Devil Survivor 2: The Animation - Complete Collection Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		1.5
Overall		3.5

Devil Survivor 2: The Animation - Complete Collection Blu-ray Movie Review

Few anime premises are as instantly compelling as an unknowable supernatural catastrophe threatening the collapse of an ordinary world. Devil Survivor 2: The Animation combines this setup with supernatural battles, mysterious digital technology, morally ambiguous decisions, and a race against extinction. The series, adapted from Atlus's role-playing game, stars its characters in a desperate struggle against alien entities known as the Septentriones, forcing humanity to confront the possibility that its time has finally run out.

Produced by Bridge and directed by Seiji Kishi, the 2013 television series is one of those fascinating anime science fiction stories that involves modern technology entangled with occult phenomena and the survival of civilization as a whole, despite being barely prepared to shoulder such responsibility. Its premise promises the escalating tension of a disaster thriller, the supernatural spectacle of a battle anime, and the strategic considerations of a role-playing game.

The result is an ambitious, frequently entertaining series that has plenty of ideas to explore. It also faces the considerable challenge of condensing an expansive game narrative into a short television adaptation. The Blu-ray release allows the viewer to see the entire animated story in a home-video format, in which the series' colorful supernatural imagery, electronic atmosphere, and dramatic confrontations can been appreciated without relying on the uncertainties of streaming availability.

The story begins with Hibiki Kuze, his best friend, Daichi Shijima, and their discovery of a mysterious website called Nicaea that sends the user videos depicting the deaths of people they know, transforming what initially appears to be an unsettling novelty into a terrifying prediction of imminent disaster. When a catastrophic incident threatens their lives, Hibiki, Daichi, and their schoolmate Io Nitta find themselves caught in events far beyond their understanding.

Their survival has led them to encounter a demon-summoning application granting them access to supernatural allies. Before long, the three young people have become involved with JP's, an organization that attempts to defend Japan against the Septentriones, powerful entities that appear at regular intervals and threaten to bring about humanity's destruction.

One of the adaptation's most appealing ideas is the marriage of everyday technology and supernatural mythology. Smartphones, digital communication, and online services are not merely background details but integral to the mechanics of the apocalypse. The seemingly innocuous Nicaea application introduces an unsettling premise: what happens when technology has glimpsed at the future but cannot provide the means of escaping it?

The demon-summoning system gives the series an identity distinct from more conventional monster-of-the-week anime. The battles are not simply encounters with increasingly powerful enemies but part of a larger mystery regarding the nature of the invading forces, their circumstances of arrival, and the decisions humanity must take to survive.

Hibiki serves as the emotional center of the narrative, as his willingness to help others, even as the situation becomes increasingly desperate, is a compelling contrast to the colder, more calculating personalities around him. Daichi provides a more familiar human perspective, often responding to extraordinary circumstances with understandable fear and uncertainty, while Io's presence introduces additional emotional stakes as the trio attempts to preserve its relationships amid mounting danger.

The supporting cast has broadened the narrative considerably; Yamato Hotsuin, the formidable leader of JP's, represents a fundamentally different approach to survival, emphasizing strength, discipline, and the need for decisive action. His worldview creates a productive ideological counterpoint to Hibiki's more compassionate instincts, raising questions about leadership, sacrifice, and whether saving humanity justifies decisions that might otherwise be considered morally unacceptable.

Unfortunately, the limited episode count places considerable pressure on these character relationships. With only 13 episodes, the anime frequently moves from one major revelation or confrontation to the next before every character receives sufficient development. Some emotional turning points are effective, but others would benefit from more time spent establishing relationships and personal histories.

This is especially true as the series introduces new supernatural threats and increasingly consequential revelations. The mythology is intriguing, but the pace makes it difficult for individual developments to resonate as deeply as they might.

Nevertheless, Devil Survivor 2: The Animation is an engaging supernatural thriller. Its mixture of apocalyptic science fiction, demonology, interpersonal drama, and philosophical conflict provides a strong foundation, even when the storytelling can struggle to accommodate all its ambitions. Viewers unfamiliar with the original game should find the basic premise accessible, although those expecting the expansive character interactions and strategic depth of a role-playing game may wish the anime had more room to breathe.

Animation duties were handled by Studio Bridge, with Seiji Kishi directing the series and Etsushi Sajima adapting the character designs from the original illustrations by Suzuhito Yasuda. The series establishes a recognizable visual identity thanks to angular character designs, saturated colors, ominous backgrounds, and supernatural imagery, that contrasts with its contemporary urban setting.

The character designs are among the production's strongest assets. Hibiki, Daichi, Io, and the wider ensemble have distinctive silhouettes and appearances, helping the audience to distinguish the large cast even as the narrative introduces new characters and competing factions. The designs have retained enough of the original game's aesthetic to give the adaptation a visual connection to its source material.

The supernatural creatures are another important component of the presentation. The Septentriones have an appropriately alien quality, providing a visual contrast to the familiar human characters and city environments. Their appearances help establish the scale of the threat facing humanity, while the demon-summoning sequences have introduced additional fantasy elements into an otherwise recognizable modern world.

The series is particularly effective when emphasizing atmosphere. Darkened interiors, devastated urban landscapes, and the contrast between ordinary city life and otherworldly destruction reinforce the feeling that civilization is increasingly fragile. The backgrounds establish a sense of place, while the use of shadow and dramatic lighting contributes to the story's darker moments.

The action sequences offer a mixture of supernatural spectacle and conventional animated combat. Demons clash with their opponents, characters make split-second decisions, and the escalating confrontations gradually reveal the immense power of the invading entities. When the animation, editing, and music have worked together, these encounters can be quite exciting.

However, the animation is not consistently impressive. Some sequences rely more heavily on dramatic framing, effects, and editing than on consistently fluid character movement. The visual quality varies between scenes, and some confrontations lack the sustained dynamism to elevate them into standout action set pieces.

That inconsistency is worth acknowledging, especially for viewers approaching the series primarily for its battles. The production has delivered some striking images, but it has not met the level of animation that makes every confrontation memorable.

Even so, the overall art direction serves the material well. The combination of modern technology, supernatural mythology, and impending catastrophe gives the anime a distinct atmosphere, and its best visual moments effectively communicate the desperation at the heart of the story.

The musical score, composed by Kōtarō Nakagawa, helps to establish the series' uneasy balance between modern action and supernatural mystery. Rather than relying solely on conventional orchestral heroics, the soundtrack contributes to the production's contemporary atmosphere and supports the tension surrounding the characters' increasingly dangerous circumstances.

The opening theme, "Take Your Way" by livetune featuring Fukase, has established an energetic electronic-pop identity. Its contemporary sound complements the prominent role of smartphones and digital technology in the narrative, while its momentum has provided an effective introduction to the series' characters and apocalyptic premise.

The ending theme, "Be" by Song Riders, has offered a different emotional register. Its more reflective presentation has provided a welcome opportunity to decompress after episodes filled with supernatural confrontations and difficult decisions.

Throughout the series, the soundtrack has supported the dramatic progression without completely overwhelming the dialogue. Music has helped to build anticipation, reinforce the sense of impending danger, and give the larger battles additional momentum. The electronic elements have also helped to distinguish the anime from fantasy adventures built around more traditional medieval or orchestral aesthetics.

The voice performances are another important component of the experience. The Japanese cast includes Hiroshi Kamiya as Hibiki Kuze, Nobuhiko Okamoto as Daichi Shijima, Aya Uchida as Io Nitta, and Junichi Suwabe as Yamato Hotsuin.

Kamiya has provided an appropriate combination of restraint and determination to Hibiki, helping to establish the protagonist as someone who has become increasingly confident without losing his fundamental concern for other people. Okamoto has given Daichi a more openly reactive quality, providing a contrast to Hibiki's composure, while Uchida has contributed to Io's emotional presence.

Suwabe is particularly well suited to Yamato, whose commanding personality and uncompromising philosophy has made him one of the series' most consequential figures. His performance has communicated the character's authority, while leaving room for the ideological tensions beneath his outward confidence.

Devil Survivor 2: The Animation - Complete Collection Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The North American Blu-ray release from Sentai Filmworks presents all 13 episodes in 1080p high definition with an MPEG-4 AVC encode across two discs. The original aspect ratio of 1.78:1 preserves the widescreen composition of the television production.

As a digitally animated television series, Devil Survivor 2: The Animation is well suited to Blu-ray presentation. Its clean linework, bold colors, and carefully constructed character designs benefit from the additional clarity of high-definition playback. The 1080p image maintains the definition of the artwork, allowing the contours of the characters, details in their clothing, and fine elements of the backgrounds to remain visible.

Color reproduction is an important part of the presentation. The series' contrast of the familiar colors of contemporary urban environments with the more unusual hues of its supernatural creatures and combat effects are preserved with the Blu-ray's generally strong color saturation. The image's contrast supports the darker atmosphere of many scenes.

The benefits of the format are especially apparent in the series' more elaborate backgrounds. Buildings, streets, and environmental details establish the familiar world that the characters are attempting to protect. When the supernatural threat intrudes, the contrast between the ordinary environments and the extraordinary creatures becomes an important part of the visual storytelling.

The transfer is clean and detailed with some mild color banding in particularly challenging areas. Such limitations are not unusual for digitally animated material, especially with gradients and darker backgrounds, where subtle transitions can appear less smooth than intended.

It is worth remembering that high-definition presentation cannot eliminate every limitation of the original animation. Scenes with less fluid movement or simpler compositions will remain as such, regardless of the resolution. The Blu-ray has preserved the production rather it than transforming it into something it was never designed to be.

Overall, the release offers a solid way to experience the series. The sharpness, color, and clarity make it preferable to a standard-definition presentation, and the format suits the anime's distinctive visual style.

Devil Survivor 2: The Animation - Complete Collection Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The North American release includes the 2.0 tracks of English and Japanese DTS-HD Master Audio. Both provide lossless stereo playback, preserving the original two-channel sound presentation without requiring a multichannel remix.

Dialogue remains central to the mix, allowing the performances to carry the interpersonal drama and the more exposition-heavy portions of the story. The music provides an effective counterpoint, adding urgency to confrontations and reinforcing the atmosphere of impending disaster.

The action sequences benefit from the combination of music, voices, and effects. Demon summoning, supernatural attacks, and the appearances of the Septentriones receive the sonic emphasis necessary to make these encounters feel consequential. The stereo field gives the presentation a reasonable sense of width, although it naturally lacks the spatial separation of a dedicated surround mix.

The Japanese track is an excellent choice for viewers who prefer the original performances, while the English dub makes the series accessible to a wider audience. Neither option should be mistaken for a multichannel home-theater presentation, but the lossless stereo tracks are a welcome inclusion.

For collectors who value physical media's ability to preserve a consistent presentation, the audio offering is straightforward and appropriate. The Blu-ray supplies both language options in high-quality formats, making it easy to revisit the complete series without depending on the availability or configuration of a streaming service.

Devil Survivor 2: The Animation - Complete Collection Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Clean Opening Animations (HD, 17:07)

Clean Closing Animations (HD, 8:35)

The supplementary material is relatively modest. The North American release includes clean opening and closing animations.

The clean versions of the opening and ending themes are worthwhile additions for viewers who appreciate anime's musical presentation and visual design. Without credits over the imagery, these sequences can be enjoyed as self-contained pieces of animation.

The collection does not provide the extensive behind-the-scenes documentation, interviews, or production retrospectives that would make it a particularly substantial archival package.

For a series with an interesting relationship to Atlus's video-game universe, a deeper exploration of the adaptation process would have been welcome. Interviews with the director, writers, character designers, or voice cast could have provided insight into the challenges of adapting the game's mechanics and narrative into a 13-episode television series.

The absence of more substantial supplements is disappointing, although it does not diminish the value of the episodes themselves. The primary attraction is the complete series in high definition with both English and Japanese audio.

Devil Survivor 2: The Animation - Complete Collection Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Devil Survivor 2: The Animation is an ambitious supernatural science-fiction anime, bringing together an intriguing apocalyptic premise, memorable character designs, demon-summoning action, and questions about the choices people make when survival becomes uncertain.

The North American Blu-ray release from Sentai Filmworks is a solid home-video presentation. Its 1080p AVC transfer preserves the series' colorful artwork and distinctive designs, while the lossless English and Japanese stereo tracks provide suitable audio options. The supplements are limited, but the complete 13-episode collection remains the main attraction.

For collectors who appreciate supernatural anime with an apocalyptic setting, Devil Survivor 2: The Animation is a worthwhile addition to a physical-media library. It may not realize the potential of its source material, but it offers a distinctive combination of science fiction, mythology, action, and human drama that deserves to be experienced in its complete form.