Review of Record of Grancrest War

This is another way of how to tell a story – one long summary. Within 24 episodes, you tell everything, starting with the humble beginnings, where a young and talented mage girl meets a lowly hedge knight and forms a partnership with him, all along to the ultimate end, where they unify all people, become the emperors of the whole world, end the bloody wars, terminate the dark forces, and take an early retirement to withdraw to their chateau and become whine makers. A lot of story that is, and consequently the story is rushing along much more than anything you would expect from aTV show.

If you are able to go along with this pace, if you accept that there is not much time for character studies or extensive discussion of tactics and strategies, you get an entertaining fantasy story with a number of ups (and rather few downs, as there aren’t really many setbacks for our protagonists). Foes become friends, allies become traitors, Prince Charming with the golden locks finally demonstrates his skills as a warlord, and there is a “merrily ever after” for all (I don’t think this is a spoiler for anybody, right?)

Okay, much more, so much more could have been done with this very unique relationship formed between our heroes, the young woman with great magical talent and even bigger political skills, and the idealistic knight who more than once appears somewhat overwhelmed by the sheer force of this woman who decided to support and even love him. But, hey, you get a cute talking cat (black, of course), and a viking king dying in a battle scene bloodier than the entire Elfen Lied. This should – and I really don’t mean this in a condescending way – be more appealing to most anime lovers anyway, right?