Log Horizon

Synopsis

During the release of Elder Tale's twelfth expansion pack, Homesteading the Noosphere, thirty thousand Japanese gamers logged in at the time are transported into the game world, inhabiting their avatars. The socially awkward gamer Shiroe, along with his friends Naotsugu and Akatsuki, teams up to navigate this new reality and face its challenges.

Media

The novel series has five manga adaptations, all written by Touno. The first, Log Horizon Gaiden: Honey Moon Logs, illustrated by Motoya Matsu, began serialization on January 27, 2012, in Dengeki Daioh. The second, Log Horizon, illustrated by Kazuhiro Hara, began on May 18, 2012, in Famitsu Comic Clear and was licensed by Yen Press.

The third, Log Horizon: The West Wind Brigade, illustrated by Koyuki, ran from July 9, 2012, to March 9, 2018, in Age Premium. Another, Log Horizon Gaiden: Nyanta-honcho Shiawase no Recipe, illustrated by Sōchū, ran from December 21, 2012, to March 31, 2018, in Comic B's LOG and collected in six volumes. Log Horizon: Kanami, Go! East!, illustrated by Kou, was serialized in Comic B's LOG from October 1, 2015, to December 1, 2016, in two volumes. A 25-episode anime first season by Satelight aired on NHK Educational TV from October 5, 2013, to March 22, 2014, and was simulcast by Crunchyroll.

A 25-episode second season by Studio Deen aired from October 4, 2014, to March 28, 2015. Both seasons were licensed by Sentai Filmworks, later streamed by Funimation and then Crunchyroll. The opening theme for both seasons is "Database" by Man with a Mission featuring Takuma; the first season's ending is "Your Song" and the second's is "Wonderful Wonder World", both by Yunchi.

Reception

Rebecca Silverman of Anime News Network noted the series has a unique take on the trapped-in-a-game subgenre compared to Sword Art Online and .hack, but criticized the anime's artistry, calling character designs bland and generic, and the overuse of Naotsugu's perverted humor. Despite this, she said the show should not be dismissed as a ripoff. Piotr Konieczny, writing for The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction, described Log Horizon as one of the most politically and sociologically oriented isekai VRMMORPG entries, praising its shift from combat to governance, economics, and institution-building, comparing it to Isaac Asimov's Foundation series.

Did You Know?

• The series initially appeared in installments on the user-generated content site Shōsetsuka ni Narō starting on April 13, 2010.
• A third season by Studio Deen aired between January and March 2021.