New Game!! Episode 2

Ganbaruzoi!

Impression

I was not ready for this OP sequence.

In general, I didn’t think this episode would be so… productive. I’m not sure if that’s the right word. I mean, this is a CGDCT first and foremost, and so if you’re watching this into its second season you’re expecting a diet of things like cute hand-holding scenes between Hifumi and Aoba, or random passing shots of Mozuku yawning and sleeping. But today we had some notable character development for both Aoba and Yun. In particular, it’s interesting that Yun’s insecurities and career uncertainty, which she told Rin and Kou-chan about last episode, actually formed the basis for most of her scenes this week. I wasn’t sure whether it was going to be a thing the show would capitalise on, or whether it’d just be a passing mention.

The contrast with Aoba is clear, too. Aoba’s main reaction to the design contest is one of optimism and determination – she knows that it’s very unlikely for the newest hire at Eagle Jump to get very far, but she wants to try her best anyway as her goal is to be a character designer. Yun takes a totally opposite approach, thinking that it’d just be a waste of time to try if the reality is that Kou-chan will be selected either way. And you know what? I can really sympathise with Yun. In all honesty, her response is the one I would have probably adopted if I were in her position, too. I don’t think I’m as positive a person as Aoba is. Maybe the difference between the two is grounded in the fact that, while Aoba has a clear dream, and knows that this contest is exactly the path she needs to take to get there, Yun isn’t sure what she wants to do, and whether she wants to stay in this career path in the long-term at all. These recent episodes have added something rather substantial to Yun that’s making her a really interesting character. I’m not sure whether it’s needed entirely given the nature of the show (i.e. I’d be happy with her staying as a cute girl with a Kansai accent who’s a little conscious about her weight) but I’m appreciating it nonetheless, since I like Yun a lot.

On the Aoba front, we had some cute moments followed by a minor bump in the road of her relationship with Kou-chan. Of the two, it actually think the latter has taken the most out of this character design contest – both in getting to experience failure, and learning how to better respond to a kouhai who idolises her. That line about her being an evil senpai makes me feel like there’s a point I should be aware of from the first season that I’ve forgotten. I remember very vaguely that there was something about how the team at the time didn’t react well to Kou-chan getting picked as the character designer for Fairies Story despite being a new hire? It might just have been an offhand comment by Rin, I’m not sure. Either way, the outcome (with Aoba and her Yagami-san both being character designers) was the best possible one that could have occurred. Aoba wouldn’t have wanted to overshadow Kou-chan, and this way it’s actually better for her since the latter can teach her all about the role without her being thrown in the deep end.

I’m really looking forward to this new game. We don’t have a title for it yet, but it’s looking to be a dungeon crawling JRPG where the protagonist will get to don lots of cute outfits based on the enemies she defeats and absorbs. Sort of like Kirby. The outcome appears to be very different from Fairies Story, but then again Hazuki did say that everything was largely up to the contestants outside of having to adhere to a particular battle system. I wonder whether this will mean that Aoba gets some input into the plot and world – she should have created her designs with a particular vision or setting in mind, right? I also have a feeling that we’re going to be getting these Saber Lion-esque bear costumes popping up everywhere now. Especially on Nenecchi, somehow. I can absolutely picture her wearing one of those.