English Dub Review: Wistoria: Wand and Sword “Barrier Day”

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Overview (Spoilers Below):

Two months after the all-student praxis, Will and the rest of the sixth-years face their written exams with their ascension to the tower on the line, but Edward’s final question shocks everyone.  Meanwhile, in Urbus Rigarden, the new year’s celebration, Terminalia, begins.  Crowds watch as the Magia Vander lay out a new Great Barrier.  Then, a disturbing magic circle appears in the night sky.

Our Take:

Will Serfort went through hell and back to survive the all-student praxis back in season one.  Now, the long-awaited second season of Wistoria has him facing another grueling challenge in his quest to prove that swords are as powerful as magic: the written exams.  Regarding anime featuring magic-less protagonists, Wistoria: Wand and Sword joins alongside Little Witch Academia as some of the surprisingly enjoyable shows I’ve experienced.  From its presentation to Will’s engaging arc, the anime delivered an entertaining take on the magic school narrative, with an underdog story that highlights Will’s determination for equality.  

With the release of season two, it begs the question of whether it retains the pros seen in season one in terms of stakes and character development.  Given the events happening in the season two premiere, I have a gut feeling that it has a chance to do so.  Unsurprisingly, Edward is still a jerk for making Will fail the final exam, but that’s the least of our concerns, thanks to the surprise monster attack.  Talk about a boatload of karma for this so-called “professor”.  From a technical standpoint, the animation from Actas and Bandai Namco Pictures remains dazzling not just in the brief action but also in the art design and framework.  With the monster invasion set to rattle people’s new year in next week’s episode, I do not doubt that the presentation will continue to impress me, as well as Will’s unexpected scenario. 

About Marcus Gibson

I'm a recent writer for BubbleBlabber who has an extraordinary passion for films and television, especially from the animation genre. I also spent plenty of hours playing video games, most notably from the Kingdom Hearts franchise. My goal is to provide the most friendly and entertaining reviews on the planet. Whenever something might be good or not, I always remain optimistic and curious about a specific concept from a film or television show.