The Ancient Magus' Bride (2023)

[魔法使いの嫁]

Season 2

Director: Kazuaki Terasawa
Studio: Studio Kafka
Starring: Atsumi Tanezaki, Ryota Takeuchi, Koki Uchiyama
Episodes: 24

Synopsis:
Chise agrees to attend the College to study among the sorcerers, only to find herself caught up in a web of intrigue.

Impressions:
Some people call this the Hogwarts Arc, and not necessarily all that fondly. I wouldn't say this segment of the story is bad by any means, but it isn't so different from many other magic school stories and has less of what makes this series unique. I do appreciate delving into the world of sorcery and what distinguishes it from magic and there's a good dynamic with the new cast of characters. In particular, I like how Lucy acts as a foil to Chise and Philomela as the object of Chise's sympathy. There's quite the tangled web of intrigue, so there should be more than enough to hold your interest, even if you may be one of those people who's not so keen on the magic school approach. Not all fans are likely to feel the same way, but I feel all the elements came together well enough in the end to recommend this season for the collection.

Rating:
Own It