Watch How Not to Summon a Demon Lord

How Not to Summon a Demon Lord is a popular anime television series that originally aired on AT-X in 2018. The series is built around Takuma Sakamoto, a gamer who spends most of his time playing the MMORPG Cross Reverie that has a fantasy setting. At the height of his gaming prowess, Takuma is suddenly summoned into the world of Cross Reverie, which he later finds out to be real and finds himself trapped in his game character role, Diablo, a demon lord afraid of social interactions.

While in the demon lord's body, Takuma soon meets with two girls who claim to have summoned him, Rem Galleu, and Shera L. Greenwood. Rem is a Pantherian, while Shera is an elf princess, and they both hope to form a contract with Diablo and gain his power. However, Takuma's character abilities and tremendous strength are not the only factors at play because he still cannot bring himself to interact with others. It is thus up to Rem and Shera to help Diablo hide his difficulties and display his demonic powers to the real world where he is. In this alternate reality, Takuma adopts the persona of Diablo, a devil king which puts Rem and Shera in awe and admiration as they seek to earn his affection and approval.

The show is centered on Takuma, but Rem and Shera take up significant portions of the narrative as well. Rem is strong, level-headed, and determined to protect her friends and the people around her at all costs. In contrast, Shera is elvishly charming, kind-hearted, and all about socializing, and she's aggressive in her attempts to seduce Diablo. The two girls are from opposite ends of the spectrum, but their differences add to the show's charm, providing an interesting dynamic and allowing them to work together for a common goal.

The characters' stories aside, How Not to Summon a Demon Lord is a beautifully animated show featuring incredibly detailed fight scenes and world-building that captures the RPG's feel the show is based on. The world of Cross Reverie, where the series takes place, is awe-inspiring, featuring towering cities, sprawling wildernesses, and various surrounding villages and hamlets. Cross Reverie is a fully-realized fantasy world, filled with all sorts of mythical creatures like dragons, goblins, and demons.

One of the most beautiful things about the show is how it balances fanservice with story and action. There are plenty of moments in the show where the female characters are scantily clothed, and many shots are clearly intended to show off their curves. However, these moments are relatively short, and they never last long enough to feel tacky. Further, the action scenes and dramatic moments provide a welcome counterbalance to the fanservice, ensuring that the show is a complete experience and not just a piece of eye-candy.

In summary, How Not to Summon a Demon Lord is a fantasy anime series that perfectly captures the aura of a classic MMORPG, while still providing enough substance and depth to keep the audience engaged. The combination of Takuma's experiences, Rem's stalwart determination, and Shera's eagerness to please offers a unique dynamic that fans of the fantasy genre will find enchanting. Additionally, the show's animation and fight scenes elevate it from just another anime into an immersive spectacle. Ultimately, How Not to Summon a Demon Lord is a fun, entertaining, and engaging piece of animation that ticks all the boxes of a great fantasy anime.

How Not to Summon a Demon Lord is a series that is currently running and has 2 seasons (22 episodes). The series first aired on July 5, 2018.