Based off a popular light novel series of the same name Otome Game No Hametsu Flag shika Nai Akuyaku Reijou ni Tensei shiteshimatta which is better known by its much shortened English title My Next Life as a villainess All routes lead to Doom is a comedy, romance, school and fantasy genre anime that gives us the unique opportunity to see what will happen if one day a teenage girl were to after meeting an untimely demise be transported and reincarnated within the world of her favourite Otome game Fortune Lover.
The overall story of the series takes place within the kingdom of Sorcier a country that while being able to provide safety and economic security to its people was also one that featured a deep social division due to the social struggles that exist within its society. In this world no matter what one’s ability was within society only those within the noble class can advance up the ladder that is society. While the Isekai genre in recent years has seen a massive boost in popularity due to the release of celebrated series such as Re Zero and Saga of Tanya such series while demonstrating well what otherworld knowledge and magical application can do on the field of battle these did little to show the kind of impact it can have on changing the social injustice that can also exist in class-based societies. In this, while My next life as a villainess’s story is one that focuses on romantic comedy in line with its genre and not a serious attempt to address the social issues present in its world I felt that its unique attempt to address this in the form of forging friendships and bonds that transcend social classes and in the process change the direction of not just their fates but also Katarina’s own was a unique idea that served to make me an instant fan of the series. The first episode of the series I felt was an interesting one that while doing well in introducing the series main premise and setting also did well to showcase the unique quirks that are present within the series main heroine Katarina that serve to make her an example of an atypical noble on account of her wiliness to take on hobbies that will be seen as strange for her as well as her desire to befriend others in an attempt to save both their lives a combination that served to make her pretty endearing in my eyes.
Katarina
Katarina portrayed by veteran seiyuu singer Maaya Uchida of Charlotte and Danmachi fame is one of the main characters of the series and is the main heroine of the series. A teenage girl from the prestigious Claes family Katarina on initial appearances and before the regaining of her alter self-memories was seen to be a mischievous and rather temperamental person that seems to take particular delight in taking advantage of people around her. However, after regaining her memories Katarina’s personality shifts for the better. While still maintaining her confident and determined nature Katarina also as a result of her realization of the truth of the world around her also began to treat those around her differently treating them with not the pasted on fake kindness and care that standard nobles would show but with kindness, friendliness and politeness that was genuine a fact that soon allowed her to meet and befriend many new friends among her peers. While kind and considerate to her friends Katarina was also shown to be someone willing to go the extra mile in helping them deal with issues that would often give people pause a fact that reflects well on not just her preference to deal with matters directly but also her determination to help those around her a fact that I felt was admirable of her.
While Katarina’s personality shifts did well to make her realize the beauty that can come from having friends and comrades that she can count on within both school and society these shifts also served well to aid her in her efforts to improve her given route in the book called Katarina’s life. Within the series, this is perhaps best shown in Katarina’s sudden interest in gardening as well as her preference to learn more about the world and improve her innate skills by learning from others. While certainly aspects that will be frowned upon by both her fellow nobles and her mother these aspects, I felt served well to reinforce the fact that while Katarina may not be the ideal daughter that they want that to Katarina this was the kind of life and freedom that she wanted to experience in her life one that was full of smiles and happiness that was borne out of having an enjoyable time with friends that are linked together with genuine bonds of friendship and trust. Overall the character of Katarina Claes I felt was one that was both well designed and developed with her development from a mischievous child who had all the hallmarks of one that will grow up to become a terror to those around her to someone that was not only kind and caring towards her friends and fellows around her but someone that will go the extra mile for them to help them overcome their struggles being especially well done. While Katarina’s atypical hobbies of gardening and learning about the world by interacting with commoners on equal terms served to cause relations with her mother and fellow nobles to fluctuate I felt that this openness, when used in conjunction with her klutzy nature, served to make her not only more entertaining but also more relatable to both the audience and to her world’s inhabitants as well an aspect that served well to resonate with the series core themes of changing one’s fate by forging bonds of friendship.
Gerald
Gerald Stuart portrayed by voice actor Shouta Aoi is one of the main characters of the series and is one of Katarina’s circle of friends within the series. A prince of the kingdom of Sorcier and the brother of Alan Stewart Gerald on his initial appearances was seen to be a kind, calm and curious person by nature that had all the hallmarks of being someone that can be said to be a perfect example of royalty being both polite, honourable and someone that looked out for his fellows. While shown to have some degree of pride within him as can be expected of being a prince Gerald unlike his fellow nobles was seen to have little in the way of arrogance and was someone that treated others with respect regardless of their social class and was someone that preferred to work hard to achieve his aims that showed well both his determination and preference for honesty over the mind games that are prevalent within the nobility of the kingdom.
After the time skip Gerald while still retaining his base traits starts to gradually change as a result of not only meeting Katarina but also his circle of friends as well. In the past, due to the training that he received as part of his prince duties, Gerald was noted to be someone that while calm and composed was someone that preferred to keep his true emotions and thoughts hidden and interact with others with all the grace and humility that is expected of a prince of the kingdom. While the training that Gerald was provided with proved sufficient for the task this also created a sense of loneliness within him as despite being a prince he had no real friends that he can count on for both advice and friendship and as a result while maintaining a surface mask that served to fool others in his heart Gerald saw his life as one that was both boring and tedious. However as a result of meeting Katarina and later her circle of friends this belief of his gradually starts to change as for the first time in his life he was able to not only meet but also befriend people who while being nobles treated each other not with false words but with genuine honesty, respect and trust and for the first time in his life Gerald was able to let do of his mask and interact with them on even terms a fact that is best shown in the playful competitions that he has with Alan and Keith and in the genuine laughter that he exhibits when interacting with his friends.
Keith
Keith Claes portrayed by veteran voice actor Tetsuya Kakihara of Fairy Tail and Occultic Nine fame is one of the main support characters of the series and is one of the members of Katarina’s circle of friends. The adopted younger brother of Katarina Keith on his initial appearances was seen to be someone that was quiet and nervous by nature but yet was someone that was noted to be surprisingly perceptive for someone his age. While preferring to stay away from potential sources of trouble Keith was noted to be someone that while wary of those around them was shown to be someone that was calm and intelligent by nature and was someone that was shown to be able to see the bigger picture of a given situation quite easily which for a kid is an impressive skill. Unlike his adopted older sister Katarina Keith was noted from an early age to have the talents that would enable him to become a mage however for Keith this life-changing opportunity soon served to make his childhood traumatic thanks to a case of loss of control of his powers that caused him to be vilified by others and ensure that he was nothing but an outcast to his fellows that was better to be avoided. However, after being adopted into the Claes family and meeting his new adopted older sister Katarina the darkness that has been Keith’s life since the awakening of his powers was soon replaced by a bright light that was filled with warmth that came from being accepted as part of the grouping that society codifies as a family and for the first time in a very long time Keith had finally found a place where he can belong and a person that he can both look up to as well as shower his affection on.
As a result of both meeting Katarina as well as seeing the lengths that she will go to help those dear to her Keith’s personality gradually starts to change. While still retaining his quiet and calm nature Keith gradually becomes more self-confident and becomes far more willing to both interact with others and express his views on matters that concern him unlike how he was in the past. While serving to allow him to gain no small amount of friends and admirers within the academy this development also allowed Keith to finally gain the trust of his family and bestow him the duty of watching over his dear elder sister as she goes through her education at the magic academy an aspect that I felt served to marry both his earnest desire to protect her as a brother while also allowing him to remain by her side and if the fates allow to transform their relationship into something more. In overall, the character of Keith Claes I felt was an interesting character that was pretty well designed and developed as the series went on with his adult self and newfound personality shift serving well as the moderator within both the Claes family and within the circle of friends that serve to mostly keep Katarina’s impulses at bay.
Maria Campbell
Maria Campbell portrayed by veteran seiyuu singer Saori Hayami of the Irregular at Magic high school and Owari no Seraph fame is one of the main support characters of the series and is one of the members of Katarina’s circle of friends. A classmate of the magic academy Maria on her initial appearances was seen to be a friendly, positive, and hard-working young woman who shows kindness, care and consideration to all she meets. As a result of these qualities Maria was shown to be relatively popular within the academy and indeed was elected to become a member of its student council following her ascension to it. However despite gaining entry to such a prestigious body at such an early point in her education Maria instead of showing pride and arrogance as some would seemingly preferring to focus on carrying out her duties as best she could while quietly remaining within the background as if to avoid drawing unwanted attention.
As the series goes on and Maria’s personality is gradually expanded upon it can be seen that despite being able to attend the prestigious magic academy that many people would only dream off that Maria’s time within it was far from being an enjoyable time for her. While certainly skilled at both magic and at handling the affairs of the student council Maria had since the gaining of her magic as well as her entry into the school had been forced to wear a mask that acted as both a shield that allowed her to interact with others readily while also keeping her protected from the worst insults and bullying that the nobles would throw at her on account of her lineage for unlike them Maria was born a commoner the very class that the nobles of the kingdom would look down upon with scorn. As a result of this hard life that Maria was forced to live while seemingly getting along with her peers Maria was shown to be wary of those that tried to befriend her and in the first instance would create walls that she will hide behind when encountering such people.
However, as a result of meeting the unusual noble named Katarina Claes this aspect of Maria that she was forced to make use of for so long was at last finally allowed to retire as unlike the other nobles that she had met and defended against within her life Katarina rather than being rude and arrogant as others of her ilk was instead kind, caring and honest and her offer of friendship was despite Maria’s wariness one that seemed genuine and heartfelt. As the newly formed friendship between Maria and Katarina progressed Maria for the first time in her life was able to appreciate both the happiness that came about from being able to interact with friends who not only cared about her well being but were also on hand to help her confront personal issues that until now she had to shoulder by herself and for the first time in her life got to appreciate the beauty and joy that comes from having friends that she can rely upon and make memories with within the academy. For the first time in her life, Maria was able to look toward each new day with not despair but joy and anticipation of being able to have a fun time with Katarina and her circle of friends as they take upon the new day together.
While the character of Maria Campbell was one that was both designed and developed as the series went on I felt that Maria as a character served as a perfect example of both the social injustice that class-based societies create on account of the bullying that she receives from the nobles within the academy as well as serving as the perfect demonstration of the kind of impact that a little stubbornness and a desire to help someone overcome their fate can have on opening their eyes to the joy that can come from having friends that they can both have fun with as well as count on for advice.
AMV
In terms of animation, I felt that the style that was used within the series was both clear and made great use of warm colours that served to enhance both the locations shown within the series as well as the designs of its inhabitants. Characters design-wise I felt that while the designs of the characters themselves were relatively simple ones I thought that they made great use of bright colours, simplicity, and style that served to not only differentiate each character featured within the series but also complement their personalities as well. One unique aspect of character design within the series that I felt deserved mention was the council of Katarina’s that are often featured when their master is at a crossroads in their attempt to overcome the fate that is in front of them. What makes the council so unique in my eyes I felt was the fact that each member while being very loyal to their master also represented the different character archetypes that exist within the anime medium that serve to make each of their meetings a blast to see thanks to their often hilarious and contrasting opinions as they analyse the situation and try to come up with countermeasures. In terms of location variety while the series only featured a small number of locations I felt that these served to represent well not just the different parts of Katarina’s journey but also served to show well the many friendships and happy memories that she had made as part of her quest.
In terms of music, the series made use of one opening and ending theme which was Otome No Route Wa Hitotsu Janai that was performed by the veteran pop band Angela and Bad end which was performed by Shouta Aoi. Both of these songs while being excellent ones I felt gave off slightly different feelings that served to complement the show with the former being a catchy and positive one that through the skilful usage of its lyrics and accompanying visuals introduced the viewers to the cheerful and unique noble Katarina who despite her station is someone that will make use of every available means to overcome her fate be it taking up gardening or striking up friendships with her former route targets. In contrast to the upbeat and cheerful opening theme, the series ending theme Bad End I felt was markedly different in the feelings that it invoked for while the song was dramatic and grand it and its accompanying visuals served to showcase well the fruits of Katarina’s labours in this new world for in her determination to avoid the bad end she had not only served to change her own fate but also in the process changed the fate of everyone that she had met in the world by forging strong bonds of friendship with them and tying their fate threads to her own and ensure that their happiness will remain as long as they are together in this new world.
Voice acting-wise I thought that the main voice cast all did an excellent job at portraying their assigned characters whether they were main or support characters. In particular, I felt that Maaya Uchida, Shouta Aoi, Tetsuya Kakihara and Saori Hayami all did an excellent job at portraying the characters of Katarina, Gerald, Keith and Maria respectively. While I did not cover them within the review, I also felt that Miho Okasaki, Inori Minase and Yoshitsugu Matsuoka also did an excellent job of portraying the characters of Mary, Sophia and Nicole respectively. While only featured briefly and having only brief lines until near the end of the series I felt Azumi Waki deserves special praise for her portrayal of Katarina’s loyal maid Anne as her recall of both her origins as well as the changes that have been brought on to her by Katarina’s own development as a person as she matured being especially well done and reflected well on Azumi Waki’s skill as a seiyuu.
Overall conclusion
In overall My Next Life as a villainess: All routes lead to Doom I felt was an excellent anime that had among its strong points an interesting premise that presented a unique take on the traditional Harem anime via the usage of a reverse harem, an excellent story that proved to be both entertaining and heartwarming, well designed and developed characters and excellent voice acting from a talented voice cast.
While the overall premise of the series from first glance appears to be identical to your standard Isekai anime that has a human being transported to another world after death I felt that when this simple premise is combined with both the series overall narrative and its themes of friendship and the changing of fates that the series serves to transform into something else entirely. For while the series is not a combat anime like other Isekai series being transported into another world is always going to be a risky affair that is full of unexpected surprises. While Katarina may have survived death in her world being reincarnated as the villainess of the story that is on the road to doom is perhaps one path that she did not expect to be deposited on. Yet even on such a path, it can be said that humanity is a resilient species that will persevere no matter the odds arrayed against them and in this Katarina’s decision to use her in-depth knowledge of the game to overturn fate by befriending her would-be enemies and forge a new true route of friendship, I felt was a novel idea that served to not only free her from the path of doom but also change the fate of her friends and the society around them and in doing so lay the foundations for change that will make people realize that social class is nothing more than a label that serves to place unnecessary restrictions on one's life and that true friends are those that interact and have fun in each other’s company regardless of whether they are from the same class in society or not.
Overall in terms of final score, I would say that the series would deserve a 10/10 on account of its unique premise, excellent story that proved to be hugely entertaining, excellent characters and excellent voice acting. While only intended as an entertainment medium I felt that the series core values of overcoming adversity via the forging of friendships and bonds of others and in the process break down the social classes that separate people is as relevant to Katarina as it is to the world that we live in.
