At best, the “Marauder Princess” Anisphia is considered an oddball. At worst, she’s a disgrace to the kingdom, a thorn in the side of the royal family, particularly her brother, Algard, who resents that she has abdicated her claim to the throne and thrust the responsibility upon him. Instead, Anisphia spends her days researching “magicology,” a field she invented and one that employs the use of science, medicine, and technology rather than magic. You see, Anisphia must focus on science because, unlike other royalty and nobles, she is unable to perform magic—perhaps because she’s been reincarnated into this world. But Anisphia is not the only young woman out of place in this kingdom. There is also the young genius, Euphyllia, who is engaged to Prince Algard. She is prim, proper, and righteous, wholly unlike her fiance, who decides to embrace (if not conspire to create) false accusations against his betrothed in order to engage himself with a young woman he’s fallen for. Publicly shaming Euphyllia at a graduation ball, Algard takes control of his love life and destiny while turning his class against his now-former fiancee. As she wilts against the stares and accusations, all hope seems lost. Until, that is, the bumbling, science-minded princess comes storming—or rather crashing—in to the rescue.
The pleasant opening episode of this shoujo-ai isekai is high on style if not necessarily substance. Most of all, the music, soft colors, and lovely emphasis on lighting and the characters’ eyes create a romantic atmosphere. The direction is solid, too. Unlike the recently premiered Ningen Fushin, the opening episode of this fantasy series establishes its characters well and ends on an exciting note with just the right speed and precision, creating a doki-doki moment that isn’t rushed, while leaving the viewer wanting more. But is there more? Is this series worth continuing? Earlier this year, I reviewed volume one of the manga adaptation and found it lacking. It was an isekai that didn’t distinguish itself from others. In fact, the manga was so common that I’d forgotten I’d read it! But perhaps the anime will be a better adaptation of the original light novel. Besides the facets I already mentioned, the humor in episode one lands well, bolstered especially by Sayaka Senbongi’s voicing of Anisphia. (She can also be heard as Trisha Una in Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure and Kou Yamori in Call of the Night.) She strikes just the right chord, voicing the character as incorrigible, sassy, optimistic, and with no trace of obnoxiousness. I’m not sure if the staff working on this series is enough to lift the show into something special (and to be frank, I dropped the manga after volume one so I’m not sure if the story is headed somewhere beyond the obvious), but I’m willing to try several more episodes to see if it will. You might consider that, too, if you’re open to shoujo-ai.
The Magical Revolution of the Reincarnated Princess and the Genius Young Lady is streaming on Crunchyroll.
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