My Deer Friend Nokotan Episode 5 Finds Foothold in Sloppy Gag Anime

This review contains spoilers for episodes 1-5 of My Deer Friend Nokotan.

My Friend Nokotan Deer kicked off its inaugural season with an eerie charm and cheeky appeal. Introducing a deer girl whose powers and presence threaten to bring down Koshitan's clean and impeccable life, the anime's episodes pack a potent blend of delirium and laughter, all while hitting like a drunken haze. The series has certainly set a bar, albeit a touching one; each episode is a whimsical game of limbo that offers a dash of shock and satire. The show hasn't been without its hiccups, but don't count on it My Deer FriendNokotan still out.



The series has embraced its weirdness with gusto, turning its narrative missteps into highlights of absurdity and brilliance. With its unabashedly over-the-top scenes and self-referential sense of humor, the show has turned its chaotic charm into a defining characteristic. It's a bold and unpredictable ride that keeps viewers engaged through its sheer ridiculousness. This is something the anime consistently maintains in its fifth episode, “Grab Her Weakness.” This proves that, Sometimes the best fun happens in the messiest places.



Torako Koshi says the silent part out loud

Episode 5's bold opening turns subtext into text

Nokotan's Horns Powers So Far

Use of horns

Description

Truth machine

Nokotan uses his horns to sense hidden truths, revealing Koshitan's delinquent nature.

Animal communication

His antlers glow as he communicates with a herd of wild deer, urging them to help the group.

Virginity Detector

The horns light up comically to reveal a character's virginity, creating an awkward yet hilarious moment.

Snack Detector

The horns light up to help locate hidden snacks at a picnic, saving the day when food is scarce.

Weather forecast

Nokotan predicts a sudden thunderstorm, allowing the group to take shelter just in time.

Love Note Intuition

The horns light up to identify a love letter, which turns out to be a threat and starts a major fight.

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When My Friend Nokotan Deer premiered, the titular deer girl's supernatural intuition was described as a sinister ability. Not only would it pull the proverbial strings of Koshitan's good girl, causing her to unravel and, in turn, force her to reveal herself as a delinquent, but a power with the potential to unleash much more chaos later. Cut to My Friend Nokotan Deer Episode 5, which begins with Nokotan using his glowing horn magic to sense a message waiting for Torako in the form of a love letter.

When the message turns out to be a threat to Torako, It seems that Nokotan's promise of ability, both as a character and as a series, has fallen apart. This could have been a low point for the series, undermining its potential and the intrigue built around Nokotan's abilities. However, in what is becoming typical of the series, its own audacity rushes in to save the day. The show manages to turn this seemingly anticlimactic reveal into an opportunity for outrageous humor and epic storytelling, allaying concerns about the show's merits as soon as they arise.


In this case, it's the one-two punch of a couple of really well animated, if a little tongue-in-cheek, fight sequences. First, the audience gets a brief, insane glimpse of a Nokotan flashback in which the deer girl avoids massive machine gun fire from a military assault; an implication of a more ridiculous and war-torn past than previously thought. Silly, yes, but the scene is really well done and, in its own way, shocking. No one could have prepared for a realistic war in My Friend Nokotan Deer before episode 5 aired, so that's a real surprise. Keep that in mind for future episodes!


The second match pits Koshitan and Nokotan against the former's newly revealed rivals, who write letters. The scene is a feast for the eyes, with Nokotan transforming into a battle-ready buffer form, reminiscent of Jojo's Bizarre Adventure character design. Combat is filled with exaggerated slow-motion explosions and blood splatter, which adds to the show's over-the-top nature. The scene ends with a glorious button, Torako nonchalantly shrugging off the mess and saying “Thank goodness this is just a sloppy gag anime.” Yes, it is, and fourth wall breaking reminder and shots like this are proving necessary to digest each episode. Moments of self-awareness keep the show from feeling like pure nonsense, ensuring that even when it seems to falter, it quickly recovers and proves that it knows exactly what it's doing.

The anime has finally found its rhythm


Critical reception of my deer friend Nokotan

Planet Anime

Italian:

My anime list

3.62/5

7.0/10

7.61/10

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Having made this confession, there is much to love. My Friend Nokotan Deer. Five episodes in, and it looks like the “sloppy gag anime” is actually settling into a regular, if atypical, narrative rhythm. Like the episodes immediately preceding it, My Friend Nokotan Deer The first eight minutes or so of episode 5, the discovery of the letter and the subsequent fight, are largely isolated from the next 15 minutes. Is this the ideal pacing of the story? Everything is fair game for a self-proclaimed mess, and as far as messes go, My Friend Nokotan Deer it's glorious.


Nokotan's stance and Neko's growing evilness are the proverbial meat of the matter in My Friend Nokotan Deer Episode 5, which begins with Torako investigating where Nokotan goes when he's not at the Deer Club. A series of comical but revealing encounters at a local deer show ensue, and while Torako's suspicious approach may be an unexpected decision, it's a valid one. After all, her new deer-girl classmate is openly supernatural and strange. Torako is right to be proactive in trying to find out exactly what her problem is, especially after five episodes.


Koshitan's chewing gum creates a dynamic parallel to Neko's insidious kompromat pursuit of her. In the episode, Torako's relentless probing of Nokotan's behavior, such as her unusual eating habits and antics in the park, echoes Neko's more sinister efforts to uncover Torako's weaknesses. Both characters are fixated on exposing perceived flaws, with Torako's probing aimed at validating Nokotan's quirks, while Neko's research is focused on exploiting Torako's vulnerabilities. It's all welcome character development. My Friend Nokotan Deer Episode 5 is the ensemble cast's best showcase yet, giving the Deer Club and its antagonists equal amounts of screen time. This pays off because it infuses the silliness with some real storytelling and character development.

Neko doesn't stand a chance

Even the hot-tempered teenager has trouble resisting the charms of the deer girl


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“You have the potential to become a deer!” – Nokotan


Neko's quest to expose Torako's weaknesses takes a wild turn when she clashes with Nokotan in a battle of wits, or lack thereof. While Neko tries to snoop around the Deer Club, Nokotan seizes the opportunity to throw an impromptu welcome party, turning a secret mission into an unexpected show of affection. Nokotan's eccentric energy is on full display as he turns Neko's intrusion into an absurd and hilarious encounter, cementing her position as the club's enigmatic leader.

Thanks to Bashame's biting hands and Anko's short temper, Neko finds himself involved in a series of comical misadventures. The highlight of this showdown is Nokotan's outrageous “ex-deer-cises,” which includes an unforgettable demonstration of how to eat venison crackers while Nokotan gives Neko a crash course. Nokotan's unconventional encouragement lands with sarcastic humor, mixing mockery with genuine motivation. This unconventional support is another example of Nokotan's ability to turn an awkward situation into a demonstration of her magnetism, leaving Neko both perplexed and grudgingly impressed. Interestingly, this is another parallel between her and Torako.


By the end of the episode, Nokotan has conquered the entire Deer Club and even Neko, much to her disappointment. Neko's initial disdain turns to grudging admiration as she accepts her role within the club's peculiar world. Nokotan's ability to mix humor and bizarre charm proves irresistible, establishing her as a figure of fascination and respect. This includes even the most skeptical observers and the My friend Nokotan deer the public too.

My Deer Friend Nokotan is now streaming on Crunchyroll.

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My Deer Friend Nokotan Episode 5, “Grab His Weakness”

Koshi Torako has fooled everyone. Her classmates see her as the perfect model student, unaware of her secret past as a delinquent. But her colorful new school life is thrown into chaos when she meets Shikanoko Noko, a girl with horns! Chaos seems to follow this strange, doe-eyed girl.

Release date
July 7, 2024

Creator(s)
Oshioshio

Launch
Megumi Han, Saki Fujita, Rui Tanabe, Fuka Izumi, Yurika Kubo, Rio Tsuchiya, Chinatsu Akasaki, Kôsuke Toriumi

Seasons
1

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