Tokyo Mew Mew New ♡ 2nd Season
Synopsis
After a successful showdown at Tokyo Tower, the Mew Mew girls enjoy a temporary respite. Now that Ichigo Momomiya and Masaya Aoyama have confessed their feelings to each other, Ichigo is overjoyed to spend time with her new boyfriend. However, their quick break gets interrupted, and soon the girls must battle against the Chimera Anima yet again. When things go awry in the ensuing fight, Ichigo is placed in grave danger. Just when things look most bleak, the mysterious Blue Knight arrives and saves Ichigo, proclaiming that he was born to protect her, before disappearing into thin air. With the fate of the world on their shoulders and the identity of the Blue Knight in question, the Mew Mew girls must strive to create balance between alien-fighting and their personal lives. [Written by MAL Rewrite]
Audience Consensus
Audience reception is mixed, with many appreciating the updated character development and expanded lore. However, the low animation quality and pacing issues are significant drawbacks. Some viewers find the changes from the original material refreshing, while others feel they detract from the overall experience. There is a general agreement that it's enjoyable for newcomers and those open to a different take on the classic story.
Strengths
- Stronger focus on character development for all main characters, providing depth and new personalities.
- Expanded lore and understanding of the alien antagonists, adding sympathy and complexity to their motivations.
- Improved and more dramatic musical score with memorable character insert songs that enhance the emotional connection with the characters.
- Addresses and fixes problematic aspects of the original manga and 2002 anime.
- Satisfying and climactic finales.
Weaknesses
- Inconsistent and low animation quality, particularly noticeable in critical and dramatic moments, detracting from the emotional impact.
- Pacing issues, especially in the first season, leading to underdeveloped relationships and interactions.
- Some characters, like Aoyama, are considered bland and lacking chemistry with the protagonist.
- Certain changes and additions, like Mint's sudden ignorance of middle-class life, feel jarring and inconsistent with established characterization.
- Over-reliance on insert songs that feel intrusive and out of place.