Probably the most fascinating decisions that got here out of the customization Overlord IV is that the sequence skipped a whole arc—two whole mild novels price of story. This left a bizarre hole between episodes seven and eight of that sequence—the place we go from Ainz coping with dwarves and dragons to establishing the ultimate battle in opposition to the Re-Estize Kingdom. In the meantime, numerous characters speak concerning the off-screen occasions within the Roble Holy Kingdom. This movie fills that hole.
Overlord: The Holy Kingdom is instructed virtually fully from the angle of latest character Neia Baraja. In stark distinction to the sequence, we by no means hear Ainz’s inside ideas (apart from just a few moments halfway by means of the movie). This permits us to see Ainz extra clearly by means of Neia’s eyes. We do not know why Ainz does what he does, and Neia’s interpretation appears logical, despite the fact that we all know there must be extra to it. It is a new twist on the storytelling, the place we do not be taught the reality till the credit roll.
It helps that Neia is a superb character. She begins out as a misfit paladin, and we watch step-by-step as she is radicalized into Ainz’s most fervent human believer. Within the course of, she turns into a hero—not a paladin of the previous, however one match for the darkish instances that await her kingdom.
And that brings us to the movie’s important thematic exploration: the character of justice. If the Roble Holy Kingdom needed to be described in a single phrase, it will be “chivalry.” They’re all about dealing with evil head on and defending the weak and helpless.
Remedios Custodio, the pinnacle of the paladins, believes wholeheartedly on this concept of justice: if she is sweet and pure sufficient, the proper resolution might be discovered. Whereas this has been true for many of her life, Jaldabaoth’s invasion has proven it to be the naive dream that it’s. Nearly instantly, the half-human invaders abuse the paladins’ ethical code and start utilizing human youngsters as hostages, realizing that the respectable knights won’t be able to do what it takes to win.
Whereas Remedios refuses to bow to the chilly arithmetic of struggle—that generally you have to sacrifice just a few in order that the various might survive—Neia is continually trying to find a brand new, extra sensible interpretation of justice. It’s in Ainz that she finds her new ideally suited.
The Sorcerer King is a strolling oxymoron: humanity’s pure enemy who will do something to assist a struggling human kingdom. Again and again, he steps in to assist Neia and her widespread allies, although this weakens him for the approaching battle with Jaldabaoth. By means of him, she involves imagine that justice can not exist with out the ability to again it up. But energy itself is just not justice both. It’s energy used for the great of others that’s true justice. In her eyes, then, Ainz is the personification of that ideally suited: an undead god of justice strolling amongst humanity. The movie is just the battle between Neia’s ideally suited, if impotent, type of justice and that of Ainz, personified by Neia. It makes for a battle each bit as thrilling because the one between Ainz and Jaldabaoth.
Luckily, the story isn’t all doom and gloom and thematic exploration. Within the second half of the movie, Neia is separated from Ainz, compelled to combat for her individuals with out him. She’s not alone, nonetheless. On this portion of the movie, Neia bonds with the demon maid CZ2128 they usually type an unlikely friendship. It offers some levity in an in any other case grotesque, miserable movie. Plus, it reveals that the previous NPC residents of Nazarak can type private bonds and even friendships with the individuals of this world—and never simply use them as chess items within the recreation of world domination. Positive, this requires a fawning devotion to Ainz to even start to put the groundwork, however at the least there’s some hope for humanity sooner or later.
Visually, some scenes stood out for his or her extraordinarily graphic content material, however there have been none that basically stood out technically. The animation high quality of the movie is just above common. There are not any drops in high quality, whether or not it is an action-packed scene or nothing various speaking heads. It is effectively directed and effectively animated, a excessive level for the sequence that makes the soar to the large display really feel deserved. And as for the music, it is precisely what you’d anticipate, a gothic-sounding orchestra with a theme tune composed by sequence common Tom Hack.
However as strong as this movie is, there’s a little bit of an elephant within the room. These acquainted with the novels will discover various abridgements and adjustments. A few of these work nice, just like the aforementioned limitation of the standpoint to Neia, whereas others, just like the time compression of some occasions and the whole omission of others, oversimplify the political scenario and go away Neia a bit much less developed than she must be. Whereas I did benefit from the ultimate product, a part of me needs this arc had gotten the TV therapy, if just for the added flexibility in runtime. However who is aware of, possibly it would Demon Slayer: Mugen Prepare therapy and can obtain a extra intensive TV model sooner or later.
Lastly, Overlord: The Holy Kingdom is a superb viewing expertise. It has a enjoyable plot, memorable characters, and pleasing thematic exploration. It’s undoubtedly price watching for many who take pleasure in Overlord—and its nature as a one-off story in a brand new location makes it excellent for even lapsed followers. There’s a purpose this is without doubt one of the sequence’ hottest storylines, and the movie captures the essence of the story expertly—even when a bit of an excessive amount of was left on the slicing room flooring.
