Episode 7 of ZENSHU is an incredible feat of storytelling. It may have been heavy on Natsuko’s backstory, but the creative presentation and cathartic animation were worth the watch time. It further strengthens the show’s themes of love, perseverance, and hope.
SPOILER WARNING for episodes 2, 4, 5, and 7. Rated +14 for Profanity, Violence.
You Make My Heart Go "Bum-bump"
This episode showcases four vignettes of Natsuko’s past from the perspective of people who fell in love with her. Those feelings culminate into gorgeously animated moments when their hearts figuratively and literally go “bum-bump”. My favorite is the third one, where college student Saburo Aoi can’t contain his admiration and blasts off into space. This structure is a very clever way to show Natsuko’s childhood and how she became an animation prodigy. The show has previously explained that Natsuko has never been in love, so the irony of her being so many other people’s first crush is an extra layer of entertainment. I can’t wait for her “bum-bump” moment.
Hidden Anime Easter Eggs and References
While this episode didn’t feature any overt animation references as it did with Uta no Prince-sama from episode 4 and Gurren Lagann from Episode 5, there were still plenty of easter eggs. The vignettes in episode 7 are set during Japan’s Heisei era, from 2006-2019 on western calendars. The characters borrow a lot of design elements from anime of that time period. For example, Shun Inomiya from the second vignette would be right at home in a sports anime.
Another easter egg is the fictional Studio Konkon. It could be a reference to the real life animation company White Fox, because both mascots are foxes. If so, the resemblance of the fox proprietress in episode 2 to Naomi Fukushima, Studio Konkon’s president, makes sense. “Kon kon” is also a Japanese onomatopoeia for a fox’s bark.
Finally, I have a theory about the inspiration behind Kametaro Tsuruyama, the director of “A Tale of Perishing.” She may be an homage to Akira Toriyama, renowned author of the Dragonball series. Both names feature similar Japanese characters. “Tsuruyama” can be roughly translated to “Crane Mountain,” and “Toriyama” to “Bird Mountain.” In the series, “A Tale of Perishing” was released in 1989, right around when the Dragonball Z anime debuted. Both Tsuruyama and Toriyama have been depicted as birds. Perhaps it’s a coincidence, but ZENSHU’s track record for anime references says otherwise.
You can feel the calm before the inevitable storm in episode 7. All the pieces are in place. Natsuko’s past has been explored, so it’s time to see what her future has in store.
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