After the previous episode let Clay get a taste of things behind the scenes with the Antomurg dungeon, Dungeon People episode 3 sees the thief-turned-dungeon jockey take to the front lines and strut their stuff. While it lacks some of the charm and visual delicacy of the prior episodes, with the fun and unique perspective- and surprisingly well done at times animation- the episode is able to find its way to the finish line despite its differences.
One of the biggest differences being the storyboarder for the episode, Norio Nitta. An OLM product through and through, Nitta’s 20-odd year career has been with the studio from their beginnings to their present, with their biggest role within the studio being the assistant director for Odd Taxi. Being attached to such a well regarded work doesn’t always speak to the character of the staffer, though. Though they worked under series director Sayaka Yamai (both as an animation supervisor and episode staff) with Life with an Ordinary Guy Who Reincarnated into a Total Fantasy Knockout, it’s a little difficult to say that lightning has struck in the same place twice.
Not that Nitta’s boards are objectively bad, but more so that their suitability to the more mundane and less outrageous content of Dungeon People episode 3 is less than what they could manage with Total Fantasy Knockout. There’s lots of empty space in the dungeon, plenty of vacant and meandering hallways, and little to no decoration in either the literal or meta sense. When there’s not enough tools at the disposal of Nitta, the episode moves at a rather sluggish pace. Putting the right things into their hands though… you get some really great ideas that manifest as well executed cuts.
Though, once again, I feel like a lot of work can be credited to director of photography Atsushi Satou. It’s not necessarily that the animation can’t stand on its own legs- it very clearly can, as you see above- but more so that Satou’s additions and tweaks can really make a difference with the bigger scenes. It’s really impressive how their more rendered style can fit in so naturally within a far more flat series like this one.
A surprise effort for Dungeon People episode 3 that helps sell Satou’s style of composition is color designer Nao Satou (no relation). Another long time OLM product, Satou is another friend/co-conspirator of Yamai’s from their Total Fantasy Knockout days. While they undoubtedly stumbled and struggled with Delusional Monthly Magazine previously, about the only complaint with Dungeon People is the character colors. Aside from that, their work has been comfortably passable. Though, with this third episode I felt like they got some surprisingly good work in with the fireball. It’s the sort of solid awareness that I wish they could extend to more of Antomurg in general, as it adds a wonderful amount of depth to the sequence.
Aside from continuing to talk shop about the production for Dungeon People episode 3, I don’t quite know if there’s much else to go on about- as is the nature of the series. It’s a decidedly casual reprieve that dips its toes into cliches and predictability, but surprisingly still has plenty of novel and creative takes. For example, letting Clay slot into whatever body they feel inclined to be in has some fun implications for the series at large while providing importantly different training techniques.
It’s very understated work thanks to our main character and the stakes associated with their every move, but it does well to provide a well-built path for Clay and Belle to tread upon for the duration of this season. OLM can’t quite take the work to the next level, but Dungeon People episode 3 does well to show how those moments can still exist. It can’t be the whole episode (unless Yamai steps out to storyboard again), but it can be bits and pieces- just enough to keep a viewer engaged for the entirety of the episode, and not that much longer. It’s the sort of show that could wait until later if Fridays were busy. They’re not, though, so it continues to prove a nice series to wind down with as you head into the weekend.
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