Breaking Anime Stereotypes: 'I'm In Love With the Villainess' Fearlessly Pushes Boundaries

The Big Picture

October 2023 marks a significant moment for yuri anime with the release of Stardust Telepath, The Vexations of a Shut-In Vampire Princess, and I'm in Love With the Villainess.

With its unique take on the yuri genre, I'm in Love With the Villainess emerges as a trailblazing anime. It fearlessly challenges norms, establishing a fresh benchmark for the category. The series fearlessly delves into queerness, transcending conventional romantic tropes to delve into the intricate nuances of love and sexuality. This results in an invigorating and captivating outlook that sets it apart from the rest.

What’s ‘I’m in Love With the Villainess’?

Fans of yuri anime, which focuses on romantic relationships between two women, often have to wait months or even years for a new yuri story to be released. Although there are many yuri manga available, there is a lack of translated titles that make it to the big screen. However, October 2023 is an exceptional month for yuri fans. Not only are popular anime shows like Jujutsu Kaisen Season 2 and the One Piece live-action premiering, but we also have three yuri anime airing simultaneously: Stardust Telepath, The Vexations of a Shut-In Vampire Princess, and I’m in Love With the Villainess. Each of these stories is unique and highly valued by fans of this underrated genre. However, one particular anime stands out not only among its peers this month but also in the entire yuri anime genre. I’m in Love With the Villainess is pushing boundaries and establishing a new standard, and that is something to be celebrated.

In Love With the Villainess is an anime in the yuri genre that is based on a light novel and manga series with the same title. The narrative revolves around Rae Taylor (portrayed by Hannah Alyea), a former ordinary office worker who perished due to excessive stress and later gets reincarnated into the world of her beloved otome (dating) game. However, instead of pursuing any of the game's predetermined prince targets, Rae finds herself deeply infatuated with the game's antagonist: Claire Francois (played by Lindsay Sheppard). While Claire's role is to obstruct the protagonist, for Rae, she becomes the primary motivation to engage in the game. As soon as Rae regains consciousness in this familiar world, she immediately resolves to express her love for Miss Claire.

The Scarcity of Yuri Anime

The narrative revolves around Rae and Claire, who become acquainted while attending a renowned academy where they develop their magical abilities in order to shape the world around them. Simultaneously, a rebellion is simmering in the background against the ruling aristocracy. However, Rae's primary focus is on ensuring Claire's safety and happiness in their new life together, expressing her love as frequently as possible, without expecting anything in return.

Image via Platinum Vision

To truly comprehend the uniqueness of this show, we must first grasp the current state of yuri anime. Queer anime remains a rarity, and finding yuri specifically proves to be particularly challenging. Throughout the years, there have been a few adaptations of love stories between women; however, these shows often downplay the openly romantic aspects. Additionally, they usually only receive a single 12-episode season, barely scratching the surface of the source material's first volume. We should consider ourselves fortunate if we witness even one confession of love in these shows, such as the cases of Adaichi and Shimamura and Whispered Words. Discussing the intricacies of sexuality or exploring feelings of love becomes an arduous task, as it proves difficult to even elicit the admission of a mere crush from some of these series. Given these low standards established by previous yuri anime, there is little room for anything except improvement. And that is precisely the challenge embraced by "I'm in Love with the Villainess."

Being Brave Enough to Say the “G” Word

Image via Platinum Vision

Those unfamiliar with anime may not fully appreciate the significance of a character openly identifying as gay. While it is not unheard of to have queer characters in anime, it is certainly not commonplace, let alone having them explicitly come out. Many anime explore relationships between girls that imply romantic affection, but rarely go as far as explicitly acknowledging it. Given the nature of the story, one might easily assume that Rae's confession of being in love with the villainess is confirmation enough. However, this show takes a unique approach by delving deeper into queerness as a genuine lived experience, rather than simply as a plot device for a love story. Rae identifies as gay, having faced discrimination in the past and even in her newfound world. When someone tries to argue that gender doesn't matter in the context of love, Rae makes it clear that it does matter to her. Her attraction to Claire is not a mere coincidence; Claire being a woman is an integral part of why Rae is attracted to her. In just a brief scene, the show dismantles and explores sexuality more thoroughly than most anime, even those with queer themes, are typically willing to do.

A (Gay) Twist on the Isekai Formula

Image via Platinum Vision

I’m In Love With the Villainess is an isekai, a genre that involves someone being transported to another world. This type of story is known for providing wish fulfillment, where a mundane everyday life is traded for a thrilling adventure filled with romance and purpose. Typically, isekai stories feature an Average Joe who dies and wakes up in a fantasy setting, surrounded by powerful women who inexplicably all want to date him. While there are variations within the genre, this setup remains quite common (ex. KonoSuba). However, Villainess deviates from this trope by having a lesbian protagonist and rejecting the traditional harem format. Though the guys in the game still express interest in her, Rae remains steadfast in her commitment. She is determined to win the game and ensure Claire's happiness, dismissing everything else as meaningless chatter.

You’ll Fall In Love With ‘I’m in Love With the Villainess’

Image via Platinum Vision

Aside from its subtle revolutionary elements, this show is simply enjoyable. It provides a delightful dopamine boost. The clash between Claire's dignified aristocratic demeanor and Rae's never-ending flirtatiousness leads to plenty of charming banter. The supporting cast is comprised of intriguing characters: the silent Prince Thane (Oscar Seung), the formerly privileged Misha (Marisa Duran), and even the adorable slime named Ralaire (a clever combination of Claire and Rae's names). While the story initially presents itself as a lighthearted fantasy adventure, the political intrigue introduced at the beginning gradually develops into something much grander. Additionally, the slow-burning romance will evoke both laughter and tears. This show doesn't aim to revolutionize the world, but it does strive to revolutionize anime. It boldly showcases a lesbian romance seldom seen in this medium. It not only creates an enjoyable LGBTQ+ focused show, but also sets a precedent that such shows can delve into profound themes. The representation of queer characters in anime is slowly but surely improving on a broader scale, and shows like "I'm in Love With the Villainess" play a crucial role in maintaining this progress.

"I'm in Love With the Villainess" can be streamed on Crunchyroll in the U.S.

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