Sometimes a change in tone from the previous season to the next one can be a good thing for a series. This depends on the show in question. The writers want to take a different direction on where the plot is going and change the atmosphere. As long as they keep adding new elements to the story that doesn’t detract from what makes it suitable, that can be a welcoming change. Just don’t assume everyone will be 100% on board with it. The 2nd season of Sidonia no Kishi can be classified under this predicament.
Many anime fans were hooked by Sidonia no Kishi’s dark and oppressive story that they felt as though they were watching an anime with a mature tone, unlike many anime that came out during their seasonal run. It certainly felt that way with the apocalyptic setting in space that you usually don’t see very often. Unfortunately, not many people will see this sudden change with bated breath halfway through this season. For Sidonia no Kishi: Daikyuu Wakusei Seneki, there is a Slice of Life/RomCom section to this season that takes up about eight episodes of the season. Not to say that these genres predominately occupy the first half, but it crops up more often than people would be used to in an anime like this.
The side that I have placed myself on whether I approve or disapprove of this tonal shift is on the positive side. We have grown to sympathize with the characters previously in an entire season that it doesn’t feel out of place. There is a good sense of genuine camaraderie between the character interactions that shows how close the characters are and drives them to survive in the hostile universe they inhabit. These can include romantic developments that end in humorous outcomes but still feel on-point to make us like the characters more. It is essential to create these scenarios at some point. The characters aren’t just archetypes to move the plot along; you must learn to appreciate the amusement generated by characters to feel any empathy towards them.
The addition of the new character, named Tsumugi, is one element of the comedic aspect of the 2nd season. She could be considered the comic relief to the series. However, she isn’t a stick in the mud in how she is treated in the story. Tsumugi wants to be liked by everyone in the human world. Her development with our primary and side characters is done with reasonable care, from how she interacts innocently to what many guana’s do that the humans are used to. Season 2 takes its time to create her presence in the story for us to accept her part of the role in it. It’s also remarkable that, despite how she doesn’t have many facial expressions to show off emotion, she still has about as many expressions as any other character in Sidonia no Kishi.
As previously mentioned, even though the first half is mainly comedy, there are still some serious plot devices thrown out in-between. They service the plot decently enough to continue it along. The last four episodes are where the story kicks into gear with a nail-biting climax that quickly gets you back into the epic journey that made me be engaged by the 1st season. A few moments in these last episodes are as intense as in the previous season. Thankfully it ends off better than the 1st season, which I felt was a little rushed in many areas. Instead of a half-baked attempt at closing up character plot devices, the show takes its time to give the characters some conclusion to their roles and what is to come off next in the next season.
The one significant improvement to season 2 from season 1 is the animation, especially with the CGI. The 1st season, while undoubtedly impressive in the action sequences and space backgrounds, felt lacking in the character animation movements and facial expressions. This has been a problem for many CGI anime shows that have recently started to diversify animation styles in anime. The 2nd season’s animation still has the same CGI animation techniques, but they improve a lot from the earlier problems by making the characters more lively and less robotic.
With a healthy dose of humorous and dramatic scenarios mixed in, I would say this season is a great sequel that does not trump the 1st season, nor is it a lesser season. Different facets to it make Sidonia no Kishi: Daikyuu Wakusei Seneki unique in the series, making it more than just a typical continuation. That is something to admire for. We don’t know where this series will head, but with one good sequel on the belt, the chances of continuing this good trend are of a higher margin.
Grade: A-
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