©Aka Akasaka x Mengo Yokoyari/Shueisha, partner of “OSHI NO KO”
The 2.5D stage play arc is far from my favorite Son of Shinobu comics arc. I felt like the focus on different characters each week was too spread out. Fast forward and the anime adaptation of this arc has become a weekly highlight for me. The arc’s alternating character-driven story is made even stronger by strong voice acting, an evocative score, and gorgeous animation, elevating the material into a whole new experience. This week delves into the roots of Akane and Kana’s rivalry, weaving their years of cold war into the show’s conflict. The result is a deep dive into the psyches of both girls that shapes their different approaches to performance while endearing them to audiences.
The episode is titled “The Sun,” and sure enough, the first frame is of a white-hot spotlight—a theme the episode returns to at a crucial moment. It’s a preview of what’s to come: this episode is all about who occupies this space, and who is allowed to shine brightest in its warmth. as tokyo blade As my grandson teacher and one of the producers pointed out, the game is still on, and Kana and Akane go above and beyond in their roles. When they finally face off, in a one-on-one battle between Princess Saya and Sword, both actors carry a lot of baggage with them. This is the story between the two. Akane recalls her first foray into acting, inspired by her childhood role model Kana. But Akane failed to heed the old saying: “Never meet your hero.” By the time she and Kana met during an audition, Kana was already a stone-cold cynic with some harsh words for the film industry. As Kana’s acting jobs begin to dry up, Akane realizes that Kana has begun parroting the cynical adults around her and has lost her spark.
This “spark” is a visual clue that continues throughout Son of Shinobuespecially in this episode, and builds steadily around the depiction of light and dark. In one of Akane’s memories, Kana closes Akane’s door, leaving her in a dark room – but for a flickering moment, the light coming through the crack of the closed door creates a starburst. Back in the present, Akane’s eyes sparkle just like Ai’s as she strengthens her connection to the character of Princess Saya. Images and dialogue about the sun and stars appear throughout. If Akane’s eyes are twin suns, there’s another gorgeous moment where Kana’s eyes have galaxies. “Stars can’t shine on their own,” she later said in a television interview, justifying the acting style she espoused. But what Akane hopes to get from her is not support; It’s an intensity that matches her own. Akane undergoes a stylized magical girl transformation sequence, first into Saya, then into herself, and then into the child herself with her outstretched hands – a tender and inspiring scene that wouldn’t be out of place in a movie . Studio Ghibli Movie.
Kana’s body language and vocal performance indicate that Akane’s wish has been granted, but then there’s a record-breaking moment when Kana recalls herself as a child—spotted, tearful, and alone. Being as bright as the sun has its drawbacks. Instead, Kana retreated into herself. The music changes as she stands in front of a gray slideshow of her past, and she vows to give up on herself and support Akane instead of chasing her. It’s a moment of stark contrast: Akane recalls her past experiences and draws strength from them, while Kana recalls her childhood and undermines her motivation.
At the end of the episode, there’s another dreamy scene where Akane’s Princess Saya seems to take over the show’s world, and when Aqua’s Tuki walks into the scene and starts talking about Kana, the entire widescreen movie The proportions are complete. While the cast’s mix of drama and drama feels cohesive so far, it’s confusing. Is this happening in a movie, on stage, backstage, or in Akane’s head? It doesn’t quite work for me, but I can forgive Studia Toga Kobo for its experiments. These remixes make the anime a captivating experience unlike reading the manga, and making changes comes with risks. I’m eagerly looking forward to seeing how Akane and Aqua team up to let Kana try new things on her own.
grade:
Son of Shinobu Season 2 is currently airing on HIDIVE.
Lauren writes about model kits at Gunpla 101.
Disclosure: Kadokawa World Entertainment (KWE) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Kadokawa Corporation and the majority shareholder of Anime News Network, LLC. One or more companies mentioned in this article are part of the Kadokawa Group of Companies.
