Dragon’s Dogma is based on a video game, but as an anime it is so much more. In the spirit of the internationalization of anime, the series is produced by the American company Netflix in association with the Japanese studio Sublimation.

Ethan is happily living in his small village with his pregnant wife, when a dragon comes to town and destroys everything. Ethan watches his wife burn to ashes, and then has his heart stolen by the dragon. But obviously this is not the end. As explained by a Pawn, whom Ethan names Hanna, or hero is now an Arisen; that is, a fearsome warrior capable of great feats.

Ethan and Hanna go off in search of the dragon. Along the way, there are other adventures and battles. Eventually Ethan faces off against he that took everything. The ending has a twist, which is an emotional downer. But apparently there is a season two in the works.

I like the way the characters were animated. These are no stiff figures with computerized mouth and arm motions. Add to that the voice actors in the original English dub, and the characters come alive.

Dragon’s Dogma is a short series with only seven episodes, each named aptly for one of the infamous deadly sins. I am eager to see what the second season has in store.