Nura – Rise of the Yokai Clan series 2 part 1 hit the UK shelves this month care of Manga UK. It was an interesting set of discs for me. I had been watching the Yokai Clan via Anime on Demand and must have got more than halfway through when the site closed up. Could I start watching from the start of series 2 without getting lost?
I can. I did. It was easy. I’m glad I tried.
If series 1 deals with Rikou Nura coming to terms that he’s part-demon and will have to lead the clan, if all goes well, at some point then series 2 introduces people with other plans. Okay, we saw some of this in series 1, at least the episodes I saw, with powerful demons/Yokai needing to be brought into line before they’d consider joining Nura and his troop. Series 2, though, the events are higher as we deal with significant threats that the original Nuraihyon once struggled against.
An anime in which demons are the main characters is good fun. I say demons – I think they’re more like ghosts. There’s a cosmopolitan lot, which keeps things interesting, prone to scaring people, political intrigue and fighting. There’s even conflict from within the clan as there are those who oppose his role as heir.
Series 2 introduces a big bag nine-tailed fox spirit. She was defeated once, but somehow is back and even more dangerous. Haguromo Gitsune, our fox, has control of Kyoto and the powerful spirits there.
In fact, to have any chance of beating the Kyoto spirits and the powerful fox Haguromo Gitsune Nura needs to learn more about fighting with fear. This opens up a new range of special effects to brighten up the melee and action scenes. Combine that with a two new ranges of Yokai; the Kyoto locals and one another and you’ve a visual feast and plenty of powerful fighters.
It’s not all about ghostly demons. There’s still the school friends from Nura’s human-life – who manage to find themselves and their ghost hunting club in Kyoto at the wrong time. The fact that one of them just happens to be an actual priest with actual anti-Yokai powers and responsibilities adds to the drama.
I wouldn’t recommend skipping straight to season 2. I watched plenty of season 1 before Anime on Demand folded on me and knew exactly where the plot was going. I don’t think the fact I was able to pick up at season 2 suggests Nura is shallowly scripted; I think it suggests this is an action focused anime that’s written well enough to help fill in any knowledge gaps you may have. This is all good.
It’s worth noting that Nura series 2 gets a 15 rating. That’s an indicator to the intensity of the action.
Nura – Rise of the Yokai Clan is lots of fun. It’s well paced, well scripted and actually just a little different from the usual run of the mill. I think it compares favourably to the likes of Strike the Blood or Campione. I’d recommend it.
My copy of Nura – Rise of the Yokai Clan was provided for review.
