Citrus Service: LasTame (2023)

In a market filled with Isekais, none of them made me tear up as much as this one did.

Higeki no Genkyou to Naru Saikyou Gedou Last Boss Joou wa Tami no Tame ni Tsukushimasu LasTame for short. Or The Most Heretical Last Boss Queen: From Villainess to Savior. I wouldn't blame you if you rolled your eyes after reading the name, because I did too. But with that said, the story is your run-of-the-mill reincarnation into a game world.

The main appeal comes from learning that Pride; the female main character, is originally so cruel and despicable and after remembering she was reincarnated, she turned into the most kind and empathetic person imaginable. After all, she knows what her character's main role in the game is to be the ultimate villain and because of that she can foresee her future as doomed, so she tries to steer away from her bad ending so to speak. It is an anime about drama and the interactions between characters, with a lot of talking and in our case reading.

It is these character interactions that made me tear up and even after being finished with the anime I returned to episode#9 with a box of tissues in hand, it's that good. The visceral emotions in the 'interrogation' scene were so gut-wrenching and heart-aching that I had to give it one more viewing. Safe to say tears were shed, phenomenal scene and anime.

I don't expect most people to get that sentimental from the events of that episode or even the whole anime for that matter but, it struck me personally.

Also, the creator(s) must have a thing for feet, I bet. There are two separate occasions were Pride's feet were kissed (even licked!?). I don't get the appeal towards feet personally but, I guess the context makes it acceptable somehow..

Now, in terms of cuteness.. it is conveyed by the emotions in the scenes rather than the visuals but, there is cuteness nonetheless. Like these chibi animations at the ending.