Rushing back to talk about Shipgirls on the high seas once again...

Hi! How are you? How is life now? Anyway, I'm still on the way to settling my "old scores"...but this time around it's gonna be different. Although I'm talking about Kantai Collection (and I've talked about it previously) BUT...I will include the movie this time!!!!

Remember them?

Although I have never played the Kantai Collection and ONLY play Azur Lane nowadays, I will still talk about Kantai Collection. And also, have you heard that there will ACTUALLY be a Kantai Collection season 2 (like finally)?! Anyway, with that, LET'S GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



WARNING:-

SPOILER ALERT!!! If you haven't watched it and plan to watch it without anyone being the spoiler, please DON'T CONTINUE READING!!!



P.S. If you want to be spoiled, well, go ahead and read it. You HAD been warned. Don't blame me for being spoiled if you INSIST on continuing to read this post.

Introduction

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Cover for the anime...I think

Oh...I remember that I didn't introduce the Kantai Collection series previously so I will properly introduce it. The series, Kantai Collection (in Japanese, 艦隊これくしょん) is actually a Japanese free-to-play web browser game developed by Kadokawa Games and published on DMM.com. The series' name can be translated as Fleet Collection but is subtitled as Combined Fleet Girls Collection. It is also being abbreviated as KanColle (in Japanese, 艦これ). The game was launched on April 23, 2013, and has 3 million registered players from Japan (as it is only available in Japan).

The game...

Anyway, putting aside all of the little details of the name, the theme of the game is centred around cute ship girls who represent the different World War II warships, especially Japanese warships. The game involves all aspects of naval warfare, including not only combat but also maintenance, repair, upgrading, resupply, morale, logistics and mission planning, which is pretty similar to Azur Lane. The gameplay of both games is VERY different. It is very obvious.

As the game becoming more popular, it has developed into a much larger media franchise, which includes various media including multiple manga series and light novels. It even has an officially licensed tabletop role-playing game and a PlayStation Vita game. As for the anime (season 1 of the anime), it was released on February 2016. Later, the movie was launched in November 2016. The interesting thing is that the second season of the anime was announced before the movie is launch, leading many to think that the announcement is for the movie. Well...it is proven to be wrong. The second season of the anime is set to be launched THIS YEAR! Now, I'm trying to finish this post before the second season is up. Now, let move on.

One of the many Kantai Collection manga around...

Plot

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The cute girls from the 6th Destroyer Division...again. xD

I have talked about much of the plot in my previous post, which is mostly about cute ship girls fighting against unknown forces that disrupt the peace on the sea. But here, I will focus on the movie, which I have watched and decided to talk about it here.

Remember her?

Anyway, let's briefly talk about the story of the anime (season 1). The story talks about a new ship girl, Fubuki joining the Kantai Collection fleet (as I call it). The fleet is formed to defeat the unknown forces (which is called the Abyssal fleet) that threaten the safety and peace of the sea. The story mainly talks about Fubuki and her fellow shipgirls' daily lives, fighting the enemies and enjoying their lives between different instances. Anyway, any more details of the story will be from either you watching the anime or you can read my previous blog post about it. I will give some extra screenshots that are not in that post.

Oh...Fubuki...

Now...the movie. It definitely is a spoiler for those who didn't watch it. Anyway, you came here for it. You can't blame me. I have told you about this in the earlier paragraph and also here, in this paragraph. You better be prepared. Seriously. Ready (if you didn't watch the movie)? OK, let's start.

Night battle...Yasen!!! Anyway, I was reminded of Sendai of Kantai Collection (ofc).

The sea is turning red...

The story in the Kantai Collection movie starts with the usual fleet operation but...with a twist. The place where their operation was at is showing signs of reddening of the sea and the reappearance of the sunken Kisaragi in the previous season. And also, what is weirder is that the sea where it is reddening and the operation was held has a weird echo of someone calling a certain someone to her. Weird...and that's where the whole story revolves around.

The moment of truth...

There are a few shocking things that are being talked about in the movie, which are the truth about the abyssal fleet and the truth about the condition of the reappeared Kisaragi. Well, I would say...truly shocking. Anyway, the two things are actually related because the Kisaragi that appeared before them is actually supposed to be part of the abyssal fleet as she was sunken previously. The story says that the sunken ship is reincarnated as the abyssal fleet...truly shocking. It does break the theory that the fleet is actually a representation of the Allied forces in World War 2 although the absence of the embodiment of the battleships from the Allied forces in World War 2 might still raise some issues.

The bad guys...?

Anyway, putting the theory and game aside, the story is focused on fixing the issue of the widening phenomena of the sea's reddening. The redden sea cause damage to the ship girls who dwell in it, which I think could symbolise something. As for the mysterious sound, it is just Fubuki's sunken self calling Fubuki to rejoin her as one. Crazy story. Anyway, the ending of the movie ends on a sweet note. Although Kisaragi did disappear at the end, she did appear in the final scenes of the movie. The movie ends with the hope of finally defeating the abyssal fleet once and for all. OK, with that ending, I will move on to the part where we comment on the movie and the anime (season 1).

The final battle to clear the red sea!

Anime Rating

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Season 1

Story (Rating: 9/10)

The story is not that much substance other than fighting the abyssal fleet, which feels like it is never gonna end. BUT, the sweat, tears and funny and cute moments are moments to behold in this story. The story plot actually feels like anime that is adapted from a four-panel manga. It is pretty much all over the place but somehow feels like there is some story. Anyway, the flow and pacing of the story are pretty well-done. And also the story is relatively easy to understand.

Nice atmosphere...

Art and Animation (Rating: 6/10)

The art and animation...well, it is decent if weren't for the brief transition to 3D animation (or CGI as people would call it). The animation changes ruin the consistency a little. To be honest, by this time, I'm used to it because of Aikatsu. Anyway, the 3D animated part is fine but I think it could be better like the one in Bandori season 2. The characters are cute by the way, especially Akatsuki, Inazuma, Ikazuchi and Hibiki.

BOOM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sound and Music (Rating: 10/10)

The BGM is decent but...the opening and closing theme songs are AMAZING!!!!!! Oh yeah!!!!! TOTALLY MY JAM!

From the opening sequence...

Characters (Rating: 8/10)

As for character-wise, character developments are mostly focused on Fubuki. There are some on other characters but mostly on a few key characters and some side characters for a short period. I do like some side characters, which is Akatsuki, Inazuma, Ikazuchi and Hibiki because they are cute. Anyway, the development of characters is poorly distributed because the series has A LOT of characters. I bet the Azur Lane anime will face a similar issue as this anime. I'm not gonna even talk about relatability here because I'm lazy. Anyway, on a serious note, there are some lessons that you can learn from the story. Not everything though.

Nice...

Enjoyment (Rating: 10/10)

A good watch, I say. I might wanna rewatch it before season 2 comes out. Anyway, I do enjoy it.

Cute girls!!!!

Overall Rating: 8.6 (8.25)/10

Movie

Story (Rating: 10/10)

A much more solid story than the anime (season 1) itself. The story of the movie gives us a sense of the direction for the resolution of the battle against the abyssal fleet. I won't say that the second season of the anime will come near to the resolution of the seemingly endless fight against the abyssal fleet, I think it might be better than I think it would be. Anyway, the plot, flow and pacing of the story are pretty well-done. The story is also easy to understand although there are a few shocking revelations of the world of the Kantai Collection itself.

The story is slowly being unveiled...

Art and Animation (Rating: 10/10)

The art and animation of this movie are clearly superior compared to the anime's season 1. It is more consistent and has better fighting animation.

The animation is decent there.

Sound and Music (Rating: 9/10)

Good BGM and also the theme song of the movie is beautiful, just beautiful. Not yet my jam...maybe. Anyway, good song and gives a vibe of a beautiful but a little sad feeling.

Just another screenshot...Looks decent BTW

Characters (Rating: 9/10)

Like the first season of the anime, it is focused on Fubuki again but this time it also has some good focus on Kisaragi and Mutsuki. There are still a lot of cute characters, I admit. The drama and the character development of the few core characters are the main focus of this movie.

O.O... wow...

Enjoyment (Rating: 10/10)

Although the revelations are shocking, the movie is a good watch. I might wanna watch it again. The suspense, the drama and a bittersweet ending is pretty much a good reason to watch.

Cute and nice moments...

Overall Rating: 9.6 (9.5)/10

Screenshots

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Season 1 (Additional)

Akagi and Kaga!

The 3D animation is pretty poor

Tea time...I guess?

Fanservice!

And also...LOLIS!!!!!

Movie

That moment where the resolution is being told...

Oh, no...Kisaragi...

The half-transformed Kisaragi...

Going into the heart of the blue light...

Oh no...

The hug...Awww...

That blue light...

Goodbye, Kisaragi...sob...

Welcome back, Fubuki!!!

Awww...Welcome, Kisaragi.

PV/Trailer

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Conclusion

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Well, that's the end. There is nothing much I can say other than telling you that Kantai Collection season 2 and also...Azur Lane anime is coming out!!!!!! I played Azur Lane for quite a while already. FINALLY! Anyway, I hope that you enjoy reading this post and browsing through this blog. I would like to say, "Goodbye, and God bless you!".

Yes...Ryuujou...She is A LOLI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Overall Rating (whole anime): 9.1 (8.875)/10