Runaway Raccoon

Runaway Raccoon is the first episode of the BNA: Brand New Animal anime series.

Overview
Escaping to Anima City, Michiru experiences the 10-year anniversary festival and meets a crying wolf as a terrorist plot unfolds.

Summary
Michiru begins her escape to Anima City. She is confronted by a group of Beast Hunters and is fortunately saved by Marie Itami. They arrive at Anima City where the 10-year anniversary celebration is underway. Michiru meets a crying wolf and gets her wallet stolen. While pursuing the thief, she witnesses a terrorist plot unfolding. She is saved by the crying wolf who then confronts the terrorist group. A fight breaks out and the crying wolf defeats the terrorists. Michiru stops the crying wolf from causing more harm than necessary and discovers her tail powers.

Plot
Michiru attempts to withdraw money from an ATM before a group of thugs comes her away. The thugs vandalize a poster encouraging unity between Beastmen and Humans. Avoiding trouble, she hides in an air vent until the group walks away. Outside, a broadcast of the civil unrest against beastmen plays on a screen as Michiru blitzes past.

She reaches the bus station and hops atop the Route 66 bus as it is departing. The bus leaves the vicinity of the city and passes through a mountainous, coastal road. Feeling more relaxed, she takes the hood off her cloak and stretches out on the roof of the bus, gazing at the sea and Anima City City on the horizon.

Michiru powers on her phone and watches an Anima City advert on Facelook. Just as she's settling in for the ride, a motorcycle gang of beast hunters shoots two projectiles at Michiru, knocking her off the bus. Before impact, her tail rapidly expands and cushions her fall. The gang approaches her once again, but this time she dodges a few blows as she tries to run away from them. Michiru unfortunately falls off the guard rails she was running on and tumbles down the embankment below.

The bike gang eventually catches up and knocks her down. As a gang member is about to deliver the final blow, Mari interrupts the altercation and asks in a sassy tone for them to stop. She explains that she needs to protect Michiru for one of her clients. The gang doesn't listen and swings at Mari. Enraged, she and her two accomplices transform into their beastman forms. Her accomplices easily subdue the beast hunters and Mari explains to Michiru that she will escort her to Anima City. She demands payment for her services and Michiru begrudgingly hands over a wad of bills.

They board a boat and Michiru stares off into the distance at Animacity as she reminisces her life as a fugitive. The sunsets and the group arrives in Anima City. Michiru, nervous and on alert, glances around and sees a bright wolf figure on top of a nearby building. Suddenly the lights turn on and the 10-year Anima city festival begins. Chairman Rose gives a brief introduction and the festivities are underway. Michiru explores the festival and bumps into a crying wolf who says emotionally that beastmen have waited 1,000 years for this moment before softly encouraging her to celebrate to the fullest. Confused and a little put off, she looks away for a brief moment and turns back to find the wolf disappears; she briefly ponders on who he is.

In a tower, PM Shiramizu congratulates Rose on the anniversary but gives a stern warning to keep the citizens under control. Back at the festival grounds, Mari meets Michiru and distracts her as a monkey steals her wallet and runs away. Michiru chases and loses the pickpocket underneath some scaffolding and witnesses a fox in a repairman's attire leaving with a briefcase. She bumps into a pillar in frustration, only for an explosion to sound out and tip the scaffolding off balance. As it's falling, Michiru frantically rushes to save an elderly goat in the scaffolding's path. In the last second, before the scaffolding fell on the two, the crying wolf from earlier pushes them clear of the scaffolding.

The crying wolf accuses her of tampering with the scaffolding, to which she denies and informs him that she witnessed a fox sneaking away earlier. The wolf relaxes and smells the air, identifying the path of the fleeing culprit. The wolf follows the trail while Michiru continues to pursue the pickpocket. They are both interrupted by a large explosion in the city. The wolf arrives at the scene of the explosion and confronts the culprit fox. A lion and a deer buck beastman carrying guns suddenly explode out the back of a van, coming to the fox's aid while raining a sea of bullets on the wolf. The wolf narrowly escapes the enemy's fire and notes that the culprits are professionals. He smells the air once again and discovers the scent of humans on the culprits.

The now enraged wolf exclaims the terrorists were hired by humans and the terrorists confirm this while replying that contract work is still contract work regardless of who hires them. The disgusted wolf proceeds to criticize and overpower the terrorists, expressing his utter disdain on the hypocrisy of beastmen working with beastmen hating humans. Backed into a corner, two of the terrorists use the last of their energy to grow massively in size and strength. The wolf, declaring that hew views them as unworthy of his fangs or claws and that his own two fists are enough, is still able to subdue the two with a serious beating. Right when Michiru appears at the scene, the fox terrorist from earlier grabs hold of her as a hostage and holds a knife to her throat; demanding to be allowed escape or else he will take Michiru's life. Unfazed, the wolf jumps behind the terrorist and briefly mocks him before repeatedly beating him down.

Michiru calls the wolf to stop as the threat is averted and further violence is not necessary. The curtly wolf disagrees and says that the terrorists ruined the festival on orders by humans which is something he cannot forgive. He continues his ruthless beat-down of the terrorist once more, but Michiru cries out for him to stop and her tail begins to glow and expand. The tail knocks the wolf back. After both express shock, both begin to debate once more; this time Michiru defends humanity and exclaims that she is human too. Unconvinced, the wolf sarcastically remarks on her beastman appearance.

Characters

 * Michiru Kagemori (debut)
 * Marie Itami (debut)
 * Barbara Rose (debut)
 * Prime Minister Shiramizu (debut)
 * Shirou Ogami (debut)
 * Nazuna Hiwatashi (cameo/flashbacks only)
 * Alan Sylvasta (debut)
 * Sato (debut)
 * Koichi Ishizaki (debut)

Trivia

 * When Michiru is on top of the bus, her phone home button can be seen with multiple scratches, caused by her nails.
 * Her phone has the following apps from left to right, up to down: twitter, camera, transit, maps, notes, clock, photos, search, tweet, j-tube, books, app store, facelook, reminder, calculator, compass.
 * The app designs seem to be heavily inspired by Apple iOS design.
 * In the wad of cash Michiru hands Marie, the bill on the top resembles the reverse face of the Japanese 10,000 yen note in real life.
 * Inferno Cop makes a brief cameo on the billboard during the festival.
 * Imaishi was involved with the storyboard of this episode.
 * You can find Sushio bunnies running during the accident.
 * The dog beastman in a green dress running during the accident resembles Sierra from Ashcozy's works.
 * A fox beastman in the festival looks like Nick Wilde from Disney's Zootopia.
 * A rabbit beastman during the festival resembles Lotte from Little Witch Academia.
 * The Fire Bull drink is a play on Red Bull.
 * A float of Ginrou passes by during the opening sequence of the festival.
 * During the Rose announcement, Yuji Tachiki is seen in the crowd spying on Kusakabe and the Coyote henchman.
 * The band playing during the festival is based off of the Town Musicians of Bremen.
 * Jackie makes an appearance during the festival.
 * Marie's ship name (阿仁丸) is pronounced Animaru, a play on 'animal'. The -maru suffix is common in Japanese ship-naming convention.
 * Bokko from Osamu Tezuka's The Amazing Three makes an appearance during the festival.
 * Beastmen resembling Lio and Galo from Promare can be seen performing in the band. Lio is the pianist and Galo is a guitarist.