Natsuko’s Ego Leads to Disastrous Consequences in Zenshu Episode 5

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Summary

  • Natsuko’s confidence leads to disregard for her team, setting up a cliffhanger.
  • Episode 5 explores the backstory of the dragon warrior, Justice.
  • Natsuko’s creativity shines, but her ego could be her downfall.

Natsuko Hirose delved back into her beloved anime movie, “A Tale of Perishing,”, sparking a rekindling of her artistic zeal. Zenshu’s animation genius, once drained, now revels in a realm where the narrative conforms to her desires. Will there be any remaining obstacles for the purple-hooded protagonist in Zenshu’s impending storyline? In season 1, episode 5, titled “Justice,” the young prodigy squares off against her toughest adversary yet: her own ego.

In Episode 5, the storyline of “A Tale of Perishing” delves deeper into uncharted territories beyond what Natsuko had gathered from fan sources. As she ventures into a district that was never shown in the movie, Natsuko stumbles upon a well-known hero who seems to lead an ordinary life. The more Natsuko learns about “A Tale of Perishing”, the higher her chances of failure become, leading to a potentially grim situation.

Can Natsuko Do It All Herself?

In simpler terms, we can say that Natsuko Hirose, also known as Anna Nagase or Madeleine Morris, is currently in her prime. She’s incredibly skilled at handling Voids, and she’s greatly admired by The Last Town. However, as Natsuko becomes more self-confident, her ability to understand herself decreases. The first act of Episode 5 showcases both the advantages and disadvantages of her extreme self-reliance.

Zenshu Returns to the Office

Enthusiasts keen on delving deeper into Natsuko’s character will find episode 5’s initial sequence intriguing, as it takes us back to a turbulent phase in her life when she struggled creatively with her faltering romance storyline. In the name of investigation, a disturbed animator makes one of his colleagues sketch their first love. Natsuko’s coworkers claim that she has been subjecting everyone to such inappropriate behavior at work.

In the communal area, two coworkers from our studio appear concerned about the movie’s progress, drawing parallels with a struggling narrative titled “A Tale of Perishing” – quite fittingly. When Naomi, our executive, proposes that Natsuko speeds up or relinquishes her storyboards to another artist, the stoic creative calmly responds:

I can just do it all. It’s always faster to do it that way.

Natsuko Outshines the Nine Warriors

The show Zenshu resumes, opening with a series of scenes showcasing Natsuko’s extraordinary animation abilities. In each instance, she single-handedly vanquishes the Voids, without any aid from Memerun (Japanese: Minori Suzuki, English: Alexis Tipton), Unio (Japanese: Rie Kugimiya, English: Luci Christian), or Luke (Japanese: Kazuki Ura, English: Ryan Negron). This sequence underscores Natsuko’s adaptability. She conjures a team of classic anime characters, such as a magical girl reminiscent of Sailor Moon, a kaiju resembling a Gundam, and a baseball player who could easily fit the mold of a character from Major.

I find myself immersed in the realm of “A Tale of Perishing,” and it seems that Natsuko has found her creative haven. The townsfolk are captivated by her work, eagerly devouring every piece she produces. Natsuko basks in each moment, intoxicated by the grand parades, overwhelming praise, and the growing number of admirers following in her footsteps. Even Unio’s voice fails to penetrate through the deafening roar of her triumphant self-admiration.

It’s gratifying to witness Natsuko breaking free from her creative block, but it’s also evident that challenges may lie ahead. No artist remains at the peak indefinitely. As Natsuko ascends to greater heights, there’s a corresponding potential for a more significant fall.

Justice the Dragon Himbo’s Cautionary Tale

In the second act, Natsuko’s excessive self-assurance takes a backseat, allowing for the exploration and growth of Destiny Heartwarming’s (JP: Manaka Iwami, EN: Dani Chambers) character. The young protagonist has moved away from her delicate, fragile image, instead adopting a strong, resolute demeanor that could grace any fitness magazine cover. This pink-haired wrestler, known as a luchadora, has established the Serval Cat House, an orphanage of her own, and aims to extend its aid to the underprivileged children in the District of Despair.

The District of Despair can be described as a region not found in any of Natsuko’s reference books. As Luke explains, it lies beyond the boundaries where Soul Future’s influence wanes, leading its inhabitants to feel deep despair and hopelessness. In essence, the District of Despair serves as the hidden underbelly or secret Red Light District in A Tale of Perishing.

In a simplified and engaging manner, we can say: Natsuko is wonderfully adept with the children of the district, cheerfully guiding them to the orphanage’s kitchen. Yet, her triumph is tinged with sadness upon learning that one of the characters from “A Tale of Perishing” is struggling. Justice (JP: Romi Park, EN: Corey Wilder), a previous member of the Nine Warriors and an intimidating dragon-human hybrid character often found in deleted adult anime, has fallen to the position of a shady nightclub bouncer.

Why did Justice leave the Nine Warriors and lose their favor? To find out, Natsuko flirts with Justice. When she tries to hug him, she feels his injured wing. It turns out that Justice’s final battle against the Nine Warriors left him unable to fly. Instead of telling Luke about his disability, Justice’s pride causes him to distance himself from his comrade. He didn’t want Luke to bear blame for another misfortune again.

Following our chat, Justice advises me to remain vigilant against a potential Void assault. However, in my current state of optimism and transformation, having settled in The Last Town, I dismiss this notion as a relic of the past. Yet, Justice’s words linger with me as a gentle reminder of caution: a necessary precaution when treading the path of the unknown.

I know that attitude turns confidence into hubris.

I discreetly observe the interaction between Natsuko and Justice, subtly hinting at a possible emotional entanglement between them. Meanwhile, Luke, caught up in the scene, blushes subtly, suggesting a deeper affection for Natsuko that transcends professional boundaries. Could we be witnessing the early stages of a love triangle unfolding?

Natsuko Dismisses Her Teammates, Leading To a Cliffhanger

In the climactic scene of episode 5, Justice’s warning transforms into a self-fulfilling prophecy. During a celebratory dinner at the Serval Cat House, QJ cautions about the Voids lying south of the main gate. The warriors respond promptly and prepare for battle. Yet, Natsuko encounters a mysterious hindrance in the form of an ominous hawk (the one from the movie theater), who delivers a grim message, foreshadowing potential danger ahead.

It’s no use. Even with all your corrections.

This upcoming animation frame offers an unprecedented close-up of the hawk, complete with its intense, heavily eyelined gaze beneath a striking red pompadour. There’s something about this hawk that seems remarkably recognizable.

Ah, there he is – Kamataro Tsuruyama, the director of “A Tale of Perishing,” much like Natsuko, both meeting their ends due to spoiled clams.

In the movie you’re adventuring in, if the director communicates something ominous to you, it’s likely that events will take a dark turn swiftly. And indeed, this happens as Natsuko and her comrades move towards a cluster of red domes reminiscent of Xenomorph eggs from the Alien series. Luke orders QJ (Akio Suyama, Derick Snow) to examine the nest while instructing the squad to hold off on attacking until his signal. Regrettably, Natsuko disobeys this order, nonchalantly venturing into potential peril.

In the upcoming episode 6, Natsuko summons a motionless samurai with a rain hat (Kasa), hoping to destroy the mysterious Void eggs. But things go awry when the destroyed eggs regroup into an oozing creature that seems to have malicious intentions. This slippery menace focuses on Natsuko and her companions, managing to impale the paper samurai with multiple sharp spikes, leaving Natsuko vulnerable. Will this rash action of Natsuko lead to a loss among her allies? We’ll have to tune in to find out!

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2025-02-04 19:29