Japan Sinks: 2020
Synopsis — from MyAnimeList
The Mutou family leads a peaceful life: Kouichirou works at a construction site and his wife Mari is returning from an overseas trip. Their daughter Ayumu has just finished her track practice while their son Gou is playing video games at home. However, life as they know it is flipped upside down when a calamitous earthquake strikes the entire Japanese archipelago—obliterating the face of the country in an instant. With society crumbling around them and their nation gradually sinking into the ocean, the Mutou family must band together to survive the catastrophe. Treading the near-apocalyptic setting, they struggle not only to stay alive, but also to learn the difficulty of coping with loss.
Audience Consensus
Audience reception for Nihon Chinbotsu 2020 is highly polarized. While a minority praise its unique story and emotional depth, the vast majority are critical of its inconsistent animation, underdeveloped characters, and erratic narrative structure. The show is seen as a significant disappointment by many, especially considering its production studio and association with a renowned director.
Strengths
- The music is frequently praised for being emotional and fitting the somber tone.
- Some viewers found the story unique and thought-provoking, appreciating its message of perseverance.
- The depiction of characters' psychological struggles and survivor's guilt was noted as a strong point by some.
Weaknesses
- Animation quality is widely criticized as inconsistent, choppy, and at times, abysmal.
- Character development is frequently called out as weak, with characters being too archetypal, unsympathetic, or behaving illogically.
- The narrative is often described as poorly structured, filled with plot conveniences, filler episodes, and jarring tonal shifts.