Pole dancing cut was edited/revised at multiple junctures

The animation quality of the Symphogear series has come a long way since the show's humble beginnings in 2012. Episode 2 of Senki Zesshō Symphogear XV features a particularly standout transformation sequence for Kirika, which is credited to Yoshiyuki Ōkubo , who is also credited as one of three "main animators" on the season.

Like Kirika's previous transformation sequence from Senki Zesshō Symphogear AXZ , her most recent transformation is based around the risque theme of pole dancing. Ōkubo explained on Twitter how the cut was workshopped to ensure that it wouldn't be too "sleazy."

切歌の変身バンクですが以下の経緯により一切健全なものとなっております。



作画IN数ヶ月前から会議室に呼び出だされ、下品禁止のご指導を承る

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六割ラフが完成するも下品すぎて自ら破棄、作り直し(製作期間の半分を消費)

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動きが完成するも放送に耐えられず更に10秒削除

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ミラアルク許さん — 大久保義之 (@ohkuboyoshiyuki) July 13, 2019

The tweet outlines the process as follows:

Ōkubo is called to a meeting several months beforehand, where he is informed of the general direction of the cut and that it should not be "sleazy" After drawing 60 per cent of the rough drawings, he decided himself that it was too sleazy. He scrapped it and redid it, adding in brackets that this cost half the time he was allotted. Even some of the final animation couldn't make it to the broadcast, so 10 seconds of it was cut off.

Ōkubo's tweet leaves it to the imagination what the cut looked like in its original form given that the broadcast version is already very detailed and even risque at parts. Perhaps we'll get those extra 10 seconds from the final version in the Blu-ray release? The replies to the tweet are certainly clamoring for it.

On the subject of standout transformation sequences from the latest Symphogear season, Hibiki's sequence from episode 1 has also attracted awe from fans. The sequence was key animated by Yoshitake Nakakōji .

The Senki Zesshō Symphogear franchise premiered with a 13-episode television series in January 2012. Senki Zesshō Symphogear XV , the fifth season, premiered on July 6. The series has been directed by Katsumi Ono since the second season. Elements Garden handled the music once more, and Akifumi Kaneko and Noriyasu Agematsu are credited as the original creators.