MARIAH's THOUGHTS on My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom! Season 1 (2020)

Genre:

Comedy, Drama, Romance, Fantasy, School

Air Dates:

Apr 5, 2020 to Jun 21, 2020

Season:

1

Episodes:

12

Original Title:

Otome Game no Hametsu Flag shika Nai Akuyaku Reijou ni Tensei shiteshimatta... 

(乙女ゲームの破滅フラグしかない悪役令嬢に転生してしまった…)

Based on the light novel written and illustrated by:

Satoru Yamaguchi and Nami Hidaka

Produced by:

Mainichi Broadcasting System, Asmik Ace, King Records, Ichijinsha, Nichion

Plot Synopsis:

Most people would prefer being the protagonist of a world full of adventure, be it in a game or in another world. But, unfortunately, a certain girl is not so lucky. Regaining the memories of her past life, she realizes that she was reborn in the world of Fortune Lover—one of the games she used to play.

Unfortunately, the character she was reincarnated into—Katarina Claes—is the game's main antagonist, who faces utter doom in every ending. Using her extensive knowledge of the game, she takes it upon herself to escape from the chains of this accursed destiny.

However, this will not be an easy feat, especially since she needs to be cautious as to not set off death flags that may speed up the impending doom she is trying to avoid. Even so, to make a change that will affect the lives of everyone around her, she strives—not as the heroine—but as the villainess.

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Voice Cast:

Maaya Uchida, Tatsuhisa Suzuki, Shouta Aoi, Yoshitsugu Matsuoka, Tetsuya Kakihara, Saori Hayami, Inori Minase, Miho Okasaki

Find the full cast on MyAnimeList.net

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**My Thoughts**

My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom! is an isekai anime with nothing but light-hearted moments and enjoyable content. The main character, Katarina Claes, is a young girl with vivacity, determination, and almost carefree childishness. She aims to change her fate from a bad end to a slightly less bad end. Considering she is reborn as the antagonist of an otome game, Fortune Lover, her actions are understandable. Given this, the anime doesn’t limit Katarina’s choices like a real otome game. She has the freedom to make her own route, make her own choices, and subsequently, make her own ending. But like an otome game, this anime describes the leading male roles by describing their overall personalities in quick succession and their relationship to the main character, such as Gerald Stuart who is Katarina Claes’s fiancée. He is described as secretly terrible on the inside but also a genius at anything. Diving deeper, Katarina detours from the mean girl role she was reincarnated into and essentially turns this new world of hers into a reverse harem. To do so, she chooses to be kind, generous, and inclusive of the game’s characters regardless of their original roles and she eventually wins over their hearts. It is because of her attitude and character that the others break their own molds that the game has set for them. Each character and their deepening relationship to Katarina helps piece this short anime series together into enjoyable content.

My rating:

MARIAH'S THOUGHTS on Violet Evergarden (2018)

Japanese Title:

ヴァイオレット・エヴァーガーデン

Genre:

Fantasy, Drama, Slice of Life

Season:
1
Rating:

PG-13 – Teens or older

Episodes:

13

Run Time:

23 min per episode

Release Date:

Jan 11, 2018 to Apr 5, 2018

Directed by:

Taichi Ishidate

Producers:

Lantis, Pony Canyon, Rakuonsha, ABC Animation

Cast:

Yui Ishikawa, Aya Endou, Kouki Uchiyama, Minori Chihara, Haruka Tomatsu, and more in different languages

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Plot Summary:

The Great War finally came to an end after four long years of conflict; fractured in two, the continent of Telesis slowly began to flourish once again. Caught up in the bloodshed was Violet Evergarden, a young girl raised for the sole purpose of decimating enemy lines. Hospitalized and maimed in a bloody skirmish during the War's final leg, she was left with only words from the person she held dearest, but with no understanding of their meaning.

Recovering from her wounds, Violet starts a new life working at CH Postal Services after a falling out with her new intended guardian family. There, she witnesses by pure chance the work of an "Auto Memory Doll," amanuenses that transcribe people's thoughts and feelings into words on paper. Moved by the notion, Violet begins work as an Auto Memory Doll, a trade that will take her on an adventure, one that will reshape the lives of her clients and hopefully lead to self-discovery.

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*My Thoughts*

A simple story of self-discovery and emotional growth, Violet Evergarden is enhanced by the beautiful art and soundtrack. The story follows the main character, Violet, as she adapts to her new life at the CH Postal Services. She is mysterious, enigmatic, dutiful, and to top it all off, she is as small and elegant as a doll. In the beginning of the anime, Violet is stern and blunt when she writes letters for her clients and it leads to less than pleasant results. But throughout the anime, she learns more about how to interact with people and how to help them express their most heart-felt emotions, all the while learning about how to enjoy life herself. But Violet Evergarden is not just, about Violet. It is the connections she builds and those she helps that make Violet Evergarden so captivating. The empathy that Violet learns throughout the anime makes her an unforgettable friend to other characters. Her different view to see the world in a literal sense, helps them solve their problems and show their most sincere words.

My rating:

MARIAH's THOUGHTS on Cells At Work (2018)

Japanese Title:

はたらく細胞

Genre:

Comedy, Shounen

Season:
1
Rating:

PG-13 – Teens or older

Episodes:
13

Run Time:

23 min per episode

Release Date:

Jul 8, 2018 to Sep 30, 2018

Directed by:

Kenichi Suzuki

Producers:

Aniplex, Kodansha, Magic Capsule

Cast:

Tomoaki Maeno, Kana Hanazawa, Maria Naganawa, Takahiro Sakurai, Kikuko Inoue, Aya Endou, Ono Daisuke, and more

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Plot Summary:

Inside the human body, roughly 37.2 trillion cells work energetically 24 hours a day and 365 days a year. Fresh out of training, the cheerful and somewhat airheaded Red Blood Cell AE3803 is ready to take on the ever-so-important task of transporting oxygen. As usual, White Blood Cell U-1146 is hard at work patrolling and eliminating foreign bacteria seeking to make the body their new lair. Elsewhere, little platelets are lining up for a new construction project. 

Dealing with wounds and allergies, getting lost on the way to the lungs, and bickering with similar cell types, the daily lives of cells are always hectic as they work together to keep the body healthy!

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*My Thoughts*

Cells at Work! is the information about your body that you didn’t ask for, but you get it anyway, and it’s all bundled up in an adorable thirteen-episode anime. While watching Cells at Work, the anime repeatedly introduces the different cells, bacteria, and functions of the human body. Each episode has its own little story to tell for the daily life of cells at work. Cells at Work gives cells face, humanoid form, and personality, wherein each of these aspects play on common anime stereotypes. For example, Red Blood Cell AE3803 is optimistic, clumsy, hard-working, and depicted with an ahoge or a strand of hair sticking out of the head to denote a foolish or clumsy character. White Blood Cell U-1146 is a serious and stern officer with very little facial expression and platelets are adorable, little children with few other personality traits. The anime is imbued with elements common in shonen anime, such as comedic and exaggerated faces, battle scenes, and light-hearted humor. It focuses on the collaboration between characters, their friendly relationships with each other or their rivalries. In the summer of 2018, Cells at Work was one of the most hyped anime of the season, but due to its short-lived nature, Cells at Work doesn’t leave a lasting impression. It is a short and cute anime for entertainment and for anyone looking for something easy to watch.

My rating: