How Not to Summon a Demon Lord Episode 1
Studio: Ajia-Do
Genre: Comedy, Fantasy
Stream: Crunchyroll
Yes, I know. Another damn isekai anime. An oversaturated genre that’s been beaten so deeply into the ground the Underminer probably ran into it this summer. And yet, until studios finally put the genre to rest, more and more anime like it will be released, so it’s my duty to watch them all and tell you which ones are worth your time. And so far, How Not to Summon a Demon Lord isn’t doing too much to stand out from the pack.
Based on a light novel series by Yukiya Murasaki, How Not to Summon a Demon Lord follows gamer recluse Takuma Sakamoto who is socially inept in real life but online is known as the Demon Lord Diablo, a high-ranking character in the fictional MMORPG Cross Reverie. After inexplicably being transported into the game via summoning by ditzy elf Shera L. Greenwood and serious cat girl (pantherian in the world of Cross Reverie) Rem Galleu, Diablo finds himself on a mission to help the two girls.
Something important to note about this show: there is a lot of fanservice. And while I personally am not one to immediately scoff at the inclusion of fanservice in a series if the overall quality of the show is good, How Not to Summon a Demon Lord looks like it could end up relying too much on sexual innuendos and scenes of compromising positions rather than actual storytelling or moments of compelling characterization. And besides the fanservice, this show doesn’t do too much else to set itself apart from other isekai series at the moment.
To the show’s credit, though, it is funny. I enjoyed watching the meek Takuma struggle with maintaining his Diablo persona throughout the episode, and the characters overall are pretty likable. The show also establishes that our protagonist is a high-leveled player in the game, so while this does initially make me wary (as having characters who don’t need to struggle can make for very boring characterization), it could set up a lot of fun gags and later in the story who knows what kinds of powerful enemies our heroes may go up against.
Episode 1 was enjoyable enough for me to look forward to episode 2. Hopefully, How Not to Summon a Demon Lord can grow to become a unique edition in the isekai genre and not just another boring attempt to cash in on the popularity.
How Not to Summon a Demon Lord Episode 1
Hopefully, How Not to Summon a Demon Lord can grow to become a unique edition in the isekai genre and not just another boring attempt to cash in on the popularity.
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