"Ascendance of a Bookworm" is full of memorable scenes that will make you laugh and bring tears to your eyes. There are plenty of recommended scenes, such as Myne's unexpected actions and the serious scene with Lutz, but for me, the highlight of this series is the "family love"! Even I, who has never cried despite watching many different anime, had a scene that moved me to tears. So, this time, we'll be introducing a ranking of the best scenes from "Ascendance of a Bookworm"! We'll be introducing the top 10 scenes, from the funniest to the most tear-jerking.
Tenth Place: Motivational Magic
The scene I chose as the tenth place is the one in which Myne uses her "motivational magic." Of course, Myne doesn't actually use magic, since she doesn't have the ability to use it. To alleviate the labor shortage, Myne and her family decide to mass-produce hair ornaments, so they hire Tuuli and her mother, Eva, to do the work. Instead of making a typical request, she pays them half of their salary in advance and gives them the other half when the work is finished, motivating them. She also motivated Lutz's brothers, who were not very cooperative at work, by paying him right in front of them. This doubled everyone's motivation! Eva secretly worked late at night, and Lutz's brothers also rushed to make parts and bring them to Myne.
Ninth Place: Thanking Myne for a Piggyback Ride
My ninth place pick is the scene where Myne first met Lutz. Unaware of her own weakness, Myne leaves home with Tuli to return something she forgot to her father, Gunther, who works at the gate. However, Myne soon loses the ability to walk and falls on her bottom. Lutz rushes over to her and offers to carry her. However, Lutz is small, so in the end, his brother Ralph ends up carrying Myne. Lutz seems a little unhappy, but Tuli thanks him, and Myne also expresses her gratitude for being the first to speak to him.
Eighth Place: The Glico Pose
This surreal scene is my pick for eighth place. It's not a joke or anything, it's a sacred baptismal ritual... The person in the middle is the temple head. To his right is the high priest. The other men in blue clothes are nobles. These important people suddenly strike the Glico pose, and Myne is so amused that she can't stand up. Of course, the children taking part in the baptismal ceremony also strike the Glico pose... Unable to contain her laughter, Myne curls up, clutching her stomach, and is mistaken for feeling unwell, and is carried off to bed.
Seventh Place: A Doting Father Who Sulks Easily
Seventh place goes to a father whose mood changes instantly when it comes to his daughter. One day, Myne makes a fuss when her slate pencil runs out, and asks her father, Gunther, to take her to the gate. Myne talks so much about Otto that Gunther asks, "Do you really love Otto that much?" to which Myne replies, "Yes! I love Otto!" Gunther's mood plummets. He says he won't take her to the gate until spring, because he doesn't want her to get sick from being out and about in the winter. However, the next day, with only Myne at home, Gunther is forced to take her to the gate. Even then, Otto demonstrates his doting, overly concerned nature, saying things like, "You're married, after all."
Sixth Place: Otto the Merchant
My sixth place pick is the scene where Otto answers Corinna's question about his work. Corinna asks Myne what it's like working as a gatekeeper, since Otto gave up everything he had as a traveling merchant to marry her. Realizing that Corinna was worried that she was preventing Otto from doing what he wanted to do, Myne reassured her by telling her, "He's still a merchant." In fact, Otto's job involves tasks similar to those of a merchant, such as organizing documents and doing calculations, and he also teaches children how to read and do math, making him more of a merchant than a guard.
Fifth Place: Benno Thinking About Myne's Future
Fifth place is the scene depicting the relationship between Myne and Benno. The two are like father and son, always strict with the sickly Myne, even pinching her cheeks mercilessly. (In fact, there were times when Gunther got upset when he was told they were like father and son.) However, like a father, Benno also thinks carefully about Myne's future. He pays a large sum of money when buying Myne's ideas, and even when Myne refuses, saying it is too much, he gives her money, saying that it will cost money to protect her body from the "devourer." In fact, expensive magical tools are needed to suppress the symptoms of the "devourer," and Benno forces Myne to accept the large fee, thinking of the time to come.
Fourth Place: A Meeting Between the Temple Head and His Family
My fourth place pick is the scene in the final episode where the temple head and his family meet. In this tense scene, Myne's magical powers go out of control and she nearly kills the temple head, who threatens to execute her parents... However, I personally think the most memorable scene is the one that occurred just before that. Even after the temple head finds out she's a commoner, he courageously negotiates with her to protect her. Normally, it is taboo for a commoner to defy a noble, even leading to death. However, Eva, trembling, holds Myne's hand and clearly expresses her opinion. When the temple master takes an outrageous action, Gunther beats down the priest, prepared to face capital punishment, to protect his family. The scene where the usually strong-willed Eva trembles and stands up to him is truly memorable.
Third Place: Reunion with Tuuli
The third place choice is the final scene of the first season of the anime. After their meeting with the temple head, Myne and Tuuli hug each other in tears as they wait for him to return. While Myne is an adult inside, Tuuli is only 7 years old. Even so, she is probably worried that her family, who went out to meet with the temple head, might not return. Depressed, she waits for him with her head down, and when she sees him, she looks startled and remains motionless for a while. She then runs up to Myne, tears streaming down her face, and tells her "Welcome home," and when Myne jumps onto him, he snuggles her close to him. This scene, which marks the end of the final episode, is sure to be memorable for many. Lutz, who was waiting for them together but had sensed the mood and watched them from one step behind, is also memorable.
Second Place: Lutz Closing in on the Truth About Myne
My second place choice is the scene where Lutz, convinced that Myne's body has been swapped with someone else's, confronts her. Having noticed something strange about Myne for some time, Lutz decides to confront her once he's finished making the paper. On the day he finishes making the paper, he tries to get the truth out of her. After hearing her story, Lutz initially takes an aggressive stance and demands that she be returned. However, upon hearing that returning her body would only leave a corpse behind and that Urano herself never wanted to become Myne, Lutz gradually regains his composure and ultimately decides to accept her as she is. A six-year-old quickly accepts and accepts a situation that even adults can't wrap their heads around... This was a truly cool scene, featuring Lutz, including his lines.
First Place: Family Meeting
My top pick is the scene where a family meeting is held regarding Myne's "Devouring" ability. He tells his family, who thought she had been cured of her "Devouring," that he has something to tell them and that he only has about a year left to live. She is forced to make the ultimate choice: go to the noble district and survive away from her family, or spend the remaining year of her life with them. Tuuri cries to Myne and opposes being separated, and Myne feels the same way and decides to spend the remaining year of her life with her family. The best thing about this scene is undoubtedly the attitude of Gunther, the father. While the rest of the family shed tears after learning the truth, Gunther, who loves his daughter so much, remains the only one who remains steadfast. His fatherly attitude throughout, and the way he sadly drinks alone in front of the fireplace after everyone has gone to sleep, really bring out the best in Gunther.
Ranking of Famous Scenes
So far, I've introduced some of the best scenes in a ranking format. What do you think? There were many great scenes, but the one I chose as number one had me in tears (lol). This series revolves around the main character, Myne, and her crafting of various things, including paper. Personally, I found her father, Gunther, to be a truly great character, and he was the character who left the biggest impression on me after watching the first season of the anime. Which scene did you choose as your favorite?
