8Bit/Digi

Have You Heard the Rumors

Welcome to another story about how attending a convention introduced me to a new anime. I was at Anime Expo this year when I noticed the promotional material for Toilet-bound Hanako-kun and was immediately captivated by its colorful and macabre style. I skimmed through a manga at one of the vendors to get a better sense of the world before diving into the series. After that, I started watching the series and was able to catch up just as the second half of Season 2 was wrapping up.

Toilet-bound Hanako-kun 2 (Pt.2) picks up exactly where the previous season ended. Nene Yashiro now understands the truth about her future, and Hanako is willing to do anything to stop it. This time, however, he takes his actions to a dangerous extreme, leaving everyone to deal with the fallout. At the same time, his choices force others to question whether Hanako can continue to exist within the human world.

It should be noted that I’m anime only when it comes to Toilet-bound Hanako-kun. Because of that, this review will not compare Season 2’s events with their portrayal in the manga, as a quick glance is hardly the same as reading it thoroughly. Instead, my critique focuses solely on the anime adaptation and how it stands on its own.

The Reaper’s Sacrifice

Nene Yashiro is a student at Kamome Academy who becomes bound to the bathroom spirit, Hanako-san /Amane Yugi, after eating a mermaid scale. Together, they work to exorcise evil spirits around the campus and change rumors in order to maintain a balance between the spirit world and the human world. Along the way, they are aided by Kou Minamoto, the second son of a renowned exorcist family, Akane Aoi, their classmates and one of the Clock Keepers, and Sōsuke Mitsuba, a former student who died and later returned as a spirit. At the same time, each one faces their own personal challenges, whether it’s living up to a legacy or grappling with the regrets brought on by another’s unexpected death.

Season 2 opens with the revelation that Nene is destined to die, and Hanako becomes determined to stop it. This sets the stage for the Picture Perfect Arc, during which Hanako has Wonder No. 4: Shijima Mei, trap them inside a painting that would allow Nene to escape her fate. However, Nene and Kou refuse to accept this solution and work together to break free, believing there must be another way.

This sets the stage for Season 2 Pt. 2, which opens with the Sacrifice of the Grim Reaper Arc. Hanako takes an even more extreme step by disrupting the boundary between the human and spirit worlds by sacrificing Aoi Akane, Nene’s best friend and Akane’s crush. However, hope remains as Teru Minamoto, Kou’s older brother and an experienced exorcist, believes there may be a way to rescue Aoi, though time is not on their side. Matters grow more complicated when Teru and Akane reveal to Kou that Hanako has crossed a line and must be put to rest before he causes further harm.

Tsukasa and Amane

Toilet-bound Hanako-kun grabbed my attention immediately thanks to its striking artistic style. The look evokes a Jhonen Vasquez influence, best known as the creator of Invader Zim, but filtered through a distinctly anime aesthetic. It’s an ideal artistic direction for a story rooted in the macabre, brought to life through bold color work. This contrast emphasizes its themes of death and the afterlife while still offering a sense of hope and reassurance beyond despair. The style also gives the series room to heighten emotion when needed, whether through exaggerated moments of humiliation and defeat or quiet scenes of regret and sorrow. This is something the series has excelled at from the beginning and continues to deliver through the end of Season 2.

When it comes to its narrative direction, Toilet-bound Hanako-kun Season 2 Part 2 takes a unique approach by removing Hanako from most of the story. This shift creates a narrative that thrives on examining the aftermath of his actions and how those consequences reshape everyone around him. Even though he is no longer physically present, his essence and the impact of the choices he made still lingers. Affecting not only the characters but also the audience’s understanding of the world.

Second, it places a stronger emphasis on the personal struggles faced by the rest of the characters. We have long understood the regrets Kou Minamoto carries after the death of Sōsuke Mitsuba, but this season brings those feelings fully into focus. It highlights not only Kou’s guilt over not being a better friend, but also the life that was lost and the future that might have unfolded had things gone differently. We also gain a deeper look into Tsukasa Yugi and his past life with Amane, culminating in an ultimate sacrifice that saves his brother and quietly lays the groundwork for something far more sinister. Yet it ends on a sense of uncertainty as to what Tsukasa’s true intentions are or if he is still the same person before making his wish.

The Red House

The central focus of Toilet-bound Hanako-kun Season 2 (Pt.2) is Hanako going to another extreme, leaving everyone else to deal with the consequences. The issue is that this was already the core conflict of Season 2(Pt.1). Hanako previously took drastic measures to save Nene, only for those efforts to be undone because everyone believed a better solution existed. Now he escalates even further by sacrificing Aoi and sealing the barrier between the living and the dead. This plot device leans on the idea that if a bad plan fails, the answer is to repeat it in an even worse form while hoping for different results. What makes it more baffling is that Hanako fully understands Aoi is Nene’s best friend and Akane’s love interest, yet still believes this is the right course of action.

While I’m not a fan of stories that repeat the same idea and expect different results, I still enjoyed watching Toilet-bound Hanako-kun Season 2 (Pt.2) overall.

A Train to the Far Shore

Toilet-bound Hanako-kun Season 2 (Pt.2) concludes Hanako’s journey as he once again takes matters into his own hands in an attempt to save Nene. Even though I’m not a fan of narratives that repeat a flawed idea, this arc still has its redeeming moments. The artistic style remains one of the series’ strongest draws, while the season delves more deeply into familiar struggles and personal demons.

Disclaimer: I watched the entire season on Crunchyroll, which I pay for myself.

8Bit/Digi is an independent media outlet that provides an insight into the video game community and industry of the San Francisco Bay Area.

Toilet-bound Hanako-kun 2 (Pt.2)

8

Excellent

8.0/10

Pros

• Its artistic style of colorful and macabre will captivate you.
• Hanako has a strong presence despite being absent for most of the season.
• Story goes more indepth regarding each character's personal struggles.

Cons

• Central focus of the season is Hanako again going to great extremes to save Nene.