Successfully adapting a video game into an anime series is no easy feat. One of the biggest appeals of a video game is the sense of agency given to the player. An anime just can’t replicate this, nor can it provide the ability to fully-customize the story’s main protagonists — a key feature that helped make players of Dragon’s Dogma feel like they were part of its story.
On the flip side, having a bank of lore from which to draw can make it easier to shape the project into something that fans will enjoy. Switching to a purely visual medium can also allow writers to focus on the narrative without having to worry about how it fits in with the combat engine and other in-game mechanics.
The Dragon’s Dogma Netflix series does a fairly decent job of balancing these predicaments. Whilst it might not live up to the lofty heights of Netflix’s Castelvania series, there’s plenty to like about it. Sadly, there’s plenty to dislike too.
10 Disliked: It’s Too Short
Given the somewhat niche material on which the show is based, the decision not to commit to a 13 episode season is perhaps understandable. Unfortunately, the short run-time makes Dragon’s Dogma feel like a show that’s merely dipping its toes into the water rather than one that’s trying to make a splash.
Seven episodes just aren’t nearly enough to unpack the ambitious narrative concocted by the show’s writers. As a consequence, things often feel shallow and rushed, and a lot of the main story beats lack any real impact. Both viewers and the show’s characters themselves would have really benefited from having a bit more time to reflect on key events. Instead, they’re forced to plow ahead to the story’s conclusion, come what may.
9 Loved: The Story
It would have been very easy for the show’s writers to stick rigidly to the game’s story. Their decision to make the show’s story their own therefore deserves some credit, even if some fans might not appreciate some of the creative liberties that were taken.
Pacing issues aside, the story told through the show is a compelling one. It’s also in keeping with the themes and ideas carried forward from the game. It feels like more Dragon’s Dogma, rather than just a rehashing of a story that’s already been told.
8 Disliked: The Animation
CGI is something of a divisive topic in anime. It’s come a long way since its inception, but many anime fans still feel that it lacks the charm found in hand-drawn animation. It’s also generally seen as a cheaper alternative, although there are certainly examples of high-budget shows going down the CGI route.
None of this is to say that all CGI anime is inherently bad, but sadly, Dragon’s Dogma is more Berserk 2016 than it is Land of the Lustrous. There’s a very noticeable disconnect between some of the show’s key elements and the dragons look as though they were rendered on a turn-of-the-century iMac. It’s by no means unwatchable, but it sure does leave a lot to be desired.
7 Loved: The Soundtrack
As with the game that preceded it, Dragon’s Dogma features a soundtrack that hits all the right notes. Tadayoshi Makino returns to the series, bringing with him a varied selection of melodic pieces that serve as the punctuation for all of the show’s key events. His new material is backed up by a selection of tracks from the original game’s OST. This helps to provide a sense of familiarity to long-term fans.
There are times when the score singlehandedly carries the show; managing to evoke emotion from viewers when the ham-fisted writing fails to do so.
6 Disliked: The Lack Of Character Development
Dragon’s Dogma features a large cast of characters, but very little time is spent actually getting to know them. Many of the show’s side characters are killed off almost immediately after being introduced and those who stick around are rarely explored in any great detail.
Even Ethan, the show’s main protagonist, feels superficial and a little generic to boot. The way that he responds to the events unfolding around him and the speed with which he recovers from major setbacks are seldom convincing. For the most part, it feels as though his actions are driven more by narrative necessity than his own internal motivations. This makes him a very difficult character to relate to, or even like.
5 Loved: Hannah
Pawns played a pivotal role in the game and so it’s perhaps fitting that Hannah was one of the show’s best characters. She’s one of the few characters that really goes through a proper arc and her skills in combat help to keep the action scenes lively.
Casting Erica Mendez for the voice of Hannah was a real stroke of genius too. She delivers a consistently excellent performance throughout the series and does a wonderful job of mimicking the tone of pawns found in the game. Sometimes a voice actor is able to perfectly capture their character’s essence — and that is certainly the case here.
4 Disliked: The Voice Filtering
David Lodge was one of the stand-out performers in the Dragon’s Dogma game. His portrayal of Grigori was full of intensity and malice, making it clear to players that he was not to be trifled with. Fans were therefore delighted when it was announced that Lodge would be reprising his role for the anime adaptation.
Unfortunately, Lodge’s brilliance is lost as a result of the bizarre decision to filter his voice throughout the show. There’s nearly no trace of the qualities that made Grigori such a formidable character in the video game. In fact, at times it felt like a different voice actor altogether.
3 Loved: The Themed Episodes
Basing each of the series’ episodes on one of the seven deadly sins was an interesting premise and one which helped to rebalance some of the show’s pacing issues. Although a few of the sins felt a little forced (here’s looking at you, ‘Pride’), each episode functions as its own stand-alone story whilst also fitting in nicely with the show’s overall narrative.
2 Disliked: The Lack Of World Building
Having source material to refer back to can make things a lot easier for writers. It also has the potential to become a crutch. When it comes to fleshing out the world and lore of Dragon’s Dogma, the latter definitely seems to have been the case.
The show dedicates very little time to explaining key elements of the series, with it often feeling like the show’s writers were banking on viewers having also played the game. Whilst this might not be an issue for those who had, it leaves a lot of questions for viewers who are unfamiliar with the series.
1 Loved: The Opening Titles
Although the animation throughout the show may have been a little shaky, the opening titles for Dragon’s Dogma are a joy to behold. When combined with Tadayoshi Makino’s exhilarating score, the menacing imagery and slow camera crawls help to create a feeling of unease that sets up the show perfectly.
It’s just a shame that this level of visual fidelity was mainly limited to a 30 second intro sequence. Hopefully, Netflix gives the show a second season to improve in this area, although fans might just prefer a second game instead.
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