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Rating: 9.1/10

Impressions:

Firstly, I’d look to draw your attention to this post by Retsgip made some time ago regarding Yuuichi and his antics. He presents a good argument about how much of a jerk he is, and has also attracted a nice long discussion in the comments section. My counter-arguments are also there. Please have a read of the post and comments if you haven’t done so already, since I think it provides a very in depth insight into Kanon, but mainly the lead character, Yuuichi.

Anyway, this episode is a lot more enjoyable than the last. The motion fluidity still upholds the overall quality, but the design consistency dropped slightly as I noticed a few funny shots where the characters didn’t look right. It’s hardly noticeable anyway, and the captivating story more than makes up for this slight lapse in animation quality. I think I’ve fallen in love with Makoto now (her character I mean ¬.¬) While her ‘auu’ is not nearly as cute as ‘uguu’, she simply presents funnier and sadder material at the same time, but both add towards her overall significance factor. I think it’s almost been proven that she is some kind of fox, fox-spirit, fox-incarnation, were-fox or some other fox related being. It’s been said before that her ‘auu’s, fangs and red hair all resemble a fox. This is all true, as well as her mannerisms, amnesia and general behaviour. Mai seems to be well aware of what Makoto is, for she is able to accurately guess where Makoto went after she disappeared. Another thing, is the hill that Makoto ventures off to the same hill as the one where Nayuki and Yuuichi went in the first episode? If it is, that definitely has some significance. It seems like the appearance of the fox when Yuuichi is carrying Ayu home indicates that the members of Ayu’s species want her to stay on the hill where she belongs, rather than return to the human world. There’s still the mystery of Makoto’s connection with Yuuichi, and I suspect he did something bad to her before she is human.

For further evidence, Makoto’s behaviour with Piro the cat is a sure giveaway. The moment when she drops the cat was so incredibly sad on her part. At first, I was thinking about how dangerous it is to hold an animal over the railings like she did, but when she started talking, it became obvious she was going to drop it. The way she explains how animals are gotten rid of after they outlive their usefulness makes me think she was some kind of domesticated animal who suffered hardships from its owner. That moment was especially dramatic due to the orange lighting in the sunset. Makoto’s short monologue was also deeply depressing, the one she had when she was with Piro on the hill at night. The way she says that she and the cat are the same in the sense that they are both nuisances and have no real home identifies her own awareness, perhaps subconsciously, that she is not a normal human. I doubt that a normal person with amnesia who simply lives a freeloader and becomes troublesome would stop to reflect on his/her life the way Makoto does. I still have that growing feeling that Makoto is going to die, or at least something is going to happen to her that would signify death, such as returning to fox form or something. However, something like that would be highly appropriate, and I’ve been expecting tragic drama ever since the first episode. However, I hope it doesn’t turn out like Air where all the main characters die.

I am slightly disappointed that the anime is focusing on Makoto so much. By reading other blogs, it seems her arc is coming to a close, and the preview which suggests that the next episode will focus almost entirely on Makoto reinforces this idea. It would be pretty sad if something were to happen to her and she is taken out of the show for the rest of the series. I really do hope the producers don’t get carried away with her story and present the other characters some more screen time. Ayu and Nayuki are getting less screen time, while Mai and Shiori are still getting their short appearance as they do every episode. Amano Mishio makes her first appearance this episode, but she seems to be closely tied to Makoto’s story, which means more of her would also probably mean more of Makoto. Yuuichi also meets her next episode, and I wonder what worries that will bring him. Is she some kind of prophet, since it’s obvious she’s not just some other school girl like Sayuri or Kaori. Speaking of those two, I’m glad they made another appearance this episode, regardless of their seemingly insignificant lines. Sayuri once again provide some laughing material with her ‘hau’ and gullibility. Kaori is your average girl, which I like but doesn’t present any mystery, so it’s normal that she doesn’t appear much. I also find that there are not enough cheerful moments at school, since that’s meant to be the place where the pleasurable things happen before the big climax of each arc.

Plot Outline:

- Makoto tries to pull a prank on Yuuichi again, this time seemingly by cutting his hair
- When she gets caught, she pretends to have come over only to play with him
- The next day, Makoto is woken up by Akiko as she has her part-time job to go to
- Before that though, she gets a taste of Akiko’s infamous homemade jam
- On the way to school, Nayuki finds a cat (Piro) and tries to pet it, even though she is allergic to them
- Yuuichi tries to stop her but fails and she ends up getting sick (mildly)
- At school, Yuuichi has another quick conversation with Shiori
- He then has lunch with Mai and Sayuri and comes up with yet another joke that Sayuri believes (that Mai is constipated)
- After school as Yuuichi is returning home, Ayu jumps him from behind

- When things settle down, the two go on a short walk before they both decide to return home since its cold
- Standing by herself, Amano Mishio makes her first appearance in the anime
- Yuuichi then sees Makoto looking at a group of girls taking pictures at an arcade photo booth
- He tells her to go take a photo herself if she wants to so badly, but Makoto denies wanting to take one
- The two start heading home, but Makoto claims that she’ll go home by herself since she doesn’t want to walk with Yuuichi
- Yuuichi decides to go buy a notebook, but notices Makoto following him, despite what she just said
- When he finally confronts her about it, a cat (Piro) starts rubbing its fur on Makoto
- She picks it up and goes along with Yuuichi to buy some pork buns
- After satisfying themselves, they head to a bridge overlooking the freeway, where Makoto drops the cat onto a truck
- She gets into an intense argument with Yuuichi and runs away

- After eating dinner without Makoto, Yuuichi goes out to look for her
- He asks Mai, who is at school, if Makoto had been to the school, but she says no
- However, Mai tells him that she might be on the hill, which I forgot the name of
- Yuuichi makes his way up to the hill and finds Makoto with Piro (it seems she had searched for the cat all afternoon)
- Makoto falls asleep, so Yuuichi brings her and Piro home
- On the way down from the hill, Yuuichi sees a fox leering at them
- Back at home, the reunited family have another meal

Preview:

Next episode – #8
Looks like it will be focused on Makoto…

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