Maó gun saikjó no madžucuši wa ningen datta

While this isn't the most exciting series, there's quite a bit to say about it. Let's start with the production values. The animation is far from spectacular, with a lot of the monsters being CGI, and it doesn't look great. It's not the worst I've seen this season, but the stiff, unnatural movement stands out in some scenes. The effects, especially explosions and flames, are downright bad. I get that they're working with large battles and armies on what is probably a limited budget, but understanding that doesn't make it any better. It still takes away from the epic feel they're going for. On the plus side, Kohta Yamamoto did a decent job with the music. The soundtrack fit the scenes well, sometimes even salvaging moments where the animation fell short. It's a solid fantasy score, but then there's the rock opening, which is easily the dullest I've heard this year, and a lifeless ending track. Sure, I can skip them, but it’s a shame when the background music is solid, and the theme songs are such a miss. As for the characters, visually, only one caught my eye—and that’s just because I’ve had a soft spot for girls with pointy hats since Black Magician Girl. Personality-wise, though, none of them grabbed me. The main character was bland, and the girls around him, including the small/big demon lord, were forgettable. The comic relief from Jiron mostly fell flat. The knight Alistair had some potential but was quickly sidelined, and General E Rudole was interesting for a couple of episodes, though it looks like the story might keep him around. The plot itself was a bit of a rollercoaster. There were moments that mildly piqued my interest, especially when the author dabbled in strategy, but more often, it was a mix of tired clichés and dull stretches. In the end, I’d call this a slightly below-average anime. I’m not sure if I care enough to see where it goes next—probably a 4.4/10 for me. (11.09.2024)