Reviews

Unlike the first "movie" this one distinguishes itself much more clearly from the TV show, despite having a 30-minute runtime. Character designs and color palettes are notably different, Kino looks a bit more grown-up, and the (in)famous grain filter of the TV series is nowhere to be found. The story structure is the same as usual: Kino visits a mysterious country, becomes acquainted with his ways, and then uncovers the dark secret behind it. I didn't find this story to be particularly outstanding next to the TV series, but it does have some memorable moments, like Hermes trying to strike up conversation with an inanimate motorbike, or Kino having a gunfight in a room full of surveillance screens. The titular "country" is also one of the most visually interesting in the series, though the story itself is a bit on-the-nose. (The little girl is called "Inertia," really?) Anyway, this doesn't feel so "essential" for fans of the TV show as the first movie, since it's more of its own thing, but it's certainly worth watching and it's not like there's a ton of Kino out there, either.