Synopsis:
After completing their mission in Cephiro, the Magic Knights Hikaru, Umi, and Fuu go back home to Tokyo. But the three girls can never forget the tragic battle they had to fight, and could find no peace in their hearts. The girls decide to meet at Tokyo Tower, where it all began. When they get there, a mysterious force pulls them back to the world of Cephiro... where more battles await them. But Cephiro has changed for the worse since the death of Princess Emeraude. The once glorious land is now filled with darkness and despair, and it's only a matter of time before it crumbles altogether. To top it off, the three neighboring countries of Autozam, Fahren, and Chizeta all want to invade Cephiro. But the real enemy lurks within Cephiro itself, and the Magic Knights have to figure things out quickly before time runs out...

Review:
A lot of people have told me that second season Magic Knight Rayearth is the best Magic Knight Rayearth I'll ever see, and so I had very high expectations riding on this series. What can I say? They're absolutely right.

Although Magic Knight Rayearth 2's a bit of a slow starter, the plot quickly pans out after the introductory episodes. I was practically glued to the screen after the first few eps -- I just couldn't stop watching! Quite a number of interesting and memorable new characters are added to the mix. I can only marvel at the way they are given sufficient characterization and development. What's more, the neighboring countries aren't really bad guys. They all have valid reasons for wanting to take over Cephiro. Complicating things further is the fact that the Magic Knights manage to get along well with the foreigners, even amidst the fighting. The invasions are far from the main problem though, as the Magic Knights themselves begin to doubt the Pillar system which holds Cephiro together.

Magic Knight Rayearth 2 is undoubtedly much more intense than its predecessor, both in terms of fighting action and emotional depth. A lot of soul-searching goes on, and whatever issues carried over from Magic Knight Rayearth 1 are duly resolved. The battles are spectacular -- a magnificent combination of swordsmanship, melee fighting, and magic. I was mesmerized as the Magic Knights battled everything from the sleek mechs of Autozam to the mystical djinns of Chizeta. For all its intensity, however, Magic Knight Rayearth 2 is balanced nicely by brief infusions of humor even in the gravest of situations. Magic Knight Rayearth 2 also retains Magic Knight Rayearth 1's RPG elements as the girls continue to "level up" -- growing stronger and learning new spells.

The art and animation are generally superb, with a few inconsistently drawn eps which sport slightly inferior illustration (you probably won't even notice if you're not meticulous). The songs and music are excellent as well. Overall, Magic Knight Rayearth 2 gives you more of everything. If you thought Magic Knight Rayearth 1 was good, Magic Knight Rayearth 2 is phenomenal and should not be missed!

Miscellanies:
To get the full story, check out Magic Knight Rayearth's first season. You can actually watch Magic Knight Rayearth 2 on its own but it'd be a lot more impactful if you watch Magic Knight Rayearth 1 first. DVD extras include art galleries, spell lists, and trailers among others. The DVD set's box is also very impressive.

Screenshots:

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Magic Knight Rayearth (DVD Box Set, Second Season)
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Magic Knight Rayearth (DVD Box Set, Second Season)
Magic Knight Rayearth (DVD Box Set, Both Seasons)

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