Kakumeiki Valvrave 2nd Season

"Will avenging someone’s death bring them back to life? Instead of that, you should think about how to prevent future losses. War is something that should be conducted calmly and efficiently, like a machine." L-elf.

Kakumei Valvrave is a truly brilliant anime about revolution. High school students making their own country, which looks utterly unrealistic but somehow appealing. In a futuristic setting, the main plot is about war itself. Tactics, resolves, and feelings of main and supportive characters are explored, from L Elf, the one man army to Haruto, the frightened high school student who turns into a monster. Dramatic moments make the protagonists learn more ... about themselves and what they are fighting for. As one would expect from the author of Code Geass, this mecha anime is not only about mind blowing fights, brilliant tactics and aching hearts, it focuses on the definition of a monster which is highly controversial. Is it a non-human being or is it someone too brutal to be human ? The second question focuses on change and peace. What does it take to achieve peace ?

Through the two seasons of Kakumei Valvrave, the animation is flawless, the chara design impeccable. The opening and ending songs are brilliant and the soundtrack fitting. The voice actors cast is great, with a special mention to L Elf seiyuu.

I highly recommend this anime. A 10 out of 10.

There’s a lot of talk about destiny these days. Destiny is apparently something that is predetermined and carried by fate. It’s said whatever happens to someone or something is predetermined and that we cannot escape fate. Take Valvrave the Liberator for example. Was it fate that caused Haruto Tokishima to become a pilot of the Valvrave? Was it fate that made L-Elf betray his former teammates and become labeled as an enemy of Dorissa? Did fate tie the both of them together to create a new world with their own ideologies? Perhaps but fate isn’t what controls our destiny. We make each and every decision ... by ourselves. In fact, every action has a consequence.

Valvrave the Liberator returns to its second half after the cliffhanger ending left off from its first season. The series is an original mecha series produced by Sunrise known for their other works of similar genre. For a show that takes place in a futuristic setting, it’s no surprise that Valvrave the Liberator has more advanced technology compared than our very own. It sets forth a setting where war takes on a form like never before with the introduction of the Valvraves – powerful advanced weaponry of war with mysterious origins. Haruto was just a high school student but his life changes forever after he becomes one of its pilots.

The second half of this show takes directly after the major cliffhanger from where season 1 left off so expect yourself to be familiarized with what’s going on. The series focuses on the war between the Dorissa and JIOR, a neutral nation. Season 1 of Valvrave the Liberator build itself on the foundation of a mecha show with mass amount of ludicrous events, mind-blowing action, and psychological integrity. Season 2 doesn’t’ stray off much from that. In fact, the second season intensifies itself even more through various stages. These stages stack up that ultimately engineers the story to wrap up this series with questions that fuels answers. Some of these questions will leave viewers in a state of ‘oh, it makes sense now’ while others may result in different responses of turbulence. This is especially true for its conclusion that will leave viewers with a cloud of questions.

Unlike season 1 however, there’s a sense of morality to be fueled towards the minds of its characters. A major theme of humanity and identity becomes pivotal that is explored in this second season. This is evidenced by the infamous term ‘monster’, a word of controversy that is mentioned by various characters. What exactly constitutes a monster? Is it someone who is merely defined as being non-human or someone that has the brutality of an animal? We find out in this season exactly how and what breeds a monster. Viewers will be surprised at how they are judged by the characters of this series. As in this case, ideologies clashes and egos fueled by power become a struggle for dominance between the two sides.

All the characters return in the sequel; well the ones that are alive anyways. Keep in mind that Valvrave the Liberator isn’t shy to avoid brutal death scenes or violence. But for now, most of the characters as we know it returns with their various roles. Haruto is no longer a student at school buried in his textbooks but becomes a pioneer along with his unlikely ally L-Elf to start a revolution against Dorssia. Their goal: to build a new nation with their own ideologies that seems to clash against those that are already established. L-Elf plays the role of an anti-hero with his cunning mind and to set forth is own plans into action. He is a man that is integrity that is defined by his intellect and skill. Although we initially sees the man as one whose heart is cold as frost, there is also more than meets the eye after we see bits of his past. His love for a sudden character becomes a motivation for him to fight what he believes in. Although Haruto and L-Elf don’t get along as best friends, the duo can make up an excellent team when the time calls for it. Most of the time though, they are like oil and water, like colors red and blue, like yin and yang.

Other characters also make prominent highlights in both series including a sudden supporting character. She holds a dark secret that is revealed after a traumatic event. Of course, we can’t forget important female characters such as Shouko, Saki, and Akira. None of them are alike but they each play pivotal roles in determining the outcome of the war. Unlike season 1, Shouko is now a political leader of the New JIOR. Although she holds very important responsibilities, Shouko is still shows emotions especially when she finds out a devastating secret that changes her outlook of others forever. On the other hand, Saki plays more of the role of a soldier and pilot. Just like season one, she is still an idol and remains popular but not always for the right reasons. For instance, she also withholds a secret that mostly others aren’t aware of. It’s not until a certain event that triggers what we can call a ‘travesty of justice’. Still, the theme of identity plays more of the important role here as we witness stages unfold.

It also shouldn’t be startling to realize that violence and murders occurs in this show with a enormous amount of brutality. Blood is spilled and with action exploding in viewers’ faces as the two sides clash. For sudden characters, death flags are raised and set high in the sky until the point hits its mark. Sudden characters on both sides make their prominent highlights either in combat as they try to make a difference. One particular character stands out named Liselelotte who is known as the childhood friend of L-Elf. She is also the princess of Dorssia with secrets of her own. It’s interesting to see her history with L Elf and the circumstances with him. In fact, these circumstances intensify in a climatic episode that will change L-Elf’s life forever. But if we’re talking about Dorssia Military Pact Federation, that’s a different story. They write chapters into people’s lives in the wrong way with their actions that speaks louder than words. Characters such as A-Drei, Q-vier, and the totalitarian leader Cain all makes their actions well known that not only changes others peoples’ lives but also influences others in the different ways. In essence, they are devices that are set in motion ready to explode to do their worst. However, not every member of the Federation is a demon as you will see later on with their own ideologies.

While the first season explored some of the histories of the main characters, L-Elf perhaps lacked a bit of character depth. In this second season, we get to know him a lot more through flashbacks. These aren’t happy memories but L Elf still holds them dearly to his heart, so much in fact that one sudden event in the present causes him to become catatonic at one point.

Despite the fact that the show explores our some our main characters’ dynamics, not many of them are characterized with development. Their minds are still set on their goals. This series doesn’t do well for developing its characters considering most of the time, the main plot focuses on the war itself. Although some characters are able to make dramatic entrances and exits, none of them really stand out on their own. They are motivated by what they believe in fighting for. It doesn’t go in depth with their reasoning or purpose on many occasions. More so, there is also some red herring that could be hard to categorize for its story. Some characters’ revelations might be startling but makes little sense. A few of them also never get what they want that will likely make viewers sympathizes with them (for the wrong reasons) but realizing time can’t return to undo the events. As opposed the season 1, the second season lacks comedy and fan service. It completely omits asinine episodes involving high school musicals or absurdity of the implied rape scenes. The vampire nature is still there however and certain scenes still defies logic. This season may also feel rushed with its plot twists on various occasions or at times feels a bit slow. Absurd should be used as a frequent word for Valvrave the Liberator as well. This show is irrational on many stages with levels that unfold themselves more and more. It’s hard to take the series seriously even with all the gruesome events. Some of them may feel tragic, dramatic, or can even capable of shredding a few tears. Unfortunately, most of these events comes out as predictable, impractical, and laughable. And no, it’s not funny, or at least in the right way.

Artwork remains generally the same as season 1. Sunrise is involved with the production with its character designs. The Valvraves remains generally the same as they were once before with their remarkable and stunning designs that gives them their reputations. On the other hand, the enemies of new JITOR have also evolved with their new lines of weaponry. Their new weapons of war gives some depth of their uniqueness although they lack the style of the Valvraves. Background designs stands as they were from previously while none of the characters goes through under significant physical changes. Mentally however, that’s another story…

The soundtrack of the series is tolerable although seems to be forceful at times with its background music/OST. This is usually defined by its more emotional scenes and character tones. In particular, L Elf shows more emotions in this season more than ever. Ryōhei Kimura (Magi: Judal, Silver Spoon: Yugo, Boku wa Tomodachi ga Sukunai: Kodaka) is known for playing a variety of characters of different natures. L Elf is a calculating man but his voice becomes more of a distress in this sequel similarly to some of the other pilots. There’s not much to comment on most of the characters’ tones as many sounds frightened after learning some startling revelations. Still there are some voices that are also defines confidence and hope and I give praise in their tone in such a dark world Valvrave takes place in. Nana Mizuki x T.M.Revolution returns to their roles for performing the main themes and I give praise for their performance in that.

Overall, a sequel doesn’t always pull out the right tricks out of their hats. Sometimes, things can go wrong and makes it into a mess that is hard to redeem itself. Valvrave the Liberator is one such series that has issues that messes with logic at its finest. There are moments that shines itself with its characters and twists but most of it is masked by its absurdity. Not everything may ever make sense at the end either and will raise many questions for viewers. At other times, the show becomes absurd with its revelations and deaths that are triggered by previously flags that blows in the wind. The action is still there though so prepare yourself for a ride of mecha madness, clash of egos, and battle royal of ideologies. Oh and I almost forgot…absurdity.

The show is a lazily written, jumbled mess of plot points that go nowhere, details that end up being irrelevant, characters that are shallow, and graphic scenes that are just shoved in for shock value. The writing of Valvrave is just shallow in general. The writers tried to come up with all these deep thematic conflicts that are supposed to be super emotional, but they never actually flesh out any of these ideas, to the point where the just seem like they're just thrown in there for no particular reason, leaving the show as a cluttered mess of barely half-baked eye-candy.

One example of this ... shallowness surfaces in one of the causes of conflict in the show, which is the kids becoming nearly immortal from piloting the Valvraves. When you get right down to it, there was no actual reason why the Valvraves had to turn their pilots into basically vampires. The only reason this becomes relevant to the story at all is when the other governments to to kill them because of it, meaning that the only reason the writers made it this way was so that there would be something to fight about later. We're told that the other governments out there view this as becoming "inhuman" and decide to commit genocide on them, but we're never given any reason why they think this. This is a universe with all kinds of super advanced technology like Dyson spheres and advanced space travel, but suddenly superhuman regeneration is crossing the line. It's frustrating to watch because the people in this show just come to the stupidest conclusions and make the most braindead decisions every step of the way.

This show was all style and no substance, and I would never recommend it to anyone. The plot just gets more and more nonsensical as it went on, and some plot threads that are set up to be important early on just end up becoming pointless in the end. Preserved Roses is a killer opening though.

TLDR: The show looks good, but that's about where the positives end.