Overlord - Reviews

When I first saw the art, I thought this must be one of the dumbest, stupidest looking anime. An instant turn-off. I don't even know how I got to giving it a try and watching one episode - but I did. And I can say, I was completely wrong! I loved the story, the characters, the animation - everything. It's very very cool, and it really brings you in. It's a different look than you usually see with all the heroes always saving and winning the day - this is a story from the other side. But in a sense, not completely either. Technically, he is still human (to the characters, I guess that would mean, the divine realm), so it is relatable. He's smart and quick, even though he doubts himself often, he is able to rise up to the occasion. You probably never cheered for the "bad guy" before, but this is quite good. A definite recommend to anyone.

Welcome to yet another MMO story about a guy stuck in his video game. Here we have an overpowered protagonist who has his own private magical castle, superpowered minions who worship him, and a complete lack of drama. I guess that's enough to differentiate this from the .Hack series / Sword Art Online / Log Horizon bunch. So Overlord exists and is supposedly unique. Except it isn't.

Going so far as to call Overlord absolute trash would be going too far. It's actually kind of decent for how generic and completely lacking drama it is. Like all stories with an overpowered protagonist, this is cheap fantasy fulfillment, which is great if you're into that sort of thing. Except that it's been done far better. If you want overpowered protagonists and a semi-Harem built around them, then No Game No Life just does it better. If you want your MMO fun, as painful as it is to say, Sword Art Online is just better (shounen tropes and all).

There is a niche for these types of stories, but I suppose mixing up the Harem, MMO, and an overpowered main character in such a blend is a first. So perhaps if you like all three, then this might be for you. Warning though, the fight scenes are mediocre. I suppose that the protagonist is a bit different with his cold indifference. Some things are supposedly funny (albeit in a juvenile way). But what can I say? Overlord just failed to offer something substantive of its own.

Perhaps it's just me being jaded, or the low budget making the animation feel like it belongs over a decade ago. Maybe it's the fact that like all translations of light novels into anime it feels unbelievable that all female characters find the protagonist appealing. Maybe it's just the fact that Madhouse have done so much better that makes Overlord feel like such a bitter pill to swallow. It isn't bad per se, it's just got nothing going for it.

Writing (story and characters):

I'll get this out of the way: Overlord has potential that goes nowhere due to the writing. It's either too drawn out if it's supposed to be plot based, or shallow depictions of characters if it's character based. This isn't a right blend for the two. The humor of Overlord is supposed to be redeeming, but repeats itself too much, and far worse isn't that funny to start with. It gets blatantly sexist, which is fine (to remind everyone reading this: I liked the absolute trash which is Seikon no Qwaser). What's not fine is to do this with no entertaining results.

The story feels like it begins, has a first decent-ish challenge, and then it ends. It would require at least another season to justify the structure of the writing (two more would be the classic), but frankly isn't interesting enough to deserve those. The plot, such as it is, is more like a Sword Art Online fan fiction power-trip than anything which stands on its own. Short of it: the technical execution is mediocre, the idea is flawed, and while it isn't the worst garbage out there, it just isn't good.

Slightly redeeming are the characters. Overlord has a decent(ish) cast. It also has a rather large cast that isn't properly explored or developed. What I can say is that the coolness factor (while not extreme, it sorta exists) pushes it to mediocre. If this is a character based story then it is a failure, but not quite as bad as the plot is. Technically, it's near impossible to have a protagonist this powerful and write them well. I suppose that as far as attempts go, this has the honor of not the worst. Perhaps I'm being a bit harsh. But the cast has potential for humor and development, and has moments where it is actually interesting... yet doesn't live up to it.

Perhaps I've gotten jaded over time. This show isn't that bad. Shounen is usually worse. The technical execution is good if there will be a follow-up season to expand on it. But reviewing Overlord on its own merit, I cannot in good conscience say it reaches even average levels. While I do like some trash-level writing occasionally, it just didn't work for me here.

Art (animation and sound):

Here is the greatest sin of a story such as this: Overlord failed to wow me with the art. When the plot and characters fail to be special, it is up to the world itself to give the added value. Usually, I love Madhouse artwork. But here it just seems a bit too low effort for them. It isn't that it's particularly bad, but it just feels low-budget when it was what was needed to elevate the writing.

Technically, the animation isn't too bad. The character designs are decent, if a bit generic for what usually comes out from under Madhouse's studio. The backgrounds are at the very least minimally efficient. But there were too many things that felt static. It's usually covered up by attempting to feel atmospheric, but that just doesn't cut it. There aren't technical mistakes with the flow of the animation, but it just doesn't feel nearly as impressive as it should have been. The use of CGI was at times a bit too blunt and felt out of place. Worst of all, this is anime competing with others who are downright gorgeous.

I really wished that the audio would ramp it up, manage to attach the writing and animation together and then kick things up a notch. But it doesn't. The voice acting isn't the worst yet isn't special nor excellent. Repetitive would be the best definition of the (rather decent) sound effects, but not quite so much as to be particularly annoying. Perhaps the soundtrack is good, but other than the ending theme (which is actually rather decent) is completely forgettable.

Does the art bring the world of Overlord to life? Kinda. I suppose. Not really. Not enough to make it memorable, or you know, good. It's just enough to make me think that with double the budget, a next season could make everything better. But alas, that's for the future. Right now, we're just stuck with something that a decade ago still wouldn't have been top tier, and right now is below average.

Overall:

I am a man with low standards when it comes to cheap escapism. Overlord has plenty of things I like (MMO, Stranger in a Strange Land), but alas, the protagonist is just too powerful, the writing too standard, the artwork not good enough. Recommended only if you are looking specifically for an MMO anime with an overpowered protagonist. Otherwise, it's a waste of your time.

As an isekei anime hunter ,I can say with no doubt this anime is unique in many ways , first season was great, could have been better but based on what I've share about budget etc its to be expected 

I lobe the way the NPCs from his game are encoperated and learn , very intriguing and makes u want to we what his plan is next.

Has an OP mc , which I don't tend to like but this pulls it off very well , so far e story needs some more explaining but I can see where its headed and I hope its as good as my expectations , season 2 has started and I can't wait till its over so I can binge watch 

English

I decided to watch this anime after watching Isekai Quartet for the umpteenth time, and… booooooring!! The protagonist’s motivations are unclear, the powers come out of nowhere, the fights are waaaaaaaaay too slow, the characters are caricatural especially the villains, and the 3D is crappy for a 2015 anime. My big disappointment of this start of year…

Français

Je me suis décidé à regarder cet animé suite à un énième visionnage de Isekai Quartet et… la vache, ce qu’on se fait chier !! Les motivations du protagoniste sont floues, les pouvoirs sortent de nulle part, les combats sont leeeeeeents que ça n’en peut plus, les personnages sont caricaturaux en particulier les méchants, et la 3D est dégueulasse pour un animé de 2015. Ma grosse déception de ce début d’année…

This anime has a lot of intressting and good characters. I really like the part of a Overpowerd protagonist which makes all the fights look cool.