Alternate titles: Magi
Manga Adaptation by A-1 Pictures
Simulcast on Crunchyroll

Premise: Aladdin, Alibaba and Morgiana return for further adventures in their fantasy Arabian Nights world

Zigg’s Verdict: Not the King Yet

I loved and will continue to love Magi, but this was a desperately poor opening episode that not only forgets the show has been off of our screen for months but also does a terrible job of restarting the plot. Bombastic flash-forward opening aside, there’s way too much talking and the new plots are not integrated well, instead just being dropped into the conversations in large chunks. Look at when Sinbad just sits Aladdin down and tells him to his face about the the two Magi, who were compelling mysteries for much of the original season. Likewise, the Magnostadt stuff is clumsily laid out with no foreshadowing or context, and am I the only one who finds it a bit odd Dunya is now an unquestioned ally when she was trying to kill everyone a few days ago? A-1 haven’t dug up much more of an animation budget in the meantime either and the show looks ropier than ever. There’s bound to be good stuff ahead but this was a disappointing kickoff.

Iro’s Verdict: Open Sesame

As the only one among the Glorio Crew who’s been keeping up with the actual Magi manga, I get to be hyped for more anime episodes and do my best to avoid spoiling everyone else. Yay! However, as Zigg mentioned, the season break was not forgiving to the show. It was necessary to let the manga get far enough ahead, but the episodes picks up right where things left off with only an in medias res sequence to “ease” us back in. I’m excited for more episodes, but I imagine those only watching the anime might find the progression of events somewhat jarring.

Lifesong’s Verdict: Heart Breaker

In a good way! Anyone who has talked to me about season one knows that I really didn’t like all the nonsense with Alibaba as the protagonist of this anime. That said, what I have always enjoyed about this series is Aladdin characters so it goes without saying that I’m happy to see the focus of the story returning to him. I’m a bit sad to see the trio split up again, but if that means Alibaba can’t hyjack the show again then I’m all for it.

It’s very sad to see Dunya brought back only to have her die. Couldn’t they use that healing dijin on her and make things all better? I guess not. I’m curious to see what all Aladdin goes through to make him into the pissed off badass we see in the first few minutes of the anime. I’m sure Dunya’s death has something to do it, but surely there is more to it than that, I can’t wait to see what that is.