The idea of being trapped inside a video game is nothing new; it's a concept popularized by series like Sword Art Online, and while many would say that Log Horizon is a rip-off of Sword Art Online, it's clear that this is untrue. The only thing they have in common is the premise--past that, Log Horizon takes a very drastic turn from the norm with this kind of story, focusing on the human side of things instead of the action.
The story of Log Horizon takes place in Elder Tale, a very popular MMORPG which mirrors its maps and settings after the real world. On a certain day, known as The Apocalypse, anyone who had an account with Elder Tale were sucked into this game, unable to escape. Amongst them is Shiroe, an Enchanter and a strategist. With the help of his allies Akatsuki and Naotsugu, they try to figure out this new world that was once Akihabara.
The animation quality is very well done for the series. Character designs are distinct from one another, and have very clean and clear movements. However, aside from the first episode, there isn’t too much action in this series, which can be disappointing for some. There are battles throughout the story, but the animation can feel limited at times, and not all that detailed.
Again, Log Horizon isn’t really an action-based show; from early on, the story is about the strategy, creating a society, and what it means to be human. It talks more about the ethics of war than actually showing any kind of war. This can be confusing with that opening sequence, which looks well-done and gets you pumped to watch, but just doesn't feel right with most of the content that follows. The final arc of the show doesn’t feel very climactic, but some will forgive the fact because of the context of the plot in the final episodes.
Much of the cast start out very simply, almost stereotypically, but they quickly grow into well-fleshed out characters. Shiroe, at first, comes off as someone very closed-off, only opening himself to a limited number of people. As the story goes on though, you discover that it’s his experience inside Elder Tale that made him that way, making him more sympathetic over time. You watch him grow as he becomes a strategist and the leader of his own guild.
If Shiroe is the mind of the group, then Akatsuki represents the soul and Naotsugu the body. His two companions start out almost as simply as Shiroe, but they grow alongside him as well. While one may be shown more prominently than the other, that doesn’t mean that one is superior to the other. Throughout the show, you see that the three of them need each other not only to survive in Elder Tale, but to keep their sanity intact.
What’s really surprising about Log Horizon is that the supporting cast is just as colorful as the main cast. Whether it's a swashbuckler who happens to be of a race of cats, or a guild leader who isn’t quite as grown up as she thinks, they all bring something special to the show. Even characters that just seem like bait to get hardcore otakus into the show end up breaking that mold, and are fleshed out into unique personalities. When the show comes to its end, there are very few characters who feel unnecessary or undeveloped.
Another strength of Log Horizon was that it actually felt like these people were stuck in an MMORPG. Each episode clarifies the kind of world they are in, and it never breaks stride. They also use mechanics often seen in these kinds of games that may be hard to translate into an anime, and use it very creatively.
Though Log Horizon may not be the action-packed sort of show, it’s a clear stand-out from the others with regards to what it attempts to do. It breaks a lot of tropes associated with this kind of story, and the tropes that they do keep, they play with them and eventually make them feel real. It's got a colorful and unique supporting cast that drives the story, and it's a plot that stands well without additional seasons.
 |