The most apparent flaw of the show is that the plot is rushed. There is just too much stuff happening for a series of only 12 episodes, and as a result it is hard to follow the story. The pacing is also inconsistent. There are some episodes where the story goes too fast and it feels like random stuff happening on the screen, and others, such as episode 6 (the inevitable beach episode) and episode 8, where almost nothing of importance happens and the plot barely progresses.
The other major flaw of the series is its randomness: the protagonist’s fanboy becoming a bootleg iron man; ninjas fighting against mages; people dressed like warriors from the japanese middle ages using machine guns; tentacle monsters that look like they come from a hentai; a bad guy who is a masochist; a villain who is a pervert and attempts to rape a child… To sum up: things seem to happen for no goddamn reason. This is even more the case in the few last episodes, which are a complete shit fest. It is pretty obvious that this anime is stupid and random on purpose, but even so, does that make it good? It doesn’t! Randomness isn’t necessarily comical.
Regarding how magic works in this series, don’t expect anything new or interesting: it is lazy and nonsensical. As in any fantasy series like this, magic is nothing more than re-branded SF elements: telepathy equals magic phone calls, magic circles make a cheap replacement for helicopters as they can make people fly, and there’s even teleportation. What’s next? Magic coffee machines?
There is little to no explanation as to why magic can do so much. It is also never explained how modern science (or futuristic science, since there are androids) and magic coexist.
What about the characters, then? Well, sadly, they aren’t that great. Sai Akuto is the stereotype of the naive, kind and idealist protagonist who has all of the girls at his feet but prefers to stay a virgin. Junko is just your typical tsundere. Korone is the archetype of the girl who seems emotionless and speaks in a monotone voice, similar to Arin in Trinity Seven and Re=L in Roku de Nashi Majutsu Koushi to Akashic Records, to name a few other garbage series. Soga Keina is the “genki” girl who is also childish, dumb and annoying. In a nutshell, the characters are boring stereotypes.
By the way, the female characters aren’t even that cute, which is pretty problematic since this anime is a ecchi.
The technical aspects didn’t manage to save the show. The production value is very average. The animation is too inconsistent. There are a few episodes where it is alright, but in most episodes it is jerky and ugly, and it gets worse as the show progresses. The only character who has a decent character design is the protagonist, the others are all generic and dull. Magic in this anime looks like what you would find in any other lazy fantasy anime: cheap and shiny magic circles. Smoke and explosions often look like the type of special effects you would find in an amateur youtube video from 2011. The backgrounds don’t look ugly but they are forgettable. There is also some CGI for trains and such, though it isn’t too invasive.
The voice acting is mostly okay, but some of the characters have irritating voices. Regarding the background music, it is shit. The main theme and its variations that are repeated multiple times throughout the show are particularly cheesy and ridiculous.
In conclusion, Ichiban Ushiro no Daimaou is a failed comedy anime that must be avoided.
SUB-SCORE EXPLANATIONS:
Animation: sometimes jerky and ugly, sometimes alright; dull and generic character designs; cheap SFX; minor use of CGI; decent backgrounds → 5/10
Sound: decent VA; some irritating voices; horrendous BGM → 5/10
Story: random, stupid and rushed plot; bad world-building; lazy magic system → 3/10
Character: all generic and boring → 3/10
Enjoyment: only enjoyed the first episode; no historical value whatsoever; no re-watchability; no sentimental value → 3/10
Overall: 3/10
