Steel Angel Kurumi 2

The better part of a century after the events of Steel Angel Kurumi, a new generation of Steel Angels (and their masters) come into play. Nako Kagura, 14 years old and in the last year of middle school, is both a shrine maiden at the temple where she lives with her mother Misaki, and an aspiring cellist. Her best friend is Uruka Sumeragi, the rich girl who lives in the Big Fancy House next door, 15 years old and a high school student. Their relationship is complicated: although they have been friends since they were toddlers, Uruka has recently taken to inflicting casual minor cruelties on Nako. But this is a smokescreen of sorts, because Uruka is actually in love with the younger girl.

Before Uruka can even figure out how to express her feelings, though, Nako discovers and accidentally activates Kurumi Mark II, a new Steel Angel modeled after the original Kurumi. Kurumi II, like her predecessor, is uninhibitedly affectionate with her new master. This upsets Uruka, who sees Kurumi as usurping her rightful place at Nako's side. Uruka's billionaire father, who dotes on his daughter to a degree that would disgust Veruca Salt, offers his help -- first with giant robots airdropped on Kurumi, and later with Steel Angel Saki Mark II, whom Uruka activates with a kiss she imagines sharing with Nako. Although Saki II automatically falls for Uruka as part of her activation, it seems some of the Mark I version carried over to the new model -- the original Saki's devotion to Kurumi remains, and leaves Saki II hopelessly longing for two loves who pay no attention to her.

Things get even more complicated when the spiritual successors to Nakahito activate Karinka Mark II in an attempt to retrieve and "fix" the wayward Kurumi and Saki. But it backfires on them when Karinka discovers the extraordinary strength Kurumi derives from her relationship with Nako. Wanting the same power-up, Karinka abandons her mission and moves in with Nako, Misaki and Kurumi, and contests with the latter for Nako's attention.

Meanwhile, with Kurumi's encouragement, Nako has entered a cello competition. But when the others learn that the prize is a chance to study in Europe, will the enemies and rivals unite to destroy the dream of the one they all claim to love?

Made by the same creative team that produced the original Steel Angel Kurumi, and for the same anthology series, Steel Angel Kurumi 2 is shorter (only 12 fifteen-minute episodes) and has a much narrower focus. Although the great, far-future conflict that drives much of the first series is mentioned several times, the real core of the action here is the web of relationships formed between Nako, Uruka and the Steel Angels, and the comedy and drama that are born from it. As such, it might seem something of a letdown after the near-apocalyptic crisis and climax of the original series, but that's not a true failure -- just the result of an unwarranted comparison. Instead, consider it as something of a cross between a harem comedy and Project a Ko (to which it bears more than a passing semblance at times) and consider it on its own merits. If you do, you won't be disappointed.

Available in the United States via ADV Films and streamed online by Crunchyroll on their site.

This show provides examples of:

 * A Cup Angst: Uruka. Though not entirely flat-chested, she seems to show hostility toward both Saki & Kurumi for their more impressive busts.
 * All Love Is Unrequited
 * Anime Theme Song
 * Beach Episode
 * Big Fancy House
 * Catch Phrase (Nako: "This sucks!" in assorted variations)
 * Cipher Scything: The usual male lead character is outright replaced by a more marketable shy nerd girl in glasses but otherwise Kurumi does her usual fawning and cuddling.
 * Clingy Jealous Girl All three of Nako's Unwanted Harem, Uruka and Kurumi especially.
 * Coincidental Broadcast
 * Cross Popping Veins
 * Dead Pet Sketch (Nako's cello is broken)
 * The Ditz
 * Dojikko (Nako)
 * Even the Girls Want Her (Kurumi and Nako)
 * Face Fault
 * Facial Markings
 * Failure Is the Only Option (Uruka's plans only)
 * Fan Service
 * First Kiss
 * Flash Back
 * Flung Clothing
 * Furo Scene
 * Girls Love
 * Hard Work Montage
 * Honorifics
 * Hot Shounen Mom
 * Humongous Mecha
 * The Kid With the Remote Control
 * Knight Templar Parent (Uruka's father)
 * Les Yay (Nako indiscriminatingly receives the same kind of affection as the male lead in the previous series).
 * Love Dodecahedron
 * Love Makes You Crazy
 * Magical Girlfriend
 * Marshmallow Hell
 * Meganekko (Nako)
 * Oneesama In the first episode, Uruka demands Nako that she call her this.
 * Orbital Shot (Nako at the cello competition)
 * Ordinary High School Student (Nako)
 * Panty Shot
 * Post Kiss Catatonia
 * The Power of Love
 * Puppy Dog Eyes
 * Quivering Eyes
 * Rich Bitch (Uruka)
 * Robo Cam
 * Robot Girl
 * Roof Hopping
 * Schoolgirl Lesbians
 * Shout Out (to Project a Ko; also Karinka's hair style makes her a dead ringer for Cindy from The Brady Bunch)
 * Single Target Sexuality: Kurumi & Uruka are flagrant Nako-sexuals.
 * Sister-Sister Incest: On top of having a blatant crush on Uruka, Saki also has a crush on Kurumi.
 * Squeaky Eyes
 * Stock Footage
 * Super Deformed
 * Theme Tune Cameo (Mom is cooking and listening to the theme song on her walkman while Nako is screaming for help outside)
 * The Sweat Drop
 * Tsundere (Uruka. Hostile and taunting toward Nako in public, longing and wistful in private. She softens on Nako in the second half of the season.)
 * Undead Tax Exemption
 * The Woobie (Saki. Loves her master, unconditionally and would do anything to make her happy,  Despite that, she still gets a little less than the time of day from Uruka.
 * Unlucky Childhood Friend Uruka.
 * The Unwanted Harem (small, but present)
 * What Is This Thing You Call Love: