YMMV / The Aquatope on White Sand

• Questionable Casting: Saya Hirose as Maho. She's playing an elementary schooler, but she sounds like she's the same age as Fuuka and Kukuru, if not older.
• Rescued from the Scrappy Heap:
  • Chiyu. After being introduced as a foil to Kukuru, she was rapidly hated by fans for her attitude toward her. This changed in episode 16, when Chiyu was revealed to be a struggling single mother.
  • Assistant Director Suwa: Very late in the series, his motivations for being so harsh with Kukuru are revealed as stemming from a different aquarium he worked for going bankrupt and most of the animals died.
• Unintentionally Unsympathetic: Kukuru. While the aim of saving the aquarium is noble, Kukuru's motives and attitude to do it more often than not come off as completely selfish and self-centered. Most notably in episode 11, where she barricades herself inside the aquarium during a typhoon.
• What Do You Mean, It's Not Political?: Late in the series, the difficulties sea life is facing from overfishing, encroaching civilization, microplastic pollution, and the great pacific garbage patch are mentioned and become a call to action for Fuuka. Bleached corals and endangered species like sea turtles are brought up.

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