Reaching The Target With The Help From Friends

Tsurune Episode 8 Review

I don’t think I’m ever going to get tired of the animation they use in this for when Minato fires a beautiful shot. Admittedly, we haven’t seen much of it due to his target panic, but this episode really did convey perfectly just how beautiful his shots can be. I was right with the spectators sitting in awe after watching that arrow fly through the air, the feathers spinning, before it struck in the centre of the target. 

To say that Tsurune maintains its status as an incredibly beautiful anime is an understatement even if most of the time it isn’t rubbing your face in it. It’s the small details that keep this one pretty even as we see some fairly mundane sequences of characters sitting and talking.

Though, it would be a mistake to believe that prettiness is all this anime has going for it. In eight episodes Tsurune has managed to really make me care about these characters, and this week even Nanao, who has been by far the one I’ve known least about or cared least for, managed to make me pay attention to him as he played his role within the team. The fact that Nanao is aware he’s playing a role makes him an even more interesting character and I have to wonder why he is so fixated on Onogi and what happens when Onogi doesn’t need him anymore to help balance himself. Of course, the same questions can be, and should be, aimed at Seiya in regards to Minato.

Despite this episode focusing largely on the team shoot at the tournament, which the boys first did fairly poorly in and then, through some team bonding and self-reflection improved for the second half, really the story here is about the characters.  We get excellent moments for Ryouhei, between Onogi and Nanao, Nanao and Minato, Minato and Onogi, and finally Seiya and Shu. Each one slightly revealing and each on interesting on their own.

The boys did qualify for the next round but it was nearly beside the point by the time that was revealed. The progress they individually made and made as a team made everything worth it and honestly I don’t think I’d have minded if they just had to start again next time. Still, looking forward to what they do next because I’m really enjoying getting swept away by these characters.

• Episode 1 – On Target
• Episode 2 – Finding Your Target
• Episode 3 – It Isn’t Easy To Overcome Trauma
• Episode 4 – What Happens When Individuals Become A Team
• Episode 5 – How To Build Strong Camaraderie By Facing Adversity
• Episode 6 – The Best Revenge; Go Forth and Succeed Your Own Way
• Episode 7 – Why Strong Competition Caused the Need For Contemplation
• Episode 8 – Reaching the Target With Some Help From Your Friends
• Episode 9 – Shots Fired: Seiya Being Jealous and Lashing Out
• Episode 10 – Emotions Run High This Week and Are Handled Beautifully
• Episode 11 – You Have One Shot: Seize the Moment
• Episode 12 – Is It Time For The Team to Get It Together?
• Episode 13 – The Final Draw of The Match But Not The End
• Episode 14 – More of the same but different
• Images from: Tsurune. Dir. T Yamamura. Kyoto Animation. 2019.