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Call of the Night Episode 1 Review – Quick Summary
In Call of the Night episode 1, “First Flight,” one of Kou Yamori’s friends confessed to him. That should be good news, right? It wasn’t. Kou didn’t understand the whole concept, so he was honest with her. Crushed, the young woman confided in her friends, who confronted him, saying he was the “worst.” Something in Kou snapped. He stopped going to school. He could no longer sleep. One night, desperate for a change, he decided to take a walk in the middle of the night. His life would never be the same.
Note: This post may include spoilers, so be cautious.
Favorite Quote from Call of the Night Episode 1
I think Nazuna understood where Kou was coming from. Almost seemed a little embarrassed by it! Capture from the HIDIVE stream.
Kou, after realizing that yes, Nazuna Nanakusa had just scarfed down some of his blood, felt understandably terrified – and maybe a little intrigued – at the thought that he was going to become a vampire.
First, kudos to Kou for realizing that she was, in fact, a vampire. We didn’t have to sit through many minutes of gathering evidence and looking for alternatives. She sank her fangs in his neck and left two bloody holes, and actually dribbled some of his blood. Kou put all the clues together and walked away with the right conclusion.
Second, I can’t blame him for not knowing whether he was going to become a vampire or not. Vampire lore varies wildly from series to series. How was he to know Nazuna’s particulars?
My favorite quote came after she had explained that it took more than just sucking his blood to vampirize him. She was just eating, she said. Then she put it into perspective by saying (15:00), “Wouldn’t it suck if you got new family members every time you ate?”
“Yeah, that would suck. Plus freak me out,” Kou said.
This show has a practical tone that appeals to me.
Best in Show Moment for Call of the Night Episode 1
Turns out I can trust Kotoyama! Capture from the HIDIVE stream.
Setup: The Art of Anticipation
At first, I thought, “Shaft did this, didn’t they?” The camera angles, the expressions, the head-tilts – it reminded me of series like Bakemonogatari. I was surprised to see that LIDENFILMS actually did it. Then I read this Anime New Network post that identified the co-director as Tomoyuki Itamura – whose credits included several entires from the Monogatari series.
Kind of felt like coming home.
The title “First Flight” promised something. That promise built anticipation, and I wondered if the show would deliver. It’s the first episode, after all. I didn’t know if I could trust Kotoyama yet. But do you know what scene convinced me I could, in fact, trust Kotoyama?
Nazuna’s lack of reflection was a nice touch. Capture from the HIDIVE stream.
I bet you can guess. It’s the scene where Nazuna asks if he’s really asleep. At this point, I was fairly convinced she was a vampire. After all, in the ride up on the elevator, only Kou’s reflection showed in the mirror (09:59). But I wasn’t quite sure. And I wasn’t quite sure what kind of vampire she was. So when she went on all fours and crawled up to him, I didn’t know if she was going to molest him, drink his blood, drink his blood and then molest him, or just say “boo!” Though the latter was the least likely, but I just wasn’t sure.
When she really sank her fangs in his neck, it was almost a relief. Kotoyama had built the tension that well.
Delivery: Promises Kept
The title “First Flight” promised me a first flight. By the last quarter of the episode, I wondered if the flight was going to turn out to be metaphorical – Kou’s first flight into night time life, for example.
Then, suddenly, Kou’s first flight was anything but metaphorical. She kicked him right off the roof of a building (21:18).
“So I’ll teach you what it means to enjoy the night,” she said, leg still poised (21:19).
Before he could impact the pavement, he screamed that he was going to die.
She’s really fast! Capture from the HIDIVE stream.
“No, you won’t,” she said in his ear.
He hung in mid-air, she beside him, her cape flung wide. Taking him by the hand, telling him to hold on tight, she took him on his first flight.
And that’s how I learned I could trust Kotoyama!
What did you think of Kou’s first attempt to high-five a complete stranger? What were your favorite moments from this episode? Feel free to let me know in the comments.
Call of the Night Episode 1: Other Posts
Other Anime Sites
- Reddit: Yofukashi no Uta – Episode 1 discussion
- Lost in Anime: First Impressions – Yofukashi no Uta
- The Magic Planet: Let’s Watch CALL OF THE NIGHT Episode 1 – Night Flight
This Site (Crow’s World of Anime!)
- Call of the Night Episode 1: First Flight
- Call of the Night Episode 2: Do You Do LINE?
- Call of the Night Episode 3: A Lot Came Out
- Call of the Night Episode 4: Isn’t This a Tight Squeeze?
- Call of the Night Episode 5: Well, That’s a Problem
- Call of the Night Episode 6: Might As Well Have Fun
- Call of the Night Episode 7: Reproduce
- Call of the Night Episode 8: All of Us
- Call of the Night Episode 9: No Fair
- Call of the Night Episode 10: Enlarge the Peeping-Tom Photos
- Call of the Night Episode 11: Do You Know What a Vampire Is?
- Call of the Night Episode 12: My Mom’s Out Tonight
- Call of the Night Episode 13: Call of the Night
I didn’t even notice Nazuna not leaving a reflection, but nice attention to detail there. I can see the Monogatari/SHAFT-ish aspect of the show now since you bring it up. “Blonde vampire girl” immediately brings up Shinobu for me (and Flandre Scarlet from Touhou) but maybe Nazuna will be added to that list. I think I’ll be continuing this one.
Now I want to rewatch Bakemonogatari! Shinobu — and really most of the characters — were so interesting!
That elevator shot caught my eye too. Little bits like that really enhance an anime’s quality.
It really does! Also, it feels like the show rewards me for paying attention, and I like that!
I missed it, as I was apparently too taken by the elaborate marble floor and the very SHAFT-like camera angle. But I’ll be paying closer attention from here on!
I loved the transition from Nazuna catching Kou to the credits rolling as his first magical flight unfolds. The direction and pacing was so precise and satisfying.
I also like Amamiya Sora’s approach to Nazuna, who I’d normally think would be voiced by a “quirkier” actor like Arai Satomi or Ise Mariya.