Mashin Eiyuuden Wartaru is a franchise, wich includes several anime series. All have in common that the brave and more or less (but increasingly) distinct saviour and hero Ikusabe Wataru fights evil in his mighty fighting robot. This is the second season of the franchise, which was broadcasted a half year after the end of the first season. In the meantime, the anime Madou King Granzort had been shown in the same timeslot. The basic structure of this season is the same as its prequel: The world is split into seven levels, in each of which a final boss as well as one stage boss foreach episode await the hero to be heroically defeated. Only very few side quests distract the hero from this path and helpful characters will make sure to excplain him the next goal of the main quest. Shibaraku and and Himiko accompany him on his quest while other friends from the first season join in later. A around the half of the episodes, some budget seems to have appeared in the studio and gets allocated into character development and story building. After not much happened for over 20 episodes, quickly all characters get some backstory thrown at them for some actual story telling to commence. By this, the end of the series feels a little bit rushed, while the first half felt even more insubstancial than some parts of the first season. All in all however it is still entertaining thorughout all episodes and builds up the expectations that are fulfilled with the OVA "Owarinaki Toki no Monogatari".

The experience of the magical Soukaizan realm is well underlined by beauiful backgrounds and atomspherical music. In many fighting scenes however, frames are heavily reused and the quality of art heavily varies with the importance of the scene. Although the exclusive use of songs by the band a・chi-a・chi, which is certainly an integral part of the marketing strategy, makes me sometimes feel a lack of variation, all opening and ending songs fit perfectly with the style of the series and are accompanied by good animation. The background music is mostly unobtrusive, only some songs might have been used a little bit less often.

Most main characters where already introduced in the first season. Umihiko is the only notable new main character, I did however enjoy him very much. At first he seems to be quite similar to Toraou, he is however very unique and the only character with a majour backstory. (Umihiko, I love you<3) The other characters are further developed, especially by their relationships. Wataru seems to have grown in confidence and Himiko sometimes behaves even more ignorant of her environment than she already did before, does however also show some development of slowly becoming more mature. Although Shibaraku recieves some character development, he stays a sidekick more than any other character. Kurama (Mr. Bird) is mostly developed in his relationship with Umihiko and Toraou became to have a strong friendship with Wataru, did however not lose his original behaviour.

Although the first half of this series only progresses very slowly, it has its funny moments and still portraits a colourful realm of adventure. Enduring the first half is then rewarded with the so far best part of the franchise and while the end leaves several open questions, you will certainly not regret watching this childish, cool and interesting adventure.

Please watch the successing OVA, it is very good and gives the franchise a great finale. (Before it returned with Chou Mashin Eiyuuden Wataru. I have however yet to watch that series.)