Ten Years Later: Full Metal Panic! The Second Raid Anime Series

Full Metal Panic! is a beloved show that spans three series. Based on the series of light novels written by Shoji Gatoh and illustrated by Shiki Douji, the show stars two protagonists: Sousuke Sagara, a Sergeant in the secret mercenary group Mithril, and the high school student Kaname Chitori. Mithral charges Sousuke with Kaname’s protection because she is a Whispered. It’s never made quite clear just what exactly the Whispered are, but they function almost like idiot savants when it comes to advanced technology, and their ability to understand complex machinery and even create it make them highly valuable on the world stage. At first, Sousuke tries to blend in with Kaname’s class, but the charade falls apart and the two find themselves in a fight to survive against a brilliant and ruthless mercenary named Gauron.

The show made its mark with its blend of fish-out-of-water humor and exciting mecha-based action. In many ways, Full Metal Panic! illustrates the strength of anime—the ability to blend two vastly different genres into something new and interesting that stretches the boundaries, but never breaks them. The absurd and the serious both have their place in this show, rarely overlapping, functioning in more of a complimentary fashion. The characters, the action, the humor, and the mechs all came together to make a series that people still love to this day.

As is often the case with successful shows, Full Metal Panic! got a sequel. Called The Second Raid, the sequel series takes up where the first series left off. However, instead of just doing the same thing all over again—as often happens with sequels—Second Raid actually takes the story to its logical next step, creating a show that is measurably different in terms of tone and plot.

A new threat rises in the group Amalgam. A paramilitary group run by an arms dealer, Amalgam destabilizes areas in order to test advanced weaponry. Its actions bring it to the attention of Mithril, but the two seem evenly matched in terms of equipment. Moreover, Amalgam has hired two sisters of extraordinary lethal talent, and they have a grudge against Mithril and Sousuke.

So that part isn’t necessarily anything new. What makes Second Raid such a clear departure from the first series is Sousuke. Sousuke was a rock in the first series. No matter what the situation he always kept a clear head and never forgot his duty. This time around, he’s beginning to doubt his place in Mithril. He also has feelings for Kaname (and she for him) but doesn’t have the wherewithal to properly express them. He loses the opportunity when he’s called away from protection duty.

Mithril experiences a schism at this point between the command branch and the intelligence division, and Sousuke falls under their crossfire. Intelligence takes over guard and observation duties for Sousuke, but this separation from Kaname creates a conflict inside the character that carries through to the climax. It’s actually very hard to watch. I like Sousuke quite a bit, and to see him so aimless and sad hurt me. This speaks to the power of the character and the writing, because all of this is completely in character. If you had asked me before I watched this if Sousuke would ever abandon his duty, I would have laughed. That just wasn’t Sousuke to me. Yet that scene occurs in the series and it works within the story’s logic and the character arc we see Sousuke undergo.

Second Raid ends up being a heavier, more serious outing than the first series. Although there are episodes set in the school that return to the classic fish-out-of-water trope, they occur early in the series and get lost in the push of the main narrative. It took me some time to adjust to this tonal shift. I came into this expecting a “second verse, same as the first” situation, but Second Raid took me by surprise, and I loved it.

Full Metal Panic! lends itself well to reinvention. All three series: Full Metal Panic!; Full Metal Panic! Second Raid; and Full Metal Panic! FUMOFFU relate to each other, but stand unique in terms of tone and themes. However, Second Raid deserves mention and reflection because it actually develops the characters. The creative team didn’t just go down the tried and true route. They thought about where their characters were at the end of the first series and took them to the next step. It may be a little difficult to watch if you’re invested in the characters, but it’s a very good show that holds up to the test of time.

Josh Begley

Joshua Begley currently teaches Creative Writing. He has been writing since he was ten and doesn’t plan on stopping anytime soon.

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