This Boy Caught a Merman Rankings And Opinions

Some anime try to win you over with 24 episodes of angst, a tournament arc, and at least one
beach episode that exists purely to sell towels. This Boy Caught a Merman does it with
about half an hour, a soft watercolor look, and a premise that sounds like a joke you’d tell
at lunchthen it quietly punches you in the feelings (politely, with good manners, because it’s still anime).

If you’ve ever wondered what would happen if a queer, melancholy riff on mermaid folklore met
a grief story and decided to keep everything short, sweet, and slightly surreal, you’re in the right tidepool.
This is a spoiler-light deep dive into what the OVA is, why people still talk about it, and how it stacks up
in “rankings and opinions” termsaka the fun part where we judge art with pretend numbers.

What Is This Boy Caught a Merman?

This Boy Caught a Merman (also known by its Japanese title Kono Danshi, Ningyo Hiroimashita)
is a short OVA in Soubi Yamamoto’s “This Boy / Kono Danshi” projectstandalone stories that lean into
fantasy setups to talk about loneliness, connection, and the awkward, human part of being alive.
It was created with CoMix Wave Films and later licensed for North American release by Sentai Filmworks,
with a home video release through Section23 Films.

Quick Facts (Because Your Brain Loves a Cheat Sheet)

• Format: Short OVA (roughly ~28–30 minutes)
• Creator/Director: Soubi Yamamoto
• Studio: CoMix Wave Films
• North American release: Licensed by Sentai Filmworks; distributed by Section23 Films
• Core setup: A grieving boy is rescued by a mermanand they end up sharing a life
• Vibe: Gentle fantasy + emotional healing + boys’ love (BL) tenderness (not explicit)

Plot Summary (Spoiler-Light and Saltwater-Safe)

The story follows Shima Kawauchi, a teen who’s carrying a heavy kind of lonelinessespecially after the death
of his grandfather. He goes to the beach looking for space to grieve… and winds up in real danger when the
ocean takes more than his thoughts.

He’s rescued by Isaki, a merman who isby fantasy standardssurprisingly calm about the whole “human almost
drowned” situation. Instead of vanishing back into the sea like a mysterious mythological NPC, Isaki ends up
staying close. The two form a bond that’s part friendship, part emotional rescue line, and part “uh-oh, this is
turning into feelings.”

From there, the plot is less about big twists and more about small moments: learning each other’s rhythms,
dealing with grief that doesn’t follow a schedule, and navigating the fact that love across species is… complicated.
(Because romance is already hard. Now add gills.)

Why People Still Talk About It

1) It’s a grief story disguised as a mermaid story

Under the fantasy hook, this is about mourning, emotional isolation, and what it looks like when someone finally
stops “performing fine” long enough to be seen. Shima isn’t written as a dramatic caricature; he feels like a person
who has trained himself to be agreeable and quiet until the quiet becomes a cage.

2) The “Little Mermaid” echo is flipped in a fresh way

A lot of summaries compare it to a queer “Little Mermaid” riffonly here, the rescued one is the human, and the
supernatural character isn’t a glittery wish-fulfillment prize. Isaki has agency, curiosity, and a presence that’s
more comforting than seductive. The fantasy isn’t “escape reality,” it’s “let’s talk about reality with a softer light.”

3) Soubi Yamamoto’s style is the main character

Even people who feel mixed about the story often remember the visuals: airy colors, expressive hair and eyes, and
a dreamy mood that makes ordinary rooms feel like they’re floating. In short: it looks like a memory you’re not sure
is yours, but you miss it anyway.

4) It’s BL without the usual “gotchas”

If your BL experience includes too many power imbalances, tired tropes, or melodrama that feels like it was written
by a soap opera trapped in a vending machine, this OVA can feel like a palate cleanser. It’s not trying to shock you.
It’s trying to soothe you. And that’s rare enough to stand out.

Rankings and Opinions: The “Is It Good Though?” Breakdown

Let’s be clear: ranking art is a little ridiculous. (That’s why it’s fun.) So here’s a practical scoring system that matches
how people actually watch a short OVA: vibes, craft, emotional landing, and whether you’d recommend it to a friend
without adding five disclaimers.

Category Scores (10 = masterpiece, 1 = “my eyes regret this”)

Overall opinion score: 8/10 a small, heartfelt fantasy that succeeds on mood, theme, and style.
Not perfect, but memorable in a “quiet favorite” way.

My Ranking Within the “This Boy / Kono Danshi” Titles (Opinionated Edition)

The “This Boy” entries are connected more by creator voice than by plot, so ranking them is basically ranking flavors.
Here’s a reasonable, viewer-friendly ordering if you’re deciding what to watch first.

1. This Boy Caught a Merman Best entry point: clean premise, strong emotional hook, gorgeous atmosphere.
2. This Boy Can Fight Aliens! A fun contrast: sci-fi framing with the same tender core.
3. This Boy Is a Professional Wizard More episodic and concept-forward; charming if you like the vibe.
4. This Boy Suffers From Crystallization Often the most divisive; some love the metaphor, others bounce off the dynamics.

If you’re here specifically for This Boy Caught a Merman rankings and opinions, the headline is simple:
it’s frequently treated as one of the most approachable and emotionally satisfying entries in the setespecially
for viewers who want BL that feels soft instead of sensational.

Best Parts (and the Not-So-Best Parts)

What it nails

• Atmosphere: It feels like a rainy day by the seacalm, gray-blue, and honest.
• Tenderness without spectacle: The bond grows through care, not grand gestures.
• Comfort-watch energy: Short runtime, emotional warmth, and low narrative clutter.

What might not work for everyone

• You want a “big plot”: This is more mood and character than story engine.
• You need fully explained lore: The fantasy is a metaphor first, a mythology second.
• You dislike ambiguity: Some moments feel like poetic suggestion instead of concrete answers.

Who Should Watch This?

You’ll probably like it if…

• You enjoy short anime films/OVAs that feel like emotional short stories.
• You want BL romance that’s gentle and not explicit.
• You’re in the mood for themes of grief, loneliness, and healing (handled softly).
• You like anime where the art style is a big part of the appeal.

You might skip it if…

• You prefer plot-heavy stories or action-driven pacing.
• You want comedy-first mermaid chaos (this is more tender than hilarious).
• You’re not in a headspace for grief themes right now.

Where to Watch or Buy in the U.S. (And Why It’s Sometimes Confusing)

Here’s the practical reality: streaming rights move around more than a merman spotting a seafood buffet.
This Boy Caught a Merman was licensed in North America by Sentai Filmworks and released on home video
(Blu-ray/DVD) via Section23 Films, which is why you’ll see it referenced in release slates and retail listings.

Buy/Own Options

• Blu-ray/DVD: Look for Sentai/Section23 branded releases and standard U.S. region formats.
• Digital storefronts: Availability varies by platform and region.

Streaming

Some older fan discussions and service lineups have listed it on HIDIVE, but aggregators can show “no streaming
options” at different times depending on licensing changes. If you’re searching today, check (1) major aggregators,
(2) Sentai/HIDIVE availability, and (3) whether your region is set correctly in the appbecause sometimes the problem
isn’t the ocean, it’s your settings menu.

FAQ: Quick Answers to Common Questions

Is This Boy Caught a Merman a series or standalone?

It’s a standalone story within a larger “This Boy / Kono Danshi” project. You don’t need prior viewing to understand it.

Is it safe to watch if I don’t like explicit content?

Yes. The romance is handled softly and suggestively rather than explicitly. Think “tender connection,” not “graphic.”

Is it actually a comedy?

It has light moments, but it’s primarily a gentle drama with fantasy elements. The humor is more “small human moments”
than punchline-driven.

Why do some people rate it wildly differently?

Short mood pieces tend to split audiences: if you value atmosphere, symbolism, and emotional tone, you’ll likely enjoy it.
If you want clear plot escalation and fully explained lore, it may feel too brief.

Final Verdict

This Boy Caught a Merman is the kind of anime you recommend when a friend says, “I want something short but
meaningful.” It’s not trying to be the loudest BL title, the most intricate fantasy, or the deepest mythology lesson.
It’s trying to be a small, sincere story about loneliness meeting kindnessand it mostly succeeds.

In rankings-and-opinions terms: it’s a strong 8/10, with a 9/10 aesthetic,
a soothing emotional arc, and just enough dreamy weirdness to feel unique. If you like soft fantasy and gentle romance,
you may finish it thinking, “That was lovely.” If you don’t, you’ll still probably remember how it looked.

Viewer Experiences (Extra ): What Watching It Feels Like

A common viewer experience with This Boy Caught a Merman starts with skepticism. The title sounds like a
meme. It reads like clickbait. You hit play expecting chaosmaybe a fish-tail gag, a slapstick splash, or a parody
that winks at you every five seconds. Then the first thing you notice is the quiet.

The ocean isn’t just a setting; it’s a mood. The pacing asks you to slow down. The scenes breathe. For a lot of people,
that’s the surprise: it doesn’t feel like a “mini anime episode,” it feels like a short illustrated story that happens to move.
Viewers who like atmospheric films often describe the sensation as sinking into a soft blanketexcept the blanket is
seafoam-colored and emotionally complicated.

Another very relatable reaction: the emotional whiplash of realizing the fantasy is carrying something real. Shima’s grief
isn’t treated as a plot device that disappears once the cute supernatural character shows up. It lingers in the background,
shaping how he speaks, how he pauses, and how he holds himself. Many viewers recognize that feelingthe way grief can
make you polite, numb, or “fine” until one small thing (a photo, a memory, a day at the beach) cracks the surface.

Isaki’s presence tends to land as comfort for the audience, not just for Shima. People who enjoy gentle romance often
latch onto the caregiving tone: shared space, small kindnesses, the sense that affection can be calm instead of dramatic.
In a media landscape where romance is frequently “chase, conflict, chase, confession,” the calmness can feel refreshing.
It’s the emotional equivalent of someone handing you a warm drink and not asking you to explain yourself.

There’s also a specific “short OVA” aftertaste: you finish it and immediately check the runtime like, “Wait, that’s it?”
Some viewers feel satisfiedlike they just read a good short story. Others feel a little hungry, wanting an extra scene
to deepen the relationship or clarify the fantasy rules. Interestingly, that hunger is often part of why the OVA sticks in
memory. Because it ends quickly, your brain keeps finishing it for you, replaying the mood and filling in the quiet spaces.

And then there’s the art. Even when opinions vary on plot, many viewers end up talking about the look: the softness,
the color choices, the dreamy character designs. It’s the kind of animation that makes you pausenot because something
shocking happened, but because the frame itself feels like a painting. For some people, that becomes the core memory:
not “what happened,” but “how it felt.” If you watch anime to chase big twists, this may be too subtle. If you watch to
collect moods the way other people collect postcards, this one fits neatly into the album.

In the end, the most common “experience review” sounds something like: “I didn’t expect to care… and then I did.”
That’s the quiet magic trick of This Boy Caught a Merman. It doesn’t yell for your attention. It just waits for you
to lean inlike the tide, patient and persistent, until you realize you’re already standing in the water.