English Dub Review: Black Summoner: “Daughter of the Demon King”

Overview: Kelvin (Van Barr Jr.), Gerard (Bruce Carey), Clotho (Mary Morgan) and Efil (Bev Megato) make their final stand against the powerful demon, Victor

Our Take: The time for chitchat is done with Kelvin and his party going all out against Victor. Animation starts off less than ideal with various still frames and nothing especially interesting, with ironically the CG on Gerard being the most lively figure in the battle. Kelvin and the gang’s strategic teamwork would be more impressive if the demon, and Kelvin at times, didn’t constantly narrate what’s occurring on screen or how they are feeling during the heat of battle. It’s almost like a nervous tick, one that takes away from the momentum of combat.

Surprisingly, the CG visuals became the MVP in the fight, working in concert with much more fluid 2D animation delivering the most vibrancy, motion wise, in their coordinated team attack against Victor’s final form. Victor, unsurprisingly due to how telegraphed it was, saved the demon king’s daughter because of his love and allegiance to her. His years of training her were sweet in how he was strict yet caring and her isolation to a mansion is saddening. Sera’s seal only being able to be broken by a human is a convenient way of giving Kelvin a way to help. Victor not merely asking Kelvin to break the seal is another hair brained detail that results in the forced hardship of his demise. At least, Victor’s dying wish in setting her free and making her wishes come true results in a heartfelt beginning to her life but bitter end to his. 

After a brief reprieve and more insane leveling up from Gerard, Sera’s childlike wonderment at the various aspects of the world is an endearing way of getting her feet wet in the world. There is more narration from Kelvin summarizing other character connections and lighthearted developments, like Claire and Urd being married or Claire and Efil being competitive in their cooking. Truth be told, it is just plain lazy when having actual conversations of levity or critical character ones, like Sera interacting with people and getting accustomed to the outside world, would have been much more effective as it builds the friendships and relationships among party members and the supporting cast. The series is in desperate need of more personal and/or jovial moments, such as Kelvin and the gang teasing Gerard after their battle, rather than just telling us about them. Sera’s new lease on life, thankful for Victor and her father’s protection and guidance, is a warm and loving sentiment to end on. Hopefully, we get more genuine building moments like these later on that are not reduced to a Wikipedia summary.