City Hunter 2 Review (TV Series, 63 Episodes, 1988)
City Hunter 2 is the sequel to the hilarious and beloved
City Hunter 1.
City Hunter 2 takes everything that made the first such a smash hit and turns it up to eleven. The comedic elements continue to be as sharp, the music is still both fantastic and catchy and most importantly the characters are still the lovable bunch that they were the first time around.
City Hunter 2 effortlessly keeps its audience hooked and entertained from start to finish as it presents the viewers with spectacle after spectacle and set piece after set piece with plenty of slower paced episodes in-between in order develop the story further. Each arc is elaborately orchestrated, embellished with twists and turns and revelations that are bound to keep you coming back for more and each character is further developed. From the fantastic
Tsukasa Hojo designed characters to the striking Soundtrack,
City Hunter 2 stands as a worthy sequel to the much loved
City Hunter 1 and even trounces the original in multiple places. From longer arcs with many multi-episode stories to an assortment of memorable and iconic side characters with stories that you’ll never forget,
CH2 is the best in its class. Aged like fine wine it’s as entertaining today as it was back in
1988. With plenty of laughs and tears along its
63 episodes duration,
City Hunter 2 is everything that you’d want from a sequel and much, much more.
City Hunter 2 continues from where
City Hunter 1 left off, albeit a few months later, and although this is an episodic series, the notion of continuity is an important element that makes and defines
City Hunter as the amazing series that it is. The journey that you take with this incredible cast of characters creates a bond that is unparalleled. Not only do you care for each and every character, getting to know their likes and dislikes, their mannerisms become second nature to the viewer as you spend 63 hilarious and heartfelt episodes with this ensemble of misfits and they work day in and day out helping the people of Tokyo and keep the city clean.
The staff behind the scenes pretty much remains the same across the board.
City Hunter 2 is animated by
Studio Sunrise and released back in
April 2nd 1988, 5 days after
City Hunter 1 wrapped up and once again
City Hunter 2 is directed by
Kenji Kodama, the director of
Detective Conan Case Closed. Similar to
City Hunter 1,
CH2 is an episodic series with each episode following a tried and tested formula. When people need help they come to
Ryou Saeba, the lovable protagonist that sweeps in to save the day. With his .357 Magnum revolver and his ill-tempered sidekick
Kaori Makimura by his side, they work together as partners in order to solve the problems that nobody else can as well as the jobs that nobody else wants. Of course it goes without saying that
Ryou is still up to his mokkori tendencies and being a huge pervert that he is, his partner
Kaori adorned with what can only be described as a huge anti-ecchi hammer does her best to keep his hands off their female clients and keep him in check.
Indeed most of their clients are female however many of the stories in
CH2 mix the formula up a bit, some episodes focusing on
Kaori, others on side characters and really it’s the depth and breadth of talent at play here that keeps you coming back for more.
City Hunter 2 this time around comes packed with more variety across the board from the stories and the characters to the soundtrack. If watching
CH2 was a chore, a monotonous experience then it would all just fall apart which really speaks as a testament to the writers here whom are able to conjure up storylines that keep the audience on the edge of their seats episode after episode and has them frothing at the mouth awaiting the next episode in order to find out what happens to their favorite anime duo.
If there’s one thing that bears repeating it’s that
City Hunter not only has tact, but it has heart. The core of
CH is the relationships between
Ryou,
Kaori and their clients and the way in which these relationships blossom as the episodes and sometimes the arc’s progress is what keeps you invested in these characters and their stories. The chemistry between the voice actors and actresses is downright tangible and the conviction packed into each and every line goes a long way in ingraining these characters into your mind. Each line is delivered naturally and as such I found myself becoming immersed in the daily lives of these otherwise fictional characters with ease. I’d gladly listen to
Ryou and
Kaori chatting to each other for hours on end.
Building upon the foundations set by its predecessor,
City Hunter 2 furthers the character development and fleshes them out and as you learn more about the cast of
CH2, you come to enjoy the show a lot more. The story isn’t revelatory or ground-breaking but it does add a lot to the heart and soul of the series.
Ryou is a selfless man, a person who looks out for others whilst putting himself into the line of fire, figuratively as well as literally. Putting up a front of bravado, you learn more about the true
Ryou and as his backstory is delved into further the character becomes more realized. It’s fair to say that these episodes were standouts for me and as the cast is thrown into the deep end more often, the writers are able to exercise their skills further. To emphasize, the backstory may seem like fluff but it is in fact complementary to the show itself and your enjoyment of
CH2 as you get to know more about the cast a bit more increases. Through all of the bravado is a man who helps others with all sorts of personal matters and it’s this dynamic that makes
CH2 such a fun and interesting show to watch. Part goofy and part sincere the writers straddle a fine line in balancing all of the elements which results in an engrossing experience, one which I found difficult to stop watching once I started. Going into
CH2 fresh off of
CH1 I was already inundated with the characters, already holding them in high regards however after
CH2 it goes without saying that
Ryou and
Kaori are two of my favorite characters of all time. A plethora of elements go together in making them work, from the stunning designs by
Hojo Tsukasa to the fantastic voice acting.
Visually
City Hunter 2 is dripping with style, straight out of the 80’s it looks slick and unlike any show that I’ve seen. Characters are attractive to look at, adorned with fun garments from the era and fantastic hair styles, the backgrounds are similarly detailed making the city feel truly lived in which helps with the immersion. Each of the main characters have a trademark feature visually however each one of them still feels natural and realistic outside of the huge
Umibozu whom is comically large which contrasts with his often timid nature. The style of
CH2 starts with the multiple OP’s which do a perfect job of getting you into the correct mood. I found myself dancing to the music and becoming enamoured by the visuals all 63 times I was presented with the openings. Slick, stylish, bright and fun is how I’d describe the visuals. The action is dynamic and fun to watch and although
CH2 won’t win any awards for cinematography it’s hard to complain with the results.
As with the visuals, the soundtrack for
CH2 is a standout element that elevates the show to new heights. Fully embracing the 80’s, the soundtrack is energetic, exciting and an absolute joy to listen to. The music ranges from jazzy and eccentric to sombre and delicate with each track complimenting the tone of the show and more importantly the tone of the scene to great effect. Like with
CH1 a few of the tracks are repeated throughout however that never really bothered me as each repeated track evolved into theme songs, often signalling what’s coming next. And like hearing the theme song for a super hero in a summer blockbuster, when you hear certain tracks you know that
Ryou is here to kick some ass. Like with
CH1, the way in which the OP’s and ED’s fade in and out seamlessly is a guilty pleasure of mine that I wish to see more of in anime series. You don’t often hear about shows like this getting praise for the music but the endless hours of listening to the soundtrack standalone is a testament to how good it truly is. The soundtrack gets you hyped, it gets you excited, it gets you emotional and it’s an absolute delight for the ears. From the vocal tracks by the fantastic
PSY・S to the beautiful
Momoko Kitadai and the assortment of instrumental tracks in between, it’s a fantastic soundtrack and among my favorite anime soundtracks of all time.
What makes
CH2 work so well is the chemistry between each and every one of its finely tuned elements. All of it accumulates into a concoction of fun and excitement. The juxtaposition of each personality trait is utilized by the writers in order to balance all of the elements and it does so with finesse creating a show that hits all of the correct spots. The interaction between
Ryou and
Kaori is as endearing as it is vibrant and energetic. While they often treat each other with resentment, akin to a married couple, they bicker and shout at each other which parallels with the trust that they have for each other. In the end, what I mean to say is that each character interacts with each other in a realistic fashion and amidst all of the commotion is a love story. Nothing is what it seems in the world of
City Hunter, where the neon lights glow bright and the skyscrapers pierce the skies.
City Hunter 2 is an emotional, funny and engrossing series. It’s a fun show, one that strives to make the audience laugh and have fun all the while dishing out heavy doses of drama and action.
City Hunter 2 quite truthfully is a show that I often dreamt of watching for a long time, a perfect mix of drama and comedy it kept me entertained throughout all 63 action packed episodes. What started off with joyful laughs as I returned to the world of
City Hunter ended in heartfelt tears as the cast bid adieu. It’s true, there’s more
City Hunter content out there for the taking but regardless I won’t deny the empty space left within my heart after finishing
CH2. I crave more, and this isn’t to say that
CH2 fails to fill your appetite but that after getting a taste, nothing else tastes quite right.
Like
City Hunter 1,
CH2 is among my favorite anime series of all time. It entertained me for hours on end and never got old. At 63 episodes in length it’s a hefty series however I guarantee that by the end you’ll wish that there was more. Like a TV sitcom, the characters become a regular part of your routine and as each episode goes by, your love for the cast grows stronger. Regardless of its airing date
CH2 has aged like fine wine but don’t let the bright and colorful 80’s aesthetic put you off.
CH2 hits all of the right spots with each gag executed perfectly and the action as enthralling as ever. Truth be told, you’ll be hard pressed to find a better series to watch. The
M&M’s marketing is as strong as it was the first go around and the girls are as beautiful as ever.
City Hunter 2 delivered on all accounts as a phenomenal sequel and most importantly a must watch.
10/10
