Whats up people, and welcome again to Unsuitable Each Time. Immediately I’m joyful to report our return to Kemonozume, Masaaki Yuasa’s bloody and enthralling full-series debut. The sequence has wasted no time in introducing us to a sequence of generational, political, and emotional conflicts, as we have been launched to the proud warriors of the “Kifuuken,” a clan devoted to destroying Flesh Eaters that cover in human skins. Whereas our protagonist Toshihiko seeks to beat his fears and keep it up the household traditions, his half-brother Kazuma sees this battle as a chance, an opportunity to introduce his mechanical warriors to the world at massive.
The clan’s drama is already offering us a hearty stew of thematic variables, from questions of inheritance and familial responsibility to the connection between conflict and technological progress. And that’s earlier than we add on this narrative’s precise thrust – the burgeoning relationship between Toshihiko and one of many Flesh Eaters, a lady who appears decided to constrain her violent nature. Then after all, there’s the distinction of the opening sequence’s conflation of flesh consuming and misogyny with the reversed energy construction of this new bond. Yuasa’s works typically delight on each a visible and thematic degree, and between Kemonozume’s wild aesthetic thrives and layered conflicts, I’m wanting to see how this story unfolds. Let’s get to it!
Episode 2
Extra pretty cave painting-esque animation as our narrator particulars the strategies the Kifuuken developed to defeat the Flesh Eaters. This aesthetic does extra than simply add some visible range to the present’s drama (itself an inherently worthy aim) – it emphasizes an extended chronology past what we’re explicitly witnessing, implying a definite historical past of humanity harkening again to the early days of mankind. The temporally fastened nature of sure artwork actions can inherently set drama in a sure time or place, a trick additionally often employed by the varied Monogatari flashbacks
Apparently the character of “Kifuuken” is this method of separating the arms from the Flesh Eaters, thereby disabling their energy
Attention-grabbing repeated imagery on this OP, of a humanoid type putting as an egg-like mass expands inside its core. Presumably the egg is the monster type trying to interrupt free?
We open with our two lovers in flight, as Toshihiko’s lover guides him by a skydiving descent. Outstanding effectivity of storytelling right here, with their bond mainly established by the briefest attainable interactions. The sky additionally serves as a high quality backdrop for Yuasa’s dynamic camerawork; with no clear objects within the background, it’s simpler to pan round these characters and rejoice the tough angles of their fluid designs. And eventually, this sequence additionally furthers that reversal of energy dynamics inherent of their relationship, with the male “warrior” being drawn right into a terrifying exercise by a lady who finds such hazard inherently liberating
That bond additionally gestures in direction of a doubtlessly messy improvement for these two: Toshihiko’s lover giving him the arrogance he must develop into a correct killer of Flesh Eaters. Is she by accident coaching the enemy of her folks to imagine his correct mantle?
A fast montage reveals their swiftly creating relationship, whereas additionally demonstrating the richness of character performing made attainable by this tough character artwork model. Element and precision will not be the identical factor!
Toshihiko’s shiny Hawaiian shirt contrasts dramatically towards the grays and browns of his fellow warriors; he has discovered a light-weight in his life that they lack
“A Onerous Farewell”
The roughness of the linework compliments the frantic power of the second as we minimize to a different Flesh Eater being pursued
“Noodles once more tonight?” is contrasted towards the entrails of a sufferer hanging from this Flesh Eater, implying a parallel between our species
The colour design jogs my memory of The Tatami Galaxy’s frequent use of single splash colours of various hues for coloring a full composition. It’s an efficient trick, dousing a complete scene within the shade that greatest represents its tone – the murky purple of violent battle, the medical inexperienced of this management middle. As mainly all of Yuasa’s works testify, realism shouldn’t be an inherent aesthetic advantage
Each the clan chief and Kazuma mirror on how they don’t really feel secure with Rie being so near the motion. It seems like her demise could find yourself being the catalyst for the clan’s division
Toshihiko’s subsequent date is outlined by blue tones – the rain-damp airport roof, a blue purse, the pair’s blue coat and gown. Contrasted towards her yellow hair, the scene evokes a sensation of trying into a transparent blue sky, with Toshihiko’s lover representing the solar itself
“That’s as a result of I’m solely displaying you my good facet.” She makes the metaphor express, with the Flesh Eaters’ duel identities echoing how all of us have a number of types
“I’ll gladly allow you to kill me, Toshihiko.” Even she appears sure she can not reside peacefully, that it’d be greatest to no less than be killed by a warrior she loves
This picture appears to outline their relationship – the 2 of them hanging upside-down from a railing, their love persisting solely on the sting of oblivion
Finally we study her identify is Yuka, from a 3rd celebration that apparently is aware of her
That idea of affection in freefall is carried on to his deliberations on his cot, as he appears to think about proposing to her whereas happening one other skydiving journey. Their liberation can solely be realized as they plummet in direction of mutual destruction
Glorious choreography for this battle between Toshihiko and the clan elder, clearly demonstrating Toshihiko’s preoccupation as he makes an attempt 4 wild strokes for each practiced, exact counter by his opponent
“What’s a very powerful factor to you?” is answered by photographs to the fowl in flight, that icon of liberation. Can they fly with out falling?
After squabbling together with her ex-boyfriend, Yuka meets Toshihiko and attracts him right into a fountain. Glorious lighting right here, with the blinding spotlights of the fountain’s perimeter reflecting off the water, and returning us to that dreamlike revery of their first assembly
She will’t reveal her true nature but, so gently writes her fact in lipstick on his again
And identical to that, the clan elder is lifeless, and the brothers are left to select up the items. Stable sound design right here, because the clamor of the practice echoes Toshihiko’s racing ideas
The rain echoes their tears as they collect round their departed chief
Kazuma is definite that is the work of the Flesh Eaters, a direct problem
Yuka in the end attends the funeral. Apparently she is from that Kamitsuki household, and is the spitting picture of her mom, somebody who had some connection to the clan. So are Flesh Eaters the kids of normal people? That will surely complicate this concept of “purging” them, in the event that they’re mainly only a spontaneous, variant type of humanity
Thus Toshihiko is now thought of an enemy as nicely, with even Rie taking part within the clan’s subterfuge by planting a bug on his collar
The expression work is so robust! Although the character types are considerably free, the artwork is evoking such exact gradations of embarrassment, shock, and hungry crafty
That unusual monkey retains stalking the funeral, an odd tonal counterpoint to Kazuma’s lure. Yuasa loves his fluid mascot characters, the ethical innocents observing humanity’s cruelty
Kazuma claims the scent of Yuka’s fragrance was discovered on the homicide web site
Thus Toshihiko is compelled to make his selection, brandishing his sword at his fellow warriors as Yuka’s type is revealed
And Accomplished
My god, what a propulsive episode! I may by no means have anticipated we’d have already got Yuka’s nature revealed to each Toshihiko and the clan at massive by the tip of the second episode, and may scarcely speculate as to how the story would possibly evolve from right here. And but, regardless of its extraordinary pacing, this episode by no means felt rushed – it merely excised the pointless narrative junctions, giving us loads of time to luxuriate in Yuka and Toshihiko’s evolving relationship. And so far as the animation goes, this episode was a marvel of specificity by looseness, demonstrating the exceptional expressive potential of Yuasa’s fluctuating character artwork, in addition to the dynamic affect of his aggressive shade design. Racing by the basics of this star-crossed lovers narrative, Yuasa is crafting a human story as concurrently poignant and irreverent as any of his classics. I can’t wait to see what’s subsequent!
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