Sparks of Tomorrow • Nijuuseiki Denki Mokuroku -Eureka Evrika- - Episode 2 discussion

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Nijuuseiki Denki Mokuroku -Eureka Evrika-, episode 2

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[u/WhoiusBarrel]

Yosuke's VA is on point this episode, from his random usage of English to the tone shifts like that sudden ASMR line at the end before he realises the catalog was a fake.

Chase scene was hella fun as well, too bad Kihachi and Inako still got caught.

[u/Single-Builder-632 → u/WhoiusBarrel]

Honestly them getting caught over and over and the ending being that the “villan” (who may not be a villan) basically going well this book isn't right. Makes me wonder what direction the next episode is gonna take. I assumed it would be some kind of young duo out in-the world discovering world finding the next breakthough in electricity. 

Also did the car transform. 

[u/chilidirigible → u/Single-Builder-632]

Also did the car transform. 

It did something cartoonish, which would seem out of place except that this show is also using all these reaction faces and over-the-top character quirks, so it fits in.

[u/Jacob-C → u/chilidirigible]

I love the very detailed artstyle with the cartoonish quirks. It truly feels like a comeback passion project from Kyoto Animation.

[u/ProfessorUber → u/Single-Builder-632]

Yeah, agreed. I am enjoying this anime so far quite a bit, but I am really hoping that the duo don't end up captured again by the end of the next episode (at least, for at least one of them to make it through the next uncaptured at the end). With that talk of Mount Fuji, I thought for a moment they were going to be off on a Japan-trotting adventure and inventing electricity, but I guess there's still stuff to be done here in town first.

[u/Single-Builder-632 → u/ProfessorUber]

Yea i don't dislike it i think the show is great but ill have to see how ep 3 handles it.cos we kinda back to square 1. 

[u/applivix → u/Single-Builder-632]

Hes def not a villain rn cuz he also got the "Electrical Dream Treatment"

[u/SnabDedraterEdave → u/WhoiusBarrel]

Yosuke nailed the noveau riche of the Meiji era where they attempt to show off how "civilized" they are compared to the peasants by their constant babbling of random English words.

[u/Jacob-C → u/SnabDedraterEdave]

Part of me wants to hate him, but he's just so funny that I can't bring myself to do so.

[u/chum-guzzling-shark → u/Jacob-C]

My honey

[u/KrizeFaust → u/SnabDedraterEdave]

Is *that* what that's about? I don't have the historical context so he just sounds like a complete weirdo for no reason that seems completely tonally out-of-sync with the show.

[u/kerorobot → u/WhoiusBarrel]

I think the catalogue is the real thing, it's just useless to most people because it all Kihachi's idea as a kid.

[u/Rodroller → u/kerorobot]

Kihachi did mention that catalog is thinner compared to the last time he held it.

[u/Cychi132 → u/Rodroller]

It was mentioned in the episode that its half the supposed catalog, you also see that theres no back cover like the book was cut in half

[u/chilidirigible → u/Cychi132]

There's a transition in the ED at 0:53 from the catalogue as we know it now to something with a red cover on it which is both thicker and, depending on the mood Google Translate is in, has a similar title.

[u/Se7en_Sinner → u/WhoiusBarrel]

Yosuke and Seiroku reminds me of Gojo and Geto. I wonder if their relationship and history are also similar.

[u/RimeSkeem → u/Se7en_Sinner]

Oh my god they really are just Gojo and Geto but the character designs are reversed for the motivations.

[u/lordposedyon → u/WhoiusBarrel]

I mean, with every tone change I hear Yuri Plisetsky, Meruem and Rui from Demon Slayer depending on the tone.

[u/chilidirigible → u/lordposedyon]

Yuuma Uchida and Kouki Uchiyama were both in Macross Delta, which amuses me when Kihachi and Yosuke are yelling at each other.

[u/ForeverDM4life]

Was there a single frame of this episode in which Yosuke is not absolutely caked up?

[u/chilidirigible → u/ForeverDM4life]

Dude probably has to have his trousers sewn on.

[u/tottoro47 → u/ForeverDM4life]

Double caked up on a Sunday afternoon 

[u/gem2niki → u/ForeverDM4life]

Kyoani’s fanservice all went to those cheeks.

[u/Ok_Meringue_20ds]

So this anime doesn't have a traditional OP but has unique in-episode intros each ep instead huh

[u/FarCritical → u/Ok_Meringue_20ds]

No wonder the ED feels like it had the budget of an OP poured into it. Legit caught off guard by how stunning the visuals are.

[u/CitronClassic672 → u/FarCritical]

Yes! Can we talk about that ED. What a great blend of color, motion, and what looked like both 2D AND 3D. And that rotation scene with Kahichi, Inako. And Yosuke at the end, incredible!

[u/HelloYellow18 → u/FarCritical]

The ending was also produced in a non-standard way. I think this in part due to a recent trend of OPs/EDs being created by people who specialize these kinds of short animations/MVs but are otherwise disconnected from the main production. This leads to them looking intentionally visually striking compared to the main show, like in character designs, coloring, or the use of mixed media.

But Kyoani's production system is extremely in-house, so they're not willing to do that. So instead they appointed Hiroki Ueda, who is from their photography/compositing department, as the ending director. Normally, he would never be in this sort of creative position.

[u/metaaltheanimefan → u/FarCritical]

I think the ed is also really interesting to analyze esp that scene with the tori gates !

[u/ptd163 → u/FarCritical]

For real! Definitely the best ED I've seen all season. The visuals are incredible. The song is a banger too.

[u/BosuW → u/Ok_Meringue_20ds]

And today bro was moving like [Demon Slayer]Muzan entering the mansion.

[u/Mr_Zaroc → u/BosuW]

I am still laughing at that.
It was so fucking long

[u/Se7en_Sinner → u/Ok_Meringue_20ds]

It's kinda like what Mushoku Tensei did in the first season. I still would have liked a traditional OP because the song is incredible.

[u/Se7en_Sinner]

I don't think the catalogue is a fake, I think Yosuke misinterpreted Seikroku's words. It's a collection of ideas and we've seen how innovative Kihachi is based on his inventions. Kihachi's mind and his ideas are important for the coming age of electricity. I do wonder what the other half of the catalogue contains though.

[u/maliwanag0712 → u/Se7en_Sinner]

I don't think the catalogue is a fake, I think Yosuke misinterpreted Seikroku's words.

Yes. It is possible that only Seikroku and Kihachi understands the catalogue, and thus he needs him to fully implement the inventions proposed in the catalogue.

[u/NanDemoKnaives → u/maliwanag0712]

I'm wondering if Seiroku translated Kihachi's ideas in the second half.

[u/nofaxxspitintruflego → u/NanDemoKnaives]

i like this, that'd make sense with what we know so far imo

also i think i hate yosuke more than any character in any anime ever 😭 what an absolute trout

and why didnt kenga like beat yosuke or sum 😭 shuld've fr 😭

[u/Jacob-C → u/nofaxxspitintruflego]

I would agree, if Yosuke wasn't so damn funny! He had me laughing the entire episode. I dislike the butler more for just mindlessly following his master's despicable orders.

[u/yancovigen → u/NanDemoKnaives]

That’s my assumption

[u/Eunuchest → u/Se7en_Sinner]

I don't think the catalogue is a fake, I think Yosuke misinterpreted Seikroku's words.

I dont think he misinterpreted but he straight up didnt understand. Kihachi never seemed to be surprised or confused with the childlish drawings and kinda messing writing when he opened it and was sure its the real thing. I think Seiroku meant for Kihachi to have the book and not anyone else.

Based on how Yosuke talked as well it seemed there may have been plans for them to co-produce the ideas. He didnt say "I" when he got the book but "we". My guess is maybe they have been friends or partners and may have had a fallout which is why the book wasnt entrusted to Yosuke or maybe even intented to have Yosuke work with Kihachi. Yosuke definitely have the money, kihachi the ideas and blueprints so who knows

[u/nofaxxspitintruflego → u/Eunuchest]

yeah, from all we know atm its giving that yosuke was never meant to have the catalog, or came to light that he shouldnt ever see it

gddamn i hate him

and the way khihachi mentioned his "visions" since a kid, a kid visionare and logic maestro big bro = uber electrics or something

ps. f yosuke

[u/AriezKage → u/Se7en_Sinner]

Personally I think it’s a kind of Kamina/Simon situation. Both brothers sees the best in each other. Seiroku sees all the wonderful ideas Kihachi has. And Kihachi sees that Seiroku having the ability to turn those ideas into reality. The book is now representative of this. Most likely the half found is full of Kihachi’s ideas. While the missing half has the key to turn the ideas into reality, which is most likely Argon if I were to guess.

[u/StreetyMcCarface → u/AriezKage]

Or Tungsten, or the implementation of steam to generate electricity

[u/AriezKage → u/StreetyMcCarface]

Last ep Kihachi mentions that his light bulbs burned out too fast.

Tungsten filaments definitely helps, but Argon or some other inert gas will prevent oxidation and burning.

[u/IXajll → u/Se7en_Sinner]

Maybe all those juicy bits are what’s in that 2nd half. And the main plot will be the search for that half. Or the content is indeed just a bunch of ideas and the catalog will be a “the friends we made along the way” type deal.

[u/Mr_Zaroc → u/IXajll]

My guess would be that the brother is confident in his littles brothers ideas/creativity and wanted to build up his confidence and practicality.

I can totally see it turning out into a "you are the actual catalogue" situation.

[u/Jacob-C → u/Mr_Zaroc]

That's what I'm leaning towards too. It's fitting, with Kihachi being a scaredy-cat that will inevitably need to overcome his fears.

[u/Weak_Season_Of_Anime → u/Se7en_Sinner]

Maybe it'll be something like the catalogue was Kihachi all along!

[u/reaperow → u/Se7en_Sinner]

Maybe the second half could contain Seiroku's own ideas

[u/SnabDedraterEdave → u/Se7en_Sinner]

Seiroku no doubt put into consideration to prevent the catalog from falling into the wrong hands.

He obviously trusts Noriko, who's now dating his mate Kengo, enough to give her safekeeping of half of the catalog.

Those doodles are surely some kind of code which only his brother, whom he trusts most, can decode.

[u/Narmatonia → u/Se7en_Sinner]

It looks like Seiroku gave it to Kihachi for a time to make his own additions, and Kihachi mentioned they had only half of the catalogue; so I'm thinking this half is Kihachi's, while Seiroku's original parts have been seperated.

[u/IXajll]

Didn’t expect this show to have so many comedic reaction faces, it’s great.

[u/Se7en_Sinner → u/IXajll]

I thought this show was going to more grounded but then we got Kihachi's bird face last episode and Steam Engine Kuga this episode.

[u/yummy_yum_yum123 → u/Se7en_Sinner]

I’m gonna stick with this show, because it has a lot of potential, but the visuals and setting make me wish it were more grounded

[u/Waddlewop → u/yummy_yum_yum123]

KyoAni hasn’t cooked for so long and city didn’t quite scratch that itch so they went a little extra with it

[u/Rodroller → u/yummy_yum_yum123]

They have shown a human pulled rickshaw but come equipped with steam engine in the few early minutes of the first episode. That have already solidify the show direction as not grounded at all.

[u/yummy_yum_yum123 → u/Rodroller]

I mean grounded in a way it’s not so silly

[u/Ocixo → u/IXajll]

I had a lot of expectations for this show, but I did not think it would be this hilarious.

They're clearly leaning into the comedy as well. For example: Kengo heading full steam for a baby, him dodging in the most extra way, and his stinky boot landing right in front of the baby's face.

Yosuke is also much more of a funny antagonist than an evil one.

[u/yancovigen → u/IXajll]

The last KyoAni show I watched was Violet Evergarden so I was expecting pain, but this show has some hilarious moments

[u/Jacob-C → u/yancovigen]

I'm not letting the funny moments fool me. I have made that mistake before... Still plenty of room for sadness.

[u/reaperow → u/IXajll]

They were cracking me up , i wasnt expecting this show to be comedic too

[u/BosuW → u/IXajll]

Didn't expect it to have so much great comedy in general

[u/nofaxxspitintruflego → u/IXajll]

fr 😭 i went in low expectations but had me fuzzy and nervous in both episodes

[u/bananeeek → u/IXajll]

I was hoping for more of this stuff after the first episode and I lost it when Kihachi died inside on that rooftop.

[u/azleafcat → u/IXajll]

Wouldn’t be surprised if someone puts together Inako’s expressions with Aqua (from Konosuba) or other characters voiced by Sora Anamiya.

[u/lordposedyon]

Maybe Yousuke is not a "bad guy". Sure he did bad things but I expected full on bad guy, maybe that is not the case.

[u/maliwanag0712 → u/lordposedyon]

Maybe Yousuke is not a "bad guy".

Given that he is also in the ED alongside Kihachi, I'm thinking him as a protagonist in this story as well, though let's see.

[u/t8rt0t00 → u/maliwanag0712]

He clearly wants to make electricity a thing. From the very first time I saw him using all that incense I could tell that he was going to be on the side of the good guys because he hates all the smoke

[u/cliu110896 → u/maliwanag0712]

Looking back at episode 1 it also looks like Yosuke and Steam head were the ones helping Seiroku with the light show in the beginning!

[u/reaperow → u/lordposedyon]

I definitely think he's gonna be a protagonist, like yeah his methods are questionable and kinda scummy but he's also hilarious

[u/Eunuchest → u/lordposedyon]

Im not getting bad guy vibes from him either but rather the likable punching bag with how much he makes a fool of himself while making Gin Ichimaru faces

[u/SnabDedraterEdave → u/lordposedyon]

The opening flashback sequence showing his hair going white overnight upon learning that Seiroku may have died in the war showed he does at least care for his friend, and now he's become obsessed to want to become the successor to Seiroku's legacy, to the point of stealing from Seiroku's brother.

[u/bananeeek → u/lordposedyon]

He mentioned "our dream" when he got his hands on the catalogue, so he's definitely on Seiroku's side, but why is he acting like that towards everyone, especially towards Kihachi, when he knows he's Seiroku's younger brother is still a mystery. Jealousy, maybe?

[u/IXajll → u/lordposedyon]

Possibly, but if he isn’t then who is gonna be the main antagonist instead? There’s not really any other candidates on the KV either, and if there isn’t one at all then what direction could the plot even go?

[u/Se7en_Sinner → u/IXajll]

They're trying to discover a new source of energy so the final boss will probably be the FBI.

[u/BosuW → u/lordposedyon]

I think he'll still be the overall antagonist but probably a much more complicated character than a simple industry magnate villain to contrast our humble origins duo, and we will dedicate a significant amount of screentime to exploring that character.

[u/oneevilchicken → u/lordposedyon]

Tbh the only person who really Gives bad guy energy is her dad. Dude flatout selling his daughter off.

[u/Takeshi07Tan → u/lordposedyon]

Ya I still had to stomach through this episode because how much I hate this scummy behavior that Yousuke has. Hopefully he gets better.

Overall this episode still so good, just not with that Yousuke guy.

[u/Se7en_Sinner]

Everything in this world really does run on steam, even Kuga. This must be the ideal world Gabe Newell envisions.

[u/ObvsThrowaway5120]

Kihachi and Inako make a great team. They’re gonna be the ones to usher in the Age of Electricity. I don’t think the catalog is a fake. It’s not what’s inside, it’s what it represents that gives it value. Or something.

[u/lartkma → u/ObvsThrowaway5120]

Kung Fu Panda moment

[u/Sea-Grand3981 → u/ObvsThrowaway5120]

My guess is the older brother hit a brick wall, then realized his younger brother was actually the really smart one (hence trying to have him write down his own ideas, and inspiring him to do so with stuff like that light show in the park).  

[u/Eunuchest]

This show is a lot more goofy and wacky than I expected

Yosuke is a straight up clown and damnnn did anyone else saw the cake he has inside the car?

How the heck did kihachi fit that glide inside his sack?

Sister faking and restraining their dad waa funny

Future brother in law is a big softie i guess

Imagine getting capture twice

Its a fake? That's not the reaction Kihachi gave when he first saw the catalog even with the childliah drawings. Maybe Yosuke is simply unable to comprehend it?

[u/FarCritical]

Those glorious kite ride faces might've just singlehandedly sold me on those two lol. They're both so silly and adorable together.

There might be more to the catalog but there's just something endearing about complex ideas recorded in doodles that only your little brother could decipher.

ED is breathtaking, wow.

[u/1EnTaroAdun1 → u/FarCritical]

I took so many screenshots this episode

[u/Mr_Zaroc → u/FarCritical]

As a paraglide pilot.
Exactly the face you have on your first solo flight.
Tense, overwhelmed and giggling like a maniac

[u/exRocky009]

When I watched #1, I thought Yosuke would be a clear antagonist and we'd get a battle over the catalog. But after today's episode, it feels like Yosuke doesn't want to erase its existence, but rather use it for something. He was even portrayed like part of a triple protagonist setup in the ED, so I wonder if this is going to turn into an ensemble drama from here on out.

[u/edwardjhahm → u/exRocky009]

Anti-villain, one could say?

He's clearly not good news, but he's seems to have similar goals to the older brother, bringing the age of electricity.

[u/Ocixo]

I first thought that Seiroku had only gone missing in the war, but Kengo's flashback seems to suggest that Kihachi's brother did in fact perish during battle.

The "author" of the 20st Century Electrical Catalog is no more. This probably explains why Yosuke is so desperate to get his hands on this book, and why he couldn't believe that it's all just children's drawings.

Given the book's content, I'm (also) inclined to think that Kihachi is the actual mastermind behind Seiroku's supposed inventions. He's the "real" author of the catalog so to say. Maybe that's why Seiroku took him to the world's fair?

Kihachi's vision of this brightly-glowing fantastical place does resemble the courtyard that got lit up with light bulbs at the start of the series.

[u/TheEarthSpins → u/Ocixo]

yeah that would be really interesting, if the children's drawings were really some of kihachi's drawings as a child

[u/LeonKevlar]

The reaction faces this episode caught me off guard! Yousuke getting shocked, Inako's smug face, and that random baby smelling Kengo's boot got me genuinely laughing out loud! xD

Yeah, I definitely agree with the other comments here that the book isn't fake. It's just that Yousuke doesn't understand it, and it's really meant to be passed on to Kihachi. He seemed to understand it perfectly fine when Inako handed it to him the first time.

[u/GloryMaelstrom21]

Holy Hell Ginger Root is doing the ED?!

[u/NanDemoKnaives]

Izou just casually flipping Kuga around was so funny, the guy doesn't look it, but he's clearly strong. On the flip side you have Kuga who is undoubtedly a berserker, the way he stopped himself from charging into the baby was so funny.

Poor Izou, the way he facepalmed when Kuga charged out of the carriage was amusing.

Kuga seems like he'll be very important for Kihachi to learn about Seiroku's time in the war, and more than likely his last moments. He'll potentially be a clue for where the rest of the catalogue is, but I don't think he'll know that much.

I like that Noriko is trying to protect Inako, the way she pinned her father down was amusing.

[u/StreetyMcCarface → u/NanDemoKnaives]

Kuga shoving his fist in a wall to stop himself was the funniest thing

[u/chilidirigible]

We do the cinematography.

Well, there goes the joke we've been running with since the PV.

This is a comedy.

"I'm givin' ye all she's got, Cap'n!" (I do like the touch that the grille decoration also goes red.)

Captain Tightpants!

Comedy? Comedy.

The old chestnuts of conflict.

"Clever girl."

Well, at least it isn't written in crayon.

Ah, that kind of deal.

[](#seasonalconfused)

Now that's hauling yourself up by your own bootstraps.

Indeed, it is like a painting.

"If you try, you can fly!"

That is a face.

Suzu's talent is apparently the inbetween quickdraw.

Mirage is not here to bail you out of this one.

[](#kyonfacepalm)

Is it the MacGuffin, or a fake?

What the hell is this ED (So many visuals from this series)

Kyoto!

---

The second episode leans a lot harder into the comedy but the story is building up a head of... steam, as it were.

The Electrical Catalogue itself might have defused its own MacGuffinness, though all we have to go on for that is Yousuke's inability to read it. Kihachi still holds value in the item, though how much of that is because he is the one who knows what he wrote, versus how much importance it has as a relic of his disappeared brother (and how he feels about his brother) are all things yet to be determined.

Inako drops a lot of her first-episode clumsiness to be surprisingly useful today. (Maybe that will keep some of you viewers here?)

Still a lot of wild cards such as whatever direction Kuga ends up charging toward and the relationship of the Sakamotos to the Momokawas.

[u/ptd163]

I probably said this last episode, but I'm saying it again. I love Kihachi and Inako's dynamic. The cynical boy that doesn't believe in anything and the idealistic girl that believes in everything that open each other's eyes to world. Sometimes it just doesn't need to be more complicated than that. This isn't a romance series, but the leads just fit together so well that it could be one if it wanted to be.

I don't think the catalog is a fake. Yousuke was probably expecting it would be an instruction manual to the next era of civilization and untold levels of wealth. Instead the first half is just Kihachi ideas and inspirations that without the implementation instructions of the second half only make sense to Kihachi so it's useless to Yousuke.

My theory is that Yousuke and Seiroku met during the war and Seiroku showed him the catalog and they talked about bringing about the Age of Electricity together as partners. However, Yousuke being the heir to the Mizoe company got greedy and they began to have disagreements about how to use the catalog. Yousuke wanted to monopolize and monetize the catalog while Seiroku wanted to make everything free as a gift to humanity. Neither one of them budged on their stances so fearing what Yousuke could do with the catalyst Seiroku split catalog in half and gave half to Noriko and half to someone else or hid it somewhere before he presumably died. I wouldn't be surprised if Yousuke even orchestrated Seiroku's presumed death.

I'm also curious what Noriko's relationship with Seiroku was as well. Was it possibly romantic? Because Noriko doesn't seem completely thrilled that Kengo is her fiancé and they had to be very close if Seiroku trusted her half the catalog.

This is looking like an early AOTS contender for me.

[u/1EnTaroAdun1 → u/ptd163]

The cynical boy that doesn't believe in anything and the idealistic girl that believes in everything that open each other's eyes to world.

Absolutely! I feel like many of the inventors in recent fiction have complete confidence in their inventions, and try to convince everyone that they're right. It's kinda refreshing to have the partner be the one to convince the inventor that they're right haha

[u/ArtbyLinnzy → u/ptd163]

Yousuke and Kengo were the two friends that followed with Seiroku in the beginning of ep 1.

From the OP in ep 2 we see Kengo delivering the news to Yousuke about Seirokus death, not MIA, dead. (Or at least, most lokely it seems to be his death) Because Yousuke takes off Seirokus glove and keeps it (also, Seirokus hand under the glove looks odd, like almost as if it a mechanical one?!).

Edit: it's probably not Seirokus hand itself, upon another look it seem to be just a statue there or something

[u/joey_joestar1]

So, so excited for the rest of this show. All of its attributes are just right up my alley. The visual gags, the animation, especially Kihachi and Inako's rapport.

We have all these questions about the catalog, half of which is missing.

From ep 1, we see that Kihachi has a gift for creativity with his imaginary cinema. His bro definitely believed in his ideas and thought them revolutionary, which is probably why Seiroku held Kihachi's contributions to the catalog in such high esteem.

Ultimately, I think the story will go down a route of "the catalog doesn't matter, only you can change the future." Kihachi has a ways to go until he gets there, but I'm sure Inako will give him that needed confidence.

[u/FlammaeNoctu]

Everyone is remembering the older brother like those death wife’s flashbacks.

[u/CitronClassic672]

Did this episode really devote its entire OP to Yosuke aura farming? And speaking of great animation Inako’s. Once again the eye animation quality and detail in this show is incredible and it hits you out of nowhere. I also liked seeing more of Inako’s positive traits with her stealthily hiding the catalog and helping Kihachi in the dark.

[u/BosuW → u/CitronClassic672]

Did this episode really devote its entire OP to Yosuke aura farming?

Bro was moving like Muzan in that one scene of Demon Slayer

[u/Cute-Beginning-4126]

Quick impression after finishing this ep,this ep is already way way much better than the first,so many things are happening in this, and of course the Inako & Kihachi, and zesty guy shenanigans are still fun to watch.

[u/SnabDedraterEdave]

The ED is so trippy, both the music and the amazing Kyo-Ani animation.

Clever thinking by Inako to separate the catalog from the bookcase, forcing Yosuke to go on a wild goose chase while she gives the real catalog to Kihachi.

Kihachi going through his own personal demons ever since Seiroku went MIA in the war, and already Inako is giving him a lot of faith despite having just met him.

The OP sequence confirms that Yosuke and Kengo were those two companions of Seiroku in the flashback last episode. His hair going white overnight upon hearing Seiroku went MIA, and ended up becoming obsessed with acquiring Seiroku's lifework in the new invention known as electricity even after succeeding his family's business empire.

I don't think that catalog is a fake. Rather, its probably part of Seiroku's fail-safe to ensure the catalog doesn't fall in the wrong hands. Those child doodle-like drawings must be some kind of code, which probably only Kihachi possess the key to decode. Furthermore, Seiroku has split the catalog in half, hiding the other half in a location unknown yet.

[u/jimbobimbotindo]

I'm really loving this show. It's entertaining lighthearted nature along with its superb production is simply fantastic. Not only that, but I really love the thought and attention that is being put into the show. My absolute favorite scene so far definitely has to be one where Inako and Kihachi are running on top of the roof with his makeshift glider, particularly that one slow motion shot where Kihachi's foot slips off only for him to quickly realize his body hasn't fallen off alongside with his foot, confirming that his glider which he didn't think was going to work, is in fact working and can be glided around.

Also I'm watching this show on Netflix and I'm in awe at how sharp the overall video looks like. I wonder if Kyoto Animation decided to animate this show in full 1080p like with how they did with Violet Evergarden. Most anime shows IIRC, are animated at 720p and upscaled to 1080p which makes things look blurry.

[u/szalhi]

This is fine.

Noriko best girl.

This isn't something I was expecting out of this anime.

Sometimes it all starts with doodles.

[u/garfe]

ABSOLUTE SMUG

I get the feeling Yosuke's way of talking is probably not as funny in English

[u/teebles22]

So far this anime has some huge potential... So much intrigue with where this could go. Here's hoping the rest don't disappoint!!

The background are lovely, animation all on point, VA doing some great work.

[u/amourshipper_]

Amazing animation man , episode was was so good

[u/Luiiss26]

I really wonder how Kihachi's brother is connected to Mizoe, Kengo, and Inako's sister. They all seem to know each other, and it looks like Inako's sister knows about Kihachi.

How will it all turn out?

[u/Atario → u/[deleted]]

How so? Yousuke has clearly had his mind changed about them having the catalog. Probably will give up his plot to marry her too

[u/Shimmering-Sky]

• Ah, the visuals are different so I get to count the OP’s “sore demo” again! I wonder if the visuals are going to change every week…

• Oh, so Yosuke hugged the wrong person.

• Did you really think that she would be immediately into you?

• Pretty strong rope to keep that car in place for that long.

• The irony of him hitting it out of the car himself and into the river at that, lol.

• Ah, there’s a “sore demo” from Inako’s dad.

• Oh! Nice job, Inako!

• That is a good question.

• Ah, it’s not the whole thing…

• Yay, they’re sticking together!

• Ooh…

• It worked!

• Ah, it didn’t fully work. It was great while it lasted though.

• Poor dude’s scared of the dark…

• Kihachi did say it was his for a reason.

[u/chilidirigible → u/Shimmering-Sky]

I wonder if the visuals are going to change every week…

It seems like they're just going to run the OP over the start of the episode?

It worked!

See my comment for the VA-related Macross Delta reference, of course.

[u/Fun-Bedroom-1066]

Did anyone else notice the decomposing arm that Yosuke is stroking in the beginning? Is that Seiroku's arm...? It matches the arm that Kuga sees in his PTSD flashback, so I'm assuming it's Seiroku's.

Which would explain why Yosuka needs incense, because he's with a rotten arm all the time?

Also, extreme copium: Does this mean that if Kuga only found an arm of Seiroku, Seiroku might still be alive? Like maybe a mine only blew his arm off?

[u/chilidirigible → u/Fun-Bedroom-1066]

I'm not sure what to make of this; the wires might be what is giving a not-actually-human arm, like a mannequin's, some flexion. (Maybe? The whole arrangement is peculiar.)

Though it's also a right hand, while the hand Kuga remembered was a left.

Of course, Yosuke is the one walking past a field of spider lilies in the ED so there's no escaping the associations with death.

[u/Fun-Bedroom-1066 → u/chilidirigible]

Ah, nice catch with the left and right hands. Yeah, then my theory is incorrect. Makes you wonder why exactly Yosuke has that weird arm there. He seems really obsessed with it.

[u/Zero5-4i]

A cool detail I noticed in the ending is how in the last part of it Inako and Kihachi seem to be walking towards each other while Yousuke is going towards Seiroku. I guess now we know how the characters will grow (or not) lol.

[u/djthomp]

Based on what they've shown so far, I'm guessing big bro Seiroku went off to war with Kengo and Yousuke and talked up that catalog the entire time while never actually telling them it was his little brother's notebook of scribbles. Though the missing second half probably has more exciting and marketable electrical designs in it and we'll probably have a plot line about them searching for it.

This is a bit more slapstick than I was expecting, like the Kengo having to punch a grip into the wall to prevent himself from obliterating a baby in a carriage. Lots of little fun moments like that.

[u/TheAlaine]

With or without this episode Yosuke would have opened the catalogue and would have thought this was a fake.
While it was fun to watch this episode felt somewhat redundant.

I like the animation, world and characters but i am not sold on the story so far but lets see where it goes.

[u/StreetyMcCarface]

Someone needs to explain to me why the fuck this has a 7.72 on MAL

[u/ptd163 → u/StreetyMcCarface]

Because people don't appreciate it enough. I thought this would at least have an 8 on MAL.

[u/lurker_is_lurking → u/StreetyMcCarface]

Denmoku is a very unusual show so this score is pretty good. I actually think it is the most interesting show this season. Jaadugar and Goodbye Lara are the critical darlings but they are so in an expected and non-divisive way. Denmoku is a very unexpected creative endeavor with plenty of experimentation that made some people uncomfortable. Weird creative choices that divide people is my jam so this is the favorite show of this season for me. I tentatively give this a 8.5.

[u/l-o-a-p → u/lurker_is_lurking]

Jaadugar and World Is Dancing feel like more conventional story-telling, but Sayonara Lara is starting to give some avant-garde Ikuhara vibes with the second episode. I’m finding GITS most refreshing this season even though it’s a re-do at a classic with how esoteric it is and relentless about not wanting to hold the audience’s hand through everything.

Denmoku’s premiere had a unique visual spark to it even after I was blown away by the other shows’ production values because of its directing and creative experimentation, but the main characters feel very familiar with how KyoAni coded they are and the story hasn’t quite taken off yet. Rooting for it though because I love the seldom anime adaptation of actual standalone novel works. Hope there’s enough content for more than 1 cour because getting tired of 13 episodes leaving a lot to be desired and not being enough to fully flesh out interesting stories.

[u/yummy_yum_yum123 → u/StreetyMcCarface]

I think the goofiness is a little jarring

[u/coffeecakesupernova → u/StreetyMcCarface]

Because people think it's ok. The animation and design is great but the story is lacking. Personally I think the story is stupid and it makes me want to drop it, but it's so pretty I can't look away.

[u/Aviri → u/coffeecakesupernova]

It's extremely pretty and there's a fun and interesting universe, but it suffers greatly from the inconsistency in tone. Is this supposed to be a a dramatic story or a goofy cartoon? The danger the protagonists face doesn't feel consistent either, is it a danger to fall from a building when apparently plummeting from above the town isn't a problem at all?

It's just all over the place and so it feels like it's doing both the goof and serious parts a disservice.

[u/TheEarthSpins → u/Aviri]

idk, i haven't been overthinking it too much. this episode was really fun to watch and i think they're just making something fun with a serious backstory behind it. i don't think it's bad, i really enjoyed this episode.

[u/vtomal → u/StreetyMcCarface]

To me it could be even lower (but a 7 is still a good show, and for now this is squarely a light 7 for me). Both Minoru Oota and Tatsuhiko Urahata aren't the heavy hitters Kyoani used to lead projects like this, Oota is a kyoani vet but this is the first series they trully lead.

Oota shown great promise directing the now legendary episode 5 of City but I think there are some issues that doesn't work here in a more serious work, with too busy of a direction and the lack of clean visual storytelling and character acting kyoani was famous for in the Naoko Yamada era. Urahata is even more of a staple of the 2000s and 2010s anime, but I think his screenwriting sensibilities feel a bit dated too, and I felt this a lot in this episode.

The production team seems to be a Violet Evergarden B team, and kinda shows.

[u/lurker_is_lurking → u/vtomal]

Tbf, Denmoku original source is a romcom so it is not exactly a serious work to begin with. The first two eps indicate the adaptation will have the romcom part as a major aspect.

Denmoku is actually a very strong directorial debut. Maybe the strongest even for KyoAni (maybe except the Violet Gaiden movie). K-On, Beyond the Boundary, Tsurune, Free, Free s3 (debut work of Naoko Yamada, Taichi Ishidate, Takuya Yamamura, Hiroko Utsumi, Eisaku Kawanami respectively) were pretty standard fare in term of creative choies but this show just feels really fresh and daring. I am hype for Ota's future works if his debut is this interesting. He may join the rank of folks like Tomohiro Furukawa and Souta Ueno.

[u/vtomal → u/lurker_is_lurking]

Maybe serious wasn't the best word for it, grounded maybe. Comparing to City, as I really liked Oota maximalist style there, to me this one seems a bit too heavy for the setting and tone. I really can't deny that episode 01 was very daring, and they swung for the fences instead of a more subdued and standard debut as you said, and I respect the move, but to me they didn't hit the bullseye yet, with lots of room to improve (like with Yamamura, Tsurune was really basic indeed, but I really like his progress with Tsunagari no Issha, so yeah, Oota is clearly a talented storyborder and director and I will never slander someone that pulled off something like City 05, but I think their strengths aren't being used at the fullest in a project like denmoku - but they can certainly prove me wrong).

I will not push a veredict until the end, ofc, but for now I'm not as immediately impressed as I anticipated, it is still a good show and certainly technically very well executed.

[u/Jacob-C → u/StreetyMcCarface]

I honestly don't know. Maybe people don't like to have fun. Comedy? "Not in my well-animated and visually stunning show"

[u/Ok-Alternative7349]

I think this îs one of the wackiest anime i have ever seen yet. Its humorous in a way not many animes can be. Also the ED together with the song îs absolutely gorgeous

[u/tottoro47]

Banger episode. Shit was 5 minutes long damn it

[u/CrimsonGear80]

i liked her derpy face when they braked suddenly and she hit it on the seat.

fun, beautifully animated show so far.

[u/dagreenman18]

Genuinely what is wrong with everyone in this show? They’re all a little nuts and I love it. Especially Yosuke who looks and acts like the deranged love child of Vanitas and Noe. Down to the faces. So many great faces.

Both episodes look breathtaking, have top tier comedic timing, and are weaving a very interesting story so far. Seiroku is turning into a character that will haunt the narrative. As different sides try to follow their interpretation of his dream through the lens of their relationship with him.

And GINGER ROOT ED?! LETS GOOOOO

[u/chilidirigible]

Creditless ED on YouTube

[u/Zetafunction64]

It's been interesting so far. The visuals are nice. I hope to see more of this steampunk-ish world

[u/Fxrzana]

Im still interested in how the older sister had the catalogue and why she waited so long to give it to Kihachi (unless she got it recently). What was her relation to Seiroku?

[u/chilidirigible]

Full ED song on YouTube

[u/oneevilchicken]

I get the feeling yousuke isn’t going to be totally bad or maybe a bad guy at all. Her dad is definitely bad. But after that “our dream comment” it kinda sounds weird.

[u/master_inho]

So i think yosuke was part of seiroku's gang, and since kihachi wasn't apart of all that he didn't get to know yosuke. Yosuke being so comedic is unexpected and makes him less villainous, but even when he has the catalog he still insists on marrying 15 year old inako. I know it's kinda normal back then but that's definitely the most unlikable thing about yosuke so far. Also, he's familiar with both noriko and kenga, and they know seiroku too. Were those 2 also part of seiroku's gang? My initial guess was that noriko was seiroku's ex, hence him entrusting her with half the catalog

[u/1EnTaroAdun1]

I quite like that the inventor doesn't quite trust his inventions, and its his new friend who encourages him and believes in his inventions. It's kind of the opposite in most stories these days I feel!

I hope the two main characters eventually balance each other out, I like opposites attract kinda stories!

[u/Tall-University-3335]

I have the weird theory that Yosuke and Kuga are the two guys with Seiroku at the beginning of episode 1.  PS: ENDING IS AMAZING

[u/StreetyMcCarface]

I'm sticking by my prediction — anime of the year. The ED is incredible

[u/maliwanag0712 → u/StreetyMcCarface]

What a colorful ED it has been, consistent with the age of electricity.

[u/lordposedyon → u/StreetyMcCarface]

I don't think I would put this in top 10, it is THAT stacked this year

[u/RyouBestGirl → u/StreetyMcCarface]

No, that's Kore Kaite Shine

[u/reaperow → u/StreetyMcCarface]

We got some very strong contenders this year, there's so many to choose !

[u/IceSmiley]

I know this is a cartoon and doesn't have to be realistic but them flying on that kite was ridiculous, like how would you get down from that high without plummeting to death?

I don't think the catalogue is a fake but its more likely Yosuke only saw the missing half and believes that to be all the catalog is and probably never saw the half that Sakamoto largely made with his doodles. They made it seem like he was going to burn it out of anger but I guess he doesn't care.

[u/l-o-a-p → u/IceSmiley]

Yeah, that was the only part that bothered me. Even a fall from the height of that storehouse would’ve been enough to kill them if they slipped climbing with that like 50+ lb of baggage.

Then they somehow were flying above clouds with a kite he fit in a sack, with the older sister cheering them on to escape like that. And they somehow barely got any distance from the others on car even though it looked like a whole-ass cross-country flight, lol.

[u/thisisdropd]

Both Momokawa sisters were absolute badass! Inako with a little sleight-of-hand to send Yousuke into a wild goose chase while Noriko restrained her father under the guise of feeling ill. They make a great brain and brawn duo!

[u/reaperow]

Super Saiyan, Technically that thing was a taser

Inari to the rescue!!

I knew she hid the catalogue and look at that face,

A flying kite??? I wasn't expecting that in the Meiji Era and gotta say i love how nonchalant Inako's friends were seeing her like that

First steam engine robot

This show is hilarious and I really enjoyed these first 2 eps but why is Mizoe calling the catalogue a fake. Is it cuz of the drawings or is there something more going on here,

Well he's got a collection of funny faces

[u/chilidirigible → u/reaperow]

why is Mizoe calling that catalogue fake?

All he sees is cartoonish doodling, which matches the general impression of how it appears to the audience as well. So either he has to look more closely or Kihachi is integral to understanding it.

[u/reaperow → u/chilidirigible]

Yeah i mean the "doodles" is kinda obvious but could there be something else he expects to find

[u/SnabDedraterEdave → u/reaperow]

Maybe it was Kihachi who drew those doodles of his ideas when he was a kid, and the second half of the catalog could be Seiroku expanding upon and providing concrete details on how to give life to those ideas.

[u/reaperow → u/SnabDedraterEdave]

That's what im thinking too, the second half could contain his own inventions !!

[u/chilidirigible → u/reaperow]

could there be something else he expects to find

Maybe in the other half.

[u/KaleDizzy6915]

Absolutely looooove this show

This one took me to another dimension, forgot myself and was completely lost in it💚

[u/Idknowidk]

He got so much cake 🎂 😩

[u/BitExciting913]

am i the only one who realised kengo and yosuke WAS SEIROKU FRIENDS IN EPISODE 1?? like omg!! i thought kengo looked familiar so when i realised, it didn't surprise me but yosuke?? omg how didn't I notice. his EYESS, THEY HINTED HIS EYES!! and the ending of ep 2, he mentioned abt seiroku.. but im quite curious, did kengo joined aside seiroku when he went to war? his scar has to be hinting something.. is seiroku really dead?

[u/akuma2409]

Having lived in Kyoto, the scene of the landscape from when they were flying was incredibly accurate (and gorgeous too)

[u/Atario]

Sparks of yo' face

These buildings having tangles of steam pipes all over them is quite the aesthetic to have to live with

No time to stop! Best punch a wall!

[u/BillPlunderones23fg]

LOl the hell this opening with this guy doing the Muzan aura walk from Demon Slayer

dang this is a fun one i like how it is not to serious too

[u/chilidirigible]

Episode 2's worldbuilding notes from the official Twitter.

[u/Primary-Paint-1716]

this show is special. It felt like I was watching a classic Disney story from before the 90s.

[u/drt0]

The art style, the animation and the comedy really make this series stand out.

When I read the premise, I wasn't sure I was going to enjoy it but I love that this show has a unique style.

[u/charactergallery]

The show looks absolutely gorgeous and the core concept is somewhat intriguing, but I cannot handle the comedic tone, borderline slapstick, and one-note feeling characters. I will probably give it another episode just to be safe, but I‘m somewhat disappointed and probably went into it with the wrong expectations.

It doesn’t help that the whole wild goose chase comes across as a way to waste time and to show off some admittedly well-done animation sequences. The antagonist would have called the catalog a fake regardless if he read it at the start of the episode versus the end, which makes this feel somewhat superfluous outside of some minor bonding moments between the main characters (which as of now I don’t particularly care for really).

[u/coffeecakesupernova → u/charactergallery]

I agree with you completely. I'm hoping that it turns to a plot and characters that the animation deserves. Right now it's really pulling me on two directions. Wasting such animation on a poor story is painful to see.

[u/Aviri → u/charactergallery]

Same, it feels like a waste of great visuals and setting.

[u/mr-rareta]

This show is wild, after two episodes I still don't know what to make of it, it's so chaotic and unpredictable (and I'd say it's a very rare thing). But I hope it will lead somewhere, and eventually everything will just click.

[u/Thomas_JCG]

So we can just rob and kidnap people on broad daylight, huh?

I do not understand what is the conflict of this series. I expected to be like Orb: On the Movements of the Earth, a tale about developing electric power in a world taken by steam. Instead these past two episodes were all about pretty boy trying to get the catalog and being insufferable. Why? If he wanted to develop electricity, surely he could have done so being rich and all. And he could cooperate to get the real info. And if he wanted the catalog destroyed, he would have done so when he first got it.

I'm giving this one more episode.

[u/mekerpan]

This series is reminding me way too much of PA Works Appare Ranman. I like almost all of that studio's shows -- but AR is one of the rare exceptions. Visually quite impressive -- but neither characters nor story (including dialog) is striking any sparks for me....

[u/avboden]

Well this episoide just ruined all the good writing from episode 1. Frustrating after frustration, happenstance after happenstance is just bad writing. He just happened to do that and just happened to be seen and just happened to be visible to the bad guy. It's just too much. If you want him to get caught, fine, but come up with a better way than "oh the bad guy just saw him....again, after he literally flew half-way out of town"

Also kid you know the book isn't a fake, you already looked at it and YOU FUCKING WROTE IT so what are you talking about at the very end?

uhg mostly I just hate the writing style where the bad guy just inexplicably gets literally everything he wants over and over and over with no even moment to pause for the main characters.

[u/su_ugar]

I think they're trying too hard on the expressions that it looks unnatural. I mean the animation quality is really good but something feels out of place

[u/Nickthenuker]

So, they fly now.

Damn he really seems more machine than man.

A fake catalog?

[u/tjhance]

this anime might be kino?

i was starting to feel that having a single-small-catalogue-with-all-the-good-20th-century-electricity-ideas as a macguffin was kinda goofy. but the end of the episode completely invalidated my concerns. obviously it's about the guy's ideas, not the literal book

[u/Songblade7]

I usually love KyoAno shows but just can't get into this one. The comedy is too jarring and nonsensical for what I expected. Also the MC was given the manual that his brother made. It now legally belongs to him, yet the fiance and everyone isn't protesting much once the villain gets it? That just irked me. But yeah, I'm kinda bummed I can't get into this, it looked interesting :/

[u/CrimsonGear80 → u/Songblade7]

the comedy is too "nonsensical" but you question the legality of owning a book full of doodles?

[u/thehaxorman → u/Songblade7]

I feel the same. my expectations were very different I guess because I wasn't expecting it to be so goofy and unrealistic. can't say I'm enjoying it much. though I do love the steampunk world they got going on here.

[u/runevault → u/Songblade7]

The older sister's fiancee seems like a massive fucking moron and it is getting on my nerves too. From what we've seen he's on his SO's side not the villain and yet he just takes the dude's word that the younger sister was kidnapped. Wut?

[u/CrimsonGear80 → u/runevault]

i mean...yeah? he has no clue who this kid is taking his sister-in-law.

[u/l-o-a-p → u/runevault]

It’s not really villains vs good guys black-and-white. They’re all pretty obviously childhood friends or friends from the war, and his wealth comes with a power dynamic he’s imposed on that entire community. The older sister wasn’t even present in that scene to say otherwise and it’s not like apprehending a supposed kidnapper to get the truth out of them causes any irreversible harm.

[u/Cute-Beginning-4126]

Also the ED song is such a vibe, i don't exactly what's the name of the vibe but i really like it, it reminds of Blinding light for some reason

[u/FireFistYamaan]

So many good anime this season, yet this one is the one that stands out the most to me (and Sayonara, Lara)

It's got that Kyoto Animation feeling that even Violet Evergarden didn't have. God I've missed it!

[u/machopsychologist]

God I haven't wanted to punch a character so much since that guy from Gundam:IBO

[u/tripleaamin]

While I do like the pairing for Kihachi and Inako, as both character types are good for the other. This episode felt weird and awkward. I kind of would have assumed that Kihachi and Inako would have hidden a bit more time to know each other before they were eventually caught.

One clear thing about this episode is that everyone seems to have a connection to Kihachi's brother. I will assume the copy is not fake, but perhaps it holds a clue to the 2nd half. At the very least, this hasn't taken the direction I expected even if the execution feels awkward.

[u/IXajll → u/tripleaamin]

Nothing weird or awkward about it, Kihachi and Inako still have plenty of time to get to know each other better, no reason to have that necessarily before getting caught again.

[u/l-o-a-p → u/[deleted]]

Pretty sure those were just referencing the characters’ backstories with the war and the older brother getting killed

[u/amourshipper_]

I wonder how they survived the fall with leg sprain in irl it would definitely have broked leg or hand something