23 ((install)) — Banana Fish Episode
Upon airing in 2018, Banana Fish Episode 23 trended worldwide on Twitter for two days. Fans used the tag #BananaFish23 to share their grief, art, and theories. Many anime reviewers called it the “hardest anime episode to watch since Grave of the Fireflies .”
: While the show avoids explicit labels, the Fan-run Shipping Wiki notes that their connection is often described as "soul to soul"—a love that transcends the typical boundaries of romance or friendship. The Fall of a Tyrant Banana Fish Episode 23
Director Hiroko Utsumi (known later for Sk8 the Infinity ) and the team at MAPPA outdid themselves in Episode 23. The use of negative space, the relentless rain, and the muted color palette all contribute to a sense of drowning. The sound design is particularly noteworthy: the city noises fade away as Ash’s world collapses inward, leaving only the sound of his own heartbeat and the rain. Upon airing in 2018, Banana Fish Episode 23
