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*Slight Spoilers in the story segment, mostly ep5 spoilers and ep10 details*

Candy is an amazing and wonderful thing. It's cheat, it's sweet, and enjoyable. However, too much candy ends up making you feel bad, so it's always recommended to eat them in small doses and not to overdo it.

I've been a fan of the Dagashi Kashi manga since 2015 so I was extremely happy to hear it get an adaption in 2016. I thought it was a good adaption, but the biggest problem was that it was kind of....long. The manga was fun to read in its 8 pages at your own pace, but ... when you make an episode 24 minutes long, it can kind of start feel like a chore to watch, and you're watching an anime all the way because YOU want to, otherwise why would you even put up with it?

Dagashi Kashi 2 fixes that problem by being around 10 minutes long. By feeding the audience in small doses, it's much more enjoyable and it makes you crave for more after one is done. You don't stuff your mouth with the entire bag of skittles, you grab them in handfuls.

Story & Characters:

Onto the actual show, it's formula from the prior season doesn't change too drastically. It continues to revolve around the antics of Kokonotsu "Coconuts" Shikada and Hotaru Shidare and her quest to make Kokonotsu run his father's candy store. This changes by the time Hotaru, the driving force of the series, magically disappears for months in the story's time. Here, we are introduced to 2 new characters, Hajime Owari, a part timer for the candy store, and Beniyutaka Shidare, the owner of a convenience store across the river in front of the candy shop. They're both welcome additions to the series as they make the cast feel more bigger without feeling bloated and it feels like the small world of dagashi kashi has a lot going on.

Unlike previous chapters/ season 1, this is the point where we see some character development and some changes in Kokonutsu's life. Between Hotaru disappearing without a word, Kokonutsu trying fix up the Candy Shop and him taking his dream of being a mangaka more serious, there's alot of small twists to the regular formula so it doesn't feel like we're getting more of the same thing without it becoming too stale. The cast genuinely care for one another and it really shows in the much more serious moments. They aren't deep or complex but they feel like good characters.

Art:
Not much to really say here but it's fine. A lot of people seemed to have been iffy about the slightly different art style from S1 to S2 which might have been a result in a budget cut but I think the slightly darker feel fits the series just fine. No complaints.

Sound:
Mostly just reusing the same soundtrack from S1, it's alright. The seiyuu's do a great job at making their characters feel like themselves and it was nice to hear Sugita Tomokazu as the convenience store owner because he totally captures the energy that character gives whenever he's on screen. Personally I never really cared about S2s OP or ED. I think S1 had it beat. Calorie Queen is still stuck in my head.

Enjoyment:
Yeah, it's very enjoyable, especially if you already liked season 1. S2 does things kind of different while still being dagashi kashi at heart so ultimately if you were hoping that it spices things up, I think you won't be too disappointed.

Overall, I feel like S2 is a step up from S1 in every way. Although I wouldn't rule out a Season 3, I do think most people should continue reading the manga especially since, as of typing, the manga is set to end and Kotoyama has confirmed he's finished drawing the finale of the series. It feels like the fun characters weren't the only thing that carried the show and that's enough to make me feel satisfied.