City The Animation episodes 5 and 6 were a great watching experience. While Episode 5 fully innovates animation storytelling, Episode 6 delivers the best of City manga’s comedy. I personally had a lot of fun looking for little, hidden details along each episode; however, this review will focus on the main aspects. I leave you the fun of looking for more!
Episode 5: Passion for Storytelling
There are many ways to approach City The Animation Episode 5. I believe the best way to highlight the KyoAni’s astonishing adaptation is to first review what the plot was about, and then examine how it was presented to us. To avoid confusion, I will focus on the main developments and only comment on the subplots when necessary, using them as examples.
The Plot
The story continues from Nagumo’s kidnapping by Hotaka in Episode 4. Ms. Tanabe, head of the Tanabe Group, kidnaps people to reward them for their good actions. That’s why Nagumo ends up with the Good Man on the 12th Floor of the Tanabe Towers. Due to his stoic nature, the Good Man shows Nagumo a way to escape the reward celebration: by defeating all the tower bosses and reaching the first floor. Despite Nagumo’s efforts to be defeated, the trio—with Wako Izumi joining them along the way—make it outside, only to discover that the reward celebration will still be held, now in the yard.
The story as it is could be adapted in a straightforward way, and it would be great. The creative ways Nagumo can’t be defeated are really funny in the manga. While Niikura’s crazy pursuit of Mimineko to recover her pendant could be interpersed throughout the episode, and to finally be reunited with her friend.
But KyoAni took a big step further.
The Adaptation
Episode 5’s greatest accomplishment is to summarize many manga chapters in a 10-minute sequence involving all City characters through the use of different panels at the same time. You probably had a hard time trying to follow what was happening in each of those panels. At some point, we had 9 scenes occurring simultaneously.
Does this actually work for a story like City? Was it a good way to summarize a big manga arc?
In Episode 4, the anime shows the audience that this is about “a human intersection”. Instead of the traditional linear narrative, City combines the lives of, precisely, the inhabitants of City. What may seem random at first glance, in fact has a purpose, and the lives of everyone end up interconnected. Episode 5’s big sequence is the best example so far.
The use of many scenes at the same time works for City because it highlights how everyone’s perspectives are interconnected. The point is not that you perfectly understand each of those subplots, but to feel the vibrant life of the anime. The best way to watch it is to sit back, relax, and enjoy the energy and game-like style of the series.
You may miss details such as Obaba, the Makabe family’s matriarch, infiltrating the Tanabe Towers in one of the smaller panels (a foreshadowing of what is to come a few minutes later), or Shia being picked up along with other City inhabitants to be gathered for the Tanabe party. Yet, little by little, you sense that something larger is unfolding while Nagumo tries not to escape and Niikura continues chasing Mimineko.
As a manga reader, I was worried about how this arc would be adapted. The 10-minute sequence ends at the party, masterfully recreating the three two-page spread panels from the manga. I thought they would adapt it along different episodes, as is the custom.
So imagine my big surprise when they recreate the entire thing (including both major and minor storylines) in just one episode! The creative use of anime as a medium leaves me in awe. I was looking for gold and I found a diamond: KyoAni recreates the atmosphere of the manga in a unique way. Yes, this definitely works for City.
The (Insane) Love for Details
Don’t be scared! This won’t be a full recount of each subplot, but rather only a list of the key animation techniques used in the mentioned 10-minute sequence.
Above all, there is the harmonic, constant change of panel distribution to make a more upbeat adventure to follow up. You can note this more when Nagumo and Niikura are talking by phone, and the size and form of their panels are changing. The anime wants you to focus on them, but since both are running, they keep the dynamic energy of each situation.
On the other hand, the anime improves original not seen in the manga to match the new pace, and foreshadows the Tanabe party. In the manga, there were hints of the final outcome of the arc; the anime adds new scenes that explain how all the characters ended up at the party. Manga reader or not, you probably were confused at first about minor character appearances, and let out a big “Oh, I get it!” at the last scene.
We can even watch two different perspectives at the same time. When Tatsuta Adatara meets Ms. Tanabe, we have two panels, from each of their perspectives. And after rewatching the sequence, I notice how the City South soccer team has two panels too: one from each side of the road they are walking. You can notice whether that one side of the road has bushes or not!
The Big Party
The 10-minute sequence ends with the big party in a unique way that deserves a separate section. There are three things I want to comment on.
The change of pace and rhythm in the panels leading up to the climax. The sequence uses many panels for each storyline, but when it’s closer to its end, they close one by one, until we are left with Nagumo’s perspective, opening the door to reach the outside. From 9 simultaneous panels, we are left with 4, 3, until only Nagumo is left for a brief second.
And when she opens the door, we start with a bubble showing her surprised face. Why? Gradually, new bubbles are added: new characters and stories now appear before her. Some of those bubbles even merge, just like how the characters themselves begin to interact with one another. An allegory of how they were separate lives a few minutes ago, only to combine in a beautiful view of the yard with all of them together, as one, big City.
Finally, there’s the much-discussed aerial view of the party at the yard. So many things are occurring at the same time, just as before, but under a new perspective. KyoAni recreated the two-page manga spread in just a few seconds, full of movement and gags. I only noticed after rewatching that the bubble sequence actually shows us what is happening in the aerial view. I also missed, the first time, how slowly Nagumo and Niikura draw closer to meeting each other.
An Episode to Rewatch
The whole episode is a rewarding experience: if you spend more time watching it, you will enjoy it even more. A good way to approach it is to follow different characters’ storylines each time you rewatch it. You will find new adventures!
Episode 6: New gags, Characters, and Goodbyes
Episode 6 of City The Animation returns to the familiar gag-driven format, offering additional glimpses into characters we already know. While it does not focus deeply on the main trio, the episode concludes with a heartwarming yet bittersweet ending.
The Full Adatara Family
We finally get to see the full dynamic of the Adatara Family! In Episode 5, they were mostly background characters, but here their personalities shine through. Not all of them are equally important at this stage, so I’ll highlight the ones with the funniest traits.
The Adatara “Mom” (no name given) is the backbone of this chaotic household. She keepss her husband, two sons, three daughters (including twins), and even Grandpa in line. Cooking breakfast and dinner, waking them up, breaking up fights: her strong attitude holds the family together.
Kamome, the eldest daughter, is sloppy yet upbeat. Always smiling, she acted as a kind of stand-in for Shia in the last episode. She isn’t laugh-out-loud funny, but she feels important and has plenty of potential with future gags.
Umi and Sora, the twins, are pure mischief. Don’t be fooled! You can tell them apart by the side their hair clip is on. Watching them fight in the morning makes you sympathize with their mom. In Episode 5 they are thrilled to meet Shia (they are dancing together in one of the minor panels), who they clearly admire.
And then there’s Ryouta Adatara! We’ve seen him the most since he attends the same school as Makabe and Riko Izumi. He’s already central in several gags, and while I first thought he was “overhyped”, the praise he gets seems earned. He has the aura of an overpowered character who always pulls something off in the most unexpected way, so every appearance until now keeps me eager to see what he’ll do next.
Wako Izumi’s Mission
Wako’s quirkiness is a highlight in every episode. Her presence alone makes the scenes funny. This time, she’s delivering her manga to the CITY Magazine, which makes Todoroki, the editor, pursue her. His weird attempts to convince her to serialize her manga create a light, relaxing moment before the storm that closes the episode.
She also gets a memorable 30-second scene delivering Nagumo and Niikura’s photos for a contest. What stands out here is not the action itself, but the special touch in KyoAni’s adaptation. Each episode continues to showcase creative presentations, even when the story follows a linear narrative. In particular, the staff often chooses to portray scenes, like this one, without dialogue, echoing the manga’s unique brand of comedy.
Farewell
So far, the most heartbreaking scene in the anime, Episode 6 ends with Ecchan’s confession: she will have to leave for England. They start with Ecchan placing a pumpkin on Matsuri’s head, so she can break the news. Matsuri replies with her usual punchlines, but when Ecchan removes the pumpkin, we see Matsuri, her friend, crying.
The scene is not particularly long, but there are a few things that make it even sadder.
For example, as we are accustomed to Matsuri and Ecchan’s random dialogues, nobody was expecting a confession this important. As a manga reader, I anticipated just another casual banter to close the episode.
In addition, the setting enhances the mood: they are bathed in sunset light by the river, and after the credits, they both sit in silence, simply watching the sun. The last panel deepens the emotional impact, leaving everyone anxious about what will happen in the next episode.
Yet the harder part is that we saw them shining as friends while going on crazy adventures, even when they were just in the background. Their innocent behavior played a pivotal role in building City’s atmosphere, and now that feels close to ending. We already knew Ecchan would be leaving, but that didn’t lessen the impact of separating two characters who are central to the story.
Conclusion
As a cohesive piece of animation, Episode 5 deserves praise and rewatches. Both episodes are enjoyable, but it’s interesting that by comparing both, you can identify the two distinct narrative styles KyoAni wants to convey: a compilation of manga gags, while also exploring new ways of telling stories.
Should we expect even bigger creative ways to adapt this cozy manga for the anime finale?
City the Animation is streaming on Prime Video, where all the images are from.
©Keiichi Arawi, Kodansha/CITY THE ANIMATION Production Committee
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