It’s been a while, but it’s time for another introductory episode. Albeit for a character who rarely shows up again. And another who does, but rarely has much impact on the episodes he’s in.
Firstly this episode introduces us to topic of the episode, the naive, over-optimistic teacher, Mr Hanawa.
And then we meet the the new Headmaster. Unlike the one in the previous batch of episodes, this head is ridiculously calm in the face of insanity. And today’s insanity is Mr Invader enrolling his daughter into Tomobiki High School.
The gag with Hanawa is his entire view of youth is framed by idealised versions presented in media along with an unwillingness to accept any fact presented to him. Such as thinking Ataru’s name is Darling because Lum calls him that, and failing to recognise that Lum’s an alien.
The second half of the episode is an extended parody of sports manga and Attack No. 1 specifically, as Lum and Ataru join the school’s volleyball teams.
Honestly, this second half drags a lot compared to the first. There’s too much of the one-note gag of the girls’ volleyball team captain becoming ugly when she plays the game, and not enough Hanawa’s naive idiocy. Plus the animation looks decidedly rushed in spots compared to the scenes early in the episode.
However it does finish on a nice Osamu Dezaki parody with Hanawa crying on the beach!
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As the voice of Hanawa is Rokuro Naya (younger brother of Lupin III’s Goro Naya). He also voiced Lt. James Gordon in the recent Gotham Knight, Principal Enchou in Crayon Shin-chan, and Professor Nazonazo in Zatch Bell.
Screenplay: Kazunori Ito
Storyboard: Shunji Oga
Director: Mamoru Oshii
Animation Director: Hayao Nobe
The second half of the episode makes this below par for an Oshii directed ep so far into the series, though notably he’s not working from his own storyboards.