Steel Angel Kurumi, Vol. 2: The Trouble with Angels (2002)
Review by Dindrane
Film:
DVD:

Original story by Kaishaku (Kadokawa Shoten "Monthly Ace Next")
Series Composition and Screenplay by Naruhisa Arakawa
Directed by Naohito Takahashi
Character Design and General Animation Direction by Yubiko Chiba
Music by Toshihiko Sahashi
Mecha Design by Takeshi Itoh
Art Direction by Ruby Halipoto

Features:

• Photo Shoot with Voice Actors
  
• Original Cover Artwork
  
• Original Manga Covers
  
• Original US Teaser
  
• Production Sketch Gallery
  
• Translator Notes
  
• Saki Fortune Teller .pdf file
  
• Extended Episode Previews
  
• English and Japanese audio
  
• English subtitles
  

Dindrane's Anime Warnings:

• boobies galore
• sisterly treachery
• inexplicable maid costumes

Rating: 17+

Anamorphic: N/A

My Advice: Buy it.

The Trouble with Angels picks up where An Angel on My Shoulder left off. Saki is now one of Kurumi's crew, but the Academy is still after her. The Academy has sent a deadly trio of other Angels after Kurumi and Saki.... will they be able to fight off three Angels at once? And who is this other solo blonde Angel? Where did she come from and why is she trying to kill Kurumi?

The plot of these episodes continues to be interesting and develops more into Taisho-period Japan. Kurumi and Saki are confronted with a few puzzles, and viewers thereby get to learn more about their respective personalities. There's more character interaction when the crew is stranded in a hot spring-inn for a while, including Saki's very non-sibling-like feelings for Kurumi. While the whole lesbian thing is getting a bit old at this point, it's not quite as out of place or gratuitous here as you might assume. Finally, a new Angel shows up, this time with a jury-rigged Mark II heart like Kurumi's--two Mark I hearts.

The audio and video quality of this disc is solid. The art is brilliantly clear and colorful, with little artifacting or cross-coloration. The sound is clear with a bit less of the screeching that made the first disc a wee bit irritating in places. The dialogue is very clear with no distortions or transfer problems.

The extras are, like the first disc, very good here. Along with several other tidbits, there's a lengthy bit from a photo shoot with the English voice actors, where they're dressed in yukatas and being posed symbolically according to the character relationships. It's filmed along with voice-overs by the photographer and the director. I'm not sure why it's supposed to be quite so fascinating, but hey, it's different, and represents a sincere effort on the part of the production company to provide something cool to viewers. There's also the second of the fortune tellers, like the Kurumi one from the first disc. The translator notes here are a bit less extensive than those on the first disc, but still worthwhile and educational. The gallery is again also rather nice.

Overall, The Trouble with Angels is a good continuation of the Steel Angel Kurumi storyline, and I look forward to the next volume. There's something here for most anime fans--action, comedy, humour, science fantasy, good art, even some fan service and romance. The whole maid thing fades to near non-existence, save for aspects of the costumes, and thankfully so. This is just a good series that keeps getting better, especially given how loaded the disc is with extras. All in all, a great buy.