Banana Fish || Anime Review

This is a perfect day for Bananafish [to watch Banana Fish, that is].

Banana Fish is not for everyone.

I will be blunt. Banana Fish takes an in-depth look at some of the most mature themes I have ever seen discussed in an anime. 

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⚠ WARNING ⚠
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Banana Fish features some sensitive topics including violence, crime, gangs, and sexual abuse. Please read ahead at your own discretion.

Comment down the suggestions for more anime or your opinion on Banana Fish. Critics are welcome! 

Onto the Anime Review of Banana Fish by Wired Ends.

"This is a perfect day for Bananafish. They swim into a hole where there's a lot of bananas. They're very ordinary-looking fish when they swim in. But once they get in, they behave like pigs. Naturally, after that they're so fat they can't get out of the hole again."

-A Perfect Day for Bananafish, J. D. Salinger

Banana Fish is an action anime of 24 episodes. Its name is derived from J. D. Salinger’s short story, “A Perfect Day for Bananafish”, from which the quote above originated from. 

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PREFACE
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Banana Fish is also sometimes categorized as a shoujo anime, which is understandable considering that it was published in a shoujo manga magazine. What seems to stand out to people the most, however, is that Banana Fish is labelled as BL, or boy’s love. Nevertheless, I urge you not to let either of these labels scare you away, for the anime is far greater than what can be summed up in a single word. Just a mere five episodes into Banana Fish, it immediately shot up to one of my top 10 favorite anime. By the end of the last episode, it settled within my top 3. 

No, it is not a perfect anime, nor is its premise extraordinarily creative. But, I thoroughly enjoyed every minute.

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CHARACTERS
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The characters stand at the heart of Banana Fish. Though a quick overview of the main cast might convince you that the characters fall into the usual anime tropes, a deeper examination would allow you to see that the characters are much more. Though some attributes of the cast are certainly exaggerated, each character feels very real. Banana Fish does not shy away from highlighting the cast’s flaws and weaknesses. In my opinion, the motives, decisions, and emotions of each character are portrayed as very “human”, which only helps to add to the quality of the anime and the likability of the cast.

For now, I will take a short look at the two main characters:

-Ash Lynx-

Ash Lynx is our tormented main character and a young leader of a gang in New York City. While he is far from having a clean record, he is one of the least-corrupt gang leaders in the area. Ash is deeply admired by his men, both for his leadership skills and his fighting ability. Though, I think what makes him such an appealing character is that he is emotionally-driven. This can primarily be observed through his relationship with Eiji, but also in the way he interacts with other characters. Ash is not afraid to let such emotions become his weakness, which makes him that much more respectable a character as a result.

I consider Ash a prodigy in every way. He is highly intelligent and physically gifted. However, Banana Fish never forgets to make a point about how good-looking Ash is as well. Which leads me to the discussion of Ash’s relationship with the abhorrent mafia boss Dino Golzine. Golzine found Ash when Ash was a young boy and raised Ash like a prized pet, hoping that Ash would become his successor. Golzine is a recurring villain in Banana Fish and stands as my most-hated anime character of all time. More about the execution of Banana Fish’s execution of heavy themes will be discussed later in the blog. Yet, Ash has never allowed those he hates to destroy him and I think it is this trait that makes him so appealing.

-Eiji Okumura-

Most everything that can be said about Banana Fish is extremely dreary to talk about. Well, I think Eiji’s main purpose is to serve as the anime’s single source of “goodness”. He is a journalist’s assistant from Japan who has recently arrived in New York, only to be caught up in the world of Ash Lynx. I admire the way the creators of Banana Fish present Eiji as a contrast to Ash. They couldn’t be more different. Eiji is the epitome of innocence, never having touched a gun in his life. Now he stands in the middle of gang wars, mafia operations, and personal feuds, with only Ash as guidance.

Eiji is Ash’s best friend, but also his greatest weakness. Their relationship is one that I have grown to love and one that the fans of the series seem to adore as well. It is quite something to experience, considering how many different functions their relationship serves. At times, their banter allows for rare comedic moments in which the “shoujo” label becomes more apparent. More often than not, however, their relationship functions as a target for the many antagonists of Banana Fish to exploit. Nevertheless, I found it highly enjoyable to watch Ash develop the resolve to push forward past seemingly insurmountable obstacles in response to his desire to protect Eiji’s innocence and how, as a result, Ash learns to open up his heart to others and enjoy the little sources of happiness in his life.

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PACING & ACTION
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Banana Fish is very much a fast-paced anime. In fact, so fast-paced that I found I had to limit myself to 2 episodes a day. Never before have I had to restrict how many episodes I could watch a day, but I knew I wanted to savor Banana Fish, considering it is only two hours in length. Arguably, even the first episode, despite being action-packed, is not a perfect representation of how high-speed the anime truly is. Perhaps it just took me a few episodes to get used to Banana Fish’s method of storytelling, but the gradual buildup of momentum seemed to span multiple episodes. In the end, this only added to my enjoyment of the anime, for it seemed like each episode outdid the previous, building onto Banana Fish’s suspense.

I think that the principal driving force of Banana Fish’s pace is its action. The word “action” is commonly associated with well-animated fight scenes. Banana Fish certainly has a lot of them, as is expected from an anime whose main character is a gang leader with too many enemies to count. Though they may not be of the same quality as, say, Bleach, they get the job done nicely. However, I believe that much of Banana Fish’s fast pace can also be attributed to the story itself. There is always something happening in the show and, usually, more than one at a time. The plot keeps on moving along, introducing new characters and setting up new predicaments for our main characters to get trapped in. Even during the lighter episodes, Banana Fish never seems to slow, for the way the episodes are divided allow for many cliffhangers.

In short, Banana Fish is the perfect high-speed anime to binge watch, with nonstop action and a suspenseful story that just urges you to watch the entire 24 episodes in a single sitting.

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HEAVY THEMES
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Gangs, the mafia, violence, sexual abuse, and more. Banana Fish covers a number of sensitive topics, so it is not an anime meant for everyone. If you find yourself uncomfortable with such topics, I highly recommend that you pass up Banana Fish.

In my opinion, Banana Fish handles such heavy themes well. It is very candid in its approach, never glorifying wrong acts. The characters’ emotions are never sugar-coated, so as not to downplay their struggles, nor are their pains romanticized just for the sake of “providing viewer entertainment”. Each character’s reactions are appropriate and no one theme gets too out of hand. I also think it is important to realize that Banana Fish clearly portrays acts of crime as morally wrong and at no point does it put its support behind any form of abuse.

I should also note that such heavy topics are always accompanied with lessons of strength. If any type of media, whether it is an anime or not, takes on the task of discussing sensitive topics, I think it is important that they make a statement rather than just use it as a plot device. I think Banana Fish succeeds in this respect. Take Ash for example, who has suffered through so much in his past without anyone to help him through it. Yet, in Eiji’s words, “Ash is not broken yet”. Ash’s perseverance is inspiring, and with Eiji’s appearance, Banana Fish is able to convey themes of hope and survival.

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EMOTIONS
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If there is one aspect of an anime that I had to choose to be the most important, it would be the emotions elicited. While some may jump to the conclusion that an “emotional” anime is a sad one, it is important to note that emotions cover a broad spectrum of feelings. Though sorrow is certainly included.

I found that the easiest “emotion” to feel with regards to Banana Fish is an attachment to the characters. Considering the short length of the anime, Banana Fish does a fantastic job of allowing the viewer to develop a deep understanding of each character. However, this “understanding” is mainly limited to the main cast, which is understandable considering how many side characters are introduced and how short 24 episodes is relative to other anime. Whether for better or for worse, Banana Fish is also good at convincing the viewer to hate the antagonists. This arguably enhances the viewing experience by allowing the viewer to sympathize with Ash’s struggles.

With everything being said, Banana Fish isn’t lacking in the “tragedy” department either. Without revealing any spoilers, Banana Fish certainly hits hard throughout the entirety of the anime. You will find yourself on the edge of your seat, rooting for some characters and scorning others. Sometimes, your emotions will be spared, but more often than not, your feelings are just an afterthought in the face of Banana Fish’s cruel plot.

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SETTING
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Banana Fish’s world immersion is top-notch. Every second of the anime screams “New York City”, from the first second of the opening sequence to the very last. Think Durarara, but set in the United States rather than Japan. In fact, Durarara and Banana Fish are somewhat similar to each other, with the primary difference being that Banana Fish tells a much darker story. Banana Fish’s manga is also rather old (at least, as far as manga go), as it was published in the 80's. The anime reflects the 80's atmosphere, but with a modern twist.

Although I cannot say that Banana Fish’s art style is my favorite, I think it works well with the 20th century inner city feel. At times, the characters’ animation did seem underwhelming, but I learned to accept Banana Fish’s art style as unique and refreshing. The same can be said about Banana Fish’s amazing OST, the openings and endings aside.

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MUSIC
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Although the music of an anime is largely up to individual preference, I consider Banana Fish’s openings and endings some of the best I have listened to. In fact, it is because of the music that I discovered Banana Fish in the first place. To be more specific, it is Banana Fish’s first ending, Prayer X that introduced me. Though, it did not take long before I fell in love with the band that played Banana Fish’s first opening, Survive Said the Prophet, as well.

The first opening, Found and Lost transports you into the gripping world of Banana Fish’s gangs, the mafia, and street brawls. I have a soft spot for Japanese rock, but Found and Lost hits differently than other songs, carrying a grim tone as opposed to an upbeat or exciting one. The wonderful animation of the opening only adds to Banana Fish’s top-notch world immersion, for it draws heavily on the inner New York City atmosphere.

The ending, Prayer X, is much more laid back, but no less powerful. I highly recommend that you listen to it, even if you are not planning on watching Banana Fish. Prayer X is unlike any song I have listened to before, yet it encompasses Ash’s character perfectly. It maintains a steady and catchy beat throughout, yet the vocalist’s voice and the growing discord of the instrumental track in the background make the song seem haunting.

The second opening and second ending should not be dismissed either, though that is a discussion for after you watch the first hour of Banana Fish.

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CONCLUSION

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Banana Fish is not for everyone. However, it still remains one of my favorite anime, despite its many flaws, simply because of its gripping plot, wonderful characters, and unique charm. It’s the perfect anime to binge watch when you find yourself looking for a solid action anime.

If you still have your doubts, I urge you to watch the first episode. Or, at the very least, one of its trailers. Otherwise, I wish you well on your Banana-Fish-watching.

And, for those who are still concerned about the elephant in the room:

What exactly is a “Bananafish”?

That is a question to be answered by the anime. I will give you a hint though— it’s much more than just an allusion to J. D. Salinger’s short story!

That was the anime review of Banana Fish by Wired Ends.

Thanks for reading it!

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