Watching K-On! Episode 4 – “Training Camp!”

It's summer, and the members of the Light Music club visit Mugi's summer home to have a training camp for the band. However, some club members would rather play around at the beach.

Notes/Observations/Trivia:

• In the box Mio finds, is a score book featuring an artist called “Ozzigy Osbourne”.
• Ritsu gets hit on the head twice (for insisting the club do a maid café during the school festival, and for picturing Mio in a maid outfit).
• According to Mio, it has been three months since the club came together as of this episode.
• The song played back on the old tape recorder is Death Devil’s “Maddy Candy”.
• The text on Yui’s blue shirt reads “ocean”.
• The famous phrase “Moe Moe Kyun” is introduced in this episode.
• Yui mentions “Private Ritsu”, a reference to her dream in the previous episode.
• Written on the white board: “Let’s go to Budokan!!” (or, “Budokan or bust!!” in the official translation)

Manga comparison:

The episode is based on the fifth 4-koma chapter, and follows it closely – right down to the opening scene taking place on the beach before going back to show the events leading up to the trip. As usual, the anime adds a few things, such as Mio’s fear of barnacles and the fireworks scene. The final scene with Ritsu showing Mio the photos is taken from one of the “bonus comics” at the end of the first manga volume (or on the cover of the original Japanese version).

OST tracks used:

• unknown track* - 0:00-0:38
• Emerald green - 3:07-4:16
• Ukkari Kimi no Tame ni - 4:28-5:13
• unknown track* - 7:09-7:57
• Karui Joudan - 8:14-8:52
• Virtual love - 10:06-10:57
• Kendama-kun - 10:59-11:03
• Happy languidness - 11:38-12:47
• Patrol of stroll - 14:10-14:58
• Ano Hi no Yume - 15:37-17:04
• Kawaii Inbou - 17:35-18:09
• Happy End - 19:44-21:16
• Small flashing - 21:35-22:09

* listed simply as “unknown track” because it is not included on any K-On! OST album.

My take:

Out of the first four episodes, this one is probably my favorite. A lot of that probably has to do with the fireworks scene, which is one of my favorite moments of the first season. I talked about it a little bit in my review of the OST album, so I’ll quote myself: “This sequence is pure magic to me. The combination of the animation, the dialogue and – yes – the music that makes up the scene just so perfectly create a bittersweet sense of that time when you are young and naïve, full of hopes and dreams for the future.” Yeah, I’m a sap, I guess.