Castlevania: Nocturne’s New Season 2 Trailer Reminds Us Why It’s The Best Anime On Netflix

The second season of Castlevania: Nocturne drops on Netflix on January 16.

The latest preview is quite extraordinary. The entire series narrative revolves around a struggle between our protagonists and a Vampire Messiah along with her horde of monstrous allies. If the Lady of Slaughter triumphs, darkness will rule forever, allowing vampires to potentially take control of everything. Needless to say, this would be problematic for…humans.

Why You Should Watch Castlevania: Nocturne

In simpler terms, “Castlevania” used to be the standout, highly acclaimed animated series on Netflix, based on a well-known video game franchise. From 2017 to 2021, it was considered the best of Netflix’s original animation. However, when “Arcane” was released, everyone seemed to focus more on that new series, causing “Castlevania” to be overshadowed or somewhat forgotten.

Castlevania: Nocturne continues the storyline 300 years after its original, introducing fresh locations, eras, and characters. A new showrunner, Clive Bradley, has taken over from Warren Ellis, but one consistent factor remains – Powerhouse Animation.

One factor contributing to the immense popularity of Castlevania was its stunning visual appeal, a testament to the exceptional work by Powerhouse Animation. This animation studio has an uncanny ability to make every scene captivating and visually appealing, truly grasping the essence of what makes Castlevania stand out.

The quality of their art direction is so impressive that even if you were to silence the program, you would still find yourself captivated by the stunning visuals.

After that, the action unfolds! Goodness gracious, the action is intense. It’s as if Dragon Ball Z was reimagined by Stanley Kubrick. This brings to mind the evolution of the film industry and its “elevated horror” trend over the past 15 years. These films are more akin to art movies for film enthusiasts rather than traditional slasher flicks designed for high schoolers to shriek at.

Many anime episodes contain lengthy explanatory action scenes intended for viewers to grasp the events and their reasons. This approach frequently disrupts the story’s pace and tension. However, in the Castlevania series, the action is primarily focused on being aesthetically pleasing, but it also assumes that the audience can understand the sequence of events. Consequently, the action escalates consistently towards a climactic conclusion without frequently pausing for characters to clarify the situation.

As a gaming enthusiast, one factor that sets my favorite game studio, Powerhouse, apart could be due to their decision to unionize. In a recent chat, Brad Graeber, the boss man at Powerhouse, shed some light on this topic:

*Brad Graeber explained in an interview:* “By forming a union, we’ve been able to ensure fairer working conditions for our employees, which in turn leads to better games for our players.

At its core, Powerhouse – established by visionary animators with a passion for progress – has consistently prioritized its exceptional artistic workforce.

Should You Watch Castlevania before Nocturne?

It might be beneficial to check out the series “Castlevania” prior to watching “Nocturne.” While “Nocturne” can be enjoyed independently, it does touch upon significant aspects of the original series. However, if you choose not to watch it, it won’t hinder your understanding or enjoyment of “Nocturne.” If you find yourself in a situation where you want to only watch “Nocturne,” then by all means, go ahead and do so. You can always catch up on “Castlevania” at a later time.

Both shows get my highest recommendation.

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2025-01-14 02:38