TAB: Tom's Anime Blog

I'm by no means an expert of how to meet women, but I have to think that accidentally groping them on a crowded train is towards the bottom of the list. Ajimu Beach Story, which is even an ecchi series, features a pair of main characters that build a relationship despite this inauspicious start.

ABS manages to be an interesting series even with a short 4 episodes (OVA-length, so probably about the equivalent of 5 or so TV episodes of content.) It's primarily about the relationship between Ajimu, a cute Ukulele-playing girl, and Hirosuke, the random loser guy who accidentally bumps into her on the train. Despite this rocky start, she eventually warms to him, and by the second episode they're in a situation where neither posesses the courage to confess to the other.

The series stays in this holding pattern for the next two episodes, as we learn some things about character's pasts. Ajimu had an ex she was very serious about, while Hirosuke has a pretty girl also vying for his attention (but his best friend is going after her). Ajimu plays ukulele music in every episode.

The end of the third episode begins to knock the series out of the holding pattern. The best part of this series is by far the ending, the second half of the fourth episode, which really shakes things up and forces characters to take action.

I have to say the ending of this series really raised my impression of it. I went from a vague interest in the characters to actually wanting to see what happened next. Even a fat, useless, rude background character gets a scene where she can put her rudeness to use in a cool way. The main characters are forced to resolve their various relationships.

I'll call Ajimu Beach Story a good series, primarily because of the ending. Raise it half a notch if you can't get enough ukulele music.