My Deer Friend Nokotan gives Bully Maguire a tough competition with a similar dance move

The third episode of My Deer Friend Nokotan, released on July 15, 2024 on ABEMA, featured one of its main characters performing the iconic “Bully Maguire”dance from the film Spiderman 3 in all its magnificent glory.

The latest episode of the show also welcomed two new members to the Deer Club, following a major misunderstanding between the main characters. The peak of the episode featured all members sharing their aspirations and goals within the Deer Club.

The main highlight of the episode was Torako’s dance, in which she tested the deer standing before her to determine if it was a real animal or actually Shikanoko in disguise. Her dance closely resembled Toby Maguire’s infamous Bully Maguire persona, which gained widespread popularity among fans.

Disclaimer: The following article includes the author’s opinion and may contain spoilers from My Deer Friend Nokotan.

What is the Bully Maguire Dance Featured in My Deer Friend Nokotan?

The third episode of My Deer Friend Nokotan was titled “Enrollment Hiccup”and began with Torako rushing towards the clubroom due to her lateness. However, upon arriving, she was met with a surprise as she found an actual deer munching on the club’s rations (deer-crackers).

Torako attempted to remove the deer’s costume, thinking it may be Shikanoko. However, the deer resisted and kicked her away, as she had anticipated. Despite trying a different approach, Torako was unable to uncover the true identity of Shikanoko.

Torako as seen in the episode (Image via Wit Studio)

Torako, frustrated by the situation, revealed her trump card—a book containing her embarrassing secrets. She attempted to entice the beloved creature into exposing its true nature, and thankfully, it responded. Seizing the opportunity, Torako continued to coax it and began to sing an embarrassing song.

Torako also incorporated dancing into her singing performance, including the infamous Bully Maguire step from the movie Spiderman 3. This step, performed by Toby Maguire’s character Peter Parker after merging with Venom, gained widespread attention on the internet and became a popular topic of discussion even before the episode’s official release.

Reactions to the Torako Dance

Torako's dance as seen in the episode (Image via Wit Studio) — Torako’s dance as seen in the episode (Image via Wit Studio)

As anticipated, viewers enthusiastically praised the anime series for incorporating a timeless media reference that caught everyone by surprise. In addition, one fan went so far as to create a 1-hour rendition of Torako’s dance, reminiscent of the “shikanokonokonokokoshitantan”dance video that became popular even before the anime’s official release.

“Peak anime,”a fan claimed.

“If you wanna destroy your brain i did a 1h version,”another fan commented.

“Anime of The year,”another one claimed.

However, certain fans were perplexed by the inclusion of this dance in the anime as it had not been shown in the first two episodes. This was due to the fact that the scene was actually from episode 3, which had already been broadcast four days prior on the Japanese streaming platform ABEMA before its official release on Crunchyroll.

Despite some members of the fandom being unaware of the series, fans did not hesitate to show their appreciation for the iconic and lively dance scene featuring Bully Maguire. In fact, this dance may have even inspired some fans to finally begin watching the series.

“When does this happen? Is it for next episode?”a fan showed commented.

“Bully Maguire will forever be iconic,”another fan claimed.

“Oh my fecking god I need to watch this show now,”another one claimed.

Concluding Remarks

In 2021, Wit Studio, an animation studio, declared bankruptcy, leading to the transfer of its ongoing projects, notably the popular Attack on Titan series. The studio then shifted its focus to producing “original”anime series, such as Ranking of the Kings.