REVIEW: ‘Honey Lemon Soda’ Episode 6 — “In The Future, Too…”

For about half of Honey Lemon Soda Episode 6, the animation has a notable shift. And it’s excellent. So much so that you have to wonder if this is by design — the happier Uka (Kana Ichinose) gets, the livelier the animation. More realistically, it’s the combined efforts of the animators and directors who, in “In The Future, Too…” decided to cut loose and allow tangible personality to instill greater life into the series. Yes, issues remain. But this is the first time that Honey Lemon Soda has been fun to watch.

Honey Lemon Soda Episode 6 is so good in specific sequences that it seems altogether like a different series. It helps that the narrative is straightforward. As their cultural festival approaches, Uka is determined to make her class cafe a success. At first, she meets a little resistance from slacker classmates who don’t see the point in putting so much effort into the event. But soon, they course correct, joining Uka in her efforts to make the cafe a great experience.

Aside from the requisite tears at the end of the episode, Uka is happy. Her parents notice as much, and she realizes it’s the first time she can be alone without feeling lonely. And while she loves spending time with Kai (Shōgo Yano), she finds her life with Ayumi and other new friends just as vibrant. It’s such a refreshing change of pace that, by the end of the episode, those tears are a greater shame than they would be in the previous episodes.

Honey Lemon Soda Episode 6 finally forces Kai to contend with his feelings for Uka and how his protectiveness over her looks to onlookers. Their class jokingly calls him Uka’s “caretaker,” but there’s truth in the statement. He constantly looks out for her and tries to point her in better, more self-assured directions. He also wants to be left alone. And yet, in frustrating moves, he continues to draw attention to himself and her.

Kai needs better characterization to match Uka’s growth.

In Honey Lemon Soda Episode 6, he announces in a pre-recorded video for the festival that his responsibility is Uka. He interrupts a fake dating game show she agrees to participate in at the last minute, prompting her to cry. He stands up to a group of girls, saying that Kai would never date a girl like Uka, and holds her hand. These showy, declarative moments make him less likable. He’s better when it’s just them one-on-one, laughing at things she says. Yes, the writing constantly forcing him to be her guiding light is frustrating, but mainly because the show is growing beyond him.

We still have much to learn about Serina and her relationship with Kai. Takamine gives Kai a hard time about possibly misleading Uka, which makes his intentions all the more questionable. While Uka remains a sometimes frustrating character, there’s at least been growth and evident change. We need that now with Kai, too, if romance will be at the forefront.

However, Uka and Kai take a backseat in Honey Lemon Soda Episode 6 because the charms lie solely in the hands of the animation and direction. Aside from some stiff slideshow effects and bizarre transitions, it’s gorgeous. The series has often excelled when the story takes place outdoors, and that’s highlighted here, too. The sequences where Uka pedals her bike through the suburban streets are gorgeously rendered with exquisite lighting and coloring. The contrast between the buildings and the greenery makes the world feel alive and tactile.

The animation takes a major step forward in Honey Lemon Soda Episode 6.

Director Hiroshi Nishikiori is playful with character acting, particularly physicality. A number of sequences stand out. As a group of girls complain about the cafe on the school’s roof, they bend over the railing and contort, their physicality and motions telling us their attitude before we’ve even seen their faces. The camera adopts a low angle, exaggerating the moment so that we get a full-frame view of characters, architecture, and landscapes.

There’s a similar moment where the girls finally chase down Uka to offer their help. Graceful yet playful animation tracks their dissolve into laughter, reliant on particular nuanced framing that highlights the characters’ states—if you look closely in a pan out, you’ll see the reflection of one of the girls laughing in a sign on the street. These details could be easily missed if taken out as a singular moment but, when compiled together, create something fresh and invigorating.

The same can be said in the brief exchange between Ayumi and Seto as they bicker. Utilizing cartoonish effects and body proportions helps deliver the comedy, as do interesting camera angles—specifically, high camera angles. The aerial viewpoint heightens the moment and gives the scene greater scope and depth. We see it, too, when we watch from the classroom as students gather in the courtyard. All of a sudden, Honey Lemon Soda has a personality.

Honey Lemon Soda Episode 6 injects itself with necessary life and vibrancy through playful and fluid animation. As Uka continues her journey of gaining self-confidence, we need Kai’s growth to match hers.

Honey Lemon Soda Episode 6 is out now on Crunchyroll.