In order to survive, the Eizouken will teach Shibahama to coexist
What They Say:
With the Eizouken’s deadline closing in, the student council and school officials are still hot on their trail. But public support favors the film club. With a trip to the sunken parts of Shibahama, Asakusa finally envisions the story elements of their new anime. While the school intends to tear the Eizouken apart, their new project aims to spread a message of coexistence. But a production error has them stumbling right before the finish line. Will their new anime be able to connect the people of Shibahama?
The Review
Content (please note that content portions of a review may contain spoilers):
Once again, it’s crunch time for the Eizouken. But the school remains persistent in shutting down their operation. The Security Club comes crashing through the front door in a Ghost in the Shell inspired raid, this time taking aim at the satellite clubs assisting the Eizouken’s production. But thanks to Mizusaki’s popularity and the club’s online presence, there’s no stopping them at this point. All that’s left is for Asakusa’s story-in-progress to tie everything together. Their bearded club advisor gives them one last bit of advice, suggesting that the key to hard work is making time to play around. Asakusa and Mizusaki excitedly take that guidance to heart and so our trio hit the streets of Shibahama.
They stumble across a water canal that leads to a submerged section of the town. Kanamori reluctantly tags along, but as usual her presence is necessary, as she saves Asakusa from getting swept away by the river. We’re then treated to a flashback of Asakusa and Kanamori meeting each other. The two loners are partnered up in PE class, but this fated meeting is no “friends at first sight” kind of deal. On their way home from school, Kanamori asks Asakusa to tag along on one of her business ventures. Asakusa remains puzzled by the concept of friendship as she meekly follows her schoolmate, while Kanamori sees their interaction as a logical state of coexistence. This moment sticks with Asakusa as she continues to contemplate the reason for her UFO invasion story. What makes people friends? What makes them enemies?
Asakusa and Mizusaki check up on a now sick Kanamori (an unfortunate repercussion of their waterway expedition). At last, Asakusa has the formula for her story. The UFO’s are not piloted by aliens, but by a race of kappa people living in the city’s underwater structures. As water levels rose over time, the humans forced to live underground adapted to their new environment, and for a time, they lived peacefully with the people above. But over years and years of distancing and forgotten bonds, the two societies grew further apart, developing a sense of alienation and fear. This leads to the war between those above ground and the kappa people below. But soldiers from each side come to an understanding – these people are not that different from us. By reconstructing the water chimes from last week’s episode, the kappas and humans learn to live side-by-side once again. The message of their new story is coexistence, a fitting theme for the tensions currently rippling through Shibahama High.
With all of the pieces coming together, the Eizouken put the finishing touches on their production. But just as they’re reaching the finish line, Doumeki spots an alarming error. The song they received for the anime’s theme song is completely off-brand for the project’s atmosphere. Will the Eizouken be able to rebound from this before the deadline?
In Summary:
Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken!! is barreling toward its end, and the stakes have never been higher. The students of Shibahama are still at odds with one-another, but this episode’s motif along with the Eizouken’s final anime, are aiming for a peaceful resolution. With one episode left, Science Saru are setting up for a grand finale!
Grade: B+
Streamed By: Crunchyroll