Ragnarok: The Animation, First Quest

Joseph Luster December 27, 2007

The opening moments of Ragnarok‘s first episode cracked me up for all the wrong reasons. A group of adventurers are hanging out around a campfire, some dozing off; when one of them suddenly notices he’s alone. Everything is eerily quiet and his companions are nowhere to be found. The silence doesn’t last too long, however, because big, grimy monster mitts pop out from behind him and pull him into a circle of orcs. Before he can speak, they hack him to bits, snarling and grunting as they bring their axes down and BAM! Cue the cheery J-pop opening theme, fluttering doves, and the lyrical gumdrops “We are the staaaars!”

Maybe I just have a really morbid sense of humor.

Once we’re introduced to our initial young adventurers, Roan and Yufa, we learn that the pre-credits savagery is becoming a widespread dilemma. Monsters are turning more and more violent for reasons unknown (my guess is because they’re, um, monsters), and natural disasters are ripping the world apart, signaling the End Times. The only way to save people from this soul crushing reality, of course, is to form a band of ragtag adventurers bent on helping those in need and righting the wrongs thrust upon the world.

Sounds like a hefty duty, but Roan and Yufa are that much more able as their party increases in size. The blindfolded magician, Takius, is the first brave soul they meet, as she aids them in the destruction of their first monster: a giant clockwork beast looking to ravage the town for a group of ne’er-do-wells. This is all deftly animated by Gonzo, with whom we anime fans are no doubt well acquainted. Although their computerized cel-work is something that all but rules the industry, it still manages to look slick enough to favor it over limp, talking head alternatives. Still, it would be nice to see some new television animation that doesn’t glow with that certain radioactive Photoshop gleam.

It’s hard to say whether or not Ragnarok is something that fans of the MMO, or even Myung-Jin Lee’s manhwa, will enjoy. Really, it’s a pretty universal and, admittedly, somewhat generic take on fantasy role-playing games. Anyone familiar with RPGs will be right at home once Yufa starts casting a heal spell on Roan and his body is surrounded by a pale green glow; the only thing that’s missing are the rising numerals of experience and the plink-plink of dropped spoils.

If the premise fits your fancy, there are an impressive nine episodes on this first volume, spread over two discs. This gives the viewer plenty of time to get acquainted with the colorful setting and an ever-increasing cast of characters that are likable-if not a tad uninspired in their design-and decide whether or not they’ll want to stick around for the remaining seventeen. It’s certainly not a bad show by any means; just one that runs its wagon wheels firmly in the well-worn grooves of Fantasy Road. Anyone that finds themselves scrambling for a keyboard or controller during the process might just want to take advantage of the free month subscription to the Ragnarok online game provided therein, sure to cure anyone with an itchy potion finger.