Haha, I could tell it was a low-budget project when they drew an image and then started shaking it around instead of animating the scene. Well drawn, not as great as first season, but the bubbliness just kills it.

The first episode starts exactly like the third volume of the manga and it follows the manga pretty well. But on the other hand, the Kaleidoscope episode is still an introspective episode, an episode devoted to the relashonship between Henrietta and Josè.
But this second serie is devoted to full action and there was the need to add some to the generic kaleidoscope plot. So They invented the brand new Coliseum Strike scene ^^’

But the main event is and remains the Kaleidoscope. That episode shows another time how Henrietta may be a tough warrior, but’ she’s a child and her emotions are so pure and innocent.
She went on a errand and ends sneaking, like a real little sister, in the room of her big brother.
Here she notices a present she tought addressed to her, but the name on the plate isn’t her one.
She minsunderstands it all and feels betrayed.
How emotional is she, and certainly cute, but never moe!
This is not the moe stuff people are blabbering about. It has a deeep meaning. And that nice add on @ the Coliseum reminded us Gunslinger Girl is a dramatic thriller story, after all.

Gunslinger Girl has also been serialized in the monthly Seinen “Dengeki Daioh” manga magazine.

It was cute. Therefore it was funny. This is how the scene was supposed to be understood.

If the anime plot will continue following the manga plot we can expect some great stuff. With the lastest volumes the story moves from being carachter based and much focus is given to the poliitical events and the war with the Five Republics. The story develops further and it will become a full action anime. In other words the plot will develop those concepts that were left apart in the first season.

I would like to be enthusiastic of the graphics too, but unfortunately what i saw absolutely doesn’t compare with the last season. Well, Madhouse isn’t a top studio for nothing.
I praise Artland for not trying to mimic Madhouse style, thus giving their personal touch to Gunslinger Girl, but maybe they could have avoided some rough and cheap effect, expecially during the action scenes.
I am referring to those the still frames horribly shaken around to give the impression of the movement. Geez i hadn’t seen that stuff since the very old Star Trek Serie when they moved the camera around to simulate heartquakes and explosions on the Enterprise x.X
Let’s call it a nice retro style special effect. Yes it’s vintage for sure >..>

Last opinion about the music. Op and Ed seem nice to me, but i still have the older ones singing in my ears… they were so … perfect fit with the dark atmosphere of the anime Gunslinger Girl was.

I must take a new habit.

Yes, as a conclusion i must calm me down and reconsider everything of this serie. I am still so shocked from the changes. I’d better consider not the old one Gunslinger Girl. they simply don’t compare. This is a totally new anime and i must take it as it is >.

About the new Gunslinger Girl, I’m getting afraid. The chara-design is more colorful (I prefer the Madhouse version, more cynical, serious and depressive), and the synopsis seems to promise a thrilling story about terrorists and gunfights and conspiracies and gunfights… and gunfights… It’s not like it’s bad, actually, the only thing that the first season lacked was a more wrapped and fluid plot, but it’s just not Gunslinger Girl.

I seriously hope this doesn’t turn into a simple “killer lolis” series…