ENGLISH DUB REVIEW: TONIKAWA OVER THE MOON FOR YOU Season Two

Based on the manga written and illustrated by Kenjiro Hata, the story continues in the wake of their first home burning down, Nasa and Tsukasa Yuzaki are seeking temporary shelter at the Arisugawas’ bathhouse. Though they have only been married for a short time, their relationship has only become sweeter by the day. Nasa is determined to spend as much time with his wife as possible, basking in the happiness of their marriage.

The newlyweds find new ways to explore their relationship. From adopting a cat, going to an amusement park, and even watching an impromptu romantic comedy featuring Nasa’s former teacher, every day is a new experience. But while Tsukasa continues to meet the people in Nasa’s life, Nasa has yet to meet more of Tsukasa’s family. Though they appear to be the picture-perfect couple to everyone around them, Nasa begins to wonder if he will ever learn more about his wife’s mysterious past…

The animation continues to be done by “Seven Arcs” with the staff and cast returning to reprise their respective roles. With an English dub simulcasting on the same day as the second season’s premiere. Akari Kitō once again performed the opening theme “Oath of a Moment”, as well the ending theme “In the Corner of the Night”.

Since season one, Tonikawa: Over the Moon for You (AKA “Fly Me to the Moon” in Japan) has captured the hearts of many with its charming and heartwarming first season. Now, the arrival of Season 2, further presents a story that, while not unique, still manages to provide enjoyment for fans of the romantic comedy genre. The love story between Nasa and Tsukasa continues to blossom. While the aforementioned first Season was pretty interesting with the mystery aspects of Tsukasa’s origins, season two is all about married life. And the show tries to make it as entertaining as possible, while still staying keeping things consistent.

The characters (including the supporting ones) are easy to like and every episode had some laughs to it here and there along with some fanservice, which is to be expected with this being a story portraying married life. The show manages to strike a good balance, allowing the new characters to contribute to the overall narrative without overshadowing the main couple’s development. It also was fun to watch Tsukasa and Nasa’s relationship grow and follow them on their adventure of living somewhere while their apartment went under renovation due to what happened at the end of the previous season.

The animation quality remains consistent with the first season, with vibrant colors and visually pleasing character designs. The art style perfectly complements the lighthearted nature of the story, maintaining a cheerful and inviting atmosphere throughout. The animation also shines during the more emotional moments, effectively conveying the characters’ feelings and adding depth to the story.

However, the show has two major flaws. For starters, some episodes do require turning on subtitles since certain scenes involve reading in places. Not to mention, Crunchyroll’s Tonikawa Season 2 page didn’t always have the episode’s title up when it was needed, so turning on the subs helped at least when it came to doing reviews. And other flaw is kind’ve a big one… The pacing occasionally feels slow, with some episodes focusing more on slice-of-life moments rather than progressing the main plot. While these moments are enjoyable for people who are into slice-of-life storylines, you’d expect the plot to progress but instead, we get small breadcrumbs here and there of some unraveling mystery tied to Tsukasa that leaves you unsure if it’ll lead anywhere at all in the long run.

Overall, while Tonikawa Season 2 successfully captures the essence of the first season as a delightful continuation of Nasa and Tsukasa’s adorable romance with its lovable characters, beautiful animation, and well-balanced humor that contributes to an enjoyable viewing experience. It isn’t perfect when it comes to viewers seeking significant plot developments, that might leave its audience feeling slightly disappointed by the lack of forward momentum in certain episodes. At the very least with the recent announcement of a four-episode ONA coming later this year in Japan, we can no doubt expect more of this series in the future, or even a season three if we’re lucky…