Overlord: The Sacred Kingdom opens in theaters November 8.
With any movie adaptation of a long-running anime series, there are always concerns about whether or not the limited runtime will do the source material justice. Unfortunately, Overlord: The Sacred Kingdom fails in that regard – it’s a disappointing, long-winded attempt to flesh out a story that the popular isekai show skipped over. The events of Overlord’s Holy Kingdom Arc and the introduction of new face Neia Baraja, unfortunately, lack any grand moments justifying its theatrical release.
With successes like Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Mugen Train and Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero, there are opportunities for some solid anime movies that fit alongside multi-season series. But The Sacred Kingdom makes me question why Madhouse went this route with Overlord. This long, dragging cycle of political plotting and scheming might have played better within a season, or a handful of special episodes. Those unfamiliar with Overlord lore will probably get lost in the way the movie revolves around the Sacred (or Holy) Kingdom and Neia as they seek help from Ainz Ooal Gown’s Sorcerer Kingdom in hopes of defeating the demon Jaldabaoth. Jaldabaoth also happens to secretly work for Ainz, the player who’s been stuck in the fictional MMORPG YGGDRASIL since the beginning of Overlord. It’s a lot to deal with.
That said, being familiar with Overlord doesn’t make The Sacred Kingdom any more enjoyable. It’s clear that the story needed to fit a two-hour runtime, and so the telling occasionally feels rushed. What seems to be a climactic battle arises in the first half, but before any meaningful action is shown, we’re hurried to the aftermath. Outside of one shocking scene, the movie serves primarily as a way to introduce viewers to new characters we’ll most likely see again in the TV series.
Much of these two hours are dedicated to Neia as she unenthusiastically follows the strongest fighter in the Holy Kingdom, Remedios; as The Sacred Kingdom progresses, we begin to see her grow fond of Ainz Ooal Gown, just like his followers have ever since he started this quest to find out why he was trapped in this other world. But Ainz’s arrangement with Jaldabaoth – who he’s in cahoots with in hopes of spreading his influence – renders a lot of these developments moot. The Holy Kingdom is just another pawn in the game of territorial chess that Ainz and the rest of the Sorcerer Kingdom have played throughout Overlord.
Knowing this takes a lot of the drama and meaning out of the movie. Neia’s perspective and her growth lay a good foundation for this storyline, but she’s never in any real danger – once Ainz grows to respect her, her survival is as certain as the undead king’s. In the end, a lot of the tension from the first act fades away into business as usual for the overwhelmingly powerful characters of Ainz’s kingdom. (Not that The Sacred Kingdom provides much of a showcase for the amazing magic we know Ainz is capable of.)
Madhouse brings Overlord’s signature gruesome horror to The Sacred Kingdom, alongside some awkward 3D animation whenever larger battles play out. (Also a staple of the show, unfortunately.) There are disturbing moments of characters writhing in distress while gore is splayed across the screen, but they don’t provide much beyond shock value. And although the instances of 3D animation are few and far between, it’s still jarring when they crop up.
Even though The Sacred Kingdom consists mostly of battle planning, political tactics, and heart-to-heart discussions, there are still times when the animation shows signs of potential. When Ainz assists Neia in a battle, they come upon a leader of the opposing forces who looks like a formidable challenge. As they rush into their duel, the animation, very briefly, appears to be ramping up to a magnificent clash – only for the movie to cut away from the action yet again. Later, what appears to be the big battle that closes out this saga is brought down by a dull mix of characters viewing the fight from afar and the combat itself not being visible aside from some explosions and spells. There’s potential for a cinematic epic set within the Overlord universe here, but The Sacred Kingdom lacks the follow-through to make it happen.
