Alternative Titles
Zero's Familiar 2nd Series; Zero no Tsukaima S2; The Familiar of Zero: The Rider of the Twin Moons; Zero's Familiar: Knight of the Twin Moons
Information
Type: TV
Episodes: 12
Status: Finished Airing
Aired: Jul 9, 2007 to Sep 24, 2007
Duration:
24 min. per episode Rating:
PG-13 - Teens 13 or older
L represents licensing company
StatisticsScore: 7.911 (scored by 8855 users)
Ranked: #3002
Popularity: #78
Members: 12,508
Favorites: 168 1 indicates a weighted score
My Info
Popular Tags
comedy drama ecchi fantasy magic romance |
SynopsisThis sequel is a continuation of the previous season, not long after the war. Louise and Saito seemingly getting along now since she knows that he had given up his only chance to return to Tokyo for her. The story continues as Louise begins to use Void Magic from a mysterious secret book she had recieved from her majesty Henrietta, while a new villain has appeared in town causing trouble. (Source: ANN) |
Related AnimeAdaptation: Zero no Tsukaima Prequel: Zero no Tsukaima Sequel: Zero no Tsukaima ~Princesses no Rondo~
Characters & Voice Actors
Staff
Recommendations
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Both involve Season two of their counterparts, and how the lead male characters and lead female characters relationships have gone to the next level.
In ZnT they both realize their relationships that they love each other, although they stay far from it.
In SnS the lead female feels emotions unknown to her, thus she does not know how to react to them or what to do.
Shana and Louise have the same personality, both have a good balance of comedy and action.
Both have the harem elements all over. If you just love watching Kugimiya Rie (seiyuu) and Hino Satoshi (seiyuu) in action together, definitely pick up both.
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both are hilarious, and have their maincharacters beaten to near death more than a few times every episode.
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Reviews
| Overall |
8 |
| Story |
7 |
| Animation |
8 |
| Sound |
7 |
| Character |
7 |
| Enjoyment |
8 |
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Oct 9, 200712 of 12 episodes seen 32 of 41 people found this review helpful Well, I suppose it's inevitable that Futatsuki no Kishi, being a second season of Zero no Tsukaima, will be compared to the first in one way or another, especially since it's pointless to watch one without another, but I'll try to appraise its own merits as well.
First of all, as implied by the ending of the first season, FnK is a direct continuation of the story. Several new characters are introduced almost immediately, and, while I don't have anything against them, I'd like to p...oint out that they (Agnes, particularly) take up quite an amount of screen time with their own subplots, leaving less for the overall story. However, that isn't dragged out for too long, keeping overall length of a show in mind. What comes as a good refreshment is some noticeable advance in Saito and Louise's relationship, during which several important questions are raised and decisions made. I won't elaborate to avoid spoiling.
Animation is done on a fairly high level, although it's not anything outstanding: characters are still undetailed and talk out one side of their face when shown in side view; many scenes lack smoothness — just like previously, all in all. Some scenes, particularly those of burning villages, are pretty nicely done. HD in this case is barely worth it, but on the other hand, lack of detail helps keeping the file size low (useless info for keepers).
Sound work doesn't differ from the first season at all, most themes are the same. They are fine, but still nothing really outstanding, memorable, or really touching. New opening and ending are somewhat enjoyable, definitely more so than those of the first season, IMO.
Characters… First of all, the previously known Academy residents (Kirche, Tabitha, Guiche, etc.) have much less screen time. Not sure if it's good or not; I'd certainly like to see them some more. New characters are more-or-less fine, although I can't help but think that some of them are of untraditional sexual orientation or otherwise odd. Siesta is still there, being apparently dumber than previously. Yes, everything for the sake of fan service. *sigh*
On the matter of fan service: what is particularly annoying about FnK is that the it has increased in quantity, but definitely not in quality. Saito's obsession over boobs might be funny, but it seems as if the screenplay writers put him in ecchi situations purposefully, without much concern for whether it makes sense in the story or not. You might even not notice it until the last episode, but there it will come screaming in your face regardless. Then again, the ending is rather ridiculous, anyway; seems like we'll have another bunch of weirdo newcomers in season 3. :D
All in all, with the 2nd season ZnT keeps being a good addition to your collection as long as you like harem and/or fantasy comedies, with a questionable amount of hit-and-miss fan service. Some will laugh, some might even cry, overall I think the 2nd season is almost as enjoyable as the first, barring the certain cheesiness. However, it might leave something to be desired when it comes to the story progression, so I sincerely hope they won't drag it out for too long. Any further decrease in pace coupled with further increase in fan service can easily ruin the show. read more
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| Overall |
6 |
| Story |
5 |
| Animation |
8 |
| Sound |
7 |
| Character |
6 |
| Enjoyment |
6 |
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Apr 16, 200812 of 12 episodes seen 18 of 25 people found this review helpful I thought Zero no Tsukaima would provide nothing more than shallow entertainment, and I was quite wrong ... but its sequel, I decided, couldn't possibly live up to the standard set by the original. After all, Zero's effectiveness as a story may have been a fluke, a fortunate accident.
Fluke it was not, all told. I'd still recommend the series to anyone whose tastes seem to run in the general direction of fantasy/harem romance/politics. But despite its strong latt...er episodes, Futatsuki no Kishi does suffer from a few weaknesses its predecessor managed to keep to a minimum or avoid entirely.
Plot: Again we join Louise and her hapless familiar Saito at the Tristain Academy, where their relationship has grown marginally stronger. I have no complaints with how the whole inevitable Saito/Louise pairing is portrayed at first; we're given the impression that things have moved forward for the two, despite Louise's fondness for brandishing that riding crop, and it's an impression we need to be given if we're going to believe in the two as a viable and vital couple. When relationships hit a standstill in the real world, of course, things tend to go sour very soon after.
That said, one of the weakest points of the plot is its handling of the central romance. Louise and Saito make progress with one another in fits and starts, alternating between trite slapstick and almost extreme affection. It's the slapstick that bothers me most, partly because there's so damn much of it, and partly because the plot occasionally has to contort itself in unlikely directions simply to land Saito in unfortunate positions of lechery. Too many episodes are devoted not to progressing the underlying series of political events in any significant way, but to progressing Saito toward a pair of breasts, and Louise toward Saito and said breasts at just the wrong moment. And when they do get along, there are one or two moments of startling physicality that may make it a little difficult to fully appreciate (understandable as these moments may be, Saito and Louise being healthy teenagers and all).
Don't get me wrong, though. Futatsuki no Kishi does have its truly sweet moments. The last episode really nails it, but as it's the last episode, I'll refrain from singing its praises too loudly here.
Due to Futatsuki's focus on the central romance's sporadic twists and turns, the political storyline suffers -- a real disappointment to me, as the two arcs seemed to work so well together in the first season. The first half in particular often interrupts the continuity with breasts, Saito's appreciation thereof, and Louise's resultant disapproval. The shift toward politics in the second half feels like an abrupt temperature change at first, seemingly for the production team as much as we viewers, as the general organization of episodes seven and eight came across as a bit shoddy to me. When the suddenness levels out, however, we get a solid final four episodes. If you were a fan of the politics in the first season, hang in there; it's ultimately worth it.
Characters: I have two major problems with the characterization in Futatsuki, the first being inexplicable personality shifts. The first season gave us a surprisingly strong cast, and I looked forward to said cast developing further from where they left off, but this isn't always the case. Saito, for example, seems at times to have been demoted into your average, everyday pervert. Siesta's resolve to wrest Saito's affections from Louise isn't surprising, considering her acts of momentary boldness in the previous season, but her willingness to throw herself at Saito is a bit disconcerting. These divergences don't seem to be indicative of the kind of change one thinks of when discussing character growth.
Secondly, I didn't appreciate the marginalization of some characters. New characters Agnes and Julio ultimately earn our interest, but season one set Kirche and Tabitha up for a bit of explication, and we hardly see them at all this time around. I feel bad for Tabitha's seiyuu, having to make the trip down to the studio to record a grand total of three or so lines. With Tabitha and Kirche out of the way, it goes without saying that Guiche and Montmorency don't get much screen time, either.
On the other hand, those recurring characters who are further fleshed did good things for me. I couldn't help being interested in Colbert's history and plight, and Delfringher, who has to be the cleverest talking sword in all anime-dom, is even more hilariously pithy than before. Even Henrietta shows her many good and bad sides this time around.
Setting: Tristain Academy hasn't much changed, and, had the majority of the show been set therein, the place may have gotten old. Fortunately, we're introduced to a variety of locales as things move along -- a surprising number, really, considering how much of the plot is fanservice-centric (Saito doesn't let circumstances keep him down, so to speak). Our heroes visit such settings as an underground vault, a snowy mountain, and Louise's ample home, traveling between Tristain and Albion, the flying faux-Britain.
We also gain insight into the general level of technology with the introduction of Tristain's musketeers. Despite this title, the guns employed in Futatsuki are decidedly similar to rifles, in terms of accuracy; it seems that magic coexists with a higher level of technology than was previously made clear. By implication, this tautens the dynamic between aristocrats and plebeians, as those not gifted with magic are proven to be perfectly formidable marksmen. Perhaps the aristocrats' control is not as total as it seems.
Art: Futatsuki brings back the same clean, simple, Shakugan no Shana-esque art style as the original, retaining its reputation as the pastel equivalent of Shana's darkness and fire. Interestingly, the animation itself alternates between very good and shoddy, particularly where fight scenes are concerned, but it balances out in most episodes to be more than acceptable. I'm happy that J.C. Staff decided to forgo the use of 3D computer graphics in rendering flight sequences; such graphics have their place, that place being Last Exile and not here.
Sound: Based on music alone, I would have rated Futatsuki below its predecessor in the sound department. Music throughout the series often comes across as generic action fare, and besides, the opening and ending themes didn't do as much for me this time. Maintaining the score at 7, however, are certain scenes in which the voice acting is absolutely dead-on. Futatsuki's all-star vocal cast definitely delivers.
Verdict: Personally, I prefer my shows to be solid from beginning to end, rather than loaded with meaning, progress, and spectacle in the final four episodes. Either way, Futatsuki no Kishi turned out to be worthwhile thanks to that final stretch, particularly for a viewer who enjoyed the first season as much as I did. It's ultimately worth your attention as a follow-up to Zero no Tsukaima and a segue into the forthcoming season three, but be warned that it has its shaky spots. read more
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| Overall |
7 |
| Story |
5 |
| Animation |
8 |
| Sound |
8 |
| Character |
7 |
| Enjoyment |
7 |
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May 14, 200812 of 12 episodes seen 14 of 20 people found this review helpful As a sequel to the highly entertaining Zero no Tsukaima, I had expected a continuation of the first season with more fleshed out stories, more character development, and just overall better material than what Futatsuki no Kishi provided. Don't get me wrong, the second season doesn't fail, it still provides a decent story with plenty of comedy and lplenty of fan service to back it up, but what Futatsuki mainly lacks is consistency. I feel as though Futatsuki could have stood alone as a...n entirely different series, as it seems as though if the characters were placed in a situation where they met their first season counterparts, they would barely recognize themselves.
Story: 5
While I'd recommend watching the first season first (for obvious reasons), I think that really, it wouldn't be too hard to just pick up from here and start watching. This is one of the main problems involving the story as I mentioned in the introduction.
I'm almost convinced that in the Zero no Tsukaima world this time around, having boobs or liking them makes you dumb, as the only sane person in the anime for the second season seems to be Louise.
Furthermore, Louise and Saito must be the most beautiful couple to ever grace their land, as every busty female character seems to go after Saito, and the handsome male characters after Louise. For every episode, be prepared to find Saito coming into contact with the cleavage of at least one female member of the cast.
The story doesn't actually get serious until the last two episodes, where it feels as though these last few ones could pass off as a continuation of the first season. In fact, I'd say that this is really the only saving grace for the story, and although the ending invokes an awfully convenient deus ex machina to wrap things up, the last episode as a whole was pretty moving and even made me a bit teary-eyed.
The second season more or less has transformed the series into a pure harem anime relying on fan service and fan of the first season to keep viewers, and for this genre, it does well. However, I feel that since that the first season didn't quite have this degree of females throwing their naked selves at Saito, that it didn't really fit in terms of the story.
At times, it is as though the story contorts itself in ways just to have Saito in a situation with a girl such that if he was walked in upon, it would look really bad, and of course, who but Louise should always walk in on these times. At least during the episodes, the story does progress some, saving it from becoming merely a mindless harem/ecchi anime. It is unfortunate that the story is somewhat weak and ending lacks any real conclusion, but it is good (I hope) that a third season is in the works. I should mention that at least the humor in the series isn't too bad, and also, like the first time around, the story is really predictable, but still fun to watch regardless.
Art: 8
This series contains some of my favorite character designs of any anime, especially Louise, who is just adorable; the female designs cater perfectly to those watching for fan service, and the male characters are handsome, as well. Some rather impressive effects and animations are pulled off during the series, especially regarding spells (with the exception of Void Magic). The coloring of the characters is rather pleasant to look at, and the rosy cheeks of many of the embarrassed females (particularly Louise) give off an adorable effect. Overall, I can't say the art is among the most picturesque I've seen, but it certainly doesn't fail to impress.
Sound: 8
I personally liked the very beginning part of the opening song, but after that, it just turns into your standard j-pop number, not particularly bad, but it doesn't really stand out either. Also, it maintain what they did in the first season in adding sound effects to the OP for the last episode.
I'm sure that many people will find the ED to be ridiculously annoying, but I have to say that I thought it was adorable and very fitting (of course, since the OP and ED were made for the series, but that aside). It is basically the perfect embodiment of what the first ten episodes will be like.
Besides the OP and ED, the music wasn't too bad overall, and fit in pretty well with the respective scenes they were in. Additionally, the voice acting definitely wasn't too shabby, either, with an experienced cast voicing many of the characters.
Character: 7
This is perhaps one of the biggest drawbacks of the second season. It feels as though nearly all of the female cast hit their heads on something hard and now have an unquenchable desire to make Saito the object of their affection.
Perhaps some of the new transitions are understandable, such as Siesta's newfound boldness, as it was seen briefly surfacing in the last season, yet instances like Episode 6 involving Henrietta are just plain ridiculous and seem forced. It is fortunate that Louise maintains her character, however, Saito seems to have changed from the average (slightly more than average in terms of bravery though) teenager whisked from his home to a standard anime pervert who drools at every sight of cleavage he gets despite the fact that he is (somewhat unofficially) together with Louise. Thankfully, he manages to regain his old self in the last few episodes but it's rather distracting having this "new" Saito prancing around. It seems as though the characters have actually regressed, rather than grown and developed like they should.
The budding relationship between Louise and Saito is sweet and fun to watch, although it's greatly stunted by the rough humor that is placed into nearly every episode, and doesn't really make any real leaps or bounds until the last few episodes, although there are a few scenes earlier on that are rather...risque, almost.
It's nice that they added new characters, but most aren't properly developed, and furthermore, that means less of the characters that you've already come to know from the first season. They gave back stories to many of the characters, such as Tabitha, and it's a shame that they didn't build on them more. The one exception would be the story surrounding Colbert-sensei, but I won't go into details as to avoid spoilers.
In summary, it's all your favorite characters from the first time around (plus a few new ones), just a bit more comical and perhaps perverted than before.
Enjoyment: 7
More or less, I found that my enjoyment of this anime was hindered by the excessive fan service and it's new extreme harem feel it had that contrasted with the first season. If I had watched Futatsuki no Kishi for it being a harem, I'm sure I would have loved it, however, I was hoping for more of the goodness that comprised of the first season, and was rather letdown.
Overall: 7
By the end, I'd have to say that the only reason I kept watching was for Louise, and in hopes that the third season will be better. If you've viewed the first season and liked it, then you should definitely check out the second season; if you haven't seen the first season yet, then I'd recommend it to you.
The second season doesn't quite live up to it predecessor, but it's not too bad in whole. Just don't get your hopes too high up. Also, as a harem, it succeeds with flying colors.
Score: 35/50; C- (70%) read more
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Opening Theme"I SAY YES" by ICHIKO
Ending Theme"Suki!? Kirai!? Suki!!! (スキ!? キライ!? スキ!!!)" by Kugimiya Rie
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Related ClubsSperminators, The Montmorency Margarita la Fère de Montmorency Fanclub!, Anime art that r0cks!!, Kirche Fan Club, Saito X Louise Club, AnimeWorld, Zero No Tsukaima FanClub, d2jsp, Static-Subs Fan Club, Otaku, The BADASSED Club, Claim yourself a familiar!, MALs Comedy Club, ***Legend of Anime***, Siesta Fan Club, 2D Marriage Supporters, J.C. Staff Fanclub, Tabitha Fan Club, Kamichama Karin, SKYclub ~ SKY AnimesTomboy/ Feminist Anime Girls Club, Ero Anime, Harem Club, EPIC Moments in Anime, ~Hiraga Saito FC~ >.<, Moe > GAR, Magical Girl Romance Club, Visual Novel Petition Club, Arcadia Club, Ecchi Squad, The Kugimiya Rie Club, Nico Nico Everyone!, Anime Türkiye, Lazy Perverted Drawer, Henrietta de Tristain Fan Club, The Louise Valliere fanclub, Nokturno Genesis, ~AnimeFans~, POKEMON,ZERO NO TSUKAIMA,CLAMP SCHOOL DETECTIVES,AND KAMICHAMA KARIN LOVERS!!!, Hayate Translation Team, #*~The Blue Haired Anime Characters Club ~*#, The Blondies of Anime, Visual Novels, Tiffania Fan Club, The Four Tsundere Wonders, Horie Yui Fanclub, Zero no Club, ☆→Aηเмε Hσттz←☆, Anime Alliance P2P Network, The Anti Yoshida/Siesta Club, Anime Addicted, The Hot and Sexy Girls of Anime, Zero no Tsukaima Club, MAL Adopt a Pet!, Random Anime & Manga Club, There is nothing wrong with HAREM!!, The Exclusively Private Anime Club, We hate Louise Vallière see all
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