MOMENTARY LILY

DESCRIPTION

CAST

MANGA ComedyMomentary Lily: Sotsugyou Made ni Shitai 100 no Koto
SPECIAL ActionMomentary Lily: Tsudzuite iku Kappou, Kappou!

REVIEWS

• 

  InfamousEmpire

  50/100
  A glorious Disasterpiece which manages to entertain even as it crashes and burns

  Let’s get the obvious out of the way first: Momentary Lily is a complete and utter trainwreck.

  On an animation level, it’s Studio GoHands on its signature F Game. Obnoxious rainbow lens flare in almost every scene on top of garish color filters, absurd camera angles which serve absolutely no purpose, and overanimated character models which all compound into complete sensory overload. It’s a complete smorgasbord of visual ideas which don’t cohere in any meaningful way and leave only a nauseous mess in their wake.

  The same can be said for the writing, which is often even worse & less cohesive than the visuals. All of the characters are cardboard cutouts defined largely by their catchphrase/vocal quirk, such as the one that says BAM BAM, the one that says Kappou, the one that says Guilty, and the one that speaks Gamer, among others. This terrible cast is not helped by the script, which often swings wildly between serious action, slice-of-life comedy, half-assed emotional moments, and intrusive 3-minute chibi cooking tutorials every episode (yes, really) without any sense of tonal balance, and a failure of an emotional core which reeks of being a poor man's version of Yuuki Yuuna without any of the charm or effort. All of that on top of a mind-numbingly convoluted wider plot which is delivered haphazardly in the forms of nonsensical swerves & exposition dumps, with the full story coming across as essentially a kitchen sink full of whatever random, arbitrary sci-fi concepts the writers thought were neat, all topped off with an utter faceplant of an ending.

  However, despite all I've said, this review actually isn't a condemnation of Momentary Lily on account of one simple fact: it is insanely fun to watch.

  Yup, it’s one of those classic “So Bad, It’s Good” type shows. It may not be traditionally good art, but one can’t help but be in awe of how hard Momentary Lily fails. Its awful production, while typical of Studio GoHands’ output, is nonetheless a standout next to more traditional failures, and seeing what new assaults on cinematic language the series will hammer out quickly goes from an annoying distraction to a major part of the fun.

  The writing, too, is almost endearing in how much it commits to its terrible approach. Whether it be getting blindsided by whatever new nonsensical plot turn the series will throw at you or just laughing along at how dumb its catchphrase-overloaded excuses for banter are, there is genuinely no end to the ironic fun one can have with this show.

  If you’re looking for a traditionally good, well-made show, you should probably avoid Momentary Lily like the plague. But if you’re just looking for something dumb to throw on at bad movie night and turn your brain off to, then this might just be the one for you.

  Continue on AniList
• 

  Rox

  100/100
  Momentary Lily explores life's fleeting beauty, finding meaning in mundane moments, bonds, and existential growth.

  Momentary Lily
  What a clever pun this show's title is based on! It's split into two parts, simple yet efficient.
  I’d say this show is much deeper than the simplicity of its pun suggests. It has layers, and I’m excited to dive into that.
  Before I start my review, I want to first thank Mr. Hands and Mr. Go for giving me such a pivotal moment to treasure in my life, one that mirrors the fleeting beauty of a lily. Let’s call this moment Momentary Lily.

  The story follows six girls whose personalities blossom and grow, like flowers. They face the harshness of their world, but they overcome it through the mundanity they create in their chaotic everyday lives. After all, one could argue that sanity is found in routine—the ordinary. It grounds us, much like a lily's roots holding it firm against the wind.

  One episode in particular stood out to me—episode 6, where the girls visit a beach/pool. It's here that we see how the mundanity of the moment pulls their sanity together as a group. But there's more to it than that. The episode made me feel like I was peeling back the layers of a beautiful flower, revealing something a bit less innocent beneath the surface. I really enjoyed the show’s attention to detail, especially in how the characters' hair flutters wildly in a breeze or during a storm—it's almost as if every gust of wind adds another layer to the experience (and other parts of the show... if you know what I mean ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)).

  The contrast between the varying body types kept the allure of chaos alive, but in a way that made you want to experience it. I never imagined I'd see such a diverse range of beautiful bodies on screen, almost like a "Three-Body Problem"—except here, we get the “Five-Body Solution.” Even though this segment was relatively brief, it filled my heart with such joy that the aftertaste lingered for days. If you were to take a sip of an alcoholic drink every time something jiggled, well... you’d probably end up needing your stomach pumped. Heh, wink wink.

  Sometimes, I feel like the animators' talents are underappreciated. Certain scenes were so captivating, I couldn't help but feel that my hands would go wild. It’s like a burn deep in my palms, a sensation you can’t quite explain. The way the okonomiyaki was cooked in the show was as meticulous as the work done by Mr. Hands and Mr. Go to craft this beautiful "Momentary Lily."
  Once again, thank you. I can only imagine this time, it was Mr. Hands telling Mr. Go, wink wink.
  To wrap it up, Mr. Hands and Mr. Go, I’d like to shake your hands. Thank you for giving us such a Momentary Lily.

  As the episodes progress, we watch our girls grow into their roles, gaining confidence in themselves. This growth is visually mirrored in their combat skills. The frequent lens flares give the show a dreamy, nostalgic feel, as if they must reflect on who they are in a melancholic moment before moving forward on their journey toward full bloom, even if just for a moment. After all, some flowers only fully open for the briefest of moments. Think! Grow! Petals! Lily!
  Once again, I extend my thanks to Mr. Hands and Mr. Go for blessing us with so many beautiful moments, like water (wink wink). Who knew that fruits, such as succulent melons, could create such mesmerizing ripples on the surface of water with their delicate dance? I do wish it was uncensored, though... sad face.

  Then, there's the moment where they confront the illusion of their fallen comrade, when the wounds of nostalgia and the yearning for stability become painfully evident. Do they face the truth or remain trapped in denial? Meanwhile, the other characters grapple with their alternate realities—clones or alternate versions of themselves locked away in capsules. This could be a subtle nod to the concept of quantum immortality. We’re faced with the possibility of what could’ve been and the suppressed memories of subjective truth. What is the right choice? What is the correct outcome? Ultimately, the answer seems to be turning off quantum immortality, accepting the current timeline as the one true reality, where their choices have real consequences.
  The realization that they are copies of originals fills the characters with existential dread. But there's also a sense of relief that their original purpose—eliminating intelligent life—was cancelled. However, this knowledge also breeds anger. What is the point of their existence now? What does this revelation change?

  The jump from existential crisis to appreciating the simple joys of food is not just ironic but a brilliant move. Thank you, Mr. Go and Mr. Hands, for giving us the pleasure of viewing the physics of movement in certain, shall we say, topologies… Heh. Even though some of the characters are supposedly clones, they still stand apart from each other. Their distinct personalities show how small shifts in experience can create vast differences in behavior, almost like the nature vs. nurture debate in action. The three characters who are not clones in both groups play a big role in why these characters' personalities differ so greatly.

  The ending is bittersweet, but I won’t spoil it. What I will say is that the message of this show is clear: we live temporary lives. The most important parts of life are the moments we spend bonding with others, creating memories, and finding meaning in our fleeting existence. That’s why the title Momentary Lily is so fitting—life is but a moment. In this short, temporary existence, we must make something of it. Whether it's absurd or mundane, with stability, we should not take it for granted. We must cherish the interactions we have along our journey in this transient world.

  Continue on AniList

SIMILAR ANIMES YOU MAY LIKE

• ANIME

  ActionHand Shakers
• ONA

  ActionEstab-Life: Great Escape
• ANIME

  ActionK
• ANIME

  ActionPraeter no Kizu
• ANIME

  ActionW'z
• ANIME

  ActionAYAKA
• ANIME

  ActionAssault Lily: BOUQUET
• ANIME

  ActionLycoris Recoil
• ANIME

  ActionKabushiki Gaisha Magi Lumiere
• ANIME

  ActionMahou Shoujo Madoka☆Magica
• ANIME

  Action86: Eighty Six
• ANIME

  ActionYuuki Yuuna wa Yuusha de Aru