4/5
Marriage Story
12 Episodes. Starring: Reina Ueda, Kaito Ishikawa, Ayane Sakura, Hiroshi Yanaka, Kana Ueda, Mamiko Noto, Noriko Hidaka, Koutaro Nishiyama, Kenyu Horiuchi, Toshinari Fukamachi, Houko Kuwashima, Yoko Hikasa, Ryōhei Kimura, Kōsei Hirota, Hiro Shimona & Kenta Miyake. Screenplay By: Ami Satō, Takahito Ōnishi & Momoka Toyoda. Directed By: Masayuki Kojima & Takehiro Kubota. On: Netflix & Disney +.
Love and marriage continues on the second season of 'My Happy Marriage', streaming on Netflix and Disney Plus, amongst other servers. Despite the delays, one of the best animes out of Japan right now, still amazes. Directed by Masayuki Kojima and Takehiro Kubota, with a screenplay by Ami Satō based on the massive manga, 'Marriage' also has a matrimony of a lovely vocal cast, featuring, Reina Ueda, Kaito Ishikawa, Ayane Sakura, Hiroshi Yanaka, Kana Ueda, Mamiko Noto, Noriko Hidaka, Koutaro Nishiyama, Kenyu Horiuchi, Toshinari Fukamachi, Houko Kuwashima, Yoko Hikasa, Ryōhei Kimura, Kōsei Hirota, Hiro Shimona and Kenta Miyake. Picking up where the love story between Miyo and Kiyoka left off in a world where spirit and magic...and perhaps true love are real. There are also Grotesqueries, Vader villains and even allies dressed so much like Christian Bale in 'American Psycho' that they are about to ask to see Paul Allen's magic power.
Rich, vibrant, decadent and as real as anime almost gets, you should be happy the matrimony sticks after all this time. Book ended by two terrific theme tunes for your wedding song and registry. High society like 'Downton Abbey' engaged with Japanese traditions like another hugely successful, award-winning show, 'Shōgun'. Dipping into vivid dream sequences that feel like something out of the dark rooms of Eleven's mind in 'Stranger Things', matched with special-effect set pieces that the M.C.U. could only marvel at. The dream-sight of this power wakes up a whole new world of Edo era history meets, modern day Japanese innovation like a CASIO wristwatch. It's an animated universe you can believe in, even if these are just cells straight out of comic books. Anime is taken very seriously here in Japan, and to the aficionado watching world who lap it all up with dreams of making a trip out to the Far East, not even thinking about seeing the rising sun. This story and show feels like one to call mine, yours, ours and theirs. To have and to hold close.
The love is real, too, between our two leads. Earned and cherished, despite all those wishing to destroy their marriage, whether family or outside forces. Yet Kiyoka and Miyo's union is too strong for all of that. Like the tip of his blade, or the power of her silent grace. Ordeals, demons and an early Autumn threaten to break them apart, yet their communion is a gifted one. The dreams may be foreboding, but the vision is real. And just wait until you see the commotion of New Year in all its fireworks, like Summer Hanabi festivals in Japan. Traitors, tricks, twists and turns will keep you guessing, all the way until the epic end which 'My Happy Marriage' kept us waiting for, twice over when you figure in the punctuated penultimate episode. It's all good though, like mono no aware of falling cherry blossom this Sakura season about to pass. Perhaps this has something to do with the recent rumours that anime artists are getting underpaid and overworked, like Marvel special effects teams. It's been time to do something about all that. They deserve so much more. As long as we get a third season like flowers in bloom again next year. For now, that's all distant snow like the pure white anime artwork of the final episodes, heading for home like the Hokkaido feel. 'My Happy Marriage' is something we all wish for and would never leave, for the rest of our lives. TIM DAVID HARVEY.
Further Filming: 'Ōoku: The Inner Chambers', 'Romeo x Juliet', 'Shōgun'.
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