English Dub Review: Wandance “Audition”

Overview:

Wandance returns for its third episode, “Audition,” which explores how Kabo deals with his stutter just as the club members prepare their upcoming dance routine. Meanwhile, viewers get a peak inside his psyche as he deals with his stutter and feelings of isolation.

Our Take:

Everything starts with a lesson on hip-hop and R&B music, comparing it to Japanese music, including anime themes, and dancing along to it. While it’s a simple way to segue into the opening theme, scenes like this are wya to make the viewers feel like they are really part of this dance class.

Of course, these dance lessons are only one aspect of the story. Things cut to Kabo with some of his classmates, who ask why he uses a seahorse for his online profile. When his stutter gets in the way of an explanation, he shows off a photo of the aquatic animal wrapped around his finger on his phone. This causes him to muse about how people have often asked him about what it’s like living with a stutter. He compares it to trying to talk while underwater, catching his breath. While visualizing a seahorse, this also explains the sequences viewers have already seen where Kabo imagines himself underwater.

However, the ocean is a big place, and friends might be closer than Kabo thinks. Cutting back to Miyao’s lessons, she shows off a bunch of moves, which are all variations on “the crab,” tying into the oceanic theme. While speaking with the club, she gives one important piece of advice: try to keep calm through your fears on stage. In other words, keep your calm during the storm.

Of course, this is leading up to Kabo tensing up and imagining himself underwater when it’s his turn to dance. However, with Wanda as his dance partner, it’s not hard for him to find some inspiration.

In general, the dance animation, switching to 3D CGI when the characters are dancing, has been off-putting for some. It also gets annoying when characters are judging the dancing, saying who’s more skilled than others, when the animation is all too similar. It almost makes it a small mercy when Kabo gets too scared to dance. However, Kabo’s imagination sequence, with Wanda and Kabo practically controlling the tides while dancing, proves to be a saving grace, making for an impressive scene. That said, even if it works all played together, these sequences can still look a bit off in screenshots. On the other hand, the music continues to be a treat, though topping “Scatman” is no easy feat.

When it comes to the story, a few things are hinted at. Miyao has shown to be laid-back and friendly, but the characters are already commenting that she’s more intense than she lets on. Fans can only guess what this could mean for the character. However, viewers also get a clue when they see a video of her leading another dance from the previous year. In other words, she’s not a novice when it comes to making moves.

The episode briefly highlights another dancer in the club, Yura Nikami. With it implied that she wants to go pro, her appearance is mostly limited to her audition, but, with viewers getting a peek into her mind, it would be surprising if she isn’t set up for a bigger role going forward. One wonders if she’ll team up with that other male club member who never shows up.