Deep Analysis of “Chi: About the Movement of the Earth” Episode 16 “Let the Operation Begin”

The anime Chi: On the Movements of the Earth is based on Uoto’s award-winning manga of the same name. It’s a story about those who dared to question the geocentric worldview during an era when opposing the religious orthodoxy meant death. With each episode, the anime delves deeper into the tension between truth and belief, between reason and power. In this article, I will focus specifically on Episode 16, titled “The Operation Begins.” This episode is packed with heavy dialogue, philosophical confrontations, and thrilling twists—and I want to unpack all of that in detail.

Warning: This post contains spoilers for Episode 16.

What Happens in Episode 16

Episode 16 opens 25 years after the events of Episode 15. A group of helmeted men escorts a blindfolded prisoner named Schmitt to the hands of the inquisitor Mazure. It’s soon revealed that Schmitt is a member of the Heretical Liberation Front, a radical organization attacking Inquisition centers and freeing those accused of heresy. Schmitt’s unit is especially notorious for its extreme initiation trials, even among their own faction.

Mazure accuses Schmitt of trying to “kill God,” to which Schmitt coolly replies:

“No, it is you who are killing God.”

Schmitt declares that he believes in God, but not the God of the church. He says his mission is to revive a God tainted by human morality and weaken the orthodox church, which he claims is already losing its authority. He further shocks Mazure by saying:

“I don’t believe in any religion. I want to abolish all of them. I’m a naturalist.”

Mazure, disgusted, calls him delusional and condemns the deaths caused by Schmitt’s actions. But Schmitt turns the accusation around, asking:

“How many people have you killed over interpretations of scripture?”

This exchange is razor-sharp. It not only captures the core conflict of the anime—dogma vs. truth—but also places Schmitt in an unusual ideological position: a radical who rejects both religion and atheism in favor of nature as divinity.

The Philosophy Behind Schmitt: Naturalism and Pantheism

Schmitt’s belief system is not mere anti-religion nihilism. He aligns himself with what appears to be pantheism, particularly the kind advanced by 17th-century philosopher Baruch Spinoza, who famously said:

“God is not a transcendent cause, but the immanent cause of all things. God is nature.”

Spinoza, a Jew excommunicated for his radical ideas, was attacked as an atheist. But his concept of God-as-nature resonates strongly with Schmitt’s line:

“God resides not in what humans create, but in nature itself.”

Unlike animism, which sees spirits in mountains, rivers, and trees, Schmitt’s belief feels more monistic—that all existence is divine not because it contains spirits, but because it is God.

A Zodiac Interpretation (Yes, Really)

When Schmitt says:

“I do not pray to God and expect answers. I accept my fate, whatever it may be.”

—I couldn’t help but feel a Pisces vibe. In Western astrology, organized religion is governed by the 9th house (Sagittarius), while mysticism and surrender are ruled by the 12th house (Pisces). The Catholic Church, with its hierarchy and dogma, fits the former. But Schmitt’s worldview—letting go, merging with the unknowable—feels very much like 12th house Pisces energy. Even early Christianity, and the symbol of the fish for Jesus, connects here. Just an astrological side note, but fascinating nonetheless.

The Twist: “Let the Operation Begin”

Back to the plot. Mazure rips off Schmitt’s blindfold—and sees that Schmitt is wearing the same helmet as the escort soldiers. It was a setup. Schmitt says:

“Then, let the operation begin.”

The two “escorts” are actually his allies, and chaos erupts. They plan to raid the vault beneath the interrogation chamber, retrieve a mysterious object, and escape. Schmitt then calmly drops this:

“I’d like to propose a brilliant and elegant solution: Do you know about explosives?”

Boom. Literally.

He explains that “explosives” (likely gunpowder) are rumored to have come from the East. Historically, this tracks—the Chinese invented gunpowder during the Tang dynasty, and it spread westward via the Mongols. Its presence here marks the technological and ideological revolution bubbling beneath the surface of this anime’s world.

Voice Acting Brilliance

By the way, I couldn’t ignore how amazing the voice acting was in this episode. Mazure is voiced by Miyu Irino, and Schmitt by Satoshi Hino. Fans might recognize them as the sibling duo from Karasu wa Aruji wo Erabanai. Irino’s performance felt close to his usual tone, but Hino’s portrayal of Schmitt was completely different from his usual soft-spoken roles, like Lan Wangji in Mo Dao Zu Shi. This Schmitt has zero sweetness—just cool conviction. And it works perfectly.

Final Thoughts

Episode 16 of Chi is nothing short of spectacular. It combines philosophical weight, plot twists, and intense performances, all within its first few minutes. The episode sets up major shifts, not just for the plot, but for the show’s themes: What is truth? Who defines God? And what happens when people begin to see the world through their own eyes, not through the dogma fed to them?

Schmitt’s declaration—“Let the operation begin”—isn’t just the start of a rebellion. It’s the symbolic ignition of a new worldview.

If you’ve been watching Chi, don’t miss this episode. And if you haven’t started the anime yet—now’s the time. This story doesn’t just teach us about planetary motion. It teaches us about the cost of truth.

ぐっち

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私は1985年生まれの大阪出身で、現在は海外赴任で中国(蘇州)に家族(妻/子供/猫)で住んでいます。
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