Seijo no Maryoku wa Bannou Desu is the kind of show that arrived in 2021 with an idea that was often questioned about its own functionality, even more so by those responsible for the show. Diomedéa's staff, as mentioned above, does not have a positive reputation, as their latest projects were weak and didn't even present quality or exclusivity. This is not the case with this anime. Of course, Sei is the protagonist who enters and is summoned into another world, more specifically, the Kingdom of Salutania, along with another character, Aira. One of the two aims to save the kingdom from the evils of a miasma, which strengthens and attracts monsters against unprepared people. Unlike the more common isekais, where the main character automatically fits into a group of strong heroes and mages, Sei starts out in the world as another civilian who is unaware even of the concept of magic and potions.
She, like us, arrives in this world without many expectations of consolidation and positivity, considering that the universe is classic for being boring and uninteresting. Sei even expresses at the beginning of the episodes her breaking of expectations, until curiosity takes her to formidable places. After meeting Jude, one of the employees of the Research Institute, who use herbs and other plants to create medicines and healing potions, Sei becomes interested in a new branch in his life, while his powers and his supposed qualification like Saint are still kept secret and in rumors throughout the kingdom. Sei develops from the beginning the practice and techniques of magic and begins to stand out within the Institute, attracting the interest of Johan, one of those responsible for the place. Along with this, the protagonist begins her shy adventures with responsibility and caution, while she forms good friendships and relationships throughout the kingdom.
Her evolution as an important character is remarkable, in fact, the universe and the natural environment work positively and create a perspective very close to Sei, where she builds strong bonds and wants to help as much as possible. Well, even though Prince Kyle had segregated her and ignored her during her summoning, Sei wasn't shaken at all. In fact, the setbacks made her more mature and decisive in relation to her actions and honors, which made the character popularly known. Even though he had an internal responsibility not to expose himself too much for being the real Saint, if an emergency could be resolved by her, Sei wouldn't hesitate to help. Part of this makes her a miraculous person in the lives of the citizens of Salutania.
But it's not just Sei who stands out during the show. Like Jude and Johan, other characters who come into her life promote her well-being and support her in the simple moments of her research. Ashley, her first friend, sees Sei as a modest girl, but recognizes her incredible potential to save many lives, Drewes is the strongest wizard in the entire kingdom, becoming a teacher and a support for research and improvement. Aira is a character constantly subdued by being considered a farce by the students of the magic school, but Sei supports her, even though the title of Saint has already been used by both of them, by others. Finally, Hawke. He is the head of the third order of knights and is always with Sei, just as a prince accompanies the princess on her tours of the realm (and beyond). I must say that the coolest and most relaxed moments come from their conversations and the relationship that can become a very prosperous love.
Although the show has a greater dedication to the characters, the universe is not harmed during the adventures. Sei is basically the catalyst that promotes future adventures and discovery, like the Klausner region, the herb land of the Kingdom of Salutania. Sei's desire to discover new things during the episodes is conveyed by the audience with competence and dedication. Even though some episodes are sometimes tiring at first glance, episode composition and direction help sustain the show as he connects Sei with his new receptions and events. This promotes a very good show in character and world building. In fact, it's the biggest highlight of the entire show. Without that, we would possibly not have a charming potential within the anime.
Finally, Seijo no Maryoku wa Bannou Desu is an anime that really deserves greater prominence, as it consolidated well in 2021. I didn't imagine I would find a strong show that was interesting in so many ways at the same time, especially in the last moments, where good stories are lost, or in shows that dedicate more to the universe and forget to incorporate good characters. Seijo is an example of an anime that did very well and united these two audiovisual construction elements in a dynamic and promising way. It's a show that I look forward to a sequel as soon as possible. And again, congratulations to Estúdio Diomedéa, even with a low expectation about this project, the staff was very important to keep the qualities visibly high. If you haven't seen this show yet, give it a try, it sure is better conducted than countless recent isekais.
