‘The Ancient Magus’ Bride’ Season 2 Part 1 Review- School Time For Chise
This anime aired in 2023.
After much patience, The Ancient Magus’ Bride returned for a second season to entertain fans with its supernatural thrills. Studio Kafka and director Kazuaki Terasawa return to adapt the anime based on the dark fantasy manga from Kore Yamazaki.
The Japanese Sleigh Beggy Chise (Dani Chambers) has settled into life with the magus Elias Ainsworth (Brian Mathis) and her canine familiar Ruth (Austin Tindle). She is offered an opportunity to attend an alchemy school so that she can gain more skills and find a cure for the magical ailments in her arm and eye. Elias agrees but takes a professor job so he can be close by. Chise meets other students, including her old friend Alice Swayne (Jennifer Green), who is there with her mentor, Mikhail Renfred (Jarrod Greene). As she befriends more students and gets to know her volatile roommate Lucy (Sarah Roach), the faculty becomes aware of a strange conspiracy afoot.
As I said in my review of the OVA, I was hesitant when I heard Wit Studio had turned over production to Studio Kafka. It is not rare for an anime to get worse when it changes hands. I can honestly say this was not the case. I could barely tell a difference in the animation, which is a testimony to Studio Kafka’s talented animators. They brought the old ones to life and introduced new ones in a brilliant way.
The shift from Chise exploring the magical world to the academy was very interesting. I am not a fan of all of the new characters, but I do like following along as she and Elias encounter new threats in this unfamiliar setting. Though this part was shorter, I am glad to hear that it will come back sooner.
Check out the trailer below:
This review is based on the English dub that is featured on Crunchyroll.
PARENTAL CONCERNS: Violence, Minor foul language, Disturbing images
What do you think? Let me know in the comments below. Tell me if there is a comic book, movie, anime, or novel you would like me to review.