Kami no Tou: Koubou-sen

Tower of God Season 2, overall, was a big oof.

To start, the story itself is absolutely fantastic, and the opening and ending music for both parts are awesome. I'd definitely recommend this series to anyone just for the story. However, where the season fails the most is in its pacing. While the animation could use some improvement, it’s the pacing that stands out as the biggest issue.

After watching this season, I revisited some earlier chapters of the manhwa and noticed how much better the pacing was compared to the anime adaptation. It feels like the creators tried to cram too much into each episode. Blink ... for even a second, and you might miss important details. This fast-paced approach undermines the storytelling and makes it harder to fully appreciate the narrative.

Despite these flaws, the story and music remain highlights of the season. That said, Season 2 desperately needs a redo to give the source material the justice it deserves. Of course we're probably not going to get one anytime soon, so hopefully they can at least fix season 3 in this case.

The Workshop Battle is one of the most iconic arcs in Tower of God and a fan-favorite for many who’ve followed the series. This arc serves as a culmination of everything that’s come before it, bringing together characters and storylines from Season 1 and the Return of the Prince arc while laying the groundwork for the explosive events to follow. However, while the anime adaptation delivers the key moments fans anticipated, its rushed pacing and lackluster animation leave much to be desired.

Plot: 7/10
The Workshop Battle arc is rich with intrigue, high-stakes competition, and significant character development. It successfully weaves together the disparate threads of the ... previous arcs, reuniting characters and heightening tensions as alliances are tested and secrets unveiled. The titular Workshop is a playground for innovation, betrayal, and competition, and the narrative expertly showcases the depth of Tower of God’s world-building. However, the pacing detracts from the experience. Critical moments feel glossed over, leaving newcomers to the series struggling to keep up with the dense story. For those familiar with the original webtoon, it’s evident how much nuance and context were sacrificed in the adaptation. The rushed storytelling undermines the emotional weight of several key moments, making the stakes feel less immediate than they should.

Animation: 6/10
The animation for this arc is serviceable but disappointing, especially considering the dynamic and visually striking battles depicted in the source material. Action sequences that should have been jaw-dropping fell short due to lackluster choreography and inconsistent quality. This is particularly noticeable in climactic moments where the animation should elevate the tension but instead feels flat and uninspired. While character designs remain faithful to the original, the overall visual presentation doesn’t do justice to the vibrant world of Tower of God. Backgrounds lack detail, and the fight scenes—pivotal to this arc—don’t have the impact they deserve. Fans of the series can only hope that future adaptations will receive the budget and attention necessary to bring this stunning world to life.

Characters: 7/10
Tower of God thrives on its diverse and memorable cast, and this arc is no exception. The dynamics between the characters are as engaging as ever, with their personalities and interactions adding depth and humor to the story. The betrayals, alliances, and rivalries that unfold in the Workshop Battle highlight the series' strength in crafting complex relationships. Unfortunately, the rushed pacing strikes again, as the nuanced character development that makes this cast so compelling is often overlooked. With such a large ensemble, it’s crucial for each character to have room to breathe and grow, but the anime doesn’t allow enough time for these relationships to flourish. The bonds and backstories that define these characters and their motivations are condensed, leaving viewers with a surface-level understanding of what makes them special.

Sound: 7/10
The sound design is competent, effectively setting the mood for dramatic confrontations and lighter moments alike. The OST does its job, blending seamlessly with the scenes to enhance the emotional impact. However, the OP and ED are a notable letdown. While Tower of God has had strong opening and ending themes in the past, this season’s offerings fail to capture the spirit of the story or leave a lasting impression. Compared to the memorable tracks that accompanied previous arcs, these feel underwhelming and out of place.

Enjoyment: 8/10
Despite its shortcomings, the Workshop Battle arc remains an enjoyable experience. For long-time fans, there’s an undeniable thrill in seeing such a pivotal arc brought to life, even if the execution isn’t perfect. The high-stakes battles, intricate character dynamics, and the sheer scope of the story make it a worthwhile watch. However, the flaws in animation and pacing may dampen the experience for those new to Tower of God. While the adaptation has its merits, it’s clear that the story deserves more time and care to fully realize its potential.

Final Thoughts
The Workshop Battle arc is a mixed bag. It succeeds in bringing the core elements of the story to the screen but falters in execution. For fans of Tower of God, this arc is a must-watch, if only to see beloved characters and moments in motion. However, the rushed pacing and lackluster animation make it hard to recommend as a standalone experience. There’s hope that future adaptations will learn from these shortcomings, giving this incredible series the treatment it deserves. But for now, the Workshop Battle arc is an enjoyable, if flawed, addition to the Tower of God anime.

Tower of God season 2 might be one of the most frustrating viewing experiences I've ever had.

Why? Because in just about every sense of the word, the show has been an apparent failure, and yet, underneath the sheer below-adequacy, you can tell there's a great story underneath, wanting to be told - bear in mind that I approach this review from the perspective of someone that has not (yet) read the source material.

There is more or less only one positive thing to mention about ToG's second season, so it makes sense to mention it first: the music. Kevin Penkin returns as composer, and does not ... disappoint. The ethereal and atmospheric soundtrack sets a great tone, and tries (but ultimately fails) its best to carry the show on its back.

Now, on to the negatives - where to begin...

The animation is horrendous and might as well have been put together in a high-school PowerPoint project - for a story that contains a lot of action, clearly this doesn't cut it. Pacing is absolutely dire, as a current ToG anime-only I spent a good portion of the time confused. Who are these new characters? What is this new crucial item/artifact? Why should I care? This is all accompanied by awfully wooden dialogue, which produces a truly bizarre result that somehow ends up being both too fast-paced to follow and depressingly boring at the same time.

Many people seem to think that changing studio killed this show, and after watching this, I find it difficult to disagree.

One final positive is that this experience may well push me to pick up the manhwa, so that I can enjoy the non-bastardised version of what appears to be a potentially great story, let down by a seemingly amateur studio.

Plot: 3
Characters: 3
Animation: 2
Soundtrack: 8
Enjoyment: 2