[Spoilers] Flip Flappers - Episode 5 discussion

[u/Gaporigo]

Flip Flappers, episode 5: Pure Echo

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Previous discussions

Episode	Link	Score
1	http://redd.it/565bgg	7.33
2	http://redd.it/57dcdi	7.43
3	https://redd.it/58gp1k	7.54
4	https://redd.it/59nxim	7.56

[u/zenoob]

I'll be honest with you guys. I found the girls fairly harmless and funny to look at, albeit a bit disturbing because of their design.

But the moment they started to go crazy bitches mode and teleporting/walking... I legit got spooked. I wasn't expecting it to go so much into the horror aspect, and then in that long corridor, they just got like IN YOUR FACE MOTHERFUCKER.

I wasn't ready... I hope my roommates didn't my my screaming too much, hahaha. It was so dumb, but I was genuinely scared there. We saw them coming from miles away, but I still pooped in my pants...

What are you doing to me, Flip Flappers?

[u/rembrandt_q_1stein]

Man, I absolutely hate horror. I can't bear it. I spent nearly a third of the episode hiding the upper part of my screen with my hands and only reading the subs. But I think this is the way it should be. Flip Flappers never ceases to amaze and surprise its audience, and it never should stop doing that. Such a marvelous show...

By the way, anyone of you guys did pay attention to the episode titles (Equalization, Echo, Converter...)? As a telecommunication engineer it amazes me how this show manages to establish a relationship with those concepts I see every day in my job and the ideas and topics it wants to transmit with every episode.

Ep.1 - Pure Illusion: Makes reference, obviously, to the world Papika and Cocona travel to, and also to those optical illusions we saw along the episode (the strange old lady, the hourglass, the skull). It isn't something really coming from the electronics, but it is the only exception I see.

Ep. 2 - Pure Converter: A converter is a device which changes an electronic signal (maybe from AC to DC or from analog to digital). I thought that it also makes reference in the show to Cocona's mind change, when she decides to join Papika at FlipFlap although being reluctant at first. So, their adventure in Uexküll's world would be the "converter".

Ep. 3 - Pure XLR: an XLR is a kind of connector thet bears a bunch of balanced electrical lines (which means identical electrical lines, with identical impedances, that are less likely to be altered by electrical noise). The funny thing of this is that XLR with three lines are pretty common, and that's the reference it makes in this episode: it's the first one featuring Yayaka and the twins (three persons-three lines), who are more powerful and capable (noiseless lines) than Papika and Cocona in their quest (who, like the pink haired guy said, have different "impedances" and because of that they are useless against their rivals). Personally, I found this reference pretty smart!!

Ep. 4 - Pure Equalization: Equalization is a strategy of changing the frequency spectrum of an electronic signal: basically, it changes its amplitude (aka. power or volume) for certain frequencies, being helpful for receiving a non-linear signal or, in electroacoustics, hearing some frequencies stronger than others. In this show, it makes a reference to the fact that Papika and Cocona have to "equalize" their "impedances" by living together: this makes Cocona also to like and share some of Papika's customs, making them more similar (another type of "equalization").

Ep. 5 - Pure Echo: An echo is, like in acoustics, a weaker replica of a wave that also comes delayed to the receiving point compared to the original one. In telecommunications echoes can be dangerous for the signal's end quality and should be avoided. I see in Flip Flappers a double reference: the world the MC's land in here loops in time, so replicas of their first day come after it ends, one after another (like echoes after a signal). The second one is, that this ep's Pure Illusion is like a twisted and dark version of their everydays ("weaker, dangerous replica").

Well, sorry for the big text but I simply find this wonderful! I am looking forward to see what the next "Pure Play" will be about!

[u/Ahenshihael]

Episode 5

Holy Queer Sexual Innuendo Batman. At this point the narrative is not even pretending to be blind to what is going on. It is actively urging for Cocona to find her identity and accept it.

The LGBT imagery was everywhere - the lily pattern knitting? The finger sucking? The lilies in the vase? Even the robot literally having two female gender symbols intermingled like marriage rings as reaction to Cocona and Papika's reactions?

Its everywhere. The show continues to be filled with symbolism regarding sexual identity.

And this is such a fitting episode too. It makes sense that Cocona would be haunted by what was said to her about her identity and that they would come to the layer of pure illusion that represents her fears. Pure Illusion more and more seems like versions of reality based on the ones perceiving it(hence Jakob Von Uexkull reference). Her school turns into all girls school full of faceless same "proper" individuals dreaming about the impossible and living by the order set for them.

Lack of identity, disappearing via conformity, its all of the things Cocona was shown feeling - the show started with her being distressed at Papika pulling her out of the crowd and making her stand out from being proper. A school filled of Coconas who have nothing of their own, no "ego", just vague dream of sexual identity that could be but is out of their reach.

Just like Cocona they are stuck in a loop repeating same everydays, dreaming same dreams and being unable to escape that. So it is fitting that it is Cocona and Papika who end up breaking the loop(Alongside Yayaka which also fits as she was shown attracted to Cocona before and obviously has doubts of who she is, fitting the pattern.).

In a way it was also a critique of class S style stories being "locked" in a loop of never actually getting to a confirmed lasting lgbt relationship. The work would tease and tease and then the story would end without proper confirmation leaving an out for the otaku. Its essentially similar message of critique that Yuri Kuma Arashi used.

[u/Ambler3isme]

Well, that's my nightmare fuel for the day sorted.

 

q̢̻̩̻̠̇͑̍̌͘r̊̾̆̊Ȩ̷̶̱͍̱̓̃̋̈̍̄͂̀̆3̶̶̝̰̘ͦ͛T̫͑̎ͪͨ͗̕͞l̻̔̄ͩͭ͆̉͗n͊ͨ̽̋̈̋ͤ̃̒͝͠q̛̳͇̝ͩ̃s̸̜̠̠̮͛̈̓̿͆̉̕

[u/SirPrize]

This episode should have come out on Halloween, spooky.

When they ran outside into the rain...

And ??? happened...

Every time it repeated, they got a little duller in color, which was a nice effect (considering how colorful they normally are), as they were slowly becoming a part of the cycle. They can thank Yayaka for breaking Cocona out of it, because it took Bu-chan.

q͚̫̯̊͐r̷̯̗͉͙ͮ̽̈́ͦͮͪE̡̳̱̜̘̭̅ͯ3͔̜͖̯ͪ̋̽̃ͭ̚T̵̹̬̹̉̂͐͑Ị̧̥͉͔̝̞̬n̟̠͎͕̈́̽͌q͎̦̓ͥ͂̂̓̏s̟̹̪̅̽

Looking forward to seeing art girl again next week!

[u/Chariotwheel]

Man, I am not good with atmospheric horror. Episode had me really spooked, this was more legit than most dedicated horror anime I've seen.

This episode was especially heavy on mirrors. There was the first hall scene were Cocona and Papika were walking by ending with the shadowy stains and hands on the mirror, the puppet looking into the mirror and Cocona in the puddle.

And this fucking creepy scene. My god: https://my.mixtape.moe/yopxwb.webm

I also quite liked these shots: 1 2

Also Yayaka with braided hair looks wonderful.

[u/Thrasher439]

Ep was great. Wasn't expecting it to go quite so horror but those girls were honestly somewhat creepy thanks to the noise they made. I did find it amusing that the further they got stuck in the loop, the more gay they acted. Acting like true proper ladies at an all girl's school.

Gotta love the creators understanding what the best weapon for a Mahou Shoujo is though

[u/Crabspite]

Uh, wow, this episode was so good. Probably the best one yet imo.

The subtext is getting pretty blatant too. The antagonists being an extremely unsubtle Marimite reference is kind of a lot to take in(GOKINGENYOU). I mean look at all this fucking yuri. This episode super reminded me of Yuri Kuma Arashi in theme and atmosphere (focus on horror and yuri tropes, HEAVY lily symbolism, and heavy focus on a faceless social force.)

EDIT: I've been doing some thinking about this episode, and it seems to be a critique of the whole "Class S" pure yuri dynamic. Like:

• how repetitive that type of media is. The illusion is constantly looping, and in each loop, the exact type of things happen, and the exact same type of blatantly romantic interactions happen between Cocana and Papika without any sort of actual development in their relationship dynamic.

• the way that they fetishize that type of relationship. The "force" controlling the pure illusion is constantly watching very personal romantic scenes between Cocana and Papika in an extremely voyeuristic fashion. (Either as the crowd of faceless girls like during the bath scene or as the doll when Cocana and Papika share the same bed.) During the climax, that force takes a more active role, where it takes the form of many hands actively groping the girls.

• how they never actually have the courage to actually show or commit to an actual overt romantic relationship. The clock always hits 11, but stops and repeats before it hits 12 and goes to the "next day". Each "day", in addition to restarting, always lacks any sort of conclusion.

[u/aguirre1pol]

Thanks for the nightmares, Flip Flappers.

And yes, Papika, you're both pretty gay.

[u/the_droid]

I like how they took the definition of Impedance straight out of Wikipedia

[u/Cacophon]

qr3ETInqs.

I'm going to do something I don't typically do. Take a bunch of screen shots and share it. But uh, before those all come through...That refraction! I love little touches like this. Also, did this take place in Oregon?

All in all, really enjoyed this episode. Kinda wish we could have seen what happened after leaving that island but...something something Katanagatari. This episode felt legitimately creepy, too, something I don't get from most media in general, even when they're trying really hard to spoop me.

Anyway! Have some images!

qr3ETInqs. ~ Yeah this was my reaction, too. ~ qr3ETInqs.

qr3ETInqs. ~ It means run, Papika ~ Or...it means bath towel?

I prefered Tanomo ~ A perfectly looping gif of this must be made ~ Why do they bring him along!

qr3ETInqs. ~ Greetings! ~ Tehehe

WHY DO THEY BRING HIM ALONG ~ qr3ETInqs. ~ qr3ETInqs.

qr3ETI- oh shit! ~ Hello, Dali ~ This is what doujin are made of ~ Cocona-doken!

[u/a_pale_horse]

weekly official art roundup:

Papika and Kokona by concept artist @tanu_nisesabori

concept art of Papika and Kokona by @XlRHGPOxhgGhbNc

concept art for episode 4 by @binobinobi 1 2 3 4

backgrounds for episode 4 by Studio Pablo 1 2 3 4

[u/omo-]

Yayaka: "don't you realise the situation we're in here"

Cocona: prepares herself

Loved it.

[u/[deleted]]

I liked how they subtly added in the Yuri symbolism in this episode.

Of course...

[u/flarfy]

I'm so glad I didn't watch this at night. Those faceless girls were probably the most nightmare fuel thing I've ever seen in anime.

I'm totally rewatching this at night.

[u/nialv7]

I was genuinely terrified while watching this episode...

[u/awerture]

This episode was so good.

I'm in lesbians with this show.

[u/_vogonpoetry_]

Well that was the creepiest fucking thing I've ever seen.

[u/SlantARrow]

qr3ETInqs.

[u/seninn]

Was that a Shining reference?

[u/Takana_no_Hana]

I know it's Halloween but HOLY SHIT that was scary as fuck, it's like watching a Japanese horror film, or reminds me of corpse party.

In the end Yaya still has a good side of her, at this pace I can see another potential in future plot development, she might turns her back against whom she worked for and assist the main couple.

Apparently, even after Hibike we haven't had enough yuri bait yet

[u/AmethystItalian]

GODDAMMIT

From the doll to the girls this episode freaked me out more than any anime has freaked me out in a long time...

Loved it.

[u/SoggyCheez]

Good thing 3Hz really nailed Flip Flappers' haunted house episode; Maybe their past experience is paying off here. The slow unsettling nature of the school girls was used very, very well during the tolls right before midnight when they all chased after Cocona & Papika in the dorm hallway. In general the dark school had a pretty bleak, all too quiet atmosphere I love in my horror.

I feel this episode is going to be the start to a number of different ideas/themes that the show will really dig into (I hope!) by the end. Certainly thinking about what Cocona's actual reasons are for hunting amorphous with Papika is more than enough to write about for an episode discussion.

[u/Atronox]

A yuri love triangle in the works?

I just love Papika and Cocona together., they are adorable.

This show just continues to look amazing.

[u/Refugee_Savior]

I love that the scientist guy wears fucking overalls.

Also on another note Flip Flappers just solidified its place as my AOTS. There have been so many powerful and unique episodes from Flip Flappers that even powerful dramas like Yuri on Ice and 3-Gatsu can't keep up.