On August 27, Kugane Maruyama , the
author of the popular light novel series “ Overlord ,” shared his
impressions after attending an advance screening of the film “Overlord:
The Sacred Kingdom .” Through his Twitter account, Maruyama surprised
his followers by expressing his amazement at the quality of the adaptation.
“ I don’t remember ever writing a story this
good , ” Maruyama commented, adding, “ Did
Ainz really say such a good line? ” These statements have
sparked speculation among fans, who are wondering whether the film features
significant modifications to the original narrative or whether the cast’s
performance has elevated the material in an exceptional way.
The film, which adapts the 12th and 13th volumes of
the original light novels , is set in the Sacred Kingdom, a place
that has enjoyed a long peace thanks to a colossal wall built in the wake of a
historical tragedy. However, that peace is threatened when the terrible
demon Jaldabaoth leads an army of monstrous tribes in a devastating attack. With
the kingdom’s existence at stake, the leaders of the Sacred Kingdom are forced
to take desperate measures, including possibly allying themselves with Ainz
Ooal Gown, the undead king of the Nation of Darkness.
“Overlord: The Sacred Kingdom” will officially open in
theaters in Japan on September 20 , with a special IMAX
screening scheduled for September 13. Fans of the series are already expressing
their excitement to see how this crucial part of the story has been adapted,
especially after Maruyama’s surprising statements.
- « It's
a good story because Ainz-sama rescues Neia, who was being bullied, and
becomes Shizu's friend (from the perspective of the Kingdom of Sorcery) ».
- « I
suppose the production team made several changes because the original
story, which the author wrote seriously, was too unpleasant and would not
have been a box office success if it had been adapted as is .»
- « I
saw it at the special screening of the film, and what happens is that the
story is told mainly from Neia's perspective, which adds to the feeling
that it is a “good story .”»
- « That
would be a problem. I wanted to see people get angry when they announce
that it's an emotional masterpiece starring Rengoku's voice actor, and
then go to the theater .»
- " The
bad thing about the film is that it will be shorter ."
- " It's
equivalent to 7 episodes of the TV series ."
- « The
bonus novel is supposed to be interesting. Kugane-sensei cuts out the
unnecessary in short stories of 350-400 pages, making them easier to read
and well-paced. But when he is left to write without restraint, like in
the Sacred Kingdom arc or volume 14 with the elves, it becomes tedious and
terrible .»
- « I
would like someone else to continue the story, keeping only the world that
he created, someone who really “knows how to write”. The author could be
left with the additional stories for the movies or the records, and that
would be fine .»
- « I
think that since it's a movie, the scenes will be more explicit than in
the TV version, but I don't think it will be as graphic. There
are only 3 weeks left. I'm excited! »
The Overlord franchise has been a phenomenon in both
literature and animation, with its dark and compelling focus on a protagonist
ruling over a vast undead empire. Volumes 12 and 13 are
especially significant, as they explore the political and military tensions
that arise when the Sacred Kingdom faces a threat of total annihilation.
The film promises to be not only a faithful
adaptation, but a work that could offer an even more enriching experience than
reading the novels, thanks to the work of the voice actors and the
cinematography. Maruyama concluded his comment by saying, “ I think
those who see the film will have feelings similar to mine… ”,
which has raised expectations among fans.
Source: Yahoo!News Japan
