Fairy Gone Part 2

Very analytical review by category(for both seasons, from someone with 720 anime entries as of writing this review) -- here we go!

Art: 8
One of the more praiseworthy aspects of this anime is the art. Especially in the opening theme. Overall the backgrounds were nice, the style of the characters were quite detailed, not the most detailed but it wasn't a copypasta of the same design with different colors either. The opening songs had enough effects that it was comparable to unlimited budget works as far as particle effects, cg, detail, animation etc (OP gets a 10, ED about 8-9). The show was nice to look ... at, overall. It isn't a masterpiece in the art department for its time, by no means, but it is at least above average. The only reason why some points were taken off were really just the fact that the quality was mostly in the OP and ED and the rest of the show didn't consistently follow through with the art quality (about a 7 for most of the show).

Sound: 7
The songs in this show are quite decent. Not sqeaky kawaii songs; decently spirited OP and chill ED. Sadly, despite the good use of sound in the OP and ED, the overall BGM is kinda lacking in iconic pieces. This isn't a Hiroyuki Sawano or Kajiura show, sadly. And the OP and ED were really just good for the budget this show had spent (8 each). The BGM sits at about 5 in that my ears weren't begging me to mute the show but I literally remember no pieces from it either. Voice acting was nothing special. This isn't like some of the older dub anime where I just want the characters to shut up but it's just standard Japanese voice acting.

Story: 5
Sadly, this is where the show falls flat. We have a post-war world with some plot going on with people who werent happy with how the war turned out. That's...about enough to sum it up. Yup, just that bland. Ok, there's a bit of "will of the fairies" shit going on too. Yeah but...Nothing intricate, no really good literary devices or story telling techniques to reeeeeally heighten the reader's emotions. The best scene was in the last episode and that's the only one that made me utter a "oof...". If there were morals to be discussed, they were not exactly any new ideas or topics and were rather cliche.

Character: 6
This bit had potential between Marlya and Veronica. It really did. There were parts where this could have gone REALLY far. The writers sadly...didn't really pick up on it though. Like that sisterly spark is there... but it was lit up too late and just not given enough time resource within the story to really shine. Free and Marlya's relationship could also really be improved. Sure they spend a lot of screentime together and I don't need them to get together romantically, but it felt flat. Then there's other characters who I really didn't feel any attachment for because there just wasn't really enough time to develop them. They were distinct enough to remember by appearance and ability but not really enough to cry for if they died (ex: a certain Holy Britannian Emperor). Some shows like Gundam Seed had Flay as a very passionately hated character, and these types make great antagonists but the ones in this show...I couldn't relate to or understand the logic for why they were doing what they were doing and they were just shadowy/edgey...not really anything to hate on and get emotions worked up when they do something bad.

Enjoyment: 6
It's a "eh". The characters are what makes a viewer grow attached to a show (ex: Macross Frontier did a great job growing the three characters they focused on and maturing them, Fate/Zero had broskander and AUO). The plot is what keeps a viewer hooked for more (Code Geass and it's infinite plot twists). This one didn't quite hit home in either department...

Still, it's watchable. Just, nothing amazing.

Overall:
7 (Would've been a 6 if the OP and ED weren't so nice to look at/listen to)

I've talked about Fairy Gone. It was one of those series that had potential with its concept, but bland execution. Well, it's time we looked at the second series and see if it improves in that regard.

Story:

We pick up where the last series left off. Marlya's old friend Veronica wants to take revenge on mass murderer, Ray Dawn. Dorothea is trying to protect him and cleaning up after the attack from the climax of the last series. While all this is going on, another piece of the Black Fairy Tome is found and Dorothea, the terrorist organisation Gui Carlin and the shadowy Eins ... Order all want to acquire it.

There are a couple issues with the narrative. One is that the head of the Eins Order basically draws attention to himself unnecessarily. Seriously, the man is in a position where he's going to get the piece of the Black Fairy tome after Dorothea retrieves it but he sends people to get involved and draw a huge amount of attention to him. It's almost as bad as the antagonist of Tiger & Bunny exposing himself for no reason. Aside from that, the main issue with the series is one of the same we had in the first. The pacing is awkward and it doesn't elaborate on some of its big plot points properly.

That being said, there are a few notable areas where the writing does improve. First off, the climax is much stronger in this one. The series also continues with its survivor's guilt theme and starts incorporating this idea of moving away from past tragedies and looking to the future. Which is a theme that goes very well with the first. And the whole concept is still a good one with this group fighting criminals and terrorists using their Personae... I mean Stands.... I mean Faeries.

Characters:

I have the same issue with the characters that I had in the first. Aside from the major characters and the themes of survivor's guilt & Moving On, there isn't much depth or intrigue to the protagonists, except for Marlya. Marlya's back story, her interactions with Veronica and the way she contributes to those themes does elevate her. The rest are just bog standard. Wolfran and Veronica are still the strongest characters in the series and this one does do a good job of fleshing them out more. Veronica & Marlya still have the only interpersonal dynamic that I actually like. And not just because it's really gay. All the stuff you get about their childhood and them trying to reconnect is actually pretty good. I would even go so far as to say if the rest of the cast had greatly reduced roles and the focus was on those two, this anime would be really good.

Art:

The artwork is still a strong point of the series. The characters look good. The backgrounds are nicely detailed. The designs for the various Personae are well done. The action sequences are very nicely done.

Sound:

I'll say basically the same thing I said for the first series. The actors give strong performances, in spite of most of them not having much character complexity to work with. The music, though mediocre on its own, is used very well.

Ho-yay:

Marlya and Veronica's dynamic gets pretty les-yayriffic without becoming blatant enough that it's basically canon.

Areas of Improvement:

1. The series legitimately would benefit from dropping most characters to very minor roles and focusing on Veronica and Marlya. And there's a very simple reason for it. They're the only characters with a compelling dynamic while most of the other characters are a bit bland in general.

2. The series could definitely do a better job with the pacing and extrapolating on its plot points.

3. there's no reason for the antagonist to draw attention to himself the way he does. And it's frustrating because it's an easy fix. Have attention drawn to him by another source and let him catch wind of it. You can still have him clear out by the time Dorothea arrives without looking like an inept dumbass.

Final Thoughts:

I do think the second series is a bit stronger than the first but it also shares a lot of the same problems. Most of the characters are very flat archetypes. The pacing is all over the place. There are some dumb elements where the writers clearly weren't thinking. But it did improve on some of its characters. The climax is well done. The artwork and acting are both strong and there are some compelling themes. So, I'll go up to a 6/10.

Kind of a miss on every front. The initial design is almost there but lacks a uniqueness. Then moving on from there the story back story characters fight scene magic system are all card board cookie cutter paper thin trying to be an interesting product for the start of the big 3 era. Thankfully other series have moved on greatly from that time and I hope this studio catches up as well because with a bit of risk and the lessons of its influences this could've been a great show. The alter ego made iconic by jojo its here with a blandness I never could've ... imagined. Attempting to build off of ajins aesthetics but with a foresty animal inspiration it completely flops as just edgy cg animals. The combat is often inconsequential with the fairy's playing almost no role and are actually comparable by the humans. I dont even know how to go into how awful and cliche the writing is just watch an episode for yourself and know it gets worse.