City Hunter 2: A perfect balance of action and humor

City Hunter 2 - City Hunter Two - Review and Recommendation

■ Public Media

TV anime series

■ Original Media

comics

■ Broadcast period

April 2, 1988 - July 1, 1989 Every Saturday 18:00 - 18:30

■Broadcasting station

Yomiuri TV

■Frequencies

120 min

■ Number of Episodes

Episode 63

■Original Story

Original work by Hojo Tsukasa

■ Director

Director: Kenji Kodama

■ Production

Yomiuri TV, Sunrise

■Works

©Hojo Tsukasa/NSP, Yomiuri TV, Sunrise

■ Story

In Shinjuku, a big city where many people pass each other, various troubles, crimes, and conspiracies are waiting to swallow people up. However, if you get into a difficult situation, just write "XYZ" on the message board at the east exit. That's a signal that "there is no turning back." It's a request to trouble sweeper, City Hunter Ryo Saeba [Kemono radical with Ryou].

From "Sunrise Complete Works Collection"

■Explanation

The second TV series following on from the previous City Hunter. The setting was retained, and new episodes were drawn with familiar characters. From this series onwards, Umibozu and Miki became a regular pair, and Miki's cafe Cat's Eye became a hangout spot for Ryo and his friends.

From "Sunrise Complete Works Collection"

■Cast

・Ryo Saeba [The character for "animal" is a character for "friends"] / Akira Kamiya, Kaori Makimura, Kazue Ikura, Saeko Nogami, Yoko Asagami, Reika, Yoshino Takamori, Umibozu, Tesshō Genda, Miki, Mami Koyama

■ Main staff

・Planning/Michihiko Suwa (Yomiuri TV)
・Original work: Hojo Tsukasa・Character design: Kamimura Sachiko・Mechanical design: Akitaka Mika・Art directors: Miyamae Mitsuharu, Azuma Junichi・Chief animation director: Kitahara Takeo・Director of photography: Furubayashi Ichita・Editor: Tsurubuchi Films・Sound director: Urakami Yasuo・Music: Yano Tatsumi・Director: Kodama Kenji・Producers: Ueda Masuro (Sunrise), Suwa Michihiko (Yomiuri TV)

■Subtitle

・Episode 52/Is ■ engaged?! Meet, fall in love and find out your fortune!
・Episode 53/■ is engaged!? Meet, fall in love and find out the fortune!
Episode 54: The Target Kaori!! Say Goodbye to Words of LoveEpisode 55: The Target Kaori!! Say Goodbye to Words of LoveEpisode 56: A bulging, confused detective!? A beautiful writer's mystery gameEpisode 57: ■ is a nude model!? A beautiful painter who stole a masterpieceEpisode 58: A request from a southern island: Coconut Girl and the paradise of loveEpisode 59: Before you know it, you're a dangerous detective in Tokyo, Dad!
・Episode 60 / Speeding in Love! Dating a Beautiful Police Motorcycle Girl in Handcuffs・Episode 61 / Bulge Killer!? The Princess's Noble Aura・Episode 62 / Bulge Killer!? The Princess's Noble Aura・Episode 63 / Out-of-ring brawl, bloodshed inevitable!! Love's Cobra Twist・Episode 64 / The latest smuggling operation!! A beautiful dentist's loving treatment・Episode 65 / Does love surpass money? Bulge vs. the girl with savings・Episode 66 / Don't die! Umibozu!! Magnum of love and revenge・Episode 67 / Don't die! Umibozu!! Magnum of Love and Revenge・Episode 68 / Aspiring to be a Yamato Nadeshiko!? Bukkori crosses borders・Episode 69 / Aspiring to be a Yamato Nadeshiko!? Bukkori crosses borders・Episode 70 / Kaori is in action!! A toast with a memorable wine・Episode 71 / Kaori loses her memory!! Farewell, beloved partner・Episode 72 / Aim for the gold medal!! Close-up instruction for a beautiful shooting beauty・Episode 73 / The target is ■! The focus lady loves danger・Episode 74 / The target is ■! The focus lady loves danger・Episode 75 / The deadly pink breath!? The story of a kunoichi's advance into the big city・Episode 76 / The targeted witness! A beautiful woman dressed as a man and a dangerous duo・Episode 77 / The targeted witness! A Dangerous Duo with a Cross-dressing Beauty・Episode 78/Message from Makimura Memories are Forever・Episode 79/Message from Makimura Memories are Forever・Episode 80/Innocence Covered in Wounds! An Angel's Prayer for a Hitman・Episode 81/Don't Get Fooled! Saeko's Gift to a Young Girl・Episode 82/Farewell Friend...The Last Shot that Resonates in My Heart
Episode 83: Farewell, my friend... The last shot that reverberates in my heart
・Episode 84 / Bulge contract concluded! ■ and the delinquent girl's strange journey ・Episode 85 / Bulge contract concluded! ■ and the delinquent girl's strange journey ・Episode 86 / ■ is the instructor's ultimate bulge strategy ・Episode 87 / ■ is Oishinbo! Stylish PR for the soba-making beauty
・Episode 88 / ■ to Kaori... With love for Christmas・Episode 89 / ■ to Kaori... With love for Christmas・Episode 90 / Kai-chan is a playboy! Beautiful sweeper Miki comes close to her・Episode 91 / Kai-chan is a playboy! Beautiful sweeper Miki comes close to her・Episode 92 / Full of bulges! ■'s heart and a psychic (esper) girl・Episode 93 / Full of bulges! ■'s heart and a psychic (esper) girl・Episode 94 / ■ is a love thief! The whereabouts of love hidden in the magic mirror・Episode 95 / ■ is a love thief! The whereabouts of love hidden in the magic mirror・Episode 96 / A 19-year-old widow! A sketch beauty finds her heart's lover・Episode 97 / A 19-year-old widow! Sketching a Beautiful Woman, My Heart's Lover・Episode 98/The Plan of a 12-Year-Old Angel Who Wants to Fall in Love Like a Dream・Episode 99/The Plan of a 12-Year-Old Angel Who Wants to Fall in Love Like a Dream・Episode 100/Farewell Hard-Boiled City・Episode 101/Farewell Hard-Boiled City・Episode 102/The Crystal Prophecy! The Chains of Memories Revived by Kaori・Episode 103/20th Year Reunion! Saeba-san, Please Take Care of My Little Sister・Episode 104/20th Year Reunion! Saeba-san, Please Take Care of My Little Sister・Episode 105/A 17-Year-Old's Date Panic Over a Suspected Proposal・Episode 106/A 17-Year-Old's Date Panic Over a Suspected Proposal・Episode 107/Shinjuku Success Story: My Next Door Neighbor is a Beautiful Dancer・Episode 108/Shinjuku Success Story: My Next Door Neighbor is a Beautiful Dancer・Episode 109/■'s Spartan Education! The Naughty Prince Raised in a Harem・Episode 110/■'s Spartan Education! Harem-raised Naughty Prince, Episode 111 / Love is Magic Miss Magician is Fearful of Men, Episode 112 / Good Luck My Sweeper Two City Streets)
・Episode 113: Good Luck My Sweeper: Two City Streets)
・Episode 114: Good Luck My Sweeper: Two City Streets)

* ■ is a member of the furry genre

■ Evaluation

City Hunter 2 is a TV anime series that aired from 1988 to 1989, and was produced as a sequel to the previous City Hunter. It is based on the manga of the same name by Hojo Tsukasa, and was directed by Kodama Kenji. It was produced by Yomiuri TV and Sunrise, and aired on Yomiuri TV from 6:00 to 6:30 PM every Saturday, with a total of 63 episodes.

The story is set in the big city of Shinjuku and follows the exploits of Ryo Saeba (the character for animal and comrade) who works as a trouble sweeper and his friends. The setting in which requests are sent to Ryo by writing "XYZ" on the message board at the east exit of Shinjuku has been carried over from the previous series, providing a familiar worldview for viewers. In this series, the duo of Umibozu and Miki has been established, and new elements have been added, such as Miki's cafe Cat's Eye appearing as a hangout spot for Ryo and his friends.

The cast includes Kamiya Akira as Ryo Saeba, Ikura Kazue as Kaori Makimura, Asagami Yoko as Saeko Nogami, Takamori Yoshino as Reika, Genda Tesshō as Umibozu, and Koyama Mami as Miki. These voice actors have continued to appear from the previous work, bringing out the best in their characters. Kamiya Akira's voice for Ryo Saeba in particular is cool yet humorous, leaving a strong impression on viewers.

The main staff included Michihiko Suwa (Yomiuri TV) in charge of planning, Sachiko Kamimura in charge of character design, Mika Akitaka in charge of mechanical design, Mitsuharu Miyamae and Junichi Azuma as art directors, Takeo Kitahara as chief animation director, Ichita Furubayashi as director of photography, Tsurubuchi Eiga as editor, Yasuo Urakami as sound director, Tatsumi Yano as music composer, Kenji Kodama as director, and Masuro Ueda (Sunrise) and Michihiko Suwa (Yomiuri TV) as producers. This work, which was produced by this team of staff, captivated viewers with its high-quality visuals and music.

The subtitles depict different themes and events in each episode, and are designed to draw the viewer's interest. For example, in episodes 52 and 53, "■ is your fiance?! Meet, fall in love and get your fortune told!", Ryo's fiance appears, emphasizing the romance element. Also, in episodes 66 and 67, "Don't Die! Umibozu!! Magnum of Love and Revenge", Umibozu's past is revealed, leading to a dramatic development. These episodes have the power to make the viewer empathize with the characters.

"City Hunter 2" continues the success of its predecessor, but the introduction of new characters and a deeper story make it even more appealing. In particular, the pairing of Umibozu and Miki offers a new perspective, giving viewers a fresh impression. In addition, the subtitles and story development for each episode are designed to keep viewers interested, and the series is full of worthwhile episodes.

■Recommendation

"City Hunter 2" is a work that can be recommended not only to anime fans of the 80s, but also to modern viewers. In particular, the human drama depicted through the unique profession of trouble sweeper and the exploits of the humorous characters will be enjoyed by a wide range of generations. In addition, the subtitles and story development of each episode are designed to attract the viewer's interest, and the series continues to be a worthwhile watch.

When watching this film, please pay attention to the following points: