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Starting this series was an impulsive decision, but I don’t regret it. Even though I’ve never watched a real baseball game and the sport is non-existent in my country, I quickly grew to like it.

*Contains NO spoilers*

Characters - 8/10
Its dynamic characters are Diamond no Ace’s (DnA) strong suit. They're all unique - in character design, personality, and purpose. I fell in love with most of them from the first season and that didn't change during this one. The plot makes you admire the players' efforts and camaraderie.

The start of this season was bittersweet for me because the Third Years (who I loved and named ... my cats after) left. Was I worried that DnA: Second Season wouldn't be able to fill the resulting hole in my heart? Yes. Did it compensate for the loss by doing something that I've always wanted this show to do? Yes! They finally upped the focus on the non-First-String players this season. With our favorite seniors gone, these guys had big shoes to fill and the opportunity to make their senpais and coach proud. Even if they didn't make the team, some characters still contributed significantly to it (in ways I won't spoil).

DnA has a huge cast, so its focus on side characters during the first season was refreshing. Sometimes, after learning the stories of opposing teams and their players, I wasn't sure who I wanted to win a match. I also loved that each coach had an adorable quirk. This time around, some side characters just felt like cardboard. They could have done much more with Raichi in particular, who spent 65% of his screen time laughing asininely. We didn't need to see so much of the pair of journalists covering the games either.

Art - 7/10
The animation was pretty good. My only qualms are that some scenes could have been done more fluidly with fewer (loooong) freeze frames and split panels to make parts of the game more exciting. DnA gets it right at key points during gameplay but not consistently throughout it. Even when the more artsy route is explored (for example: adding auras or other elements to a character/scene at crucial parts in the game), it fails to be compelling. The series makes up for it in the more humorous scenes featuring chibi forms of characters, though, and the result is HILARIOUS and cute!

Sound - 5/10
The sounds effects were lacking. Some sounds were overused (constantly reused), which made hearing them more of a nuisance than something that improved the atmosphere of a scene. I grew tired of the random "ping" that they used during tense scenes, split frames, or when a ball was hit. Plus, hearing that ONE track introduced whenever the game picked up (if you watched season 1, you know what I'm talking about) frustrated me. The soundtrack needed more diversity. I would have also appreciated hearing a common cheer that I could chant along with the team/crowd, like the crowd does in Haikyuu!!.

Now for the good: the opening and ending themes were great. Never skip them. ^_^

Story - 9/10
The story's pretty straightforward. A baseball team that missed out on nationals in the previous season tries again to achieve their ultimate goal. But the journey to nationals isn't as straightforward. You'll enjoy seeing the team members and coach develop throughout the season. Why? Because of the support they afford each other and the challenges that certain opponents pose. This is not the story of an overpowered MC. It's an authentic tale about the benefits of healthy rivalry, tenacity, and teamwork.

As a total novice to baseball, I appreciated how explanations of pitches and plays (basically of anything baseball) were seamlessly incorporated into the storyline. My only issue is with the directing; the pacing was horrible sometimes. Some games were far too long, and the LITTLE plot development accomplished in one episode would annoy you. For me, that dulled the excitement.

Overall - 7/10
Watch it: It's a good anime that you'll learn worthwhile lessons from. Some lines make great inspirational quotes. For example:

"Doing the same boring thing over and over every day will surprisingly give you strength when it really matters. I want to live an easier life...but...life doesn't work that way."