After completing their mission in Cephiro, the Magic Knights Hikaru, Umi, and
Fuu go back home to Tokyo. But the three girls can never forget the tragic
battle they had to fight, and could find no peace in their hearts. The girls decide to meet at Tokyo Tower, where it all began.
When they get there, a mysterious force pulls them back to the world of
Cephiro... where more battles await them. But Cephiro has changed for the
worse since the death of Princess Emeraude.
The once glorious land is now filled with darkness and despair, and it's only
a matter of time before it crumbles altogether.
To top it off, the three neighboring countries of Autozam, Fahren, and Chizeta
all want to invade Cephiro. But the real enemy lurks within Cephiro itself,
and the Magic Knights have to figure things out quickly before time runs
out...
Review: Magic Knight Rayearth II
A lot of people have told me that second season Magic Knight Rayearth is the
best Magic Knight Rayearth I'll ever see, and so I had very high expectations
riding on this series. What can I say? They're absolutely right.
Although Magic Knight Rayearth 2's a bit of a slow starter, the plot quickly
pans out after the introductory episodes.
I was practically glued to the screen after the first few eps -- I just
couldn't stop watching! Quite a number of interesting and memorable new
characters are added to the mix.
I can only marvel at the way they are given sufficient characterization and
development. What's more, the neighboring countries aren't really bad guys. They all have valid reasons for wanting to take over Cephiro.
Complicating things further is the fact that the Magic Knights manage to get
along well with the foreigners, even amidst the fighting.
The invasions are far from the main problem though, as the Magic Knights
themselves begin to doubt the Pillar system which holds Cephiro together.
Magic Knight Rayearth 2 is undoubtedly much more intense than its predecessor,
both in terms of fighting action and emotional depth.
A lot of soul-searching goes on, and whatever issues carried over from Magic Knight Rayearth 1 are duly resolved.
The battles are spectacular -- a magnificent combination of swordsmanship,
melee fighting, and magic. I was mesmerized as the Magic Knights battled everything from the sleek mechs
of Autozam to the mystical djinns of Chizeta.
For all its intensity, however, Magic Knight Rayearth 2 is balanced nicely by
brief infusions of humor even in the gravest of situations.
Magic Knight Rayearth 2 also retains Magic Knight Rayearth 1's RPG elements as
the girls continue to "level up" -- growing stronger and learning new
spells.
The art and animation are generally superb, with a few inconsistently drawn
eps which sport slightly inferior illustration
(you probably won't even notice if you're not meticulous). The songs and music are excellent as well.
Overall, Magic Knight Rayearth 2 gives you more of everything. If you thought
Magic Knight Rayearth 1 was good, Magic Knight Rayearth 2 is phenomenal and
should not be missed!
Miscellanies: Magic Knight Rayearth II
To get the full story, check out Magic Knight Rayearth's first season. You can actually watch Magic Knight Rayearth 2 on its own but it'd be a lot
more impactful if you watch Magic Knight Rayearth 1 first.
Related Articles: Magic Knight Rayearth OVA Anime Review
DVD extras include art galleries, spell lists, and trailers among others. The
DVD set's box is also very impressive.
Magic Knight Rayearth II | |
| Genre | Adventure, Drama, Fantasy, Romance |
|---|---|
| Episodes | 29 |
| Status | Finished Airing |
| Aired | Apr 10, 1995 to Nov 27, 1995 |
| Producers | - |
| Studio | TMS Entertainment |
| Rating | PG-13 - Teens 13 or older |
| Themes | Isekai, Mecha |
0 comments
Post a Comment