Lycoris Recoil: The Art of Presenting Information

One of the most difficult skills in story-telling is the technique of presenting information. Say I want to set up a plot point about a villain. This villain is a powerful influencer who has been undergoing some shady deals under the public eye. How should we present this information to the audience? One easy way is to have our characters discuss it, such as a group of police giving out mission reports. Another way is to allow the audience to just see the villain engage in his devious acts. But perhaps if we take a page out of the 'Lycoris Recoil' playbook, we may first establish him via a news programme praising his societal contributions, metonymize him with a owl pin and then transition to us seeing the "hero" engage in his treachery. 

There is no perfect answer to the debate of how to present information. While the first method of simply having our characters info-dump may be a bog-standard one, it is still effective in ensuring that the audience understands what is going on. On the flipside, while 'Lycoris Recoil' is much more creative in rewarding the audience's attention to detail, miss it and everyone will be confused to what is going on. 

But regardless of whatever form this "perfect answer" may be, I believe that 'Lycoris Recoil' has made a pretty strong case on how to package information. And that is in the form of speed and density; Reframing and payoff.

Dissonance & Synchronization

Dissonance is a common poetry technique whereby writers use harsh or unusual words to create a sense of uncomfortableness. In screenplay, dissonance may be more akin to the cacophony of screen elements. While animation, music and dialogue are often expected to convey a synchronized tone, applying dissonance means throwing all three of it into disarray. 

What should a "Tokyo with no dangers" look like? For normal shows, that answer is simple. School kids going to school, adults transiting to work, a city without a sign of crime. Yet, what we are showed in the opening of 'Lycoris Recoil', are adults playing terrorists, school girls delivering capital punishment, in a "safe city" plagued with killing. And all of that, while being "complimented" with hopeful music and a triumphant brass. 

The idea of using dissonance in the opening sequence is a rare one, but certainly not unfounded. 'Vivy' employs this very same technique in its first episode, contrasting mass genocide with idol music. This is extremely effective in shocking the audience and instantly grabbing their attention. But perhaps a more profound effect is in its ability to cement a tone. In 'Vivy', the tone that was set is that machines that were once meant to spread happiness will now kill your entire family. For 'Lycoris Recoil', the tone that is cemented is that high school girls who were once your crush will now do the same. 

While a normal opening may have informed us of the tone all the same, it is in the shock factor of dissonance, are we forced out of our more passive viewing state. I can remember my first experience with this episode due to this effect. Having watched 'Engage kiss' prior, my mind was locked into an 'action equals dumb fun' kinda mode. However, when my consciousness realized that I was watching school girls kill terrorists against the backdrop of trumpets, I instantly furrowed my eyebrows, paused the episode, rewound, reflected and then internalized its tonal message. In forcing me to reflect on the dissonance, I was better able to understand the information the show presented.

If dissonance is the way of presenting information in a cacophonic manner, then synchronization is its very opposite -- Synching screen elements together to heighten its message. While synchronization is one of the most basic story-telling rules we abide by, being able to execute it effectively is often another story. One good example is in Takina's reassignment (Video below).

This scene is synchronized from how the words spoken by Kusonoki correspond to the actions we see Takina take. When she "overstepped her boundaries", we see her leaving headquarters with a briefcase; When she was declared "too much to handle", we see her previous teammates looking down on her disapprovingly; Information on her new assignment location also synchronizes with her arriving at their doorsteps immediately. One effect this has is in its ability to substitute one another in its information. While the words spoken by Kusonoki may be delivered in a curt manner (a mere 25 seconds), Takina's departure and the disapproving looks from her teammates can inform us of the same information if we weren't paying enough attention. Secondly, this way of presenting information can also be emphasized by its speed. While many other shows may dilly-dally around Takina's reassignment -- For example, spending more time on her reactions -- 'Lycoris Recoil' was prudent with theirs and wanted Takina to arrive at the cafe as soon as possible.

While synchronization acted as a fast transition to move between settings quickly, dissonance can also be characterized by how fast it is in conveying the sinister nature of its premise. Perhaps then, one of the main ways we can characterize this show's approach is in its speed. In a mere 4 minutes of the opening, we have established the tone of the show, experienced the inciting conflict of the story and felt the repercussions of it on one of our main characters. That is the same groundwork that other shows like 'Engage Kiss' had to take its first 23 minutes to run through. As we move forward, we shall continue to look at the different ways that 'Lycoris Recoil' manipulates the speed at which it delivers information. But now, a very short interlude --

Dissonance and synchronization are two techniques that I analyzed in another essay of mine on 'Squid game'. In it, the effects are much less to surprise or speed up information, but more on heightening the tensions we feel during the death games. Give it a read if you're interested in the other forms that these two techniques can take.

https://zxcaderu.blogspot.com/2021/10/squid-games-genius-manipulation-of.html

Now back to the regular programme.

Information Overload

One of the hallmarks of episode 1 and of its speed, is in how 'Lycoris Recoil' employs smooth transitions. In the first episode, it not only does it several times to hasten the delivery of information, it also does it three different type of ways. (Video below)

Transitioning through dialogue topic is the most common trick that 'Lycoris Recoil' uses to achieve this effect. When Chisato assumed wrongly about Takina's wound, what followed up was not a detailed explanation given by Takina, but instead a transition to the aftermath, whereby Chisato was already scolding Fuki about the punch. Since we already know the truth, such a transition makes it so that no information needs to be repeated and we can quickly move onto new developments.

Transitioning through focal subject is also a trick that allows for a flow between scenes using stills. In Takina's case, she quickly transported through three different settings between the kindergarten, language school and the mafia house. Why this transition is clever isn't just because of how seamless the key frames flowed together. Rather, it is because of the reason it is used to begin with. To start off, the intention of the sequence was for Takina to experience the daily activities that LycoReco goes through. Playing with kindergarteners, teaching at a language school and delivering coffee powder, are all menial chores that doesn't really differ from each other in her point of view. And hence, the transitions allow for us to experience all three of them in short bursts and yet still understand the final message they sought to convey. Perhaps an added genius is that the focal subject is her facial reaction as well. To her, all of these activities are pointless and detract from the normal duties of a Lycoris. Hence for all three stills, her reaction is unfazed or "perplexed" as the show stated.

Lastly, transitioning through plot points is a more amorphous form of transitioning. What begun as a seemingly simple investigation, linked itself to photo evidence of our previous arms deal, which itself sparked off the final kidnapping of the episode. While this often can be chalked up to good plot progression, I think the speediness of such an effect is ginormous in this scene. After all, in a mere 20 seconds, we manage to recontextualize previous conflicts, establish this arms deal as an ongoing mystery and lay the groundwork for the dangers that would soon befall. That is three different plot elements that were connected and delivered at the blink of an eye.

While these transitions all serve a singular purpose to present information as fast as possible, we should also consider the density of information we are allowed to process. The use of television programmes is one such method of cramming more background information into a show that is already speedrunning its contents. In the opening sequence, the news programme provided lore to the fallen Tokyo tower, an ongoing motif of the story. Later on, that same news programme would introduce our villain puppeteer, Allen Adams as a hero viewed from the public lens. It is important to note that these news programmes are presented as mere background noises in a lot of these scenes. For those who are more focused on what our main characters are doing, it is very possible that these contents (that are relevant) would be missed in its entirety.

When the information is both dense and delivered in an abnormally fast manner, what you would get is something very close to an information overload. Perhaps one of my biggest gripes about the first episode of 'Lycoris Recoil', was that it sought to establish too many plot points, in too short of a time. In a book, this form of story-telling may be preferable as the readers can digest the information at their own pace. However, an animated medium is different; The audience are locked into the pace that the show-makers will to be, and while pausing is an option, many of us are deterred from doing so from the fact that it breaks the seamless flow of the animation and music. For myself, I just recently rewatched the first episode, and it shocked me just how much of these information was lost on me on my first viewing. However, I do not want this notion to be my conclusive take-away. See, if 'Lycoris Recoil' was truly information overload, then it would be more akin to a show like 'Occultic 9', which in my opinion, delivers fast information in a much poorer manner.

How 'Lycoris Recoil' manages its information overload is with a simple and yet powerful technique -- Reframing information. 

The Art of Reframing Information

Take the introduction of Walnut, the hacker. Our first encounter with him was in the arms deal whereby Radiata was hacked. In that moment, we do not have the name of the hacker, but we were clued in with the logo of a squirrel. Our next piece of information then evolves with a report given by DA, giving us the name "Walnut" and characterizing her as a "Wizard on the Dark Web". The repercussions of her actions were also characterized as a big blow to the organisation, with the upper brass trying to cover it up by pinning the blame on someone else. Some of the methods of Walnut were explained as well with Ms Saori's instagram photo, which reveals that she had changed the timing of the arms deal to throw off DA's mission. Next up, we see her conversing with what we learn is the mastermind behind the grand scheme, Allen. As she questions the public hero on his illegal activities, we then see Allen set off an explosion in the apartment, which we then can presume to be him silencing Walnut. This would then be the inciting incident that kicks off the main plot for episode 2.

With that in consideration, we can hence see that there were four instances in episode 1 that presents information on Walnut. The focus of all of it can be said to be repeating the same message that she is a hacker who had thrown off the arms deal. However, as you should have realized, how 'Lycoris Recoil' repeats information is not just by stating that same message over and over, but by reframing the information as well. 

The first instance was simply a logo, a metonymy for us to keep at the back of our mind. The second instance reframes the logo with some context to who the hacker is and what the repercussions of her action were. The third instance reveals a different aspect of the incident, namely how she manage to sabotage the mission to begin with. And the last instance, while repeating the same information as before, manages to develop the entire situation into a new direction with Allen's attempted assassination. In not just repeating information, but by reframing it with new knowledge and developments, one is able to constantly reinforce the original details for audience members that might have missed it, and yet keep it fresh for attentive members that didn't. This is one of the main reasons why 'Lycoris Recoil' is able to sustain its massive amounts of information, and yet not sound like a broken record.

One of my favorite examples of reframing information can be seen from the Tokyo Tower as well. In the very first minute, we see a half-destroyed Tokyo Tower which is accompanied by the construction of a new radio tower to substitute it. However, Takina later on questions this decision, by asking why they would keep the half-destroyed one if the construction of the new substitute is almost finished. Perhaps then my favorite way in which they continued to reframe this was later on in the cafe, whereby Chisato compares the DA's philosophy of covering up their mistakes to the half-destroyed tower. In essence, DA's philosphy is to reframe their mistakes into either coincidences or inspiring tales, much like how the half-destroyed Tower is now being reframed into a symbol of peace, a reminder that crime has now been "defeated".

Once again, in three mere instances, the tower took on three different forms that constantly evolved with every new mention. Initially, the tower was just to signify the existence of terrorism. In the second mention, that notion was challenged. And in the last, Chisato gives a more concrete answer by cynically comparing both DA and tower together, symbolizing it as a mere facade used to shy the public away from the otherwise rampant terrorism. Perhaps in the first instance you might have missed the destruction of the tower, but by its third mention, you would have gotten a pretty good idea of what happened to it. And for some viewers who were already reflecting on it by the initial minute, the reframing of the tower into something more emblematic would've been the reward for your attentiveness.

The art of reframing information is hence one of the cornerstones to how to repeat information without making your audience yawn. But before we conclude, I want to discuss one last method that can be equally as rewarding to the audience -- The art of paying off information.

The Art of Paying Off Information

What makes the end of episode 3 feel so conclusive and rewarding? Is it because we finally resolve one of the ongoing conflicts that has been brewing since episode 1? Is it because we finally saw Takina get past her hang ups and find a new place of belonging? Or is it because our blessed Yuri ship has sailed? Well, all of those things. But perhaps one of the biggest reasons as well, is due to the mini victories we achieved along the way.

An ongoing motif that has been constantly revisited is the punch wound on Takina's cheeks. We were first reminded of the punch she received via a plaster in episode 1. In episode 2, this was revisited with Takina pulling off the plaster with a determined look on her face. And in episode 3, we begun with a direct flashback of Fuki's punch, which prompted her to check for any leftover bruise by the mirror. All these individually serves little to no purpose other than to act as repeated information. However, perhaps why these reminders is pivotal is because in episode 3, it would serve as one of the mini victories, namely in Takina punching Fuki and calling it even. 

Why I refer to them as mini victories, is because this small punch is but a small part of the main payoff of the episode. After all, the main climax of the episode should theoretically be Takina and Chisato winning the mock-up battle. However, perhaps as we move on and list more of these mini victories, I want you to weigh just how much these little callbacks and payoffs add to the final picture.

Another mini victory that was established is Chisato's superhuman power to dodge bullets. We first see these ultra-like instincts in the first two fights. But another instance that directly brings in Takina into the picture, is when she tried to fire a rubber band at Chisato at the end of episode 2. In that scene, Chisato dodged just like she managed to do so in the much more intense fight we see against Fuki. Why that is so satisfying then, is because of the implications of trust this immediately pays off. As mentioned by Takina later on, why she could so confidently shoot at Chisato was not born out of carelessness or negligence, but from the faith in her comrade's abilities.

Perhaps what makes their victory so satisfying isn't just because they won the match. In the end, any normal show could've just allowed Takina to fire a few bullets that just so happen to land on her target. However, what makes it all the more rewarding is because amidst this battle, we were also treated to hints of pettiness from the otherwise stoic Takina, and rewarded with the growth of their bond.

Similarly, why does the train scene at the end feel just as rewarding and conclusive as when our tag-team duo won their battle? It is because once again, it manages to establish three more mini victories of its own.

Takina eating the candy was a payoff which has built up over the last two episodes. In episode 2, Takina was teased by Chisato for neglecting her lunch and only consuming a jelly drink. Her argument? The jelly drink was enough nutrients for her to sustain herself. In episode 3, Takina directly lectured Chisato on eating a piece of candy before her blood test. Her argument? It affects blood sugar, neutral fat, things that would throw off the test itself. All of this can be seen as either a running gag or just a light motif used to characterize Takina as the efficient soldier. However, this all changed after she scored her revenge. Now, she no longer needs to be the efficient soldier that only prioritizes DA, she can begin to loosen up and to do some things for herself; Such as rewarding herself with a piece of candy.

Takina's smile as she admits that it felt good to win, can also be classified under the same theme of "loosening up". However one should not forget that this wasn't done without its own build up, namely in Sakura's rude remarks.

Saying that she only smiles when she kills, is a scorn on the stoicism that Takina has embodied. But it is because this remark left a poor taste in our mouths, did it felt so good when she proved everyone wrong -- She can smile, and she would give the cutest one at that.

And finally, what better way is there to show that Takina is finally easing herself into her new place of belonging, by showing that she is willing to join board game night; A party which she initially rejected at the start of the episode. 

Three mini victories, topped off with what is the best ED of the season -- That is how you master the art of paying off information.

Conclusion

So what is the perfect way in presenting information? Like I said, there is no perfect answer as every anime has its different volumes and types of information it needs to prioritize. But perhaps as you go into a show as overloaded as 'Lycoris Recoil', you should slow down and reflect on every little detail you see. In it, you will find how writers sparse out information of their villains to be able to make the chunks of information more digestible. You will find how small background details like the existence of a building, may be reframed and transformed many times to form deeper meanings. And you will find how even the menial details like the calories of a candy, may be build up to what might be a more satisfying payoff than what some anime can achieve with 13 full episodes.

The last time I've seen a show that pays so much attention and care to its details, is in '86'. In that show, every frame contains a myriad of symbolism that leads to the unravelling of new meanings and further payoffs. However, for 'Lycoris Recoil', the care is placed specifically in how they sparse, condense and manipulate chunks of information to bring about a more satisfying viewing experience. 

I've seen some criticisms online on the realism of the show, saying how rubber bullets piercing metal doors has ruined their immersion/made this a mere CGDCT show. Bitch, name me another show that has a script tighter than this "cute girl show", then we'll talk.