Rising Impact Season 2

The second season of Rising Impact builds on the foundation laid in the first season. It dives deeper into the world of competitive golf while further developing its young protagonist, Gawain Nanaumi. This season continues to blend the intensity of sports anime with the technical intricacies of golf, making it both educational and entertaining.

Story and Character Development
Season 2 focuses on Gawain's growth as a golfer and competitor facing increasingly challenging opponents at the prestigious Camelot Academy. The narrative explores the psychological and emotional hurdles of pursuing greatness in an often organized and slow-paced sport. Gawain's journey becomes more complex as he faces skilled rivals who ... bring their unique strategies and backstories into play.

One of the standout aspects of this season is how it handles character interactions and rivalries. Gawain’s relationships with his peers, particularly Lancelot Norman and Kiria Nishino, are explored more deeply, adding layers to their characters and making their conflicts on the golf course more compelling. However, while these relationships are fleshed out, some secondary characters still feel underdeveloped, which might leave viewers wanting more from these interactions.

Animation and Direction
The animation quality remains consistent with the first season, with Lay-duce doing a commendable job bringing the sport to life. The depiction of golf techniques, weather conditions, and terrain intricacies is visually engaging, making each match feel unique and thrilling. Director Hitoshi Nanba continues to use the same methods that kept the first season visually dynamic, ensuring that even non-golf enthusiasts can stay engaged with the story.

Themes and Execution
A recurring theme in this season is perseverance in the face of adversity. Gawain’s journey highlights the mental toughness required to succeed in a sport as demanding as golf. This season also delves into the importance of strategy over raw power, as Gawain learns that every shot requires careful consideration of multiple factors. This lesson is well illustrated through the various challenges he faces.

However, some of the first season's criticisms persist. The pacing occasionally feels uneven, with specific episodes dragging due to the detailed focus on golf mechanics, which might appeal to only some viewers. Additionally, while the season provides some resolution to ongoing storylines, it still needs a clear long-term objective, leaving the overall narrative direction somewhat ambiguous.

Final Thoughts
Rising Impact Season 2 is a solid continuation of the series, offering a deeper look into the sport of golf through the lens of shonen anime. It balances technical detail with character drama, though it might only partially satisfy viewers looking for more traditional sports anime pacing. For fans of the first season and those interested in golf, this season provides a rewarding experience despite minor shortcomings.

Overall, Rising Impact Season 2 is worth watching for its unique blend of sports action and detailed exploration of golf, earning it a strong recommendation for fans of the genre.

Gawain is a 9 year old kid who lives with his grandpa in Fukushima. A chance meeting with a pro golfer sets the ball rolling for his life. The way the show marries his world & the golfing world felt really organic. The show does a good job of introducing new frontiers & new characters for our MC. Every side character has a pretty decent back story & almost everyone is introduced as a jerk or bully,but only until they get to know Gawain. In the utopia of 'Rising Impact',every golfing bully is hungry for a worthy opponent. Once found,the jerk becomes an admirer of ... his opponent & starts to seem like a better & better person. Basically,take Goku from DBZ,put him in the golfing world & you'll get the MC of 'Rising Impact'. This trope and many other tropes that the anime is laden with notwithstanding,the show is still pretty good. There are a lot of good emotional & comic moments. The relationships b/w some side characters are also pretty cool.


There are definitely some flaws. While for most of it's narrative the show seems to suggest that b/w prodigal talent & hardwork the winner is always hardwork,it ends up siding with prodigal talent instead. The players who end up with the best results are the ones with prodigal talent. There is also the small matter of Gawain being a one-dimensional character. While his game grows,his character doesn't. And of course,at a critical moment in the match he'll remember a very decisive piece of advice he received. I was also not a fan of the voice acting. He's always loud and almost screeching. Also,the trope of our MC relishing a new challenge will get old if the MC doesn't have character growth in the coming seasons. I remain hopeful though.

Gradual improvements have been made, and thankfully there is more of a focus on the sport itself. Developments have also been made to the characters and the banter and rivalry between them. The absence of certain players was also welcomed... The second season of Rising Impact however does still suffer from suspension of disbelief. Adding artistic flair to shots or exaggerating moments in the animation is fine. However, the enjoyment of the story is hindered when the writing in particular scenarios creates unbelievable stakes. This show can be fun. But some of the first season in addition to these aspects make it difficult to recommend.