If you’re a fan of the popular anime and light novel series, Overlord, you may be wondering how the anime adaptation stacks up against the original light novel series. In this guide, we’ll delve into how far the anime has covered the light novels and what story arcs have been explored so far.
Overview of the Overlord Series
Overlord began as a Japanese light novel series written by Kugane Maruyama and illustrated by so-bin. Launched online in 2010, it has since been published in 16 volumes as of 2022. An anime adaptation by Madhouse has released four seasons so far, and a big-screen film adaptation is also in the works.
Comparison Between the Anime and Light Novels
The anime adaptation closely follows the storyline of the light novels, but not in a strict sequential order. The first three seasons covered Volumes 1 to 9 of the light novels:
- The first season adapts Volumes 1 to 3.
- The second season covers Volumes 4 to 6.
- The third season picks up with Volumes 7 to 9.
The fourth season takes a different path by covering Volumes 10, 11, and jumps to 14. It skips Volumes 12 and 13, creating an interesting deviation from the linear progression.
For fans curious about the untouched volumes, the upcoming film is set to cover these ‘skipped’ volumes – Volumes 12 and 13, bringing more depth to the overall narrative.
Projected Coverage for Upcoming Seasons
While specifics of Overlord Season 5 might not have been made public yet, fans can speculate that it would be an adaptation of Volumes 14 to 18, following the trend of the anime covering around 3 volumes per season. Note that Volumes 17 and 18 are yet to be released, adding a sense of suspense and anticipation for the fans.
Conclusions
Whether you’re a seasoned fan or a newcomer to the Overlord anime series, it’s evident that the adaptation offers a faithful yet unique take on the original light novels. The decision to adapt volumes out of order may not sit well with some fans, but it adds an unforeseen twist and keeps the audience guessing. While anxiously awaiting the release of Season 5 and the upcoming film, fans can bury themselves in the unresolved storylines in the light novels. Happy watching and reading!