Devil Survivor 2 The Animation

When friends Kuze Hibiki and Shijima Daichi receive videos from a website called Nicaea showing how they will die in a train accident, they thought it was just a bad joke until they realized that the place looked familiar. Seconds after, the exact thing in the video happened. But both had survived, including schoolmate Nitta Io who was also at the station. More puzzling, monsters feasting on the dead began appearing. However, the trio were saved once again when the demon summoning app on their phones called a thing out of nowhere and helped them escape.

They thought they were safe but even after they reached the surface, strange accidents have been happening and even stranger creatures started appearing. Hibiki was forced to rely again on the demon summoning app to stop the attacks. This attracted the attention of a secret organization known as Japan Meteorological Agency, Geomagnetism Research Department or JP's. It appears that JP's has known all along that these attacks would happen. Its head, Houtsuin Yamato, forced the trio to help them defeat the Septentriones who are precursors to the end of the world. They only have one week to figure out how to save everyone, but Hibiki and Yamato seem to disagree on a lot of things.

Kuze Hibiki

Houtsuin Yamato

From left: Nitta Io, Hibiki and Shijima Daichi

I was hesitant about how another 13-episode series with an apocalypse theme would turn out but I'm glad it was slightly better than what I expected. It followed the usual formula of course: an unlikely hero hesitant to use the power he was predestined to have, an organization whose motives are questionable, and a character who might be an ally or foe. Hibiki is what you would expect of a lead character suddenly thrust into a big role with powers he does not fully understand. Ultimately, his love for friends became his motive to continue fighting despite disagreements with people who seem to know what would happen. His determination changed some expected outcomes. In some ways, Hibiki is admirable but he is what you would expect from a lead character. He does not offer surprises unlike the unpredictable Yamato.

I think they handled the ending pretty well. I've seen some series similar to this one and I think Devil Survivor 2 has done a better job. This is the type of series you wouldn't really consider as one of the best in its genre especially those with apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic themes but the ending has saved it. 

The action scenes are okay and the animation is good. Most of the characters are predictable in their decision-making but some are interesting enough to watch.

Rating: 6.5 out of 10