Thread by @Yuyucow

Dynazenon is still a very good standalone show on a moment to moment basis, and even more intriguing within the larger context of the franchise & all the toku and mecha properties it pays loving homages to. So easy to get drawn into it from either (or both!) angles

The first episode of Dynazenon was full of mirrored layouts from Gridman. The 2nd one takes it a step further, with half the locations being slightly more down to earth (no one playing god) versions of Gridman settings. Are we in Akane's original world? Are they playing us again?

Trigger is no stranger to the idea of recycling assets through different titles, but given details like Dynazenon's nods to Gridman the Hyper Agent, the "Gridman Universe" subtitle in the logo itself might be a very literal one

https://twitter.com/TTKSGRIDMAN/status/1380544969916571651

By itself, Dynazenon #02 is a reminder of how well this team's pieces click together. Hasegawa's scripts are witty, but they wouldn't hit so hard without pointed direction - the smash cuts getting faster every time Gauma says he doesn't want to impose too much is the funniest bit

Reframing the first episode's climactic battle from Yomogi's helpless, confused POV also manages to turn a heroic scene into an amusing recap

And Amecchi sure knows how to hold a silent shot. No need for a witty punchline here for these to be amusing moments

Gags aside, the show's as sharp as ever. Amemiya's cel propensity makes the consequences of the fight against kaiju feel palpable. It's one thing to hear about the impact on transport or to see an explosion in the background, and a very different one seeing destruction this real

To Yume, who already feels like she failed to protect someone, this tangible destruction is the best way to push Yomogi forward. If this mess is the lesser evil, there's no way they should disregard the kaiju

Whether they end up having an explicit purpose hinting something about the narrative or not, I also really like how packed with information the nearly full cel shots of the households are. They always feel like they tell you so much about each family

The animation in the second episode actually feels like a step up from the first one when it comes to making the world feel alive, while staying pretty efficient. Constant well constructed layered shots where there's always something going on, but without going overboard

No better example of the layouts being great than the one water drop leaking when Gauma steps down to continue hiding his kaiju tamer. This is true cinema

Also, cool robots! AsaGen's sharp flat effects have a raw ferocity to them that contrasts strongly with the intricate metallic polish of the mechs in the whole show, which we can thank Mutaguchi for. They have a good balance going as the two major figures in the show's robo front