Review: Infinite Dendrogram

(Non-Spoilery)

Season Aired: Winter 2020 - 13 episodes

MAL Link: Infinite Dendrogram

I watched it at: Funimation

Review:

Anime shows that are about living in a fantasy game world are somewhat common. I tend to enjoy these shows because I enjoy fantasy games.  I am the target audience.

These shows have the complete freedom to combine the elements of a sword and sorcery world with the high-tech elements which would make such a game possible. They pretty much get carte blanche from the viewer on suspension of disbelief.

However, that doesn't absolve the show from delivering on a good story with good characters.

The Plot in a Nutshell:

So, the year is 2043 and virtual reality games have advanced to the point where players mentally travel to the fantasy game world and inhabit it.  This is the world of Infinite Dendrogram which promises infinite possibilities for adventure, fame and loot.

Into this world comes our main character who logs into Infinite Dendrogram for the first time as the show begins. Just a newbie.

Now something is going to have to happen right off the bat to give the main character some kind of an advantage in this new world. And, of course, it surely does.  Our main character becomes the owner of an intelligent sword that can turn into a cute girl dressed like a maid.

Totally did not see that coming.

With the help of this sword and his older brother who has been playing the game for awhile and offers occasional advice, the main character journeys into the world to find loot, adventure and level up!

My Verdict: 

Infinite Dendrogram is a hot mess.  It has a bland main character, a convoluted story line and characters whose motivations are meant to be mysterious but the viewer could really care less.

That said, I did watch the entire series so as to get the whole impression of it.  I have to say, last couple of episodes - the climax with the big show down - I had little idea what it was all about.  The show did not really explain who the villain was and I had no reason at all to care.

I found the battles mostly uninteresting.  I blame that on the main character being mostly uninteresting.  Besides having no appreciable personality beyond "generic do-gooder", there were also no stakes for the main character.  If he "died" he just got logged off the game for a day or some such.

Pretty much the only interesting character in Infinite Dendrogram was the intelligent sword who could turn into a maid.

The art and animation was alright. Nothing great.

Score: 2 out of 5

Review Rating Scale:

5     Brain wildly entertained. Neurons saturated with entertainment.

4.5  Brain extremely entertained. Neurons firing regularly. Outside world forgotten.

4     Brain entertained. Neurons well stimulated. Brain wants to look for the blu-ray.

3.5  Brain in Neutral. Neurons a little stimulated. Brain generally pleased.

3     Brain in neutral. Neurons flat lined. Meh, brain pleased just enough.

2.5  Brain in neutral but occasionally displeased.

2     Brain displeased and not entertained. Brain thinking about doing something else.

1.5 or less - Brain suffered through the show so it could tell you not to.