What They Say:
Episode 21
“It Isn’t a Manga!”
The Review:
Content: (please note that content portions of a review may contain spoilers)
In true Yokai Apartment fashion, this one was another episode in which nothing really happened in the most tumultuous way. Or, you could say it’s the story of Yushi’s tortured study odyssey, by which I mean, he didn’t get to study at all.
It begins on a seemingly normal night. In Kotobuki-so’s terms that means something strange is about to happen. Everyone is eating and having fun, Hase included because he kind of lives there now, when the Antiquary shows up. He’s brought with him a marvelous device, soon to revolutionize the home theater market, or sadly, not. In any case, it looks like a lamp but it’s actually an Omnidirectional 3d projector. Even though Yushi is reluctant to stay as he has to study, the Antiquary assures him it will take no more than twenty minutes of real time and it’s the experience of a lifetime. He wasn’t kidding, in fact, I’m not really sure I would call it a projector since it seems to actually transport them to another world. Well, not exactly, they’re kind of safely floating through it. Maybe they’re the projections?
It does look impressive as hell, so much it made me wish I could experience it. By the way, never thought I’d hear H.R. Giger mentioned in an anime. As they are marveling at the beauty of this world’s sandy seas and gigantic living structure beings (or whatever), a businessman appears and attacks them. Okay, not a businessman, but he could have fooled me. He’s a member of the Congresso Vietato, a section of the secret church dedicated to collecting anything that may appear like a miracle to a normal person. Yes, I said secret church, and yes they suddenly throw all of this at you as if you’ve not only entered another world but another anime entirely. Don’t worry, I’m sure this will not be on the exam.
Leaving the info-dump behind, a fight ensues in which the Antiquary threatens to remove his eyepatch which judging by his words would probably kill him. Now I’m curious about this thing that will probably remain a mystery. Why does Yokai Apartment have so many spinoff opportunities? Why? Anyway, the moral of the story is the world is big. Not only the world but existence itself, given that there are many worlds and strange organizations and… according to Furuhonya, the Antiquary is now on the run or performing social services.
The second part of the episode is about Furuhonya supposedly finding an immortality elixir. Yes, life just goes on at Kotobuki-so, like that whole thing didn’t just happen the night before. Everyone gets together at the bath’s garden to welcome Doctor Fujiyuki who has the ability to reads the history of objects, an amazing ability by the way. I really like Doctor Fujiyuki even if he’s not loud and boisterous as the rest of the characters.
This segment also keeps it light and fun. By the end, everyone may or may not have prolonged their lifespan by seven months. I don’t know why they laugh, do you know the number of things you can do in seven months? The only problem I found with this episode was the sudden and unexpected Indian stereotype, but since it all ends up being a big joke where the woman outsmarts them all, it takes the sting out of it. Heck, it’s pretty hard to be offended by an anime as good-natured as Yokai Apartment.
By the way, a Hase-Tashiro team could probably take over the world.
In Summary:
This one was mostly charming but simple fun. No big lessons here, not a lot of depth but it does open doors to possibilities of things that will probably never happen. Yokai Apartment is loveable and it can be quite profound at times, but sometimes I seriously wish they’d explore some of these worlds they throw at you. Then again, every once in a while they surprise you with an explanation so who knows? Or maybe the title of the episode says it all. For now, it’s still a delightful and relaxing way to spend twenty minutes. Wouldn’t it be something if they’d release the Omnidirectional 3D version?
Grade: B
Streamed By: Crunchyroll
