The BEST episodes directed by Hisatoshi Shimizu

#1 - Girl With Cold Dreams of Her Stubborn Friend

Gosick - Season 1 - Episode 10

Kujo encounters the same girl he met at the department store, and with the help of hers and a bright homeless boy, he manages to put the police back on the case. Kujo and Grevil then ask Victorique's opinion about the store, just to find that she already had made some research about it, and she comes with a plan to expose the culprits.

#2 - The Bells of Cristmas Eve Toll at the Heels of Time

Gosick - Season 1 - Episode 21

Upon investigating the grave of a woman with a striking resemblance to Queen Coco Rose, Victorique manages to put together the truth behind her mysterious demise. The truth of the Coco Rose case and the disappearance of Nicole Lulu is made clear, and Albert frees Victorique when she is unable to conclusively identify the murderer. On the way home to the Academy, Victorique and Kujo encounter a seemingly ordinary couple who are actually the still-living Coco Rose and her son fathered by Leviathan. Cordelia watches over them as they arrive home, and is soon joined by Brian and then a man who seems to be Brian's twin.

#3 - Heimkehr ~Friend or Foe~

Kämpfer - Season 1 - Episode 6

#4 - The Hares Break Promises Beneath the Morning Sun

Gosick - Season 1 - Episode 3

The trap closes and the architect behind it is revealed or is he? Victorique picks up on a larger scheme that set much larger things in motion. The question is are the still in motion to this day?

#5 - If Only I Had Thorns Like a Thistle

Kill la Kill - Season 1 - Episode 1

Ryuko Matoi transfers into Honnouji Academy, a high school dominated by its fearsome student council, who wear powerful Goku Uniforms that grant them superhuman abilities. Searching for clues to her father's murder, Ryuko confronts the student council president, Satsuki Kiryuin, saying she is looking for the owner of the other half of a giant scissor blade she wields.

#6 - Dawn of a Miserable Morning

Kill la Kill - Season 1 - Episode 4

While Senketsu is laundered, Ryuko is faced with "No-Late Day", a school event where students must navigate a trap-filled obstacle course and reach school on time, or else they will be expelled. She and Mako make their way across the perilous course, along with an injured girl named Maiko Ogure, while Mako's family attempt to deliver Senketsu to Ryuko. After hijacking an armored bus, the girls manage to make it to the school grounds with 15 minutes left. However, Maiko is revealed to be a member of the disciplinary committee, who steals Senketsu and puts it on herself in a bid to overthrow Satsuki. However, she is immobilized by the freshly washed Senketsu's starchiness, allowing Ryuko to retrieve him. With five minutes remaining, Maiko sets off one more trap to send Ryuko and Mako back to the start of the course. They two fortunately reach class on time using an express cable car, while Maiko is expelled for her treachery.

#7 - Good Morning Again SAGA

Zombie Land Saga - Season 1 - Episode 12

The day of the Arpino show has come, and the other members of Franchouchou have made it clear to Sakura that they're not going to quarantine her because of her bad luck. But with a blizzard brewing, will the girls' undying loyalty to their friend prove to be their undoing?

#8 - But It's Zombiemental SAGA

Zombie Land Saga - Season 1 - Episode 7

The time has come for Franchouchou to take the stage at the Saga Rock musical festival! But clouds are starting to gather, with the thunder and lightning causing Ai to freeze up in fear. Who will help re-animate her so that the show can be a success?

#9 - Samurai Father and Daughter

The Gymnastics Samurai - Season 1 - Episode 6

Rei's birthday is coming up, but with Jotaro busy preparing for the joint training camp with China, she is left alone to face her feelings.

#10 - Gymnastics Samurai

The Gymnastics Samurai - Season 1 - Episode 11

All eyes are on Jotaro on the day of the All-Japan finals, but Leo is already on his way to the airport to go back to London.

#11 - Rock-Bottom Samurai

The Gymnastics Samurai - Season 1 - Episode 2

After the press conference where he failed to announce his retirement, Jotaro has to figure out his next steps.

#12 - Intensive Training Samurai

The Gymnastics Samurai - Season 1 - Episode 8

Kitty comes to visit Rei in Japan and takes her on a shopping spree. Meanwhile, Jotaro works on his quadruple with the help of Leo.

#13 - The SAGA of How These Zombies Will Get Their Revenge

Zombie Land Saga - Season 2 - Episode 10

Flash back to the events of early 2019 as Franchouchou undertakes the concert that nearly results in their destruction, and then rejoin them in the early 2020 as they enter the final phase of their REVENGE.

#14 - Retiring Samurai

The Gymnastics Samurai - Season 1 - Episode 1

Gymnast Jotaro Aragaki is told by his coach to retire, but he can't bring himself to tell his family.

#15 - Samurai's Decisive Battle

The Gymnastics Samurai - Season 1 - Episode 10

Jotaro is determined to show Leo the new move that Leo helped him complete, but as the competition starts, Leo is nowhere to be found.

#16 - It's New Year's Eve, Meikaemon

Punch Line - Season 1 - Episode 6

As Kenji and Mikatan arrive on the scene, the Turtle Man reveals he possesses the same Über-fy powers they do and fights back. However, Kenji, who is able to perceive Yūta, creates an opportunity for him to possess Rabura and defeat the intruder, with Meika also surviving. Afterwards, the girls discover the intruder was Ito's homeroom teacher Chihaya Tomoda, who, out of a deranged love for Ito, allowed himself to be possessed by QMay Tsubouchi's spirit in order to carry out revenge against the students who bullied Ito. The next day, the girls hold a New Year's Party, during which Meika reveals that Yūta is biologically female, later telling Ito about how she came to meet Mikatan. After Kenji helps out Mikatan, who needs to take medication to counter the side effects of her powers, the meteorite in orbit suddenly starts hurtling towards Earth. Revealing himself to be Yūta's future self, Kenji gives Yūta the Nandala-Gandala, which is blank except for the word "U-turn", and tells Yūta that in order to regain possession of his body and prevent Earth's destruction, he must go back in time to the point where it all began.

#17 - Ninja & Samurai

The Gymnastics Samurai - Season 1 - Episode 9

As All-Japan draws near, Jotaro practices hard to perfect his new move in time for the competition, but he has an unexpected setback.

#18 - Samurai Daughter

The Gymnastics Samurai - Season 1 - Episode 4

As Jotaro works hard to prepare for the NHK Cup, Leo notices that Rei has been acting strange, so he tries to find out what's wrong.

#19 - Warming Dead SAGA

Zombie Land Saga - Season 1 - Episode 4

Franchouchou is headed to the land of Ureshino in Saga to do perform for a big company! Will they be able to win over a new business partner with their singing and dancing?

#20 - Training Camp Samurai

The Gymnastics Samurai - Season 1 - Episode 7

At the joint training camp with China, Jotaro and the other Japanese gymnasts see the powerful gymnastics of the Chinese team firsthand.

#21 - The Slant Lined

Garo -Vanishing Line- - Season 1 - Episode 17

As Sword, Gina and Sophie approach El Sanvados, they are confronted by a battalion of Horror bikers. Sword attacks them, sending Gina and Sophie ahead by another route in the car. However Bishop sets up a Horror Barrier darkening the sky, and follows Gina and Sophie with a wave of flying Horrors. They are almost caught, but Luke arrives just in time, destroying the Horrors and breaking the barrier. Suddenly a new monster emerges from below the ground and captures Sophie just as Sword arrives on his motorcycle. Sword rescues Sophie and then Zaruba carries her away to safety on the motorcycle. Sophie is distressed at the trouble that she has caused her companions, but Zaruba tells her to keep moving forward. When they are caught by Knight, Zaruba crashes the motorcycle into Knight, sacrificing himself. Sword, Gina and Luke catch up with Sophie and Sword absorbs the remaining power of the Madou ring in preparation for a showdown between the Makai Knights. However, after testing Sword's powers, Knight withdraws leaving Sophie and the others to mourn the loss of Zaruba.

#22 - Battling Samurai

The Gymnastics Samurai - Season 1 - Episode 5

It's time for the NHK Cup, Jotaro's first official competition after his press conference, but all eyes are on the young gymnasts he's competing against.

#23 - Dueling Samurai

The Gymnastics Samurai - Season 1 - Episode 3

Young up-and-coming gymnast, Tetsuo Minamino, challenges Jotaro to a gymnastics duel with Jotaro's career on the line.

#24 - Waltz of the Eighth Act Transiency

Dance with Devils - Season 1 - Episode 8

As the school prepares for the culture festival, Rem lies to the student council about the location of the grimoire, claiming it is in Vienna. Meanwhile, Lindo and Azuna decide to place Ritsuka under constant protection, with one of them accompanying her wherever she goes. As the festival gets underway, Urie, Mage, and Shiki all ask Ritsuka to be their partner in the dance, but she refuses. When the time for the evening party comes round, she and Rem are chosen as king and queen, and begin to dance despite the misgivings of Lindo and Azuna. As they dance, the two realize that they have feelings for each other. When the party is over, Ritsuka heads home accompanied by Azuna and her brother, when they are attacked by the vampires. Lindo is forced to transform, but Jek snatches Ritsuka. Azuna attempts to save her, slashing his cheek, and in his rage he impales her. Crying out in anguish, Ritsuka unleashes the power of the grimoire, destroying the surrounding vampires with a flash of light as Azuna dies in her arms. Jek, watching from afar, vows to return and claim her as soon as the light fades.