Directors: Hiroshi Hamasaki, Takuya Sato
Starring: Mamoru Miyano, J. Michael Tatum, Asami Imai, Trina Nishimura, Kana Hanazawa, Jackie Ross, Tomokazu Seki, Tyson Rinehart, Yukari Tamura, Cherami Leigh, Yo Kobayashi, Lindsay Seidel, Saori Goto, Jessica Cavanagh,
Running Time: 325 minutes
Certificate: 12
STEINS;GATE ended with a shocking finale in its first collection. It was the kind of gut punch that seemed very unexpected thanks to the rather jokey tone of the earlier episodes. However, when dealing with time travel it was never going to be long before corruption and murder were on the cards. The time travel element in this second set of episodes is instantly advanced. No longer is it the quirky idea of simply sending text messages through time, but people can also travel. It may sound as though it is travelling into unoriginal territory, but it’s also quite adept at becoming complex and confusingly woven, without being indecipherable.
What’s most enjoyable about this show is that it looks at time travel with a glare of admiration and trepidation. The first collection was all about the thrill of discovery. It was fun, a little dangerous, but also simply thrilling. This latest set looks at the darker aspects such as fate, destiny, and the attempted manipulation of the two. Trying to undo a murder is always a great time travel plot device, but here it emanates extra emotional weight since we’ve grown with the characters. We realise they never wanted any of this, and their little bit of fun has spiralled out of control. Seeing the same tragedy replay in multiple ways becomes aggravating, and then simply soul crushing. Despite it being obvious that nothing can be done about such predicaments, each episode or time jump is filled with a sense of hope.
STEINS;GATE also refuses to intentionally confuse its audience. Considering it’s not only focusing on time travel, but it’s also an anime, that’s quite a feat. With the journeys through time, and even talk of ending up in different timelines, suggesting there is more than one, the series always leaves a clear trail that does require you to think, but not to pause and grab a notebook and map. It’s refreshing to see such a complex sci-fi show to hold its audience in high regard, without feeling insecure to the point where it would rather bamboozle us all.
The animation continues to be stunning, with the mixture of Japanese city landscapes and rural shrines, brought to life with wonderful shades of lighting. It’s a rare show that can excite in equal measures no matter whether its scenes are predominantly action or dialogue. Like the best of puzzles, even if you can see the entire picture, you’ll probably find it difficult to fit the pieces together. With the jokey tone of earlier episodes set aside but not forgotten, STEINS;GATE does well to evolve characters, examine emotions, explore themes, and just do a damn fine job at entertaining.
STEINS;GATE Part 2 is releaed on DVD and Blu-ray on 30th September via Manga Entertainment.
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