▪	RELEASED BY:		FUNIMATION ENTERTAINMENT
		▪	ASPECT RATIO:		16:9 ANAMORPHIC WIDESCREEN
		▪	AUDIO:		ENGLISH DD 5.1 AND JAPANESE DD 2.0
		▪	RUNNING TIME:		315 MIN
		▪	RATING:		TV MA
		▪	RELEASE DATE:		07/15/2008
		▪	REVIEW DATE:		07/14//2008
		▪	REVIEWED BY:		ROMMEL SALANDANAN

The real meaning of unity lies now exposed in two halves of the same heart, darkness and light that together make a whole. As the Shadow Angels and their wingless rivals rush toward their destiny, the secrets of the Solar Wing are revealed. This could mean either the end of the world or its redemption... One way or the other, the war ends now.

Contains episodes 14-26.

REVIEW:
The second season of Aquarion starts with a quick recap of what transpired in the first season as Sylvia is relieving Apollo’s past through her dreams, as if she were there and experiencing everything that Apollo has gone through in life – from the beginning and up through the death of his friend Byron. Disgusted at first with the notion that she is sharing Apollo’s memories and feelings, she begins to understand his feelings and his importance to her during a battle with an invisible Cherubim Soldier. Acknowledging Apollo’s importance, Sylvia gains new found appreciation and feelings towards Apollo, feelings that will play an important role in the continuing love story of the series and will come into play as part of a heartfelt surprising ending.

Morality strikes the heart of the story when the mischievous and only living child within the Shadow Angels conducts his own attack against the humans and is captured and subjected to brutal experiments. The question is raised as to whether the human actions performed on the child, simply to gain an upper advantage against their enemy, make them any better than the Shadow Angels.

To counter the atrocious act that the humans executed upon their only child, Toma toys with Sirius’ feelings and plays on the secret that burdens him as Toma lures him to join the Shadow Angels. Now, Sirius is on a mission to bring his sister to Atlandia and fulfil an empty prophecy that Toma has led him to believe. Even so, just when they assume that they have the upper hand (since Vector Mars is now in their possession), a shadow from the past returns and brings with him the power of feathers from a young Shadow Angel to combat them with Earth’s latest technological weapon. With him, hints of bringing the final battle to Atlandia, a battle that leads to tragedies and has a delicate nature, could lead to the destruction of both worlds.

The second season of Aquarion shows more of the same formula that the first season has established but with elevated mysticism and more in-depth stories. Outside the primary story arc of the series comes laughter and more supporting character stories. One of the surprising twists that didn’t follow the pattern of the first season is Slyvia’s fixation towards her brother, as this is replaced with her growing affection for and understanding of Apollo. The tree of life comes into focus, as it becomes a crucial part of story that will lead to a bittersweet ending to one aspect of the story and an unsuspecting conclusion to save both worlds.

Secrets are revealed, including some surprising ones, however, as some close with the series, others are left open and raise more questions. Hints on the revelation of Solar Wing’s reincarnation are very much abundant especially in Episode 17 (Merge to Eat), ala M. Night Shalayaman, but it is one of these revelations that will raise morequestions at the end.

The second season continues with more of the same superb soundtrack from Composer Yoko Kanno, and introduces a new opening theme song with a new opening animation on Episode 18. Ms. Kanno’s tenacity to bring music to the series is indispensable part of it, as her music evokes feelings of mysticism, peril, and comedy throughout the series.

Unlike the fist box set, the packaging contains only two discs in separate thinpaks that hold all 13 episodes with a plethora of extras, including an audio commentary on Episode 15 from ADR Director Michael Tatum and Christopher Bevins (Apollo / Apollonius).

EXTRAS:
As mentioned, the second season box set comes with a plethora of extras.

First, the Creation and Development of the Series, which shows the world of Director Shoji Kawamori within the production, extensive researches, and mecha design process of his creation into the wee hours of the morning, including travelling to different countries in Asia. Also noted is that the production took 3 years, but, within that period, it took him over a year to design the Aquarion mechas and transformations using Legos.

Other extras are a lengthy stage drama done by the Japanese voice actors in front of the crowd of Chara-Hobby attendees in 2005, five music videos with soundtracks and video clips from the show. A manga style video hosted by a polygon Silvia that covers the CG effects and one of the final battle in the series with story board comparison, 6 Japanese DVD collections, and the usual FUNimation extras (Textless Songs and Trailers).

IN SUMMARY:
Other than a few plot holes that are left unanswered, Aquarion has plenty of depth and entertainment that goes above and beyond the mecha genre. Mysticism, tragedy, treachery and love are what to expect in this high action mecha-series from mind that brought us the Macross series.