/*SPOILER ALERT: This entry contains some spoilers about Mekakucity Actors (Kagerou Daze).*/
The second episode of Mekakucity Actors aired yesterday and this time it focuses on Shintarou's younger sister, Momo.
I thought at first that Kisaragi Attention would, of course, cover the events that overlaps with the first episode, Jinzou Enemy. But the episode instead completely focused on Momo (with a little Hibiya on the side) and diverted from the events of the first episode. However, Momo's character was given more depth with this episode focusing on both of her past and present struggles. The concept of the "Eyes" is still not discussed in this episode but the red eyes are becoming common in our main characters despite only being dominant in Momo (and a little Tsubomi Kido).
Momo Kisaragi
Momo Kisaragi is Shintarou Kisaragi's younger sister. She is 16 years old and currently a struggling high school freshman because she works as a pop idol part time to help with her family's needs (despite Shintarou still having an uberlarge monitor). While she isn't exactly that exceptional in academics, she has a great body physique which is the complete opposite of the lethargic Shintarou.
Her eye ability is called the Drawing Eyes which is the compete opposite of Kido's Concealing Eyes. Momo's eye ability allows her to attract the attention of all the people around her and (since she's an idol) usually they get obsessed over her.
She is member number 5 in the Mekakushi Dan preceded by Marry and followed by Ene.
Some trivias:
> Hibiya enjoys calling her "auntie" and "Old hag"
> She's the same age as Kido, Kano and Seto
> (I think) She's the last one to die in Outer Science before Marry started looping the time
Episode Summary
The first half of this episode closely followed the pacing of the manga.
Kisaragi Attention was lighter with some mild drama compared to the humorous and Hiki-NEET action present on the first episode. The episode starts of with Momo running to school and unwillingly displays her "Drawing Eyes" attracting the eyes and attention of everyone she passes by. After the short disturbance of her supposed peaceful morning, she misses the bus and ultimately comes in late at school. There she has a SHAFT style conversation with Kenjirou Tateyama (with his "sane and good-guy" facade) about her grades, academic performance and how she'll be a freshman again next year if she keeps it up.
After their Shaft head-tilt riddled conversation, we get a one on one moment with Momo Kisaragi's past. It subtly explains how she got her Drawing Eyes ability when she was young and it also briefly showed Shintarou Kisaragi on one end of the couch while Momo cries on her mother's lap because of the death of their father. The Kisaragi siblings' mother also played a large role in this episode being Momo's main inspiration and motivation to work hard despite being drowned in the jealousy of others which consider her and her works all "style and no substance" but still ends up getting all the attention because of the Drawing Eyes.
Back to the present, Momo gets a call from her manager telling her that she has the day off but was also warned to stay out of the public's eyes.
But as she was about to head on home, a flyer about a silly looking keychain priced at 540 yen caught her attention which prompted her to go to the mall that was hijacked in episode 1.
On the way to the mall Momo, now dressed in short shorts and a hooded jacket (despite being in the middle of summer, c'mon!) crosses paths with Hibiya. Their encounter accidentally removed the hood which conceals Momo's face and her Drawing Eyes ended up activating attracting a great number of people.
Kisaragi Attention music kicks in with Momo and Hibiya running away from the crowd as the song's video.
Hibiya trips and ends up getting left behind by Momo who's still being pursued by the crowd.
She gets a breather in an alley (much like what her song is about) and we get a shot of Kido talking on the phone (presumably Kano is on the other side) saying that Momo "fits the description" of who they were looking for.
Review
I'm glad that Shaft closely follows the events of the video series and the pacing of the manga. While they do have some anime original moments, it is so that the characters (or the plot) are given more depth and value to the story.
Shaft's style of animation is already a visual orgasm to viewers who're used to Monogatari and PMMM so there's not much discourse over there.
The only drawback is that the whole universe of Kagerou Daze gets SHAFTED and it leaves little to none of Shizen no Teki-P's original flow. While the main idea is there it gets too segmented, how should I put it, Shafted.
They're filler NPC's on the background lack a certain color to them making it easier to distinguish the main characters who're supposed to appear later in the series.
I do love how Shaft chose the right songs for the right moment. Kicking in Kisaragi Attention as Momo and Hibiya run away from the crowd is a genuine Jin moment and scenes like those are what pays ultimate respect and does justice to the source material.
It still bewilders my why Hibiya was introduced early on when he ends up getting left behind after five minutes of screen time. It's obvious that he was also looking for the keychain to give to Hiyori but then we don't see Hiyori anywhere except on the credits.
The closing theme was a real shot to the feels. I love how simple the ending sequence is and it goes perfectly with the ending theme song, Days by Lia. It's a really beautiful song, and of course it should also be noted that they still continue with the pun of "DAYS" and "DAZE" even when the episode is concluded.
Overall for this episode: 9/10
The second episode of Mekakucity Actors aired yesterday and this time it focuses on Shintarou's younger sister, Momo.
I thought at first that Kisaragi Attention would, of course, cover the events that overlaps with the first episode, Jinzou Enemy. But the episode instead completely focused on Momo (with a little Hibiya on the side) and diverted from the events of the first episode. However, Momo's character was given more depth with this episode focusing on both of her past and present struggles. The concept of the "Eyes" is still not discussed in this episode but the red eyes are becoming common in our main characters despite only being dominant in Momo (and a little Tsubomi Kido).
Momo Kisaragi
 |
| doesn't she remind you of Karen Araragi? |
Momo Kisaragi is Shintarou Kisaragi's younger sister. She is 16 years old and currently a struggling high school freshman because she works as a pop idol part time to help with her family's needs (despite Shintarou still having an uberlarge monitor). While she isn't exactly that exceptional in academics, she has a great body physique which is the complete opposite of the lethargic Shintarou.
Her eye ability is called the Drawing Eyes which is the compete opposite of Kido's Concealing Eyes. Momo's eye ability allows her to attract the attention of all the people around her and (since she's an idol) usually they get obsessed over her.
She is member number 5 in the Mekakushi Dan preceded by Marry and followed by Ene.
Some trivias:
> Hibiya enjoys calling her "auntie" and "Old hag"
> She's the same age as Kido, Kano and Seto
> (I think) She's the last one to die in Outer Science before Marry started looping the time
Episode Summary
The first half of this episode closely followed the pacing of the manga.
Kisaragi Attention was lighter with some mild drama compared to the humorous and Hiki-NEET action present on the first episode. The episode starts of with Momo running to school and unwillingly displays her "Drawing Eyes" attracting the eyes and attention of everyone she passes by. After the short disturbance of her supposed peaceful morning, she misses the bus and ultimately comes in late at school. There she has a SHAFT style conversation with Kenjirou Tateyama (with his "sane and good-guy" facade) about her grades, academic performance and how she'll be a freshman again next year if she keeps it up.
 |
| Kenjirou Tateyama (oh I can't wait for Yuukei Yesterday) |
Back to the present, Momo gets a call from her manager telling her that she has the day off but was also warned to stay out of the public's eyes.
But as she was about to head on home, a flyer about a silly looking keychain priced at 540 yen caught her attention which prompted her to go to the mall that was hijacked in episode 1.
Hibiya trips and ends up getting left behind by Momo who's still being pursued by the crowd.
She gets a breather in an alley (much like what her song is about) and we get a shot of Kido talking on the phone (presumably Kano is on the other side) saying that Momo "fits the description" of who they were looking for.
Review
I'm glad that Shaft closely follows the events of the video series and the pacing of the manga. While they do have some anime original moments, it is so that the characters (or the plot) are given more depth and value to the story.
Shaft's style of animation is already a visual orgasm to viewers who're used to Monogatari and PMMM so there's not much discourse over there.
The only drawback is that the whole universe of Kagerou Daze gets SHAFTED and it leaves little to none of Shizen no Teki-P's original flow. While the main idea is there it gets too segmented, how should I put it, Shafted.
They're filler NPC's on the background lack a certain color to them making it easier to distinguish the main characters who're supposed to appear later in the series.
I do love how Shaft chose the right songs for the right moment. Kicking in Kisaragi Attention as Momo and Hibiya run away from the crowd is a genuine Jin moment and scenes like those are what pays ultimate respect and does justice to the source material.
It still bewilders my why Hibiya was introduced early on when he ends up getting left behind after five minutes of screen time. It's obvious that he was also looking for the keychain to give to Hiyori but then we don't see Hiyori anywhere except on the credits.
 |
| Hiyori smiles...in the end (damn these feels) |
Overall for this episode: 9/10
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| tune in next week for Mekaku Code! |
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