“How Not to Summon a Demon Lord” is a comedy anime about a player summoned to another world who accidentally turns two girls into his slaves. It ran for two seasons on TBS and AT-X, with the first running from July 5, 2018 to September 20, 2018, and the second from April 2, 2021 to June 10, 2021.
Trailer, via avex pictures.
The Setup
Takuma Sakamoto, voiced by Masaaki Mizunaka, was a recluse who excelled at the MMORPG Cross Reverie under the name @Diablo-13. When summoned to another world as his avatar, Diablo, he meets Rem Galleu and Shera L. Greenwood, both claiming to have called him. They attempt a spell to enslave him, but his ring grants him Magic Reflect, and the spell rebounds, trapping both girls in slave collars instead.
The Three Girls
- Rem Galleu is a pantherian adventurer who wants to destroy the Demon King Krebskulm bound to her soul.
- Shera L. Greenwood is an elf and the princess of Greenwood, who summoned him so she could live freely.
- Alicia Crystella joins the party.
Performance
Masaaki Mizunaka carries the series as Takuma/Diablo, whose social anxiety makes him speak in character constantly. Yu Serizawa (Shera) and Azumi Waki (Rem) anchor the comedy as two girls caught in a spell they did not expect. Yumi Hara voices Alicia, the third girl of the party.
Magic Reflect
Magic Reflect, a skill that turns spells back at their caster, drives the setup. It is the reason Takuma ends up with two enslaved girls instead of the other way around.
Where It Falls Short
In the first episode, Takuma’s refusal to grow out of speaking as Diablo, despite it causing problems, becomes a running joke that wears thin. The second season adds little that the first did not already establish.
The Verdict
How Not to Summon a Demon Lord earns a 7.8 out of 10. It has a clever premise and a solid lead performance, but its jokes grow thin and its second season feels like a repeat. The anime is best enjoyed for a few episodes before the repetition sets in.
The show is a competent, if limited, adaptation of its source material. The cast is strong and the premise is clever. It simply does not stretch far enough.
| Season | Date Range |
|---|---|
| 1 | July 5, 2018 – September 20, 2018 |
| 2 | April 2, 2021 – June 10, 2021 |
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