6.5 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 2.5 | |
Overall | 2.5 |
Taking advantage of the opportunity that the Mikawa Conflict provides, Tori and his comrades attempt to rescue Horizon from the Testament Union. But even as the Floating City Musashi speeds towards its next destination, the Floating Island England, Tres España is preparing its own armada for war against the British Islanders. Now, as the quest of Horizon's emotions builds to its climax, Tori's new battle is about to begin in the land ruled by the Fairy Queen! The reenactment of the history described in the mysterious Testament continues as the secret of the Armor of Deadly Sins is unleashed.
Starring: Jun Fukuyama, Minori Chihara, Miyuki Sawashiro, Ami Koshimizu, Chiwa SaitoAnime | 100% |
Foreign | 96% |
Action | 27% |
Comedy | 24% |
Romance | 22% |
Fantasy | 19% |
Erotic | 16% |
Sci-Fi | 12% |
Adventure | 3% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.78:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0
Japanese: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0
English
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (2 BDs)
Region A (B, C untested)
Movie | 2.0 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 2.0 | |
Overall | 2.5 |
Horizon in the Middle of Nowhere is one of those anime which seems to delight in complexity for complexity’s sake, which would be fine if at its core it wasn’t such a simpleminded enterprise. The series, which blends a sort of quasi-history with a post-Modern influence (think Strike Witches, only with more overt obfuscation and perhaps just slightly less overt fan service), is filled to the brim with what seems like a literal galaxy of characters, all of whom zoom and zing through an alternate universe where history—for whatever reason—is being “reenacted”, though no one really seems to be aware of that fact, or indeed aware of why they’re involved in some kind of epochal theatrical enterprise. The first season of the show, which was covered in our Horizon in the Middle of Nowhere: Season 1 Blu-ray review, was often a maddeningly convoluted outing, one where brief bursts of admittedly nicely done action would suddenly halt so that any given character—or even the occasional narrator—could explain to the viewer exactly what was going on. A show that needs this kind of “meta” explication is already teetering dangerously close to the precipice of befuddlement, but the good news—albeit relatively good news—is that Horizon in the Middle of Nowhere got incrementally better as the first season went along, if for no other reason than what might be termed attrition of viewers’ intolerance. The ironic thing is that the series is built around battles, and perhaps the biggest battle this anime wages is with its own audience, finally grinding objectors down to sniveling co-conspirators who are willing to let Horizon in the Middle of Nowhere go about its often dunderheaded business without raising so much as a minimal complaint.
As with Horizon in the Middle of Nowhere: Season 1, Sentai Filmworks' presentation of Horizon in the Middle of Nowhere II features an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 1.78:1 that is an often extremely beautiful viewing experience. This is an unusually colorful and well designed series, with CGI well utilized and very well woven into the more traditional cel animation. Some of the sequences in this second season are done in an intentionally softer looking style (see some of the screenshots accompanying this review for some good examples). Line detail continues to be very sharp and well defined and the well designed characters and backgrounds look very clear and precise throughout this high definition presentation.
Again as with the first season of this series, Horizon in the Middle of Nowhere II features DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 mixes in both Japanese and English. These two mixes sound pretty much identical, without the slight but noticeable difference I mentioned in my first season review. Dialogue, effects and the series' enjoyable score are all presented cleanly and fluidly. This second season has some action sequences which probably would have benefited from a more boisterous surround mix, but what's here suffices more than adequately, with excellent fidelity and wide dynamic range.
Horizon in the Middle of Nowhere lost a little of whatever mojo it had, at least for me, as this second season trundled along. Some of the "reboots" of history were rather well done (much better in my opinion than in Strike Witches), but the show's manic back and forth between action and lunacy just started to grate on me after a while. This series seems to have split anime fans pretty much down the middle. If you liked the first season of Horizon in the Middle of Nowhere, chances are you'll continue to feel the same about this second outing, since it's pretty much more of the same. If you were ambivalent or even negative to begin with, chances are this second season will leave you cold.
2011
境界線上のホライゾン / 境界線上のホライゾンII
2011-2012
(Still not reliable for this title)
2011-2012
IS〈インフィニット・ストラトス〉
2011
2010
Bōnen no Xam'd
2008-2009
Asobi ni Iku yo! / Essentials
2010-2011
2008
2012
Essentials
2011
Anime Classics
2008-2009
Anime Classics / フルメタル·パニック!
2002
2011
Season 2
2007
Classics
2003
デート・ア・ライブIV / Season Four
2022
2010
2008
Classics
2005
2006
ハウルの動く城 / Hauru no Ugoku Shiro
2004
Essentials
2014