So from what I can gather, No Game, No Life: Zero is a prequel to the anime series No Game, No Life, which I have never seen. So theoretically, I really do not need to see the series first to understand the movie, though I have a feeling it would have helped.
The Dwarves, Elves, and several other god-like races are battling for control of Earth, and mostly destroying it in the process. Meet Riku, the leader of a small band of surviving humans fighting to simply stay alive. Next meet Schwi, an Ex-Machina, pretty much an enemy weapon in the form of a young girl. She’s cut off from the collective, and she wants to know the human heart.
Somehow, Riku and Schwi form a partnership in a desperate attempt to save all by destroying this world so it can be built anew. It’s all a game of desperation, highlighted by a massive, but confusing battle. This is where seeing the original series might have come in handy – to understand fully the ending.
Still, it is mostly an entertaining movie. Schwi does learn about the human heart. Riku does take his big gamble. There are some heartbreaking moments.
The animation is mostly average, until we get to the battle scenes. Those are done more than quite well.
Overall, I will recommend this anime film, with an asterisk. Those who have seen the series will probably get more out of No Game, No Life: Zero. Those who haven’t may miss out on a few plot details, but will still be entertained.
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