English Dub Review: Wandance “Choreography Routine”

Overview:

Wandance returns with its fourth episode. “Choreography Routine” sees the dance club dealing with who makes the cut and more practice sessions. Meanwhile, a ghost from the past is making an appearance, and they’re not the only character set to get a proper introduction.

Our Take:

The last episode of Wandance teased that viewers would see more of Yura Nikami and this episode certainly delivered. Early on, she comes off as rather intimidating. However, she shows a more vulnerable side when she speaks to On about not making the recent cut.

Yura decides the best course of action is to join Wanda and Kabo during their own practice times. However, Yura’s not the only character with questions concerning the cut.

However, Yura isn’t the only character getting more of a proper introduction in this episode. The other male member of the team, Iori Itsukushima, has effectively been a ghost. However, viewers get to see him at a dance battle and get to learn about his style. By the end of the episode, he even gets to meet Kabo, with the episode ending just as they start their first conversation. Iori seems affable enough, but one wonders what kind of dynamic he will bring to the story.

The dance animation is already infamous, but it kind of gets awkward in this episode. There are quite a few scenes with 2D characters in the same scene as the 3D dancers and the contrast is striking. This also arguably adds some subtext to scenes where characters watch themselves dance on video. When the characters think they could do better, like when Yura realizes she’s been rushing her dancing, it can make things a little bit unintentionally funny. However, when the characters seem satisfied, like when Wanda feels impressed with what humans can accomplish, viewers have to wonder if the dancing really looks like that in-universe.

Generally, one of the show’s saving graces is its music. This time, viewers are going to see the characters try to perfect their routine. This means a lot of practice, which also means the same song is going to be replayed quite a bit throughout the story. This can be a bit off-putting after a while. Of course, you can joke that if the characters have to put up with this, it’s simply unavoidable. After all, it’s one of the breaks when you get a first-hand look at what a dance class is like.

That said, the animation does have some clever moments. Yura often covers one of her eyes with her bangs. Animation fans are probably familiar with this visual cue to make her come off as either shy or standoffish at times. One scene takes this further when she talks with her ponytail covering her mouth when embarrassed to ask for help. In another quick gag, when one of the dancers wonders why she did make the cut, she assumes it’s because her height gives her a good dynamic with Kabo and Wanda. This leads to a quick gag of Kabo and Wanda striking intense poses. It’s a simple moment, but seeing the normally reserved, pleasant characters being imagined so out of character is just hilarious.

This episode gives viewers more of a look at On Miyao. In an early scene, she admits that she doesn’t like being called “president,” encouraging Kabo to call her “On.” While she doesn’t seem to understand how awkward Kabo can feel due to his stutter, she gradually shows that she’s well-meaning and empathetic. She is also respectful when explaining why Yura didn’t make the cut. That said, one of her final scenes, teasing Iori about Kabo joining the club, giving them a new male dancer, hints she might have something up her sleeve.

Ultimately, this episode is interesting just for being one of the first to give focus to characters other than Kabo and Wanda. If all else, Wanda’s comment on how humans are amazing is going to leave fans wondering if there is something more to the white-haired dancer than she appears. Granted, she might have just been commenting on the human spirit, but stranger things can happen, and have happened, in animation.