Episode 9

*WARNING! This page contains MAJOR spoilers from the series. Caution is advised.*

## "Umaru and Valentines"

### Ending Song

Hidamari Days

"**Umaru and Valentines**" (うまるとバレンタイン, *Umaru to Barentain*?) is the ninth episode of the *Himouto! Umaru-chan* anime.

## Synopsis

Kirie makes some cookies to give to Umaru, while Umaru and Taihei help Nana make some Valentine's chocolates, oblivious of who she wants to give them to. Later, Umaru and Sylphynford go to an anime shop together, bonding over their roles as little sisters who love anime. Afterwards, Taihei has to try and converse with Kirie while waiting for Umaru to come home, before trying to solve the mystery of who ate Umaru's pudding overnight.

## Trivia

* The trial that takes place to solve who ate Umaru's pudding cup has references to various anime and video games:
	+ The trial courtroom and the music are based on the *Ace Attorney* series.
		- Taihei's outfit and the "Objection!" word balloon are references to Phoenix Wright from the series.
	+ The mystery anime and game series, *Danganronpa* is referenced when Umaru's hamster hoodie transforms into the design of the series' antagonist, Monokuma, as well as when she does his "*Upupupu*" laugh when her brother Taihei thinks that she might not be lying.
		- Coincidentally, Umaru's Japanese voice actress, Aimi Tanaka, as well as Ami Koshimizu (Kanau Kongo), Inori Minase (Hikari Kongo) and Kikuko Inoue (Miki Tachibana) are also the voice actresses for Himiko Yumeno, Ibuki Mioda, Ruruka Ando and Kirumi Tojo respectively in the third Danganronpa game, *Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony*.
	+ When Umaru points out that Taihei is not wearing sleepwear and slept in casual clothing, a close up shot of his face, which is animated differently, with the caption "*Zuwawa*" (Nervous) scrolling across the screen as he starts to panic is shown. This is a reference to the anime and manga series, *Kaiji*, with Taihei's face in the scene to drawn to match Kaiji Itou.
* The anime store that Sylphnford and UMR visit, Anumate, is a reference to the Japanese anime retail chain, Animate, which is the largest retailer of anime, video games and manga in Japan.
* While at Anumate, there are various references to certain anime and video games:
	+ Sylphyn points out a series called *Precura*, which is a reference to the well known magical girl series *Pretty Cure* or Precure for short.
		- Additionally, the rod thing she picks up resembles the Axe mode for Cure Beat's Love Guitar Rod.
	+ A plush doll of Doraemon can be seen on a shelf behind UMR when she and Sylphynford look at the plush dolls.
	+ A figurine of Vocaloid Hatsune Miku can be seen in various places at the store.
	+ An image of a girl with a handgun and the caption "Mahou Shoujo Kajiki Maguro" (Magical Girl Swordfish Tuna) is shown, which is a parody of *Mahou Shoujo Madoka Magica*.
		- The girl with a handgun and fish helmet is Homura Akemi in her magical girl outfit, while the tiny figure sitting on her helmet is Kyubey.
	+ When UMR and Sylphynford stand in front of a poster of "Space Stream Fighter IV" it is a reference to Street Fighter IV
		- Figurines of Chun-Li and Guy from the video game series can be briefly though they are partial obscured.
	+ In Sylphynford's fantasy, she imagines UMR in space wearing a box with "GAN BAM" written on it, which is a reference to the mecha series, *Gundam*.
	+ The poster with the caption "*I Want to Go... Back To Mars*" is a reference to the series *Terraformars* and the Terraformar.
	+ When Slyphynford spots Alex inside at Anumate, there is a poster for "Yui Okura Strawberry Marshmallow" in reference to voice actress / singer Yui Ogura and her first album "Strawberry Jam", though there is an anime called *Strawberry Marshmallow*
	+ A poster for Assassination Classroom featuring Korosensei can be seen near Alex.
	+ A DVD for Jun Piece can be seen on a shelf at Anumate, which parodies *One Piece* and characters Monkey D. Luffy.