After taking some time to reflect on Episodes 3 and 4 of City The Animation, I feel confident enough to put into words why it works and the overall direction we should expect for the rest of the season.
In my review of the first two episodes, I already concluded that the changes made from the manga were well-thought-out, so manga readers shouldn’t be concerned. In a way, the adaptation decisions are proof of Kyoto Animation’s high standard.
That being said, let’s unravel City The Animation Episodes 3 and 4!
Animation masterclass: Riko Izumi’s smile & Mimineko chase
Even if absurd humor isn’t usually your thing, Riko Izumi’s gags will steal your heart. The younger sister of Wako Izumi is something else, and thanks to Riko Izumi’s Close Call scene in Episode 3, we learned two things: she adores her big sister Wako, and everybody else is infatuated with Riko.
On the other hand, in case you are more interested in the main trio mishaps, episode 4 delivered a well-executed chase scene, in which most of the characters appeared one way or another. Mimineko took Niikura’s pendant, which started a fiery competition between Nagumo and Niikura to take it back.
What do both scenes have in common? I’ll summarize it in three key points:
To begin with, there’s a skillful use of sound effects and silence. You can notice this more clearly in Riko’s scene. There’s no dialogue, only the animation sequence accompanied by satisfying sounds—like the love-arrow sound effect. This is intentional: City manga also has a lot of “silent” chapters. The anime perfectly echoed this aspect of the manga’s atmosphere and comedy style.
An additional factor is the consistent animation. With only four episodes aired, it’s clear that Kyoto Animation will keep the quality throughout the season. But regarding the scenes under analysis, they brought the manga’s cartoonish movement and vibrant world to life.
Last but not least, is that both scenes made for a rewarding experience. For preparing this review, I watched each scene many times. And each time I found new elements! A background character going around town, foreshadowing a future arc, or the conclusion of an action started before (even from a past episode).
The Human Intersection
I’m very glad to make this review as a combination of the last two episodes, since one of Episode 4’s scenes is titled “Human Intersection”, which is an apt description of the overall manga series, and therefore, of the anime.
The beauty of the City is how it connects the different stories around the city in a way that always surprises the watcher in a pleasant, rewarding way. Let’s check only one of many examples.
In the mentioned Mimineko’s chase, the main plot involves Nagumo and Niikura trying to retrieve the “stolen” pendant from Mimineko. Throughout the episode, we also had other stories, as Ecchan and Matsuri’s random conversation, which ended in the pair trying to reach Mimineko too. They will appear at certain points during the chase, along with other characters, until they all come together masterfully in a literal intersection.
If you watch in detail all the characters and situations occurring in the background, you will find many connections. That’s what I mean by “rewarding experience”: you will find many details and curiosities if you invest time watching the scene carefully.
Nagumo’s kidnapping: Get ready for an epic arc
But the intersection scene is not the end of the scene. Episode 4 finished with Nagumo’s capture by Hotaka, the right hand of the wealthy and influential Tanabe. Her goal? To reward Nagumo and everyone who’s done a good deed…Wait, what?
Nagumo’s capture was already foreshadowed early in the episode, yet the anime maintained such a good pace that I was also taken by surprise when Hotaka reached Nagumo with his chains.
Conclusion
What may look like a weird, random plot is an entertaining, relaxing narrative, abundant in elements to comment on. City The Anime can be overwhelming if you try to catch every minor detail. My advice? Just enjoy the journey!
At the end of the day, the story is a human intersection: a crossing path of so many adventures, that rewatching each episode is a must-do.
City the Animation is streaming on Prime Video, where all the images are from.
©Keiichi Arawi, Kodansha/CITY THE ANIMATION Production Committee
Participate In Discussions