An episode pauses for a brief illustrated card, logo or short animation, then returns to the story. This kind of intermission element is often called an eyecatch. It may mark the place where a broadcast break belongs, even when the streaming presentation has no advertisement at that point.
The term also appears in official home-video materials: Crunchyroll’s November 2025 release announcement lists an Eyecatch Gallery among the extras for an Attack on Titan release. That listing confirms a particular extra; it does not mean every series uses the device in the same way.
Look at what the pause does
Does the card simply identify the series, offer a playful character image or present a small piece of information? Notice its relationship to the scene before and after it. A serious cliffhanger followed by a light visual can create a different rhythm from a neutral logo between two quiet scenes.
Keep the eyecatch separate from an opening sequence, ending sequence or next-episode preview. Those elements occupy different positions and can have different jobs. The distinction helps when discussing an episode without treating every non-story image as the same kind of extra.
Compare within one release
Watch a few episodes through a lawful source and note whether the card changes. Record the episode and the visible feature rather than relying on memory. If a later edition omits or alters an element, identify the version before concluding that another viewer missed it.
For an original design exercise, sketch a brief intermission card for an imaginary series. Decide whether its job is orientation, atmosphere or a small joke. Use your own characters and shapes rather than reproducing an existing production’s artwork.
An eyecatch does not have to advance the plot to contribute to the viewing experience. Its brevity makes framing, timing and sound especially noticeable. Paying attention to that small pause can reveal how an episode organises attention around the story as well as within it.