Sound of the Sky Season 1 Episode 7 The Song of Cicadas: Spirits Down the River

Sound of the Sky (Sora no Woto) is an anime series that blends elements of science fiction and slice of life in a post-apocalyptic setting. The show follows the story of Kanata Sorami, a young girl who joins the military with the hope of learning to play the trumpet. She is assigned to the 1121st platoon stationed in the town of Seize, where she and the other soldiers experience the daily trials and joys of military life amidst the lingering echoes of past wars.

In Sound of the Sky season 1, episode 7, titled The Song of Cicadas: Spirits Down the River, the episode delves into the rich cultural tapestry of Seize as the town prepares for a key traditional festival. Against the backdrop of the warm, lazy days of summer, the cicadas' chorus becomes a prevailing motif, symbolizing both the transience of life and the enduring memories of those lost.

As the festivities draw near, the girls of the 1121st platoon are drawn into the preparations, helping the townsfolk ready floats and decorations. It is within this framework that the episode introduces us to a Seize-specific custom – a rite that serves as a departure from the usual military drills and routines the girls are accustomed to. Festival attire replaces military uniforms, and the atmosphere shifts from the discipline of their soldierly duties to a lively, communal spirit.

Throughout the episode, viewers gain deeper insight into the emotional landscape of the town, its people, and the soldiers who call it home. The festival, known for its poignant ritual of sending spirits down the river, is a time for reflection, remembrance, and the sending forth of prayers for peace and for the honored dead. The tradition is a touching one, and as lanterns are floated on the water, they carry with them the silent wishes and sorrows of the living.

For Kanata and her comrades – Rio, Kureha, Noel, and Filicia – the event becomes a unique opportunity to bond with one another and the townsfolk. Their interactions reveal the close-knit nature of their unit and the significant role they play not just as defenders of Seize, but as members of its community. The festival allows the platoon to set aside their roles as soldiers, if only briefly, and participate in the shared human experience of celebrating life and mourning loss.

The episode's narrative weaves the haunting melody of the cicadas and the serene flow of the river into its scenes, effectively capturing the dual themes of enduring the present and honoring the past. Through the eyes of the platoon, particularly through Kanata, whose innate curiosity and empathy guide much of the series, the audience comes to understand the bittersweet duality of the event. There is joy in the gathering, in the laughter and the simple togetherness, but also an undercurrent of sorrow, as the community remembers the scars of war and loss.

The Song of Cicadas: Spirits Down the River further explores the individual backstories of the main characters, subtly shedding light on their personal histories and how they've come to be shaped by the world they inhabit. It's an episode rich in character development, as each member of the platoon confronts their own relationship with the past and finds solace in the act of looking forward.

Visually, the episode is characterized by warm, sunset hues, and the lantern-lit river scenes are particularly evocative, creating an atmosphere that is at once mystical and deeply emotional. The care in animation extends to the sound design, where the music and the natural world meld harmoniously, mirroring the central theme of the episode – harmony between nature, mankind, and the passage of time.

As the festival draws to a close and the lanterns float away into the night, Kanata and her fellow soldiers are left to contemplate the ephemeral beauty of the moment and the spirits that have been symbolically sent off to their peaceful repose. The Song of Cicadas: Spirits Down the River stands as an episode that not only forwards the narrative but also punctuates the series' thematic core with a powerful depiction of tradition, memory, and the communal spirit that both mourns and celebrates life.