「MAGIC」 is the 1st episode out of 39 overall, and the first episode of season 1.
Summary[]
Popee attempts to practice the sawing-in-half trick on an unwilling Kedamono. Surprisingly, it's successful. At least, until Popee tries to put him back together.
Characters[]
Plot[]
The episode begins with a full view of Wolf Zurkus.
As it pans across to Popee practicing the sawing-in-half trick on Kedamono, we see that Wolf Zurkus is full of circus tents, wagons, decoration, and color. It quickly cuts to Popee holding a chainsaw above a distressed Kedamono, who is lying across two small tables with wheels with a box over his upper and lower body.
Popee smirks as he prepares to lower the chainsaw onto Kedamono, causing Kedamono to move around frantically as Kedamono's mask changes to a panicked expression, seeming very unwilling to participate in the act. Popee looks over to Kedamono and waves his hand in his face, gesturing for him to calm down. Popee looks at a step-by-step instruction book for guidance as he practices the trick. The book shows a four-step process using pictures on how to perform the sawing-in-half trick. Then, Popee lowers the chainsaw onto Kedamono, sawing him in half as Kedamono stares at him with a worried expression on his mask with the burning desert sun in the corner of his eyes.
When Popee finishes sawing him in half, Kedamono lets out a sigh of relief. Popee then pushes the second table (which has Kedamono's lower half on top of it) away as Popee waves to the audience, successfully performing the trick. Popee beams with joy as the background slowly fades into inside a circus tent with colored lights and a spotlight shining on him. A drumroll plays, building up suspense, as Popee counts down and pulls away a red curtain to reveal a disassembled Kedamono, with his lower and upper halves completely separate from and besides each other. The two raise their arms as they receive cheering and applause from the audience.
Popee looks down next to him to see Kedamono patting his leg, gesturing to Popee to help put him back together. Popee ponders for a bit and, with a smile, makes a gesture with his index finger towards Kedamono to wait. The scene cuts to Popee inside the circus tent and pulling away a red curtain once again to reveal a now reassembled Kedamono. But then, Popee looks back at Kedamono and notices that Kedamono’s lower half is now completely backwards. Kedamono looks down to see that his bushy tail is wagging in front rather than behind him, leaving him in complete awe.
Popee becomes distressed, slapping his palm on his forehead and marching away from Kedamono. He quickly goes behind a group of tents and digs a hole which he proceeds to laugh into hysterically, slamming his hands on the ground. Kedamono manages to walk backwards towards where Popee ran off, but trips and falls. This catches the attention of Popee, who slowly turns around to see Kedamono standing behind him. Kedamono's mask falls away and changes into a Hannya mask as the atmosphere becomes tense, and the surroundings become red tinted. Both stare each other down until Popee makes a break for it and runs away, with Kedamono following after him.
They run back and forth until Kedamono finally catches Popee off-screen. The roles between the two are now reversed—now Kedamono is performing the sawing-in-half trick on an unwilling Popee. Kedamono glances at the step-by-step instruction book before tossing it away and sawing Popee into six pieces.
The background once again fades into the inside of a circus, showing Kedamono preparing to show the outcome to the audience. But, when he lifts the curtain, Popee has disappeared. Confused, Kedamono looks around to try and find him. Almost immediately, he sees Popee's tail behind a nearby circus tent. When Popee comes out of his hiding place, he's fully intact without a scratch on him.
Kedamono is disappointed but becomes extremely puzzled when he spots five other Popee clones. They all begin stiffly chasing after Kedamono as he tries to run from them, but his torso and legs become detached, and his legs run away without him while his upper half reaches out desperately with a sense of betrayal. Finally, the six Popees circle around him as he lies on the ground helplessly. Suddenly, they strike a pose and begin performing a strange ritual-like dance around Kedamono.
The episode ends with the six Popees tormenting a helpless Kedamono by dancing around him late into the night.