 | | ▪ | RELEASED BY: | | FUNIMATION ENTERTAINMENT | | | ▪ | ASPECT RATIO: | | 16:9 ANAMORPHIC WIDESCREEN | | | ▪ | AUDIO: | | ENGLISH DD 5.1 / 2.0 & JAPANESE DD 2.0 | | | ▪ | RUNNING TIME: | | 320 MIN | | | ▪ | RATING: | | TV MA | | | ▪ | RELEASE DATE: | | 05/20/2008 | | | ▪ | REVIEW DATE: | | 05/27/2008 | | | ▪ | REVIEWED BY: | | HOLLY ELLINGWOOD |
SYNOPSIS:
It's tough to keep your grades up without having to take off at a moment's notice to save the world. But for Sousuke Sagara, undercover high school student and member of the mercenary group Mithril, life in Tokyo seemed the same as always. But underneath the promising exterior spin the wheels of a conspiracy that threaten to destroy the peace. A new threat has arisen: Amalgam.
An unknown element with advanced mech technology, this mysterious organization has been running things from behind the scenes. As dissension spreads throughout the ranks of Mithril, Sousuke faces his own internal struggle. Spread thin between schoolwork and war, the powers that be have decided to lighten his load... beginning with Kaname!
Life and death hang in the balance as the clash between good and evil scale new heights. When the smoke clears, Sousuke's path will be the one that he forges for himself.
Contains all 13 episodes of the second season as well as bonus episode 000 and the special OVA Tessa episode!
REVIEW:
The second season of Full Metal Panic (FMP: TSR) has more action, just as many thrills, and outstanding animation for FMP fans. Much more than a simple mecha anime, it’s the human relationships and surprising secrets that are the strength of the story. Like the first season, TSR follows along the lines of the light novels by Shouji Gatou the anime is based on. Sousuke hands are full not only with his undercover job at high school protecting Kaname, an ordinary girl who is anything but ordinary (she’s one of the Whispered, those who can access Black Technology), but he must thwart a secret organization that wants Kaname for its own sinister purposes. This organization not only threatens Kaname and the world order, it also has close ties to one of Mithril’s own. Intrigue and action make for an explosive mix in the series. A rising crisis in China separates Sousuke from Kaname, leaving her with a stranger as her protector, much to Sousuke’s dislike. Worse still, her new guardian seems to be there not for her protection, but merely observation. Without Sousuke, Kaname is now vulnerable to those who want her and her powers for their own use. Each stripped of the other, vulnerable, and confused, they are about to face the greatest danger they have known - alone. Sousuke is the only one who can pilot the Arbalest yet he is distracted by thoughts of Kaname and his concerns about the agent Wraith. Yet he might be the only hope in helping to prevent China from being thrown into civil war. But his feelings towards Kaname bring only confusion and conflict, one that pushes Sousuke to make a shocking choice late in the series. With the emergence of the shadow organization Amalgam comes the biggest threat Mithril has yet had to face. And Sousuke is about to be reunited with a very old enemy. At the same time Kaname is targeted by deadly assassins and Sousuke is no longer even in the country. Ever impulsive as she is brave, she sets out on her own to find out who is watching her and confront the people who are striking fear in her heart. The action in the second series is astounding. It’s intense and much more focused on the suspense and action aspects than the first season. TSR really hits home as well as showing more dramatically the triangle between Kaname, Sousuke and Tessa. For all the seriousness and grave peril, there are still fun and furious guns blazing moments with Mao and Weber. There is one unforgettable scene with Mao holding off a swarm of bad guys while in a stunning evening dress. So there’s still some fun and humor in between the main plot. One of the stand out episodes and favorite for me out of the series is the episode “Her Problem”. It shows Kaname without Sousuke facing off on a rain soaked rooftop against an assassin with a machete, showing her savvy as well as her courage. Also she stands all alone against the true enemy of Mithril. There is even a stolen kiss. It’s an exceptional episode out of the anime that reveals both Kaname’s strength and her vulnerability. One of the most dramatic differences in TSR is that it separates Kaname and Sousuke early on and they do not get reunited until very late in the series. Although their stories run parallel and often mirror each other emotionally, it is the separation that both undoes them and remakes them. The reunion, when it occurs, is emotionally satisfying on every level. It touches on the comedic aspects of their heartwarming relationship while still relaying the deeper undertones. The animation shines at that key moment with a beautiful sunrise outlying the two figures together again. The anime builds to a climax with a confrontation with Gates and his insane plan to cause civil war in the large country. It has a most disturbing interaction with the twin sisters and the insane villain Gates which makes him utterly despicable. It would have been more complete if there had been a greater resolution involving the leader of Amalgam and the organization in general, but TSR focuses on the crisis in China and the reunion between Kaname and Sousuke. In the end Sousuke makes a choice as to whether he will be a Mithril soldier or a regular high school student with Kaname. In choosing his own path, he is all the stronger when he faces the powerful villain in the new ARMS unit. His own path forged, the anime builds to an unforgettable conclusion for FMP fans. English dubbed has the same voice actors as the first season so English dubbed fans can rest easy and rejoice. The opening song is a low key feel good theme called “Southern Wind” sung by Mikuni Shimokawa who also sings the pretty ending theme “I Wanna See You Again”. The animation is superb. Kyoto Animation again impresses with their glossy work, attention to background details, and rich character designs. It still looks like the FMP fans have come to know and love while raising the animation grade still higher. The action scenes are striking in every regard. It’s not just the fluidity, or the powerful explosions, but the stunning backgrounds that help create the atmosphere to each scene.
EXTRAS:
There is an amazing amount of bonus features one these four discs. Along with the usual clean opening and ending animation, trailers of other anime titles from FUNimation, there are commentaries from the Japanese voice cast one every single episode! It also has video extras of location searches by the anime crew including the director and producer as they travel to Hong Kong as well as a tour of the Japanese Self-Defense Force, and a narrated short documentary on the evolution of the light novel and its relation to anime including interviews with publishers and the artist and author of FMP. Other bonuses include the short episode 000 and the full length special OVA episode which focuses on a comical day in the life of Tessa. The box set has a lovely fold out design that holds all the discs and features full color art on the panels. It also includes all four booklets that came with the original single disc releases. They are in full color images and include character profiles, background information, and arm and mecha designs.
IN SUMMARY:
The second series of Full Metal Panic has stellar action animation and riveting drama. |
