Kanon ep.12

December 21, 2006 | 19 Comments

The most impressive moment in this episode was when Mai and Yuuichi starts dancing while Tchaikovsky's Once Upon A Dream/The Sleeping Beauty Ballet plays in the background. This is basically the same song that Disney used in their famous animation movie, Sleeping Beauty. Does this mean Mai's story will follow Sleeping Beauty's story closely? Even if it's not, my appreciation of the series has gone higher because this song happens to be one of my favourite classic composition. Speaking of the dance, I am very grateful that Kyoto Animation altered Yuuichi's character design. I don't think the previous Yuuichi character design would have work as well for the ballroom dance sequence. In this version, however, it's not that difficult believe that Yuuichi is a smooth ladies man who can charm his dancing partner quite easily.

The episode begins with a flashback where chibi Ayu wanted an angel doll from one of those UFO catchers machine. Chibi Yuuichi tried to get it for her but failed to do so. Ayu apologised to Yuuichi for wasting his money but he believed he's the one who should apologised since he promised to give her a present. In the present day, Yuuichi awakes and is about to get out of his room when he notices Ayu doing the same thing. After teasing Ayu about ghosts, he has no choice but to accompany here when she wants to go to toilet. The two then go to the balcony to look at the stars but Yuuichi stays away from the railing because he's afraid of heights. All of a sudden Ayu starts talking about how pretty Nayuki is. Not only this, Ayu also thinks she's kind. Yuuichi isn't so sure about this but Ayu tells him that she'd like to be as pretty as Nayuki when she grows up. Much to Ayu's horror, Yuuichi tells her that she is of the same age as him and Nayuki.

Having said that, he assures her that there are advantages to her being what she is (read: short): she can ride a train on children's fare, no matter how old she is she can always wear her old clothes. XD The next day, the two tries to wake Nayuki up while she's half-asleep in the living room but becomes horrified when Nayuki ends up banging her head against the table. A few hours later, Nayuki is fully awake and goes to her school right away since she has meeting. After Nayuki left, Yuuichi asks Ayu to hurry up as well or else she'd be late to her school. Ayu, however, claims that her school is the kind which allows its student to not come whenever they want to. They're also allowed to come and leave as they please. Yeah, I'd like to see this bizarro land. On his way to school, Yuuichi decides to turn up his charm when he meets Mai and Sayuri. He immediately reminds the two, especially Mai, of the ballroom dancing event that will happen tonight.

Much to his and Sayuri's confusion, Mai answers his question with "Hachimitsu Kuma-san". Sayuri wonders if Mai wants to drink Honey (since Hachmitsu means Honey) but Mai tells her "Ponpoko Tanuki-san". After a while Yuuichi realises that he was the one who suggested that Mai said "Hachimitsu Kuma-san" instead "Yes" and "Ponpoko Tanuki-san" instead "No" so that she sounds cuter. Mai confirms this by saying "Hachimitsu Kuma-san". Later on at school, Yuuichi gives Shiori another ice cream. When Sayuri offers half of it, Yuuichi eats the ice quickly and gets headache as a result. Because of this, Shiori tries to give him some of her medicine. When Yuuichi mentions the ballroom dancing, Shiori expresses her desire to come but changes her mind when Yuuichi invites her. Yuuichi then returns to the school and is confronted by a first year student who wants to know if Shiori is Yuuichi's acquaintance. The girl also wants to know what Shiori is doing at school.

The girl is surprised when Yuuichi explains that Shiori is away from school due to flu and tells him that Shiori hasn't been attending school ever since the first semester opening ceremony. Apparently Shiori fell unconscious on her first day at school and no one in her class knows what's going on. This is why the girl was surprised when she saw "Misaka-san" talking with Yuuichi. Yuuichi is surprised to hear this so the girl informs him that Shiori's full name is Misaka Shiori. Unfortunately the conversation between the two is interrupted when a teacher orders the girl to return to the class. A few minutes later, Yuuichi and Nayuki are starring in disbelief when Kitagawa unveils his Elvis-like costume for the dance party. Much to Kitagawa's disappointment, Kaori tells him that she's not going to the party because she already has a plan with Nayuki. When Kaori leave the class, Yuuichi follows her and asks the girl if she has a sister called Shiori.

Much to Yuuichi's surprise, Kaori tells him that he must be wrong because she doesn't have any sister. She's an only child. When Nayuki manages to catch up to him, he asks her if she knows whether Kaori has any sister. Nayuki is surprised to hear that Kaori has a sister but admits that Kaori rarely talks about her family. That afternoon, Yuuichi returns back home and acts as if he's a husband coming back from work. He tells Ayu that he'd like to take a bath but the girl tells him that he can't get in yet. When he asks for food, Ayu claims that they're going shopping right now. After Ayu and Akiko left, Yuuichi falls asleep on the couch and remembers the time when he asked Nayuki to lend him some money. After some begging, Nayuki eventually lent him 1000 Yen. As it turns out, Yuuichi used the money to get Ayu that angel doll. Ooh, I hope Nayuki didn't know that. Ayu was glad to receive the doll and thanked Yuuichi for it, promising to take good care of the doll.

Yuuichi then wakes up and realises that it's almost time to go to the ballroom dance party. A few hours later, Yuuichi dressed up neatly in a tux, looking like a 007. He becomes speechless when he sees Mai and Sayuri in their ballroom dress. Mai actually blushes when Yuuichi refers her as a 'Princess'. In retaliation, Mai chops Yuuichi's head for being a 'Boke' (funny man) to her 'Tsukkomi' (straight man). This continues on and on when Sayuri turns up as the 2nd 'Boke'. After Sayuri left to talk to her other friend, Yuuichi and Mai are approached by Student Council President, Kuze, who warns Mai not to create problem here. After the jerk left, Yuuichi asks Mai which guy she wants to dance with. In response, Mai tells him that she's not very familiar with this situation. She then puts a Wiener in her mouth and tells Yuuichi that she wants to be by his side. XD Yuuichi smiles upon hearing this and takes her to the dance floor.

The two then start dancing while Tchaikovsky's Once Upon A Dream/The Sleeping Beauty Ballet plays in the background. As it turns out, neither Mai nor Yuuichi is bad dancer. On the contrary, everyone gushes upon seeing the two of them. They are especially surprised upon seeing Mai. Mai thanks Yuuichi for his help but their moment is interrupted when the music suddenly stops. Mai realises that a spirit is making its way and true enough, the glass windows are shattered all of a sudden. The spirit then heads towards a shocked Sayuri and manages to throw the girl against a wall. Mai becomes angry upon seeing this so she pulls out her sword and goes against the spirit. Unfortunately, everyone else can't see the spirit so Mai ends up looking like a crazed girl who swings her sword against the air. Mai eventually manages to kill the spirit but she also causes damage to the ballroom. The episode ends with her being scolded by Kuze because of this.

Impression:

This is definitely one of the best episodes within the series. I really like some of the comedic scenes in the episode. My favourite has to be the one where Yuuichi and Ayu tried to wake Nayuki up. Nayuki saying "Keropi wa koko....soshite, watashi wa koko" was priceless. Kudos to the VA for delivering the line which matches Nayuki's 'blissful' facial expression. And then there was the horror expression on Yuuichi and Ayu's face when Nayuki bumps her head against the table. Speaking of Nayuki, this episode made me realised that Yuuichi always takes Nayuki for granted. I wonder what Nayuki would think if she ever finds out that Yuuichi used her money to buy a doll for another girl. Shiori's story on this episode is quite intriguing although I'm also worried that it may end up being a bit similar to Ayu's story. I think this is what Kaori meant last week when she told Yuuichi that he shouldn't cheapen the idea of 'miracle'.

The main focus of the episode is clearly Mai, who seems to be developing an affinity towards Yuuichi. It was hilarious though when she said that she wants to be by Yuuichi's side while her mouth is chomping a Wiener. I really like Tchaikovsky's Once Upon A Dream/The Sleeping Beauty Ballet and wish I have it in here. Speaking of song, I thought this theme song is very appropriate for Yuuichi when he first entered the ballroom wearing a tux. Mai and Sayuri are clearly Yuuichi girls while Kuze is the evil bad guy hell-bent on world domination.

Yuiichi, Aizawa Yuuichi: If Yuuichi is 007, which film he'll star in?

a) Octopussy Octowiener: Mai is a spy who loves her wiener
b) On Her Majesty's Secret Service: Yuuichi is ordered by Queen Ayu to steal some Taiyaki.
c) Goldfinger: It's the name of an icecream that a mysterious Heiress called Shiori loves.
d) Thunderball Furball: Yuuichi meets a foxy nemesis while on his way to the shop.
e) For Your Eyes Only: Yuuichi must wakes Nayuki up so that she doesn't come late to school.

Preview

On next week's episode: Is that Sayuri trying to put the moves on Yuuichi?

© memento 2003