Wind Breaker season 2 episode 2 review: CloverWorks does justice to series' core theme with incredible animation, direction, and more

Wind Breaker season 2 episode 2 was released on April 11, 2025. The episode saw the conclusion of the KEEL Arc as Bofurin won the battle against the KEEL after a hardcore showdown. A key focus in the second installment was the battle sequences, which combined impeccable animation with smooth transitions between scenes.

The episode, a recent addition to Wind Breaker season 2, had a hint of cinematic focus. The episode's final few minutes did justice to the series' core theme, with a conversation between Sakura and Nagato greatly contrasting the protagonist's growth from the first episode to the current installment. However, the episode's pacing left something to be desired.

Disclaimer: This article expresses the opinions of the author.

Wind Breaker season 2 episode 2 review: Aesthetically animated battle sequences, combined with exceptional voice acting, uplift the source material

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Wind Breaker season 2 episode 2, titled Conclusion, displayed the individual fights of the strongest members of Bofurin and KEEL. A key detail of the second installment was the picture of KEEL, who were now portrayed as a group of brats trying their best to trigger their opponents.

This transition perfectly revealed the gang's true nature and built tension around Bofurin's reactions to provocation. This stress was focused on every fight, and Suo's response to this provocation was interesting because it was shocking and unexpected, giving his character a new development.

Kaji as seen in the anime (Image via CloverWorks)

Wind Breaker season 2 episode 2's spotlight— the fight sequences' animation— was a new benchmark that Studio CloverWorks hopefully lives up to in future fight scenes. The fight sequence focused on every detail a fan could think about, including the fighters' emotions and movements. Moreover, these fights also showcased a smooth transition between animation panels.

Out of all the fights, two were of key focus for reasons other than their amazing animation. The first fight was Kaji vs. Natori, which focused on the former's breaking point until he was enraged. This created psychological stress, leaving fans wondering what would break first: Kaji's body or his mind.

Although the character didn't fully give into his rage, this left fans wondering whether Kaji would control his emotions. The portrayal of his rage as a sleeping wolf beautifully captured Kaji's demeanor throughout his fight against Natori.

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The second fight was Suo vs Hansuke Tone. Suo's case was of more importance because his rage moment was a fresh character development. Moreover, since the start of Wind Breaker, the character has been portrayed as an even-tempered gentleman who hardly ever gives in to temptation, making Suo's breaking point more startling.

The only cinematic touch in the episode appeared during the transition from Sakura to Suo, particularly during the latter's moment of rage. If overused, cinematic visuals tend to become the center of attention of any episode. This prudent decision allowed Wind Breaker season 2 episode 2’s incredibly engaging and well-animated fight sequences to shine brightest.

Nagato as seen in the anime (Image via CloverWorks)

The unsung hero of Wind Breaker season 2 episode 2 was the voice acting, which was perfect, considering the current situation of Bofurin. The change in the voice of Nobunaga Shimazaki (Suou's voice actor) and the stress in Yuuma Uchiha (Sakura's voice actor) and Nobuhiko Okamoto's (Kaji's voice actor) voices worked great, uplifting the manga panels to a whole new level.

Lastly, the conversation with Nagato at the end of Wind Breaker season 2 episode 2 was a much-needed focus on the series' theme of saving loved ones in distress. Sakura stressing to Nagato about how the latter's loved ones wanted him saved was a beautiful parallel to how the protagonist's character had developed since the series' start.

Moreover, since the protagonist’s development is key to the plot of Wind Breaker, the episode concluded on a simple yet effective note (also making sense to Wind Breaker season 2 episode 2's title).

Also read: Wind Breaker Season 2 complete release schedule

Wind Breaker season 2 episode 2 review: A fast-paced episode leaves something to be desired

Sakura as seen in the anime (Image via CloverWorks)

Wind Breaker season 2 returned with an updated pacing that was faster than season 1. However, Wind Breaker season 2 episode 2 took pacing to another level and adapted the KEEL Arc’s many remaining chapters.

A clever choice in this case would have been for CloverWorks to extend the main fight sequences, showcasing more engagement between Bofurin and KEEL. Sakura's fight, in particular, also felt brief and should have been extended, given the character's status as the series' protagonist.

With a fast pace came a slightly rushed storyline, which made it hard to keep focus on all the ongoing fights at KEEL's base. This also affected the image of KEEL's top 5, whose faces and names were hardly memorable. Ultimately, the arc concluded without a single name from this gang whom fans would remember as KEEL Arc's strongest.

Also read: 10 Strongest Wind Breaker characters, ranked

Final thoughts

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Although the fights weren't extended and left something to be desired, it didn't specifically make the fight sequences look bad because everything was supported through impeccable animation. The episode's emphasis on character growth was refreshing and improved the whole experience.

In the end, KEEL still went down as one of the most underwhelming antagonists due to how pathetically they came to an end. In comparison, Shishitoren from season 1 was a much more memorable and intimidating gang due to its lovable characters like Togame and Choji and the group's chemistry.