Overview:
Wandance viewers will get a trip down memory lane on “Wanda’s Pre-High School Days” as Hulu drops the seventh episode of this dance club-themed anime. Viewers will learn of Wanda’s past, but, first, the club is anticipating the results of last episode’s contest.
Our Take:
So far, things seem to be too easy for the characters. Everyone’s friendly, the main characters are super talented, and the main troupe wins their first contest with flying colors. Finally, however, how easy everything is becomes the conflict. Kabo wonders if he feels jealous about how much he has to do to keep up with her.
It’s then that viewers get to see Wanda’s past, when she first met her Michael Jackson-loving boss. Adding some levity to the series, he bemoans hiring such a weird kid, but viewers also get to learn about his past, such as his also being a dancer. The two start to bond, with Wanda showing off her dance moves to him. He muses that he only imitated what others did, but she has real talent.
Of course, it’s all worth it for Wanda’s final day at work: her boss gets to show off his own moonwalk. This, in turn, sees Wanda open up about her father and his hearing loss. Hopefully, viewers will get to see more of their relationship as the anime goes on.
While Wandance‘s 2D animation usually looks much nicer than the 3D models, this episode assures that even the 2D animation can get unnerving when it wants to. Let’s just say even Wanda’s boss is unerved at her neck exercises.
Overall, it’s a touching episode that allows viewers to see the characters’ past. Fans might have liked to see more of Wanda’s past, but the story might be taking its time. The way things have been so easy for the characters so far can make things like Kabo’s internal struggles also suggest that the story is hinting at something big soon. There’s even a hint Kabo could show up at one of Iori’s dance battles now that this recent contest is over.