Review of No Game, No Life: Zero

***EDIT!!! I've now seen the film twice. In my second viewing I was able to pretty much assure what I put down in this review originally was pretty close to my feelings towards the film. However there is a change to the “characters” category. My new thoughts will be listed under the original paragraph.*** I'm going to put spoilers at the end/bottom of the review. They will have a number associated with them that I will use throughout the review so that you will not be spoiled but can at least see what I am referencing at the end/bottom if you wish to learn more aboutmy points.

Let me start this review by pointing out my standing with the series. I have not read any of the LN volumes but I am a huge fan of the tv series (at this point in time only one season). The tv series in my opinion is one of the greatest assemblies of elements I've seen brought together for a complete season of anime. Looks, sounds, feels, and flows so greatly that I try to recommend it whenever possible as long as the potential viewer is ok with the fanservice.

So now we get to the film; I'm super conflicted on it. As a fan of the tv series, I'm glad we get to see more about the history of this world. At the same time however, the end product of the film feels...haphazard.

Story: 2/10

The main issue I have with the film is its pacing. Due to point (1) and (2), the first two thirds of the film drags while the final third feels super rushed. For a film that is supposed to be about “the devastating war-like history of Disboard before games ruled all”, I was severely disappointed that so much time was dedicated towards points (1) and (2). This leads us further into the main issue of the film:

Did this film really need to exist? Prequel films/series can be an interesting tool to expand on the world and characters of an established series. In the case of this series however, I honestly feel like the film has lessened the experience of the series as a whole. When watching the tv series (and not reading the LN), you have this vague understanding of how the world worked before everything was ruled by games. Things are brought up about the past events but you are never given the full story. This works really well with keeping you interested in both the world and the other factions/races. To see how these other factions/races have adapted to the new rules in the world was what made the tv series so interesting and enjoyable to watch.

With that out of the way, I can actually talk about why I feel that the film has lessened the overall No Game No Life series for me. The film takes 2 hours to essentially show point (3). Yeah there are some cool battle scenes along the way (which almost all of reside in the final act of the film) but their meaning at the time is essentially thrown away with how the film ended. Even the sort of build up leading to the events of the last part of the film (4) seem meaningless due to the way the film ends.

Long story short, due to the way the final act of the film was paced and structured, it makes the rest of the film seem like a real waste of time.

Visual Elements: 10/10

It's getting really hard to fathom what constitutes for a 10/10 perfect score in terms of visuals. There have been so many films that have come out in the past 5 or so years that just keep upping the bar on how gorgeous an animated film can look like. With No Game No Life Zero, it just looks so absolutely astounding every frame of the film. It retains the artstyle and coloring scheme of the tv series with the exception being when the film is taking place in the barren parts of the world. These areas also look great and their more dull and lifeless appearance works well to contrast the living areas for the humans (which looks more like what we are used to in the tv series).

I really am blown away with how great the characters and coloring is in this film. All the character models are gorgeous and the No Game No Life color scheme just looks so beautiful and fitting in every scene. The animation is also silky smooth. Whether it is a fight/action scene or a dialogue one, the animation is on-point.

Sound: 9.7/10

I've brought this up in other review but it's important for this section (especially since it is a film); you have 2 different types of scores (musical soundtrack):

One that stays hidden, in the background. It helps keep the audience in check with what is going on visually while not taking over control.

The other which absolutely takes control and dictates emotions almost more than the visuals. This method can backfire as it can come off as cheesy, overbearing, and/or too forceful but when done right can yield much better results than method 1.

No Game No Life Zero pretty much stays within the realm of method 2. The score is there 100% of the time trying to convey what is presently going on in the film. The orchestral parts are very fitting and very beautiful/powerful. I never felt like the music was out of place (other than possibly during the point (2) scenes).

The sound design of the battles and the other miscellaneous things were very, very good. They didn't rely on loud, distorted noises to show extreme moments (cough cough Fate/Apocrypha cough cough). Instead, it seems like they really took the time to flesh out the sound effects for each attack and each moment.

Finally, the voice actors were absolutely on point. With the bulk amount of screentime going towards Schwi and Riku, their performances were spot-on.

Characters: Original Score: 7.5/10; Revised Score: 4/10

This is where the faults in the story section really bother me; there were a lot of really cool character interactions and moments in the film that are just ruined by the points I have already brought up. The atmosphere that surrounds Schwi, Riku, and Couronne is just so much fun to watch. Also while extremely short, the moments between Riku and a certain race's leader as well as Schwi moments with a certain recurring character from the tv series were really well done. It is just unfortunate then that they feel meaningless once you reach the end of the film.

***Second viewing opinions***
So after seeing this film for a second time (in theaters both times), I have to say that the characters are still endearing and have lots of really great moments with each other. However, due to the pacing and overwhelming focus on the two main characters (thus taking the spotlight away from the other elements of the film) I have to reduce my original 7.5/10 score for the characters. I think that while the interactions were great, they were actually more meaningless than I originally thought. If the film was split into two; one for just MCs character development and one for what was essentially the rushed last third of the film, it would be a different story. However what we see is what we got. I'm reducing the score down to a 4/10.

Overall: Original Score: 7.4/10; Revised Score: 6.4/10

In a lot of ways, this film gave me similar feelings that I had once I had watched Finding Dory. While an enjoyable experience, the end result begs the question, “...was that film necessary?” I just worry that, like in my case, you will end up feeling like the film was unnecessary and sort of lessens the cool “air of mystery” feeling that the tv series has. I love the tv series and at some point want to read the LN but this film just felt like a real waste of time. My recommendation, watch the tv series first so that you get that “air of mystery” feeling. Then, if you want more, go watch the film with low expectations.

Enjoyment: 6/10

Thanks for reading my review! If you liked my writing style, would like to see some other reviews, or just want to talk, please stop by my page!

Sincerely,
Awesome Drummer

Spoilers key:

(1) The whole first half of the film drags on with the focus of Schwi and Riku. I get that they are the main driving force for humanity but the pacing felt really slow compared to the clusterfuck that was the ending third of the film. Also:

(2) the marriage between Schwi and Riku seems so unnecessary. We already understand (due to the amount of character development you showed us in the first half of the film) that there is a strong bond between Schwi and Riku. You do not have to hammer this thought on with more screen time dedicated to this element. It really felt like someone was beating my head with the hammer of emotion way longer than what was necessary (more-so than the SAO film's kissing scene that didn't need to happen).

(3) The whole film is to get one scene of Tet rising to power. You see hints of him in a couple of scenes but he doesn't appear until Riku calls out to Tet to make things better. A whole film did not need to exist to show this one scene. In a way, this ending makes the whole film feel meaningless and, in a way, lessens the whole “air of mystery” the tv series has when alluding to the events during the film's time-period.

(4) Because of point (3), the build up revolving around Riku convincing the other factions to leave the continent (which by the way was also rushed) is meaningless and has a very low overall impact due to other mechanics in the film.

(5) The whole thing with Schwi and Riku carving their names on Couronne's stone is meaningless (have not read the LN; it might have meaning later on). Essentially its purpose in the film is for a small scene at the end of the film where (back in present time) Izuna takes Steph's stone to see if the names are really there. That's it.

(6) Did Schwi and Riku really have to look like Shiro and Sora? I get that they are supposed to be reincarnated forms of Schwi and Riku but man the fact that three of the main characters in this film look almost exactly like three main characters in the tv series (the other being Couronne looking like Steph) is just not doing it for me.