REVIEW: ‘Twilight Out Of Focus’ Episode 4 — “Like The Movies”

Despite a rough around-the-edges start, Twilight Out of Focus Episode 4 settles into itself. The animation steps it up a notch with greater composition and movement as we spend time in the new domestic rhythm of Mao Tsuchiya (Yoshitsugu Matsuoka) and Hisashi Otomo’s (Yuma Uchida lives. It’s a sweet, soulful installment that speaks to the chemistry between the two and the continued increasing attachment to one another. Of course, the series achieves its strongest episode just as the story is about to pivot to a new focus.

Twilight Out Of Focus Episode 4 acts as both a pause and a transitional moment for the story. Hisashi, after wrapping his shoot for the BL short film, decides he wants to continue pursuing acting and joins the drama club. Ichikawa (Masatomo Nakazawa) is furious because now Hisashi will be scouted by other groups rather than just being an actor for hire for them on standby. Mao also feels off, though he admits to knowing he’s in the wrong. This subtle moment speaks to these characters’ maturity and introspection.

This comes to a head when Mao momentarily worries that he hears Hisashi on the phone with his ex. He rallies behind closed doors, telling himself to trust Hisashi not to do such a thing. And while he puts a brave face on, he instantly crumples in relief when he sees it is just Hisashi rehearsing lines. This insecurity is realistic, especially in a new relationship. While Mao wanted to be more confident in his approach, this moment was human and raw, which is true of the teenage experience. They’re still figuring themselves out, never mind a romantic relationship. But the writing deftly handles it and the conversations that follow.

Because Mao and Hisashi are both head over heels for one another, Twilight Out Of Focus Episode 4 makes this abundantly clear both through the writing and the visuals. Mao and Hisashi both make their version of declarations. Mao feels possessive, while Hisashi wants him to keep his eyes only on him. The two act playfully, sneaking out after curfew to indulge in snacks and aimless wandering. It’s a sweet sequence that captures their youthfulness as Hisashi navigates the tightrope of walking on traffic lines. The animation stuns in this sequence, bleeding away to a watercolor approach, as we see Hisashi through Mao’s eyes.

They get two dates like this one as Mao drags Hisashi along with him later to an observatory to get nighttime footage. We see throughout the episode these small indicators of how Hisashi has already changed in just four episodes. He’s more outgoing and on his phone less, his lonely aura dissipating. No longer are the nights scary to him because he has someone to share them with. Mao, too, is changing; he is more direct with his feelings and comfortable in casual intimacy, even if he’s not quite as settled in it as Hisashi.

Due to the rough animation, it’s easy to overlook just how novel Twilight Out Of Focus is. The continued depiction of their romantic lives and sexuality is extremely refreshing. While we’ve gotten more adaptions over the years that deal with the intimate lives of queer relationships, such as Cherry Magic! and The Stranger By The Beach, it’s still more of an exception than the rule. And the series, based on Jyanome, handles Mao and Hisashi navigating one another with perceptive grace.

It’s a shame almost that we’re so quickly shifting to a new story as Ichikawa gets the focus. On the one hand, Ichikawa has been responsible for some of the funniest, laugh-out-loud moments of the series so far. Conversely, the scenes between Mao and Hisashi are increasingly cute, especially with sturdier, assured animation that allows the story to flourish.

Twilight Out Of Focus Episode 4 is the strongest of the series to date due to its crisp, fluid animation and sweet and heartfelt story at its center. The characters’ interactions allow their personalities to shine and demonstrate their subtle growth as they improve due to their interactions and romance.

Twilight Out Of Focus Episode 4 is out now on Crunchyroll.