Kanon: Episode 21
Rating: 9.9/10
Impressions:
Another awesome episode of Kanon, and this time, an episode which converted me to a Nayuki fan. I don’t dislike Ayu at all, though personally I think Nayuki has a better personality. And no, I am not satisfied with this single Nayuki-centric episode. Why should every other girl get several episodes to themselves and Yuuichi, while Nayuki gets only this one? It seems she will star again next episode, but this time it looks like she will be nothing more than the mental wreck, and not a nice sight to behold. I was hoping for more Nayuki and Yuuichi bonding too, since Nayuki’s love for him seems much deeper than Ayu’s, who recently hasn’t shown any affection towards him.
This episode is undoubtedly extremely depressing, and felt miserable afterwards. However, it was not because of Akiko’s tragic and sudden accident at the end of the episode, but rather, the way Nayuki is ‘rejected’ by Yuuichi in the flashback. I understand that Yuuichi is most likely crying for Ayu at that time, and I’m guessing it is after Ayu falls from the tree or something and gets hospitalized. Still, I have no idea whether Nayuki discovers Yuuichi’s reasons for such behaviour. The timing is just so painfully bad. This is also the event, combined with the various cute shots of Nayuki (xD) that won me over as more of a Nayuki fan than Ayu fan.
The entire episode is seemingly sweet, but there’s always the faint feeling that not everything is right. The usage of eerie colours broadens this feeling of dread, and Yuuichi’s slow and eventual remembering of what he had done to Nayuki seven years ago, piled with the realisation of what Ayu had been searching for, and topped with the emotional shock of Akiko getting wiped out by a car…it all adds up in the end and creates a highly depressing feeling. Nothing could be worse for Nayuki it seems now. If only there was an ever so slight chance of a Nayuki ending, instead of an Ayu ending…well, I can dream!
Speaking of Akiko’s death, I reckon the fast, real-time motion of her getting hit by the colliding cars is far more dramatic than the usual slow motion or still shots, with the averted angle or blacked out screen when the character and car impacts. The only thing I dislike is how Akiko seemingly just disappears after getting hit. There is not a drop of blood, and I would have liked to see some for the final touch. Overall, the quality is not as high as Kanon’s standard. The backgrounds and character movement animation are still superb though, with Nayuki’s scene where she changes into her slippers a nice moment of realistic animation.
I really must complain about the execution of this series ever so slightly more. If only there had been some more symbolism or clues earlier in the show of the way both Nayuki and Ayu feel for Yuuichi. There could have a been a few snow bunny and sad Nayuki references in the first few episodes every now and then, just to signify that Nayuki is not as plain as we all think. Ayu also needed to express her feelings for Yuuichi a bit more than just running up to him and jumping onto his back like a 5 year old. This is why I believe the distinction between the various arcs is too apparent, and really tears the story apart.
Preview:
Next episode - #22
Yuuichi gets the kick!
Popularity: 19% [?]
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When I look back at that car accident I laughed…seriously in a way someone takes a shot like that, they would be completely bounced off the roof and fly half way down the road, either dead or in a coma for probably a good year. Still not showing blood but showing the cake is what really was good about it. Also the little bit of the red stain on the snow was a good hint of censorship (how badly blood akkiko (god forbid) had taken. Cant wait for next week though, Ive seen 2002 but Im not going to ruin it for you guys! 2006’s version is just way too good.
Another great ep. Although the Yuuichi Kitagawa and Nayuki finding the lost item wasn’t as dramatic as in the 2002 version the Nayuki parts really made the show for me. Nayuki has definatly overtaken Ayu for me and I consider my self a die hard Ayu fan lol… Nayuki’s moe is just too damageing for me to resist. The real time car crash however was really shocking. I expected something not so server as I saw the 2002 version but when I saw what happend I was like OMG WTF!?!?!? wow I don’t know how she’ll be able to survive that. And Nayuki really brings in alot of sympathy, it was really shocking to see her tell Yuuichi the gtfo like that, emo Nayuki just doesn’t suit her. Then the part where she was rejected, though he probley isn’t in the mood to hear a love confession considering what just happend. Still I wouldn’t like the idea of Yuuichi “Settling” for Nayuki scine he obiously doesn’t love her as much as he loves Ayu so it will be like shes a 2nd choice if there was a Nayuki ending. She deserves better heh
Some well deserved Nayuki time, though I’ll forever remain an Ayu fanboy at heart =P
As for the accident, I thought it was a smart move to present the scene the way they did. An overly dramatic style would have been fitting, but instead they laid out the harsh reality of what happened, with very little warning.
That scene was extremely intense without the blood. Nayuki is awesome in the KyoAni version and so is her mom, it’s heartbreaking to see them both go through so much. I’m sure most moms can relate to Nayuki’s, the feeling a lonely home especially without a husband. Nayuki doesn’t annoy me as much as the other girls because she isn’t as moe. She still is a little bit but her cute persona allows me to view the good natured humanistic side instead of the annoying moe side. Nayuki’s face when she found out the truth was heartbreaking. That accident scene was just WOW. This was one of the best episode since the Mai arc.
Like someone in another blog comment said, the accident is very much what would happen in real life and is survivable because the second car absorbed a lot of the momentum before sliding into Akiko.
>>Like someone in another blog comment said, the accident is very much what would happen in real life and is survivable because the second car absorbed a lot of the momentum before sliding into Akiko.
Here’s some footage of such a crash.
man, you gotta know something is wrong when yuuichi and nayuki are called out, then the camera changes to some time ago with akiko walking… i already knew that she would get hit or something, but the real realisation and acceptance didnt come to me until BANG at that ver y momembt she disappeared behind thwe car!
I’m a nayuki fan now! Her sadness (lovesickness) comes across so subtly. Wooooo!
Another magnificent episode from KyoAni.
I was one of those who laughed at the car crash scene, not because I’m a heartless bastard (well, maybe I am, but that wasn’t the reason I went LOL this time), but because of the way the car “somersaulted”. I have seen a couple of car accidents, but have yet to see a car somersault on a flat surface like that (usually they slide). I am also quite concerned about the person actually in the car - doing a 180 like that must’ve hurt.
But yeah, Nayuki rox.
So we will expect a psycho Nayuki ala Shuffle? XD
As a survivor of car hit i assure this scene is very realistic, even though car that hit me was below 50 kph, I flew thru air few meters. Akiko would lanf offscreen and tart bleeding there.
If KyoAni kill off Akiko, im gonna send kill-team to kill them all and burn the studio…
poor Nayuki, she seems to fit sad opening song more ad more…
Just awesome, nothing else to add.
Well …
Show Spoiler ▼
As for Ayu … well …
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Seeing that shes Show Spoiler ▼
I still think Ayu owns though, I’m an Ayu AND Nayuki fan so either ending would be win win for me heh
This episode really proved my suspicion that Nayuki had liked Yuuichi. But I never thought that something bad had happened between them. It was also sorta obvious that something bad had happened when they both get called out of class since what good would come of that? Also I think that car crash looked like it had A LOT of force and that Akiko would have a hard time surviving that..heck who wouldn’t?