The isekai genre in recent years has done exceedingly well. Especially when we look at the more popular ones like Rezero, No game no life, and konosubarash, being mindful of the fact that none of these anime are not typically what you'd call "happy go lucky" animes in the sense that they don't give the audience a feeling of infancy. Honestly I have nothing against making an isekai into a slice of life; well, I didn't at first. Honzuki no Gekokujou is one of those anime types that you see on forum sites, become intrigued by positive reviews, and then go on to stream the entire season--only for you to end up regretting it.
((Before I continue, this review is for those who have watched the anime, but if you haven't and still need better clarity then you've come to the right place.))
I mean c'mon, enough with your over ambiguous nonsense which raves on and on with large words about how this and that makes you happy and positive and all that other self satisfying nonsense. People need actual, honest reviews--stop spouting crap. I'd like to digress into the overall scheme of things. The anime in question(not bothered with typing the name throughout my review)basically tells the story of a, possibly demented, twenty something year old who died by the hands of the one thing she loved the most: books. THE IRONY!!! She makes it her dying wish to once again be able to read books in her next life too, and seemingly enough she awakens as a 5 year old with an unknown magical illness. You all already know how it goes so I'll give it to you quick and simple.
It's normal to be obsessed with obtaining knowledge. Infact, I'm sort of a nerd myself(full blown otaku rage mode), but it is in all sense very psychotic, eerie and downright dimwitted to like Books...No no hear me out, BOOKS!! Oh and not just what's inside the Enclosing; The paper, the very ink used to write the text, that my dear friends is what seems to interest the protagonist. This may seem like me raging over what you may believe to be silly humor thrown to us in context. Well that's partially right, you'd at first see it as so, but then it gets annoying the more they tend to repeat this same gag of her throwing a fit every time she sees what may appear to be leather covering a thin sheets of paper.
I would like to move on to discussing the intellectual capabilities of most of the characters in this anime. I watched the first three episodes and i had no complaints. I had honestly believed nothing would go wrong, but I neglected a crucial tiny detail which I didn't want bothering me. Mainly, there are two issues I found annoying: Protagonist's self indulgence; Recklessness in the anime.
1.) Turns out the protagonist in all her wisdom, and what was made out to be broadened knowledge, could only make stuff they basically teach middle schoolers in Home Econ classes: Weaved baskets, Shampoo, Hair ornaments. Paper manufacturing was the only thing keeping me alive through all that, but to make that annoying, as well, they had to focus a lot of unnecessary attention towards that as well. I'm not trying to say that I was expecting some doctor stone type narrative, but it would have been better if she came up with a little more advanced, nuanced items but not the ones that can leave her bedridden for days--yes, I am aware she can't do much because of her illness.
2.) So apparently in the era the anime is set in, adults are no wiser than kids who haven't reached double digits. Why would a person in their right mind waste a ton of resources just because a kid puts an ornament on her hair, applies shampoo, and says she can manufacture a revolutionary product? I mean I get that it's an underdeveloped society, but pouring all that time and effort towards a random five year old just to go about your day wearing hairpins more often?
The art and sound are the only aspects I would consider giving a passing grade. As for everything else, my retinas would like to file a formal complaint with whoever the production team are.
Lastly, I'd like to cease my unrelenting rage by adding this to the fold: Just because she's cute and most male otaku are Lolicons, that doesn't mean she can just make a cute face and get away with whatever flimsy excuse for a gag joke they could come up with. I'll be very honest, it's hard to say what demographic of otaku i'd recommend this anime to cause it's extremely migraine inducing. i'd possibly recommend it to kids below 10, or girls who just recently started watching anime. To cut things short, Honzuki no gekokujou is a poorly scripted, dissatisfying and mediocre(at best) isekai that has unapologetically been brought to us in the year 2019. As earlier mentioned, this review is for those who have already watched the anime, but if you haven't and are still curious--though i recommend not to--stream or download the first three episodes.