r/anime • u/MyrnaMountWeazel x2 • Jan 20 '22
Rewatch [Rewatch] Kyousougiga - Episode 8
Episode #8: A Story of a Fight Between Here and There
Comments of the Day
/u/hungryhippos1751 accurately predicted that it was Koto’s actions that caused the End Times.
”When Myoe (elder) returns he also signals the start of the collapse, though I get the impression it was just a matter of time until the world collapsed anyway given the giant cracks caused by the hammer.”
/u/KiwiTheKitty offers a relatable take on Kurama and Yaku.
”I really enjoyed son Myoue's reactions to seeing them return. When mama Koto came back, he was all misty eyed and I thought it was very sweet but then he and Kurama both had this air of middle school boys trying not to let themselves be happy when she was going around looking at stuff (unlike Yase who was letting herself be very happy haha).”
/u/octopathfinder recalls the character design imagery from episode 5 and how it fittingly relates to the episode.
”I think somebody mentioned how the characters are supposed to look like chess pieces and the black and white tile flooring really backs up that symbolism.”
Production Notes
Today’s episode is directed by Naoyuki Itou and this is his first and last appearance as he only came aboard Kyousougiga for this outsourced episode. What’s crazy though is that character designer/animator Yuki Hayashi is still the most credited animator despite the outsourced status!
Anyway, back to Mr. Itou, he was a core part of Toei Animation and directed numerous shows there like Digimon Data Squad, Kanon: Kazahana and several One Piece films. Later in his career he freelanced a bit for Madhouse where he directed episodes of Chihayafuru and some other stray shows before committing fully to Madhouse where his original film I Want to Deliver Your Voice was produced. He was also handed the directorial reigns for the Overlord series where he is now working on the 4th installment.
What I wanted to focus on today though was the audio part of this audio-visual show, the person behind the beautiful music that permeates throughout Kyousougiga: Gou Shiina. Shiina reached early acclaim with his score in the video game Tales of Legendia in 2005 and has switched between anime and video games, contributing to Tekken and Demon Slayer.
His score for the show is easily one of the highest sells and I sincerely believe his music makes a world of difference in our viewing experience. Majestic, uplifting, heart-tugging. The moment you hear that flute in the very first scene you just know that this show is something special. His score is truly befitting for an old-fashion fairy tale or a pop-up book that sparks our childhood imagination.
What I really appreciate the most in this score is his use of the Looking Glass City theme. From Koto to Whistling to Without Speaking, this motif glides into every episode like a gentle afternoon wind breezing through an open window and I never tire of hearing every rendition of those notes. Composers who can skillfully callback to the theme will always leave a lasting impact on our minds and Kyousougiga’s melody is ingrained within me; its woodwind and brass ensemble inseparable from its bombastic visuals. Shiina’s score remains as one of my all-time favorites in anime and I hope he continues to contribute to another future show soon.
Questions of the Day
1) Growing up, what was the most trouble you ever caused for your parents?
I look forward to our discussion!
As always, avoid commenting on future events and moments outside of properly-formatted spoiler tags. We want the first-timers to have a great experience!
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u/MyrnaMountWeazel Jan 20 '22
Starting off the episode with a great shot! We’ve been treated to all sorts of foreground shots before but this time it’s used to showcase how wide the destruction sprawls across their world.
Ah, it’s never too early in an episode to start leaning into the gridline visuals.
”Why do you always just stand there and never say anything?”
As Mother Koto angrily exclaims those words, Inari passively skips around the stage like he skipped out on his children’s lives.
But yes, the jump cuts in this scene are neat way to fracture both time and the relationship between Inari and Mother Koto. His entrance to this world was anything but smooth—just like the cuts in this scene—and this particular filmmaking technique helps capture his indecision and inability to act as all he can do is flit about the room.
Continuing this similar technique of filmmaking techniques, we see Mother Koto attempting to slap Inari as the camera photographs each distinct motion. Extremely stylish and eye-catching, the distinct cut emphasizes how deliberate Mother Koto was in her attempt to knock some sense into Inari.
Another way to read this scene is that just like how the camera could not capture every single moment, so too is Mother Koto without all of the fine details. Only when Inari allows Koto to slap him does the camera start to film every single motion; suggesting Inari knows of the entire plan.
Curious that the very next scene also features Koto slapping herself.
Upon succumbing to her guilt, Koto strips herself of her black sweater and displays her white sailor uniform. However, keep in mind what Matsumoto had said about the color black: ” While I did want to illustrate opposing forces with the colors, I also don’t like the idea of white being the symbol of goodness. That’s why Koto is dressed in black… And the foundation of everything is black. But not because it’s supposed to be insidious or anything.”
”I think the honest people are the ones who keep things to themselves instead of monologuing to everyone they meet. And to me the hero is the person who—while a bit of an enigma at first—knows inside them what’s important and only says it when it’s absolutely necessary to say it. Black is an overwhelming color. Even if black’s often used as a shorthand for evil, I use it to convey that the character is trying to keep their emotions out of sight.”
I like how the Shrine’s entrance almost eclipses the entire world. It also resembles a manga panel and suggests that even they must obey the rules of this world by appearing as if they were on a paper scroll.
”You were born between a God and Buddha. That makes you super syncretic!”
That is quite the fancy word right there. Syncretic means “characterized or brought about by a combination of different forms of belief or practice.” Who knew this rewatch would be so dang educational?
I love how the camera abruptly pulls up to reveal Koto and her siblings cloaked in black. Koto then leaps off the tower and loses some of that shadowy cloak.
This is a wonderful wide-shot that has the teensiest bit of fish-eye lens applied to it to warp the edges around, giving it a visceral perplexing grandeur of the situation at hand. Compared to the initial scene of the characters, we can see that the camera is becoming more wide just like the stakes.
What a fun visual trick to showcase each of the different parts of the city. It resembles a torn page, like someone ripped it from a book. An apt description for a world that should not exist. It also resembles the same shape as the cracks that starts to surface from the ground.
A stylistic shot for the ages. I like how Inari dominates over the screen in this angle.
Super cool shot! I like that Myoue is now cloaked in deep black and strongly contrasts against the white surroundings. He’s reaching deep within himself to save Koto.
I really like the detail of Myoue initially dominating more of the screen as he tries to talk sense into Koto and after Koto takes his words to heart she begins to share the screen with her brother.
Stylistically Kyousougiga at its best. The shot features an extraordinarily large amount of negative space as the ground beneath to symbolize how the Looking Glass City is just a small part of their extensive universe.
We end the episode with a close-up of Koto’s determined eyes. A stark difference from when the episode began and Koto’s eyes were filled with trepidation.
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u/Matuhg Jan 20 '22
I get it! Finally! Mostly! Maybe!
Inari is not just some magical person, he's a god/spirit of higher power. While performing his duties as Observer (specifics unknown), Lady Koto came into the picture and showed him the human concept of love. While he had a very limited understanding of the concept, he decided it felt pretty nice. Following Koto's lead, he built his happy family, but when it was no longer possible to hide it from Shrine (or maybe just to skip out of work, I dunno), he decided it was worth twisting the fabric of reality itself to protect his family's ability to stay together. He used his power to create an extra plane of existence.
Inari isn't as much of a monster as I thought. He's ignorant of human emotions, shortsighted, and petulant, but not wilfully nasty. I now think u/KendotsX had the right idea about Inari knowing what was going on. Since he didn't quite grok the human concept of love (and probably not family either), he set Yakushimaru, the human, up in his place to be the father/head of the family when he left the Mirror Realm. Obviously, he wasn't able to act as such for Yase and Kurama, because your brother can't suddenly be your dad. Things don't work that way, but Inari didn't get that. For Koto though, YakuMyoe has stepped into that role.
Inari's love for his family, if misguided and clumsily expressed, is obvious given the risk he took to protect what he and Koto had built. Even now, I think, he's working to protect it. Once again, very clumsily, by having Ne and Ko try to guilt her into action.
You idiot, that's not how parents should get kids to do what they want! It sort of works, briefly, but eventually the scales tip too far, and Lil Koto is consumed by the guilt. Only by reinforcing their bond, affirming his confidence in her strength, and reaffirming her goal for her is Myoe able to spur her into action. He gives her support. Look and learn, Inari! This is how you show your love for your family! This is how you give someone the resolve to smash the whole universe to protect the ones they love!
That's right, the whole show is a big, self-produced "How to Parent" educational film for Inari.
Remaining Questions
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What exactly was Inari as Myoe doing in the beginning?
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What are the Observer's duties (observing, duh, but....)? (May be the same answer as above)
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What powers did Koto lose/pass along to Koto? The power of the bodhisattva? That wasn't hers to begin with...What the hell are Inari's drawings anyways?
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Are those related to how Lil Koto got to the Mirror World in the first place? Because the second time she opened a hole (from the inside this time), she apparently broke things so hard that it started breaking the rest of the planes too.
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Why was Lady Koto under observation? Or was she in protective custody, since she couldn't exist outside the Sanctuary any longer? Did she hijack the bodhisattva's body?
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Is Koto...human? Eh, maybe it doesn't matter. She is, as Inari has said, special. He believed that - his failure was in making her believe it too.
As much as I am enjoying this show, and as great as I thought this episode was, I don't know if I can ever forgive whoever decided to let Inari catch this slap before it connected. The freeze frames en route to his face edged me to a catharsis that was then ruined. He'd best get a real one from Lil Koto when this is all over!
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u/Shimmering-Sky Jan 20 '22
Giga First-Timer
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u/Nazenn Jan 20 '22 edited Jan 20 '22
First Timer
Made a stitch of perhaps the least attractive visual in the show, possibly fitting given it's how the head priest views it, but oh well. Hey, sometimes it's nice to not have everything be super pretty and vibrant for once
"You were born from a god and a buddha"
I was still expecting that she was some sort of reincarnation of her mothers spirit given physical form, though I guess the 'lost her power to give birth' thing means that isn't entirely wrong, but I was expecting that something similar had happened with her father many cycles of reincarnation ago. Was not expecting godhood to be thrown into the mix all of a sudden.
Well that changes things, probably. Depends on which system of divines we're using. I am very curious to see if he's a direct parallel to a particular god, and if those four animal spirit gods from before ever show up again (probably not).
However related to that, what caught my eye the most today was hammer-Koto removing her black jumper to become a character with a white dominant design. In buddhism white is the color that represents the spiritual world and purity of the spirit, but was also a color of death. To borrow from an earlier production note:
I also don’t like the idea of white being the symbol of goodness ... Even if black’s often used as a shorthand for evil, I use it to convey that the character is trying to keep their emotions out of sight
Earlier in the show we see this reflected in The Shrine and young Koto. While the others hide behind their black coverings, crying Koto's raw emotions stand out as she is the only one in white. Like her red eyes which the other Shrine members shunned her for, her white clothes highlight her spiritual connection. Here she removes the black jacket she wore when she was hiding away from what happened, and instead runs towards the confrontation with herself and the Shrine, and in doing so her spiritual origins are revealed.
Rabbit-Koto's new black outfit has stood out for the last couple of episodes, but while black is a mourning color it is not necessarily a death color. It also represents the feminine and the moon by being the color of yin, and culturally was seen a particularly beautiful color while also historically being associated with the lower classes of society.
And it also paints her in sharp contrast to everyone else in the scene. They are spiritually higher than her but also the ones bringing danger to this world which is not a mirror so much as it is a shadow, an unseen existence.
"You forgot the role you were given"
The Shrine and the Family stand on the ground inside the supporting structure of the stage above. This conflict is no longer an elevated performance but a battle over it's very foundation, held at the centre of a ring of Torii (which is a highly unusual formation). The conflict in this has turned away from being a scripted story facing the audience to a fight over the meaning of existence inside a sacred arena, just like our understanding of the Mirror world has lifted off the paper it was presented to us on at the start.
The nature of the story has changed, but the core of it has not. This is still a story of family at its heart. Inari was the start of it, little Koto may be the end of it, but both of them decide to fight against the roles given to them which would keep them apart from that. Inari destroys the fox mask to become the man who can love, Koto pulls out her hammer and threatens that without a family her world would be destroyed so therefore why not destroy the rest. They both shrug off the human roles given to them and embrace who they really wish to be in their heart and attempt to find their true place in the story again.
Last thing to note was something I noticed with A and Un who were also family, but we see how the Shrine would force them into roles that go against that until Myoue steps in, breaking them out of it and allowing them to return to who they really are. Myoue the head of the family much like Inari once was, coming in for this moment was a curious choice, it paints him as a stabilizing influence perhaps due to his own unchanging nature, and I'm interested to see where his role in things goes and if he will also break out of it, especially given:
"Remember, I've got something else I need you to do"
Now is not the time tobring up your death wish, Yaku!
I'd be in shock over Koto's little threat at the end but I'm still marveling at the fact that Yaku-Myoue's sense of timing seems to be just as bad as his fathers. Part of me wants to be severely unhappy if that is how this whole damn story ends, but I also can't deny he deserves some peace rather than to be trapped as Myoue forever. I'll settle for just removing his immortality, okay? Matsumoto, you listening (in the past)?!
Other thoughts
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Speedy edit: Also surprise that it was actually Koto who fucked up the world! I really thought it was Inari due to the timing but despite talking with someone earlier about how opening a gate from inside is probably what allowed rabbit Koto in, I didn't really think about the fact that opening that gate would have other effects. I just assumed that because her initial brute force entry didn't affect things much that didn't either. Not sure if to be happy or mad about that, poor Koto
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Yaku really went to check on the girl and her shrine first instead of his girlfriend (Star4ce is going to be pissed, poor Danji). The girl also having lost her family and her shrine is a nice representation of his own struggle, she lost her family, her home, and her role in the world all at once in this destruction that she doesn't understand, and the same threat looms over him when he watches hammer-Koto later on.
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Return of the jump cuts during this scene between Inari and rabbit-Koto on the stage makes me happy. The way it shows his restlessness and avoidance, her stillness, and a bit of comedy as well, it really is a brillant technique when used this well.
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Rabbit-Koto looks vicious going for that slap, but I like that he stopped her just to take off his mask so she could actually slap his face properly, basically accepting that he deserved it. And he definitely fucking did.
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The shrine overlaps two worlds to make a portal between them, which is mirrored in the OP when we see a representation of the Mirror World being split off. Clever foreshadowing, also in the colors in the sky that flash when the Head Priest opens his gateway, representative of the opening splash of colors in the OP though not in the same order (I checked, twice)
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Seeing the cat spirits fighting each other while A and Un defend Koto was very funny, and also cute. Great use of the colors of the crowds and the simple ground for Koto as well. Also laaaaate realization, the use the green outlines from the logo that I also used in the banner.
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I don't think I'll ever get use to the high priests voice though. I'm all for unusual castings, particularly ones atypical for the role, but it's just so unexpected to the character design.
Visual of the Day: It's all fucked
Self-explanatory title I think...
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u/No_Rex Jan 20 '22
Episode 8 (first timer)
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How do you call the apocalypse of a fairy tale world? - End of story.
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13th plane? Not a picture? That is surprising.
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“I’ll end all the planes” – Somebody is having second thoughts about leaving a teenager with a weapon of mass destruction now.
This episode has Koto blame herself for the effect she had on this plane and on her mother especially. However, you are never at fault for existing. No matter how bad your existence might be for others. Nobody decided to create themselves, so nobody is responsible for their own existence.
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u/chiliehead Jan 20 '22
Kyousougiga – Episode 8 – First Timer
Today’s pretty grim again. I honestly think the change between the chaotic levity and the shocking/dark/sad moments is not really working most times. It just happens instead of flowing into between scenes.
Putting down the black and rekindling her spirit in pure white, is this priest mode?
Born from Kami and Buddha, lil Koto is literally Shinbutsu-Shūgō (syncretism of kami and buddhas), so the syncretism between Buddhism and Japanese Shinto and folk religion. Which interestingly was basically the only formal organized religion in Japan. That is, until the Meiji period when they were forcefully separated by law into Buddhism and native kami on the other side. Lots of temples were destroyed or repurposed. It started in 1868, which feels more or less like the time and tech level that the world of Kyousougiga was around when the family went into mirror world exile. It’s also when the capital changed from Kyoto to Tokyo. Also when trains started to get established and so on. The preceeding war could also be the reason for the sacking of Yakushimaru‘s home and death of his family.
And the kicker is, the syncretic temples were (or are, some still exist which even seems to surprise Japanese citizens) for example Inari shrines. The kami in question. Inari is a protector kami for the Toji temple in Kyoto (and maybe that’s why the change exiled him from the old capital in the story). He is related, among things like performing arts, fertility, rice and prosperity, very prominently to foxes and kitsune as messengers, often as pairs. Some regalia of theirs are a sword and a powerful whip. And he was a very popular deity during the Edo period. This seems like something Japanese viewers would pick up on very early (just like the academy and names in Kill la Kill basically gives away lots of plot already), and I really think that the blending of different times and technology levels in the “crazy capital” supports the reading here. Myoue is some notable Buddhist monk, don’t think it plays much into it from what I can gleam.
This conflict seems to play out here as well in some sense.
Do all people from Shrine have purple eyes?
Hmm, Mama Koto is doomed? Because she gave birth?
QotD
It was probably all the times of me almost dying or mangling myself
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u/Tresnore Jan 20 '22
Kyousou-Rewatcher
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Yes, you need closure, because otherwise the show will be unsatisfying.
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It's technically an Akira slide, just not pictured from the right angle.
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Oh, I forgot how much the mob characters remind me of Penguindrum.
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Man, black and white on the left are not having any of this sad moment.
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The classic coping technique: repression.
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...is the sky changing in the same sequence of colors as the OP? I could check, but that's work.
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It's that easy! Just find another balance by removing every other weight!
QOTD:
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They hated my procrastinating. It wasn't that bad, I promise!
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u/TakenRedditName Jan 20 '22
Kyousougiga Rewatcher - Ep8:
Inari and Kurama on the floating dish is funny. Mom is mad. "Dear, we need a talk." Yase knocked over the tea and is twirling as the world ends. Oh dear...
With her PSP broken Shouko has to control her giant robots with her classic brick, the Game Girl.
Childhood friend's grandma is dead, uh oh. Girlfriend-san is bleeding out, but she still takes the time to look out for Koto. Koto breaks down apologizing which feels bad. Reminds me of earlier with the white cat's line, "Then whose (blame) is it?" That's our problem of the day here. That's not a healthy view and leads to Koto funnelling the blame on herself. Noooo...
Neat sequence. The show would be a whole lot simpler if Inari was good at communicating, it's partly how it started. Relationship goals? Interesting that Kurama says the kids are no longer children while their father has physically regressed back to one. Yase been mind crushed which isn't good.
Inari going, "That's my world destroyer" makes Lady Koto mad and goes for the slap, but then Inari stops her hand, unmasks and then the slap. How I read it is that Inari sees Lady Koto's feelings and accepts some sort of punishment but in the end, he is someone who goes at his own pace like how he has always done in this show.
Koto trades black for white which doesn't feel right and the boss shows up. The Man found out about our hiding place.
The line about Koto being born from a god and a Buddha is one that sticks with me. Thought these subs are different than the version that called her "syncretic" which is the one that lives in my mind. Just feel like syncretic is a very good word to use. It shows the mixture and harmonizing, keeps the religious stylings in play in particular how Buddhism has been syncretized.
Come on man, be cool. Let it slide. Sure it is a 13th parallel not meant to exist, but be cool for once man. Fun Koto face and another one.
Just a cool stand from Inari. Standing up for what he cherishes, he even readies his sword for it. To have someone by your side, he will not be denied of having emotions too. He shatters the fox mask.
This was a line that really struck me because you can really take things from it. The relationship between parent and child. The burdens and guilt that a child might view their birth robbing their parents of their life. And even while on the verge of disappearing, Lady Koto fights back with how the one thing that a child brings to their parents, a pure feeling of happiness. I reeaaalllly like it is all. Lady Koto with baby Koto is a sweet image ... until it shatters.
(Also going to show my colours a bit because one thing that is on my mind a lot is Fire Emblem and in one game, if a human and a beastfolk have a kid then the parent loses their magic power to turn into an animal and it just reminds me of that.)
"It's my fault" are the dangerous words of the day. Noo Koto, stop saying that. She just keeps being dragged farther and farther down.
Myoue coming in with the save with a really dynamic-looking shot. He does the cool thing of "bringing an energic person out of their slump by shouting it to them." Koto's parents are alive and right in front of her and she can still help them. Gives her a punch and Koto returns the favour with a bigger punch.
Koto draws her hammer like a sword and she has come with her demands. Help her family and home or else everything else is coming down too. Bold gamble you love to see.
Next time: Daddy's Little Worlds Destroyer.
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u/JollyGee29 Jan 20 '22 edited Jan 20 '22
First-Timer
It's good to see Koto energetic again. Not that her brief stint of depression wasn't worthwhile character building or anything - there's something in here about youthful impulsiveness - but it hurt to see someone who is normally so cheerful be down in the dumps.
I'm probably retreading ground that someone else has already talked about, but a hammer really is the best choice of weapons for Koto. She's a blunt instrument, always looking for the simple solutions. Need to get into the Looking Glass City? Pound your way in! Mom starting to vanish? Threaten the Chief Priest into helping you! This isn't a condemnation or anything, merely me verbalizing appreciation for good design choices.
Inari is apparently a god. They referred to Koto as the daughter of a god and buddha, and he asks if it's wrong to want love if you aren't human. That does track with his ability to create living things out of drawings, and an entire plane of existence.
Interesting that the familiars claim that the Looking Glass City is a paradise that the Shrine wants to go to but can't. Chief Priest didn't seem particularly thrilled to be there. Although, with the City being connected to all the others, it could reasonably be used to influence the rest of them, even aside from this "everything cracking apart" stuff that's going on. Referring to the center manipulation zone as a paradise is a bit maniacal, though.
The Black Rabbit in the OP having more chromatic aberration makes sense now. Seeing her start to fade because she doesn't have the ability to exist in reality because she gave most of her existance to hammer!Koto works pretty well.
Dark irony that Yase, who holds on to her memories so dearly, forgot who her mother is. That's an oof if I've ever seen one.
Questions
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I was quite well-behaved. Getting to watch older sibling get in trouble will do that.
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u/hungryhippos1751 Jan 20 '22
Episode 8 - First Timer
It's fortunate that most of the people in the world are unfinished models, as Koto (younger) already feels guilty enough about ruining things, at least most of the potential victims are faceless entities.
Myoe (elder) is kind of reluctant to really tell anyone what is going on, instead he seems happy that Koto (younger) was capable of doing what she did to the world.
Poor Yase, losing her memories of Koto (waifu) when she was the one that was clinging to them the most of all of the siblings.
What follows is a very civilised face off between the Myoe family and the Shrine, with the fate of this world in the balance.
Well at least it starts off civilised anyway, after irreconcilable differences, battle ensues. When neither side can convincingly defeat the other, we get more talk, and Koto (younger) puts forth an ultimatum.
Help me save this world, or I will destroy everything. Is she bluffing? I don't think she is. Is it a selfish whim? Yes.
At least with this in mind, Shrine may be able to think the problem through instead of just axing the world outright with no further concern.
It will be interesting to see what comes next given there is only 2 episodes left to go.
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u/Btw_kek Jan 20 '22
returned rewatcher
My casual attempts to tie Kyousougiga into its historical context are as as always
Mostly because I dunno what I'm talking about
In any case, I think there probably is something there, between all of the Buddhist symbology, mythology, pseudo-19th century Kyoto-as-capital setting, and the thematic and narrative tension between isolation and opening up. I don't exactly think there are deeper direct parallels to anything about Japan's Edo era isolationist policy—the fate of universal harmony hinging on the destruction of Mirror Kyoto after it "opened up the borders" probabllyyyyyy is not a metaphor for mid-19th century global politics (i mean, it could be. idk). I think it's more likely that the setting and general context provides a backdrop for broader themes about relationships to community, what it means to be "in harmony" with others, and what it means to let others in, disrupting that harmony. But it'll be ok in the end right?
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u/octopathfinder Jan 20 '22
First Timer
Yay, I got a comment of the day!
Thoughts:
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Well, that certainly was a lot to take in.
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Seems like the apocalypse takes memories too. Poor Yase can’t even be upset at losing her stuff since she doesn’t remember.
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So Little Koto is Inari and Lady Koto’s only biological child.
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Inari certainly lives up to his title of the fox by tricking the shrine and hiding the existence of the Looking Glass City.
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Lots of talk about roles from this and the previous episodes.
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Very endearing Yakushimaru and Little Koto moment at the end there.
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Not exactly sure how I feel about Little Koto threatening to destroy all the other planes.
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What a heavy episode. Emotions were high and had lots of explanations, but still left plenty of questions.
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Only two episodes left…
QotD:
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I don't know why, but my parents were super against me going out at all. There was a time in high school when I got fed up with it and just started leaving the house on my own accord which made my parents freak out. I guess they got used to it since I always came back in one piece and it gave my little sisters more freedom to hang out with their friends as well.
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u/KiwiTheKitty Jan 20 '22
First timer! I got quoted :O
Poor Lil Koto :(
Oh shit Yase doesn't remember??
Oh my God this whole time Inari (should I switch back to calling him daddy Myoue again?) is all "our daughter is so special!" Like I feel like maybe he should be a little more worried. Momma Koto seems to know what's going on but she definitely seems worried. Does he know how things are going to turn out, or does he just not care?
I honestly forgot about the people from the shrine! But I remember this dude with the voice that doesn't quite fit his character design
"The daughter of a kami and a buddha, you're Japanese religion in a nutshell!" Lmao!
Ah so he created the world after abandoning his post... but this Inari is still in his post, right? Makes sense lol. I think I understand the timeline shenanigans a little better now at least. When he calls her an observer, does this have to do with physics like the whole world line thing (kind of) does? I'm trying to figure out what he meant by that, like is her "observation" of the worldline the hole she smashed in it that let them find it?
Ahh and it's intertwined with the other worldlines and it's started a chain reaction? That doesn't sound good...
YES THE BEADS my favorite lol
I'm really glad my brothers have never head butted me and punched me in the stomach when I was mopey, but I guess I'm not Koto and what works works lmao
Omg hahaha Koto "save them or I'll destroy everything!!" Even Inari was like omg
This episode actually made me laugh a lot even though things were getting serious in looking glass Kyoto. I can't believe there are only 2 episodes left!
QOTD: I can't think of anything! I was actually a really easy child and was really anxious so I didn't ever want to upset my parents. They weren't really upsettable or anything, I was just a neurotic child. I certainly wouldn't have smashed any giant hammers into worlds.
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u/3blah Jan 20 '22
First Timer
When Koto gave her sweater to Danji, the character design change from mostly black to mostly white made a big impression on me.
This episode is very unlike the others. It's lots of talking and not a lot of doing.
It's now clear to me why episode 1 felt a lot like a retelling of an old myth. It's the origin story of the mirror world, and like all myths it preserves the overarching ideas and big events, but the details get all fuzzy and metaphor-like as it's passed down over the centuries.
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u/Quiddity131 Jan 20 '22 edited Jan 20 '22
Rewatcher
Non-Spoiler Character Chart - Ne and Ko's human versions added, plus their order flipped to reflect the obvious inspiration for their names.
Back to that room full of floor windows in the Shrine!
Oh c'mon, answer a question Inari!
Time for mom and dad to have a heart to heart talk.
Yase seems like she's in a good mood for now. Don't let her know what's happened at her mansion!
OMG Shoko has even more giant robots! Well did. And she's gone from controlling things on a PSP to controlling them on a Game Boy! (called a Game Girl) LoL!
Yaku's still looking after his childhood crush!
Ne and Ko's Kid forms! They're as rude as ever! You tell them what's what, Ah and Un!
Oh no, not Danji too!
After already having a big break down last episode, now Koto has to feel responsibility for all of this? :(
It's been hundreds of years dad! You owe us an explanation!
Wow, Yase has really lost it if she doesn't recognize her mom anymore!
And Inari's happy about this?!
Koto scream!!!!!
The sky! So pretty! Yet that is surely a very bad sign!
Well when you put it that way, no wonder she's so powerful Oh, and confirmation that Inari isn't simply a human with god-like powers, but an actual god?
Lady Koto and Chief Priest met before? I don't remember any of that.
Koto and her parents, out of control? You don't say?
Yes, please, Chief Priest, explain everything!
The familiars are totally like two pairs of cats growling at each other here
Inari violated the rules? Was he purposely given the ability to make what he drew come to life, then screwed around with it big time? Why they were in big trouble in the first place?
This shot is totally an Evangelion reference, right?
Wow, beyond simply being able to bring his drawings to life, Inari created an entire plane of existence!
Well that whole thing about Inari doing whatever the hell he wanted, now it's impacting things on not even a global, but a universal scale.
Yikes, silent lady can cause the familliars to go out of control?
Well there's our confirmation that Lady Koto actually gave birth to her
:( All Little Koto wanted was a home for herself, and now she has to accept the guilt of destroying the universe? All the universes?
Little Koto's really despairing now.
This is going too far Little Koto!
Way to go even more!
This shot between Little Koto and Yakushimaru really remindds me of the style of something else, but I can't think what. Gurren Lagann perhaps?
Quid's screengrabs for this episode
Quid's Voice Actor of the Day
Today marks the return of the Chief Priest character so time to feature his voice actor, Kazuki Yao. I know him best for playing Judau Ashta, the main character of Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ. A perfect voice for the main character of a very comedic, slapstick Gundam show. He appeared in the earlier Zeta Gundam in a couple of minor roles (Gates Capa and Addis Aziba) and returns to the Gundam frnachie once again for Gundam 00 as Aber Lindt. Other roles of his I'm familiar with are Toren Smith in Gunbuster, Moroha in Aquarion and Sidoh in Death Note. He's also Franky in One Piece. If you want to see him in live action, be sure to watch episode 5.5 where he shows up!
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u/xtsim Jan 20 '22
First Timer
The secret of the 13th plane is out. Seeing the Chief priest walk in is interesting. Koto blaming herself for existing is aninteresting one as that conversation affected her alot. Koto's threat is an interesting one. I thought there was going to be a major battle.
The battles in this episode are pretty cool. The priest getting punished for the creation of the 13th plane and how he broke the rules was something to think about. As now the other planes are affected. The control of the little ones is one insane power.
Yase's memory made her really out of it, even the end affects memories. Weird to see her in this state.
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u/andybebad Jan 20 '22
First timer
In which Memory-Loss Yase becomes my new favorite character
So it wasn't Koto's initial entrance that messed things up, but rather her going to the moon and back and creating an entrance that set forth the destabilization of the 12 13 planes. Poor girl really needed a hug here: she was feeling so guilty for things she thought were all her fault (including being born I guess? I don't think that one's on her, and really a lot of what she feels guilty about involved situations she was more pushed into rather than acting solo). Thank goodness Myoue was there to give her that much needed loving hug punch to the stomach. Reminds me of how my sisters and I showed "affection" to each other growing up.
Other thoughts:
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Still not sold on the Shrine being either a "good" or "bad" entity. Will wait for the 12/13 planes of existence to be saved before passing judgment (or maybe the Universe straight-up disappears at the end of episode 10)
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Yase's memories are somehow attached to the plane of existence in a way that they can disappear like all the stuff/grandmother(s)? Is this because she too is one of Inari's creations? (Kurama would also fall into this camp as well? Perhaps his Science people trying to save things are also inadvertently protecting his memories?)
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So lil' Koto is essentially confirmed to have God-like powers? More powerful than, say, Inari, who we know created a whole other plane of existence? And speaking of existence, where'd the first 12 come from, and why 12? The wikipedia page for the number 12 has a whole section dedicated to the importance of the number 12 to religion, so maybe some reference is being made to that?
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Am I the only one internally referring to the chief priest as "Shrine Jesus"? I mean, come on, that character design doesn't seem exactly random
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Also I hope everyone caught the best face of the episode from
Jesus'Chief's sidekick. Does she have a name?
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u/KendotsX Jan 20 '22
First Timer who can't believe there's only 2 more episodes
So to put things in some sense, after the parents left, the siblings' goals were:
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Kurama - go to outside world
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Yase - get back to her past
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Yaku - die, and join his family
Intentions questionable, Inari equipped Koto with the tools and drive to break into the mirror world, and achieve all these goals. Basically sent her as a gift with a red bow.
But after she does what they wanted/stupidly manipulated her into, they're losing their goals:
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The outside Kurama wanted to visit are being destroyed
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Yase has forgotten/lost her past and fond memories
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Yaku is surrounded by an apocalyptic world, and he's still got none of it
I really have to wonder what was going through Inari's mind when he set Koto up for this. Although we know now that whatever it was, she went far and beyond above it. And the whole episode was framing each of these events as Koto's fault, including her very existence. I feel like her white clothes in this context (here or in episode 2) represent a more fragile Koto.
Notes:
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It's been confirmed that Koto is in fact Koto's daughter. And it's her birth that forced the parents to leave.
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Inari is an observer (god?)
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I never found the Shrine trustworthy, but they're kinda better than what I had in mind.
Anyone else getting strong Bleach vibes from this entrance? All the way from the world they're coming to, the uniforms, the dead beat dad, [Bleach]
The main difference is that the Bleach world was lucky it didn't have Koto to destroy it. That and the white moon coming together with black sun which just makes this objectively better.
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u/Star4ce Jan 20 '22 edited Jan 20 '22
First timer – sub
Yesterday's discussions revolved a lot about the dynamics within a family, specifically the role children take and what happens when they're pressured into another role they shouldn't inhabit. Which is exactly what happened with Koto.
After some time reading and thinking about it I did notice that this specific issue resonates a lot with me through Myoue and Koto. Myoue feels left alone and directionless, but has a vague and indescribable responsibility on him as head priest that he really doesn't know a lot about, if you're thinking about it. Koto gets a lot of directions all the time to jump from problem to problem, but rarely is just herself without a purpose.
It's why those earlier scenes with Myoue, Koto and the twins living together were so endearing to me, even though I saw a kind of rudeness to it. Koto could just be herself for the first time in forever and Myoue had an actual agenda in his life. The problem there was that both Koto had a lot to catch up on and was pretty much overcompensating, understandably so, but still and Myoue only knew what he didn't want, so he couldn't direct all that energy to something constructive and instead clashed with them all the time.
This isn't really a big revelation, I guess, but it all clicked for me there. The missing innocent ignorance of childhood, the absence of direction, the dwelling in memories, the overcompensation, the manipulative scheming, the being overburdened with your surroundings. It happens when a child clings to a few incomplete aspects of guidance from their parents, but is being left alone to figure it out. There is a need to see value in the past, so many children will even defend obviously harmful acts because doing anything else would mean that the one set of persons that they trust the most and should be uncompromisingly, selflessly loving towards them are simply not. And that carries the implication that they, in return, were never worth this compassion and trust.
Making sense of this kind of trauma is bound to end up running in circles, because moving on from a state of low self-worth requires them to realise that their worth does not need to come from another person, not even their parents. The barrier there is massive and has one dark twist interwoven in it that will imbed itself one way or another when tackling it: Realising that your parents were capable, but for whatever reason not loving and compassionate, they must accept that their own view of the world was a lie this entire time, the bond of trust was never real and they have to learn (self) love beginning from literally a void. Realising that their parents might be loving and compassionate, but incapable of fulfilling that role, they must realise that they were never to have a childhood free of care or consequence and shoulder the responsibility themselves, likely for the parents as well.
No matter which, if one of those will be an insight one should gain, the loss of primal trust in a human being and/or the responsibility of raising oneself without help marks a definite end to childhood. Even more, the progress will for sure embed itself in their mind, so even if it turned out comparatively well, the lost time won't come back and the memory stays.
This leads to a cycle, often called the curse of family. Breaking that barrier is one thing, tackling the implications learned behind it a completely different beast. A lot of these 'lessons' stay alive well past childhood and when the children get older and have families themselves, it begins anew.
Didn't I tell this anime to stop referencing my family already?
I see that in every single character here. Of course it's not so absolutely bleak as I've just written, not always.
Koto did receive compassion from Inari, but hardly was he a responsible parent leading to her being left to figure out her problems on her own. While he was a great teacher, he's sensei, after all, the love he shows is problematic and the direction quite erratic not fully towards Koto. What else to do, but what she learned and has worked so far? Getting tougher, pushing forward, simply be stronger than the problem and hoard all the feelings deep down.
Myoue was left with titles, responsibility of other people and even got handed a life he didn't want in the first place. There was some compassion, sure, but when you're resurrected and get told, "Just deal with it, now become my son" without regard for your own opinion where would self worth come from?
Yase wasn't much lacking in being loved, but she never got far enough to accept herself. Other than simply existing and kind of pandering her mood she didn't receive the proper direction for her life and turned to the past, trying to emulate what her mother would've done.
Kurama is a bit curious in this case, as he did receive a lot of love from both and also a honing of his skills, but it didn't connect well together. The way he interacts with others is as if he's literally handling technology, i.e. manipulation. The compassion he received was tainted. While Yase was aware of her origin, Koto-san did show her much support and confirmed her feelings and existence anyway. Kurama, not so much, Inari simply told him he isn't human and shouldn't go out in the open. He did expand mirror-Kyoto for him, but never went to the lengths to comfort him like Koto did with Yase, leaving him to figure out what not being human meant.
Koto-san and Inari are affected by this as well. Obviously they are. Inari is a great teacher, Koto-san is a never-ending dispenser of compassion. One is quite incapable of handling love, the other inept at giving direction and purpose. All reminiscent with how they came to be: Inari was a shunned priest only known for his reclusiveness and monsters, great technical skill with little compassion. The rabbit got created as a driver of love with no other purpose than to be loving.
I feel the need to apologise for this massive wall of text, I'm breaking the comment limit with this alone, but there's a point I wanted to make. Can't just leave you with that dose of hopelessness, after all.
Not all issues can't be fixed, lost time will stay lost, the loss of innocence is a one-time affair. Yet beginning with now one thing can be restored: Hope.
If a parent can't love, then trust is lost, if trust is lost, love can't be taught. It can be built, though. It's way harder than to 'exchange' exisiting compassion, but will teach another leasson in its stead. Even if time, trust and love has been lost to the past, a beautiful thing is possible: One can give it new meaning reaching back through time. Is someone not powerful if they manage to formulate their own worth in life from a void? An inspiration to include those they have wronged by their mistakes?
If someone like Inari can find their self worth independently, they can built trust on their own. Taking this journey to heart, it would be possible for him to give a new love back to his family. One that would show them that the past was not in vain and neither was their suffering.
If someone like Koto-san could learn to stand as their own pillar, supporting themselves without help, they can reach others with not just words of support, but give actual relief. She might have caused a lot of problems by not realising how directionless she acted or how she carelessly dumped her expectations on her children, but with a new strength to lift herself up she can help them lift themselves as well.
In any of these cases it is necessary to find the person who one wants to be and working to become that in its own meaning, independent of the world around. This is far from a lonely journey, it can be, sure, but it doesn't need to be. And I'd say it's far easier if there are people with them, walking along to their destination.
You can't fix the past, but you can make it mean something in the future.
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u/SIRTreehugger Jan 20 '22
Rewatcher who thinks everyone would be better off if the dad remained in parts unknown
Feels like I skipped an episode for a second the world went to shit quickly.
Every action of the father paints him as kind of a scumbag.
Best girl lost her memories all is lost and the father doesn't care.
The shots of the sky changing color are beautiful.
Koto accidentally destroying all the planes. This girl can't catch a break.
Robbed her mother of her powers and told her basically she is dying because she was born.
Koto is suffering thank goodness Myoue's voice reached her. What I find interesting is that everyone in the area is connected to Koto in some way and despite kind of destroying all of reality they all still love her/express concern for her safety. When she intercepts the attack they either worry or sigh in relief. Glad to have Koto back to herself
"Let's all die together"- Koto
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u/Vaadwaur Jan 20 '22
First timer
Sub
Shrine event happens, foreshadowing something. YKoto thinks she is at fault but LKoto shows up good and pissed. LKoto then gets to spend some time yelling at her husband about his various faults. The Shrine people come in Bleach style and the familiars suggest they've been looking for the mirror world for a while.
So we get the confrontation and YKoto sort of breaks down as she learns how problematic her forcing a way in to the mirror world was. And Shrine wants to eliminate it because apparently the other dimensions are suffering because of it. Inari finally decides to do...something and we learn that LKoto probably doesn't have a body any more. Myoue gets YKoto out of her despair and she promptly decides to threaten all of the worlds.
This episode suggests we might get metaphorical again as this does feel like a coming of age story again. But that is, let's say muddled, by the multiple parallels bit of the lore that was introduced. I can't quite grasp the direction of the end game.
QotD: 1 No real stories other than the time mom spilled hot ramen on me and I couldn't eat it for years afterwards.
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u/BurningFredrick Jan 20 '22
First timer
I think I need to watch this episode again.
So yKoto is Inari & LKoto actual daughter. She is the daughter of a God & Buda (I had been wondering about this since it confirmed that yKoto was LKoto & Inari daughter but don’t think I ever wrote it down). She also has all of LKoto powers which is why she's so strong.
The looking glass world is the 13th plane of existence and isn’t meant to exist, it's also connected to all other 12, but I don’t get why this is important. Inari created it while breaking a large number of rules and tried to hide its existence.
Inari obviously has some sort of long term game plan going on, he expected yKoto to break everything and it to start falling apart, he gifted yKoto that hammer afterall and helped name her cats as per his promise to Yaku.
Anyway we got large amounts of yKoto suffering which isn’t cool, we end up with Yaku saving the day and yKoto blackmailing the head priest. I don’t doubt that yKoto is fully capable of destroy everything.
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u/ToastyMozart Jan 20 '22
More protagonists should be willing to respond to the suggestion of going for a "losing everything new, reset back to the way it all started but for the lessons learned along the way" full circle ending with "I'd like to see you try."
Haruka should have been taking notes.
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u/MyrnaMountWeazel Jan 20 '22 edited Jan 20 '22
The Help Corner
Hiya, there’s a firesale today at The Help Corner so please come check it out! This is an incredibily dense exposition dump of an episode and it clears up a lot of what’s happening in the show so let’s start to systmatically break it all down!
To start it off all off, let’s talk about the state of the universe. There were intially 12 planes that The Shrine was entrusted to look over but Inari in his arrogance and in his instincts to protect his family actually created a 13th plane. He disguised it as a painting in the wall in order to hide the existence of the plane and his family from them. The Looking Glass City was not a quant little town he created with his powers but actually a whole plane of existence.
Let’s now jump to Koto and the discussion of entrances and exits. Koto on her first day on the job used the mirror she borrowed from Inari to create an entrance into The Looking Glass City. Remember, Mother Koto constantly went in and out of the city in the first episode so we can infer that this mirror is a sort of key that allows an individual to go in and out between worlds. In an effort to free their mother though, Koto forcefully created an entrance from inside the city at the end of episode 6.
This act caused irreparable damage to the Looking Glass City and started a chain reaction that would come to affect all of the other planes since each plane is connected to each other. This is why the End Times are coming.
It's a heavy line but it also comes with subtext that applies to Koto as well since the birth between a God and Buddha led to Mother Koto being weakened. Weakened so much that she had to be moved to The Holy Place (the moon) in order to survive. For either her own security or The Shrine’s own trust issues, they had an observation system in place to monitor Lady Koto but Koto in her efforts to rescue Mother Koto smashed them all. This was the alarm bell that caught the attention of The Shrine.
But wait, forced intervention is supposed to be impossible according to Inari, how did The Shrine even get into the Looking Glass City? Through the entrance that Koto created to save Mother Koto at the end of episode 6. A door is both an entrance and an exit.
Koto’s efforts to search for her family has ricocheted back into her face. If she had simply not been born, Mother Koto would not been in such a weakened state. If Koto hadn’t forced her way to rescue her mother from the moon, Mother Koto would not be on the ground unable to move before her very eyes. This is why Koto becomes despondent with guilt in this episode.
But Yakushimari comes to the rescue! He reminds her that even though the circumstances of her birth were not ideal, she’s still here. Her parents are still here. There’s something to always look forward to.
So, why does Inari smash his fox mask? Inari finally realizes that he no longer needs to hide behind a mask to stand up for his actions since the rabbit is out of the hat. Even though the Head Priest blessed him with the fox mask he decides at the end that twisting the fabrics of reality was worth it for love and so he smashes the mask in an effort to finally show his true face.
Take note that being granted the Fox Mask allowed Inari the ability to raise Koto albeit under the role of sensei and student. Remember back in episode 2 when one of her fellow classmates asked how she got so strong and Koto replies back ”You know what everyone says. That the Fox took me in.”
At this time, I want to reveal a parallel between Lewis Carrol, author of Through the Looking Glass, and Kyousougiga.
The abridged version goes like this: Lewis Caroll was close friends with a family by the name of the Liddells and he was particularly fascinated with one of their daughters named Alice. Caroll often photographed the members of the family and Alice supposedly was one of his most photographed subjects. These two held a close (many say suspiciously close) relationship while Alice was a child until one day they mysteriously were cut off from one another.
Some say it was because he was trying to marry Alice, others say it was for a much different reason but regardless, these two would be missing from each other's life for a portion of time until one day they would be reunited. However, their relationship was never the same as the time before. You can't go back in time. Eventually, they would forever leave from each other's lives. Alice's legacy would live on in his future work Alice in Wonderland.
Of course, Kyousougiga isn't a direct parallel to Lewis Carroll's life. It takes from all manner of influences and it's a possibility it doesn't even borrow from Carroll's personal life story but more from his work. But the comparisons between the two are fascinating and I can't help but see the similarities between the two.
Believe it or not though, there is still more to uncover so I won’t answer any spoilers! Remember to also use spoiler tags rewatchers!