5 Best Anime Titles About Mermaids That Will Pull You Under Their Spell, Ranked by IMDb
From the very first episode, these titles draw you into their web.
The sea has always beckoned humanity with its mysteries. Perhaps no one knows how to tell stories of the ocean depths better than Japanese animators.
In anime, mermaids are much more than just beautiful girls with fishtails – they are tragic heroines torn between two worlds, bloodthirsty monsters from ancient legends, and comedic characters trying to fit into everyday life on land.
5. 'Lu Over the Wall', 2017
IMDb Score: 6.8/10
The plot of the animated movie is quite simple. Kai, a shy teenager, moves to the countryside. Out of boredom, he joins a band and accidentally meets a mermaid named Lu.
The story then revolves around the friendship and close bond that develops between Kai, who feels lonely after moving, and Lu, who helps him rediscover his zest for life.
4. 'Rumik World: Mermaid Forest', 1991
IMDb Score: 6.8/10
The plot of this OVA revolves around a classic Japanese legend: consuming the flesh of a mermaid can grant immortality. However, the anime does not recount what befell the main characters prior to their consumption of these mythical creatures.
They appear as already immortal beings who are ceaselessly searching for a way to end their lives. In their quest, however, they encounter obstacles and other seekers of eternity.
3. 'ChaO', 2025
IMDb Score: 6.9/10
In a futuristic Shanghai where humans and mermaids coexist as if it were the most natural thing in the world, an ordinary engineer named Stefan crosses paths with ChaO, a mermaid princess.
She immediately proposes marriage to the main character, deciding not to waste any time on courtship. From that moment on, the young man's routine life crumbles, and the story transforms into a blend of romantic comedy and social satire.
Viewers can look forward to awkward dates, exotic kissing attempts, and a moral lesson about xenophobia and tolerance.
2. 'My Bride Is a Mermaid', 2007
IMDb Score: 7.1/10
The plot begins as a parody of the classic The Little Mermaid, in which a beautiful sea creature rescues a young man who is drowning. However, there is a catch: according to her family's laws, the man must either die or marry his rescuer.
Naturally, the man chooses the latter. However, it's worth noting that the story quickly ceases to be a romance and transforms into a chaotic series of problems the character struggles to navigate.
1. 'The Little Mermaid', 1975
IMDb Score: 7.2/10
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A classic remains a classic by virtue of its undeniable merits, regardless of its production year. For many years, the story of Marina has set the tone for projects within the genre, keeping the legacy of Hans Christian Andersen alive.
In the story, the main character saves a prince, falls in love, and renounces her true nature for the chance to be with him. What follows is the familiar narrative of self-sacrifice and the impossibility of achieving a happily ever after.
Unlike later adaptations of the Danish author's classic fairy tale, this anime rendition does not romanticize the story or rewrite Marina's tragic fate.
