English Title: MF Ghost 2nd Season
Japanese Title: MFゴースト 2nd Season
Director(s): Naka Tomohito
Screenwriter(s): Yamashita Kenichi
Studio: Felix Film
Released: 2024
Season 2 Runtime: 12 episodes, ~23m each.
Starring: Uchida Yuuma, Sakura Ayane, Hatanaka Tasuku, Ono Daisuke, Koube Tatsuki, Serizawa Yu
My Verdict: Continuation of the same. Visually slick. You either like it or you don’t.
● Based on the ongoing manga of the same name by Shigeno Shuichi that began in 2017, MF Ghost is essentially Initial D: The Next Generation. I have not read the manga so the review is purely of the anime. Also, this assumes one has seen the first season.
● 2nd Season directly follows from the first. As expected, the next race has fog and rain which levels out the field. Although this is convenient from a storytelling perspective, it is realistic enough to give Kanata a chance to demolish most of his competitors in his relatively underpowered Toyota 86GT.
● Kanata is already an accomplished driver so it’s just watching him adapt to the league in an underpowered car. Whilst this is arguably convenient, it does avoid retelling a similar driver development arc to Initial D. At this stage, Kanata has yet to directly challenge the top two drivers and this season does introduce another driver similar to Kanata so there are still questions of his ability.
● Without becoming a harem anime, Kanata is popular with the ladies. Thankfully, this is merely done more for mildly comical effect so far. These are probably a setup for something later which is fine as long as it is not rushed.
● Given that the race involves fifteen cars, it does to a degree feel like watching a real race. Once the field spreads and groups form, the narrative can shift its focus from one battle to another which is more dynamic than focusing on the same two cars.
● Given the long laps and with merely a few laps, the series can do more to convey a sense of continuity. The map graphic is occasionally shown and scenes are repeated at the same locations on each lap. However, it does not but really needs to follow a group for consecutive corners and for longer portions of the lap to give a sense of continuity and the lap layout.
● One-shots of drivers are the norm but I am surprised there are no onboard shots as seen in real broadcasting.
● Visually, it is polished and slick. Both the environment and the cars look good. The rain mostly looks good too although the splatter on the car panels is sometimes too sharp and grungy. Like the use of alarm lines on cars, it is a matter of taste; one either accepts it or not. There are moments of awkwardness in vehicle animation (motion) but there is overall a noticeable improvement.
● Like the first season, there is a mix of realistic broadcast shots and non-realistic dramatic shots. Although the first season gets away with it, 2nd Season pushes the latter a little too much at times, especially when it tries to pass off the latter as the former.
● If one thinks MFG commentator Tanaka Youji has too many lines in the first season, then this season is no better. Although such a character is necessary, it can get tiresome. The problem is that the commentators do not discuss racing theory and technical issues enough, not even MFG’s “grip-to-weight ratio” (which is admittedly meant to remain somewhat a riddle for now). Of course, having commentators is a way to involve Initial D characters and whilst this is obviously fan service, it is not abused.
● The race also provides the opportunity to focus on the minor characters although this is done somewhat superficially. It is realistic that the drivers are not thinking much else other than the driving and tactics but, for the purposes of storytelling, there could be a little more about them. For example, we know Beckenbauer and Sawatari are the top two drivers, the former is a machine and the latter is just a pervert. Whilst it is interesting to see the two go head to head, we don’t learn much about them.
● Perhaps a little surprise is the presence of merely one female driver so far. Kitahara Nozomi was introduced in the first season and she has a certain screen presence. Motorsport is male-dominated but, for the purposes of drama, having more female drivers is plausible considering there was one female driver and co-driver in Initial D. (This is early in the story and the MF Ghost manga does introduce a few more later.)
● Although the performances are generally good, Uchida Yuuma’s English needs to improve if he to utter the occasional English as a native English speaker.
● Kanata still hasn’t recognized Ren as an MFG Angel which is just silly. Either way, there is some development in their relationship but arguably not enough. At least it is not being rushed.
● [Minor Spoiler] Ren gets upset over next to nothing which leads to an over-the-top dramatic moment in which Kanata gets a minor injury. As a result, this makes it difficult for him to drive. He doesn’t bring it up but as if an experienced athlete wouldn’t at least try to deal with it. The writing needs to be more realistic with these things.
● In short, this is a continuation of the same with mostly the same strengths and weaknesses. The season ends after the start of another race. Overall, it’s nothing great but it is moderately entertaining.
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