Weiß Kreuz Glühen

Koua is an academy that brings Japanese's most talented people and students together. The mission is to train talented people to bear the world's future leadership. However, recently, the suicide rate in the academy is increasing and there is hardly any information being released to the public.

Fujimiya Aya is sent to infiltrate this school carrying out criminal investigation and disguise himself as a teacher. In fact, actually, there is a connection between Koua academy and the global terrorist activities that are frequently occur. Therefore Persia assigns Hidaka Ken and Kudou Youji as well into this mission to solve the truth and connection of the incident behind Koua academy.

(Source: AniDB)

Fujimiya, Ran Main

Koyasu, Takehito Japanese

Tsukiyono, Omi Main

Yuuki, Hiro Japanese

Kudou, Youji Main

Miki, Shinichiro Japanese

Hidaka, Ken Main

Seki, Tomokazu Japanese

Izumi, Sena Main

Yamaguchi, Kappei Japanese

Aguri, Kyou Main

Ogihara, Hideki Japanese

Schuldig Supporting

Midorikawa, Hikaru Japanese

Crawford, Brad Supporting

Okiayu, Ryoutarou Japanese

Naoe, Nagi Supporting

Sasaki, Nozomu Japanese

Kondou, Hikaru Producer

Matsui, Hitoyuki Director, Episode Director, Storyboard

Kishi, Seiji Episode Director

Kobayashi, Tomoki Episode Director

Reviews

Jul 18, 2018

an1mnte

Mixed Feelings

Gluhen’s first review, show Weiss Kreuz some love, people! Especially to the previous 25 episodes and OVA. This sequel Gluhen adapts the previous formula and works when you think of it as one long episode/mission spread over the 13 episodes here.

- Art: 6/10 - A marked upgrade from the previous season, with greater animation all round. There are character redesigns due to legal behind the scenes stuff, but it occurs a few years later so makes sense anyway with the updated appearances.

- Sound: 4/10 - Its fine on the grand scheme of things, Weiss Kreuz does has it’s own signature theme and music to enjoy. ...

- Characters: 5/10 - Love all the characters, but the score applies to the fact it focuses on the new ones, when I wanted to see the original members from the start, and have the new ones alongside them. Spending 25 episodes, OVA (also drama CDs and side stories, TV Tropes has the best chronology) with Weiss Kreuz is a very long time. Yes it makes sense to introduce new faces, the studio was likely thinking that it couldn’t do the same things forever, and could use this new season to mix things up, fair enough. But when Omi is in the background, and Ken and Youji appear about half way through the season, I would have preferred the focus on the four main guys we’ve gotten attached to as always. Having said that this is fine if we consider the whole of Gluhen as one extended episode as said above. For instance in the previous season, in one episode when the focus was on one cast member you wouldn’t see someone else for half the time, if that, so it’s fine.
The cast we've come to know and love, and the new people introduced shine best in later episodes when they're all present. Schwarz and the Crashers (from Aya’s backstory, before he joined Weiss) also appear, and everyone and the plot develop to culminate in some of the greatest episodes of the entire series.

- Story: 3/10 - No, didn’t want Omi placed in the background by being Persia, yes I wanted Ken and Youji right from the start, no, wasn’t fond of how after everything they’ve endured they continued to be emotionally drained (though understand this was done to generate drama, and it shows they’re not monsters, they’re bothered by what’s happened because they’re human, good save) but I understand why the creators changed direction. They were fazing them out so they could retire and live safely, but involve new members to keep the Weiss series going. Weiss was always about the four first and foremost, to be with Aya, Ken, Omi and Youji for so long, to have them move on to different lives, and then the story continues as if that’s ok, but it's not, it was always about them. Will have to pretend it ends like before with them together and taking out anything that gets in their way, an alternative and better happy ending. They didn’t need to get out safely, they needed to solve their issues by leaning on each other more, but it’s a drama thing, and a there, they're out safe and alive aren't you happy? So it’s understandable the story took the direction it did.

- Enjoyment: 10/10 - it’s a series that can chuck cat litter at me, I’d like it no matter what, no point in saying what’s good and bad just appreciate what’s been given, you only think that’s for series that impact you so guess this is one of them. And as stated, the final episodes are some of the best of the entire series. Even though it came out a while ago, newcomers can have a fond sense of nostalgia on the entire series, somehow, even if you’re not a part of that time period. Weiss is magic like that, it generates it's own unique feelings. Aside from the final plot points and people themselves, a best part is a reaffirmation of the ultimate trust and bonds the four members have with one another, the heart of the series.

- Overall a good 6/10 - On it’s own, and using this sites ratings system, Gluhen is a ‘fair’ anime. As a sequel to a quite precious series, it’s part of the treasure (if you modify the ending so they remain together, or take a break then come back together and pretend they’re in the discontinued Side B manga sequel to Gluhen, again, together) and so the 10/10 for personal enjoyment matters, especially for the entire series as a whole. It’s good the series got to continue, it was a Seiyuus project, I love it, and brings closure to an overarching threat for the entire series, at which point the team can finally find peace.
(Btw Aya doesn’t die, this series fully embraces the awful grisly ends for like everyone (they’re necessary evil assassins taking out greater evil) and they’ve all overcome worse than a simple knife wound multiple times. It ended with Aya alive, conscious and able to stay upright, no way ever a death scene).

Reviewer’s Rating: 6

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Apr 18, 2024

patkarunungan

Not Recommended

Spoiler

The original Weiß Kreuz was one of the anime I watched in childhood. It was not as good as I had remembered, but I still want to watch its sequel to see what it is all about.

Just like the OVA, it is serviceable to pass time (you might still want to watch it regardless of the bad things I say just because you're a fan of Weiß Kreuz). But it is unfortunate that it leaves a lot to be desired.

Firstly, the design. The creators had a falling out with the original character designer. That's why it's disorienting when you're used to the original. This ... one is significantly worse.

And since the design is different, it was hard to pick apart who is new and who is the old Weiß.

This design reinforces the feeling that this version of Weiß Kreuz is set in another dimension or at best a fan fiction, and we're not even talking about the inconsistencies.

In my review of the OVA, I complained that it didn't mention Aya-chan or Sakura. For the most part that is true, but Aya-chan appeared in the last episode. A little too late perhaps, but we don't have any clue what happened to Sakura.

Another aspect that might be disorienting is how the narrative is handled. In the original Weiß Kreuz, it was mostly episodic, then converges to a common enemy. Glühen, on the other hand, is one long mission.

I think Glühen's structure is better than the original as the initial episodes in the original Weiß Kreuz was boring. Despite that, the disorientation negates all that.

Prior to watching Glühen, I had this impression that the missions will be taken by a new Weiß team. Alas, there were only two new personnel shown: Kyo and Sena with Sena taking most of the screen time.

With only 12 episodes, the plot structure is better at the expense of the characters. **SPOILER ALERT!!!** When Kyo died, we don't really care about him. And Sena, who appears to be our main man, eventually died. (Why would you kill him? See my speculation later.)

While Sena was hogging so much air time and was like a more whiny version of Omi, I think this anime did not do a good job in making us care for him. What a shame!

So all in all, it all goes back to the original four members of Weiß.

In this anime, Omi has taken the role of Persia. Also, he has embraced his being a Takatori. So he is known publicly as Takatori Mamoru. He is also seen on numerous occasions talking to his grandfather.

I find it hard to believe how Omi's grandfather was written. I suspect when the first Weiß anime was crafted, the grandfather wasn't on anybody's mind.

But here we are with this grandpa character who actually told Mamoru that Reiji wasn't his real father but Shuuichi. Eventually, he left and didn't want to talk to Omi.

I wasn't satisfied with how they presented him. We were spared the details on how Omi met him and how he convinced Omi to come out as Mamoru.

Also, Schwarz reappeared but this time, they were allies. I don't know how that happened but this is disorienting. Also, it is interesting that one of the new characters look similar to the original design of Nagi Naoe. This can also add to the confusion.

Anyway, while they were able to finish the mission, it seems that Weiß Kreuz Glühen ended in tragedy.

1. Youji had an amnesia. Sure, he wanted to remove his memories, but it is no less tragic.

2. Ken, even though he is cheerful, voluntarily incarcerated himself.

3. Aya died, or it seems to likely despite some hoping that he did not die. He survived so much shit, gunfire, but his life ended when a kid who bumped him actually knifed him. Actually, he could've saved himself, but we were shown that he walked a great deal of distance for some hours before he gave up the ghost. Only someone suicidal would not scream for help.

4. My dear boy Omi, my favourite from the original anime, is starting to get corrupt. Remember that I complained that Kyo and Sena wasn't given enough moments for us to care about them?

Well, he was nonchalant that a certain batch of Weiß got killed. For him, these are only pawns. My complaint on the characterisation of Kyo and Sena might be deliberate to show that the sweet Omi we knew is no longer that same person. And this highlights the tragedy the story is trying to convey.

Overall, I cannot recommend anyone to watch this. It has aged far worse than the original anime.

Reviewer’s Rating: 4

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Nov 13, 2022 4:58 PM by Aiimee | Discuss (7 comments)

	Poll: Weiß Kreuz Glühen Episode 1 Discussion Antigone - Apr 23, 2011	2 replies	by patkarunungan »» Mar 1, 2:51 AM
	why does the op go so fucking hard KittyCatrina - Dec 22, 2022	2 replies	by KittyCatrina »» Dec 29, 2022 8:27 PM
	a new series? Kaio_ - Jul 18, 2008	2 replies	by Silver-Soul »» May 2, 2009 8:22 AM