Anime fans are familiar with tropes that often appear in the medium, and the beach episode is one of these. No matter how serious in tone an anime is, it might find a flimsy excuse to let its characters have a trip to the beach for a single episode just to show off some misplaced fan service shots of the female characters.
Many anime use beach episodes as filler, but some stories turn the trope to their advantage. Rather than using a beach episode as a chance to display the female cast, there are anime that naturally create important story beats in these episodes which makes them an essential part of the overall narrative.
10 Rikka Takanashi Has A Lot Weighing On Her (Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions)
Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions is a comedy with sweet underlying tones of romance. So, it's not surprising that the beach episode during the first season naturally carries the same tone. However, it also has a noticeable impact on the future of Rikka Takanashi's story.
While loveable characters like Shinka Nibutani and Sanae Dekomori are goofing off as expected, the audience is given some insight into Rikka's childhood. It turns out that not everyone can accept her chunibyo personality, and this revelation ends up being a prelude to the challenges she must overcome later on.
9 Shinya Yukimura And Ayame Himuro Prove Their Love Using Science (Science Fell In Love, So I Tried To Prove It)
Shinya Yukimura And Ayame Himuro are clearly in love, but their scientific brains need to be 100% sure of this before they can act upon it. This unorthodox premise eventually leads the group to a beach trip that serves as the culmination of the first season.
It lasts for multiple episodes and shows the characters taking part in a variety of experiments, such as a close contact experiment while wearing swimsuits. By the time the beach arc is over, the pair have found the perfect romantic mood and exponentially progress their relationship by sharing their first kiss.
8 The Kids Of Class 3-E Are Only Pretending To Enjoy The Beach (Assassination Classroom)
Beach episodes are normally used to make the audience fawn over the scantily-clad female characters, but that was never going to be the case in Assassination Classroom. The goal of class 3-E is to assassinate the all-powerful Koro-sensei before he makes good on his promise to destroy the world.
Rather than genuinely enjoying the sun and sand during their summer holidays, the class uses leisure activities like scuba diving and hang gliding as a clever shroud to hide their real plan. The most elaborate assassination attempt on Koro-sensei yet.
7 Haruhi Suzumiya Has An Elaborate Plan In Mind For The SOS Brigade (The Melancholy Of Haruhi Suzumiya)
Trying to predict what Haruhi Suzumiya does next is a fool's errand. That's why when the SOS brigade goes on a trip to the beach, it would be natural to assume she is up to something.
The group stays at a remote island villa, but it isn't long before a storm covers the island, and their host dies under mysterious circumstances. Kyon and his friends end up solving the case before later finding out that the entire event was a game set up by Haruhi herself.
6 Akito Sohma Felt Compelled To Ruin Tohru Honda's Beach Vacation (Fruits Basket)
Tohru Honda and the Sohma family head to a beach villa for a fun getaway that lets the characters relax. They go for a swim, set off fireworks on the beach, and Tohru reflects upon what she and the Sohma family have been through. Yet, it isn't long before the trip turns sour.
Viewers receive their first hints at the story surrounding Tohru's unknown father. In addition, the unhinged Akito Sohma arrives to berate Tohru by telling her that the Sohma family will be forever bound to him, no matter what she does.
5 Takeo Gouda And Rinko Yamato Only Become Sweeter When They Visit The Beach (My Love Story!!)
Love can take on many forms, and the sweet romance of Takeo Gouda and Rinko Yamato is one such example. Few anime couples are as sweet and innocent, and this is on full display when the audience sees that Takeo refuses to think of any inappropriate thoughts about his girlfriend while they are at the beach.
Meanwhile, Rinko can't stop thinking about Takeo and is doing her best to use the beach trip as a chance to grow closer to him. It results in an episode with many romantic moments that push their relationship further along.
4 Relationships Become Clearer As The Truth Starts To Emerge (Toradora)
The beach episode of Toradora shows off the main cast in their best swimwear, but it serves as a backdrop to more important developments. Minori Kushieda declines Ryuuji Takasu's feelings but cryptically hints that she knows more than she's letting on.
Later, the group takes on a scary cave exploring challenge set up by her, bringing Taiga Aisaka and Ryuuji closer together than they were before the beach trip. Finally getting to see the real sides to certain characters was a big step forward for these high schoolers.
3 Marin Kitagawa Brings Wakana Gojo Into The Light (My Dress-Up Darling)
Wakana Gojo hadn't experienced many recreational activities teens his age normally have. But, when Marin Kitagawa bursts into his life like a ray of sunshine, that all changes. When the two visit a nearby beach after their exams, it isn't an excuse for fan service. Instead, they simply enjoy their time together.
Gojo and Marin share food and laugh about a peculiar seagull. Gojo even experiences the feeling of seawater for the first time. As the cherry on top, Marin turns every shade of red as she becomes overwhelmed by her affection for him.
2 Eren Yeager Ponders About A Dangerous Future (Attack On Titan)
When the Survey Corps finally gaze upon the sea with their own eyes, they're awestruck. Armin Arlert realized his dream, Levi Ackerman displayed hilarious levels of caution, and the rest of the team got to let loose and act their age which was a refreshing change of pace after being physically and mentally exhausted for so long.
Yet, Eren Yeager couldn't relax. He pointed towards the country of Marley across the ocean and pondered whether killing them all would lead to true freedom.
1 Banri Tada And Kouko Kaga's Trip To The Beach Was A Series Of Unfortunate Events (Golden Time)
Beach episodes simply don't get as impactful as they do in Golden Time. Banri Tada, Kouko Kaga, and their friends did not have luck on their side when going on their beach trip. Some people were late, traffic delayed the journey, and a storm was waiting for them when they arrived.
They make the best of it and enjoy themselves regardless, but things only got worse from there. Kouko falls asleep while driving the group back home, leading them into a car crash with lasting ramifications.