Is My Next Life as a Villainess Good? A Review

The anime My Next Life as a Villainess has accumulated a fairly large fan following within the first 2 months of its release which was in April 2020.

Even the light novel series and manga, on which the anime was based, are wildly popular in Japan, as proved by the 600000 copies in print.

The anime provesto be a delightful watch with its fresh take on combining comedy and romance. The purely fictional setting is rendered believable due to its clever use of colors and cute art style.

1. Quick Review

Watching the anime is so entertaining that you won’t have any moment of boredom. Its fictional universe is built intricately and cleverly designed. The characters are funny and act in absurd ways.

The Otome game setting heightens the comedy effect and proves to add a unique flavor to the plot. The heroine’s bickering and ridiculous plans are humorous and lend comic relief, for much of the plot.

2. Is it worth watching?

The anime is worth watching. The plot is not your typical romance, Shoujo anime. Neither is it one of your cliché video game-based anime. The characters are unique, and their character designs are pretty fine. The plot has a unique, interesting premise.

My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom! TRAILER

That being said, any interested viewer should not expect something deep and meaningful from this anime. It is a light-hearted anime that doesn’t follow the typical Shoujo format. Its clever blend of other genres makes it highly appealing.

I. Plot

My Next Life as a Villainess revolves around the adventures of the female protagonist, Catarina Claes. After she tripped and hit her head over a tough slab of stone, she recalled her memories of her past life as an otaku who used to play video games and watch anime only.

Right after she made that realization, she also found out that she is inside the video game she used to play in her past life, i.e., inside Fortune Lover. To her huge dismay, she learns that she is the manipulative and shrewd villainess of the game who bullies the heroine of the game and is either exiled or murdered at the end.

To avoid such a horrible fate that seemed inevitable, Catarina decides not to remain silent but actively takes up countermeasures. But in the process, her countermeasures have a huge effect on her relations with her friends, acquaintances, and possible lovers.

Her actions to stop her cruel fate from happening are the source of humor and the plot device that drives the anime forward. While the pace of the plot is moderately fast, it does get a tad bit repetitive at times due to her countermeasures at every episode.

Also, the plot progresses into a reverse harem type of anime where there are many guys competing for a sole heroine. This development makes it obvious that it is marketed towards young teenage girls. But its unique premise can be found enjoyable by teenage boys as well.

The creative reworking of the usual Isekai genre format is amazing and commendable. The twist that it brings, for example, the realization that she is not the kind and compassionate protagonist, is humorous. For its innovative approach, My Life as a Villainess deserves a pat on the back.

II. Characters

Each and every character is meticulously designed. Each has his/her own quirks and idiosyncrasies which complement the narrative and comedy. The fictional setting in the European architectural style and the clothing of the monarch and rich lend depth to the plot.

The character of Catarina Claes is an amusing and intriguing one. Her antics, optimism, and drama are very entertaining and enjoyable to watch. She is a likable character, and her amusing responses to any dire situation or realization cement her reputation as a comedic character.

3. Final Thoughts

The anime is a delightful and entertaining watch. It has a unique and innovative approach, which is a breath of fresh air, considering how many cliché repetitive anime are out there.

One should take the time to give it a watch. I’d definitely recommend it. It has amazing animation and cinematography and the visuals and intricate world-building will not disappoint!

4. Grade

5. Info Card

6. Watch Order

A watch order will not be necessary for this anime. It has no filler episodes.