I'm in Love with the Villainess

Rae Taylor says, "Forget the hot guys, I want the girl," in contrast to most otome isekai. This particularly sticks out to me because Rae rejects a lot of the otome tropes that have already been established. You can't help but smile whenever you watch her and Claire together because of their flawlessly crafted journey from unrequited crush to friend to best friend to lovers. The romance makes sense and is unadulterated. The spectator has a front-row seat as Claire's stony-cold heart gradually melts and begins to open out to Rae.

The commoner/noble split lies at the heart of the anime's world-building, since Rae, a commoner without a distinguished heritage, presents particular difficulties for Claire and her relationship. One distinctive feature of the anime is Claire's cognitive dissonance between her relationships with some commoners and the commoners as a whole. Over the course of the episode, Claire comes to terms with Rae but doesn't change her prejudices about other people. The plot becomes more engrossing because of the characters' subtle evolution.

The way this program handles same-sex relationships maturely and like it's normal makes it stand out. Rae's sexuality is accepted by the supporting cast, who encourage her without making fun of it. Rae's sexuality is not extensively discussed by the author, which is different from other Yuri shows that frequently leave things vague. This distinct strategy distinguishes the program.

As you may expect from the stunning LN art, the show has some really beautiful character designs and artwork. The animation is more than adequate for any action scenario, even though it's nothing spectacular. Wiz, the show's production value is excellent.

Wataoshi is unique in every way, from Rae's past to the class discussion to the way the LGBTQ community is portrayed in the narrative. Although I've had the novels on my to-read list for years, I still haven't gotten around to it, but after watching this incredible anime version, I know I'll enjoy the books. I think this show is the industry standard for Yuri, and I'm really delighted with it.

I'm in Love with the Villainess" is a unique and refreshing take on the isekai genre, offering a yuri romance with a focus on character development and a touch of political intrigue. The story follows Rae, a young woman transported into her favorite otome game, where she becomes infatuated with the villainess, Claire. While the premise is intriguing, the execution is somewhat uneven, with pacing issues and a lack of focus on the central romance. The animation is solid, and the character designs are distinctive, but the overall plot can feel rushed at times. Despite its flaws, the series is still an enjoyable watch for fans of yuri and those looking for a lighthearted escape.

This yuri/isekei series is centred on Rei Ohashi, an office worker who dies after overworking. She finds herself reincarnated as Rae Taylor, the heroine of her favourite game. In the game Rae is meant to choose between one of three princes... this Rae will be different though; she sets her sights on Claire François, the villain of the game! As she is familiar with the game she might just do it; obviously it won't be too easy though.

There are plenty of isekei series, usually set in some sort of fantasy world. This series manages to deliver something fresh with its central yuri romance. Rae is a fun central character; it is impossible not to root for her and hope she will eventually end up in a relationship with Claire. The other characters are good. This may be set in a world with magic but don't expect magical battles with monsters; it really isn't that sort of show. The animation is good and the character designs are suitably distinctive. Overall I thought this was rather fun and would recommend it.

These comments are based on watching the series in Japanese with English subtitles.

Dear I'm in Love with the Villainess Production Team,

I want to say a big thank you for making such a wonderful anime! The story, characters, and emotions have touched the hearts of fans all around the world. Every episode is made with so much care and love, and it shows in every detail.

Rae and Claire's journey is beautiful and meaningful. Their love story is full of fun, deep emotions, and important lessons about love and acceptance. The way their relationship grows is heartwarming, making us laugh, smile, and sometimes even cry.

Many fans, including me, truly hope for Season 2 and more! The world you have created is so interesting, and we want to see more of Rae and Claire's story. Please know that your hard work means so much to all of us.

Thank you again for this amazing anime! We are excited to see what comes next.

"I'm in Love with the Villainess" has all the parts of a generic romantic isekai romance: an elite academy filled with nobles and commoners, magic based on the four classical elements, three rich princes that are the most eligible bachelors, and the bitchy rich girl that's the antagonist. The show's only claim to fame, as it so loudly pronounces in its title, is that the protagonist is not chasing after one (or all) of the princes but instead after the antagonist. And indeed, the main character is unashamedly in love and not afraid to hide it, bringing a unique flavour to a genre that has been overwrought with such stories.

What truly sets the show apart is that it treats the titular girl-girl romance as something ordinary. Where other shows either keep things so vague that the entire romance has to be read beween the lines or otherwise drag it into hilarity, this show's Rae Taylor is genuinely in love with her crush, just like the protagonists of other isekai romance are genuinely in love with their heretosexual love interests. This may not seem like much, especially when applying Western standards, but it's fairly spectacular for an anime.

Furthermore, the protagonist genuinely is a fresh take on the "modern person thrown into a magical world" premise, and Hannah Alyea as her English dubbed voice is performing excellently.

Other than that, I'm afraid that the show checks all the boxes of a highly generic isekai romance, only slightly deviating at the end when hinting at a dark future that the love interest has to be protected from. It is, thus, not a particularly exciting show unless you have never watched a romance before. Still, the characters are likeable and the romance is actually heartwarming. The production values are also decent, and the show has neither graphic nudity nor gratuituous violence, making it enjoyable even for young teens.