Kyoukai Senjou no Horizon II

Also called “Horizon in the Middle of Nowhere”, this sci-fi show based on the light novels by Minoru Kawakami that saw its first anime adaptation air in fall 2011, now returns with a second season.

Having ended its first season with a cliffhanger, the sequel picks up right where it left off with all out action of the Musashi crew battling the Testament Union which soon flows into the gang taking off to England.

Like the first season, studio Sunrise is responsible for the animation which is consequently really excellent. The action is smooth and fluid, character close ups are well rendered and each character has a distinct hairstyle or elaborate costume.

If I were to fault “Kyoukai Senjou no Horizon” it would be for its overly complicated and convoluted plot, which can be rather difficult to follow as it seems seems to introduce new points, rules or characters with every passing scene.

Perhaps this is due to it trying to create a complicated story in an even more complex world setting, barely leaving the audience time to process it all.

With an enormous cast, there’s no end to the voice talents lending their voice to the various characters, although many only have a few lines per episode.
Such is the case for Shiraishi Ryoko who voices Oriotorai Makiko but alas does not appear much. Always liked Shiraishi Ryoko’s voice work, she voiced Hayate in “Hayate No Gotoku!”, Kanako in “Nyan Koi” and Kagenui in “Nisemonogatari”.

Chihara Minor voices Horizon, she voiced Nagato Yuki in “The Melancholy of Suzumiya Haruhi”, Chiaki in “Minami-ke” and Minami in “Lucky Star”. Sultry Kimi is voiced by Saito Chiwa, who previously voiced Homura in “Puella Magi Madoka Magica”, Lucchini in “Strike Witches” and Senjougahara in “Bakemonogatari”.

Sawashiro Miyuki voices Masazumi Honda, she also tackled roles like Yomi in “Black★Rock Shooter”, Kanbaru in “Bakemonogatari”, Perrine in “Strike Witches” and Inaba in this season’s “Kokoro Connect”.

Nate is voiced by Inoue Marina, she also voiced Yozora in “Boku wa Tomodachi ga Sukunai”, Laura in “IS: Infinite Stratos”, Kana in “Minami-ke” and Alicia in “Valkyria Chronicles”.
Futayo Honda is voiced by Kobayashi Yu, who tackled roles like Shizuku in “Candy☆Boy”, Mariya in “Maria Holic” and Ruka in “Steins;Gate”.

While the plot may seem horribly convoluted and hard to follow, especially with the onslaught of new characters, will definitely watch this sequel as I really did enjoy the first season of this sci-fi show that hovers somewhere in between action and comedy.