Mashle: Magic and Muscles season 2 review – A fun refined sequel with an anti-climatic end

Despite fans’ hopes for a strong conclusion to the second season of Mashle: Magic and Muscles, the action comedy anime has reached its end with the season finale. However, according to the source material, the plot led to the anime ending its sequel season with an episode that felt more like a mid-season break.

Mashle: Magic and Muscles has gained a significant following ever since it was first serialized in Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump magazine. Therefore, the announcement of its anime adaptation by A-1 Pictures was met with great enthusiasm from fans. Although it may not have been the most exceptional magic-themed anime, it proved to be an enjoyable watch for those who are not avid anime viewers.

The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.

Mashle: Magic and Muscles season 2 review: A-1 Pictures’ Continued Success in the Sequel

Mash Burnedead as seen in season 1 opening theme (Image via A-1 Pictures)
Mash Burnedead as seen in season 1 opening theme (Image via A-1 Pictures)

Upon reflection of Mashle: Magic and Muscles season 1, it was evident that there were a few shortcomings that, if addressed, could have potentially increased the anime’s popularity. This is exactly what A-1 Pictures accomplished in the show’s second season.

Despite the fact that the opening theme song Knock Out by Taiiku Okazaki was not well-received by most anime fans during the first season, it is still a significant factor in attracting new fans to almost any anime. However, for the second season of Mashle: Magic and Muscles, A-1 Pictures ensured that the opening theme song was a hit.

To achieve this, Creepy Nuts was commissioned to create and produce the song Bling-Bang-Bang-Born. The anime’s opening theme quickly gained popularity on social media, attracting new viewers to the anime solely because of its catchy theme song.

Mash Burnedead as seen in Mashle: Magic and Muscles season 2 (Image via A-1 Pictures)
Mash Burnedead as seen in Mashle: Magic and Muscles season 2 (Image via A-1 Pictures)

After that, A-1 Pictures shifted their focus to the pacing of the anime. In the previous season, it felt like each episode was dedicated to introducing a new character and wrapping up a plotline. However, in season 2 of Mashle Magic and Muscles, the pacing was significantly improved. The events flowed at a more natural pace, without feeling rushed to include all necessary information.

Regrettably, this flaw also carried over to the sequel season, which will be further examined in the subsequent section.

Margarette Macaron as seen in Mashke anime (Image via A-1 Pictures)
Margarette Macaron as seen in Mashke anime (Image via A-1 Pictures)

Additionally, A-1 Pictures prioritized the battles in the series, along with the opening theme and pacing. However, in the previous season, it appeared that the anime was solely focused on portraying protagonist Mash Burnedead as powerful in battles. This ultimately caused a decline in fans’ interest, as they were certain of the protagonist’s victory in every fight.

Instead, the second season of Mashle: Magic and Muscles shifted its focus to the antagonist characters, building them up for their epic showdowns. This was apparent through the initial introductions of Carpaccio Luo-yang, Margarette Macaron, and Innocent Zero in the series. The animation quality improved significantly and the action scenes were executed with much more fluidity.

With the promising indications of growth, viewers can anticipate the upcoming release of the third season of Mashle: Magic and Muscles anime.

What caused issues with Mashle: Magic and Muscles season 2?

Mash as seen in the anime's finale (Image via A-1 Pictures)
Mash as seen in the anime’s finale (Image via A-1 Pictures)

Despite being an action-comedy, Mashle: Magic and Muscles season 2 was a success. However, the pacing improvements made by A-1 Pictures ended up having negative consequences.

The reason for this is that the anime’s main plotline, which revolved around the initial conflict with Innocent Zero, concluded in episode 11. This left little room for any significant events to take place in episode 12. As a result, the progression of the story led to a disappointing finale for season 2 of Mashle: Magic and Muscles.

The finale of the anime could have incorporated the scenes of Innocent Zero’s departure and Mash’s heroic rescue of Easton to further heighten fans’ emotions and build anticipation for the next season. However, the ending of the anime resembled more of a post-arc epilogue.

Overall Impressions of Mashle: Magic and Muscles season 2

Wahlberg and Mash as seen in the anime (Image via A-1 Pictures)
Wahlberg and Mash as seen in the anime (Image via A-1 Pictures)

Mashle: Magic and Muscles, as fans are aware, is a satirical anime that pokes fun at the typical clichés found in television. This is evident through its striking resemblances to popular series such as Harry Potter, One Punch Man, and Black Clover. Despite some anime enthusiasts feeling hesitant about investing their time in watching this show, it is actually far from being a waste of time.

Fans of Mashle: Magic and Muscles will be treated to a unique spin on familiar tropes, accompanied by plenty of comedic moments. Even those who are not interested in the plot will find it to be an enjoyable viewing experience. Therefore, those who enjoyed the first season will surely find the second season just as entertaining, while those who did not can choose to skip it.

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