Date A Live II: Kurumi Star Festival

  • Genres: ["Romance"]
  • Type: OVA
  • Status: Finished Airing
  • Year:

Summary: On the day of the Tanabata festival, Shidou Itsuka happens to meet the eerie Kurumi Tokisaki, who proceeds to ask him out on a date. Although nervous, Shidou accepts the offer. The two spend their time visiting to a planetarium, buying food at the festival, and trying out a mock wedding ceremony. Meanwhile, Shirou's friends—Tooka Yatogami, Yoshino, and Kotori Itsuka—are looking for him, while also enjoying the festival themselves.

As Shidou spends the day with Kurumi, he begins to notice an unexpected softer side of her. He knows that Kurumi is infamously called the "Worst Spirit," but the girl standing before him is a gentle soul. However, as the day draws to a close, Shirou finally begins to understand the truth behind it all.

[Written by MAL Rewrite]


Description

On the day of the Tanabata festival, Shidou Itsuka happens to meet the eerie Kurumi Tokisaki, who proceeds to ask him out on a date. Although nervous, Shidou accepts the offer. The two spend their time visiting to a planetarium, buying food at the festival, and trying out a mock wedding ceremony. Meanwhile, Shirou's friends—Tooka Yatogami, Yoshino, and Kotori Itsuka—are looking for him, while also enjoying the festival themselves.

As Shidou spends the day with Kurumi, he begins to notice an unexpected softer side of her. He knows that Kurumi is infamously called the "Worst Spirit," but the girl standing before him is a gentle soul. However, as the day draws to a close, Shirou finally begins to understand the truth behind it all.

[Written by MAL Rewrite]


Date A Live II: Kurumi Star Festival Pictures


Date A Live II: Kurumi Star Festival Review

Date A Live II: Kurumi Star Festival — On the day of the Tanabata festival, Shidou Itsuka happens to meet the eerie Kurumi Tokisaki, who proceeds to ask him out on a date. This overview is intentionally spoiler-free and focuses on tone and intent rather than plot specifics.

Thematically, It sits firmly within Romance conventions as a OVA work and has garnered attention (MAL score: 7.9). This work explores character dynamics, tonal shifts, and the interplay between narrative ambition and execution. The story's pacing and tonal choices are crafted to complement the central ideas, often emphasizing atmosphere and emotional truth over explicit exposition. The show's ability to evoke a consistent mood — whether melancholic, exuberant, or contemplative — is a recurring strength, and the scenes are constructed so viewers can infer stakes without needing explicit spoilers.

Characterization is a core pillar here. Protagonists and supporting figures are written with distinct motivations and narrative roles; even when archetypal, the series invests in small behavioral details that make choices feel earned. Character arcs are handled with an eye for gradualism: development often arrives through incremental beats rather than abrupt, expository shifts. The interactions between characters create texture, and relationships are used to illuminate both personal flaws and larger thematic concerns.

On the visual front, production values play a significant role. The animation quality varies by sequence but frequently showcases thoughtful direction and composition. Background art, framing, and color palettes are used deliberately to support tone — quieter scenes favor muted palettes while action or heightened emotional beats employ brighter, more kinetic visuals. Direction choices, such as camera movement and shot selection, often elevate scenes beyond their raw script, creating moments that linger in the viewer's mind.

The soundscape — score, incidental music, and sound design — complements the visual language. Music cues are placed to maximize emotional resonance without manipulating the audience with melodrama; this restraint often leads to more authentic emotional payoff. Sound design punctuates key moments, and when the series leans on silence, those quieter moments are given weight by measured audio choices.

Pacing and structure are handled with craft. Episodes are arranged to build tension and release methodically, and the narrative rarely rushes through important emotional beats. That said, the deliberate pacing may feel slow to viewers who prefer faster plot turnover; the reward is greater nuance and an accumulation of meaning across the series. Accessibility is generally good — one can appreciate surface-level pleasures, while repeat or attentive viewing reveals additional layers.

No title is without flaws. Occasional unevenness in subplots or variable animation across episodes can be distracting. Some tonal shifts might feel abrupt if you expect uniformity; others will argue that those shifts are purposeful. These are worth noting, but they seldom undercut the larger achievements of the work.

In sum, Date A Live II: Kurumi Star Festival offers a rich experience for viewers who value character-driven storytelling, considered visual design, and a soundtrack that supports rather than overwhelms. For fans of Romance, this is an especially rewarding watch. It's recommended for those who appreciate layered narratives and artistry in animation, and best approached with patience and attention to nuance.


Characters & Voice Actors

Itsuka, Shidou

Itsuka, Shidou

Main

Shimazaki, Nobunaga
Shimazaki, Nobunaga
Japanese
Itsuka, Shidou

Itsuka, Shidou

Main

Grelle, Jessie James
Grelle, Jessie James
English
Tokisaki, Kurumi

Tokisaki, Kurumi

Main

Sanada, Asami
Sanada, Asami
Japanese
Tokisaki, Kurumi

Tokisaki, Kurumi

Main

Tipton, Alexis
Tipton, Alexis
English
Tokisaki, Kurumi

Tokisaki, Kurumi

Main

Vural, Esra
Vural, Esra
German
Himekawa, Yoshino

Himekawa, Yoshino

Supporting

Nomizu, Iori
Nomizu, Iori
Japanese
Himekawa, Yoshino

Himekawa, Yoshino

Supporting

Ballard, Tia
Ballard, Tia
English
Himekawa, Yoshino

Himekawa, Yoshino

Supporting

Blank, Jodie
Blank, Jodie
German
Itsuka, Kotori

Itsuka, Kotori

Supporting

Taketatsu, Ayana
Taketatsu, Ayana
Japanese
Itsuka, Kotori

Itsuka, Kotori

Supporting

Apprill, Bryn
Apprill, Bryn
English
Itsuka, Kotori

Itsuka, Kotori

Supporting

Schmidt, Josephine
Schmidt, Josephine
German
Narrator

Narrator

Supporting

Mitsuishi, Kotono
Mitsuishi, Kotono
Japanese
Yatogami, Tooka

Yatogami, Tooka

Supporting

Inoue, Marina
Inoue, Marina
Japanese
Yatogami, Tooka

Yatogami, Tooka

Supporting

Rojas, Michelle
Rojas, Michelle
English
Yatogami, Tooka

Yatogami, Tooka

Supporting

Gamburg, Anna
Gamburg, Anna
German

Staff

Okamoto, Hideki

Okamoto, Hideki

Episode Director

Marchi, Jamie

Marchi, Jamie

Script

Okita, Mina

Okita, Mina

Storyboard

Okano, Yuujirou

Okano, Yuujirou

Theme Song Arrangement

Takizawa, Shunsuke

Takizawa, Shunsuke

Theme Song Arrangement

Watanabe, Shio

Watanabe, Shio

Theme Song Lyrics

Fukunaga, Gen

Fukunaga, Gen

Executive Producer

Jewell, Jerry

Jewell, Jerry

ADR Director

Sakabe, Gou

Sakabe, Gou

Music

Tachibana, Koushi

Tachibana, Koushi

Original Creator

Tsunako

Tsunako

Original Character Design