English Dub Review: Wind Breaker “Rage”

Overview (Spoilers Below):
Sakura is a high school delinquent who, as a member of Bofurin, has vowed to “protect this town.”

Our Take:
The white-knuckled, honorable students of Furin High School have returned, which is unsurprising given the first season’s cliffhanging conclusion.  Of course, there’s also the fact that I was left completely shocked at how surprisingly good Wind Breaker turned out in terms of its characters, plot, and animation by CloverWorks.  As a result, I am ecstatic to reunite with Sakura and his new butt-kicking allies, especially since they’re embarking on a new mission to rescue one of their own, Nagato.  Fortunately, the show understood the anticipation that the rest of its fans and I had for the new season, so much so that it didn’t waste any time jumping immediately into the action.
Utilizing its fast pacing and white-knuckled action, “Rage” propels the second season into high gear, kickstarting the unrelenting showdown that pits Bofurin against the aggressively brutal team known as KEEL.  Based on how savage the KEEL members are with their pipes and planks, they should’ve changed their team name to KILL because they fight dirty with those things.  Despite some of the CGI effects it used for specific scenes, the episode retained the show’s intensity and hard-heartedness of the action scenes through its choreography and riveting animation.  But, of course, it’s not just the punches and kicks that the episode offered, as it also took the time to further explore its characters without breaking up the pace.  One of them is Nirei, who’s still doubting his usefulness due to his lack of strength and fighting skills.  Despite that, he was able to hold his own, even if it was just for a small moment.  The other is Sakura, who’s learning to become a true captain by focusing on protecting his allies instead of setting his sights on KEEL’s leader, Shingo Natori, who’s suitably voiced by Alejandro Saab.  These two character arcs would likely serve a more significant role in the second season, especially Sakura, if Furin escapes the dilemma alive.
Based on my impressions of the previous season, I expected a lot out of this episode to start Furin’s return on a high note, and “Rage” did not disappoint.  The CGI effects can be a bit sluggish at times, but they’re far from a complete distraction due to CloverWorks’ animation style complementing the white-knuckled violence.  In short, “Rage” is a riveting, action-packed roller coaster that shows genuine promise of what’s to come for season two, especially Furin’s battle against KEEL.