Tanuki to Kitsune (TV)

Called it that Kitsune would be a little menace this week but the pat on the back after Tanuki froze got me. He is not mean he is just a fox

Two minutes. That is all we get and one of those minutes is Tanuki staring at a fire like it owes him money. Misaki Kuno's trembling little voice during that part was worth more than most full episodes

That tail stretch went on way longer than it had any right to and I laughed the whole time. Misaki Kuno's squished noises while he's stuck in the hole are the reason this short works

Tanuki freezing at the fire after being so hyped about the sweet potato got me. Kitsune patting his back and not saying a word did more than any speech could

The bit where the wolf glances at the Little Red Riding Hood book before shoving Tanuki is comedy gold. He knows exactly what that book says about his kind

Morikawa voicing that round little wolf with the coldest tone got me. Deep movie star voice coming out of a fluffy guy. Perfect contrast to the kids squeaking at him

Autumn forest backgrounds looked so soft here. The red leaf bushes and yellow grass made the whole thing feel cozy before the joke even landed. Wish these ran longer than two minutes

Tanuki running back and forth shouting Eraikoccha instead of actually pulling Kitsune out is so perfectly him. All that concern and zero help until he launches himself into the same bush. Comedy pacing here is tight

The whole leaf pile thing was so soothing and then the fire fear came out of nowhere and I felt bad for laughing at him trembling

I lost it at the squishy paw sound. That push to the face was the entire episode and it earned every second of it. Tanuki treating a rejection like a rare collectible is so on brand for him

The gap moe of Ookami being this big intimidating wolf who shows up just to pull two idiots out of a shrub and leave is the kind of quiet joke this show does better than anyone

I couldn't stop smiling at Tanuki daydreaming about being the hero and then faceplanting on a rock two seconds later. His little sparkle eyes when he talks about how cool Wolf is got me

Two butts sticking out of a bush and a wolf staring at them like a tired dad. That's the whole episode and it works

That sigh from Ookami before he even touched the bush says everything about his life with these two. Then he just walks off without a word. Coolest guy in the whole forest and he isn't even trying

Wolf sighing at those two idiots was the most relatable thing all season. Morikawa's voice dropping that flat yare yare over the squishy sounds. Quietly pulled them out and walked off like he'd done it a hundred times before

Naganawa's narration during the transitions is doing a lot of heavy lifting for two minute episodes. Her voice makes even a bush rescue feel like a warm blanket