Short Synopsis: First Rico and Jan travel to Venezia, then Jan, Jose, Henrietta and Rico visit Jan and Jose’s hometown.
Highlights: Haunting as ever.
Overall Enjoyment Value: 8/10 (Excellent)
Am I glad to see more of this or what? The OVA cleverly chose to focus on character-development, rather than action, and it was SO WORTH the fifty minutes of airtime. It would be such a shame if this series was the end of this franchise, because those final volumes of the manga really deserve to be animated. This OVA really reminded me why I labelled this series as the best one to start airing in the past Winter-Season after with Porfy no Nagai Tabi
The first half was basically about Rico, and how she’s probably the most haunting member of this cast. It’s still awkward to see such a killing-machine like her transform to such an innocent girl so easily, and especially that nightmare she had made a lot of impact: to suddenly wake up without having any limbs. During that moment, the creators and especially her voice-actress did a wonderful job at conveying her emotions at that time.
Il Teatrino concludes with the background story of the subplot that had been looming over the entire series: the death of Jan and Jose’s sister, and it’s interesting how both of them decided to live with it in a same way. Jan tried forget her, while Jose tried to not forget her. As a result, Jan has a strange illusion of her when he visits his old house back (and after seeing Henrietta wear some of his sister’s old clothes). At the same time, he also seems to be mourning over the death of a certain “Sophia”, though I didn’t pick up exactly who she was.
I’m also becoming an increasingly bigger fan of Kou Otani as a musical composer. So far, I’m loving the soundtracks he’s produced so far. They’ve all got a folky feel, but all of them are distinctive and different.
One thing that would be an interesting idea for of the third season ever gets highlighted, is for the series to switch production-companies again. In this way, we’ve got a series with three different, yet consistent parts that form a bit story as a while.
Did you watch the first season of Gunslinger Girl? Because if not, you should. I think it is really a lot better than Il Teatrino.
Sophia is Jean’s fiancee if I’m not wrong, died along with his sister in a terrorist attack
Correct, CherylHew. Fernando, the guy at the grave who attacked Jean, was Sophia’s brother. Episode 14 (OVA 1) is based on Chapter 28 of the manga and Episode 15 (OVA 2) is based on Chapter 29.
They take more liberties with the story in the first OVA (everything between Fernando leaving the cemetery and the start of Venice mission is new material) then they do with the second (though they change the ending – for the better, IMO).
Il Teatrino isn’t the best thing I’ve ever seen (though the first season is my favorite anime of all time) and I hated almost everything about it…
BUT the final episode really made me love it. I hope the OVA is as good as you say. (I haven’t seen it yet) It looks like the art got a tad better (seeing the picture of Rico on the top right, the lighting looks great)
I love the part where Jean cracks and he sees Enrica. I hate Jean, but I love that chapter in the manga. He looks hot, and it shows there’s a venerable side to everyone, even a cold, heartless person like Jean.
Don’t change art designs again. PLEASE go back to Madhouse if a third season is in order. These designs (big owl eyes and an overall lighter tone to such a dark anime) were appalling! >_
Bring back the original theme by the Delgados and the orginal team of the first series which was highly more detailed more moving and majestic this series is sub standard though any one follow up would be to the first
BRING BACK THE ORIGINAL THEME AND THE ORIGINAL TEAM THAT MADE THE FIRST SEASON THIS SECOND SEASON WAS SUB STANDARD TO THE FIRST VERY UNDESERVING OF SUCH A GOOD SERIES MAKE THE THIRD WITH THE ORIGINAL GENIUS TEAM OF THE FIRST FIRST SEASON 9.5/10 SECOND 6.9/10
Where can I watch the ova?
Yes, where can we get a hold of the ova?
http://tokyotosho.com/ should have it, though it isn’t subbed yet for as far as I know.
Good heavens. I just can’t understand the low opinion of this season held by so many people who apparently quite enjoyed the first one. Yes, the character designs changed. I too preferred the designs from the first season to the ones in the second. Yes, the budget was much smaller and it showed. The first season has it all over the second in terms of the visual detail. In all other respects though I just don’t see what all the fuss is about. They were completely different types of stories to me. The first season was very “slice of life” like. A handful of almost random feeling episodes added dimension to each of the children and then summed up to a lovely and emotionally moving whole. There’s so much more of a plot to the second season though. It’s adventure/tragedy/drama done so well, and the final clash between the two artificial children was just glorious.
I loved both seasons and I’d be more than happy to see a third season and anything else they want to animate from this series. Triela really is my favourite character though. She’s so feisty and fierce, and she seems so close to being normal in every single way … and then she pulls out the same utterly ruthless streak that all the cyborgs have and it just hits you all over again that she’s really not. Fantastic series.
I’m really glad that these OVA’s focused on Jean. He really is rather neglected compared to the other handlers in the anime. I’ve always wondered about the background story on the two brothers, Jose and Jean. Even if these OVA only lightly touch on the subject without explaining very clearly on what happened in their past, I’m more than satisfied for now. I guess if I want to know more, I’ll just have to hit on the manga, seeing as a new season still hasn’t been forthcoming up till now.