Art: not much has changed since the first season. This show is showing what DEEN is really capable of. Characters are animated in more than one way, a lot of attention is paid to movement, facial expressions and lipsyncing. While there's no insane animation here to boast aside from precisely one scene it's all extremely solid. You wont be seeing up and down beyond occasional rise ups from consistent good level the show stays at. What it doesn't have in extra frames it has in style. S2 is quite a bit more daring at times with use of animation, making some stories become the "reality" to depict the degree of immersion rakugoka are capable of.
Character designs are going through yet more alterations as we see another time skip. It's really cool to see just how much appearance changes with generational shifts. The common thread here is adherence to period authenticity so no pink drill hair or wearing minimum one pair of functionless belts on each limb.
Backgrounds as good as always. There are a few that are just filtered photos but otherwise love and effort is seen throughout. DEEN paid due attention to environments that are given as much character and life as humans.
Sound: no changes from season one. It's same stellar voice acting with plenty of nuance and mix of emotional, instrumental compositions alongside diagetic shamisen music accompanying live and radio performances.
Story: SGRS2 is a worthwhile continuation of the story from the first season. Story about generations of artists, their ambitions and principles. As well a story about rakugo, people who love it, those who make it possible and its place in the life of people. That might come off a bit too grand though. While all of that is present I must remember that this is a personal story on a small scale so all of this is done is a subdued way that doesn't get much in the way of persobal drama but serves as background for them.
It's incredible how such seemingly simple show can collect together so many themes. As stubborn Kikuhiko thinks he'll die together with the art he and his best friend worked to hard to refine, the next generation works hard to breathe in new life into rakugo, explore new styles, write new material or introduce female performers. It's very much a battle of tradition versus progress. Along side it is the theme of passing on be it life or art. Everything old eventually changes to stay relevant or withers to give way for something new.
Major focus of the show however are characters. Every event and interactions feels like it has gradual effect and if you show two seasons back to back some of it becomes rather obvious. For example Konatsu, who used to be very opposed to the idea of doing rakugo due to tradition and convincing herself that it's not even worth trying, over time warms up the idea and eventually gives in to her passion, simultaneously becoming a more open and happier person. This show is full of changes like that and they flow carefully from the very start.
Fun factor: It's very fun, please watch it!
