Hitsugi no Chaika: Avenging Battle

Hitsugi no Chaika is a show of peculiar nature, one based on a fantasy premise but is able to explore in depth of its potentials. The sequel, Hitsugi no Chaika: Avenging Battle wastes no time as it returns with our trio of adventurers. For those who have seen the first season, then it should be known that Chaika, Toru, and Akari are still on their quest to find Emperor Gaz’s remains. But throughout that journey, conflicts arise and dangers lurk in the shadow for the group to deal with. From this sequel, we learn more about their world, characters, and secrets that may invoke more ... than just a SHOCKING TRUTH.

As a sequel, it’s advised to watch the first season especially since this continuation doesn’t recap events. Nonetheless, new events happen which breaks down the barrier of normalcy. While the show still focuses on our main characters, it also doesn’t miss the opportunity to give other characters insight as well whether it’s Red Chaika’s group, the Gillet Corps, or even King Gaz himself. And like a race to win a game, Toru’s group faces competition in collecting the remains. This is where the fun pours in as we see how far they go to get the job done. One thing that the show has been good at doing is evoking entertainment through humor and gimmicks. Rather than just shock value or overly extended fan service, the show cracks jokes between characters at proper timings. This includes scenes relating to the characters or battles. Because let’s face it, without some comedy, the show would end up to become a chore and too straightforward to watch. However, Hitsugi no Chaika seizes every opportunity at the right time to inspire laughter in a good sense.

The overlay of the story is irrefutably crafted by realizing the setting of its world. In this sequel, we learn more about some of the origins and secrets that unfold when our heroes journey to a mysterious place like never before. What’s more interesting about these secrets is that it also brings question to Chaika’s ultimate goal. While the info dump can be a lot to take in at once, it also makes the show more interesting as we see how the protagonists deal with their newfound knowledge. Of course, the show doesn’t stop to focus on backstories and deliver action-packed moments to keep up with the momentum. It unites themes and buildup to bring about a story unfolded with revelations while mixing in humor at once. Although it sounds hard to accomplish, I would say that the sequel definitely played its cards right. At its best, the story works like a charm as a gift for what fans expect to see.

A decent balance of the pacing is also evident throughout the sequel. While the show has both heavy info dumping and action scenarios, it also makes time to characterize the cast. Although there’s not much change to their persona, it’s easy to see how they fit with the story with credibility. Not only that but new characters introduced also gets their own memorable spotlights. The problem that does occur on occasions is how some parts feel less inclined to fit in with the pacing. However, it’s also simple to see how far the show goes to create a feeling of connection between certain characters. Even enemies can become comrades when the situations calls for it and gives the audience a glimpse at the true nature of our characters. We also can’t forget about the humorous exchange between certain characters such as Toru and Akari. Chaika’s broken speech continues to be a device for amusement. In contrast, characters suffering from their own issues such as Vivi also creates tension and compelling emotions. The endgame here is that characters aren’t just there to fight like chess pieces but all fit together like a puzzle with impressive fashion.

As the show is called Avenging Battles, the sequel doesn’t neglect action scenes. Whether it’s competitions, training sessions, or fighting for survival, the series pulls out the right combinations for what’s trying to accomplish. Every battle has a mix in of intensity, strategy, and humor. It’s important to mix in these together or otherwise, fighting can become quite stale when it’s all straightforward. It also gets violent too with the blood spilling, limps severed, and deaths that actually occur without teasing. Viewers who are familiar with the first season should already expect this with some of the abilities of our main characters. What never ceases to be noticeable still is Chaika’s Gundo Sniper Rifle. Even though the weapon is about half her size, she uses it with great skill complete with ridiculously long spell incantations. Be rest assured though as the action never dies down by its pacing and is crafted with unique attributes that stand out for itself.

Despite the refreshing story, Hitsugi no Chaika isn’t without flaws. Namely the story, there’s pitfall of fast resolutions when it comes down to the way it concludes certain episodes. Rush would be one word to describe such resolutions. Not only that but the villains involved in them are stereotypical whom are saturated with clichés and generic motivations. Mad scientists, corrupt political figures, and experimental species aren’t new to the anime world. Neither too are mysterious girls with odd-looking eyes. The point is that some of these villains aren’t very compelling or interesting at all. To put it simply, they are just there to move the plot forward as devices with little focus on their characterization. Furthermore, the comedy can be a mixed bag for some people. It can feel repulsive at times with the same repetitive jokes between characters.

Bones return as the animation studio to adapt this series and to say the least, they are impressive on the visuals frontier. Characters are crafted well with fantasy tropes such as the case of Francesca, demi-humans, and experimental beasts. Weaponry also offer a variety of factors with relevance. Like I mentioned before, the action scenes are coordinated with strong degrees of fluent movements. It’s rapid and takes away your breath when witnessing it with your own eyes. Furthermore, the fantasy lands of the sequel exploits new places that are memorable. Fan service remains minimal as the show concentrates more on plot rather than exposition of fulfillment.

Soundtrack remains adequate although it doesn’t change much from the first season. We do get new OP and ED songs that retains a similar style compared to the first season. Nonetheless, the OST and character voice mannerisms stand out the most. Unfortunately, some of the new characters can be easily forgotten and only returning cast steals most of the show such as Red Chaika, Francesca, etc. To put it simply, the soundtrack is decent but nothing earth shattering with their voice mannerisms.

Consider this series as a gift for the fans as the show adapts further into our heroes’ quest in an unknown world. What started out as a journey to collect pieces to a puzzle has become a complicated labyrinth of mysteries forged by origins of the characters. While the show doesn’t escape the usual generics with its stereotypical archetypes, it does compel to a more refreshing premise backed up with insightful characters. The intersecting arcs puts characters at angles where viewers can anticipate what will happen. And along with plot twists, there will be moments when you feel as though the show is hiding even more. While pulling off all the risks, this sequel is a must-see not just for fans of the first season but also anyone who is interested in a journey of enthralling fantasy.

The original "Hitsugi no Chaika"was a pleasant surprise for most people. It started out as your average fantasy- filled with magic, swords, and a quest. It was slowly, but nicely, paced; however, it left the viewer with a lot of questions. "Hitsugi no Chaika: Avenging Battle" set out to answer what was left in the air, and possibly conclude the series.

The story in Chaika 2 started out very poor. It lost the intensity that the ending of Chaika 1 had, although many sequels do. The show leisurely found a footing and made its linear path to an almost ... disappointing ending. The ending wasn't what was very bad, but it was the time leading up to the final episodes that was poorly done (specifically the introduction of Gaz being in episode 9 or so). Some might call it an attempt at an intricate plot, but it became almost predictable. Predictable or expected really; there weren't any surprises that would catch you off guard. It didn't resolve its romantic subplots, but finished off some of the other ones (Nikolai/Gillette squad) decently. I'm not satisfied with this ending. From the the hype that Gaz was given, it seems too unlikely that'd he'd be beaten so easily. 4/10 for story.

Animation was nice to look at, nothing much to talk about here. The fight scenes were ok, but it didn't have anything outstanding. 7/10

The opening for Chaika Dos was catchy, but not memorable enough. Same with the ending; it wasn't anything special. The OST blended fine with the art style to create it's fun but serious tone, and it was fine overall. 6/10

The characters weren't developed enough for my care. Shin was given very little screen time for his, somewhat, important role. Our MC's were developed enough in the first season, but didn't receive much this time around, which is fine. Hartgen and the other heroes didn't get much backstory, which was disappointing. As well as the new Chaika's that were introduced. I was hoping for more, and was left disappointed. 5/10

Didn't enjoy this that much compared to the other, better series' this fall. 4/10

Overall, 5/10 for feeling uninteresting at times, but still keeping its fun charm. No matter what I said, it's not bad, but a mediocre series overall. It is still worth the watch if you've seen the first season. I wouldn't put this high on your priority list, but it is a nice, fun series.

(This has been adapted from my reddit thread)

A famous piece of music contains the line, "War, what is it good for?" And the response is, "Absolutely nothing." War brings about destruction, famine, despair, and global bloodshed. While not technically nothing, it's definitely something that shouldn't be desired. Yet, for some people, war, or to a lesser degree, violence, is just in the nature of their hearts. Some describe war as an inevitability, while others still attempt to thwart such onslaughts. Hitsugi no Chaika: Avenging Battle is a mix of the two ideas, a mix that is a significant step down from the original season.

STORY

Avenging Battle ... continues where Hitsugi no Chaika left off. Toru, Akari, and (of course) Chaika are still looking for the remaining body pieces of Emperor Gaz, Chaika's father, in order to fulfill Chaika's wish of providing him a proper funeral.

The first season did a lot of things right: an intriguing world, fun cast of characters, and a journey with a seemingly peaceful end-goal in mind. For all intents and purposes, the second season is no different. It's more of the same cast doing what they can to achieve Chaika's dream. However, whether it be the journey coming to an end or the rather strange plot points, it just doesn't feel quite the same. The narrative mostly jumps between differing locations in order to provide us with new information in order to make the story seem coherent. That is, instead of Toru and Akari investigating this world and getting to the bottom of the mystery, they are sort of forced to just "go with the flow."

This "flow" is quite choppy. Many of the plot points that occur are either left unexplained or never seem to hold much substance: Gaz's fortune, Guy's omnipresence, Vivi's transformation, etc. Now, the argument here is that most of it can just be attributed to "magic," but that's a rather contrived excuse to avoid providing reason to many of the occurrences. Much of the fault lies with the abysmal ending. Where the majority of the show leaves things unexplained, the conclusion leaves many open-ended areas. This includes for many of the characters as well as the story as a whole. Perhaps the idea is to continue with an OVA or movie of some sort, but as it stands, this season is entirely incomplete.

Trying to dig deeper, and linking back to my introduction, the show tries to look at the idea behind war and whether or not it can be prevented. To an extent, it does this moderately well. Overall, Chaika is a story about war. It's effect on society, the environment, and on the future of the people involved. The show's answer to stopping violence is with more violence, and while that may seem silly, it works. While people may want or wish for violence to just up and stop with peaceful protest all of the time, there are instances when resorting to such measures is unfortunately necessary. Avenging Battle provides such a setting to demonstrate this idea, and while the inconsistent story telling tends to get in the way, this idea is not lost in the process.

ANIMATION

Avenging Battle maintains the same art style that was employed by its first season. The character designs themselves are generally well thought out, with each of the Chaikas having a particular allure to them due to their hair and personal coloring. Toru, Akari, Frederica, and the rest of the cast are also unique enough to be distinguishable.

Of note are the settings involved. Invisible, off-shore islands, a foreboding castle, and local towns provide great fantasy locations that lend to the overall atmosphere.

Finally, the actual animation involved is usually above average. The fights are easy to follow during duels, there exist both large and small scale battles, long-range skirmishes, and air-raids. In other words, there is no shortage of opportunities for the anime to show off its animation skills.

CHARACTERS

This time around, Avenging Battle sadly foregoes character development in order to focus on the story, and since the story became a mess, the characters are incapable of picking up the slack.

Perhaps it's best to start with Toru and Akari. At this point, we know who they are: Toru is level-headed and looking to perform his job to the best of his ability, while Akari is trying to find the inside of her brother's pants rather than trying to find the next Gaz piece. As they are, they're fun people. Akari is more or less relegated to the sidelines this time around, which I can forgive. However, Toru is placed in a strange spot. His wishy-washy feelings toward Chaika and his general lack of emotion are never given an opportunity to flourish. He is literally just there to be Chaika's guard rather than become someone interesting.

One of the biggest disappointments comes from the final antagonist, who is not too terribly hard to guess. The build-up his immense, and the pay-off is extremely lackluster. Around for less than a single episode, his purpose is to present the message talked about earlier, that war is a cycle that will never truly end. The issue with him is that he is way too much of a final boss. Beyond over-powered, his capabilities as a person were beyond anything the show had to offer. And his quick defeat has zero impact because of his lack of presence. This is odd, considering his "presence" throughout both seasons. But this almost had to happen when considering his aforementioned powers; he is so strong that if not dealt with immediately there would literally be no more Chaika.

Finally, and since her name has been mentioned enough already, Chaika at least tries to support the cast. Per usual, her broken speech pattern, bright whiteness, and gundo are back. One thing that is missing, however, is the cute Chaika of old. This is mainly due in part to the tonal shift of the show going from adventurous to arduous. The show becomes more serious, and with that, Chaika loses part of her charm.

Part of her development for this final season was to have her come to the realization of who she actually is, since that was a rather important question and has been for a long time. Such questions are finally answered, and for a time it seems as if Chaika learns and grows from the revelation. However, the show doesn't really allude back to such facts, and when it does, it seems as if Chaika actually hasn't developed at all, maintaining the same reaction and shock from the first time. Even right up until the end, the idea of who she is as a person isn't looked at with enough light to warrant her a well thought-out character, which is a huge disappointment considering everything she's been through.

SOUND

The OP has the same feeling as its season one counterpart, with the vocals and hard guitar taking the lead. The song gets considerably better when it picks up at around the half-way point, and ends on both a literal and figurative high note.

As with the OP, the ED pays homage to the first season. The soft singing and ambient instruments give an eerie tone that fits nicely with the atmosphere of what goes on within the anime. It is also quite catchy in certain sections.

Both the OP and ED, however, are okay at best and are really not standalone pieces.

Oddly, I find the soundtrack to be stronger than the OP and ED. Of special note is the fast-paced, stepping piece that usually plays during tense fight scenes. It makes the viewer feel that much more engaged with what is occurring on-screen.

As for voice acting, Chika Anzai (yes, not "Chaika") performs nicely as Chaika once more, giving her the iconic voice and speech we all know about her today.

ENJOYMENT

The anime itself had to make a tough choice, and that was deciding to split up the content into two separate seasons. The way it all goes down, I believe that this was an incorrect decision. The ending is rather lame and what goes on in the middle is too grandiose or nonsensical to work. Only the beginning arc of the second season felt like it belonged. There we had nice character interactions, more history about the world, and some of the more interesting battles. Afterwards, it felt more like the show was trying to feed us as much information as possible to make us satisfied.

Akari and Chaika are some of the main reasons for why I liked watching this one all the way through. Their personalities and way of acting never really got old (at least, when they were being true to themselves), and same goes for Frederica. Sure, she is a huge convenient plot device, but I enjoyed having her around when she was needed the most.

Maybe given a few more episodes or at least some type of continuation can we call Hitsugi no Chaika: Avenging Battle fulfilling. But when everything wrapped up, it just didn't quite live up to its predecessor.

SUMMARY

Story: Bad, inconsistent, terrible ending, lost message

Animation: Good, fantastical setting with a plethora of fight scenes

Characters: Bad, lame final antagonist, weak main cast

Sound: Fine, okay OP and ED, okay soundtrack, fine VA work

Enjoyment: Fine, felt like "no Hitsugi no Chaika"

Final Score: 4/10