Record of Ragnarok
Synopsis — from MyAnimeList
The gods of the world—from Greek to Norse to Hindu mythology—gather every one thousand years to make one important decision: whether or not to wipe out mankind. Repulsed by humanity's selfishness, the council unanimously votes to destroy all humans. But before the decree is enacted, Brunhilde, one of the 13 Valkyries of Valhalla, interrupts the meeting to give mankind a chance at survival. Brunhilde proposes the idea of enacting Ragnarök, an event in which the strongest 13 mortal warriors fight against 13 gods in one-on-one matches. Although the trial is ridiculed by the gods, the demigod takes advantage of their pride and forces them into an agreement. However, Brunhilde herself must recruit the mightiest heroes throughout humanity's thousand-year history and guide them to victory before they meet their untimely demise.
Audience Consensus
Audience opinion on Shuumatsu no Walküre is sharply divided, primarily due to a perceived massive gap between its exciting premise and its extremely poor animation and pacing. While some praise the character development, emotional depth of fights, and soundtrack, a significant portion of viewers are severely disappointed by what they describe as a 'slideshow' animation and constant interruptions, feeling it fails to deliver on the promise of epic battles.
Strengths
- Compelling character backstories and emotional weight for fights.
- Enjoyable character interactions and character design (especially Adam).
- Strong soundtracks that enhance the atmosphere and emotion.
- Interesting premise and high stakes (humanity's survival).
- Good voice acting.
Weaknesses
- Extremely poor animation quality, often described as a 'slideshow' or 'PowerPoint presentation' with low frame rates and still images.
- Pacing issues, with excessive flashbacks and commentary that interrupt fight flow.
- Lack of impact and substance in fight choreography and execution.
- Writing is average at best, with underdeveloped characters and loosely explained concepts.
- Disappointing adaptation compared to the manga, with removed iconic scenes and rushed fight choreography.