^My feelings towards this season of Tsurune, in a single image.

Season 2 of Tsurune is something I did not expect from Kyoto Animation, but nonetheless, a very welcome thing. In a winter season of anime that has seen so many delays and production issues, it’s safe to say that Kyoto Animation still holds the gold standard when it comes to consistency in production, as well as a very healthy production schedule. While the story may not be something that stands out a lot, I still appreciated how down-to-earth and grounded in realism it can be, with very organic growth and improvement around the characters, and their kyudo skills. Season 2 felt like a massive improvement to Season 1 due to a more balanced approach to character development, focusing on a wider range of characters. It also felt even more serene and quiet compared to the previous season, and that was a product of how the characters developed. The animation, direction, and sound design were second to none this season, and it proves to me one thing, that Kyoto Animation is still one of the best studios in the industry, and no matter what they do, it will look polished and beautiful all the way through.

I personally have zero interest in kyudo / archery as a sport, but Kyoto Animation has this power to make anything awesome, even if it’s centred around a sport I have no interest in. In sports shows, the most important aspect is how characters grow and improve. The path to success in any sport isn’t easy, and in this show, there are many opponents and obstacles along the way. My biggest issue with sports anime in general is how the results sometimes don’t feel earned, and the protagonists just win just for the sake of plot advancement, but in this show, every result feels organic and deserved. The work is put in, and it’s not just hard training, it’s realizing your mistakes, whether if it’s a mental block, team chemistry, or something else. The show also doesn’t feel like a conventional sports anime, in that it doesn’t rely on shock value at all, which is a breath of fresh air.

The animation is pure beauty, and there’s zero debate to be had here. You simply cannot look at this show and call it bad art. Kyoto Animation is a very special studio, and should be a very positive influence on the anime industry as a whole. You can feel the kyudo club’s triumphs through some of the direction, and listening to the soundtrack paired with watching what was on screen made me feel I was up close and watching them shoot every arrow to near perfection. The immaculate animation and soundtrack feels oh so warm, pleasing, and provides me with enough joy that I even shed some tears in some of the matches, regardless of the result of said matches.

However, truly transcendent anime cannot be carried by animation alone, and while the directing and compositing are virtually perfect, the story and characters are great in their own right. The story isn’t really standout on its own, but combined with the developments of the characters, it works well. The kyudo club has come a long way for sure. Minato continues to be as hard working as ever, and his love for the sport continues to carry him closer and closer to stardom. Onogi is considerably less loud this season, which is a good sign that the team has changed since the beginning. Seiya is as calm and collected as ever, and the most consistent of the bunch. Nanao is still quite happy go lucky, and his interactions with Onogi continue to be a joy, and their dynamic was explored very well this season. Ryohei is a dork as always, while he may be the weakest player on the team, he still strives to get better. I also appreciated the increased role the girls of the kyudo club had this season, though I still wish they had more screen time.

Another fantastic thing I noticed this season is that each school has a mutual respect towards opposing schools, unlike in other sports shows, where students in opposing schools are constantly obnoxious towards one another. It fits KyoAni’s identity of serenity and calmness very well, and makes for very interesting interactions during and outside of competitions. The schools can even be inspirations for one another, and the students forge nice bonds with each other, which felt very nice.

The plot may be quite mundane at times, but Kyoto Animation has the power to bring forth beauty in the mundane. They make the art of kyudo look incredible, and brought me great happiness in watching a sport I could otherwise care less about. It has the mark of KyoAni all over it, with it being soothing, healing, and full of heart. It’s a somewhat spiritual journey as well, and even in wins and losses, it doesn’t matter, because every match’s outcome feels earned and correct. Sure, it had its share of melodrama and a few stagnant moments, but that’s more of a nitpick than anything. This show didn’t have me on the edge of my seat, awaiting the next shot, but had me revelling in the sheer beauty that a single shot can have.

Folks, this is truly what cinema looks like.

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