CITY The Animation continues its episodic journey through the unpredictable lives of its quirky residents in Episode 4, which aired on July 29, 2025. This installment further develops existing character arcs and introduces new elements, culminating in a highly praised, chaotic chase sequence.
Exploring the Interconnected Lives of City Dwellers
CITY The Animation is an anime series from Kyoto Animation, based on Keiichi Arawi’s manga. It focuses on the seemingly ordinary yet profoundly absurd daily lives of people in a unique city, with college student Midori Nagumo often at the center of the comedic situations. The show is known for its episodic nature, with various skits connected by recurring characters and themes rather than a strong overarching plot, offering a “cozy viewing experience.”
Episode 4 continues this trend by building upon previously introduced elements and characters while subtly setting up new interactions. The series, often described as a spiritual successor to Arawi’s Nichijou – My Ordinary Life, maintains a similar style of surreal comedy and slice-of-life humor.
Key Highlights and Character Moments in Episode 4
Episode 4 delves into several distinct comedic segments, each contributing to the show’s unique charm:
Nagumo and Niikura’s Financial Predicament
A significant portion of the episode focuses on Midori Nagumo and Ayumu Niikura, as they once again find themselves in a bind, this time concerning overdue rent. Their landlady finally catches up to them, demanding the payment that has been outstanding for some time, leading to their characteristic tricky situation.
Riko Izumi’s Near Misses and Growing Affection
The episode also features Riko Izumi, Wako Izumi’s spatially unaware younger sister. Her segment highlights a series of close calls throughout her day, including nearly slipping on a staircase. A boy who saves her from one such incident develops a crush on her, misinterpreting her grateful smile as a sign of affection. This storyline showcases the show’s ability to weave relatable, if exaggerated, interpersonal dynamics into its comedic fabric.
Tsurubashi Makabe’s Quirky Endeavors
Tsurubashi Makabe, recognizable by his handlebar mustache, is featured in two memorable segments. In one, he pretends to be a future version of his son, using inside knowledge to convince others of his outlandish claim. In another, he frequents a local diner with an illegible menu, repeatedly ordering the “special” despite disliking it, in a futile attempt to eventually become a regular who can simply ask for “the usual.” His dedication to this absurd goal, coupled with the diner’s eventual closure due to its unappealing offerings, provides a humorous commentary on persistence and futility.
The Climactic Mimineko Chase
The episode culminates in what many viewers have lauded as a “gripping, frantic, and FUN” chase scene involving a rabbit-eared cat named Mimineko. Mimineko absconds with Niikura’s locket, which Niikura had kicked away after Nagumo noticed it, hinting at a potentially “queer-coded” or sentimental item inside, such as the first photo Niikura took of her friend.
This chase sequence is particularly notable for its stellar animation and clever integration of earlier visual motifs. The episode had interspersed segments featuring characters crossing the same crosswalk, which initially seemed like simple transitions. However, this recurring visual motif pays off during the chase, as characters strategically use or are momentarily trapped by an intersection blocked for a family of ducks. The combination of character-informed writing, general wholesomeness, and non-stop hilarity in this sequence has been highlighted as a prime example of CITY The Animation‘s strengths.
Where to Watch CITY The Animation
CITY The Animation premiered on July 7, 2025, in Japan on Tokyo MX and other networks. For international audiences, Episode 4 and other episodes are available to stream on Amazon Prime Video, which holds exclusive streaming rights.
