New World, Some Old Crap
- Episodes : 12
- Genre : Fantasy, Harem
- Airing Date : Jul 2018 to Sep 2018
- Studios : EMT²
Contains Spoilers
Hyakuren no Haou to Seiyaku no Valkyria (The Master of Ragnarok & Blesser of Einherjar) Introduction and Story
Ladies and gentlemen, we have ourselves another isekai series. If Summer 2018's anime lineup is anything to go by, there is no such thing as too much of a good thing. An accumulation of most of the tropes associated with this subgenre, Hyakuren no Haou to Seiyaku no Valkyria was never destined to win an award for originality. Nevertheless, many series have been able to create something worthwhile by combining familiar components. Pushed into trying an urban legend with his childhood friend, Yuuto Suou is whisked away to another world based on old Norse myths. Armed with only his school knowledge of history and a functioning smartphone, Yuuto must use his wits to unite the Wolf Clan and raise them to prominence. Along the way, the protagonist amasses a collection of waifus who simply cannot resist the teenager's charm and wit!
1. Low Hanging Fruit
Isekai series can be divided into two categories: with or without a harem element. Luckily, most anime's posters tend to showcase whether they adhere to the former or latter. Hyakuren no Haou to Seiyaku no Valkyria's key visuals surround Yuuto with seven girls so the harem aspect was unquestionably meant to serve as the main selling point. Regardless of personal preference, every genre can be executed well or poorly, and EMT²'s anime falls somewhere in the middle. Be it twins or a sex-crazed blonde, Hyakuren no Haou to Seiyaku no Valkyria throws everything and the kitchen sink at Yuuto's manhood. If nothing else, this anime opts against portraying its female cast as shy beacons of purity who are completely clueless regarding adult relations. For better or worse, most of the girls reach for the gold!
Are they the most varied or interesting bunch? Frankly, the girls' characterization seldom extends beyond their association with Yuuto, and they are essentially the protagonist's cheerleading squad. While a far cry from the best harem anime, Hyakuren no Haou to Seiyaku no Valkyria is serviceable.
1. Yuuto the Bland
Isekai Maou to Shoukan Shoujo no Dorei Majutsu and Overlord proved that a ridiculously overpowered main character can work in an isekai setting. Landing at the other end of the spectrum, Hyakuren no Haou to Seiyaku no Valkyria crafted one of the blandest protagonists to ever grace this subgenre. Yuuto has little in the way of personality or presence. If asked to highlight his defining attributes, the teenager can be described as relatively confident and levelheaded. Written to be a stand-in for the viewer, Yuuto is about as interesting as a voiceless MMORPG player character. Due to the anime launching two years after the kid was sucked into this world, any character development that might have arisen from this shocking turn of events is completely skipped over. Yuuto is simply infallible and untouchable, but for no real reason. Apparently, a smartphone with access to Wikipedia and a middle school education is more than enough to subjugate an entire nation. Later episodes expand upon Yuuto's arrival and gradual rise to power, but the teenager's behavior remains basically the same throughout the entire series.
2. The Novice of Action
After watching the pilot episode's opening five minutes, it instantly becomes apparent why "action" was not listed as a genre. Hyakuren no Haou to Seiyaku no Valkyria's fight choreography is downright laughable. With the exception of Jian Wangchao, EMT² has never produced an action series and the studio's greenness is evident for everyone to see. Heavy on CGI and light on excitement, the animation ruins any potential confrontation before a sword can even be swung. If good fights are akin to a perfectly paced ballet, then Hyakuren no Haou to Seiyaku no Valkyria's battles are equivalent to drunks swinging their arms around aimlessly while praying that everything is forgotten came the morning sun. The action is a relatively minor part of the series, but the opening episode launches with a terrible battle and things only get worse from there.
Final Thoughts
The Master of Ragnarok & Blesser of Einherjar was sent down by the anime gods to lift up its contemporaries. In comparison with this series' animation, Overlord III's drop in quality is nearly forgivable. Sword Art Online's Kirito might not be the most three-dimensional protagonist to ever grace the small screen, but he is not Yuuto Suou. The Master of Ragnarok & Blesser of Einherjar exists to remind everyone that lower lows can always be reached.
Did you agree with our review? Is Hyakuren no Haou to Seiyaku no Valkyria a trip worth taking? Please let us know in the comments below!
Author: Mark Sammut
