How Not to Summon a Demon Lord

Takuma Sakamoto is a shut-in gamer who rules the fantasy MMO Cross Reverie as the Demon King Diablo, a character feared for unmatched power and rare gear. One day a summoning ritual pulls him into a world that looks uncannily like his game, and he appears there in Diablo's imposing form. The two girls who performed the ritual expect to enslave him, but the binding backfires and ties them to him instead. With their relationship awkward and the contract stuck, Takuma leans into Diablo's role while he and his new companions try to figure out how to undo the link, handle constant misunderstandings, and survive dangers in a dangerous, game-like realm.

Premiering in 2018, the series adapts Yukiya Murasaki's light novels for television, with Kazuyuki Fudeyasu credited for series composition. The show mixes action, comedy, and fantasy animation across its episodes.

Among anime fans the show carved out a devoted audience, especially within isekai and ecchi circles. Its visuals, character archetypes, and scenes of exaggerated power have produced plenty of fan art, memes, and online discussion, and it keeps turning up in conversations about late 2010s genre trends.

Critics and viewers tend to split on different elements: many enjoy the humor, the oddball interactions between an antisocial protagonist and earnest companions, and the show's fast pacing, while others call out frequent fanservice and reliance on genre conventions. The series leans into themes of role-playing identity, how confidence and appearance affect social standing, and awkward attempts at forming trust when one person seems overwhelmingly powerful. It holds a solid fan rating, reflected in user scores on community sites.

The show did not collect major industry awards, yet it remains a recognizable title within its niche, spawning steady streaming viewership and an active fan community that keeps discussions and creative work alive.