6.5 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
Shana and Alastor, Lord of the Crimson Realm, continue to do battle with the Denizens, who are trying to steal the Power of Existence from mortals. In the last battle, Yuji is revealed to be a mystes, a "torch" of nearly unlimited Power of Existence. Since the Denizens want to capture Yuji and use him to upset the balance of the Realm, Shana resolves to protect Yuji. Yuji then vows to join Shana in her fight.
Starring: Satoshi Hino, Rie Kugimiya, Shizuka ItôAnime | 100% |
Foreign | 93% |
Comedy | 23% |
Action | 18% |
Adventure | 3% |
Drama | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.78:1
English: Dolby TrueHD 5.1
Japanese: Dolby TrueHD 2.0
English
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Four-disc set (2 BDs, 2 DVDs)
DVD copy
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A (B, C untested)
Movie | 3.0 | |
Video | 2.5 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 2.5 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
And so it’s finally come down to this: after 100 or so episodes, some additional OVAs and a feature film redacted from
the first arcs of the actual series, Shakugan no Shana is wrapping up (supposedly—I have my doubts). This
series has been an up and down climb for me. I still find it maddeningly over convoluted, with sometimes ridiculously
hard to understand verbiage and a plot line that veers off on tangents right and left, but as the third season opened,
whether or not my resistance had finally been worn down, I actually found myself enjoying the adventures of
Shana and Yuji. The second half of the (ostensible) final season is basically one protracted battle, and so for those
who are, like I am, not especially fond of the more “slice of life” elements of this series, that’s a good thing. Oddly,
Shana is relatively absent from a lot of the proceedings, as several supporting characters enter the fray and a bunch of
sidebars are interwoven into the main Yuji arc. But there’s a certain satisfaction to seeing the series wrap up several
elements in a more or less comprehensible way, and longtime fans should certainly be mostly pleased with the
outcome. If there’s some unexpected “collateral damage” along the way, that probably only adds to the emotional
impact the series will have for these aficionados. For those coming into Shakugan no Shana uninitiated (so to
speak), it might be worthwhile to spend a little time poring over our coverage of the (many) previous releases in this
franchise:
Shakugan no
Shana: Season 1 Blu-ray review
Shakugan no
Shana: Season 2 Part 1 Blu-ray review
Shakugan no
Shana: Season 2 Part 2 Blu-ray review
Shakugan no
Shana S: OVA Series Blu-ray review
Shakugan no Shana
the Movie Blu-ray review
Shakugan no
Shana: Season 3 Part 1 Blu-ray review
After no fewer than six previous Shakugan no Shana Blu-ray releases, there really isn't a lot left to be said about the AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 1.78:1. presented courtesy of FUNimation Entertainment. The series continues to be on the lackluster side, with an overall softness and some issues like minor stair stepping in line detail. Colors continue to be rather vibrant, but because of the general softness of the presentation, never really pop with the vivacity that they should. This second half of the third season features more "special effects" like magical circles and the like, and even those are offered in a kind of flat perspective, with not enough sharpness or clarity. Even for fans of Shakugan no Shana who are probably more willing than others to overlook some of the series' flaws, the middling high definition presentation of this series has certainly been at least a bit of a disappointment.
Once again, Shakugan no Shana Season 3 Part 2 features Dolby TrueHD mixes, a 5.1 in English and a 2.0 in Japanese. As with the video side of things, there's not really much new information to impart here, aside from the fact that this second half of the third season being so concerned with major battles makes the 5.1 mix probably even more consistently immersive than some of the other seasons. Both mixes offer excellent fidelity, with dialogue very cleanly presented, and the 5.1 mix benefits from some good LFE. Dynamic range is very wide in this second half of the third season.
- "I'll Believe" (1080p; 1:34)
- "ONE—Extended Version" (1080p; 1:56)
- "u/n" (1080p; 2:11)
- "ONE" (1080p; 1:31)
- "Koubou (Beam of Light)" (1080p; 2:21)
It's been a long strange trip through the three seasons and assorted "extras" in the Shakugan no Shana universe, and it hasn't always been an enjoyable one for this reviewer. I still find Shakugan no Shana The Movie a much more enjoyable redaction of the opening arc of episodes, and the second season was bogged down by too much repetition and tangential subplots interrupting the main story flow. But I was rather pleasantly surprised by the "comeback" Shakugan no Shana achieved in its third season. The first half of the season got off to a great start with the supposed disappearance of Yuji, and the second half maintains that interest by pitting Yuji against Shana, at least for a little while, while at the same time finally bringing the Midnight Lost Child arc to a satisfying conclusion. Fans of the series are probably going to want this release one way or the other, even with the middling video quality, but my personal recommendation for those not acquainted with the franchise is to start with the movie, gauge your interest from that, and move out from there if warranted.
2005-2006
灼眼のシャナ / S.A.V.E.
2005-2006
Essentials
2005-2006
灼眼のシャナS / S.A.V.E.
2006
2007
2008
2009-2010
Essentials
2009-2010
Limited Edition
2011
2011
(Still not reliable for this title)
2007
2008-2009
2006
ソウルイーター
2008-2009
2010
デート・ア・ライブIV / Season Four
2022
Limited Edition
2013
2011-2012
2008
2010
2005
Suzumiya Haruhi no shôshitsu / 涼宮ハルヒの消失
2010
2006
1992-1993
2005
2007-2008
Anime Classics
2011-2012
Essentials
2008
Anime Classics / フルメタル·パニック!
2002
2007