World Trigger
"Chika Amatori's Side Effect"
It's been a while since I picked up World Trigger. I have seen the majority of the series through Season Three, and for a while, put it down. Some time ago, I began diving into the episodes, which was a pleasure, and paused. Well, I’m back at it as I am a certified WT Stan, and as such, it is my solemn duty to keep this series on the mind of those looking for an ongoing series. With six episodes, a significant amount of action has unfolded, and the layers of our core group have been peeled back—a quick recap of the last two episodes.
Episode four ends with Kitora trying to stop an IIgar Trion soldier from bombing Mikado City. Despite her confidence and tactical skills, Kitora struggles with this threat, learning that heroics are not as simple as they seem. She gains respect for her peer, Osamu, after receiving unexpected assistance. Episode five introduces Yuichi Jin, a nineteen-year-old S-class (Power Elite) Border agent. Jin’s high rank and unique “Side Effect” (a prophetic ability) make him influential within Border, despite his laid-back nature (he still reminds me of Maximilian Jenius from Macross).
Jin suspects Osamu is involved in recent abnormal gate activity and requests to take him along for investigation, which stirs further suspicion and surveillance of Osamu (and his friend Kuga) by other agents.
Now you know that one of the fun things about anime introductions is that they often try to be slick, especially if they have multiple cast members. They often try to interweave different characters to confuse the viewer into thinking that these individuals may be the shining stars of the show, and it's possible. At the same time, anime series like Hunter x Hunter, Yu Yu Hakusho, and Jujutsu Kaisen, for example, as well as Naruto and One Piece, have their core shining stars. There are always these Side characters, though, that come along, and they win the hearts of fans. But we're not talking about those, we're still waiting on our last bandmate to show up, and she definitely wasn't who I thought she was.
One of the things that impressed me about World Trigger is how it subtly explores the pain and suffering that come with conflict. While it’s not as visceral as Attack on Titan, for example, it does have its way of leading the viewer, and it is nothing mysterious. Episode 6 of World Trigger (Chika Amitori’s Side Effect) opens with Chika and an unnamed friend discussing the idea of mysterious things existing in this world. As they talk, the reservation can be heard in Chika’s voice, but her friend reassures her that she will protect her from the unknown and pick her up tomorrow to ensure she is safe. Unbeknownst to her. However, she may have to eat those words as events take place and the opening theme begins.
Cut to Osumo doing what he does best…staring at the ceiling. He is definitely the thinker, and perhaps rightly so. Concerned about the abnormal gate activity, a continuation from the prior episode, he is pondering the short life span of the Trion Barrier, a barrier created by Border that, to some extent, controls gate activity. While powerful, the gate can only hold for another 46 hours before things go south. In his mental recap, he and Jin are having a conversation, at which point Jin assures him that, via his side effect, he knows things will turn out fine. So what is this side effect? Those with high Trion ability can experience what is known as a “side effect,” an ability that varies from person to person but is a type of extrasensory perception. It’s a secondary function, but nothing like X-Men powers. Well, not like most X-Men powers.
The story begins to swing full circle as we start rounding out our core. Jin is the source, leading us back to episode one, where Osamu is bullied, the abnormal gate opens, and we are introduced to Yuma. Jin’s side effect, which allows him to see the near future of whoever is in front of him, or specifically Osumo, leads to Yuma, which in turn leads to the abnormal gate issue that leads to the cause, multiple Trion soldiers called a “Rad,” that make abnormal gates. The solution is basically to go on a Pokémon adventure.
In all honesty, some of this episode is filler, at least in terms of exposition, as it continues to build its worldview not just of Border but also of the invading Neighbors. I wanted the entire Chika narrative served on a platter. After all, she is one of my favorite characters and an underrated, unsure-of-her-self badass whose Trion abilities pack a punch as seen in future episodes. But no, I have to go through…oh wait, now we learn how Osumo becomes an official B-Rank agent. The short answer is one of the best bromances in anime. As Yuma can’t take credit for anything, he has been pushing his accolades onto Osumo.
If only we got to see how that played out, we didn't, but Osamu does have that nice B-Rank letterman jacket. Additionally, we get to see him in action. I give this series credit for its use of pacing, as the episodes move at a timely pace so far. As we move into the final act of this episode, we turn back to Chika, who, through an unplanned meeting, meets Yuma, who, surprisingly, is practicing bike riding. I know the struggle, Yuma, as my first go round resulted in my running into a parked car. Fun times with bike riding don’t last long, as we are thrust back into the ongoing battle. I think we have another team member who is experiencing a side effect.
So, a few takeaways: first, I won’t kid myself by saying that World Trigger has the best animation or character designs, for that matter. It doesn’t, at least not initially, but it does make effective use of the camera. The one standout moment is when Chika arrives at her home, and the camera and music pan in tandem, letting us know that something bad has happened. Mitsuru Hongō keeps things simple by using a fallen backpack and its contents to convey that a tragedy has occurred. Hitomi Tsuruta and Toshihisa Kaiya handle the character designs for World Trigger. While I don’t know who directly designed Chika, I will say that her design evokes a little sister vibe. It doesn’t help that she is voiced by Nao Tamura, who demonstrates why she has been Chika’s voice actor throughout all three seasons of World Trigger. Her range is dynamic, and I feel Chika’s trauma when she has a flashback, causing her to run into a quarantine zone during an attack.
Even with a bit of filler, they managed to incorporate quite a bit of development with the introduction of Chika. If they follow suit, episode 7 will provide more backstory about Chika and her role within this team. It has me wondering, though, now that Jin knows Yuma’s secret, when are things going to hit the fan? Please let me know if you're watching or have already watched World Trigger. What are your thoughts? And leave your comments below.
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