Kantai Collection (TV series)
Kantai Collection, known as KanColle for short, is a 2015 Japanese anime television series produced by Diomedéa, based on the game of the same name by Kadokawa Games. The series was announced in September 2013, and aired from January to March 2015. An animated film, titled KanColle: The Movie, was released on November 26, 2016.
A second installment titled KanColle: Someday in that Sea by ENGI aired from November 2022 to March 2023. The stories of the first and second animes are not connected and are separate works, not being set in the same universe and timeline.
Plot
In a world where humanity faces the threat of the abyssal fleet which has taken over the seas, special human girls who don weaponized outfits and possess the spirit of historical naval vessels known as kanmusu are the only ones capable of countering them. The kanmusu live together at a naval base, where they spend their everyday lives as they begin training for battle.1st anime
The series features the destroyer [Japanese destroyer Japanese destroyer Fubuki (1927)|Fubuki (1927)|Fubuki] as the main character, with the storyline based on her point of view. Fubuki arrives at the naval base, where she meets other girls that she will eventually fight alongside. Despite lacking adequate combat training, she is recommended into the Third Torpedo Squadron by the admiral, and quickly finds herself sortied into battle. Upon being rescued by Akagi in a dangerous situation, Fubuki strives to do her best in order to train, with the hopes of eventually being able to fight alongside Akagi.Film
The film follows the development of the 1st anime, keeping the main cast with some new additions. Kisaragi plays here a more prominent role, and the movie also introduces another element from the game, a "Dark Portal".2nd anime
In the second anime, the series shifted its spotlight to Shiratsuyu-class destroyer [Japanese destroyer Japanese destroyer Shigure (1935)|Shigure (1935)|Shigure], with the storyline being loosely based on the final two years of the Pacific War. As the Abyssal Fleet encroaches on Leyte Gulf, Shigure, along with a few other kanmusu, are assigned to the First Striking Force, Third Section, which serves as a diversionary fleet. Even if the mission is going to be suicidal, Shigure refuses to let the enemy take another comrade from her.Characters
Characters (1st anime)
Destroyers (1st anime)
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Aircraft carriers (1st anime)
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Heavy cruisers (1st anime)
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Light cruisers (1st anime)
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Characters (2nd anime)
Here is the list of all ships featured in the second anime. Ship girls have personalities identical to the game and the first anime, with more development around the main cast. In addition, the Admiral is no longer an ambiguous figure, being clearly defined as a character, being voiced by Ken Narita.Broadcast and distribution
The series is directed by Keizō Kusakawa, with the script written by Jukki Hanada, and features the voice cast from the original game. The show's premiere screening event took place at Shinjuku Piccadilly on December 27, 2014. The 12-episode series aired in Japan between January 8 and March 26, 2015 and was simulcast by Crunchyroll. The first Blu-ray and DVD compilation volumes were released on March 27, 2015. Funimation released the series in North America, on behalf of Crunchyroll. Madman Entertainment licensed the series in Australia and New Zealand. The opening theme song is performed by Akino from bless4, and the ending theme is by Shiena Nishizawa.On January 4, 2019, it was announced that a new anime television series is in production. ENGI will animate the new anime, with Ultra Super Pictures handling production. The anime, subtitled Someday in that Sea, is directed by Kazuya Miura, with scripts written by Kensuke Tanaka, the game's original writer, character designs handled by Chika Nomi, and music composed by Kaori Ohkoshi. It aired from November 4, 2022, to March 25, 2023, and ran for eight episodes.
Reception
The first volume of the anime ranked second place within Oricon's weekly anime Blu-ray sales charts during its first week of release, selling 16,789 units and trailing behind the limited edition Blu-ray boxset of Fate/stay night: Unlimited Blade Works; the same volume also placed third within the anime DVD sales charts, with 3,184 units sold.Jonathan Gad of Vice said that the Kantai Collection anime television series is historically revisionist, criticising the show's depiction of the Japanese protagonists being victorious in the Battle of Midway.
Timothy Blake Donohoo of Comic Book Resources said that despite the series being historically revisionist, it is the historical World War II aspect of Kantai Collection that is likely the main draw for its fans.