Snapshots: Memorable Scenes From Winter 2021

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Enter Satoru Goujou

Jujutsu Kaisen

Epiosde Title: Assult
Episode Number: 7
Original Air Date: November 20, 2020

No rule says a series can have only one memorable moment. Case in point, Jujutsu Kaisen; damn near every fight scene in this show was unforgettable. However, it wouldn’t do to dominate this list with a single anime. So, to keep things in focus, Anime Hajime has, for Jujutsu Kaisen, decided to go with the first time Satoru Goujou stepped into a fight.

Although this scene is technically from fall 2020, Jujutsu Kaisen qualifies (or qualified, depending on when you’re reading this post) for the 4^th Annual Anime Hajime Highlights (covering shows from 2021). Therefore, it felt fitting to let this series also qualify for Snapshots.

With that said, why was this scene so good? Well, if you want to know what a badass looks like in 2021, you need not search any further.  

The Assult of Princess Flare

Redo of Healer

Episode Title: The Healer Ruins Princess Flare!
Episode Number: 2
Original Air Date: January 20, 2021

TRIGGER WARNING: THIS IS A RAPE AND TORTURE SCENE. VIEWER DISCRETION IS STRONGLY ADVISED.

It was a conflict whether to include this scene from Redo of Healer. Sure, graphic (that’s putting it lightly) moments were a defining feature of this show. Still, this one was especially chilling because of its direct consequences. Princess Flare’s mind broke, and the character she became was then a central figure for the rest of the story.

Remember, this scene came in episode two.

In the end, what happened to Princess Flare made it into this installment of Snapshots because it is unforgettable – for all the dark reasons you can imagine. It was a mood-setting scene, and for better or worse, it achieved what it set out to do.

Disembowelment

Higurashi: When They Cry – Gou

Episode Title: Cat Decieving Part 2
Episode Number: 16
Original Air Date: January 22, 2021

Again, and this cannot be stressed enough, a memorable scene is not necessarily a happy one. If you need any more proof of that, watch the disembowelment scene from Higurashi: When They Cry – Gou and try to forget about it.

It is no question that this revamp of the acclaimed horror anime struggled to measure up. However, a thing that connects old and new is violence. There are plenty of scenes from the original two seasons of When They Cry that stick with you, and this one thoroughly matches them.

I hope you have a strong stomach (and, yes, that is probably not the best choice of words) because this scene leaves nothing to the imagination.

Rending

Beastars 2nd Season

Episode Title: Unforgettable Sweetness
Episode Number: 7
Original Air Date: February 18, 2021

Beastars 2^nd Season was a master of tension. There was so much volatility in this show, so it should have been difficult to pick just one scene to highlight. Except, that wasn’t really an issue.

This moment is as memorable as it is because it came out of nowhere. There was no build-up; there was no warning; this was no indication that let you know, “Hey, you’re about to feel insanely distressed.”

Among the many reasons why this scene was so remarkable was its implication. Arms and limbs being ripped off were enough of an occurrence in this universe that reattachment surgery was as routine as getting a check-up. Instead, the real fear was that one of the many carnivorous in the room would see the blood and then lose themselves in an unstoppable feeding frenzy.

Nino’s Confession

The Quintessential Quintuplets 2

Episode Title: Begin the Offensive
Episode Number: 7
Original Air Date: Feburary 19, 2021

There were several outstanding confessions scenes in The Quintessential Quintuplets 2. Anime Hajime is going with Nino Nakano’s because of what it did for the rest of the series.

Up until this scene, season two was no better than season one, and season one wasn’t great. Nino’s confession changed all that. After this moment, The Quintessential Quintuplets went from an average harem-romance to a good, no-seriously-this-is-an-impressive series.

The lead-up to this scene was what made it so memorable. This show played it off as if Nino was willing to let her “I love you” become a miscommunication, as many other romance anime have done. Then, surprise. The unexpected bluntness was phenomenal.

Death of Red Blood Cell AC1677

Cells at Work! CODE BLACK

Episode Title: Stomach Ulcer, Friendship, and Loss
Episode Number: 10
Original Air Date: February 28, 2021

The original Cells at Work was a lighthearted romp through the human body. It was happy, silly, and pleasant. CODE BLACK wasn’t.

It was a good show and a proper follow-up for the series, but CODE BLACK was dark. When watching, do not expect the same kind of series its predecessor was.

In a way, death was a possibility in the first Cells at Work, except it never felt prevalent. The same was not true for CODE BLACK. Although Red Blood Cell AC1677 was the one who it happened to, anyone from this series could have met a brutal end.

Make no mistake; CODE BLACK got intense.

Levi’s Resolve

Attack on Titan Final Season

Episode Title: Savagery
Episode Number: 14 (73)
Original Air Date: March 22, 2021

Levi has always been one of Attack on Titan’s best, most awesome characters. He alone is responsible for some of this series’ coolest moments. Final Season was no different.

Everything about this moment was so Levi. He is a person you underestimate at your own peril. And that is precisely what Zeke Yeager did.

Ever since the Beast Titan’s introduction, Zeke has acted like he is one step ahead of everyone. This often made him come off as arrogant and overconfident. Even when faced with other equally arrogant and overconfident characters, Zeke had an air of superiority. The only one who could throw him off his game was Levi.

Here in Final Season, Zeke was sure Levi could not kill his comrades even though they transformed into mindless titans. He could not have been more wrong, and the result could not have been more epic.

Renge Grown-Up

Non Non Biyori Nonstop

Episode Title: I Got Drunk and Remembered
Episode Number: 11
Original Air Date: March 22, 2021

It’s hard to say if this moment is sad. Sure, it might bring a tear to your eye, but there were many more emotions happening than mere sadness.

Kaede Kagayama has always played a unique role in the Non Non Biyori franchise. But, more to the point, it has been her relationship with Renge Miyauchi that’s been wonderfully heartwarming. After all, Kaede looked after Renge when she was a baby, and thus, she saw Renge go from barely able to sit up to entering elementary school.

However, it was in Non Non Biyori Nonstop that the waterworks cranked up to 11. Renge tucked in a sleeping Kaede in a total reversal of roles. And what made this scene masterful was when the camera hung on Kaede, whose face was turned away. The shot then lingered for a few silent seconds, and the episode ended when Kaede gave a soft sob.

The Wrath of Rimuru Tempest

That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime Season 2

Episode Title: Birth of a Demon Lord
Episode Number: 11
Original Air Date: March 23, 2021

It’s sometimes easy to forget, but when That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime decides to go dark, it goes DARK.

Murder and violence and brutality are very much possible in this series. The easygoing Rimuru Tempest might be all smiles most of the time, but if you make him mad, then he might just kill several thousand people in one go.

Yeah, the level of pure death inflicted in this one scene – let’s stress that again – ONE SCENE was insane. And this was from a slime – A SLIME. It’s typically the other way around.

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