Isekai subgenre: Akujo / Reincarnated Damsel

{ Akujo / Reincarnated Damsel }

Love it or hate it, Isekai has become one of the most prominent genres in Anime; having both good and bad, fun and sad themes and motifs. In recent years, I noticed a certain theme blossoming within Isekai that involved your typical villainess (usually the love rival of the main character), with the twist being that our MC is the villainess herself, but not exclusively. This subgenre more generally encompasses female main characters who are supposed to be hated in their world or story. Almost always having the Ojou-sama tag, with the usual royal affairs and sprinkled politics.

I devised this name to encompass all of my favorite Animes of this subgenre and dubbed it Akujo / Reincarnated Damsel. Here is the list:

1. LasTame or The Most Heretical Last Boss Queen: From Villainess to Savior
2. I’ll Become a Villainess Who Goes Down in History
3. 7th Time Loop: The Villainess Enjoys a Carefree Life Married to Her Worst Enemy!
4. From Bureaucrat to Villainess: Dad's Been Reincarnated!
5. Endo and Kobayashi Live! The Latest on Tsundere Villainess Lieselotte
6. Villainess Level 99: I May Be the Hidden Boss but I'm Not the Demon Lord
7. Tearmoon Empire
8. My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom!
9. WataOshi or I'm in Love with the Villainess
10. Why Raeliana Ended Up at the Duke’s Mansion

I refrained from adding every Anime with the word ''vilainess'' in the title to this list; because I either didn't watch it, didn't think it belonged to this list, or simply didn't enjoy it.

List published on 4/15/2025.

 

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.

Precious little Tiara..

I really wish to see a second season of this in the near future.

Cuteness Rating: 7/10.

Overall Rating: 10/10.

Tearmoon Teikoku Monogatari: Dantoudai kara Hajimaru, Hime no Tensei Gyakuten Story (2023)

 

Cute short-haired princess is given another chance to atone for her selfishness and indifference towards her people. Clearly based on the real figure who met the same fate (i.e. executed), Marie Antoinette who was an Austrian princess and the wife of King Louis XVI during the French revolution. 

The anime also referenced her famous line of "Let them eat cake!" when told about the starving populace. 

Forgiveness is the theme here. although things progress in princess Mia's favor without her meaning to, happens quite a lot in this anime, to a point where it's maybe too convenient, I give it a pass though.

I really enjoyed the moments with Anne and Ludwig, the klutz maid turned confidant and the civil servant turned advisor. I like the earlier episode where they are featured primarily.

Oh yeah with quite a banger of an opening and very Cute-DesuWa!

Cuteness Rating: 8.5/10

Overall Rating: 9/10