Review of "Didn't I Say to Make My Abilities Average in the Next Life?": What is the appeal of exceeding the average?

"I said to make my abilities average in the next life!" - The new appeal of fantasy set in another world

"Didn't I say to make my abilities average in the next life?" is a TV anime series that aired from October 7 to December 23, 2019, and is based on a light novel by FUNA and Akata Itsuki. This work has attracted attention as an average (?!) fantasy that depicts the growth and friendship of girls in a different world where magic and swords exist. Below, we will take a deeper look at the appeal and details of this work.

■Overview of the work

"Didn't I say to make my abilities average in the next life?" is a popular work that has garnered over 280 million page views on Japan's largest novel posting site, "Let's Become a Novelist," and was ranked second overall in the annual rankings out of a total of 440,000 works. The series has sold over 800,000 copies in total, and due to its popularity, it was finally made into a TV anime. It was broadcast on TOKYO MX and AT-X, and consisted of a total of 12 episodes, each 30 minutes long.

■ Story

The story is set in another world where magic and swords exist. The main character, Mile, is a 12-year-old aspiring magician and calls herself a "very ordinary F-rank hunter." She was originally a high school girl, Kurihara Kairi, who was reincarnated into another world after an accident. When she was reincarnated, she prayed to God to "make normal friends and live a normal life," and was supposed to have been given "average" abilities in the world after reincarnation, but the reality was not so simple.

Mile goes on an adventure with three companions, Lena, Mavis, and Pauline. They form a party called "Red Oath" and grow as they overcome various difficulties. The story is full of laughs and drama, depicting the friendship and growth of these girls.

■ Characters

Miles

Mile is a 12-year-old high school girl, Kurihara Kairi, who aspires to be a magician and is reincarnated into another world. She prayed to God to "make normal friends and live a normal life," and was supposed to have been given "average" abilities in the world after reincarnation, but in reality, her abilities far exceed the average. Mile continues her adventure with her friends while hiding her abilities. She is voiced by Waki ​​Azumi.

Lena

Lena is a 15-year-old magician with Hunter Rank E, and is known as "Red Lena." She is skilled in fire-element magic, and although she may appear strict towards her companions, she actually has a "tsundere"-like attribute that shows she cares for others. She is voiced by Sora Tokui.

Mavis

Mavis is a 17-year-old aspiring swordsman from a family of knights. She admires her father and brothers as swordsmen, and aims to become a fine knight herself. Due to her appearance, which can be seen as handsome, she is often mistaken for a man. Her voice is provided by Uchimura Fumiko.

Pauline

Pauline is a 14-year-old aspiring magician whose family runs a merchant business. She has a body shape that is unusual for a 14-year-old, so much so that Mile calls it "unfair," and has a gentle and calm demeanor, but when she gets angry, she does so in the same manner, which makes her quite scary. Perhaps because her family runs a merchant business, she is strict when it comes to money. She is voiced by Masumi Tazawa.

Nano-chan

Nano-chan is a nanomachine that God scattered in the world where Kairi was reincarnated. It reacts to the thought waves of living things and causes various phenomena, which are treated as "magic" in this world. Only Mile is given the authority to converse with the nanomachines, and after a long exchange, she settled on this form. Nano-chan is voiced by Wataru Hatano.

■ Staff

The director of this work is Masahiko Ohta, the series composition is Takashi Aoshima, the character design is Kanade Watanabe, the art directors are Masazumi Matsumiya and Mio Miyamoto, the color design is Yoko Suzuki, the CG line director is Toshiro Hamamura, the director of photography is Fumiaki Futamura, the editor is Emi Onodera, the sound director is Yasunori Ebina, the sound production is Dax Production, the music is Yasuhiro Misawa, the music production is Avex Pictures, and the animation production is project No.9.

■ Episode

The subtitles and broadcast dates for each episode are as follows:

• #1/I told you to start over in a new place! (2019/10/07)
• #2/I told you it was a party of four! (2019/10/14)
• #3/I told you to keep your graduation low-key! (2019/10/21)
• #4/I told you it was the first step of the Red Vow! (2019/10/28)
• #5/I told you it was a folk tale for everyone! (2019/11/04)
• #6/I told you I'm not going to the woods anymore! (2019/11/11)
• #7/I told you to take a vacation once in a while! (2019/11/18)
• #8/Pauline didn't say she was getting married, did she?! (2019/11/25)
• #9/I told you to defeat the wyvern! (2019/12/02)
• #10/I told you to keep the surprise a secret! (2019/12/09)
• #11/I told you not to be complacent! (2019/12/16)
• #12/I told you the red oath is immortal! (2019/12/23)

■ Theme songs and music

The opening theme is "Smile Skill = Suki Skill!", with lyrics by Hata Aki, music and arrangement by tatsuo, and singing by Akaki Chikai (Mile, Lena, Mavis, and Pauline). The ending theme is "Genzai↑Banzai↑", with lyrics by Hata Aki, music and editing by tatsuo, and singing by Mile (Waki Azumi).

■The appeal of the work

The greatest appeal of "Didn't I Say to Make My Abilities Average in the Next Life?" is the character and growth of the main character Mile. Even after being reincarnated into another world, she desires to live a normal life, but faces many challenges due to her abilities exceeding the average. However, the story depicts her growing together with her friends and deepening her friendships. This story of growth is sure to move viewers and evoke empathy.

Another appeal is the unique characters of Lena, Mavis, and Pauline. Although they each have different backgrounds and goals, they continue their adventure with Mile and support each other. Their friendship and growth also add depth to the story.

Another point worth noting is the unique character Nano-chan. Nano-chan is the only one who can talk to Mile, and her presence provides a new perspective to the story. Through her interactions with Nano-chan, Mile's inner thoughts and growth are depicted.

■Animation and Music

The animation for this work is by project No.9, and is characterized by beautiful visuals and smooth movements. Character design is by Kanade Watanabe, and each character's personality is well expressed. Additionally, the backgrounds by art directors Masazumi Matsumiya and Mio Miyamoto also add to the otherworldly atmosphere.

Music is also an important element that enhances the appeal of this work. Yasuhiro Misawa's music stirs emotions as the story unfolds. The opening theme "Smile Skill = Suki Skill!" and the ending theme "Genzai↑Banzai↑" also reflect the theme of the story and resonate with the viewers' hearts.

■ Evaluation and recommendation

"Didn't I say to make my abilities average in the next life?" is highly acclaimed as a work that depicts character growth and friendship, even within the genre of fantasy set in another world. Viewers have expressed a strong sense of empathy for the main character Mile's character, and have been touched by the friendship between her companions. In addition, due to the popularity of the original work, the anime adaptation has been praised for meeting the expectations of fans.

This work is especially recommended for those who like fantasy stories set in another world and stories of growth. The story of the protagonist Mile's growth and friendship with her companions will move and sympathize with the viewer. Other attractions include the unique characters, beautiful animation, and heartwarming music. Please give it a watch.

Related information

The original work for this work is a light novel by FUNA and Akata Itsuki, published by Earth Star Novel. The original novel is also very popular, with the series having sold over 800,000 copies in total. The original novel also has a total of over 280 million page views on the novel posting site "Let's Become a Novelist", and was ranked second in the overall annual rankings out of a total of 440,000 works.

The anime adaptation has retained the appeal of the original work while adding some unique expressions and directing. Fans of the original work will be able to enjoy it from a new perspective. In addition, character songs and soundtracks have been released along with the anime adaptation, so you can enjoy it from a musical perspective as well.

Furthermore, many related books and merchandise have been released that delve deeper into the worldview and characters of this work. For fans, these have become essential items for enjoying the world of the work more deeply.

Conclusion

"Didn't I say to make my abilities average in the next life?" is a work that brings out a new charm in fantasy set in another world. The story of the protagonist Mile's growth and her friendship with her companions will move and sympathize with the viewer. Other attractions include the unique characters, beautiful animation, and heartwarming music. This is a work that I would especially recommend to those who like fantasy set in another world and stories of growth. Please give it a watch.