Lostorage incited WIXOSS is an anime series that continues the WIXOSS universe in a new form, with fresh rules and main characters, but still retains the dark and heavy stakes as before. The story follows high school girl Homura Suzuko, who moves back to Tokyo and tries to make friends by playing the WIXOSS card game, only to find herself drawn into a game where memories are wagered, and the loser loses everything.
Plot Summary (No Spoilers for the Ending)
The story takes place in Ikebukuro. Homura Suzuko, a girl who moves back to the city where she grew up, feels alienated from her classmates. She decides to buy WIXOSS cards, hoping to use them as a bridge to connect with others. But when she opens a pack, one of the cards comes to life and says, 'Welcome, Selector.' She learns that WIXOSS is not just a game, but a battle to collect 5 coins that contain all of a player's memories. Whoever can possess all the coins will exit the game and become the winner. But if they lose, they are punished by losing their memories or something important in their life.
In this season, the rules have changed from the previous one, introducing the 'Memory Coin' system and each 'Selector' has their own LRIG (card avatar) to assist in battles. Each card has different powers and abilities. Players must plan and take risks to defeat opponents while protecting their own memories. The series unfolds through the perspectives of Suzuko and other players who face difficult choices between preserving memories or achieving victory.
Performance and Characters
Although it is an anime primarily focused on voice acting, the voice cast does an excellent job. Yuka Iguchi as Suzuko naturally conveys the character's confusion and determination. Aya Suzaki as Dōna (Suzuko's LRIG) gives a voice that is both cute and mysterious, fitting the role of a card with hidden secrets. Other characters, such as Kazuyuki Okitsu as Shō Narumi, a mysterious boy who seems to know the game well, and Hitomi Nabatame as Yukime, a cold woman with clear goals, all have interesting dimensions and motivations.
The highlight of the characters in this story is the diversity of the Selectors. Each has different reasons for playing the game: some want to forget painful memories, some seek revenge, and some just want friends. The development in each episode makes us sympathize and understand the characters more, even though some may be left behind due to limited time.
Direction, Visuals, and Music
This series is directed by Kenichi Kawamura and produced by J.C.Staff, a studio familiar with action-fantasy anime. The overall quality is good, with bright colors during daytime scenes that shift to darker tones during battles, enhancing the tense atmosphere. The card battle scenes are designed with engaging movement and effects, though sometimes repetitive, they are not boring.
The music is composed by Keiichi Okabe (composer for Nier) and Yoshitaka Hirota, fitting the theme of the story. Both the opening theme 'Lostorage' by Miyuki Hashimoto and the ending theme 'Hajimari no Kane' by Runa Mizutani have catchy melodies that convey a hint of sorrow from losing memories.
Editorial Analysis
Lostorage incited WIXOSS is a season that attempts to reboot the WIXOSS universe to reach new viewers without needing to watch previous seasons. The editorial team sees the strength of the story in presenting the concept of 'memory' as something that defines our identity. The characters risking losing their memories for victory raises philosophical questions like 'Who would we be without the past?' However, the series has weaknesses in that some episodes progress slowly, and some characters are underdeveloped, making certain decisions seem unreasonable.
Another notable point is the attempt to create a complex relationship between Suzuko and Dōna, reflecting the relationship between humans and tools (cards) with a will of their own. Their battle is not just about defeating others but also about understanding themselves and accepting what they have lost. For fans of WIXOSS who have seen the first season, this season may feel slightly lighter in tone but still maintains intense drama.
Verdict
Lostorage incited WIXOSS is an anime suitable for those who like card game genres mixed with intense drama. Despite weaknesses in some storytelling parts, the concept of memories and the development of main characters make it worth watching, especially if you are a fan of the WIXOSS series or looking for an anime that plays with emotions and thoughts.
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👍 Pros
- +The concept of memories as stakes is interesting and thought-provoking.
- +Main characters have good development, especially Suzuko and Dōna.
- +Soundtrack is beautiful and fits the atmosphere.
- +No need to watch previous seasons; the story is easy to follow.
👎 Cons
- −Some episodes are slow and drawn out.
- −Some supporting characters do not get enough screen time.
- −Battle scenes can become repetitive over time.
Top Cast
FAQ
No, because it is a new story with different characters and rules from the first season. However, if you want to understand the context of the WIXOSS world better, you can watch Selector infected WIXOSS first.
Although the characters are school students, the content has heavy themes such as memory loss, violence, and death. It is suitable for teenage viewers and above.
It has 2 seasons, each with 12 episodes, totaling 24 episodes. The first season is titled Lostorage incited WIXOSS, and the second is Lostorage conflated WIXOSS.
