<img src="http://www.animeuknews.net/img/uploaded/2015-12-18KDVD767_-_Magi_S2_PT_2.jpg">
<b>Review of Magi: The Kingdom of Magic #2 by Sarah</b>
Episodes 14-25<br>
Spoilers...there are a few...<br>
For some time Aladdin has been suffering a terrifying nightmare in which a creature of utter darkness appears through a rift in the heavens, bringing death and destruction. This dream seems to be both a memory of the fate of the ‘other world’ from which he comes and a premonition of what Al-Tharmen, the evil organization who have been the cause of so much misery, are planning to inflict on the world he is now in. And his task, as the vessel of Solomon’s wisdom and power, is to stop it happening again. Unfortunately, Mogamett, the head of the magic academy in Magnostadt, has other ideas. For a long time he has been harnessing the rukh (or life force) of all the non-magic users in his country. His ideals – originally noble ones – have become horribly warped. And as Titus, Aladdin’s new friend and fellow magician, reveals his true (and tragic) identity as secret envoy of Lady Scheherazade, the Magi of Reim, war is declared. Reim invades Magnostadt – and to make matters even worse, the vast army of the Empire of Kou is also on the move, led by the powerful Ren Kouen, ready to invade.<br>
But where is Morgiana? Her kinspeople, the exceptionally strong and dashing Fanalis, at last make their appearance here – defending the Reim empire and pitted against Magnostadt. And what of Ali Baba, last seen in Reim? Has he succeeded in perfecting his Djinn Equip? As the mastermind behind Al-Thamen’s machinations is chillingly revealed, it looks as if everything and everyone that Aladdin has striven to protect may be doomed to destruction – just as happened before in Solomon’s world.<br>
Do you remember when you were a kid, how a classic adventure film could sweep you out of the boring present and far into another place and another time? <em>Lord of the Rings</em>; <em>Robin Hood; Star Wars...?</em> That’s the immersive experience I was hoping to gain from watching <em>Magi</em> – and in these final episodes, the creative team come very close to pulling it off. The stakes could hardly be higher and in the desperate struggle that ensues as allies turn out to be enemies, painful sacrifices have to be made. Not everyone is going to make it out alive. This series is not afraid to depict characters conflicted between their own desires and what they believe to be the greater good. We are shown the events that led to Mogamett’s gradual transformation from persecuted yet noble victim to heroic, inspiring figurehead...and then, with the acquisition of great power, the tragic flaw that warps his view of the world<em>.</em> The intense emotions and interactions of the characters are paramount in<em> Magi 2 : The Kingdom of Magic </em>and that's what lifts it above many other recent anime fantasy adventures. <br>
<em>Magi</em> has had its defenders and its detractors. I’m firmly in the defenders’ camp and I would recommend anyone who’s a fan of animated fantasy adventures to stay with the series to its final episodes. However, it’s not 100% successful in pulling all its disparate and colourful characters into the final fray (there are far too many) although, ultimately, the focus rests on those we’ve come to care about the most: the diminutive but resourceful Aladdin and his chosen candidate for king (and, more importantly, friend) Ali Baba Salujah. With the mangaka’s uncomfortable tendency to play Aladdin’s boob fetish and Ali Baba’s ‘girl friend problems’ for laughs (so <em>not </em>funny) banished from these final episodes, a much more involving and relatable story emerges. This finale delivers thrilling and truly magical moments of animation and character design as Aladdin summons all the djinns and the metal vessel users transform into their winged forms. It looks wonderful in Blu-ray (and pretty good, I imagine, in the DVD version too). <br>
The US dub actors have really grown into their roles and, although I had some doubts about Cristina Valenzuela’s portrayal of Aladdin earlier on, she gives a very convincing performance here; Johnny Yong Bosch as Titus and Steve Kramer as Mogamett also impress. It’s a good dub script too, which helps, with excellent sound quality on both Japanese and US versions (I haven’t yet sampled the French option this time around.)<br>
The magical battle scenes are excitingly and competently animated and given greater gravitas by Shiro Sagisu’s dramatic score (again, reminiscent in parts of his music for the 2010 fourth Bleach movie <em>Hell Verse: </em>surging strings, doom-laden choruses, and wild, screaming electric guitar riffs).<br>
The new Opening Theme is "Hikari" by ViViD; a strong and vibrant song, well suited to the darker tone of the final episodes. The Ending Theme "With You/With Me" is by 9nine is both lyrical and intense, accompanying images of Aladdin and Ali Baba. (BL bait? I’m not so sure... theirs is more of a bromance in the high chivalric tradition of many legends and hero tales from history.) The only extras are the textless OP and ED.<br>
I’ve said ‘final episodes’ but, with the manga still ongoing, there are major story threads left unresolved. This part of Aladdin’s story is, nevertheless, given a satisfying and moving conclusion. As to whether there’ll be yet another season... the prequel <em>Sinbad no Bouken</em> (which has had five OVAs in Japan) will appear as a TV anime series in April 2016.<br>
<strong>In Summary</strong><br>
<em>Magi </em>delivers a sweeping and genuinely epic climax to its tale of magicians, djinns and black rukh. It will make you laugh, cry and keep you on the edge of your seat. <br>
<b>Final score: 8 out of 10</b>
<b>Additional screencaps</b>
<img src="http://www.animeuknews.net/img/uploaded/screens/2015-12-18magi_tv2_0020_0009.jpg">
<img src="http://www.animeuknews.net/img/uploaded/screens/2015-12-18magi_tv2_0022_0006.jpg">
<img src="http://www.animeuknews.net/img/uploaded/screens/2015-12-18magi_tv2_0019_0003.jpg">
<img src="http://www.animeuknews.net/img/uploaded/screens/2015-12-18magi_tv2_0017_0017.jpg">
<img src="http://www.animeuknews.net/img/uploaded/screens/2015-12-18magi 2 screenshot madman.jpg">
<b>Review of Magi: The Kingdom of Magic #2 by Sarah</b>
Episodes 14-25<br>
Spoilers...there are a few...<br>
For some time Aladdin has been suffering a terrifying nightmare in which a creature of utter darkness appears through a rift in the heavens, bringing death and destruction. This dream seems to be both a memory of the fate of the ‘other world’ from which he comes and a premonition of what Al-Tharmen, the evil organization who have been the cause of so much misery, are planning to inflict on the world he is now in. And his task, as the vessel of Solomon’s wisdom and power, is to stop it happening again. Unfortunately, Mogamett, the head of the magic academy in Magnostadt, has other ideas. For a long time he has been harnessing the rukh (or life force) of all the non-magic users in his country. His ideals – originally noble ones – have become horribly warped. And as Titus, Aladdin’s new friend and fellow magician, reveals his true (and tragic) identity as secret envoy of Lady Scheherazade, the Magi of Reim, war is declared. Reim invades Magnostadt – and to make matters even worse, the vast army of the Empire of Kou is also on the move, led by the powerful Ren Kouen, ready to invade.<br>
But where is Morgiana? Her kinspeople, the exceptionally strong and dashing Fanalis, at last make their appearance here – defending the Reim empire and pitted against Magnostadt. And what of Ali Baba, last seen in Reim? Has he succeeded in perfecting his Djinn Equip? As the mastermind behind Al-Thamen’s machinations is chillingly revealed, it looks as if everything and everyone that Aladdin has striven to protect may be doomed to destruction – just as happened before in Solomon’s world.<br>
Do you remember when you were a kid, how a classic adventure film could sweep you out of the boring present and far into another place and another time? <em>Lord of the Rings</em>; <em>Robin Hood; Star Wars...?</em> That’s the immersive experience I was hoping to gain from watching <em>Magi</em> – and in these final episodes, the creative team come very close to pulling it off. The stakes could hardly be higher and in the desperate struggle that ensues as allies turn out to be enemies, painful sacrifices have to be made. Not everyone is going to make it out alive. This series is not afraid to depict characters conflicted between their own desires and what they believe to be the greater good. We are shown the events that led to Mogamett’s gradual transformation from persecuted yet noble victim to heroic, inspiring figurehead...and then, with the acquisition of great power, the tragic flaw that warps his view of the world<em>.</em> The intense emotions and interactions of the characters are paramount in<em> Magi 2 : The Kingdom of Magic </em>and that's what lifts it above many other recent anime fantasy adventures. <br>
<em>Magi</em> has had its defenders and its detractors. I’m firmly in the defenders’ camp and I would recommend anyone who’s a fan of animated fantasy adventures to stay with the series to its final episodes. However, it’s not 100% successful in pulling all its disparate and colourful characters into the final fray (there are far too many) although, ultimately, the focus rests on those we’ve come to care about the most: the diminutive but resourceful Aladdin and his chosen candidate for king (and, more importantly, friend) Ali Baba Salujah. With the mangaka’s uncomfortable tendency to play Aladdin’s boob fetish and Ali Baba’s ‘girl friend problems’ for laughs (so <em>not </em>funny) banished from these final episodes, a much more involving and relatable story emerges. This finale delivers thrilling and truly magical moments of animation and character design as Aladdin summons all the djinns and the metal vessel users transform into their winged forms. It looks wonderful in Blu-ray (and pretty good, I imagine, in the DVD version too). <br>
The US dub actors have really grown into their roles and, although I had some doubts about Cristina Valenzuela’s portrayal of Aladdin earlier on, she gives a very convincing performance here; Johnny Yong Bosch as Titus and Steve Kramer as Mogamett also impress. It’s a good dub script too, which helps, with excellent sound quality on both Japanese and US versions (I haven’t yet sampled the French option this time around.)<br>
The magical battle scenes are excitingly and competently animated and given greater gravitas by Shiro Sagisu’s dramatic score (again, reminiscent in parts of his music for the 2010 fourth Bleach movie <em>Hell Verse: </em>surging strings, doom-laden choruses, and wild, screaming electric guitar riffs).<br>
The new Opening Theme is "Hikari" by ViViD; a strong and vibrant song, well suited to the darker tone of the final episodes. The Ending Theme "With You/With Me" is by 9nine is both lyrical and intense, accompanying images of Aladdin and Ali Baba. (BL bait? I’m not so sure... theirs is more of a bromance in the high chivalric tradition of many legends and hero tales from history.) The only extras are the textless OP and ED.<br>
I’ve said ‘final episodes’ but, with the manga still ongoing, there are major story threads left unresolved. This part of Aladdin’s story is, nevertheless, given a satisfying and moving conclusion. As to whether there’ll be yet another season... the prequel <em>Sinbad no Bouken</em> (which has had five OVAs in Japan) will appear as a TV anime series in April 2016.<br>
<strong>In Summary</strong><br>
<em>Magi </em>delivers a sweeping and genuinely epic climax to its tale of magicians, djinns and black rukh. It will make you laugh, cry and keep you on the edge of your seat. <br>
<b>Final score: 8 out of 10</b>
<b>Additional screencaps</b>
<img src="http://www.animeuknews.net/img/uploaded/screens/2015-12-18magi_tv2_0020_0009.jpg">
<img src="http://www.animeuknews.net/img/uploaded/screens/2015-12-18magi_tv2_0022_0006.jpg">
<img src="http://www.animeuknews.net/img/uploaded/screens/2015-12-18magi_tv2_0019_0003.jpg">
<img src="http://www.animeuknews.net/img/uploaded/screens/2015-12-18magi_tv2_0017_0017.jpg">
<img src="http://www.animeuknews.net/img/uploaded/screens/2015-12-18magi 2 screenshot madman.jpg">
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