How Not to Summon a Demon Lord: A thorough review of the fascinating story and character depth

The Otherworldly Demon Lord and the Summoned Girl's Slave Magic - An otherworldly adventure tale woven with overwhelming strength and charming characters

■Overview of the work

"How NOT to Summon a Demon Lord" is a TV anime series based on the light novel by Murasaki Yukiya. It aired from July 5 to September 20, 2018, and consists of 12 episodes. Animation was produced by Asiado, directed by Murano Yuta, series composition by Fudeyasu Kazuyuki, and character design by Kaneko Shizue. The original work was published by Kodansha Ranobe Bunko in December 2014, and as of 2023, nine volumes have been released, with a total circulation of over one million copies. A comic book version by Fukuda Naoka is also available on Niconico Seiga's "Sirius on Wednesday."

■ Story

The protagonist of this work, Sakamoto Takuma, is an overwhelmingly powerful player of the MMORPG "Cross Reverie," and is feared by other players as the "Demon King." However, one day, he is suddenly summoned to another world in his in-game form. There, he meets two girls, Shera and Rem, who claim to be the ones who summoned him, and they intend to cast a enslavement spell on Takuma, which is used for summoned beasts. However, Takuma's unique ability, "Magic Reflection," is activated, and instead, Shera and Rem are enslaved. Thus begins the adventure of Takuma, who calls himself the Demon King (acting), and the enslaved Shera and Rem in another world.

■ Characters

The appeal of this work lies in its unique characters. The main character, Diablo (Takuma Sakamoto), is not good at socializing, so he decides to play the same demon king character he played in the game in the other world. While overwhelming those around him with his strength and acting ability, the story depicts him gradually deepening his bonds with his companions.

Shera L. Greenwood is an elven summoner who is also skilled with the bow. She has a voluptuous chest and is actually of noble birth, but she is put in a slave collar. Rem Gareu is a leopard summoner, a cute girl with fluffy ears and a long tail. She is also put in a slave collar.

In addition, many other fascinating characters appear, such as the intelligent and beautiful national knight Alicia Cristella, the Adventurer's Association president Sylvie, and the demon Edelgard. Each character has their own unique background and secrets, which add excitement to the story.

■Animation and direction

The animation of this work stands out with its careful drawing by Asiado and the skillful direction of director Yuta Murano. Diablo's overwhelming strength is visually expressed, especially in the battle scenes, and has the power to draw the viewer in. In addition, the characters' expressions and movements are drawn in detail, conveying their emotional changes and growth.

The character designs by Shizue Kaneko have faithfully reproduced the illustrations from the original work while adding a unique appeal to the anime. The designs of Shera and Rem in particular have been highly praised by fans of the original work.

■Music

The music for this work was composed by Yusuke Kato. The opening theme "DeCIDE" is sung by SUMMONERS 2+ (Yu Serizawa, Azumi Waki, Yumi Hara, Rumi Okubo, Emiri Kato), and its powerful melody and lyrics symbolize the theme of the story. The ending theme "I Love You Even on the Worst Days" is sung by Yu Serizawa, and its gentle melody and lyrics will soothe the hearts of viewers.

■ Evaluation and impressions

Even within the genre of fantasy set in another world, "How NOT to Summon a Demon Lord" has been praised for its appealing characters and the development of its story. The overwhelming strength of Diablo and the growth and bonds of the characters surrounding him are depicted, allowing viewers to empathize deeply with the story. In addition, while faithfully recreating the worldview of the original work, the anime also includes its own unique direction and additional episodes, making it enjoyable not only for fans of the original work but also for fans of the original anime.

In particular, Diablo's "demon king acting" provides laughs to the audience, while also being an important element in showing his inner conflict and growth. Also, the setting of Shera and Rem being enslaved adds tension to the story's development, and also serves as an opportunity to delve deeper into their characters.

■ Recommendation points

The reasons why we recommend this work are as follows:

• The overwhelming strength of the main character , Diablo, gives viewers a sense of exhilaration. His battle scenes are spectacular, and you can enjoy the essence of fantasy in another world.
• Attractive Characters : There are many unique characters, such as Shera, Rem, and Alicia. Each character's background and growth are depicted, allowing viewers to empathize with them.
• Skillful storytelling : The world of the original work is faithfully recreated, while the anime also incorporates unique developments. The viewer is drawn into the story's development, and anticipation for the next episode grows.
• Beautiful animation : Ajia-do's meticulous drawings and director Yuta Murano's skillful direction visually enrich the story, especially the battle scenes and character expressions.
• Charming Music : Yusuke Kato's music and vocals by SUMMONERS 2+ and Yu Serizawa add to the atmosphere of the story. The opening and ending songs are sure to leave a lasting impression on viewers.

■ Related works and recommendations

If you enjoyed How NOT to Summon a Demon Lord, we also recommend the following works:

• "Overlord" : The story has an overwhelmingly powerful protagonist and a fantasy worldview set in another world. The protagonist's inner conflict and growth are also depicted, making for a deep story.
• "Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World-" : The protagonist is summoned to another world and faces various challenges. The story revolves around the characters' growth and bonds, making it an easy read to empathize with.
• "KonoSuba: God's Blessing on this Wonderful World!" : A work with a strong comedy element, even among other fantasy stories set in another world. You can enjoy a humorous story woven by unique characters.

Conclusion

"How NOT to Summon a Demon Lord" is an otherworldly adventure tale featuring an overwhelmingly powerful protagonist and a cast of fascinating characters. The skillful storytelling, beautiful animation, and captivating music draw the viewer in and allow them to empathize deeply with the story. This is a must-watch for anyone who loves fantasy stories set in another world.