CB Anime Review: Log Horizon

If you watch enough anime, you begin to notice certain archetype characters, meaning that though they are in different types of anime, they have very similar traits, goals, ideas, etc.  For a lot of action/adventure animes, you find these archetypes in their protagonists.  For example, you could have the headstrong, "ask questions later" type , or the "I didn't want to be involved in this situation but now that I am I want to do something" type, just to name two.  Now, there isn't anything wrong with these types of character and many of the anime protagonists that I love fall into one of these archetypes.  However, I do like it when I find a great anime with a protagonist that does things a little differently.  That is why I loved Shiroe, the main character in Log Horizon; probably my favorite anime of the 2013-2014 season.

Log Horizon takes place in a massively multiplayer online role-playing game, Elder Tale.  On the night that the game's 11th expansion was released, 30,000 Japanese players who were logged into the game, found themselves transported into Elder Tales, without a way to get out.  Now, this premise may sound pretty similar to a very popular anime that was released last year, Sword Art Online, but there are a few key differences that make this anime completely different.

• Players cannot die.  Unlike SAO where if players die in the game, they die in the game and in the real world, players in Elder Tale are brought back to life in the game.  This takes the fear of death out of the equation for the players in Elder Tales and is a key element of this story.
• Players actually have classes and sub-classes.  In SAO, pretty much everyone was the same class, and though they could level up in certain skills, everyone had the same opportunities to learn these skills.  Just like in a real MMO, each person in Log Horizon had a specific class and subclass, that granted them certain skills and abilities that other classes would not be able to obtain.  Magic and enchantments can also be used by players in Log Horizon.
• This is not an action-heavy show.  If you're looking for an anime with great battles in every single episode, you've come to the wrong show.  There are some great fight sequences, but most of the time, you are hearing the main character, Shiroe, breaking down the fight in his head.  It's really cool, but these fights are similar to what you would you would actually be experiencing if you were playing an MMORPG.  This however, does not take away from the excitement of the show.

So, now that you see the difference and have learned a bit about the world of Elder Tales, here's a breakdown of why I love this anime.

First off, the characters.  Though there is a good number of main and side characters, each one is memorable in their own way and even when they are not given much screen time in an episode, you still remember who they are and their role in the world.

If Shiroe does this, you know something big is about to go down

I'd like to focus on Shiroe, the main protagonist of the story.  As I said earlier, one of the reasons that I love him so much is that he is different from other action/adventure protagonists.  In the game, Shiroe is an Enchanter, someone uses magic to support his comrades.  It is a perfect role for him, since he has another important role, as a master strategist.  Shiroe does not fight on the front lines, rather, he is in the back, devising plans and schemes to handle the problems that plague the world of Elder Tales.  From coordinating battle strategies to rebuilding a society inside a video game, Shiroe is the man with a plan.  It's amazing to watch him work, and knowing that he will win in the end is one of the reasons that I kept coming back to this show.

The plot and major themes of Log Horizon are also another big draw to this show.  As I mentioned before, people cannot die in Elder Tales, so seeing how society reacts when death is no longer a part of their lives is very interesting to watch.  Also, as I stated earlier, this is not an action heavy show, but that doesn't mean that it isn't entertaining.  Watching how different groups of people try to accomplish various goals in an non-battle setting was also very cool to view.  Of course, it is Shiroe that makes all of this interesting, but don't worry, the show doesn't completely revolve around him.  There are also a lot of great side-plots and character interactions to keep you entertained!

In terms of art design, Log Horizon is pretty average in that department.  Everything looks beautiful, and there are some great uses of 3D imagery for certain parts of the show, but it isn't a masterpiece.  Still, everything is well designed and it delivered what was needed, so I'm fine with it.

What else is there to say about this anime.....hmmmmm... *snaps* oh ya, how about one of the BEST THEME SONGS OUT OF ANY ANIME I'VE EVERY WATCHED!  If you're worried that Log Horizon won't be super exciting, don't worry, the theme song, Database by Man with a Mission, will get you pumped for sure!  If you don't believe me, listen here.... (I apologize, this was the best one I could find that had the song and video and wasn't muted for dumb copyright reasons)...The ending song is also a fun little number as well, if you want to Youtube it! (I'm not going to do all the work for you).

There is a lot of great potential in Log Horizon, which is why I was ecstatic to learn that a second season would be coming out this Fall!  I can't wait to see this show, and I hope that you will take some time to watch it.  I was hooked on it after the first two episodes, but I'd recommend that you at least watch the first three in order to get the best understanding of the show!

Oh, and one final note, this is probably one of the more tame animes I've ever watched.  Seriously, the plot doesn't rely on nudity or other  ridiculousness to keep people interested.  There is one character who is a little *cough* offbeat, but it's all for comedy's sake, and it doesn't happen too often.......so, I would recommend this show to anyone, Christian or not, as long as they watch it knowing that it is anime and there's always the potential for weirdness.  (Ok, thinking about it again, there are a few offbeat characters, but they're still fun to watch and bring great comic relief to the show)

So, go and enjoy this anime, so that you can join me in getting ready for season 2!!!!!!! For now, I will leave you with this seizure inducing gif... listen to the opening theme if you want to understand.


Peace and Love