The anime "Saga of Tanya the Evil" has been hugely popular with viewers not only for its story but also for its opening and ending themes.
I'd like to explain what kind of story "Saga of Tanya the Evil" is, a war tale woven by a protagonist who can best be described as a monster in the skin of a young girl.
A Brief Overview of the Anime "Youjo Senki"
The protagonist, an elite salaryman, has his life turned upside down when a subordinate he fired pushes him onto the train tracks in revenge. Just when it seems like the end is near, time stops. Then God appeared before the protagonist. Unable to accept reality, the protagonist sarcastically referred to God as Existence X. He believed that if God really existed, it would be impossible for him, an exemplary human being, to be destined for such a fate.
きっと朝こんなに走らされるのはあの忌々しい存在Xの仕業に違いない！
— シャマル〜Ураааа!!! (@PC4428) September 24, 2017
存在Xに災いあれ！ pic.twitter.com/JUGym2jxDw
God (Existence X), whose job is to return people to the cycle of reincarnation and reincarnate them, says that he will not reincarnate the unbelieving protagonist, making an exception. Perhaps this is because reincarnation of someone without faith would be futile. The pre-reincarnation protagonist then explains that modern people are content in a scientifically advanced world, and that most people are socially powerful and not pressured into survival, which is why faith in God has weakened.
https://twitter.com/Tanya_D203/status/926037365440724992
God (Existence X) declares that if the situation were reversed, the protagonist would regain her lost faith. To instill faith in her, she reincarnates her into a world of wartime science, where science is scarce, the socially vulnerable, and she barely manages to survive. Thus, she becomes a blonde-haired, blue-eyed young girl, with her personality, abilities, and memories intact.
This world is the polar opposite of her previous life, where science is underdeveloped during wartime, but magic is highly developed. The protagonist, named Tanya Degurechaff, is discovered to have an aptitude for magic during a medical checkup one day. She decides to pursue a military career as a magic officer, becoming an aerial mage at the age of nine.
Tanya's goal is a leisurely life in the safety of the rear, but contrary to her wishes, she is repeatedly sent to the dangerous front lines, where she performs at an ace level.
By annihilating enemies and sometimes engaging in close battles, you will rise in rank as a soldier, improve your abilities, and grow as a person.
Sometimes, God (Existence X) interferes and challenges befall Tanya, but she somehow manages to overcome each day with her innate judgment and magical powers.
Youjo Senki: Not Just a Reincarnation-themed Moe Anime
One of the fascinating things about Youjo Senki is that it doesn't evoke any of the moe elements you might expect from the title. If you think it's just a little-girl-themed anime, you're mistaken. This is a traditional war story disguised as a little-girl story. This is a work that will definitely keep you up all night, so I highly recommend watching it.
