Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		1.5
Overall		3.0

Fate/Kaleid Liner Prisma Illya 2wei! / 2wei Herz!: Complete Collection Blu-ray Movie Review

The complete second season arrives in one action-packed collection.

Prisma Illya 2Wei! Collection includes the action-packed sequel following in the footsteps of the original. The second season of the series, Prisma Illya 2Wei! is executive produced by Takeshi Yasuda (Deadman Wonderland, Full Metal Panic! The Second Raid). Created by Hiroshi Hiroyama, the second season has more exciting magical-girl adventure and comedy for fans of the first season outing. Produced by Ai Matsuki (Red Data Girl, Fate/kaleid liner Prisma Illya) and Jun'ichirō Tamura (Anti-Magic Academy: The 35th Test Platoon, My Girlfriend is Shobitch), Prisma Illya 2Wei! features animation produced by SILVER LINK. (Battle Girl High School, Dusk maiden of Amnesia). Kawaii!

Rin Tohsaka (Kana Ueda) is a gifted high school student with spirit warrior powers. Rin leads the way forward as the mage of Archer – she fights a good fight and participates in an epic battle for all ages. Determined to seal away the powers of the magical Ley Cards, Rin brings Miyu (Kaori Nazuka) and Illya (Mai Kadowaki) with her on the daunting mission.

Instead of events going as planned, Rin finds trouble when Illya is split in to two separate beings and one half of her is now a dark clone, Kuro Illya. Can this epic mess be untangled? Life is never easy for magical girls and the journey undertaken isn’t a walk on the beach when evil doppelgangers get in the way of having fun. With interdimensional fun and plenty of demons, these magical girls have a lot on their respective plates. What will happen to Miyu if Illya can’t handle her dark-self, Kuro?

The second season of the series continues the magical girl adventures fans of the series are accustomed to. The season outing explores a new terrain in the saga with the focus of the second season being on the split of Illya into two beings – with her dark clone Kuro Illya being a new element of the series production. The stakes are raised and the adventure continues to find new ways to explore these popular characters.

As a series with a magical girl element, Prisma Illya 2Wei! Collection will appeal to fans of the genre. The saga certainly emphasizes the typical aspects of a magical-girl series with girls kicking-ass with plenty of enthusiasm, energy, and magic. The lead characters help to carry the saga. Miyu and Illya certainly find themselves in some new scenarios and without their magical abilities the characters would be in some serious trouble.

Girl power!

The series features impressive animation. The art direction by Ken Tateishi (Hybrid x Heart Magias Academy Ataraxia, Heaven’s Lost Property Final – The Movie: Eternally My Master) is an excellent component of the production. The series has vibrant art and the efforts of the team of animators certainly helps to enhance the aesthetic of the series. Prisma Illya 2Wei! Collection showcases an impressive second season with stunning colors and quality animation from the production crew.

The character designs by Nozomi Ushijima are an effective component of the second season of Prisma Illya 2Wei! and manage to stay in line with the designs from the first season outing. The characters certainly have distinct personalities and the designs manage to showcase their personalities in an interesting and effective way. The designs will certainly please the fanbase.

The cinematography by Kousuke Nakanishi (Baka and Test - Summon the Beasts, The Girl Who Leapt Through Time) is exceptional. The production has top-notch visuals and the bright and colorful art certainly is enhanced by the great lighting and visual finesse of the cinematography. Nakanishi is talented as a cinematographer. The results aid the production in a compelling manner.

The score composed by Tatsuya Katō (Celestial Method, Demon King Daimao) is a reasonably engaging element of the production. Though the score is not a total home-run, the music still adds some charm. The score fits the magical-girl genre and works well with the production. Composer Kato certainly has fun with the cast of characters and the action-packed journey.

Written by Kenji Inoue (Fate/kaleid liner Prisma Illya, Grand Blue Dreaming), Prisma Illya 2Wei! Collection is a decent follow up to the first season. Inoue does a solid job of expanding on the production with a strong follow up to the first season. The writer understands the magical-girl component is essential to the foundation of the series and finds some compelling ways to explore further.

Shin Oonuma (Baka and Test - Summon the Beasts, Dusk maiden of Amnesia) and Masato Jinbo (Restaurant to Another World, Shomin Sample) direct. The directors of Prisma Illya 2Wei! add an abundance of energy and enthusiasm to the production and to the magical-girl genre on the whole. With fast paced action and great animation (with the directors bringing forth excellent efforts from the team of animators), Prisma Illya 2Wei! Collection brings the saga forward with even more pizazz. Series enthusiasts will be thrilled.

Fate/Kaleid Liner Prisma Illya 2wei! / 2wei Herz!: Complete Collection Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Arriving on Blu-ray from Sentai Filmworks, Prisma Illya 2Wei! is presented in 1080p MPEG-4 AVC encoded high definition in the original television broadcast aspect ratio of 1.78:1 widescreen. The presentation is impressive and showcases the animation well. The high-definition visuals certainly enhance the presentation of the series well. The release includes a native high-definition encode and it is not simply a standard- definition upscale (as seen on some anime releases). The vibrant and colorful animation looks impressive. The encode capably handles the art and the action. A solid effort from Sentai Filmworks.

Fate/Kaleid Liner Prisma Illya 2wei! / 2wei Herz!: Complete Collection Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The release includes a selection of lossless audio options: English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 stereo and Japanese DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 stereo (with English subtitles). The high-resolution audio sounds exceptionally crisp and clear on the release. Dialogue is well reproduced. The score is highlighted. Another impressive encode by Sentai.

Fate/Kaleid Liner Prisma Illya 2wei! / 2wei Herz!: Complete Collection Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Disc 2:

Clean Opening Animation (HD, 1:32)

Clean Closing Animation (HD, 1:32)

2wei! Shorts:

Short 1 (HD, 5:04)

Short 2 (HD, 6:04)

Short 3 (HD, 6:36)

TV Spots (HD, 7:11)

Disc 4:

Clean Opening Animation (HD, 1:32)

Clean Closing Animations (HD, 3:04)

Herz! Shorts:

Short 1 (HD, 8:02)

Short 2 (HD, 5:45)

Short 3 (HD, 7:35)

Short 4 (HD, 8:58)

Short 5 (HD, 7:46)

Japanese Promos (HD, 3:00)

Commercials (HD, 00:34)

The release also includes a selection of trailers promoting other releases available from distributor Sentai Filmworks: Kinmoza! The Movie – Thank You!! (HD, 00:31), Princess Principal: Crown Handler Chapter 2 (HD, 00:47), Monthly Girls' Nozaki- kun (HD, 1:32), and Girls und Panzer das Finale (HD, 1:02).

Fate/Kaleid Liner Prisma Illya 2wei! / 2wei Herz!: Complete Collection Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Prisma Illya 2Wei! Collection includes the entire second season of the hit anime series. The second season includes a new storyline involving the dark clone of Illya, Kuro Illya. Can the magical girls overcome the new obstacles in their path? The stakes are high and the journey must continue! Featuring an impressive video and audio presentation, Prisma Illya 2Wei! Collection will please established fans. The set also includes an excellent supplemental package with an abundance of additional shorts. Recommended.