Robby and Ikku learn the shocking truth – Hatchi is the prince of the Moon. As the Luna Guard and Yang close in on them, Hatchi says “I want to see the end of this journey together with Robby and Ikku!” What is Robby’s decision?
Meanwhile, something terrible is happening on Earth... How will this journey end?!
The episode opens with the opening to Galaxy Traveler Hizakuriger before resuming from where the show left off in the previous episode – Hatchi confessing he is the Moon prince when faced with the fact Luna Guard came to pick him up.
Luna Guard fleet approaching the landing area.Captain of the Luna Guard giving out orders.
Robby and Ikku completely dismiss the information – Ikku asks if they are going to the priestess café, after all, but Robby reminds that Yang is chasing him so he neds to flee. He then asks Hatchi what they are going to do now, and Hatchi replies he wants to continue the journey until the end – returning back to where they started, together. The group then has to run as Yang’s ship approaches them fast – the same can be said about the Luna Guard fleet.
Robby and Hatchi trying to escape from the Luna Guard.
However, Yang, annoyed that someone is getting in his way, smashes the giant fake Akafucrystal into the ships, knocking them all but one off course. Thus begins a double chase – Nagaya Voyager running from Yang’s Finance and the sole remaining Luna Guard ship.
Ikku manages to temporarily hide the Nagaya Voyager in a niche within a group of containers floating in space. Taking a breather, Robby teases Hatchi about the prior revelation, joking that maybe the latter is actually a criminal, for why would a prince be on a run – Hatchi responds by pulling up his passport which confirms his story. The teasing continues then, now in a different tone heavily focused on money, until Hatchi snaps and says that being a prince doesn’t make him any different and confesses he has no more money he can freely withdraw as he used it all up to pay Robby’s debt – the latter he clearly intended to keep a secret.
After a few more questions Hatchi says he did this because he wanted to go to Isekandar with Robby, gives more information on his background and explains why he ended up working for Yang – he ran from the Luna Embassy and was picked up from the streets, from the same place as previously Allo and Gras, and hired by Yang’s Finance.
Hatchi then talks about how his grandfather was the first man to land on the Moon, then was offered an alien base as thanks for helping an alien suffering from chronic cramps and using that as a foundation, made a vast fortune trading with aliens and founded a kingdom.
He, himself, ran from home because it felt too stifling and he had his whole life decided for him. However, as it turns out, when he attempted to escape the Nagaya Voyager during its unexpected take off from its sitting place in Neo-Tokyo, he found out he was actually closely followed by his guard – they attempted to retrieve him, calling his act a stunt. This is why he decided not to take the opportunity to escape the ship before it took off.
He confesses he doesn’t regret the decision now – the journey was thrilling and made his heart pound, for which he thanks Robby. Robby, in turn, drops to his knees and apologises for being the reason the Luna Guard found them.
The heartfelt moment is interrupted by Yang who found the Nagaya Voyager and captured it with his tractor beam. Hatchi, surprised, asks why they are still being followed even after the debt was paid, but Robby says he has no clue – even though a brief flashback to Yang yelling “ass-butt!” at him at Hamama II suggests he has at least a vague idea. Nagaya Voyager breaks free when the Luna ship shoots at Yang’s ship and the two engage in battle. Hatchi notices an entrance to a secret hyperroad used by Dontsu. Ikku latches Nagaya Voyager on another Dontsu ship which is just preparing to enter it and this way they go on the hyperroad.
Left behind, Yang realises that though he seemingly is winning against the Luna ship, he completely lost track of Robby. Shortly, Allo and Gras also locate the entrance to the secret hyperroad and enter it.
Yang, Allo and Gras chasing Robby on Dontsu's hyperroad.
Meanwhile Ikku discovers the hyperroad, which is exclusively used by Dontsu to travel between the Earth and Isekandar, is ridiculously fast – in no time at all the group has reached Haccone already, then the Solar System just a moment later. Unfortunately, Yang catches up to them and ruthlessly rams the Dontsu ship out of his way. Just as his spacecraft is about to capture the Nagaya Voyager, the remaining Luna ship bumps into Yang’s vehicle, disturbing its flight and causing Robby, Hatchi and Ikku to be knocked off the hyperroad.
Meanwhile, a menacing alien ship descends over the Earth and communicates it will attack the planet. There seems to be no hope for the Earth, but as the blast port opens and prepares to shoot, Nagaya Voyager falls from hyperspace and dives down. To avoid crashing, Ikku pulls the ship up and ends up clogging the blast port. A fast analysis of their situation shows them they are in danger, so the group runs for their life – they manage to escape in Hizakuriger, glowing bright thanks to a new function (upgraded Hizakuri Beam) installed on Yokkamarché, and due to the clogging, the alien ship ends up destroying itself while trying to shoot its blast. The Earth is saved.
An older man recognises Hizakuriger from the anime which he watched when he was young, so when Robby, Hatchi and Ikku descend, they are greeted by a chanting crowd and declared the saviours of mankind. Yang’s Finance and Luna Guard both crashed into an office building owned by Dontsu. Later on, Robby, Hatchi and Ikku are photographed as heroes, all while the Luna Guard watch from a distance. Robby says he's been contacted regarding the licenses for Galaxy Traveler Hizakuriger, so he expects to earn money and repay his debt to Hatchi soon – something the latter seems to slightly doubt. In his pocket, Robby discovers the rock he picked up on Isekandar – it breaks and reveals a small Akafucrystal inside, to which he attributes their luck on their way back home. Robby offers the Akafucrystal to Hatchi, calling it a token of their adventure – after a moment, Hatchi accepts it.
The ending credits reveal the next developments for the cast.
The license deals Robby mentioned bore fruit – a new anime called Hizakuriger Returns was streamed and related merch is selling out – there is even an Ikku plushie to get. Robby got the money he wanted to have and gawks in luxury and female company.
Yang, still loyally supported by Allo and Gras, at last reconciles with his love being unrequited – however, a new client visits him, looking suspiciously similar to Robby, and he appears to gain a new crush.
However, the good streak doesn’t seem to last – Robby is soon seen again out of money after the Hizakuriger bubble burst rather quickly, and is sitting dejected on the same street where Yang found Allo and Hatchi and Allo found Gras. Unexpectedly to him, he is approached by Ikku – who taunts him about being helpless without his help – and Hatchi in full royal attire. He asks Robby to go on another journey to find happiness – and Robby instantly agrees.
In some online spaces, the episodes are available with no addition, in others: with a short animation at the beginning indicating that Funimation was the show’s original licensor. The animation lasts for 7 seconds and ends with a purple screen with “Funimation” written on it.
For checking the timestamps for used music tracks, please select the tab that reflects the presence or lack of this short intro animation.
Robby: So, what is the great prince of the Moon going to do?
Hatchi: Don’t call me that. Robby: Okay, Hatchi, what do you want to do? I’m asking you what you want. Hatchi: Well, I don’t want that [being picked up by the Luna Guard]. I don’t want to go back until our journey is over. I want to see this journey through to the end with you, Robby! And you too, of course, Ikku.
Robby: Hmm. Well, an excursion is still an excursion until you get home. Let’s go! We’re sticking together until the end!
Robby: Hatchi, things have been so hectic, it almost slipped my mind, but why is a prince on the run?
Hatchi: Huh? Why, that’s a great question. Robby: Actually, are you even really prince of the Moon? You’re sure you didn’t commit some crime and go on the lam? Hatchi: No way! I really am the prince of the Moon! Look!
Robby: Let’s see here, “Nationality: the Moon; Profession: prince.” Whoa! It says his profession is “prince”!
Ikku: Hey, Robby, get a clue. In period dramas, you often see a girl from town, dressed in a kimono, slumped over by the side of the road. Then a passing samurai asks her, “What’s the matter?” and the girl from town usually says, “I have chronic cramping.”
Robby: Sure, that’s a staple of period dramas. Ikku: According to my analysis, 90% of the time when that happens, it’s diarrhoea. Robby: That makes sense. I mean, the girl from town isn’t about to say “I’m suffering from a case of loose stools” to a samurai that she’s just meeting for the first time, right? Though, for my part, whether the lady has the trots or is puking, I’d be like “Everybody’s okay!”
Ikku: Lowlife scum.
Robby: Damn it, Yang doesn’t know when to quit!
Hatchi: But your debt has been paid; why is he still after you? Robby: Huh? Yang (flashback): Ass-butt!
Robby: Heh-heh, why, indeed?
Robby: Damn it, what is Dontsu doing, making us regular people take the long way and spend so much money?!
Ikku: What’s wrong, Robby? You really are hopeless without me along, aren’t you?
Robby: Hatchi, Ikku… Hatchi: How about we go off once again to find some happiness? On a new journey!
The opening song Tensai no Playlist is played at the end of the episode instead of the beginning. This one time, the second half of the song is used instead of the first, as usual.
Dontsu’s private hyperroad might be based off the first railways in Japan, which were also only for private use.
Hatchi: I'd come to Earth for some kind of ceremony.
As Hatchi says this, a TV screen in the background displays the word “Reiwa”. This is the current era of Japan’s official calendar which was announced on April 1 2019 – which allows to assume RobiHachi stared on April 2 (a day after Hatchi ran from the embassy).
The alien spaceship which threatens to destroy the Earth recreates a similar scene from Independence Day.
The older woman who recites a prophesy when the glowing Hizakuriger descends from the sky (“He, clothed in golden robes, shall descend from out of the flames.”) is a direct parody of Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind in which a village matriarch prophesises: “He, clothed in blue robes, shall descend from a golden field.”
Yang’s Finance’s ship crashing into the roof of a building makes it an ornament just like the shachihoko – which the ship is shaped like – is a traditional castle roof decoration.
Yang’s new (presumed) debtor offers him a box of imo yokan – a jelly dessert made of sweet potato and sugar.
Ikku writing a novel about Robby and Hatchi is a nod to Ikku Jippensha, the author of the original Hizakurige.
The matchmaking planet Izumondar, to which Robby and Hatchi are suggested to go next, is named after two things at once, just like Isekandar. Isekandar was named after Iskandar and the Ise Shrine (see trivia notes to episode 11), Izumondar – after Iskandar and Izumo Shrine to which people pilgrimage to pray for a perfect spouse. It’s also a popular wedding venue.
Staff notes for the episode:
Opening: We started making a long anime, but the studio has yet to return our call. It’s almost as though they’re on a journey of adventure (sob).
Ending: The episode of RobiHachi you just enjoyed is the last one. Thanks for watching. So, where should they go on their next journey? To the matchmaking planet of Izumondar? Won’t you take your own journey beyond expectations? See you somewhere out in the universe!
