Aug 20, 2022
Minor setting spoilers.
This anime is INCONSISTENT.
Psychopathic Tokyo businessman gets isekai-d to an alternate world undergoing a world war.
At first glance the world seems on the brink of a grand war. But we also have magic. That alone disqualifies any arguments over historical accuracy. That said, at one point it is hinted that we are at the edge of that world's Great War (aka World War I). But we also see advanced tanks, airplanes and other technology you'd only find in our WW2. It is effectively meant to be a kitchen sink warfare setting. With magic. Any parallels to our history are pointless.
The premise of why
...
we end up there is our main character pisses off a temperamental god entity. So it reincarnates him in the body of a little girl in a war-torn world to make his life miserable. But also gives him/her OP magic and allows her to retain her memories of the previous life (with no obvious precedent or any explanation ever offered). And conveniently that world is a perfect meritocracy, allowing little girls to rise through the military ranks with zero obstacles or prejudice.
And what does protag-chan, the pinnacle of rational thought, do to deserve this? She rejects the existence of said god, even when presented multiple times with clear, direct, observable evidence. There is no nuance to be found here. It isn't about the nature of the entity, or his motives. Merely his existence.
Why do we even have to have a psychopathic protag? Well because it's war and she needs to be able to kill people with no remorse. Can't have pesky morals getting in the way of the spectacle.
Everything about the setting is a conceit meant to facilitate having a loli badass military commander. Which makes for some interesting character moments. That's about the extent of the show's substance. There is some genuine military strategy sprinkled throughout, but it is never explored in detail. It tries to make social commentary every once in a while, poorly. There is one tiny, pathetic hint at the fascinating geopolitics that lead up to such a grand conflict that is similar to the stage that ignited WW1 in our world and that is it.
Story: Goes nowhere ultimately. Never got to conclude the adaptation of the manga.
Art: Is subjective. I didn't mind the obvious CGI at many places. Liked Tanya's expressions.
Sound: Is amazing.
Characters: Flat, though Tanya is entertaining in her sheer stubbornness and determination.
Enjoyment: War spectacle and fun character moments. Little beyond that.
Overall: I struggled what to make of this show, hence this review to put those thoughts in order. There are hints the show wants to tell you things, be more. But it fails. What remains is the spectacle of war and the main character, so long as you consider that juxtaposition interesting.
Reviewer’s Rating: 6
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