Kamisama Kiss 2

Episodes 1-2

Disparaging, skeptical yokai familiar Tomoe has finally opened his heart to love once again. Human high-schooler-accidentally-turned-regional-god Nanami succeeded in making the rundown Mikage Shrine relevant to the community once more. The end of the first season of Kamisama Kiss wasn't a bad ending point for an anime adaptation—in fact, it was rather bittersweet—but the world of the series was so transfixing and the characters fleshed out enough that a second go-round is wholly deserved.

In the interest of finding Mikage, the former god of her shrine, and proving the naysayer gods wrong about her abilities, Nanami decides to attend the Divine Assembly, an annual meeting of the gods in Izumo. She prepares by trying to raise a shikigami, but it hatches prematurely and takes on the shape of one of the cutest monkeys in anime history. (The fact that he later changes into a humanoid monkey boy so he can talk is a disappointment, but thankfully he goes back and forth between the forms.)

Now that she has a primate shikigami in Mamoru, Nanami is able to battle spiritual enemies on her own. However, after putting herself in danger, she realizes she's still not ready to do without Tomoe's help entirely. The fact that she's maturing as a god results in some conflict between her and Tomoe, made worse when Nanami insists on attending the Divine Assembly with Mizuki instead of Tomoe. Nanami appears to be making some progress breaking out of damsel mode into the full-fledged god she was promised to be. The transition may be full of setbacks for her this early on, but that's a good thing. If the season winds up focusing more on Nanami's evolution as a god than a happily-ever-after romance with Tomoe, we won't have to worry about the show treading old ground.

The overall look of the series hasn't evolved much from the first season, but since the show has always looked great, that's hardly a complaint. Bright colors, attractive character designs and gorgeous backgrounds abound. The animation is fluid and scene transitions are done with panache. The humorous moments are drawn stylistically, reminiscent of something out of Folktales from Japan, which is totally appropriate for a show dealing with gods and ancient Japanese traditions.

The new season of Kamisama Kiss is a poor starting point for anyone new to the show, but those who watched the first season or are familiar with the manga will definitely want to tune in. Although some regular characters from the first season—Onikiri, Kotetsu, and Kurama for example—have yet to make more than brief cameo appearances, there's time yet for them to make an impactful return. Plus, the Divine Assembly presents opportunities for a number of intriguing new players to enter the scene. The season is just beginning, and if the first two episodes are any indication, fans have a lot to look forward to over the next few months.

Rating: B

Kamisama Kiss 2 is currently streaming on Funimation.

Amy is a YA fantasy author who has loved anime for two decades.