[Review] Snapshot: Rosario + Vampire CAPU2 - 01

[Misuzu]

Snapshot: Rosario + Vampire CAPU2 - 01

OP Sequence:

OP: “DISCOTHEQUE” by [Only registered users can see links. ] (水樹 奈々)[Only registered users can see links. ]




「再会とバンパイア」 (Saikai to Banpaia)
“Reunion + Vampire”
First Glance:
Prepare yourself for another season of Tsukune rosario removing, Moka youkai butt kicking, vampire fan-service in Rosario + Vampire CAPU2! Pronounced “capuchuu” (aren’t the Japanese clever? “2″, “tsuu”, “chuu”), the second season picks up where the first left off, after Moka transformed Tsukune into a vampire in order to save his life from the Public Safety Commission. Before I get ahead of myself, let me start off by saying that I’m well aware that the anime deviates from the manga (e.g. with the early introduction of Rubi and now Kokoa), so for purists out there, it isn’t necessary to outcry blasphemy here (unless you really can’t contain yourself, then by all means). With that said, I enjoyed the first season because the show was simply FUN and entertaining to me. It was one of those sit back and enjoy kind of shows that is probably too ecchi for its own good, but did utilize some manga material to pull itself towards a semi-dramatic conclusion. For a series with cute characters, color-popping animation, and an all-star cast (with [Only registered users can see links. ] in one of her moe-est roles as the lolipop-sucking Mizore), it’s good times for me. I enjoy it, but if you’d rather read the manga and cry sacrilege about the anime, that’s your prerogative. I won’t take any offense to it. Seriously.
For the rest of you, Rosario + Vampire CAPU2 brings us to Tsukune, Moka, and everyone else’s second year in high school, where the girls are now revered by their juniors (a.k.a. kouhai). We also see the introduction of a new character, Shuzen Kokoa, who seems to be after Moka but refers to her as “onee-chan”. Played by [Only registered users can see links. ], I find that Kokoa brings the right amount of serious, anti-hentai flavor to this otherwise “Tsukune harem” anime, so it’s nice to see her addition to the cast. Speaking of cast, I’m glad to see [Only registered users can see links. ] return as Kurumu, after her withdrawal from [Only registered users can see links. ] due to “[Only registered users can see links. ]“. After finishing up her roles on [Only registered users can see links. ] and [Only registered users can see links. ] last season, I would’ve been pretty disappointed if she didn’t return as Kurumu, but luckily she has. On the notion of seiyuus, this series also features one of my favorite MALE seiyuus (yes, amazingly I do have favorite male seiyuus), the one and only [Only registered users can see links. ] in his nice perverted role as Ginei the werewolf.
Anyway, I’m quite looking forward to this season as it reminds me of everything I liked about the first one (did I mention the fun?), plus we’re treated to a revamped Moka transformation this time around. Since we’re probably going to see this tranformation a lot down the road, I guess adding in the scene with Moka’s clothes ripping away doesn’t hurt. Production-wise, the quality is on par with the first season and looks good, which is something I’d like to see more of from GONZO rather than a lot of [Only registered users can see links. ]. While it’s just a stylistic touch on Rosario + Vampire, I really like how the vibrant colors POP OUT at you too. The music is always a nice touch as well, with the opening of this episode featuring the “Toki no Kawa wo Koete” character song sung by the four main girls. After having listened to it a fair bit awhile back, hearing it here really helped me get into the Rosario swing of things again.
Opening and ending themes are performed by ever so pleasant to listen to [Only registered users can see links. ], with the first episode opting to play the opening song/sequence at the end (much like the first season). Nana’s Trickster single which features the opening “DISCOTHEQUE and ending “Trinity Cross” was recently released and made it to [Only registered users can see links. ], so kudos to all the otakus out there buying her CD. The opening sequence is quite catchy with all the girls dancing on a disco stage, which reflects Nana’s on PV DISCOTHEQUE. The PV has been floating around for the past couple of weeks after being supposedly leaked, so I decided to include it here for comparison sake.
On a separate note, I find that Tsukune’s sounding a lot more like Kaname from [Only registered users can see links. ] lately when [Only registered users can see links. ] tries to sound more serious, which only gives me more vampire vibes. Also, I find the choice of censoring questionable when they’ll cover this, but not that. In any case, Rosario + Vampire season two is here for another 13 episodes (…most-likely).

Notable Cast:
- Aono Tsukune (青野 月音) : [Only registered users can see links. ] (岸尾 だいすけ)
- Akashiya Moka (赤夜 萌香) : [Only registered users can see links. ] (水樹 奈々)
- Kurono Kurumu (黒乃 胡夢) : [Only registered users can see links. ] (福圓 美里)
- Sendou Yukari (仙童 紫) : [Only registered users can see links. ] (こやま きみこ)
- Shirayuki Mizore (白雪 みぞれ) : [Only registered users can see links. ] (釘宮 理恵)
- Morioka Ginei (森丘 銀影) : [Only registered users can see links. ] (関 智一)
- Toujou Rubi (橙条 瑠妃) : [Only registered users can see links. ] (千葉 紗子)
- Shuzen Kokoa (朱染 心愛) : [Only registered users can see links. ] (斎藤 千和)
- Nazo Koumori (謎こうもり) : [Only registered users can see links. ] (子安 武人)
- Nekonome Shizuka (猫目 静) : [Only registered users can see links. ] (井上 喜久子)
- Kagome Ririko (籠女 李々子) : [Only registered users can see links. ] (久川 綾)