Kinnikuman II ULTIMATE MUSCLE 2 - A thorough review: The most exciting developments and characters in the series

The appeal and reviews of Kinnikuman II ULTIMATE MUSCLE 2

Kinnikuman II Ultimate Muscle 2 is a 2006 anime TV series based on the manga Kinnikuman II by Yudetamago, which was serialized in Shueisha's Weekly Playboy magazine. The series is a sequel to the Kinnikuman series and is the third in the Kinnikuman II series. It aired from January 5 to March 30, 2006, with a total of 13 episodes airing on TV Tokyo affiliates every Wednesday from 25:00 to 25:30. It was produced by TV Tokyo, Yomiuri Advertising, and Toei Animation, and the copyright belongs to Yudetamago, Shueisha, Toei Animation, and TV Tokyo.

story

The story of Kinnikuman II ULTIMATE MUSCLE 2 takes place in the final tournament of the Chojin World Grand Prix. The semi-finals will feature a fight between Kinnikuman Mantaro and Ricardo on an open soccer field, and a deadly battle between Kevin Mask and Ilyuhin in an aerial 3D ring. The story will continue to heighten viewers' expectations as to who will win this fierce battle and make it to the final ring.

Commentary

Kinnikuman II ULTIMATE MUSCLE 2 is characterized by its dynamic direction and storytelling that makes the most of the characters' individuality while maximizing the appeal of the original work. In particular, the setting of the ring where the battles between superhumans take place, and the episodes depicting the characters' growth and friendship, leave a strong impression on viewers. Thanks to the efforts of the staff under the direction of series director Toshiaki Komura, the series has been widely accepted not only by fans of the original work but also by new audiences.

cast

The cast of Kinnikuman II ULTIMATE MUSCLE 2 is as follows:

• Kinnikuman Mantaro: Masaya Onosaka
• Meat: Konami Yoshida
• Kevin Mask: Ryotaro Okiayu
• Chloe: Hidefumi Takemoto
• Rural Man: Takashi Nagatsuji
• Ricardo: Toshiyuki Morikawa
• Ilyukhin: Koichi Tokon
• Terry the Kid: Toshiyuki Morikawa
• Seiuchin: Takumi Yamazaki
• Gazelman: Yasunori Masutani
• Checkmate: Koichi Tokon
• Jade: Kenji Nojima
• Handsome Muscle: Shinichiro Ota
• Harabote Muscle: Kenji Nomura
• Jacqueline Muscle: Junko Noda
• Nikaido Rinko: Orikasa Fumiko
• Tamaki: Reiko Kiuchi
• Keiko: Ai Nonaka
• Yoshigai announcer: Masato Oba
• Nakano: Naoki Tatsuta
• Kinnikuman: Toshio Furukawa
• Terryman: Hideyuki Tanaka
• Ramenman: Kenichi Ono
• Lenny Heart: Lenny Heart (in-house announcement)
• Barrier Free Man (Jijoman): Bin Shimada
• Barrier-Free Man (Nils): Yasuhiko Kawazu

These voice actors expressed the individuality of the characters in a rich way and left a deep impression on the audience. In particular, the performances of Masaya Onosaka, who played Kinnikuman Mantaro, and Ryutaro Okiayu, who played Kevin Mask, realistically portrayed the growth and conflicts of their characters.

Main Staff

The main staff of Kinnikuman II ULTIMATE MUSCLE 2 are as follows:

• Original story: Yudetamago (serialized in Shueisha's "Weekly Playboy")
• Producers: Kyotaro Kimura (Yomiuri Advertising Agency), Ten Washio (Toei Animation)
• Program Director: Akiko Odawara (TV Tokyo)
• Screenplay: Hiro Masaki, Kenichi Yamada, Akira Yamatoya
• Music: Watanabe Cher
• Series Director: Toshiaki Komura
• Character design: Masaki Sato
• Chief animation director: Yuji Hakamada
• Art director: Masayasu Yamaguchi
• Production manager: Matsuzaka Kazumitsu
• Color design: Toji Sawada
• Recorded by: Yuko Higuchi
• Edited by: Masahiro Goto
• Sound: Nobuaki Ikegami
• Effects: Michihiro Ito
• Song selection: Sayaka Mizuno
• Directed by: Toshiaki Komura, Yoshihiro Ueda, Hirotoshi Tatesen, Takenori Kawada, Exposure Hagiwara, Hideki Hiroshima, Tadao Okubo, Shinji Ishihara
• Produced by: TV Tokyo, Yomiuri Advertising, Toei Animation

Kinnikuman II ULTIMATE MUSCLE 2, produced by this team of staff, faithfully reproduces the worldview of the original while bringing out the unique charm of anime. In particular, the work of the character design and art direction leaves a strong visual impact.

Main Characters

The main characters of Kinnikuman II ULTIMATE MUSCLE 2 are as follows.

• Kinniku Mantaro is the prince of Planet Kinniku. He was a modern boy who was raised in an overprotective environment, but he awakens as a superhuman wrestler. When he's in a pinch, he uses his K.K.D. (crappy strength) to get out of trouble. His special moves are the Kinniku Buster, Kinniku Driver, and Muscle Millennium.
• Kevin Mask is a new generation superhuman whose father is the legendary superhuman justice "Robin Mask". He received special education as an elite superhuman justice from a young age, but he rebelled against his overly strict father and ran away from home, leading a rough life, joining the evil superhuman army dMp, then leaving the army. He became a lone wolf.
• Ricardo is a Brazilian representative and a master of joint locks. His parents were evil superhumans, but he was raised by a righteous superhuman right after he was born. When his overbody comes off, his cruel nature is revealed.
• Ilyukhin represents Russia and is a superhuman who excels in aerial tricks.

These characters evoke deep empathy from the viewers by depicting their respective backgrounds and growth. In particular, Kinnikuman Mantaro's growth story and Kevin Mask's struggles are some of the highlights of the series.

subtitle

The subtitles for each episode of Kinnikuman II ULTIMATE MUSCLE 2 are as follows.

• Episode 1: Grudge Match! Mantaro vs. Ricardo (2006/01/04)
• Episode 2: Terror! Punishment X Ring (2006/01/11)
• Episode 3: The bond between the two! The power of friendship unleashed! (2006/01/18)
• Episode 4: The showdown! Who will advance to the finals?! (2006/01/25)
• Episode 5: Irregular Ring! Kevin vs. Ilyukhin (2006/02/01)
• Episode 6: Ultimate! Tactics No. The End (2006/02/08)
• Episode 7: Meat is seriously injured! A mysterious new second appears! (2006/02/15)
• Episode 8: The Night Before the Battle: The Thoughts of Parents and Children (2006/02/22)
• Episode 9: The Gong Rings! The Great Adviser Meat's Indecision (2006/03/01)
• Episode 10: Furious Attack: Kevin's Overwhelming Dominance (2006/03/08)
• Episode 11: The Power of Emergency vs. the Maelstrom (2006/03/15)
• Episode 12: It's all over! Muscle Millennium sinks (2006/03/22)
• Episode 13: True Hero! The Superhuman WGP Final Showdown (2006/03/29)

These subtitles succinctly describe the content of each episode, making it easier for viewers to follow the flow of the story. In particular, there are many episodes that convey the tension of the final tournament and the growth of the characters.

Related Titles

Kinnikuman II ULTIMATE MUSCLE 2 has deep ties to the following related works:

• Kinnikuman
• Kinnikuman II
• Kinnikuman II ULTIMATE MUSCLE
• Kinnikuman II the Movie
• Kinnikuman II: The Movie - Muscle Carrot Struggle! Superhuman War

These works have shaped the history of the Kinnikuman series, and Kinnikuman II ULTIMATE MUSCLE 2 is also positioned as part of it. In particular, by understanding the original story and the background of the characters, you can enjoy this series more deeply.

Theme songs and music

The theme songs and music for Kinnikuman II ULTIMATE MUSCLE 2 are as follows.

• OP1
  Title: Trust Yourself
  Lyrics: Hideaki Takatori Composition: Hideaki Takatori Arrangement: Hiromasa Kagoshima Singer: Hideaki Takatori
• ED1
  Title: Oath Moon Lyrics: Kazushi Music: Kagrra
  Arrangement: Kagrra
  Sung by: Kagrra
• IN1
  Title: Kalbi Donburi Ondo Lyrics: Kyotaro Kimura Music: Motoyoshi Iwasaki Arrangement: Motoyoshi Iwasaki Singer: Masaya Onosaka

These songs are important elements in creating the atmosphere of the series, and the opening theme "Trust Yourself" in particular features a powerful melody and lyrics that inspire the viewers. The ending theme "Chikai no Tsuki" is a beautiful song that reflects the characters' feelings. The insert song "Kalbidon Ondo" is memorable as a piece that brings out the humorous side of the series.

Ratings and Recommendations

Kinnikuman II ULTIMATE MUSCLE 2 has been praised for its storytelling that makes the most of the original work's charm while utilizing the dynamic direction and individuality of the characters that are unique to anime. In particular, the setting of the ring where the battles between superhumans unfold, and the episodes depicting the characters' growth and friendships, left a strong impression on viewers. The performances of the voice actors and the technical skills of the staff were also highly praised, and the series was widely accepted not only by fans of the original work but also by new audiences.

Reasons why I recommend this series include:

• Faithful reproduction of the original Kinnikuman II ULTIMATE MUSCLE 2 faithfully reproduces the story and character settings of the original, making it a highly satisfying work for fans of the original.
• The dynamic production , unique to anime, makes the battles between the superhumans more realistic. In particular, the setting of the ring and the intensity of the battle scenes are not to be missed.
• Character Growth and Friendship Episodes that depict the growth and friendship of characters such as Kinnikuman Mantaro and Kevin Mask leave a deep impression on viewers. These episodes are one of the highlights of the series.
• The performances of the voice actors , including Masaya Onosaka and Ryutaro Okiayu, express the individuality of the characters richly and leave a deep impression on the viewers. In particular, the character's growth and conflicts are depicted realistically.
• The technical skills of the staff, character design and art direction work create a strong visual impact, while the music and sound effects are also important elements that enhance the atmosphere of the series.

As mentioned above, Kinnikuman II ULTIMATE MUSCLE 2 has been praised for its storytelling that makes the most of the charm of the original work while utilizing the dynamic direction and character individuality that are unique to anime. It is a work that will be widely accepted not only by fans of the original work but also by new audiences, so we recommend that you give it a watch.