If you're an isekai anime fan who enjoys mindless fun, How Not to Summon a Demon Lord is one of the shows worth watching, especially if you like a protagonist who is as powerful as a demon lord, packed with jokes and full-on fan service.
This series is adapted from the light novel of the same name and tells the story of Sakamoto Takuma, an MMORPG player who is summoned to another world with immense power, only to find that two girls try to use a slave spell on him, which backfires and makes them his slaves instead. From then on, Takuma in the form of Diablo embarks on an adventure with Shera and Rem amidst chaotic situations that are both hilarious and exciting.
Story Summary (No Spoilers)
The story begins when Sakamoto Takuma, a player of the game Cross Reverie who is so strong that he is called the 'Demon Lord,' is summoned to a fantasy world by Shera and Rem, two girls who want to use a slave spell to control him. However, due to Takuma's skill 'Magic Reflection,' the spell reflects back, making them his slaves instead. Takuma decides to roleplay as Diablo, the Demon Lord from the game, to live in the new world, with the main goal of exploring the world and finding a way back home.
Throughout their journey, they meet new friends, both humans and elves, fight powerful monsters and enemies, and uncover secrets about the summoning and Diablo's power. The story focuses mainly on adventure and battles, interspersed with comedic gags and embarrassing situations caused by Shera and Rem's innocence, as well as Diablo's cool demeanor as he tries to maintain his demon lord image.
Performance and Characters
The highlight of this series is the three main characters who have great chemistry. Diablo (Takuma) is voiced by Masaaki Mizunaka, who delivers a voice that is both cool and funny, especially when he has to pretend to be a mighty demon lord while feeling nervous inside. Shera (voiced by Yu Serizawa) is a cheerful elf girl who often thinks lewd thoughts, providing color and main comedic relief. Rem (voiced by Azumi Waki) is a quiet panther girl who secretly has cute feelings, contrasting completely with Shera.
All voice actors do an excellent job, clearly conveying the characters' emotions, especially in scenes where Diablo shows his superhuman abilities or when the girls display embarrassing reactions. However, most supporting characters are quite flat and have limited roles, except for Alicia who appears in Season 2, adding more depth to the story.
Direction, Visuals, and Music
The series is produced by studio Ajia-do Animation Works, which, although not a top-tier studio, delivers satisfactory results. The visuals are sharp and colorful, especially the character designs which are beautiful and faithful to the original. Battle scenes are designed to be fierce and powerful, with beautiful magic effects, but the animation in some episodes can appear stiff and not as fluid, particularly in the first season.
The music is composed by Yoshihiro Ike and Yuki Hayashi (composer for My Hero Academia), making the battle songs powerful and exciting. The opening theme 'DeCIDE' by SUMMONERS 2+ and the ending theme 'Saiaku na Saiaku' by the voice actors of Shera and Rem fit the atmosphere of the story well.
Editorial Analysis
How Not to Summon a Demon Lord is an anime that knows exactly what it wants to offer: mindless fun, exciting action, and full-on fan service, without trying to be deep or complex. This is both its strength and weakness.
The editorial team views that this series fulfills its role as an 'isekai power fantasy' well: the protagonist is overwhelmingly strong, the girls are beautiful and cute, and the comedic timing is on point. However, if you're looking for a groundbreaking plot or deep character development, you might be disappointed. Nevertheless, for those who enjoy this genre and want pure entertainment, this show delivers, especially in Season 2 where the story becomes more intense and introduces more interesting plot points.
Verdict
How Not to Summon a Demon Lord is a fun and enjoyable isekai anime, perfect for those who like a godly protagonist, beautiful girls, and mindless comedic gags. If you're looking for something lighthearted and exciting, this show is the answer. But if you want a deep plot or complex character development, you might need to look elsewhere.
Screenshots
👍 Pros
- +Strong and cool protagonist, satisfying to watch
- +Great chemistry between main characters, good comedic timing
- +Vibrant visuals, exciting battle scenes
- +Full-on fan service for viewers who enjoy it
👎 Cons
- −Simple plot, nothing new
- −Supporting characters are flat and have little screen time
- −Animation in some episodes is stiff and not fluid
- −Fan service may be too much for some viewers
Top Cast
FAQ
The series has 2 seasons, totaling 22 episodes (Season 1: 12 episodes, Season 2: 10 episodes), plus 2 OVA episodes.
Currently, only Season 1 has a Thai dub on some streaming platforms, but Season 2 does not have an official Thai dub.
Season 2 ends on a cliffhanger; the story is not complete as there is still a lot of light novel content that has not been adapted into anime.
The series contains fan service and some suggestive scenes, so it is suitable for viewers aged 16 and above.
