Full Metal Panic! The Second Raid

After overcoming various tumultuous events, mercenary sergeant Sousuke Sagara of Mithril and "Whispered" school girl Kaname Chidori return to their normal high school lives. Sousuke continues his efforts to assimilate with the civilian population and manage his mission at the same time, while Kaname attempts to support his endeavors (even though his antics often drive her up a wall).

However, as their lives calm, new problems begin to appear. The appearance of an independent terrorist organization known as Amalgam and internal conflicts within Mithril threaten to wreak unity into a series of failures and betrayals. And new, powerful Arm Slave models only worsen the situation when the world's peace is at stake.

As Kaname and Sousuke face their own inner battles amidst life-threatening fights, will they be able to make the right choices and change their future?

[Written by MAL Rewrite]

Sagara, Sousuke Main

Seki, Tomokazu Japanese

Chidori, Kaname Main

Yukino, Satsuki Japanese

Testarossa, Teletha Main

Yukana Japanese

Mao, Melissa Supporting

Neya, Michiko Japanese

Weber, Kurz Supporting

Miki, Shinichiro Japanese

Gauron Supporting

Tanaka, Masahiko Japanese

Kalinin, Andrei Sergeivich Supporting

Ootsuka, Akio Japanese

Gates Supporting

Ootsuka, Houchuu Japanese

Wraith Supporting

Ohara, Sayaka Japanese

Testarossa, Leonard Supporting

Namikawa, Daisuke Japanese

Hatta, Youko Producer, 2nd Key Animation

Takechi, Tsuneo Producer

Kitaura, Hiroyuki Producer

Suzuki, Tomoko Producer

Reviews

Jan 2, 2026

Marco_Yooo

Recommended

THIS IS A SPOILER-FREE REVIEW

Full Metal Panic is a classic mix of mecha, military, comedy and romance. The original series managed to mix all of these genres wonderfully, making for a mildly entertaining show with potential. A few years later, after a big studio change and a wild comedy spin-off, the show returned with a completely new vibe. As a big fan of Kyoto Animation, this was one of their shows that I was the most eager to watch for a long time, as it is constantly praised for being a huge step up from it´s predecessor. But does this fun little show manage to ... truly exceed expectations?

Story – 8/10

After the first season relied on it´s big genre variety, ranging from fun little comedy episodes to full-on military war-arcs, the studio shifted and Kyoto Animation released the comedy spin-off “Full Metal Panic Fumoffu!”, which was a nice change of pace for the series. But “The Second Raid” flips the complete script on it´s head. This is a full on character drama with higher tension, higher stakes, formidable villains and interesting military politics. It really feels like the vibe of the franchise changed completely. The action spans across Japan, Italy and, most prominently, Hong Kong. Kyoto Animation slowed down the pace considerably, which helps the story so much. I absolutely loved the amazing setting of the second arc, the fights as a whole where much better than in season one. Mithril itself, which used to be just a simple depiction of a heroic mercenary group, now contains a huge political divide, different interest groups inside the organisation and a much realer feel to their whole structure. There are still some comedic elements, especially in the first few episodes and the Sicily arc, but the show feels just so much more mature than before. I expected something like that before watching it, but i did not think it would be this extreme. This turned into one of my favourite mecha shows really quickly!
The only real downsides were the lack of one clear antagonist (the show juggles a bit to much at once in this department) and there are also some key information to Amalgams Hierarchy that were missing to get the full picture. I also think the pacing during the final episodes slowed down a biiiit to much – more on that later in the character analysis.

Art – 9/10

What began with a huge step up in animation during the run of “Fumoffu!”, evolved into an absolute Kyoto Animation masterclass in this season. They just do not miss when it comes to this category. The character designs from the original have been kept intact, but everything else got a huge make up: Interesting backgrounds, amazing lighting (This was 2005!!) and absolutely perfectly animated Mecha. Especially nowadays, with all the CGI in the genre, you really appreciate fully hand-drawn mecha more and more. They just have a certain weight to them that just can´t be replicated with CG. The show can feel a little bit light on action in some episodes, but that just makes the scenes we get that much more potent. Guns, Swords, Bare Hands: Everything is handled with a lot of care. I think it speaks for the studio if they can do this well with a show that does NOT fit their specialized genre at all (“Kyoukai no Kanata” is the only other notable action show in their repertoire). Cinema.

Sound – 7/10

The Openings were solid as always (they brought Mikuni Shimokawa back for the theme song performance), but i think they are not quite as iconic as the first one or even the “Fumoffu!” OP. The BGM was the real standout here: Especially during the arc that focused on Kaname, the music is used to create a really eerie atmosphere, almost like a horror anime. It really sold the more serious direction this season decided to take. I love the voice actors (Especially Mao´s!) and I hope they will all return in the next season even though a lot of time has passed between the two.

Characters – 9/10

Absolute standout category in this season! Every single main character gets a huge chunk of development.
Sosuke Sagara, our protagonist, completely turns from a nonchalant soldier to a true character. There are a lot of big obstacles for him to overcome this season, obstacles, that really put his beliefs in Mithril, the Arbalest and his whole life up to that point to the test. A lot of his story arc was clearly inspired from the classic “Neon Genesis Evangelion” (what Mecha show isn´t?), but the show managed to put a whole different spin on it. He really needs to figure out who he wants to be, what he values, and who he wants to protect.
Kaname Chidori, who was just your average 2000s´ tsundere girly in season one, gets a lot of screen time alone this season and it was fantastic. I think this is really the part of the story where her character really starts to stand on it´s own. Her relationship with Sosuke is the central theme of this story, and you can absolutely see Kyoto Animation playing to their strenghts (Which has always been Drama). Great stuff.
The same goes for Tessa Testarossa, whose position as Captain of the Tuatha de Danaan gets continuously challenged this season, both from political rivals as well as her own subordinates. We get some interesting lore on Melissa Mao sprinkled throughout the season, and her bromance with Kurz is still entertaining as hell. There was also a really cool new character introduced, that completely changed the whole dynamic of the crew.
The villains were much more interesting this season. Aside from Gates, (who was just an absolute lunatic who should not ever be near a mech) i thought our main villains, the Xia Sisters, were fantastic. They really pose a threat to our heroes and carry a lot of the exciting action throughout the show. Everyone else was solid, but like i said, i think the show would have improved if they focused on one single villain.
Generally, this was a great category, but not perfect. In the second half of the show, the pacing slows down considerably, and we really focus down on Sosuke. These parts were not bad, but I think it was a little bit tooo edgy, the show did not really need alcohol or prostitues to show how far Sosuke has declined. Other than that, fantastic work.

Enjoyment – 8/10

This was amazing. The franchise changed a lot during it´s different iterations but I think this right here may be the right direction for the show in the future. I will of course read (and review!) the manga very soon. If you like your Mecha, i think this is a must-watch show. If not, watch the first season: If you like it, it´s only getting better from there on.

- Marco_Yooo

FINAL SCORE - 8/10

Reviewer’s Rating: 8

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Oct 9, 2025

colelouch

Recommended

I was initially curious about how The Second Raid could improve on the lighthearted, hilarious fun of Fumoffu, but it really does succeed. It’s difficult to pinpoint exactly what makes it so highly regarded, but the vibe and aesthetic feel distinctly different. Even the opening alone shows how much effort KyoAni put into making it stand out from other mecha series. The Hong Kong-inspired atmosphere, in particular, gives it a unique flavor.

The story picks up right after season 1 and Fumoffu, with Chidori and Sousuke, now placed in a broader world with higher stakes. Both face challenges that are not only physical but also deeply ... psychological. One of my main criticisms of season 1 was the weak villains, and The Second Raid solves this problem perfectly. The antagonists are more dangerous, unpredictable, and eccentric. The twin sisters, while their twist is fairly obvious, serve as a what if “Sousuke gone wrong”, highlighting how trauma, abuse, and blind loyalty can twist lives beyond repair.

Sousuke’s personal struggles also feel more meaningful this time. Admittedly, his angst lasts longer than necessary and resolves a bit too easily, but the buildup and circumstances make sense. His relationship with Chidori and his background naturally push them both toward tough, believable choices. Other characters also shine under pressure: Tessa, Mao, and Kurz each get their own standout moments. The arcs here feel tenser and more mature compared to the first season.

The Hong Kong arc, in particular, is unforgettable. Something is striking about giant robots fighting through quarantined city streets. Unlike many mecha shows that have stages just for battles, here the setting makes everything feel grounded and real.

Once again, Chidori stands out. I’ve never understood the criticism she gets. Watching her evolve from an upbeat, energetic girl to someone wrestling with paranoia and despair, then finding creative ways to overcome her challenges, is both brilliant and empowering. Her scene in the rain remains etched in my memory.

Overall, The Second Raid delivers one powerful and memorable moment after another. While some character decisions and mental states can be frustrating at times, the show distinguishes itself with its uniqueness, creative battles, and distinctive aesthetic. Intentionally or not, it’s one of the best mecha anime I’ve seen.

Reviewer’s Rating: 7

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Mar 3, 2017

LaLeLuLiLo

Mixed Feelings

story- in a sense it's the opposite of Fomoffu. while fomoffu is more focused on the school comedy side; second raid is more focused on the action, mech, and drama side. the story for this season is that a certain organization is arming militants with highg grade weapons as well causing trouble on their own. at the same time Sagara sosuke has been ordered to stop protecting Chidori and return back to service, as a new observer named WRAITH will now be watching over her.
The show can be cut into two parts of before he is to resign as Chidori's bodyguard, and after. the first ... half is similar to the first season of FMP with keeping it's school comedy (too a lesser degree), and the action parts that have gotten more screen time. it mostly focuses on how sagara is juggling his military life and his civilian life as he can't be there for her all the time. not to mention the fact the an organization with high grade mechs is causing trouble. there is big problem in the show about location consistency as people are able to appear and disappear from locations at the drop of a hat making many things to convenient in terms of story.
the second half of the show is after Sagara resigned as Chidori's bodyguard. along with this the angst and drama of the show shot up to the Nth level. with Sagara having to deal with the fact of leaving Chidori, and Chidori being with out Sagara. Sagara also feels lost on what to do if it comes to following orders, or being with Chidori. by the end of the story the person pulling the stings is found with a plan that is very unlikely to be possible but still happens anyway. Sagara lamba drives his way through his enemies in a spectacular manner, and things go back to the way they used to.
the show did improve in many aspects than its predecessor. it had a much better atmosphere, it was more sharper and better with its shifts in tone, and surprisingly more violent which is good for what it's going for. however the contrivances still remain the same as many things feel so forced for the sake of things to happen, and for the most impossible of things to happen so perfectly.
5/10
characters- the main characters are still the same as always but do develop a little through the story. from Sagara going from some one uncertain of what to do with himself to at the end be able to be confident of what he wants to do. for Chidori....i don't really know honestly. several notable characters introduced are wraith a person who we are first hearing of but has always been there since season 1. a person who calls Sagara a hypocrite for not doing his job well, but when he now doing it alone is easily caught. the antagonists of the season aren't really that much as we go from bland to annoying and emotionless which although unpleasant is still an improvement even though not a good one.
5/10
Animation there is still those damn CGI helicopers and sub. other than that it was still well polished and done, the action and death looked cool. the character still looked nice and so on as before
7/10
sound- decent as previous season but not much else
6/10
enjoyment- it was pretty ok; had it's problems but the action was good enough
6/10
overall- it's story and character are fairly average . the animation still looks nice and the sound is decent
6/10

the entire series as a whole is pretty mediocre. having a not so impressive start only for another studio to improve on it. now the series i believe is being handed to another studio and the series can change for better or for worse.

Reviewer’s Rating: 6

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