Ascendance of a Bookworm

Ascendance of a Bookworm is a wonderful and enchanting anime series, from the fantastic opening, which is definitely the best opening of the anime season Fall 2019, to the very end of each episode, along with the magnificent (artsy) pictures at the end. Sometimes, just when you think that those isekai anime shows have said and done it all, along comes something new which surprises you again... This anime series is really well-produced even though it admittedly has a very slow pace. The whole wonderfully calm, sweet, and pleasant atmosphere of the narrative is only occasionally disturbed by some of the more suitably mysterious, thrilling, and dramatic moments, thanks to the fact that the enemy is a strange, life-threatening illness. While nine out of ten isekai protagonists are on a mission to save the world, the impossibly adorable main female protagonist in this show just wants to make her little dreams come true, so instead of fighting monsters, she creates much simpler and more ordinary things like shampoo, paper, and various decorative ornaments. Do you think that sounds boring? Well, there is the storyline going on in the background following her constant struggles in life, and then there are other seemingly run-of-the-mill storylines in the foreground that stem from her need to create and therefore needing materials, people and finances. All of that plus the fact that Myne has to constantly hide the fact that she is not really an ordinary little girl means that it ends up not really being that boring. On the contrary, it is quite charming in its own way. On the one hand, it is very understated and about everyday life, and yet at the same time it is quite beautiful with hidden depths that have a profound impact. It is great to watch, you cannot help but like the main female protagonist, and I thought several of the other characters were great too. Also, it is very hard to find something to compare this anime series to - for me personally, it is like Spice and Wolf meets Hakumei and Mikochi - both of which are also very strong and charming anime series with a few similar aspects... Anyway, I was really satisfied and this was one of the highlights of anime season Fall 2019 (and I am really looking forward to the next season in the spring 2020) 8.4/10. (16/10/2020)

Season two roughly follows the same formula as the first season, only this time the greatest enemy ceases to be a mysterious, life-threatening disease and becomes the fight against social injustices. It is no longer so much about new minor inventions, it is more about trying to restructure certain sectors of their local church, convincing others of the main protagonist’s value to society, and fighting social injustice on many fronts. Sure, the subject matter is interesting and comes on quite strong at times, but the show has lost a bit of the lightness and relaxing vibe that I thought made the first season so enjoyable. It is not that noticeable a difference, yet you can feel the difference is there. It is still a very enjoyable show with lots of endearing characters (old and new), and my personal favorite was the main priest Ferdinand (as well as the adorable main female protagonist). I guess it is like comparing the two openings for me - I found the one for the first season just wonderful, and the one for the second season is very similar (it is even sung by the same singer), however, it just does not feel as good, while still great, however, it just feels a bit watered down... Still, the second season gets 8/10 and I am really looking forward to the next one. (16/10/2020)

One book is finished, it's time to start writing another one... Let me start my review from the end. The third season finale is amazing; it is wonderfully emotional and bittersweet, and most of the storylines are logically and satisfyingly concluded. I truly enjoyed this episode today. However, the rest of the series didn't have the same impact on me. At times, it all felt rushed, and the charming and creative lightness that permeated the first season was no longer there. New inventions were introduced, and the creative process, production, and the problems connected with it were just a few of the many things that the show dealt with. Sometimes the series seemed to be too much all over the place given the number of episodes. Nevertheless, it all held together, and everything was easy to follow, with each theme receiving enough attention. Thus, even in the midst of all the intrigue of the local nobility, problems within the church, business problems, and occasional inventions (and the resulting consequences for the society), there was still room for a decent story with a good atmosphere. There were moments when I feared for the heroine and her loved ones. It was a well-written story, and I often had to admire Main; there was a lot she had to deal with on her journey. There’s no need to go into much detail about the character development in the third season. The characters work exactly as they should (you will love some of them, hate some of them, but none of them will leave you indifferent). I liked the animation and music as well. The third season gets a shining 8/10 from me and I’m eagerly awaiting the next adventure of this lovable bookworm. (13/06/2022)