Jellyfish can’t Swim in the Night is an original animated production made by Doga Kobo to celebrate their 50th year anniversary. It features a group of young high school girls, each with their own dreams and problems, who band up together to produce music and animated videos. The series partially explores the difficulties that arise while producing something original in the new age of media, tackling phenomena such as internet fame, trolling and personal growth. On the one hand the core intent of Jellyfish can’t Swim in the Night is to be part of the ‘healing’ subgenre, the classic ‘moe girls doing moe things’, but it also adds to that several key components that create a mini self-conclusive series that makes for a pleasant viewing experience.
One thing in particular that the anime does well is obviously music. I have covered the topic of music in anime in a YouTube video as well and, although it never reaches the levels of other anime such as Beck Mongolian Chop Squad, Kids on a Slope or Those Snow White Notes, it still delivers a high quality production. This is mainly because of how Jellyfish can’t Swim in the Night explores the creation of music with composition, mixing and art.
Another important thing is how the characters actually evolve through the course of the story, especially in an age where character development seems to have been almost forgotten. It adds a minimum of emotional baggage to the protagonists that, although within merely 12 episodes is resolved, it still gives them a minimum of depth. It never reaches the sorrow and grief of other series such as March Comes Like a Lion and Your Lie in April, but the effort is still quite appreciated. In other words, although the amount of drama is not exaggerated and quickly reaches a conclusion, the inner hurdles that the protagonists have to overcome help to create compelling characters.
I would describe Jellyfish can’t Swim in the Night as a cosy and comforting anime; it is a brief yet sweet series that has my recommendation if you want to detach yourself from what you are doing and feel a little bit better about the world (which is within the parameters of the ‘healing’ subgenre to be fair).