Chio's School Road Episode 9 Review: Chio-chan Changes Her Image – Flat Cut

Creepy makeovers and barely legal romances, this week’s concept for Chio’s school road might be a bit simplistic but still pretty damn funny.

Japanese Title: イメチェンちおちゃん / フラットカット

Plot

Chio has failed to study for her exams as she ended up playing video games once more, got yelled at by her mom, and went to bed sulking. Her only hope is now to pray at the local shrine – OR IS IT. The homeless guy that was training massive-tits-senpai at kabbaddi shows up and offers Chio a makeover, as being a woman means that all she needs to achieve academic success is to work on how she looks. Chio is rather easily convinced and is sat down to try a wild variety of wigs and makeup, and they all look ridiculous, naturally. She finishes up the transformation with a pole-dancing session; that is one of the most confusing things I’ve seen this week. And I watch a lot of confusing shit. Naturally, the whole endeavor fails miserably, except for the creepy homeless guy – he gets to spend his morning with two schoolgirls. Gross.

On another day, Chio is being romantically pursued by Andou, and Manana picks up on his efforts to impress her and appeal to her taste in men. Chio is initially buying it, but the whole plan spirals into nothing as Andou has gotten the wrong idea on Chio’s interest in BL games. Chio thinks he’s a homosexual and walks away. Andou is sad.

Episode Highlights

Homeless perv guy: I mean, I don’t even know that guy’s name. To be honest, I do forget characters names very, very easily, but he is literally the homeless perv character. One thing I don’t understand is how can any normal high school woman be in her right mind to associate herself with any such person, let alone let them do her hair.

Was that satire?: You know that part where homeless-guy said to Chio that all she needs to work on is her looks because that’s what’s gonna get her hired anyway? Even though my first reaction was ‘HOW MUCH SEXISM CAN I PULL THROUGH WHILE WATCHING ANIME, GOD’, I have this hope that this comment was more of a critique rather than a statement. Onegai.

Professional makeover: A horse mask. A normal mask. A fake set of mustache and glasses. A huge yellow worm wig. I’m sure Chio’s life would change one way or another.

Themes & Trivia

Tenkyo: The second kanji for authority is 拠, ‘yoridokoro’, meaning ‘compliance’. You’re welcome, Chio.

Praying in Japan: The Japanese usually pray in Shinto shrines, like the one Chio uses in this episode. The prayer follows a specific pattern. First, you need to put some change into a big red box at the entrance and ring the bell. Then you bow twice and clap your hands twice to signal your presence to the local deity. After a moment of silence, you need to bow one last time.

Fujoshi: Basically a derogatory term for women who are into boy’s love or yaoi. As in most cases, they are portrayed as creepy, disgusting and unattractive. Sigh.

When is the shipping happening

Pretty good episode. Had some good laughs. Looking forward to the next one.

How did you find this Chio’s School Road episode? Let us know in the comment section! And don’t forget to check the rest of the Summer 2018 anime reviews on MANGA.TOKYO!

NEXT TIME: Shinozuka-san, Sugar Content, and the Press Conference / Thousand Spring / Andou and George