Lepidopterous_

"Getting older isn't the same as growing up."

The Lost Ones is a follow-up to The Village Bride by Kinema Citrus, though unclear if a prequel or sequel. Once again, the animation is gorgeous, with watercolored backgrounds and a varied palette, from drab and dreary to vibrant and colorful. Also like its previous chapter, this episode is masterfully paced. It never feels rushed, and characters develop naturally.

F is to me the most fascinating character of Visions. Stoic, mysterious, and beyond her years, yet still with much to learn. When confronted by her past, she is outskilled and outmatched. Humbled, she finds within herself extraordinary conviction. She does what she must, and in this process, completes her own journey toward self-discovery, closure, and release.

A remarkably beautiful, vibrant, and visually striking episode. The Bird of Paradise is like a unique revisit to the swamps of Dagobah, where Luke receives his Jedi training. The episode is segmented into individual chapters, each representing a personal trial or reflection, although transitions between chapters can be abrupt or jarring.

The biggest reason for the low score, however, is the constant vocalizing of everything by the main character. For a journey that is so deep, spiritual, visual, and meditative, the protagonist just does not stop talking. Just constant dialogue, the entire time, spoon-feeding every last detail leaving nothing to the imagination.

An undeniable visual treat and some powerful themes on paper, but the execution of said themes would have benefited immensely from a little more subtlety.

Produced by Wit Studio-known for Attack on Titan and SPY x FAMILY-Episode 4: The Bounty Hunters introduces us to Sevn, an orphan-turned-Jedi, traversing the galaxy with her dual-personality droid unmistakably voiced by Ronny Chieng and reminiscent of the Mayor of Halloweentown. Chieng's sharp sarcasm dominates the vibe across several scenes, but it's also the droid's boldness that makes this episode stand apart from more ordinary or expected adventures. The protagonist reminds me of F from Season 1's extraordinary episode, The Village Bride. Overall a strong entry with memorable characters and great animation.