All right, let’s take a break from mechs to study this deceptively simple shot of the Ottoman’s son chasing a beetle. The boy’s stumble wasn’t in the script—animator Kyle Torres felt it was worth adding, and we ended up extending the length of the shot just to accommodate it. But what makes that stumble the right choice for the scene is the way it connects to the film’s themes: the ease with which the boy shrugs off his fall contrasts with his father’s spiraling anxiety over his upcoming tournament match, punctuating the imagery of resilience and perseverance seen throughout the film.