CITY The Animation

Episode 12

A part of me worries that CITY The Animation is often reduced to just its animation. To be clear, the team at Kyoto Animation behind this project is doing phenomenal work, and every scene of this show is a delight to look at, but what really makes this show the best anime airing this season is how every element of its production is cohesively delightful. There's no big, showstopping instance of animation in episode twelve of CITY The Animation. Yet, it manages to be deeply emotionally affecting just by being an earnest and slightly elevated exploration of the joy that can be found in the mundanity of life.

Beginning with a skit that affirms that Wako, voiced expertly by the effortlessly exuberant Brenna Larsen, casually decides to have fun every day from the moment she wakes up, the entire episode focuses on how some of the adult characters within CITY find joy and meaning in their everyday lives. These events include a follow-up to the photo competition Nagumo, Niikura, and Wako entered in a prior episode, the same trio wishing on shooting stars, Chief Makabe, Mr. Adatara, and the Editor-in-Chief enjoying their adult summer vacation (by day drinking), and the entire city experiencing the highs and lows of sports gambling.

The best sequence of the episode, and maybe in the entire show, comes in the form of an almost entirely wordless sequence where Niikura finds her locket at City's antique store, and sprints to find 100 yen as quickly as possible to purchase it. On top of being an expertly timed series of twists and turns on par with the deer wrestling scene from Nichijou, this sequence really encapsulates how life is just a series of unexpected struggles. This sequence brilliantly captures how, sometimes in life, we find ourselves doing or caring about things we never thought would be important, but how all of the expended effort can feel deeply rewarding if you manage to get to the other side of it. While this sequence isn't animated in a stereotypical “sakuga” way like the race scene from a few episodes prior, the composition, editing, and accompanying score make it a masterclass of an experience that feels even more unique to CITY The Animation.

The other standout sequence from this episode follows Ecchan as she visits some of her favorite spots, people, and landmarks in City before she moves away. Beginning in her near-empty apartment, it's touching to see her say her own silent goodbyes to many of the places we've seen her and Matsuri pal around in over the course of the show. I'm a fairly transient person too, and I have a similar ritual of making a point to stop by all of my favorite haunts by myself before heading to my next home. The way CITY The Animation depicts getting ready to say goodbye to people and places is both sweet and hits me right where I live.

While episode twelve of CITY The Animation does look great, anyone who reduces this episode or the broader show down to its visuals is doing the work and themselves a massive disservice. Even a more visually muted episode like this one manages to be a delight while exploring the joy that can be found in day-to-day life. If I can impart two things on a reader with this review, they are that 1) you should watch this show, and 2) there's more to it than just its animation, and you should engage with every level of its production and storytelling.

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Lucas DeRuyter was born and raised in the middle of nowhere, Wisconsin, but will now become physically unwell if forced away from a major metropolitan area for more than a week at a time. You can read about his experiences with city livin' on his Bluesky account, and some of his best work on his portfolio. However, he does take a break from the hustle and bustle of the big city to contribute weekly to ANN's This Week and Anime column.

CITY The Animation is currently streaming on Prime Video.

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