Beach episodes in anime are often iconic, no matter the genre. These one-episode wonders of a series are generally filler episodes that flexibly play with their characters in a way that is or isn’t related to the plot. More often than not, they contain a bit of fan service, and games played out on the sand.
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On another hand, many writers use beach episodes as a way to weave the joy of the sunshine with the weight of their plot. While they still want to have fun with it, they also remind audience members what the show is about or tell them what direction it’s headed in.
10Gintama – Summer Vacation Is The Most Fun Right Before It Begins
While some people have time for R&R at the beach, Yorozuya is always open to work opportunities. Follow this rag-tag teammade of samurai, Gintoki Sakata, a teen, Shinpachi Shimura, and a strong alien named Kagura as they seek out more aliens known as “Amanto” or “Sky people.”
Episode 115 follows Yorozuya and Co. as they’re supposedly looking for a suspicious person, but the team becomes a little distracted by girls in swimsuits. Meanwhile, Shimura finds himself alone on an island. Feeling a sense of existentialism, he faces it with his own acts of natural freedom. That is until he realizes he isn’t actually alone. A number of silly events like this take place in this episode, letting loose the show’s sense of humor and allowing viewers time to simply enjoy whatever’s happening.
9Guilty Crown – Summer Day: Courtship Behavior
2039 felt further away during the release of Guilty Crown in 2011, but now this dystopian sci-fi climbs closer and closer to that year. The protagonist, Shu Ouma, is a teenager with the ability to extract tools or weapons from those around him. Ouma uses this ability to free Japan from the grasp of a United Nations-founded organization called GHQ, which caught Japan in its grasp after a virus outbreak.
Episode 8 of Guilty Crown weaves its way through a time for characters to enjoy their time on the beach and a means to an end. With a mission pervading Ouma’s mind, he eventually uses someone he met in school for a mission. Even so, the two characters share a genuine moment at the end of it all, becoming closer after realizing they share similar sentiments.
8Gurren Lagann – Miss Yoko, I Have Something to Ask of You
Leave it to the early 2000s to craft a classic beach episode leading into a bot battle in the middle of the sea. Gurren Lagann follows the story of two brothers, Kamina and Simon, whodiscover a mechathey use to fight back against a tyrannical leader and his army.
Two plots alternate their way through episode 12. Plot A entails the need for Simon and co. to cross the ocean, but the Dai-Gurren mecha needs some adjustments first. Therefore, while they wait, the cast of characters spend their time gawking at Nia and admonishing Yoko for their bathing suits and beach skills. The B plot involves tension Yoko experiences while feeling inferior to Nia. Much like Guilty Crown, though, a kindling of friendship and trust blooms between them.
7Another – Hair Stand
With death lurking around every corner, a trip to the beach doesn’t sound half bad. Another follows transfer student Kouichi Sakakibara, as he soon discovers himself in the midst of a curse, threatening him and those he meets when he arrives.
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Hair Stand (episode 8) tests the waters of how far the curse can go as Class 3-3 leaves Yomiyama. There, Kouichi and his friends hope that they can spend one peaceful day together while gleaning bits of information on how to stop the curse. This episode contains the right elements thatmakeit a beach episode, but it’s also sure not to shy away from the plot with an ominous reminder at the end. Overall, colors are more muted versus bright, the underlying soundtrack has a music box-like nostalgic feel to it, and viewers are even tossed a bit of a red herring in the mix.
6Ouran High School Host Club – The Sun, The Sea, And The Host Club
Take another trip down memory lane into the classic shoujo, where rich teenage boys cater to rich teenage girls’ desires. Wrapped up in the classism, drama, and hosting is 15-year-old Haruhi Fujioka. Because of her boyish appearance and the shattering of a very expensive vase, Fujioka is pulled into the schemes of her private school’s host club. Fortunately for her, she fits right in and forms bonds with each member as she learns more about them.
Episode 8 pulls viewers into the host club’s usual shenanigans but turns its head from pleasing the ladies and picking shellfish to find out what Haruhi is afraid of. In the midst of this mission, though, there is a rather serious issue of girls being harassed. Haruhi courageously steps up to protect them but recklessly risks her own safety in the process. While “fun in the sun” is had in this episode, there is also the underlying lesson that some people will take advantage of others when they perceive a chance to.
5My Love Story!! – My Ocean
My Love Story has it right from the get-go: swimsuits are for swimming! This sweetromanceshoujo follows the story of Takeo Gouda, who appears intimidating to those around him, including his crushes. One day, he falls for Rinko Yamato after saving her, but he’s unsure if she likes him or his conventionally attractive friend, Makoto Sunakawa.
My Ocean is a classic beach episode with adjustments that align with Gouda’s values and morals. As he condemns guys in his class for fetishizing girls in their bathing suits, he’s also faced with his own sexual attraction for Yamato (and vice versa). Episode 11 is full of the push and pull of a coming-of-age romance, ending in a wholesome one-on-one moment between the two, who grow closer and closer to each other each time they interact.
4Food Wars!: Shokugeki No Sama – Final Exams
There’s no better way to start a new season than with a cook-off on the beach, right? Continuing the story of Sōma Yukihira, a boy sent to the prestigious Tōtsuki Culinary Academy, season 5 begins with a new set of final exams. Students of the academy must set up food stands and make a profit of ¥3 million (around $22,701 in USD) within 3 days.
While there is little to no beach play, there is certainly still fan service alongside the thrill of competition. Additionally, viewers meet a rather suspicious new professor called Suzuki. Food Wars crafts its own version of a beach episode, keeping viewers interested in what savory dishes Yukihira and his friends will make next.
3Free! Iwatobi Swim Club – A Swim-Off in a Foreign Land!
Set on the coast of Sydney, Australia, rivals-turned-friends Rin Matsuoka and Haruka Nanase take a trip through Matsuoka’s memories of when he first came to Australia. He relays much of his past with Nanase in the hope of reinvigorating him to swim again with purpose.
What started off as a show about classmates whoreuniteand form a swim club, the show grows to a point where everyone is figuring out what they’re doing after graduation. Season 2 Episode 12 touches base with the topics of belonging (or lack thereof), being challenged by people better than oneself, depression and feelings of lostness, and the search for what swimming means to them.
2Fruits Basket (2019-2021) – Are You Really This Stupid?
Fruits Basketis a staple manga-to-anime adaptation in the shoujo world. The protagonist, Tohru Honda, meets and eventually lives with a family, which she soon discovers can change into the animals of the zodiac if embraced by the opposite sex. During the time she spends with the Somas, she discovers layers of trauma and abuse each member has experienced over the years. Unbeknownst to her, her kindness and patience are part of what heals them.
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The show’s beach episode is, in earnest, more of a beach arc because it spans throughout the next few episodes. Episode 6 is the first of the arc, painting a clear picture of what’s to come. While there is much to do, like swim racing and collecting stag beetles, there is also a great deal of gaining self-awareness and Tohru briefly facing her own family trauma all throughout.
1My Hero Academia – Long Time No See, Selkie
My Hero Academiais and has always been skilled when it comes to shifting the spotlight while keeping motivation high. While the show began with young Izuku Midoriya searching for a place in the hero world, it has now reached a point where viewers are invested in his peers, who do the same in their own ways. Season 5’s filler “beach” episode creates a side plot that follows Ochaco Uraraka, Tsuya Asui, Sirius, Nejire Hado, and Pro Hero Ryuko Tatsuma as they assist Pro Hero Selkie in stopping stolen cargo on the sea.
This episode is a perfect mix of play and work that doesn’t really impact the plot of the overall show. Even so, writers managed to sneak in a bit of character progression for Uraraka that challenges her to extend obstacles in her confidence and her quirk that limit her. Episode 16 keeps viewers motivated while also reminding them to cherish the good memories they have while they have them.
