Shinryaku! Ika Musume: Kore ga Umi e no Ai Jana-ika!

これが海への愛じゃなイカ!

6.5(2,023)

MAL Score

Popularity #9477

Comedy
Slice of Life
Music

Episodes: 1
Duration: 3 min
Aired: Jan 11, 2012
Status: Finished Airing

Synopsis

Accompanying the limited edition of the Invader Ika Musume album, "Kore ga Umi e no Ai Jana-ika!" presents a vibrant music video that captures the spirit of the beloved squid girl. This visually engaging piece showcases Ika Musume as she embarks on a delightful journey, blending catchy melodies with charming animation that brings her underwater world to life.

The music video not only highlights the infectious charm and playful antics of Ika Musume but also features captivating scenes that immerse viewers in her aquatic realm. Fans of the series will appreciate the seamless integration of music and visual storytelling, making it a must-see for anyone who enjoys the whimsical adventures of this iconic character.

Otaku Consensus

As an album-bundled music video, Kore ga Umi e no Ai Jana-ika! works best as a concentrated franchise extra: Diomedéa’s clean, safe visual approach and brisk timing preserve the easy rewatchability critics associate with Shinryaku! Ika Musume. The common criticism is scale, not execution; at one episode and tied to a limited-edition album release, it feels more like a charming collector’s piece than a substantial standalone anime.

Why You Should Watch

Watch this if you want a quick character-song bonus that keeps the comic DNA of Shinryaku! Ika Musume without asking for a full-season commitment. It is best for viewers who already like low-stakes gag anime and want something closer to a celebratory music-video extra than a narrative OVA. If the appeal of Azumanga Daioh or Lucky Star for you is comfort rhythm, mascot energy, and small visual jokes rather than plot escalation, this scratches a similar itch in miniature. The draw is Hisako Kanemoto’s Ika Musume presence filtered through Diomedéa’s familiar, uncluttered style, with the franchise’s music-themed side placed front and center. Newcomers may find it too slight, but completionists get a tidy snapshot of why the character remained so rewatchable.

Key Characters

I
Ika Musume(VA: Hisako Kanemoto)
Ika Musume’s appeal is her instantly readable mix of mascot cuteness and comic overconfidence, the exact quality fans cite when they describe the franchise as easy to revisit.

What Makes It Stand Out

1
It was released as a single-episode music video rather than a conventional OVA, making the music theme the format itself instead of background decoration.
2
The short accompanied the limited edition of the Invader Ika Musume album Kore ga Umi e no Ai Jana-ika!, positioning it as a media-tie-in bonus for existing fans rather than a primary entry point.
3
Diomedéa is the credited studio, and the piece leans into the franchise’s established clean, accessible comedy look rather than attempting a radical visual reinvention.
4
Only Ika Musume is listed among the main characters, so the appeal is unusually concentrated on Hisako Kanemoto’s central character performance and the character’s mascot identity.
5
Its database footprint is niche even by OVA standards: MAL lists 2,023 votes with a 6.51 score and a popularity rank of #9477, while AniList records a 61/100 score and only 2 favourites.

Fun Facts & Trivia

Fun fact 1: Kore ga Umi e no Ai Jana-ika! aired on January 11, 2012 and is listed as finished after just one episode.
Fun fact 2: AniList tags it as Monster Girl at 20%, a low-confidence tag that reflects Ika Musume’s character identity more than the short’s actual structure.
Fun fact 3: The broader Shinryaku! Ika Musume anime earned praise from reviewers for being light, funny, and rewatchable, while also drawing criticism for playing things safe with a generic but polished anime style.
Fun fact 4: One reviewer highlight from the main series was its habit of changing ending videos based on episode material, useful context for why a standalone music-video bonus fits the franchise’s personality.
Fun fact 5: Hisako Kanemoto is the credited Japanese voice actor for Ika Musume here, preserving continuity with the character fans most strongly associate with the series.