REVIEW: ‘Twilight Out Of Focus’ Episode 6 — “Kikuchihara Jin’s First Love”

Kikuchihara Jin (Makoto Furukawa) deals with his increasingly developing feelings for Ichikawa (Masatomo Nakazawa) in Twilight Out Of Focus Episode 6. The continued shift to a new couple keeps the storyline fresh, even if, once again, the animation fails to live up to the story it’s telling. With a reliance on slideshow-style animation that simply drags out a still frame, there’s a distinct lack of stylistic flavor. The story maintains its entertainment level due to the loveable oafs at the center.

What’s fun about the dynamic between Jin and Ichikawa is how relentless the story is in throwing tropes at them. From enemies to lovers to childhood crushes and forced into being roommates, there’s no shortage of romance tropes that create a giddy and infectious dynamic. Twilight Out Of Focus Episode 6 tries to bottle that energy as Jin realizes that yes, he finds Ichikawa cute, and yes, that distresses him greatly until it doesn’t.

It’s funny just how quickly Jin seems to accept his feelings. He’s confident in a way that’s different from Hisashi’s confidence. Ichikawa perceives Jin as a playboy, but instead, he’s simply straightforward when it comes to what he wants. And once Jin makes it clear to Ichikawa that he’s interested in him, he refuses to feel insecure about it, going as far as to say that he’s going to continue hitting on him since he’s essentially got nothing left to lose now that his feelings are in the open.

This is an interesting approach to the character, allowing his biggest flaw to be his go-getter attitude when it comes to love, in contrast with his people-pleasing nature as his club’s director. It’s the most significant difference, too, between him and Ichikawa. While Ichikawa is reserved about romance, he completely understands what it takes to be a director and is willing to put everything aside to achieve his vision. It’s why he gets so angry on Jin’s behalf—and at Jin himself—when he sees him allowing people in his club to slack off.

The two usually have a silently agreed-upon rule not to talk about film while in their dorm room, as it tends to set off their argumentative sides. However, it leeks in anyway when a club member tells Ichikawa he needs to quit to dedicate his time to studying as they approach exams and graduation. Lacking a grasp on the duo’s relationship, this leads to Inaba, Jin’s friend, talking to Ichikawa and telling him essentially to lay off. It works, though, highlighting Ichikawa’s romantic feelings for Jin, which he’s been grappling with throughout Episode 6.

The payoff is stilted, however, as Ichikawa looks to get a rise out of Jin when he refuses to commit to their usual banter and discussions of BL manga. The two grow intimate, though, from Ichikawa’s tears. But, it’s not in the exact manner he’d been hoping for. Distracted, Jin leaves, only for Ichikawa to find an old photograph with him and, unbeknownst to him, a young Jin as well.

Those final moments between the two have an emotional charge but lack visual fervor. There’s simply no energy, and the lack of movement means that what are supposed to be electric and heated moments taper off into something awkward. It’s such a shame because the story itself is strong. The pairing charms as they navigate their feelings for one another and admit the hostility of their opposing personalities. But the animation continues to be hit and miss, and while Episodes 4 and 5 are strong, Episode 6 flounders once again. It needs to be more than simply a still frame from the manga plus color.

Twilight Out Of Focus Episode 6 leaves us on a cliffhanger as the tension between Jin and Ichikawa remains unresolved. Backed by solid writing and a charming central couple, this Studio Deen production still has plenty to root for. It just continues to frustrate that the visuals don’t live up to the layered story the series is telling.

Twilight Out Of Focus Episode 6 is out now on Crunchyroll.