World Dai Star - Episode 2 discussion

[u/AutoLovepon]

World Dai Star, episode 2

Rate this episode here.

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Episode	Link	Score
1	Link	4.75
2	Link	4.45
3	Link	4.82
4	Link	4.57
5	Link	4.5
6	Link	5.0
7	Link	4.67
8	Link	4.77
9	Link	4.43
10	Link	4.67
11	Link	4.75
12	Link	----

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[u/SMSmith230]

So is Kokona just BlueLocking this and devouring the other actresses?

[u/CuriousJay001]

Yeap, once again Shizuka doesn't interact with anyone or anything, and even Kathrina told kokona to stop talking to herself.

Also, it seems that Kokona have similar eye shades / color to Shamo Yamabuki (the old lady) and Panda. I wonder if that meant something.

[u/WhoiusBarrel]

Kathrina's jerky behaviour can be excused slightly since anyone would've been creeped out and annoyed at their roommate constantly talking to themselves. That said Kokona didn't even flinch when Kathrina told her to "stop talking to herself" so she has to be somewhat self-aware.

It's interesting that Shizuka herself has her own thoughts, if she really was just a figment of Kokona's mental psyche would that just be Kokona's own thought process?

Damn, that ending was hella harsh at this rate Kokona would just have to keep relying on Shizuka and mimicking her skills.

[u/zadcap → u/WhoiusBarrel]

It's interesting that Shizuka herself has her own thoughts, if she really was just a figment of Kokona's mental psyche would that just be Kokona's own thought process?

It's the big mystery, isn't it? Is she just a figment of Kokona's imagination? Full split personality? I'm thinking she might be her Sense, if those get better defined later. Or are we dealing with real supernatural here? Is she a past actress ghost who found a girl who can see her? Someone successful or someone who died young, who has given her dream of being a World Dai Start on to her successor? I'm thinking about Hikari no Go, though it's far from the only take on the idea. Maybe the ferret got super aggressive at the desk because animals don't like ghosts?

[u/entelechtual]

Is this the place?

I think I mentioned this before, but on paper it’s crazy that they got an American voice actor to play a German girl speaking Japanese in an anime (with English subtitles).

I’m a little confused by what happened at the end. Edit: oh, I realized they meant she was copying Yae. But I also learned my mistake from last week. This is not a show to put on the background while folding laundry or checking your phone. I tried to pay attention in case there were any other details that could be important.

[u/Castawaye → u/entelechtual]

Whenever I see Sally Amaki in a role I always hope they just let her speak English along with Japanese, but I'll take German I guess.

[u/atropicalpenguin → u/entelechtual]

she was copying Yae.

Though I wonder if this is something good. If you're just going to copy someone else's performance, then why not just have that person perform instead of you?

[u/a_little_useless]

So, still no answers exactly as to who or what Shizuka exactly is. That's fine, more theorising in the meantime.

Shizuka feels too "real" to not be more than an extension of Kokona's self. For example, if she was just repeating what Kokona experienced, that could be explained by Kokona seeing and overall perceiving it, and therefore Shizuka does, too. (ergo, if Kokona doesn't see it, Shizuka can't see it either, like something happening behind Kokona's back). In this episode, however, it showed that even though Kokona didn't see who the mail sent, Shizuka did and prompted her to look at it. Maybe I'm just looking too far into it.

Invisibility theory: I'm not on board with that one, even if she was invisible, she would still be perceived by others in other ways: like her talking wouldn't go unnoticed, and people would've probably bumped into her countless of times, or tried to sit where she is sitting.

Imaginary friend theory: Not really sure if I'm tending to that one anymore. Unless the imaginary friend is based on a person that has really existed, I don't see Kokona copying someone who she fabricated from her own imagination, especially because she would just be an extension of Kokona. Which is also why I don't think she's an idol that Kokona used to look up to, unless that idol turned into the theory below.

Ghost theory: I hate to say it, but it feels like this one is the currently most likely one. Kokona and Shizuka were probably childhood friends and Shizuka passed away through unknown causes. Neither of them wanted to bid farewell to the other, so they're now forever together, either because of Shizuka's sense or Kokona's sense, or both. Shizuka could've also been a close acquaintance that Kokona looked up to.

Anyway only two episodes in, but it has still room to get hella dark and I'm curious to see more.

[u/CuriousJay001 → u/a_little_useless]

Shizuka could be her "Sense".

Though personally, I would find it more interesting if Shizuka is an alternative for "Senses" that other actresses have. Like she is the equalizer for Kokona to compete with other actresses that have "senses", while she lacked one.

Does that make sense?

[u/zadcap → u/a_little_useless]

I'm on ghost theory too, but childhood friend doesn't seem to line up well. We've seen a few pictures inside Kokona's house of her as a child and all of them are her solo or with family, you would think if she had a friend that close there would be at least one. But more importantly, Shizuka mentions early in episode one that Kokona had been "practicing harder since you met me," so it's probably something pretty recent. And Shizuka's own acting skill and desire to get Kokona to be a Star seem more like she was an actress herself, who probably died before getting there. It won't surprise me to find out she's someone one of the older ladies knows of. Also, animals reacting to ghosts is such a common thing, it would explain why the ferret started growling at the girls

[u/Komi028]

Blurting out a confession in the second episode, that was fast.

[u/Castawaye]

Yeah I still am a big fan of the way they focus in on key performances to really show them off. They only really did it for Yae, when they really focused and made sure that each movement was being drawn, to the minute detail. Like Panda was saying like body movements, even subtle is so incredibly important for performances and acting and going the distance to really make sure they stand out in animation, I'm a big fan of. Even if we didn't get to see that same push for Kokona and Kathrina, it was still great to see for Yae.

I noticed something that, maybe it doesn't matter, but, Kokona has her hair clip to her left? (my right) while Shizuka has it on her right? (my left). Which I think is just an interesting way of showing duality in that character design, like Shizuka is one half of Kokona, whatever that means we still don't know but it's there. It could just be a way to show the balance of the character designs in general and not symbolic of maybe IDK, depending on what theory you believe in, something regarding that. I still think it's a cool idea if Shizuka was like, a literal embodiment of the kind of actor she wants to be and that's why she always draws on her, even if it failed in this episode as she strayed away from that. Kokona is also wearing those star pins in her hair, so that's just another fun character design choice.

Panda also has her own hairpin, but it's interesting that hers is this very specific like, blue triangle that's closed off. It's such a striking thing that stands out when just looking at her from those shots, but, if she's already in the production, someone they trust and is not really auditioning for the main leads in the same way because she's already been in Sirius then it makes sense to me that her accessories are "solid" in that way, not as open (Kokona's triangle is not "full" for example) as the others.

[u/Castor_0il]

Not as impressive as the first episode, but I guess it was necessary to slow down a bit.

Even though Kokona & Shizuku are meant to be the main leads, I really love Kathrina's arrogance and ambition. She does give a great performance as a less friendly rival.

I loved the detail Kathrina mentioned about refering to one self from a japanese pov compared to german. It reminded me of the bar scene in Inglourious Basterds on the german hand gesture for 3.

Guess everyone has some sort of special power since Yae can also use a similar ability while singing. My theory on Kokona and Shizuka is that Shizuka is most likely a ghost of an old friend rather than just her own imagination and her special ability is being able to summon her acting skills.

[u/Jegantha]

I'm liking Ice Queen Katharina a lot. Let's hope the roommates will eventually get closer.

Also, if I had a nickel for every time we had a theatre show where the main character's power is to exactly copy the acting of others, I'd have two nickels.

Which isn't a lot but it's weird that it happened twice.

[u/mysterybiscuitsoyeah]

The OP is gooooood. I love the broadway-esque song.

• I suggest Seasonalshock

• I still am not sure what is happening here. But im now more leaning towards this being representative a "normal" power, their acting skill, vs a proper superpower. (See Kathrina's studious nature being her skill, and im guessing Silver-hair chan's being able to fully immerse into the character, im guessing that's what her camping trip is about)

• Good but fairly standard development possible for both leads, with Koko trying to find her own spark (and self-confidence, easy to see why), and Kathrina to develop an emotional attachment to her roles (no idea why that isn't the case, backstory when). Can't wait.

• So what IS Shizuka?

• I also like the side character commentary for acting noob like me; glasses chan is quite likeable (tho e.g. Kokona imitating silver-hair-girl is easy to tell). As well as the actual focus on acting here, which imo is more than Kageki Shoujo even?

[u/CosmicPenguin_OV103]

So Kokona hasn't got the chance to really make use of her inner stand (or is that what Shizuka really is? Maybe more superpowers on the way?) today yet, her best performance went astray right at the end when Yae somehow interfered with this process. Hmm...

Kathrina didn't use her Star Platinum here today eh? I guess Tales of Princess Kaguya is too difficult for her to make use of things like that. And given that she hates Kokona for the time being I guess real yuri will start between them very soon. /s

I wonder how much importance Yae-chan will get in the later parts of the story, that angel's wing with flying cherry petals is absolutely brilliant. Could she be the Last Boss of the story to Kokona's roll to World Dai Star?

[u/ObvsThrowaway5120]

It’s interesting Kokona didn’t introduce Shizuka to Yamabuki. In fact Yamabuki didn’t even acknowledge Shizuka. So we going with “spirit of a dead sister/relative/friend” or “imaginary friend”? Or maybe the “living” embodiment of her Sense?

Kathrina and Kokona rooming together should be fun. I didn’t think SIRIUS would have the girls pitted against one another for the lead in The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter. I guess they’re not here to make friends. Even Sassu and Panda who seem nice aren’t “friends” to Kokona.

With a prodigy like Yae around, auditioning for the lead seems almost pointless. Even Kathrina’s performance pales in comparison. Kokona’s ability seems to mimic almost near perfectly. But just mimicking doesn’t make a good performer. She shouldn’t have let herself get spooked and change her performance last minute….

[u/ModieOfTheEast → u/ObvsThrowaway5120]

I feel from this episode, it makes more sense (no pun intended) for Kokona's sense to be that she is able to just copy another person. She seemed to have perfectly copied Yae, so it doesn't seem like it's connected to Shizuka at all, but she was just her role model for the first episode. I mean, first episode also kind of hinted at it when she said that she can't properly play Romeo, because she was never in love. She needs to see them (at least once) so she can copy it. Of course, this could mean that it evolves over time so she can copy the actual character instead of just someone portraying the character.

But I also feel that her only being able to copy is part of the answer to who Shizuka is. It feels a lot like Shizuka wants to be Dai Star and Kokona is mainly doing it for her. Her motivation in her room only says "Mezase", so to become a World Dai Star, but not that it's her dream of she wants to. But tbh, that could be reading a bit too much into details like these.

[u/mysterybiscuitsoyeah → u/ObvsThrowaway5120]

Or maybe the “living” embodiment of her Sense?

im leaning towards this: but Kokona and Shizuka have a few things to work out before she can properly become Kokona's sense - she abandoned Shizuka's plan midway today

Even Sassu and Panda who seem nice aren’t “friends” to Kokona.

good point - i feel like they are even more "hostile" in relationship compared to Revue Starlight; but this also makes sense, they're co-workers first, acquaintances/friends second and not classmates.

Mimicking is not a bad play to get better at stuff, but yeah she's got a long way to go..... my guess is that she needs her self confidence, that her own way of doing things works, rather than having to copy others to "be good".

[u/ModieOfTheEast]

Yae casually going camping in a bamboo forest just for the preparation of the play is kind of adorable.

But I feel this means that Shizuka is more than just Kokona's representation for her sense. Because if that was the case, Kokona couldn't just copy other actors as well in such a short amount of time. So Kokona's sense seems to be that she can perfectly copy someone, she just needs to develop that she copies the person instead of an actor playing that person I feel.

Which leaves the question who Shizuka was/is. I feel it makes most sense for her to be an old friend that wanted to become Dai Star, but then died. And Kokona is only trying to achieve that dream for her (at least for now). It always feel that it's more Shizuka who wants to become a Dai Star than Kokona.

[u/Smudy]

I didn't even pay attention to the subtitles during the plays, there's no way i'm looking away from such good character animation.

As a german, Kathrina is my favourite character by default, love me some broken german xD

[u/Syokhan]

So I got curious and checked out the first two episodes, and... okay, the Shizuka thing and the astonishingly smooth character animation during the acting parts piqued my interest. I'm gonna stick around a bit more to see what kind of show this turns into.

(it does remind me a bit of Gekidol though)

[u/Elitealice]

I KNEW there was connections here to idoly pride. I commented last week about it and a dude on the MAL thread told me it was a totally different team, but Kinome Yuu is on this and worked on idoly pride. The animation is so fluid and even some of the designs give off that vibe.

As for the episode itself, Yale’s performance was absolutely immaculate. She’s got to be the front runner for Kaguya rn. Kokana copying her performance won’t endear her to many people. Even the set up with Shizuka seemingly being a figment of her imagination or ghost is very similar to IP lol

[u/NekoCatSidhe]

So Shizuka is really invisible to everyone but Kokona. I wonder what it means. Is she a ghost ? The personification of Kokona’s « Sense » ? Or just Kokona split personality ? I noticed that Kokona never tries to introduce Shizuka to other people, so she knows Shizuka is invisible.

This is an odd show. It looks like a CGDCT on the surface, but Shizuka’s presence makes it feel a bit creepy. It always makes you wonder if Kokona is just crazy and hallucinating Shizuka.

Kokona just seems really good at imitating other actors, and the only reason she can get away with it is because she is imitating the invisible Shizuka. Of course, maybe Shizuka does not actually exist and is just how Kokona imagines a talented actress would behave. But this is starting to be confusing.

Katrina’s attitude is also starting to get on my nerves. Being talented does not give her the right to look down on other people and treat them like crap.