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「魔法学校のタブー」 (Mahou Gakkou no Tabuu)
“The Magic Academy’s Taboo”
Well, if there was any doubt about Konosuba: The Explosion Edition breaking with tradition, I dare say that fear has been put to rest. Jokes, character abuse, and good old-fashioned Kazuma faces: everything is on tap in this one, and I for one am very happy about it.
One of the things that makes this Konosuba side-story nice is the focus on characters (and lore) barely touched on before. Megumin’s homelife and the added adorableness of Komekko are obviously examples, but a big one for me is Yunyun and seeing that Megumin’s pointed beratement and denigration is a little more nuanced than first thought. The forming of groups is case in point: little miss explosion likes puttin Yunyun in her place – until Yunyun gets taken and shows the resident chuuni just what the experience of NTR is like. Couple on some choice Chomusuke insults and Yunyun just being cute all around and I’m really hard-pressed keeping the smile off my face. Managing that two episodes in is definitely worth a bit of praise – particularly when you factor in what some of what that Megumin bullying yields.
Of course what helps too at the moment is the overall comedy of setting. Besides the hilarity of teachers and residents both going all out in living those chuuni desires (statues causing utter chaos indeed), we also got the added gut busting of those individuals being fully aware of their impassioned larping. Launching grandiose magic spells (that still don’t match the majesty of explosions)? Best make sure the student body is watching those skills at work. Megumin trying to skirt the rules to keep other Megumin – i.e. soon-to-be Chomusuke – safe from the ravages of little sister appetites? Nothing a bit of acting cannot solve. Need to kill cute critters? Leverage the innocent to truly let your inner chuuni speak. Hell cannot forget Arue and her skill at ensuring her larping face never disappears even when the big and deadly come out to play. Let’s just say it’s going to be a blast seeing these various personalities at work once the real enemies come knocking and encouraging some character development.
It’s simply a matter of finding out what (and who) said threats will wind up being.
ED Sequence
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ED: 「JUMP IN」by Rie Takahashi and Aki Toyosaki
Preview
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I loved komekko getting screen time, I hope there will be more or an entire episode devoted to Komekko. We now know Megumin isn’t just the world’s best EXPLOSION witch but I am willing to say she is best older sister.
I found it quite interesting how while trying to fight off the demon gargoyles they went ahead and destroyed the school and the town. Also when the Head Master repeatedly cast his spell it reminded me Tien from DBZ constantly firing Tri-Beam at one of the arcs…Cell Saga I think.
She is a great older sister. You wouldn’t think it from Konosuba alone, but her going out of her way to make sure Komekko is taken care of is a very nice (and surprising) touch
That ED is sugar seretonin. And gives me indie artist vibes.
I swear I’ve seen the art style it uses somewhere, but I’m having a hell of a time placing it lol. Do agree on it being ridiculously cute though!
Komekko simply stumbling upon the soon-to-be Chomusuke… wwwww
Also had a chuckle at everyone but Arue pulling a similar shocked expression to Cautious Hero‘s Listarte/Ristarte.
And I could’ve sworn (at first) that Bukkororii was voiced by the same seiyuu who voiced Redo of Healer‘s Keyaru–gives off similar creepy vibes, too. But nope, it’s not Yuya Hozumi, but Yoshiki Nakajima.
Those “adult” Crimson Demons got a little too drunk with power and showing off, methinks. I mean, I know some Crimson Demons might derive pleasure from unleashing their magic powers (like Megumin will in the future), but destroying your own village just to impress[?] the students? What the f*** was that?! Not to mention that the whole demon gargoyle trouble started when the adults started the hobby of taking care of demon gargoyle statues–the same demon gargoyle statues that came alive and nearly laid waste to the Crimson Demon village. (Poor Nerimaki.) Good thing Crimson Demon magic can be used to repair things (to help uphold the rule of funny), otherwise I’d be shaking my head and facepalming hard.
And finally, if you can’t unsee StoneToss’ art (the source of the “Amogus” meme) in the ending sequence, you have my sympathies.
I recall the first and second seasons had a few rough patches of animation. KonoSuba Bakuen Wo on the other hand seems to be top quality right out the gate. I hope it maintains its quality. Even if animation doesn’t hold up, the Crimson Demons are so adorkable that I hope this series is near impossible to screw up.
In the words of Kazama, that line may have been a flag!