Date A Live II [デート・ア・ライブⅡ], the title sure makes the series is easy enough to remember, and somehow messily it describes well the whole show. Started as a Japanese LN written by Kōshi Tachibana and illustrated by Tsunako, the series isn't just got animated version but also manga and game version.
No need to linger, let's start the review here and now.
【Download the theme songs here ♪♩♫♬】
The one who carries the task of dating the spirits is Itsuka Shidou, As time passes, Shidou discovers the true form of his younger sister, Itsuka Kotori, as a spirit too. Itsuka Kotori is the one behind the Ratatoskr organization, the head of Fraxinus under Ratatoskr's command. Later, Shidou makes his move and successfully bring the spirit under control, sealing their powers by dating [Shidou makes them believe that they are precious and wanting by someone so they will learn how to love and embrace others rather than destroying living being with their unbelievable spirits power]. The 2nd season brings the same story, but with new characters to fill the scenes.
The show indeed silly and funny while the battle scenes are good. As the starter, the humour was very bad. Tohka powers are fluctuating due to her suspicion over Shidou and Origami affected by the television show she and Yoshino routinely watch. This and all jokes of story opening irritates me since it makes everything looks like silly coincidences, and it turns worse when analytically it happens just for the bridge to the main course of story.
The detected Spirit power comes from Tohka makes her being targeted and immediately be pursued to get killed. Summary the silly television show raises Tohka's power and lead her into a mess faster. In the middle of our main course, we are entertained by new characters and so many fan services out of nowhere as a downfall. I don't mind with fan services as long as it places right on certain situations like the 1st season. The 2nd season presented the ecchi-ness in such low level of beast.
If I should combine two aspects, animation and character development, then my opinion is the animation went so damn well but the story was in rush, it was not good since I could feel the tense of the fighting without the good story and development followed. From the story aspect, Date A Live II series is my guilty pleasure, an average but has a pretty nice animation. The enjoyment boosts a bit around the end of the show, two last episodes are such a blast! All hail war among AST & Spirits ⁽ˆ⁰ˆ⁾
The music is so-so. OP theme is sung by sweet ARMS "Trust in you" and ED theme is sung by Kaori Sadohara "Day to Story". Sadly the catchy character songs aren't my favorite either. Only the insert songs are quite nice, but just by the insert songs won't help much. What needs to be underlined is Kurumi's seiyuu scintillating voice, gives only Kurumi extra point in my sight. The mysterious, psychotic aura of Kurumi is increasing unstoppable whenever she speaks in absorbing tone.
I still enjoy the series because of its graphic and intense fighting, especially last two episodes it's still burning in my brain. Feels like the story shows us the meaning of trusting someone and try the hardest even if others stop to looking at you. My rate is 7 only.
Pros:
- Good animation
- Intense fighting scenes
- Overwhelming amount of fan service
- The progress of story is somewhat so silly (like ecchiness only)
増原 紀花