Tags: Idol , Primarily Female Cast , School Club , Dancing , Primarily Teen Cast , Female Protagonist , School , Cute Girls Doing Cute Things , Ensemble Cast , Coastal , Rural , Chuunibyou , CGI

Nihon Chinbotsu: 2020

Also known as Japan Sinks: 2020.

Studio: Science SARU
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Sci-Fi

The setting for this adaptation is moved from 1970s Japan to 2020, just after the Tokyo Olympics. The story centers on the Mutou family, and the siblings Ayumu and Gou. The four members of the Mutou family are caught in an earthquake that hits Tokyo, and attempt to escape the city, while disaster claws at their heels.



Tags: Survival , Coming of Age , Tragedy , Disability , Natural Disaster , Post-Apocalyptic , Language Barrier , Outdoor , Family Life , Female Protagonist , Coastal , Surreal Comedy , Eco-Horror , Cult , Athletics , Gore , Ensemble Cast , Cosmic Horror , Male Protagonist , Lost Civilization , Transgender , Ships , Drugs , E-Sports , Time Skip , Religion , Agriculture

Shinryaku! Ika Musume

Also known as Squid Girl.

Studio: diomedéa
Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Slice of Life

Foolish land-born air breathers! Behold the terror from the depths, the tentacled conqueror of humanity: Squid Girl! With your pollution and stuff you really deserve it, so prepare for menacing, inky doom!

Squid Girl has come from the depths of the sea to conquer humanity for its pollution of the ocean. Within moments of arriving on the surface world, our easily distracted, little invertebrate is promptly bullied into working for the Aizawa sisters as a waitress, supplying their restaurant with squid ink. If poor Squid Girl can't handle two pushy Japanese girls, how will she ever subjugate the human race?



Tags: Episodic , Monster Girl , Slapstick , Female Protagonist , Coastal , Cute Girls Doing Cute Things , Chuunibyou , Work , LGBTQ+ Themes , Found Family , Urban Fantasy , Chibi , Primarily Female Cast , Shounen , Tomboy , Tanned Skin