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huntress-of-stories-and-dreams · 5 years ago

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Shokugeki no Soma: Fifth Plate - OP analysis

Hi guys!

Since this week’s episode will be the last before the delay that has touched half of this Spring Season’s aired shows, let me present you the analysis of Shokugeki no Sōma’s last opening, “Last Chapter” by nano.RIPE. Keep in mind that this analysis will contain spoilers, so...

If this doesn’t stop you, then let the fun begin.

The OP starts with a purple curtain with Tōtsuki’s emblem, showing that the story happens in the theatre called the Tōtsuki Academy. It’ll be important a bit later.

This shot (and some smaller ones concentrating on smaller groups) presents the established after the Regiment de Cuisine Elite Ten Council and new Headmaster. From right to left, it shows them in their seat order:

10th Seat: Megumi Tadokoro playing plates, which represent her famous hospitality

9th Seat: Nene Kinokuni playing a roller used in soba preparation

8th Seat: Etsuya Eizan shaking expensive wine bottles, showing his “Alchemist” side

7th Seat: Takumi Aldini holding his mezzaluna

6th Seat: Alice Nakiri dancing with a fork and a spoon, used in eating her molecular cuisine

5th Seat: Ryō Kurokiba with a pot used in cooking sea food

4th Seat: Akira Hayama playing on a frying pan with cinnamon

3rd Seat: Terunori Kuga playing his wok

2nd Seat: Satoshi Isshiki with chopsticks and a plank to serve his signature Japanese food

1st Seat: Sōma Yukihira holding his knife

Dean: Erina Nakiri conducting them with a ladle

The lyrics in this sequence is worth noting (source: https://www.animesonglyrics.com/food-wars-the-fifth-plate/last-chapter):

How beautiful the melody has to be To be able to reach that girl who's been hurt The girl is obviously Erina, hurt by her father’s ‘teaching’ and people’s attitude towards her becasue of the God Tongue, who, thanks to Sōma’s and their friends’ (but mostly Sōma’s) cooking, starts to enjoy cooking. This is the beautiful melody - sincere cooking.

One last note about the lyrics, because if I analysed it in its entirety, it would take me ages - the song is sung most likely from Sōma’s persperctive.

The next shot shows Tōtsuki Academy hill on spring, sigifying the new year (most of our chefs are second years now) and new beginnings. At the front are the three Headmasters, though from Nakiri household, each of them is different. Senzaemon stands tranquil and firm, looking at the Jewel generations students, Azami looks as if he was trying to convince the world to change their ways - both of them are sure of their work, unlike Erina, who’s hands hugging her body and darkened eyes show her uncertainty.

Next is the title panel, swiftly transitioning from fire to snow to finally sparkles and cherry blossom, showing Sōma’s path from conquering (usually he was the one to bring fire) to protecting - this will be important later. Also, Sōma seen in this frame has just begun to cook his dish.

After the title, let’s skip to the big character exposition panels! First we have the peach themed frame with Nakiri girls: Erina, Alice, Ikumi (who, at the beginning, was working for the God Tongue) and Hisako. The peach may represent feminity, as there are only girls in here, and luck.

Next one’s the Polar Star Dormitory group shot with all of its residents present, with apples in the background. While apples may refer to various dishes cooked by Sōma and Megumi that included these fruits, apple symbolises youth, which is often brought up by Isshiki, Madame Fumio and Jun Shiomi.

Then we have a lemon-themed shot with Sōma’s “rivals” (apart from Isami, he never was battling Sōma on his own - it’s a reference from their first encounter during the Hell Camp). One of lemon’s symbolisms is freshness, which perfectly fits each of their meetings, bringing freshness into their lives.

Finally, with cherries signifying maturity, we get to see the original Elite Ten Council members.

Each group pannel is separated by a dish frame. It’s important that only the white backgrounded frame has dishes prepared by various cooks - the rest were cooked by (from upper left to right) Sōma, Erina, Megumi and Takumi. This shows their strong connection forged in the Tōtsuki Train arc, where they were together, and predicts all of them participating in BLUE.

Until now there was no clear shots focusing on strictly Sōma - now’s the time they are here. We get shots from his early past, reminding us also of the Karaage Wars arc, and from Stagiaire. Each time he’s standing in the bright light, surrounded by cherry petals, symbolising him being ‘spring’, beginning of the new era. The light here is very bright and yellom, as if he was standing on a stage - remember the opening shot with the curtain? Sōma is this story’s main hero, the one that iniciated the whole process of change in Tōtsuki.

The contrast between Eishi and Sōma in this frame is spectacular - gourmet cuisine vs family diner, autumn vs spring, showing how Sōma became Eishi’s successor to the First Seat in the Elite Ten Council. Look at how gorgeous they look with flying maple leaves and cherry petals flying around them!

(keep in mind Tsukasa’s red kerchief/tie, this will be important later)

The sequence right before the chorus is so full of hidden meanings! The first frame of this sequence is Sōma, standing in the light, probably on the top, reminescenting. His signature headband, now on his left wrist, is connected to...

... his late mother, Tamako Yukihira! This is the first time we actually get to see her, besides the covered in light family photo from the very first episode. I love the gentle difference of colour shades between Sōma and Tamako - Sōma is bright as the light around him while dim shades of Tamako imply her being already in the realm of shadows, however she returns for a brief moment to life everytime he starts cooking. The frame is full of love and support Sōma got from her, showing how important she was in his life. His signature headband is most likely a memento of her - it’s the thing that keeps them tied after all these years.

It quickly changes to Erina tasting one of Sōma’s dishes, seemingly taking pleasure from it. This screen (and two others, each getting closer to Erina’s blushed face) indicates Sōma’s desire to make Erina say ‘delicious’ - she’s the one he wants to make happy with his cooking. His mother was first btw :)

Sōma’s knife is brightened by cherry petals - it shows his power coming from his cooking, cumulated in the cutting edge. This is the blade of change.

Finally, Asahi Saiba appears! As you can see, he’s the one surrounded by flames, it’s not Sōma anymore. The leader of Noirs is the one who wants to disturb the balance. There is also some similarities between him and Sōma - their cooking look is similar, probably because both of them were raised (though differently) by Jōichiro. Also, he has a signature red kerchief around his neck, similarly to Eishi, however his kerchief isn’t loose on his neck, it’s tight and Asahi used it to cover his face, also covering his true intentions.

This shot presents the famous BLUE fortress where the contest takes place. The frame shows the entire building, particularly the final building where the Bookmaster is staying, in the fantastic blue light, not calming as it may look like, but giving the one looking at it chills of excitement. The moon also reminds of the Autumn Selection and the Moon Banquet, taking place at approximately the same time as BLUE.

Erina, held by Asahi surrounded by Noirs, is clue to one of this arc’s plot, as her freedom depends on Sōma’s ability to win against Asahi. Yes, it looks like she’s the damsel in distress - it’s direct parallel to Erina being ‘imprisoned’ by her father.

There’s also a group shot of all of the WGO judges that we have met and the ones that we’ll meet during BLUE, of course on a blue background.

This frame is very intriguing. There is a silhouette visible behind the two fighting cooks - it’s Mana Nakiri, Erina’s mother and the Bookmaster, the one behind all of this. There is an astonishing contrast between Asahi and Sōma - Yukihira wields a single, pink (like the cherry petals) blade while Saiba has two, which refers to his special ability, the Cross Knives.

Finally, FINALLY Sōma gets his presenting shot. It’s worth mentioning that Erina was the first one to be presented - this is yet another way of showing their connection. She’s the beginning, he’s the end. Or maybe the other way?

In both this and the following frame we can also see Sōma being on the top/looking at his opponent from the top, foreshadowing his victory against Asahi in BLUE.

This screen presents the two possible destinies of Erina: the upper is with Sōma by her side - most of their bonding moments take place under the starry night, so this shot is really meaningful, the nether - Erina as Asahi’s bride. While they both stand in the same place, the upper destiny seems more realistic, as the nether looks like a mere reflection of what could happen and the duo from the top is the one that moves a bit the water.

Note: Sōma and Erina were supposed to get married at the end of the series, but creators didn’t have enough space. The couple however has been claimed as canon.

This is the final group shot of all Tōtsuki students we came to love, watching sakura blossom at night. It’s simply beautiful, watching their silhouettes near the bright water, cherry blossom and Tōtsuki Academy. This frame is full of love and reminescense...

The penultimate frame is a direct continuation of the ‘destiny’ shot. Sōma and Erina are standing here, together. It’s gorgeous, beautiful, showing how close they have become and that a bright future awaits them, written in the stars. The lighting of this frame, warm and delicate, gives us a sense of intimacy and fondness.

The last shot presents a dim silhouette of Sōma who ended his cooking (it’s the position we often got to see either on the episode’s numer frame or at the end of the episode) and, most importantly, Sōma walking away in the sunlight. It predicts Sōma’s parting from Tōtsuki to travel around the world, just like Jōichiro once did, but with a difference.

There is no storm to swallow chefs who want to reach the top.

Sōma and his cooking dispersed it, saving himself, his friends and Erina from it.

#opening analysis #shokugeki no souma: fifth plate #shokugeki no soma #food wars #Elite Ten Council #Polar Star Dormitory #Regiment de Cuisine #BLUE #is this good?#let me know #sorry for spelling mistakes

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