REVIEW: ‘Skip And Loafer,’ Episode 8 — “Heat and Complications”

The most charming and simultaneously devastating sequence of Skip and Loafer Episode 8 arrives at the end of the episode. As Mitsumi (Tomoyo Kurosawa) enjoys a sleepover with friends as they cower while watching a horror movie, Shima (Akinori Egoshi)lies alone in his bedroom after being confronted about his past. Shima continues to be a mysterious figure, increasingly isolated in comparison to Mitsumi’s tight-knit group of friends she’s found herself surrounded by. The nature of the show is unmistakable through the visuals, soft and setting off clouds of color to depict the heightened glee or distress of a character.

The character lines blur with the colors of their details, and the world sets itself aglow in warm hues. Skip and Loafer’s warmth is one of the show’s strongest attributes, a testament to writer Misaki Takamatsu’s understanding of what it means to grow up and how the greatest, most significant relationships in our lives are ones born from a place of friendship, even if they ultimately lead to something more.

All of this is to say, that the subtle shift in tone and animation sticks out, deliberate in how the decision levels the moment with a heavier weight. Shima has once again regrouped with Ririka (Minako Kotobuki,) a model who used to be a child actor in the same network as he was. We get blurry flashbacks of the two grasping hands, their silhouettes the only part of the memory highlighted, the rest blocked out in a white, basic background.

This use of negative space is particularly effective, and we see it earlier too as Mitsumi’s Aunt Nao (Mitsuki Saiga) recalls a memory, as we see her sitting alone, seemingly forlorn in a field. The style, often used by the iconic director Isao Takahata in films such as Only Yesterday and The Tale of the Princess Kaguya, indicates time and place while putting a significant value on what part of a memory we remember. Nao remembers her part of the memory, not what surrounded her, while Shima only — or chooses to only — recalls his backstage interactions with Ririka rather than the hustle that took place.

These flourishes add a layer of depth to the series, a reminder that as viewers we see so much of this world through Mitsumi’s eyes so of course it would be laden with pastels and delicate artistry. Shima’s viewpoint, especially with Ririka, takes a slightly more jagged approach, in particular her character design. We’ve yet to get the full story of their relationship, though it’s clear she blames him for her career fallout after they were caught at a party where drinking took place, him seeming to have escaped the same level of public scrutiny.

However, the show can’t rewrite its most fundamental elements, meaning there’s no doubt there will be more to Ririka than meets the eye.

It’s the same for Shima as he continues to expel small parts of himself, sharing with Mitsumi only the bare minimum. Despite their pseudo date being cut short due to the heat, she’s still dead set on finding souvenirs for all of her siblings, which brings forth the information that Shima has a younger sibling, too, though he’s not as close. As the pieces of his home life come into view, and we watch as he realizes his little brother must’ve already been taken to this zoo without him having even known, the sadder his character becomes. It adds to the value of his friendship with Mitsumi, who challenges his notions of what it means to be there for someone.

Egashira (Yuka Terasaki) also continues to learn what it means to rely on others and build friendships, even if it involves cringe-inducing moments. That she learns this lesson through Nao, of all people works beautifully, especially as Nao recognizes part of herself in the younger girl who has built a style that gives off confidence which is belied by her attitude and fear of being let down.

It’s why the sequence at the end where she decides to stay the night at Mitsumi’s alongside Kurume (Megumi Han) and Murashige (Maaya Uchida) for their girls’ night sleepover is so touching. None of these characters are going to be able to overcome their insecurities overnight, especially while in the throes of high school life. But having one another to confide in and share experiences with gives them greater strength to tackle those feared flaws head-on. That the sleepover is given the same level of importance as Mitsumi’s date with Shima is telling, as the series is relentless in delivering a story that understands the fundamental necessity of all sorts of dynamics.

Skip and Loafer Episode 8, “Heat and Complications” is a heartfelt, and sensitive episode of television. By bestowing a level of compassion and empathy to all its characters, even the ones who don’t immediately come across as likable, the series continues to find sources of strength through tenderness in this winsome anime that proves that escapism in media is just as achievable through “smaller” stories as it in through epics.

Skip and Loafer Season 1 is available to stream now on Crunchyroll.