That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime the Movie: Tears of the Azure Sea doesn’t have much narrative depth, but it makes up for that by being an action-packed, well-animated film with some feel-good moments and a splash of romantic tragedy. Yes, I was surprised by how well That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime the Movie: Tears of the Azure Sea handles romance by the end of it, but don’t worry–no spoilers here.
Taking place after the end of That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime Season 3, Rimuru Tempest and his companions are invited to Celestial Emperor Hermesia’s private resort island for some rest and relaxation. All goes well for the crew until nuclear magic starts appears in the skies, and Gobta gets separated from the group after being distracted by a mysterious silhouette following Rimuru. This mystery person turns out to be Yura, the movie’s heroine. Some conspiracies against Yura begin to take center stage, turning the vacation into a surprisingly fun anime thriller that places some focus away from Rimuru.
That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime the Movie: Tears of the Azure Sea Brings Some Surprises
The plot of That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime the Movie: Tears of the Azure Sea actually does well to stand on its own. Since the story is only loosely connected to past seasons, anyone who’s invited along to watch this movie in theaters (or digital later on) with a That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime fan can have a great time.
To my surprise, Gobta gets a lot of time to shine with Yura, and they have a really good dynamic that also fleshes out Gobta’s character even further. There are plenty of comedic moments in the first third of the movie, which sort of acts as the “resort arc” to the film. The latter two thirds of the movie are full of action sequences that really set the stakes regarding Yura, the Great Water Dragon, and the Kingdom of Kaien.
Rimuru takes a backseat for a good portion of the film, but his presence still moves the plot forward in some meaningful ways, especially with Gobta. Rimuru takes a mentor-like role and looks out for Gobta while trying to get to the bottom of what’s going on at the resort and in Kaien. Of course, Yura is also one of the main highlights of the film, and I thought her character arc was executed really well. I won’t reveal too much about the antagonists, but they’re quite wicked in their pursuit, serving as the major obstacle that Gobta has to overcome.
Deep Blue Beauty
When it comes to animation and the soundtrack, studio 8-bit definitely nailed it. This is a beautifully animated film that makes a spectacle out of its intense and frantic fight scenes, especially those that were teased in one of the main trailers. There were some action scenes that felt like they were expertly choreographed instead of being animated, which goes to show how intricate and detailed the animation. The score is majestic during the emotional and lore-related scenes, but the mix of insert songs from ASH (STEREO DIVE FOUNDATION, ASH DA HERO) and ARCANA PROJECT bring some energy as well.
As expected, the performances from the English dub and original Japanese casts were really delivered in the most pivotal scenes. Gobta feels more like a hero in the making in this film than a sidekick, and Yura sounds like the mythical priestess I pictured her to be from the promotional material. If you’ve caught up with That Time I Reincarnated as a Slime up to this point, you’ll also be rewarded with some comedic cameos, too.
A Fun Watch for Newcomers and Returning Anime Fans
That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime the Movie: Tears of the Azure Sea isn’t a blockbuster or a needle-mover for its own series, but it’s an anime film definitely worth watching to see what this franchise is really about. It’s joyful, emotional, and gripping in all the right moments, and it’s an anime movie at the end of the day, so it’s all in good fun.
In its near 1-hour-and-40-minute runtime, That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime the Movie: Tears of the Azure Sea offers hints of worldbuilding without going off the deep end. Most importantly, it’s a story of bravery and romance that bring some satisfying character development to the leads involved.
That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime the Movie: Tears of the Azure Sea lands in theaters in the United States and Canada on May 1 with an English dub and Japanese with English subtitles. Tickets are on sale.
Disclaimer: Sony Pictures Entertainment and Crunchyroll provided access to That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime the Movie: Tears of the Azure Sea for review purposes.
