As viewers eagerly anticipated the release of Failure Frame episode 4, the series had already gained widespread praise as one of the top shows of the Summer 2024 anime season. With its official release on Thursday, July 25, 2024, the anime continued to impress, taking a different approach from its previous episodes.
Although the series had been primarily focused on action up to this point, Failure Frame episode 4 took a break and shifted its focus to setting up additional plot points. While this may not have been ideal, it does put a temporary pause on the series’ previous momentum in order to develop new elements.
Failure Frame episode 4 review: A clear direction, set up of Touka’s allies, and key foreshadowing are the positives
In the fourth episode of Failure Frame, Touka successfully reaches the town of Milz, where he hopes to find the necessary monster materials in a nearby dungeon. Instead of immediately diving into the dungeon, Touka takes the time to survey the town and its offerings, adding depth to the worldbuilding of the series. This also showcases Touka’s meticulous planning and understanding of the steps needed to achieve his goals.
This further illustrates his cautious nature, which aligns with his strategic planning approach as he prefers to gather all available information before making significant decisions. This proves beneficial for both him and the audience, as a visit to the town’s pub uncovers crucial information. Not only does this contribute to the development of the series’ world, but it also sets the groundwork for Touka’s future ally and the primary group of adversaries he will face.
In terms of direction, episode 4 of Failure Frame stands out for its exceptional execution, as it effectively establishes and foreshadows the events of the installment and their impact on the rest of the series. Additionally, the episode does an exemplary job of charting a clear course for the story, showcasing both the direction of the episode and the future direction of the series.
Additionally, the episode delves deeper into previously introduced plot points by featuring the reappearance of the Princess Knight in the town of Milz. This reveals her true identity as Seras Ashrain of the Holy Empire of Neah, a former knight captain with a bounty on her head. This scene effectively provides fans with essential information about the character and also foreshadows her future role in the series.
In episode 4 of Failure Frame, the bond between Touka and the protagonist deepens as they shop together and navigate the dungeon together. The episode culminates in the two of them agreeing to work together in certain situations, ultimately leading to Touka learning the protagonist’s true identity. Although their alliance is currently only temporary, it is evident that they will soon become close friends and trusted allies.
Their discussion also sets the stage for the future, uncovering the connection between the demon king and the existence of golden-eyed monsters. Touka’s thoughts immediately turn to his classmate Kirihara Takuto, who exuded a golden aura while showcasing his magical abilities. This subtle but powerful foreshadowing adds to the mystery and captivates the audience, solidifying their interest and ensuring they will tune in once more for the next episode.
Considering the aforementioned factors, it is undeniable that Failure Frame episode 4 should be commended for transforming what could have been considered a filler episode into a truly significant and substantial installment. Each scene and line of dialogue in the episode offers valuable lessons, culminating in a viewing experience that can almost make up for its lack of action and tension.
The fourth episode of Failure Frame: An Unsuccessful Review – A lackluster installment with subpar CGI usage continues to disappoint.
Despite having the opportunity to place Touka and Seras in the town’s dungeon, the episode falls short in fully capitalizing on this potential. While there is some conflict and action, it pales in comparison to the excitement and engagement of previous episodes. Even a small amount of tension, like that in the third episode when Touka was surrounded by the Holy Watchers, would have been appreciated to create a sense of danger for Touka.
Despite this, it is evident that this episode’s primary focus was on developing Touka’s character as a shrewd and clever individual, and in this aspect, the action scenes were effective. However, the sudden and drastic change in the action compared to previous episodes may have made it difficult for viewers to remain fully engaged. While the episode successfully achieved its objective, the approach it took in contrast to earlier installments can and should be evaluated.
Fortunately, there are no additional drawbacks or disadvantages introduced in the series that were not previously present in earlier episodes. However, the anime continues to struggle with excessive and inadequate use of CGI animation, which remains its major downfall. Particularly, scenes featuring Touka and Seras conversing in town exemplify this issue, as CGI is forced in where traditional 2D animation would have not only sufficed, but also enhanced the visual quality.
Despite the presence of CGI animation in the episode, it is poorly integrated for the most part. For example, the scene of Touka in his inn room is noticeably choppy as he moves from feeding Piggymaru to sitting down on his bed. While some other scenes, like Seras chasing after Touka in the dungeon, are slightly better executed than in previous episodes, the inconsistency in implementation is still a concern.
Failure Frame Episode 4 Review: Final Thoughts
Overall, episode 4 of Failure Frame is a resounding success and maintains the series’ impressive momentum. While it may not have had as much action or significant events, the episode more than makes up for it through its emphasis on worldbuilding, character development and introduction, and foreshadowing of what is to come.
Despite its only flaw not being inherent to the approach described above, the episode still suffers from the excessive and poorly integrated use of CGI. While fans eagerly anticipate the return of action, it is difficult to deny that the fourth installment of the anime did not effectively utilize its runtime in any significant manner.
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