Auction Day

* Episode
* JPN dub

***Auction Day*** is the first episode of the *ENA* animated series.

## Plot

At the beginning, a stage is shown with numerous Headtombs gathered around. Ena and Moony are approaching the stage, where an auction will be held soon. Moony hurries Ena, stating that they need to hurry up and find a spot while Ena moves about. Ena positively states that the days of the auctions are the grandest of days before her eyes show static and she turns into her sad state, crying out that today will be "Awful!" before stating that it will be the worst day of her life.

Arriving at the auction, Moony is surprised at the crowd present and comments that everyone is ugly. Moony then asks Ena what her guess is for what would be for sale that day. Ena, still in her sad state, begins to put herself down and asks why she would know, and says that she's too stupid to even imagine anything. Shortly after these comments, she reverts to her previous state and apologizes to Moony for her response.

On the auction stage, a blue and purple cassette tape rises before its arms fade in. It grabs a small puppet and inserts its green proboscis into the back of its head, making it jolt into action. The puppet welcomes the bidders to the daily auction and presents the item to be sold, a dog inside an hourglass. The Auctioneer seems quite confused with the item being sold, but quickly regains composure and offers a starting price of 20 chocolates. As the price is announced, Ena happily compliments Moony for her brilliant foresight upon seeing the big offer that starts off the auction. Moony remarks about how the dog looks like it has something to say before laughing at her own joke, receiving a questioned look and a comment from a very confused Ena, asking Moony what's wrong with her.

Upon hearing the starting price of 20 chocolates, the Headtombs around Ena and Moony begin to chatter before they bid. One tomb bids 50 chocolates, surprising the Auctioneer, who asks if there is a counter bid. Another tomb offers 400 chocolates while a third one offers one fatty catty. The Auctioneer starts to announce the fatty catty bid before beginning to finalize the bid for the Hourglass Dog, only to be interrupted by falling rain-rocks crushing some of the Headtombs. As Ena and Moony look up at a large passing head, Moony sadly claims that the auction will be canceled due to the rock rain.

As the two stare up at the sky, Ena suddenly puts both her hands over her mouth and static fills her eyes. She falls onto her knees and vomits static onto the ground, disgusting Moony as she tells Ena that that was rude and she ought to ask permission first. Ena apologizes and laments her lack of intelligence while talking with her sad voice. Ena then turns her head towards the static she vomited and watches as it transforms into an Hourglass Dog, identical to the one being sold at the auction.

## Trivia

* The voice actor for Ena's happy side is Marc Rafanan in this episode instead of Gabe Velez. This is the only occurrence in which Marc voices Ena.
* *Auction Day* is currently the only *ENA* episode that is fully in 4:3 aspect ratio. Currently, all other episodes afterwards use fullscreen displays.
	+ However, the beginning segment of *Extinction Party* uses this format as well, though this is not carried over once Ena enters the Maze.
* The head present in the sky while the rain rocks fall is modeled after Joel Guerra's face.

* Despite Ena's comment about auction days being the "utmost grand of days", the auctioneer calls the event the "daily auction", implying they're not actually that special.
* While Ena transforms into her sadder form near the beginning of the episode, a single frame shows her with her mouth and nose on the black side of her face. This unique transformation is never seen outside of this episode.
	+ A similar occurrence appears when she reverts back to normal, showing her face switched to its black side as static fills the white side.
* Before icosa, another track by Oliver Buckland titled "I got cross at this because I couldn't develop it so it sat alone on my hard drive for 4 months" was almost chosen as the music for *Auction Day*.

### Cultural references and inspirations

* The episode's aesthetic was inspired by the game *The Town with No Name*.

## Concept art

All of the concept art in this gallery appears in the credits for *Auction Day*.

Concept art of the Overworld.Concept art of the Auctioneer and three Headtombs.Episode storyboard 1.Episode storyboard 2.Concept art of the Hourglass Dog inside the hourglass.
## References

1. ↑ Revealed to be chocolates in the French subtitles for the episode.
2. ↑ https://soundcloud.com/oliver-buckland/i-got-cross-at-this-because-i-couldnt-develop-it-so-it-sat-alone-on-my-hard-drive-for-4-months-i-give-up
3. ↑ https://twitter.com/JoelGuerraC/status/1310805699618836481
4. ↑ https://twitter.com/JoelGuerraC/status/1364371161631571969

## External links

* *Auction Day* on Newgrounds
* *Auction Day* on YouTube
* *Auction Day* on Twitter
* *Auction Day* on Instagram