Story (8/10):
After encountering "god" and dissing all his efforts, our protagonist finds himself reincarnated into a world where the odds are nowhere near his favor as a payback for his insults. However, both "god" (the antagonist) and the protagonist are petty and refuse to let one beat the other. So whose ideals and judgement will emerge victorious in the end?
I was intrigued with the premise of Youjo Senki or The Saga of Tanya the Evil. Given a situation where a person would be pit against a supreme being but refuses to accept defeat is like the ultimate underdog story. The story branches out to other forms of conflict and world building but at the heart of it all, it is still just the feud between man and god.
The story does highlight on realism, practicality and logic (logic to an extent, you can't expect anime to be that logical). The story also doesn't leave you brain dead since you really have to focus and understand certain details going on here and there. Another redeeming factor of the story is its extensive and (more or less) accurate military and strategic depiction. If you're a fan of politics and military shows, this is your cup of tea.
Art (9/10):
The art is unique. I was bothered with facial proportions when I first saw this but it grew on me. It's very detailed, from character expressions to the scenery. There was rough patch of art (it gave off CGI vibes) especially with scenes containing a massive army or a military vehicle.
Sound (9/10):
The OP and ED are solid. Upbeat and edgy, perfect for a war-torn theme. Background music was not disturbing but complemented the scenes it went with. I had an issue with volume as there were scenes that spiked up too much but that might just have been a "me" thing.
Character (8/10):
Great development with main character and just the main character. Supporting cast did not really get a time to shine and more often than not, completely forgettable. I understand that the premise of this whole show revolves around the protagonist but I don't think it would have hurt to showcase (maybe a brief flashback?) some supporting characters.
Would it have been irrelevant if they did so? No. Because these supporting characters are always seen around the protagonist and they also help to contribute to the protagonist and story's development.
Enjoyment (9/10):
Overall (9/10):
The cynical protagonist is really one of the best things I enjoyed in this show. His ideology along with his beef with god, makes it interesting to find out how things will unfold around him. Their depiction with war, tactics and strategies is also quite accurate and believable. The idea this anime had was very innovative. I do suggest watching the movie right after finishing the 12 episodes of this anime but.
I'd recommend this anime to anyone looking for serious action with a good plot line and a loli protagonist. Hey if any of those three got your attention then come on down.
