Wagnaria!!3 Vol. 2 (a J!-ENT Anime on Blu-ray Disc Review)

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“Wagnaria!!3” is delightful and fun! For anime fans looking for a slice-of-life anime series with a lot of comedy and quirky characters, will surely enjoy this third season as characters finally take their feelings for other characters to the next level. Recommended! Recommended!

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Image courtesy of © Karino Takatsu/SQUARE ENIX, “WANGARIA!!3” Project. All Rights Reserved.


TITLE: Wagnaria!!3 Vol. 2

ORIGINAL AIR DATE: 2015

DURATION: Episode 8-14 (42-48) (190 Minutes)

BLU-RAY INFORMATION: 1080p High Definition, Japanese Linear PCM Stereo, Subtitles: English

COMPANY: Aniplex

RATED: Suggested 13 and Up

Release Date: August 30, 2016


Originally created by Karino Takatsu

Directed by Yumi Kamakura

Series Composition by Takao Yoshioka

Music by monaca

Character Design by Shingo Adachi

Animation Director: Shingo Adachi

Anime Production: A-1 Pictures


Featuring the following voice talent:

Jun Fukuyama as Sōta Takanashi

Kana Asumi as Popura Taneshima

Saki Fujita as Mahiru Inami

Ai Orikasa as Shizuka Takanashi

Akiko Kawase as Maya Matsumoto

Daisuke Ono as Jun Satō

Eri Kitamura as Yachiyo Todoroki

Haruka Tomatsu as Mitsuki Mashiba

Hiroshi Kamiya as Hirōmi Sōma

Jouji Nakata as Hyōgo Otoo

Koji Yusa as Tōru Minegishi

Kumiko Watanabe as Kyōko Shirafuji

Momoko Saito as Nazuna Takanashi

Ryoko Shiraishi as Kazue Takanashi

Ryou Hirohashi as Aoi Yamada

Satoshi Hino as Kirio Yamada

Shizuka Itou as Kozue Takanashi

Yōko Hikasa as Izumi Takanashi

Yūichi Nakamura as Yōhei Mashiba


Sota Takanashi, who loves all things small, one day got invited to work at the family restaurant WAGNARIA by Popura Taneshima, an upperclassman at school. There, he discovered all kinds of eccentric characters that turned his working experience into something unexpected. What kind of dangerous comedy awaits Sota and his coworkers at WAGNARIA today?

On his day off, Sota receives a call from someone called “Minegishi.” Claiming to be under the order of Sota’s mom, “Minegishi” is snooping around for information. Back at WAGNARIA, Sato finally musters up the courage to ask Yachiyo out on a date, but Yachiyo starts acting weird after that. Meanwhile, Sota and Mahiru’s relationship is at an awkward stage after Sota said something. Seeing this happening, Sota’s sister Izumi decides to do something about it. And finally, Yamada reveals the truth about her running away…


For “Wagnaria!!” fans, many have wondered when Jun would finally confess his feelings to Yachiyo.  And when Sota would finally confess his true feelings to Mahiru.

Find out what happens in “Wagnaria!! 3” vol. 2!

What is “Wagnaria!!” about?

In 2005, mangaka Karino Takatsu wrote and illustrated a Japanese four-panel comic strip manga series known as “Working!!” (a.k.a. “Wagnaria!!”).

Serialized in Square Enix’s Young Gangan magazine from 2005-2014, a total of three anime seasons were created in 2010, 2011 and in 2015.

While the first two seasons were released by NIS America, the third season “Wagnaria!!3” was released on Blu-ray courtesy of Aniplex of America.

“Wagnaria!!3” is a series about a group of people who work in the family restaurant, “Wagnaria”.

The characters are:

  • Sota Takanashi – The main character, a 16-year-old high school student who was recruited to work for the restaurant by Popura. He lives with his four sisters (three older and one younger). And because his older sisters have mistreated him, he has a dislike towards older women.  His mother also had him dress like a girl (never bought him boys clothes) and makes him do it and because he crossdresses, his female persona is Kotori.
  • Popura Taneshima – A 17-year-old student who is short and can be clumsy at times.
  • Mahiru Inami – A 17-year-old who works at Wagnaria and has a fear of men (androphobia). She tends to punch any male that comes near her. She has a crush on Sota.
  • Kyoko Shirafuji – The manager of Wagnaria and dependent on her workers, as she is apathetic to it and doesn’t really know how to run it. Nor does she put any work to it.
  • Yachiyo Todoroki – The 20-year-old chief of staff of Wagnaria. She is often seen carrying a katana. She works closely with Jun, unaware that he has a crush on her.
  • Jun Sato – Jun is a chef at Wagnaria and is deeply in love with Yachiyo but not good at expressing his emotions, as he is rather stoic.
  • Hiroomi Soma – Another chef at the restaurant who is easygoing. He often blackmails his fellow co-workers in doing jobs for him.
  • Aoi Yamada – A 16-year-old who is training at the restaurant and often gets in trouble.
  • Hyogo Otoo – The owner of Wagnaria.
  • Maya Matsumoto – An 18-year-old who has a hard time understanding her co-workers.
  • Nazuna Takanishi – Sota’s younger sister. She is volunteering at the restaurant.
  • Kirio Yamada – Aoi’s older brother who has been looking for her. He has a crush on Mahiru.

VIDEO:

“Wagnaria!!3” is presented in 1080p High Definition. animation is good, slightly soft was one can expect form a TV series but a colorful anime series that compliments the manga series. Cut scenes are well-detailed and emotion is well-captured and scenes are well-acted.

AUDIO & SUBTITLES:

“Wagnaria!!3” is presented in Japanese Linear PCM Stereo. Dialogue is crystal clear and the voice acting is well-done. It’s important to emphasize that there is no English dub included.

Subtitles are in English.

SPECIAL FEATURES:

“Wagnaria!!3” comes with the final special 14th episode.

EXTRAS:

“Wagnaria!!3″ comes with four collectible illustration postcards, a slipcase featuring illustrations by Shingo Adachi and a clear case with 2-sided covers.


For those who like slice of life anime series, will no doubt enjoy “Wagnaria!!3”, a character driven series about a group of people working for a family restaurant.

In season three, characters take the next step in hopes to have relationships with the girls they like.

Jun who has been in love with Yachiyo, decides to ask her out and finally confess his feelings to her. But each time, he made it sound like a joke.  But this time, he really wants Yachiyo to have a relationship with him.  Will he finally confess his true feelings to her?

Meanwhile, Sota and Mahiru seem to have this tension as both like each other but they are not sure about their emotions and how to express them.  But when Sota starts to discover these emotions of love towards Mahiru, his mother comes back in town and once again forces him to dress like a girl.

As for Popura, is she getting shorter?  And why is Kozue feeling lonely?

For the most part, the anime series is fun and entertaining. It’s a slice of life anime series that revolve around the employees at the Wagnaria family restaurant. And the fun hijinks continues, but now we start to see more development with various relationships.

As for the Blu-ray release, animation is good, slightly soft was one can expect form a TV series but a colorful anime series that compliments the manga series. Cut scenes are well-detailed and emotion is well-captured and scenes are well-acted. Lossless audio is primarily Japanese Linear PCM Stereo with no English dub included. Unfortunately, there are no special features.

But being an Aniplex release, you are definitely going to get some swag with this latest release.  You get four collectible illustration postcards, a slipcase featuring illustrations by Shingo Adachi and a clear case with 2-sided covers.

As for the second half of the series, “Wagnaria!!3” finally achieves two major relationships that many fans have wanted to see happen.  And for those who have rooted for Sota and Mahiru and also for Jun and Yachiyo, these final episodes of the third season will no doubt entertain you.

Overall, “Wagnaria!!3” is delightful and fun! For anime fans looking for a slice-of-life anime series with a lot of comedy and quirky characters, will surely enjoy this third season as characters finally take their feelings for other characters to the next level. Recommended!

Purchase from RightStuf