S1E01: Savanna Area

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Episode 1 - Savanna Area
サバンナ (Sabanna)
Episode Data
Air Date		January 10th, 2017
Introductions		Serval, Hippopotamus
Previous		N/A
Next		Episode 2 - Jungle Area

Savanna Area (Japanese: サバンナちほー) is the first episode of the original Kemono Friends anime series. It introduces the show's main characters, Kaban and Serval, along with the overarching themes and conflict of the story. It is set in the Savanna Area, a dry and open grassland home to various Friends.

Summary

Serval's first appearance.

The episode opens with a vast view of the wild nature of the savanna. We are then introduced to a yellow-clad cat-girl sleeping on a tree branch, in the shade of the canopy. As she stirs from her slumber, the noise of rustling and footseps catches her keen ears, and a white hat can be seen just over the tall grass. She cat-girl jumps from the tree to pursue the figure, who runs off in a panic, causing the feline to interpret the situation as a 'hunting game'. As the chase ensues, the stranger is revealed to be a girl with short hair and a red shirt. Briefly losing sight of her 'prey', the cat-girl manages to track her quarry and pounce on it, pinning the other girl to the ground. The unknown person begs the cat-girl to not eat her, a statement which the latter concernedly refutes.

The cat-girl quickly apologizes when it becomes clear that the other girl's fear had been genuine. She introduces herself as Serval, and likewise introduces Japari Park and her territory, the Savanna Area. Serval's tail and animal ears come as a shock to the girl; her own lack of any such features is, in turn, a surprise to Serval. The girl is then revealed not to know her identity or origin, having awoken in the Savanna Area not long prior to having met Serval and lacking any memories prior thereto. Serval infers that the girl may have been born from Sandstar that spewed from a distant volcano the previous night, and unsuccessfully attempts to guess what kind of Friend the girl is given her lack of familiar defining Friend traits. She tells the girl to seek out the Library in order to learn what her identity is, and decides to accompany her to the edge of the Savanna Area, which leads into the Jungle Area. Realizing the newcomer lacks a name, Serval decides to call the girl 'Kaban' (Japanese for "bag") because of the large white rucksack she carries on her back.

As the duo crosses the Savanna Area, Serval explains that many other Friends inhabit the area, and points out Plains Zebra and Thomson's Gazelle in the distance.

Kaban is shown to lack physical prowess, failing to safely descend a steep hill or cross a river without falling into it, requiring Serval's assistance on multiple occasions. In a rocky area along their way, Kaban encounters a small blue organism she initially mistakes for a Friend and begins to approach, before Serval interjects and identifies the creature as a Cellien. She swiftly dispatches the threat it by shattering its stone—the Cellien's weak point— with her claws, describing her attack as a "Friend skill". Given how many times she has required Serval's aid, in tandem with her ostensible lack of any redeeming abilities, Kaban begins to feel like a hindrance. Serval consoles her, explaining how she herself is seen as weak and clumsy by other Friends, and how she personally sees Kaban as a hard worker. Serval helps Kaban to her feet, and the pair resumes their adventure to find the Savanna Area's exit.

After a while of hiking, they decide to get some rest under the shade of a tree. Kaban asks Serval if there are different types of Friends of each species; Serval responds by telling her that Japari Park is inhabited by cats even bigger than herself, quickly reassuring Kaban that the only entities she has to fear are the Celliens. Serval then takes notice of the fact that Kaban doesn't pant as most Friends do when tired, and appears to be regaining her energy remarkably quickly.

Hippo's first introduction when Kaban and Serval are drinking water.

Along their travels, Serval teaches Kaban how to climb trees, though Kaban isn't able to scale even a small one without help. They continue on and reach a watering hole, where they stop to quench their thirst. As they drink, a Friend who introduces herself as Hippopotamus emerges from the water to Kaban's surprise; Hippopotamus had been bathing when she noticed the pair had approached. Hippopotamus warns them that a big Cellien is guarding the gate of the bridge leading to the Jungle Area. After Serval introduces Kaban to her, along with her situation and apparent weakness, Hippopotamus advises Kaban to learn how to protect herself, stating that Japari Park operates on rules of fending for oneself and that being too heavily dependent on Serval would be irresponsible. As they part ways, Hippopotamus' caring nature overtakes the cold front she had put on, calling after the travellers to be careful of the Cellien at the gate, as well as other irrelevant or generally unimportant things in a motherly onslaught of advice.

As they draw near the bridge gate, Kaban and Serval discover a sign with a small glass box underneath it, containing maps of Japari Park. Kaban takes one, to the surprise of Serval—who has difficulty opening the box, being unable to parse how the lid is meant to be interacted with—and they analyze it to find their position. Suddenly, Serval hears the scream of a helpless, unidentified Friend, and the pair rush off.

Serval and Kaban make their way to the voice and discover the large Cellien that Hippopotamus talked about, blocking the gate by suspending itself with its tendrils; the Friend in danger is nowhere to be seen. Serval charges straight at the Cellien but cannot find its stone, opening herself to a counter-attack and forcing her to retreat. Kaban notices the stone on the back of the Cellien, but Serval isn't given a chance to attack it as the Cellien keeps facing her. While Serval starts to lose hope, a paper airplane made by Kaban flies near the Cellien and distracts it, offering Serval a chance to strike. Before Serval can attack, the Cellien's gaze ends up on Kaban, who is promptly lashed out at by one of its tentacles. Hippopotamus emerges from the nearby brush and knocks Kaban out of the line of fire, blocking the Cellien's strike and countering the attack as Serval jumps behind the Cellien to reach the stone, slashing at it and successfully destroying it. Hippopotamus quietly leaves the scene before the two Friends can see her, silently praising Kaban for her attempt at helping Serval.

As Serval and Kaban reach the border between the Savanna Area and the Jungle Area, they share parting words before Kaban turns around to continue the adventure alone. Kaban courageously walks straight into the jungle without looking back, nervous but undaunted. As she advances, a pair of pointed yellow ears can be seen following behind her. Serval quickly reveals herself—greatly surprising Kaban, similarly to their first encounter—and explains she wishes to keep adventuring with her, as closer friends might do. Grateful for the company, Kaban welcomes her friend back, and the two resume their travels together.

At dusk, as the pair comes to rest in a spot illuminated by electric lights; while Serval is a nocturnal Friend, and thus bouncing with energy, Kaban's tiredness suggests she is diurnally-inclined. In her excitement, Serval scratches at a tree and accidentally makes it fall, prompting Kaban to call out to her surprise. The crashing noise of the tree generates a response from the darkness, as a pair of green eyes lights up and approaches Kaban. As the newcomer steps into the light, it is revealed to be a small, blue-and-white cat-like creature which Serval immediately recognizes as "Boss". Lucky walks up to Kaban and politely greets her in a robotic voice, much to her appreciation; Serval, meanwhile, is greatly and vocally shocked to see Boss talking.

The episode ends with two Friends in the Savanna Area, one a gray-haired, blue-clad Friend who is identified as Arai-san by her counterpart, a blonde Friend wearing pink. Arai-san seems to be tracking someone, exclaiming that the Park will be in grave danger if the person isn't found; her comrade, intrigued and amused, decides to join in on the search despite the projected length and difficulty.

Credits Sketch

Royal Penguin explains that next week's episode will discuss jaguars, which are seen by some cultures as rain deities. Royal Penguin inquires aloud as to what that means, and her fellow idols ask if it means the cats pray for rain; Southern Rockhopper Penguin encourages Royal Penguin to try it herself, which she entertains with a weak chant the others snub. Royal Penguin caps off the sketch by delivering the title of the next episode: Jungle Area.

Major Events

• Kaban gains consciousness in the Savanna Area.
• Serval meets and bestows a name unto Kaban, naming her after the bag she wears.
• Serval offers to guide Kaban to the far end of the Savanna Area, and the two embark on their journey.
• Serval and Kaban meet Lucky.
• Fennec Fox and Raccoon start chasing after the hat thief.

Animal Talk Segments

Serval's animal talk

Casts

Major Characters

• Kaban
• Serval
• Lucky
• Arai-san
• Fennec Fox

Minor Characters

• Hippopotamus
• Aardwolf

Background Characters

• Thomson's Gazelle
• Plains Zebra