Honey and Clover: The Complete Second Season Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		3.0
Audio		3.5
Extras		2.5
Overall		3.0

Honey and Clover: The Complete Second Season Blu-ray Movie Review

The series returns.

Honey and Clover: Season 2 continues the slice-of-life drama which began to unfold in the first season outing. The second season of Honey and Clover is produced by Atsuya Takase, Hiroaki Sano, Kenji Yasaka, Kōji Yamamoto, Masarou Toyoshima, Nobihiro Osawa, Tetsuya Watanabe, and Yukihito Ito. Honey and Clover features animation produced by J.C. Staff (A Certain Magical Index, Daphne in the Brilliant Blue). Based on the original manga by Chica Umino, Honey and Clover: Season 2 brings the journey forward and to the next chapter of the story.

Yuuta Takemoto (Hiroshi Kamiya) begins another stage in his life following his experiences in art school in Tokyo. Now Yuuta returns from his mission with a new sense of commitment and a desire to be the best artist he can be. Now journeying in America, Shinobu Morita (Yūji Ueda) finds himself seeking finances to help him pursue his passion. The stakes are higher and the journey never ends.

Back in Japan, Hagumi Hanamoto (Haruka Kudō) faces the repercussions of an accident which causes devastation and commotion. As these passionate dreamers continue to pursue their art, can everyone find the pathway to their destiny? Even with seemingly endless obstacles in their way, a dreamer never forgets to create art.

The cast of characters is at the heart of the storytelling. Yuuta remains a compelling lead. As the central protagonist, Yuuta has a new journey ahead of him in the second season. The supporting cast also face new challenges in their respective journeys. The ensemble of noteworthy characters is one of the core foundations behind the success of Honey and Clover.

The animation is impressive and one of the best components of the production. The series features chief animation direction by Takahiko Yoshida (Sorcerous Stabber Orphen, Welcome to the NHK). The art style imbues the production with whimsy and wonder – the right dose of charm. The results are a series with more unique artistry. Under the art direction of Chikako Shibata (My Little Monster, Rozen Maiden), the series finds its unique voice.

The next chapter.

The character designs by Shuichi Shimamura (Flowers of Evil, Saber Marionette J) are one of the best production components. Each of the central characters has a distinct style. The designs are all more realistic and down-to-earth by nature and not as over-the-top as on some anime productions. The character designs are more natural to fit with the tone of the series and the concept (rather than featuring caricatures).

The score composed by Yuzo Hayashi (The Pet Girl of Sakurasou, Samurai: Hunt for the Sword) adds a sense of magic to normality. The series score provides a pleasant backdrop to the series events. As composer Hatashi explores the music landscape, the music delivers a satisfying sense of wonder. Excellent work by Hayashi.

The cinematography by Yutaka Kurosawa (Dream Eater Merry, His and Her Circumstances) shines. The visual element of the series is downright exquisite. The use of lighting is especially impressive and the series cinematographer capably handled the material. The artistry of the visuals is excellent.

The screenplay by Yousuke Kuroda (Battle Girl High School, High School of the Dead) remembers to balance characters and the story. The characters are at the forefront of the storytelling. As the new installment of the saga unfolds, Kuroda continues to expand on the original journey of the characters. The next stage is set.

Tatsuyuki Nagai (Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans, A Certain Scientific Railgun) directs. Honey and Clover: Season 2 continues to be a compelling anime with an emphasis on heartwarming storytelling. Nagai assembled a good production team with talented animators and crew. A charming slice-of-life series with a new course direction in the second season, Honey and Clover continues to be an engaging series for fans.

Honey and Clover: The Complete Second Season Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Arriving on Blu-ray from Discotek Media, Honey and Clover: Season 2 is presented in 1080p MPEG-4 AVC encoded high definition. The second season continues to present the series with a standard-definition upscale. The release does not provide a native high-definition presentation. While the release might seem somewhat lackluster compared to some of the better standard-definition anime upscales, it certainly offers a decent transfer and one that is a improvement on the source material. However, given the source limitations, the presentation is never going to look as crisp as most native high definition anime presentations. This is no fault of distributor Discotek and is source related for the material.

Honey and Clover: The Complete Second Season Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The release includes a selection of audio options: English uncompressed PCM 2.0 stereo and Japanese uncompressed PCM 2.0 stereo (with English subtitles). Both options are encoded in 16 bit depth. The audio presentation is clean and crisp. The audio dynamics are impressive and capably handle the soundtrack and dialogue. A worthwhile encoding by Discotek Media.

Honey and Clover: The Complete Second Season Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Voice Acting Karaoke (SD, 8:06)

Clean Opening (HD, 1:30)

Clean Ending (HD, 1:10)

TV Promo (SD, 00:35)

Honey and Clover: The Complete Second Season Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Honey and Clover: Season 2 continues to explore the central cast of characters and their world. The season expands on the original and begins a new chapter of the saga. The production has excellent animation and production values. The Blu-ray release is sourced from standard definition material. Though the encode is an upscale, the presentation looks reasonably good. A solid effort by Discotek Media. Fans of the series will find the release worthwhile. Recommended.