Aoki Hagane no Arpeggio: Ars Nova Movie 2 - Cadenza

Honestly, This anime as a whole is a love/hate situation. You either love it or you hate it. Many people are turned off by it's 3d animated art style but i really loved that hybrid Code Lyoko feel. But In all honesty, before I talk about the Candenza movie we need to talk about the first season of the anime. I LOVED THE first like 7 episodes of the anime! I NEVER heard of the Aoki no Arpeggio series until it debuted in anime form and I was hooked! until I read the manga. After I read the manga and saw how much of amasterpiece the actual manga was and how off course the anime veered compared to the manga I was instantly turned off. While the first season of the anime seemed like a complete end to the on-going manga series I literally told myself... "WTF WHY DID THEY RUIN THIS SERIES!?" But they later released the alternate version with the DC movie which i thought was gonna turn the series into the manga and I was hyped! but that also didn't happen in the DC movie... so I was quite bummed out after the DC movie. BUT after i finished watching the masterpiece that this Candenza Movie was everything made sense! Aoki no Arpeggio the anime and Aoki no Arpeggio the manga are COMPLETE DIFFERENT UNIVERSES. If you grade the Aoki no Arpeggio animated series based on the manga it would get an F- but if you look at it from an uncorrupted view ( a view point solely focused on what the anime's storyline is without the storyline of the manga ) This anime DC+Candenza is a masterpiece. The storyline of the Candenza movie synergies so well with the DC movie and the battle animations and heartwarming storyline really takes the cake. The animated film was tear jerking. A fantastic blend heartwarming friendship, intense/cool battle scenes, and indirect romance. I would like to look at this series as a whole instead of just this one movie but if you want my score on solely this movie thats an easy 10/10. But looking at the prequels to this movies i would compare it to a dinner. The first season of Aoki no Arpeggio was the appetizer, a way to get people to find out about this bizarre, awesome crazy universe where WWII battleship girls fight each other with massive weapons and shields. The DC Movie was basically the main course, A way to get the animation series back on the right track and make a storyline that didn't seem so cheesy and close ended like the first season. And FINALLY we have the Candenza movie which was the dessert, and boy was it tasty. The Candenza movie was basically providing closure from the DC movie in a brilliant, action packed, tearjerking style. Overall I was deeply pleased with the Aoki no Arpeggio animated series and overall the series (Excluding season 1) was a 10/10. this movie was the cherry on top and anyone who is interested in watching Aoki no Arpeggio should just watch the DC movie and the Candenza movie. Also to those people who have a grudge against this series since it's sooo far off from the original manga. Remember don't think of it as an adaptation of the manga, but think of it as a SEPARATE UNIVERSE to the manga and I GUARANTEE you will find a new love for this animated series and also give the DC+Candenza movie a fat 10/10!

Aoki Hagane no Arpeggio: Ars Nova Cadenza is a sequel to both Aoki Hagane no Arpeggio: Ars Nova DC movie and by extension the TV series based on the same name. For what anime movies with the "movie-only character" plotlines have become rather predictable time and time again, from the Ao no Exorcist Movie to Bleach: Memories of Nobody, however this movie is an exception. For what with the huge new cast of characters in the movie LA was worried it might turn into the "movie-only character" plotline, but thankfully it did not as this movie really is a sequel to the TV series. The new cast ofcharacters are by in large villains to Gunzou and Iona and are in the form of "student council member" ships of Hiei voiced by M.A.O, Myoukou voiced by Ayaka Fukuhara, Nachi voiced by Satomi Sato, Haguro voiced by Hiromi Igarashi, Ashigara voiced by Suzuko Mimori and Musashi voiced by Rie Kugimiya as well as Yamato voiced by Mai Nakahara. LA would admit that almost half of the characters hardly get any development beside their abilities and personality and are more or less "heavy mooks" and the only three ships that get the focus are Musashi, Yamato and Hiei, Hiei about her conflicted relationship with Kongou and with Yamato and Musashi being the ship that drives this entire movie along. LA's favourite villain from Cadenza would be either Musashi because Rie Kugimiya or Ashigara because of her eccentric literally bombastic personality. As for the main cast, well besides some banter to I-401's crew, they don't get much development and the sole proper focus goes to Gunzou and Iona with Takao, Hyuga, Haruna, Kirishima and Makie being support characters to help the main cast when they are needed. However once again Takao for LA took the limelight and was LA's favourite character in this movie (and might as well the TV series). In terms of animation, done once again by SANZIGEN utilizing their "expertise" in 3D CGI, however LA can give the CGI some grace as EVERYTHING is CGI including the human and Mental Models, now you'd think LA would be irritated that, but since everything is CGI it blended together and really LA wouldn't bitch about the animation as the grand battle set pieces (to some extent the batshit crazy naval battles) were outstanding in terms of animation thus the animation for LA gets HUGE praise. In terms of voice acting, for what the cast has expanded to, Rie Kugimiya as the main villain of this anime was great (as Rie Kugimiya has now a habit of voicing some unstable villains), while on the other side Suzuko Mimori voicing the eccentric Ashigara was great making the battles even more "batshit". Now this movie does make changes to the character designs from the TV series, those being Hyuga, Makie and Kongou and LA at first didn't know why the re-designs but LA warmed up to them especially Hyuga's. The plot twists within this movie does come in the form of "character coming to save the main cast" however those plot twists are more or less glorified and badass cameos for the battle set pieces, but the plot twists that concerns Iona, Gunzou and Musashi give more of a character evolution to them as well as bringing the plot full circle (from both this movie and the anime series). The ending by all means DOES end this series but it's bittersweet with a great battle set piece to boot. It did close if not most of the plotlines while utilizing it's newer cast members and lore of the anime series making this ending satisfying though bittersweet at the same time. If Aoki Hagane no Arpeggio: Ars Nova Cadenza does anything right is make the "movie-only" character plotline in anime movies make these "movie only" characters have a purpose and don't just "disappear to be forgotten" to the overall plotline to the anime's timeline. Seriously if you wanted closure in the Aoki Hagane no Arpeggio: Ars Nova series then Cadenza will deliver.

Battle ships with super awesome cool weapon and further that, group of girls who control of it and to top of it, these girls fighting for humanity. Well, it sounds like another cliché anime who’s fighting for the world sake except it using a battle ships but, this movie has some kind of interesting to me. Remind you, this review is totally referred to movie only. The story: I’m informed that this movie is a sequel of the anime series. So, you do want to watch the series or the recap movie since you have better understand about the plot and not ended up like me.In my opinion, if you intend to do like me, it was okay and the story was not too heavy for me to digest what was going on since they mention so many names, events that appear in prequel series. Animation: In terms of animation, the character tends to become like a robot to me since it use CGI but I do like the battle animation between ships. The ships are well drawn and the attack animations are good to me. I say, most of the animations are using CGI and I’m not saying it not well done, but too much of it decrease my motivation. OST and music: Well, it has a good soundtrack and since its action battle, you will hear a lot of battle theme. Also, it has good insert music and didn’t expecting artist nano who was sing it. Overall, it was good to hear with nice arrangement. Verdict: When I heard it will come to my cinema, I instantly change my plan to go there and I’m asking myself, why the heck I’m watching it since I don’t know what, who, when, how are the storyline. And I say, screw that and just go with it. But I can tell you, it is good since it has good animation, music, characters and important is storyline (of course specifically the movie storyline). Anyway, 8/10.

First things first. My "reviews" system is explained on a blog entry. Which can be found through my profile. ------ ✦Story Not sure how to even comment story, for a movie format it was very enjoyable. Story continues from previous movie/series. New mental models in high schoolers form, found it funny, but didn't mind. As well the amount of drama story presented was also superb. Made me quite emotional few times. Aside that our MC personal ship-girls harem just grew. Anyhow, fun story, emotional, fair enough progression and satisfying finale (stay post-credits) ✦Art & Sound Ignoring the usual CG Anime issue, (odd character movement) it was superb art & animation.Really satisfying world, character designs, superb action and cool fantasy/mecha ships. Generally I don't care/like military tech, but if it's with magical aspect, I like anything. Music and OST was also quite superb, there were quite some tracks that I absolutely enjoyed and even added to own music collection. ✦Character Really liked the characters (most of the ship girls). Would have rated higher if it would be series, that way I could grow into them more, but considering it was a movie, characters were still quite well done. Loved designs, personalities. Grew into Iona and Takao I enjoyed the most, followed by Haruna and Kongou. ✦Enjoyment & Overall Cool visuals, lovable characters, eye pleasing action and characters, satisfying emotional aspect. Cool action and fun ships.