Plenty of anime have fillers for various reasons. The beach episodes that we encounter in many anime are a particular type of filler. So, find out more about the anime beach episode trope and why it's so prevalent.
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What Is a Beach Episode in Anime?
Tv Tropes defines the beach episode as "an episode where the cast decided to take a break and go to the beach or a swimming pool for some wet and splashy fun."
Most often, these episodes are fillers because they serve as a pause to the characters' adventures and don't really advance the plot.
Therefore, if the beach or the seaside is an entire anime's setting, any one episode taking place on the beach isn't a beach episode.
Similarly, if some characters' journey brings them to the beach due to important plot reasons, we probably aren't talking about a beach episode.
Why Do Anime Have Beach Episodes?
The reasons anime have beach episodes are largely similar to the reason anime have fillers.
Of course, the existence of one beach episode doesn't automatically mean that an anime is full of fillers.
Sometimes, the beach episode is one filler among many, but other times, it can be the only one in a 12-episode anime.
Here are some of the reasons creators would choose to add a beach episode:
Breather Episode Before the Plot Takes Off
Saving the world can be overwhelming, and a plot that doesn't give us any break from action can be exhausting.
Sometimes, fictional characters deserve a break too, and the audiences need to breathe and see the cast being people who enjoy themselves.
Opportunity for Humor and Character Interactions
This point is related to the one above. Not only are beach episodes a break from plot developments, but they're also an opportunity for viewers to get to know the characters better.
While character development should happen organically as part of the plot, certain character interactions can only take place during relaxed moments.
When characters have fun, we see aspects of them that wouldn't make sense at the peak of a battle, for instance.
Moreover, beach episodes can be a good place for much-needed conversations or simply, humorous interactions.
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Episode Number Constraints
For most one-cour anime, 12 episodes are the norm.
If, for uniformity and marketing purposes, a certain number is preferable, and all plot threads are taken care of, a filler in the beach episode tradition might be considered.
Truth in Television
Japan, like many other countries, has a climate that allows people to go to the beach in the summer.
Since this is a beloved summer tradition for so many people, it is sometimes simply realistic for anime characters to take part in it, especially in slice-of-life works.
Fanservice
Unfortunately, some anime use their beach episode as an excuse for excessive fanservice due to most characters wearing swimsuits.
After all, the term "beach episode" is often referred to in Japanese as 水着回 (mizugi kai or swimsuit episode).
Depending on how bad it is -- particularly when it comes to compromising shots of female characters -- this can be really distracting.
That being said, not every anime with a beach episode will rely on fanservice too much.
Anime Beach Episode Examples
Almost every big anime you can think of has had some variation of a big episode at some point since the tradition was already well-established in the 1990s.
Some anime shows are really good at incorporating beach episodes. Others, not so much.
Best Beach Episodes
Many anime manage to add a beach episode without being too distracting and without compromising the characters or the plot.
In many cases, they tweak the beach episode trope just enough to make it fit the show's overall atmosphere and vibe, so the seaside break doesn't feel entirely out of place.
Some anime even use this break from the plot to demonstrate significant character development.
Fruits Basket
Fruits Basket manages to incorporate its beach arc into the main plot.
While the characters take a break from their usual environment and the school shenanigans are momentarily abandoned, the emotional intensity is not.
The episodes unfolding in the Sohma family's beach house show plenty of fun and heartwarming moments we wouldn't see in any other setting.
The central themes of found family and kindness are also there, as the characters work together to buy Tohru a swimsuit, which really moves her.
More importantly, Fruits Basket's beach arc sheds light on Akito's motivations, as Tohru fully understands how threatening the head of the family can be.
Another
Another's beach episode is infamous because it serves as a break from the main plot but still allows for something terrible to happen.
The horror anime's over-the-top deaths are too much for some viewers, making the existence of a beach episode somewhat baffling.
But seeing the characters having fun on the beach allows you to breathe for a bit.
And even then, Another maintains its absurd horror on the beach. Over-the-top, sure, but at least, it's consistent.
Bonus! Avatar: The Last Airbender
Avatar: The Last Airbender isn't an anime as such, but it borrows several anime tropes and modes -- including the beach episode.
This is a particularly well-done one, placed rather close to the final battle, and containing small but crucial bits of character development.
Worst Beach Episodes
In some cases, beach episodes can feel out of place and gratuitous, either because of the excessive fanservice or because not enough work was done to make them fit with the show's vibe.
Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Rei
Higurashi is famous for its dark and horrifying atmosphere. Yes, it does have a few light-hearted moments, but these are brief and turn into something horrible quite fast.
Knowing this, the first episode of the third season, aka the beach episode in question, feels like an alternative universe, with fanservice elements and no horror vibes.
Sure, the horrors might catch you unaware when they do occur, but overall, it wasn't Higurashi's best moment.
The Detective Is Already Dead
The Detective Is Already Dead featured a beach episode that had tons of fanservice and little substance.
Of course, some viewers might point out that the whole show can feel like that sometimes, so the beach episode isn't a huge tonal shift.
But it's just not the best as the beach trope goes.
Highschool of the Dead
Highschool of the Dead is another case of an anime that gets completely derailed during its beach episode.
Unlike Another, which finds a way to incorporate horror and remind us that its characters aren't safe, Highschool of the Dead's beach episode seems to forget that there's a zombie apocalypse.
Worse still, fanservice -- already a concern in the show -- is taken up to eleven, to the point that the beach episode feels like an adult film with too many gratuitous scenes.
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