REVIEW: ‘Insomniacs After School,’ Episode 6 — “Shooting Star”

By rounding out the group dynamics and giving supporting characters greater depth, Insomniacs After School Episode 6 is the anime’s strongest yet. Isaki (Konomi Tamura) and Ganta (Gen Satō) remain the series’ heart. Still, allowing them — Ganta in particular — to interact with others will give him space to grow beyond what we’ve already learned about him. Isaki’s personality is written to be so big, so luminescent, and by doing so, helps make up for Ganta’s subdued characterization. Isaki exists in the space of being fully rounded while remaining enigmatic. This is especially true this week as she asks that Ganta take photos of her so that it will leave a trace of her behind, a forlorn and foreboding statement that can’t help but recall a show such as Your Lie in April. Considering the “sick girl inspires listless boy” is a played-out trope, here’s hoping that either this moment is more her melancholy in reflection on her being sick often in her youth or, if it does come to be, her illness persists, it does not end in a fatality. Just because a few shows have done it right doesn’t mean that every anime that can attempt them should.

Isaki’s full and spirited personality makes Ganta’s attempt at breaking out of his comfort zone this week all the more impressive. Because the show and the character could simply allow Isaki to take charge and drive the narrative essential plot points forward, with him a bystander to her magnetism. Instead, despite her inherent pull, he’s shown putting in the work. About the Astronomy Club, he says, “I’ll protect this. All of this.” He may be speaking about the club, but he’s referencing so much more as Isaki sleeps peacefully beside him. He’ll protect this safe haven they’ve carved for themselves and stick his neck out to do it.

This means favors for Isaki’s friends who need to help with their Astronomy Club-hosted event, where they need volunteers to help run it. Ganta poses for the art student and plays catch with the athlete looking to perfect her pitch. The first delivers humor, both from Ganta’s embarrassment when asked to pose without his shirt and then his and Isaki’s shared awareness once he’s put it back on and they’re asked to pose together, striking a romantic stance that will be used for an art project as well as their poster for the event. Meanwhile, the second sequence exemplifies the series’ commitment to patience, wonderfully utilized in a sport that requires said patience.

Insomniacs After School Episode 6 demonstrates the series’ observational skills, taking its time in building certain character personalities before granting context and allowing a frame to settle on cars driving by unchanging walk signals as Ganta and Isaki stand suspended in what if’s regarding their future plans and aspirations for the club.

Insomniacs After School remains occupied in telling stories about an Astronomy Club that could, but while some anime revel in the passion their characters are pursuing, such as Netflix’s Blue Period, the series as a whole is much more preoccupied with showing how having a sense of community and shared goals can be enough of a triumph. Having not read the manga it’s based on, perhaps Ganta will ultimately find a career and love for photography that goes beyond a studious approach. But for now, there’s relatability in depicting these club activities as means of escape due to the practice of it and the communal aspect, and not just as an all-or-nothing belief that the passion itself will solve all of the character’s problems.

Insomniacs After School Season 1 is available to stream now on HIDIVE.