It’s been an busy week for me in the anime blogging world. That post about golf took me 4 hours, and since then I’ve been brought aboard two different blogs to cover Saimoe Japan. Still, I had some time to catch MakiMaki’s release of Saki last night. And I must say: Jesus fucking holy shit mahogany.

Eat your heart out, Kana fans

Kana kicks things off by being completely reenergized and increasing her mahjong power to well over 9000. Everything about this scene makes this the best mahjong scene in Saki so far (even though there was no eyelightning). When Kana yelled like she was Goku or something I literally laughed so hard I choked on my soda. The situation, Fujita pro being hilarious, and reactions from the characters (Amae being shellshocked and Saki kinda just sitting there), the animation, and overall the music during this scene. The cool string instruments augment the tension and drama in Kana’s epic turnaround that finally cumulates as she fucking destroys everyone with epic mahjong and magic and lights and lasers.

SO LIKE SHE DRAWS THE TILE AND BOOOMM ITS LIKE ALL ON GREEN LIGHT AND LAZERS OMGGGG

Kana: "RIICHIPPATSU PINFU TSUMO JUNCHAN SANSHOKU IPEIKO DORA SAN, or as Jesus Christ said to the merchant in the temple, NOT IN MY HOUSE"

Amae: What is this I don't even... Kana: Hurry up and roll the dice already, bitch. (Original Script)

The episode was nothing short of perfection. With two awesome Yuuki scenes (Yuuki’s Mahjong Lessons!), and multiple awesome mahjong scenes. A common complaint early in the show what that there was too much talking and yuri and not enough mahjong. That problem has been non-existanant for the past five episodes. Actually, that problem has been so solved that it is now an anti-problem, whatever that implies. I guess that means the plethora of great mahjong can balance out another problem with the show. That means Nodoka’s boobs are fine now.

Even Nodoka is depressed about her ridiculous bust

The episode was an absolutely sublime mixture of funny, action, animation, music, and plot momentum. The cliffhanger at the end left me starving for more. Saki’s sharp, over the top mahjong scenes make you grin with every ron and gape with every kan. Even the boring flashback parts were actually well done for once. If Gonzo keeps up with this kind of quality in their future anime, that studio will recover. Let’s hope for all of us.

This is how you are supposed to do reaction split screens. For all you future animators and directors out there, take notes. (and look at Mihoko. sew moe...)