Shangri-La Frontier: Season 2 Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		3.0
Overall		4.0

Shangri-La Frontier: Season 2 Blu-ray Movie Review

The first season of Shangri-La Frontier managed to have fun with the possibilities of video-game-based media without getting too bogged down in the typical pitfalls of the genre. Rakuro Hizutome, or “Sunraku” as he goes by in his alias, is a shameless addict of terrible video games, so when he finds himself sucked into the massively popular virtual reality game Shangri-La Frontier, he has no choice but to have fun discovering what incredible power this strange world has to offer. Shangri-La Frontier Season 1 was a delightful mix of fantasy, comedy, character drama, game-based action, and more.

Shangri-La Frontier Season 2 is even better, in large part due to the increased scale of the adventure. The series leans even further into the immense possibilities of the game world, which includes a greater variety of enemies, quests, and players for Sunraku to interact with. His popularity within the game grows, and he finds himself relying on strange allies like Arthur Pencilgon and OiKatzo to get him through particularly challenging segments.

It’s all a grand, exciting time for Sunraku, and the next chapter of his adventure continues to be highly enjoyable. Crunchyroll has compiled all 25 episodes of the second season onto a four-disc Blu-ray set, which is a far more preferable option to a multi-volume purchase. The entire season is included, with a runtime of approximately 625 minutes. The set features both the English-dubbed and original Japanese audio mixes.

One of the great strengths of Shangri-La Frontier has always been the way the series captures the spirit of video games as grand adventures. Sunraku, as a skilled but unrefined player, has to rely on his instincts to get through the game, experimenting and learning from his mistakes in order to overcome the strange challenges that come his way. He has a certain love for the game that few others share, which makes him a compelling protagonist who gets caught up in this strange world. This is a significant part of why Shangri-La Frontier Season 2 continues to be so enjoyable.

While Season 1 focused on Sunraku learning the game, Season 2 is all about using that knowledge for greater and more exciting endeavors. The series also continues to focus on the interesting cast of characters that Sunraku meets along the way. Arthur Pencilgon and OiKatzo are recurring highlights, both because of their personalities and their contrasting relationships to the main character. The series leans far more into the ensemble feel in its second season, which helps to provide variety in the adventures.

At the same time, Shangri-La Frontier Season 2 is all about the expansion. The first season did an incredible job of showcasing the interesting ways that the game could be played, but Season 2 has bigger plans. Now that the rules have been established, the series can move forward to greater lengths and more exciting heights. It can also delve further into the greater mystery of the game and its strange secrets.

The game has a variety of intriguing details and history that were only touched upon in the first season. Shangri-La Frontier Season 2 is far more concerned with greater scale, whether it be bigger battles or even more interesting characters. However, all of this increased scale doesn’t detract from the series’ sense of mystery or wonder. When the game’s unique blend of action, mystery, and large-scale combat really kicks in, Shangri-La Frontier is at its absolute best.

The show still makes full use of the excitement that comes with a video-game-based series. The fights are incredible displays of speed and power, and all the characters involved in the game’s unique fighting style put on an entertaining show. It’s always interesting to see how the series makes use of its large-scale battles and the sheer size of virtual game environments.

Even when a fight breaks out in the middle of a seemingly routine day, the sheer visual spectacle of it all is impossible to ignore. Shangri-La Frontier Season 2 may emphasize bigger, more complex, and more varied conflicts, but the series is still just as entertaining when it leans into its lighter fare.

Another major strength of Shangri-La Frontier is its comedy, which continues to be a vital part of the series’ appeal. Sunraku’s personality really shines in this regard – his enthusiasm, impulsive nature, and willingness to throw himself into absurd circumstances never cease to be endearing. He balances out the increasingly dramatic conflict beautifully, and the supporting cast is just as expressive. Season 2 has plenty of moments where it slows down to let the cast do their thing, which is always a welcome break from the serious drama.

The show has no problem with being slow at times, especially when it comes to exposition or larger world-building segments. However, it always knows when to ramp back up to full power – and when it does, Shangri-La Frontier Season 2 really delivers.

Shangri-La Frontier: Season 2 Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Released on Blu-ray by Crunchyroll, Shangri-La Frontier Season 2 is presented in 1080p MPEG-4 AVC encoded high-definition in the television aspect ratio of 1.78:1 widescreen. The series looks excellent in high definition. The digital animation retains its sharpness, with clean lines and good definition even at 1080p. Character design is always easy to make out, and the same goes for various elements of the game world. The show's impressive variety of clothing and accessories is highlighted in exceptional detail, as are character facial features.

The same level of quality is applied to objects and environments, with intricate design being rendered in exceptional clarity. However, it is the colors that really shine in Shangri-La Frontier, which is important considering the variety of environments the series has to offer. Vibrant blues, greens, purples, and reds are all rendered in exceptional saturation.

The game world is just as important, featuring an incredible variety of environments for the characters to explore. From large-scale arenas to virtual copies of real-life locations, there is a sheer sense of variety that the show utilizes well. Everything from dark caves to sprawling forests and cities are all rendered in excellent detail with the help of this high-definition presentation.

I can't say that the black levels are exceptionally deep, but they maintain good contrast without appearing washed out or overly gray. It all combines into an impressive presentation that doesn't utilize the full potential of high-definition resolution, but it still looks fantastic in general. As stated, 1080p is sharp and detailed, and the overall look of the series doesn't change drastically from how it was presented digitally.

For a contemporary digital anime production, this isn't a massive concern. Shangri-La Frontier Season 2 looks great on a high definition display, and fans who opt for this physical release won't be disappointed.

Shangri-La Frontier: Season 2 Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The original Japanese mix is available in Dolby TrueHD 2.0, while the English-dubbed version has Dolby TrueHD 5.1. The audio presentation is equally impressive. The Japanese track is clean and straightforward, utilizing stereo mix without any significant issues. The same goes for the English- mixed track, which also features a healthy amount of ambient effects and dynamic music. Both mixes are clear and easy to hear, but the 5.1 mix has the obvious advantage of a wider soundstage.

Action scenes are exceptionally entertaining in this regard, with all the various effects and ambient sounds filling up the room. The series has a very energetic soundscape, and every element from monster growls to magical attacks is given ample weight. The music is a vital part of the presentation as well, often kicking in during larger-scale battles. I especially appreciate the dynamic range of the lossless Dolby TrueHD 5.1 mix, which gives the music enough power to really fill up the room.

Dialogue is mixed cleanly throughout, with the music and effects providing just enough atmosphere without overpowering the speech. Both the English and Japanese mixes are free of compression artifacts, but the lossless format English 5.1 mix is undoubtedly superior.

The English dub is another highlight of the Shangri-La Frontier Season 2 Blu-ray. The cast captures the charm of the series without issue, and the energetic mix of personalities is always appealing. The entire cast of characters is given an equal amount of love, attention, and entertainment value.

All the main characters have interesting voices that help to distinguish them from one another, and Sunraku himself is a delight to listen to. His excitement never falters, and his reckless nature is as endearing as ever. The comedic performances are some of the best parts of the English-language presentation, and they continue to be vital to the charm of the series.

The rest of the cast is just as expressive, and they all do a great job of balancing out the energetic main cast. If you enjoyed the English dub of Season 1, there is a very good chance that you'll enjoy Season 2 as well.

Shangri-La Frontier: Season 2 Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Crunchyroll has included a number of special features on this four-disc set.

The first season of Shangri-La Frontier received a similar presentation, which included promotional videos, textless opening and ending theme songs, and the Shangri-La Frontier Theater miniseries. Crunchyroll has included the same types of bonuses this time around, and collectors can also appreciate the three art cards and one special O-card that come with the set.

The Shangri-La Frontier Theater short films are always a welcome addition, and they include several amusing additions to the main series' cast of characters. The other special features aren't anything groundbreaking, but they're all worth watching nonetheless.

Promotional videos give fans more insight into the production of this second season, while the textless theme songs allow for uninterrupted viewing. I appreciate that Crunchyroll has included these bonus features this time around, and the inclusion of physical collectibles also serves to enhance the overall viewing experience.

On disc extras:

Disc 2:

Textless Opening Song (HD, 1:32)

Textless Closing Song (HD, 1:32)

Disc 3:

SLF Mini – Shangri-La Frontier Theater (HD, 12:25)

Disc 4:

Promo Videos (HD, 5:53)

Textless Opening Song (HD, 1:32)

Textless Closing Song (HD, 1:32)

Packaging:

The packaging itself is another welcome sight. Instead of separating the second season between multiple sets, Crunchyroll has compiled all 25 episodes onto a four-disc Blu-ray set. The length of the entire season is around 625 minutes, so this is a hefty acquisition.

The slipcover and special O-card add flair to the presentation, and the three art cards are always a pleasant collectible to find included with a purchase like this. While this isn't necessarily an ultra-luxurious collector's set on the level with some Japanese releases, it nevertheless makes for a nice presentation. More importantly, it puts the entire season in one place, which makes it a much more desirable product for physical media collectors.

Shangri-La Frontier: Season 2 Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Shangri-La Frontier Season 2 manages to capture the fun of video-game-based media exceptionally well. Shangri-La Frontier Season 2 continues to expand its story, taking advantage of an increased scale and an expanded cast of characters. The large-scale conflicts become more spectacular with each passing episode, and Shangri-La Frontier Season 2 is always entertaining in its ability to capture the wonder that comes with a big virtual adventure. There are occasional missteps with the series' increasingly elaborate storytelling, but the sheer variety of characters, the entertaining comedic performances, and a dynamic, fast-paced adventure always help to keep things enjoyable. The Blu-ray release offers excellent video, lossless audio, and some supplements. Recommended.