Girls und Panzer: das Finale - Part 2 Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		3.0
Overall		3.5

Girls und Panzer: das Finale - Part 2 Blu-ray Movie Review

An entertaining installment in the fan-favorite franchise.

Girls und Panzer das Finale 2 is the second installment in the sequel movie series (expanding upon the success of the popular anime television franchise). Girls und Panzer das Finale features ambitious animation produced by Actas (Classroom For Heroes, Girls und Panzer). With production by Bandai Namco Pictures (Battle Spirits Double Drive, Raven of the Inner Palace), Girls und Panzer das Finale 2 takes the series in a new direction as the stakes continue to raise for these tank girls. May the odds be ever in their favor!

Mako Reizei (Yuka Iguchi), Hana Isuzu (Mami Ozaki), Miho Nishizumi (Mai Fuchigami), Yukari Akiyama (Ikumi Nakagami), and Saori Takebe (Ai Kayano) have returned once more and have new adventures in store for them. The girls are on a new and exciting mission: these tank girls simply won’t take no for an answer! The girls were facing new and unexpected difficulties when deceived by the BC Freedom Academy.

Yet the girls are now facing combat and the mission is bigger than ever before (and more dangerous than the team expected). The stage has now been set for a showdown between the Chi-Ha-Tan Academy and Koala Forest Academy. Who will emerge victorious?

The characters continue to be one of the joys of the production. The ensemble characters are truly exceptional and fun to spend time with. The characters display bubbly personalities and there are wonderful moments for everyone in the core cast. Mako, Hana, Miho, Yukari, and Saori bring fun elements of energy to the production.

"Kawaii!"

The animation is beautiful throughout the production and even more creative than in the first feature film entry. The animation direction is handled by Isao Sugimoto (Ultimate Otaku Teacher, Girls und Panzer), the character designs as well. The effort is impressive and the results seem big budget in comparison to many other series-turned-film productions. The mixture of traditional and CG is impeccable and seamless in this chapter.

The cinematography by Yoshihiro Sekiya (If Her Flag Breaks, Fantasista Doll) showcases the series with bright and vivid animation at its absolute best. The stunning vistas on display are breathtaking. There certainly is a lot to appreciate about the production merits and the way the cinematography helps everything in the animation to shine.

With a screenplay by Reiko Yoshida (Bomberman Jetters, Aria - The Natural), Girls und Panzer das Finale 2 is a fun romp within the expanding saga. Yoshida provides the production with the right balance of character moments and action-packed mayhem. There is a ton to appreciate about the script and it capably brings the story forward.

Directed by Tsutomu Mizushima (Witch Craft Works, Girls und Panzer), Girls und Panzer das Finale 2 is an even better installment than the first entry in the feature-film continuation. The second part has considerably upped the ante in regards to action and adventure. The pace is outstanding. This is a remarkable achievement by Mizushima.

Girls und Panzer: das Finale - Part 2 Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Arriving on Blu-ray from Sentai Filmworks, Girls und Panzer das Finale is presented in 1080p MPEG-4 AVC encoded high definition in the original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.78:1 widescreen. The release features stunning picture-quality which capably preserves the animation and all of its detail. Colors certainly "pop" during the presentation and the animation is bright and detailed. A wonderful and detailed encode. Sentai Filmworks has done a stellar job with the transfer and there are no issues regarding compression.

Girls und Panzer: das Finale - Part 2 Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The release is presented with a selection of audio options: English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround sound and Japanese DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround sound (with English subtitles). The lossless audio presentation is top-notch. Dialogue is crystal clear on the release. The surrounds are actively utilized and provide the film with a greater sense of depth and dimension. The score sounds crisp throughout. A solid effort from Sentai.

Girls und Panzer: das Finale - Part 2 Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Taiyaki War! OVA (HD, 12:03) and presented in DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 stereo.

Clean Opening Animation (HD, 1:46)

Clean Closing Animations (HD, 3:42)

Japanese Promos (HD, 2:04)

TV Series Trailer (HD, 1:24)

The release also includes a selection of trailers promoting other releases from distributor Sentai Filmworks: Princess Tutu (HD, 1:01), The Magnificent Kotobuki – The Movie (HD, 00:40), Made in Abyss – Dawn of the Deep Soul (HD, 1:12), and Is it Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? III (HD, 1:36).

Girls und Panzer: das Finale - Part 2 Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Girls und Panzer das Finale 2 is a wonderful installment in the action-packed franchise. The second part of the grand finale, the feature offers fans of the series with non-stop action and fun. Girls und Panzer das Finale 2 offers audiences non-stop excitement: the kind anime fans will be thrilled to experience. The Blu-ray release features an impressive video and audio presentation. Fans of the series will be thrilled with the second installment. Highly recommended.