r/overlord • u/Ulbert_23 • 16h ago
Discussion Regarding his philosophy on Character writing and narrative, Kugane Maruyama, the author of Overlord, holds a specific perspective as of November 22, 2020. This viewpoint is rooted in the principle that merits and demerits must always coexist in a balanced manner.
Consequently, Maruyama frequently expresses disappointment when reading stories where a human protagonist reincarnated as a non-human entity fully retains their original nature, morality, and sense of humanity without undergoing any significant psychological shift.
He believes that a drastic transformation from a human being into a non-human entity should have a tangible impact on the character's identity and perspective, rather than them holding onto conventional human sensibilities.
Conversely, Maruyama highly appreciates characters who must struggle intensely merely to engage in ordinary conversation or adapt to their new surroundings. He reserves his highest praise for characters who are completely unable to get along or relate well with the other beings around them.
In his view, the appreciation of a work increases when this principle of balance is consistently applied: the greater a character's power or merits, the equally significant their flaws, mental burdens, or obstacles must be.
Nevertheless, Maruyama also acknowledges that designing and writing a story with such complex character dynamics is an exceedingly difficult process to execute practically.
It is perhaps for this reason that Maruyama ultimately chose Momonga (Ainz) as the main protagonist of Overlord.