If you think an anime involving the Gods of heaven would be peaceful and divine. Record of Ragnarok is definitely making a literal record in portraying that Gods are as imperfect as humans, and sometimes want to put an end to humankind.
The action-packed fantasy drama of Shinya Umemura and Takumi Fukui recently aired the final episodes for season two part one. Record of Ragnarok features the final battle between the Gods and humans. In this battle, the lives of the human race are at stake. The mastermind behind all of this is none other than the eldest of the thirteen Valkyries, Brunnhilde. The discussion is whether to give or not to give humans another 1000 years.
In an attempt to save the human race, Brunnhilde challenged the Gods in the first-ever Ragnarok to decide the final verdict. Humans vs. Gods? Well, just the thought of it makes you wanna check it out. Besides this anime proves that humans can definitely surpass the mighty Gods of heaven.
However, with two seasons, five battles in, and only eight to go, fans can’t help but share their opinions, criticism, and side comments as they watch the series. Of course, the anime isn’t perfect just like how they portray the divine beings in the series.
Check out Record of Ragnarok’s official trailer for season two:
Even with this, many still took the time to watch it, love it, and at the same time, look forward to it. But, the main problem is not that Record of Ragnarok became the talk of the town not solely for its good parts. So let’s talk about the negatives of the series first!
The Bad: Is Record of Ragnarok a Trash Adaptation?
When it was announced that Record of Ragnarok would finally be getting its well-deserved anime adaption, many were excited. However, the anticipated anime adaptation may have failed to reach expectations, especially for one specific reason – bad animation.
Here are two reasons why the series led some fans to call it an epic disaster:
- Poor Animation: After some episodes were aired, the series became trending on various platforms but not for good reasons. Many fans complained about how the fights were badly animated and that their expectations were completely crushed. The series was animated by Graphinica. Technically, the studio doesn’t have much work that actually reached a wide range of fans compared to those produced by Mad House or Studio Bones. In fact, many Youtubers released videos from their pages explaining how its animation went downhill. Comic Book Resources even highlighted that it was the studio’s lack of experience that resulted in Record of Ragnarok being half-heartedly produced by the animating studio. Take note that animation plays a huge part in any anime series.
Read More: How Incosistent Animation Is Affecting the Boruto Franchise
- Religious Criticism: The series is based on real-life mythologies and religions. However, if you are knowledgeable in terms of world religions, you’ll notice that mostly only their names were adopted. Each of the Gods stories and personalities was altered to make the plot better. However, some believers of these religions didn’t like it. One of the Gods that fans weren’t fond of because of his portrayal in the series is Shiva. Up until his battle where we got to know him more, Shiva was no doubt portrayed negatively in the beginning. He was lazy, carefree, and too proud. This greatly upset the President of the Universal Society of Hinduism, Rajan Zed. He was quick in pointing out this problem and released a statement urging the company to “not trivialize Lord Shiva and other highly revered Hindu gods and goddesses in its manga publications.” The traits of Shiva shown in the series are completely against the teachings of Hinduism. In connection, for the information of all, the series is also banned on Netflix India for the controversy surrounding the Hindu God.
The Good: Record of Ragnarok Is Not a Trash Anime So Far
The show still has equally high potential as high as our expectations can be. Even with the negative criticism listed above, Record of Ragnarok is still an adaptation worthy of your time. The final battle against the Gods and humans is still a must-watch due to these reasons:
- Well-written Characters: The back stories of each of the challengers deserved praise. The series wasn’t only looked forward to by fans due to the fight scenes. But, it was also an anticipated anime because of the story each of the challengers carries. From Lu Bu to Raiden and Shiva’s fight, their backstories sure touch the hearts of many, specifically the first human who won against a God, Sasaki Kojiro. How the characters are written can greatly impact how the plot goes and is perceived by fans. Forgivingly speaking, the animation can be left passed due to this reason.
- Good Read Manga: Record of Ragnarok is probably one of the most well-anticipated series due to the original manga. This can be both a good and of the series due to the crushed expectations. However, fans still want more of it despite the hate it is receiving due to its good-read manga. It is also one of the mangas that you can literally hop in after watching the series because it is indeed well-written. Hence, if the adaptation was less for you, maybe its original manga would be more.
- Mood-Lifting Soundtracks: The soundtracks contribute to the enjoyment fans feel while watching any series, and the Record of Ragnarok can surpass your expectations. The soundtracks that are featured in specific battles are truly worthy of covering the final fight between the Gods and humans. They also make the fight scenes more intense. Most of the soundtracks of the series are heavenly and heart-pounding tracks that can elevate the feelings of fans in watching the battles. Even when just doing simple chores at home, you’ll definitely feel like you’re inside the Valhalla Arena when listening to them. Check out the Spotify album for all of their soundtracks:
Despite all the backlash it has received, there are still many reasons to continue supporting the series aside from those that were already mentioned. The bad comments regarding the series shouldn’t be taken negatively. Instead, treat them as constructive criticism. After all, not everyone is perfect – even the Gods in the series themselves.
As mentioned earlier, there are only eight battles to go. With five battles done, let’s hope that the succeeding ones will be able to satisfy the standards and expectations of fans out there. In conclusion, Record of Ragnarok is still a must-watch anime and isn’t a trash adaptation.
Read More:
A Divine Roster: Meet the Gods of Record of Ragnarok Season 1 and 2 in this Comprehensive Guide
